Ok mom, don't be alarmed by the heading of the email. I am
writing this right after getting back from lunch. Today was pretty good. Elder 박
(Park) had to do some paper work for some family stuff today so we came to the
mission office in the morning. We called and did our mission leadership
conference call with President and the AP's then all of us missionaries went
out to a 고기buffet. And I meant to write "meat" not 고기...language
problems. Ha! So for those of you not
familiar with Korean dining culture it is popular here to eat a lot. and as a
result there are tons of buffets and meat buffets are really popular. We go and
put tons of raw meat on a plate then go to our table and we grill it on the hot
plate they have there. Super delicious. You can all you want of whatever you
want. And we went to a nice one and it was only ten thousand won. (roughly ten
bucks!) Huzzah! Down side is that we ate
continuously for like 90 minutes so I think I passed maximum capacity! So
really I might die. I don't think I'll eat dinner. . .
But moving on to happier notes: I love Elder Park. I'm sorry
already that I left my camera at the apartment because he is the best. Super
cutest Korean I know. And I know that previous sentence wasn't perfect English
and I'm okay with that! We have been busy with lots of meeting as of late and
recently the Doonsan (둔산) ward has had lots of baptisms so all of our investigators
have either been baptized or dropped. So we have been busy hitting the streets
and talking to everybody. Because I am in Doonsan area it means that I am in
the heart of Daejeon city. My area is probably the smallest geographically in
the mission, but there are tons of people. It is all metropolitan and we take
the bus and subway most everywhere if we aren't going by foot. It is fun, I
love the city. Not that I know any different--I've been blessed to live the big
city life ever since I came to Korea. It is fun. Daejeon is fun too because of
the huge shopping areas they have. I mean, I can only go shopping on p-day, but
as when we do they have HUGE department stores with everything under the sun. I
also like the huge underground shopping malls they have. crazy. Koreans are
crazy about their shopping. Such a trendy country. I think the only thing they
have more of here than cell phone stores is probably hair salons. Life in Korea
is good. Hot, fast paced, and good. I love Korea.
2.0
This week has also been a good one for studies. recently I
have been studying the life of Peter. As a mission there are lots of great
experienced missionaries going home in the next few weeks and so it is up to
the rest of us to step up and fill the roles needed to lead the mission. I love
Perter because he is such a fabulous example of an ordinary man becoming an
extra-ordinary servant of the Lord. I have been studying his before and
after--how did he go from denying thrice to president of the church? What did
he do that changed him? I think the secret lies in the last direction that
Jesus gave to Peter specifically in the gospel of John and in the last
direction to the apostles in the Book of Matthew. The Lord told the apostles to
baptize all nations and he told Peter very specifically to "feed My
sheep". It seems to me that Peter was changed as he testified and as he
taught the truths of the gospel with power and with authority. Peter was just a
man. He was imperfect and a tad impetuous and a lot like you and me. Though he
still had weaknesses and was imperfect, he became the amazing prophet and
leader as he preached by the spirit, letting the spirit change him as much as
anyone. God wants me and he wants you to be our best and He will do that as we
do His work for His children. What an amazing blessing that is! When we start
to do His work in His way, he will shape us into the best tool to get the job
done. The Lord shapes the back to bear the burden placed upon it and through
our striving with the spirit He will make us into something great! I love that
and know it's true. And it's what I'm working for.
I love all of you guys and I will add pictures next week!
In all things, onward and upward!
Elder Tucker