Week 52: I think I'm going to die!!!‏

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

Week 51: Lead Kindly Light! Lead thou me on!‏

So a little reflective and reminiscent title... I love that hymn and I really think it's crazy that it was almost a year ago that I sang it in the MTC. Weird. It feels like two lifetimes ago and like last week at the same time. I think I'll probably be dwelling on that theme for the next few weeks because that seems to be the only thing that is constant in missionary work and life: change and the fact that time makes no sense.  And speaking of change, we got transfer calls from the AP's today. And it was a surprise! Elder Hernandez is leaving and I'm leaving! They are moving us both out! Elder Johnson and Elder Young in our house will both be staying but will both be getting new companions and covering their old area and our area. Elder Hernandez and I will both be getting Korean companions! (Insert happy dance because I love Koreans) I will be serving with Elder 박변성 (Pak Byeun Sung..rough english equivalent...) and it will be awesome because he is a fantastic Elder. I am super excited. I am moving one area over. Literally like fifteen minutes away on the subway, and now I will actually live closer to my old church building but will be in the heart of Daejeon. The work there is pretty exciting, and their ward has had a baptism every week this transfer and the Zone leader, Elder Kidman, goes home this week so there are some big shoes to fill. It will be an exciting adventure. 둔산! (doonsan!) wow. Still in Daejeon and super excited to be working so close to President. I love that man.

I also love Elder L. Tom Perry and was so sad to hear about his passing but was at complete peace because know where he is, and I know that all will be well. That is a great lesson I've been seeing a lot in my mission: "All will be well!". All is well. Really truly I know that the Lord is in charge. I know that he is the great Director in our lives. He knows each of us and loves us and has given us this life. He gives us strengths and weaknesses so we can grow and so we can lean on Him. I have come to really love the Lord and am starting to start understanding the infinite atonement and what that means in my life. I know that through be yoked with Christ I am able to pull more than me. I am able to lead on to great heights and grander vistas than I ever imagined...

And when sometimes I feel like I've been treading water in the deep-end for a while I like to sing the song Lead Kindly Light to myself:

Lead, kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene--one step enough for me.
So long thy pow'r hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone.
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!

I know that God will lead me on! I know that He will lead you on too! That help comes through Christ and the blessings are predicated on our obedience. I know that the gospel is true and that God is at the helm. He directs his work and He directs the lives of those who let Him. So let Him! As I remember L. Tom Perry I remember that he was always happy!--More than me! I love his love and his undying trust in the Lord. I love his words about how there is no thing more important than the family and that obedience to law brings true freedom. Remember him, and remember what he taught us. And remember that God will lead you on!

Onward and upward,

Elder Tucker

Week 50: Homeward Bound. . . the song. . . ^^

So this morning as I was doing pushups (fist bump for missionary work outs) the song "Homeward Bound" came on over Elder Johnson's iPod. I love that song. It reminds me of good times past and my hope for good times yet to come! I remember singing that song with the alumni at graduation and it is weird because that feels like it was in a different lifetime. The missionary work rolls forward and life continues to press on, and I just felt a little reflective today. The email is not really a good recap for my week, but I think it gives you some insight into where I am. And I think that's good. I was thinking a little about the words from the song "Homeward Bound" (conveniently found on the church website. Thank you Church!) and the words hold truth and here is just a little of what was going through my head.

"If you find it's me your missing, if your hoping I'll return, to your thoughts I'll soon be listening, in the road I'll stop and turn. Then the wind will set me racing as my journey nears its end, and the path I'll be retracing, when I'm homeward bound again."

I know that missions and life are hard. I know that missing home is normal because it means we have love there. And I am so happy for my opportunity to teach people about their heavenly home and how the Lord loves them so. He is good. As the time moves and as I move forward in my missionary service I can feel the "wind" setting me racing and it's a funny thing. Time moves and life changes. And am I always homeward bound? (not a trunky joke^^) Am I always fixed and moving in the direction of my home with Father? What can I do to be more homeward bound?

"Bind me not to the pasture, chain me not to the plow, set me free to find my calling and I'll be homeward bound in time." I know my calling and I know by whom I am called. I know that Christ lives and I know that as I follow Him, as I'm obedient, that is when I am unchained. That is when we find freedom. Obedience to God and living the precepts of the gospel is God's gift to us for a happy life. I know that's true. And I know that as I seek to be homeward bound that I will feel God's love. I will see His hand in my life. And I will experience all those happy reunion. I love you guys! I am so excited for all of my friends and family that graduated, for those heading out on missions, for those on different adventures. I love you and know that God watches over you. May all of you feel my love and feel His. And may we all be homeward bound in time!

Onward and Upward,

Elder Tucker

I ate so much food. It was gross‏.

We went to this buffet "Ashley" with our member from Kenya and our investigator from Uganda. I ate nine plates of food. It was terribly. Terribly delicious, but you know. I almost died!~

I love you guys. Don't worry. I'm eating well in Korea.^&^

In the quiet misty morning
When the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing
And the sky is clear and red,
When the summer's ceased its gleaming
When the corn is past its prime,
When adventure's lost its meaning -
I'll be homeward bound in time
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free to find my calling
And I'll return to you somehow
If you find it's me you're missing
If you're hoping I'll return,
To your thoughts I'll soon be listening,
And in the road I'll stop and turn
Then the wind will set me racing
As my journey nears its end
And the path I'll be retracing
When I'm homeward bound again
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free to find my calling
And I'll return to you somehow
(softly)
In the quiet misty morning
When the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing
I'll be homeward bound again.