Third week

Family and Friends!

 

So another week has gone by, or should I say flown by? They really do go quickly! So this week we had a few miracles and I'm so excited to share them with you!

 

Wednesday so this week started off with Zone Meeting and Pizza School. Their pizza is actually pretty good :) I decided to not be brave and get regular old cheese :( lol It's okay I didn't regret my choice becuase it was really good.  During our meeting I learned that we must be happy missionaries because we are messengers of joy. If we aren't happy how are people going to believe we have a message of joy right? After our meeting we went to a poetry reading of sorts for a less active in our ward, so cool!!! There was traditional music and everything!! Loved it! Sorry I probably overuse the ! it's okay though. After the poetry reading we went to dinner at a members house and it was so much fun.  She told us about her conversion story, how her father in law set her up with her husband, and her proposal! Such cute stories all of them! I wish I could type them all super fast but I don't think there is time :(. I'll say this about her conversion story her mom is amazing!! Her mom wanted her to meet the missionaries because she thought they were cute and wanted her daughter to practice her English so the member met with the missionaries and then left for school. Two months after she gets a call from her mom and her mom tells her she has been baptized and that she has to meet with the missionaries! How awesome is that!! I love it! The member has a brother and there mom offered to buy him a car if gets baptized, so funny. Well he did but he is no longer active :( sad day but funny story.  Anyway so that was a great way to end the day :).

 

Something I forgot to mention  Wednesday we met this guy on the street and he starts talking to us in English and then he says I want to go to church and we were both a bit stunned and taken aback. I got so excited, imagine the dorky guy from the best two years, yes this is how I felt lol. So we give him our information and the English class info by the time we think to get his number he's gone :(. But Friday\Sun he calls us! Thankfully we had a dinner appointment for later that night with a member and the elders. We refer him to the elders because that is what we typically try to do if they are male. Well the appointment ends up taking a good three to four hours! I was so nervous that it took too long, but it ended up being great. He got taught the first discussion with the help of members and extra missionaries! And he ended up coming to church on Sunday!!! So exciting.

 

Saturday we ended up going to a relief society luncheon at 11:30. The lunch was orginally supposed to be at the church but then got moved to a really nice restauarant instead and I later found out the Bishop paid! So kind right?! It was cool the food was well, Korean of course :). We got done with the lunceon at about 2:30, yes typical Relief Society :).

 

Sunday was awesome!! Okay I sang in church, no so great but the whole thing wasn't so bad. We sang Silent Night, the first verse in German (german elder sang it with his companion), the next in English and the last verse in Korean of course :). After church we had the usual dinner my ward puts on every Sunday. Super spicy!! I was sweating and my fingers tingled, and I got a bit dizzy because of how spicy it was but I am happy to say I finished all of it! :) Yay! After the dinner we met up with an old investigator who contacted us after three weeks of silence. So exciting because he has a friend with him. We met them both and the guy gave his friend his copy of the Book of Mormon and we gave him a hard cover he had requested. They are both now are new investigators!! So exciting. We are helping them both with English and with the gospel! And one of them set a baptismal goal for one month from yesterday! So exciting and they were both so cool and super nice!

 

I love the message from zone meeting because it's true we have so much in our lives to be grateful for and so much to smile about. I'm so grateful I get to share this message of joy with the world. Yesterday I was asked why I came on a mission and I was able to testify that I know this gospel is true and that I've seen the happiness it's brought me and my family and I want to share it with the world. I was also able to testify that I know that my call comes from Heavenly Father and I know I'm here for a reason, probably many. I'm learning so much and no missions aren't easy but every minute is worth it. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else or doing anything else. I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful family and such incredible friends thank you so much!

 

Love Always,

Sister Tovar

Happy Thanksgiving

December 2, 2013

Hello family and friends!!

I think I actually prefer hand writing this letter lol so maybe I'll
go back to that. Anyway, my second week in Korea has been crazy of
course!! Sorry no pictures this week either, hopefully next week:).

Thanksgiving was this past week!! Hope you all had a wonderful
Thanksgiving! We have an army base in my mission and the incredible
members of that branch hosted all of the missionaries in my mission!!
So crazy but so nice. The apartment I went to was really nice and they
had all of the Thanksgiving favorites, including my ham! Yay! They
also had every pie you could think of! And they let us take tons of
food home. I was so grateful that these wonderful members let us into
their home and let us share the holidays with them.

That night I also went on my first exchange and it was great! I
learned a lot, I learned that being a senior companion is not easy.
Sorry during the exchange the other sister came to my area so I was
senior companion and that meant I took the lead in everything. Not
fun!  I don't know the language or the routes so I had to learn
somethings fast. At least now I know how to get home :).

Have I mentioned how much I love my ward?? The members are all so
kind! and we had dinner at the bishops house Sunday and it was
amazing! His wife is an incredible cook! He also used the opportunity
to teach us all some Korean, thankfully!

Things have been great and although I feel like I'm regressing in the
language I know I'm progressing, but it's hard. I've decided to take
on on Christlike attribute a month and really study it and apply it.
This month the attribute I've been working on is diligence. It's
interesting because as I was trying to decide which to do that one
felt right. Well a couple of days after I choose it I was rereading a
blessing I was given in the MTC and in the blessing it talked a lot
about diligence and how much I need to have it lol funny right?
Definitely not a coincidence :). Anyway, I've learned so much about it
and I keep learning more everyday. Diligence is working even when you
are too tired to work, it means not giving up. And it means enduring
EVERYTHING that gets thrown your way in the best way possible. It
means giving everyone and everything your best. I'm trying so hard to
do that because that is what everyone and every situation deserve. It
is hard and I am also trying to remember to be patient with myself but
it's doable. Of course I won't always be great at diligence but as
long as I'm trying and I am giving my all that's all that matters. So
when things get tough I just try to smile and remember all the
blessings I have and that things are great and I can do anything with
my Heavenly Father.

Hope that wasn't preachy but that's just one of the many things I've
been learning.  You know I think even after my mission I want to say
hello to random people and smile at them they seem to like it even if
it is a bit weird. :) Anyway I hope to hear from you and I hope
everyone is doing great! I love you all so much and I am so grateful
to have you in my life. I love being on a mission and am grateful to
have the gospel in my life and my families life.

Love Always,
Sister Tovar

My first week in the field!!!

Family and friends :)

 

So this week pretty much everyone is just going to get a group email becuase today was hectic and I only have about 30 min left online :). So here it goes... biggest news of the week I'M IN KOREA!!!! I finally made it!! This first week has been crazy! Starting with flying solo on Monday. My first flight I sat in the middle of two men and that was a bit weird, but we chatted and one is actually non religious and the other was a member of the church. I got the feeling the non member didn't really want info about the church but we did talk a bit so maybe one day. Then I had my four hour layover and my advice to anyone still in the MTC buy two phone cards! Mine was only good for one call so it was a bit hectic trying to figure out how I was going to call home for the four hour layover, but we figured it out and I stayed on the phone long enough to have the flight attendants rushing me onto the plane :). The plane was huge! It had two decks! Super cool right? And I was able to change seats to the very back where a Korean girl and I had four seats to ourselves it was awesome! We chatted a bit, she helped me with my Korean, and then she slept for about twelve of the thirteen hour flight! I couldn't do that but that's okay oh and I got fed plenty of the plane it was quite nice :). Sorry my sentences are not flowing nicely but I'm more concerned with quantity right now not quality. Next my mission president and his wife picked me up from the airport!! I loved it they are the kindest people ever! His wife is so sweet! She just wanted me to feel welcomed and at home! I loved! I also got to chat with them all the way back to their house. Nope I did not have to the subway like the rest of my group, sorry :( lol. That night I spent the night at their house then had the terrifying first interview with my mission president. It was great! I love my mission president he is an amazing person! And I am excited to serve under him.

 

The next day I was going to meet my first field companion or as they are called more often, my trainer :). But before that I went to a Zone Conference for a different zone because I had to travel with president and his wife. I didn't mind one bit because I got to see Sister Chestnut!!! I was so happy to be able to see her on my first actual day in Korea! I loved it. I then finally met my companion and we were off to our apartment! Holy hana was it hard transporting all my stuff to our apartment by subway! Thankfully Koreans are so kind! My companion and I were carrying my luggage up the stairs when three nice men took the handles and carried them for us! So nice right!! Love it! I'll send pictures of my apartment next pday I forgot my card reader today :( sorry. But guess what?? The rumors are true, we sleep on mats and eat with chopsticks, oh and every meal includes rice and kimchi! Yep!! I love sleeping on mats, honestly I'm not sure I want to go back to a regular bed the only thing I don't like too much is putting it away every morning. I love the rice so good!! Kimchi though well my love for that still needs to develop, lol. It's so spicy!! and fishy tasting. Everything in Korea has a fishy aftertaste except the bread and rice which is why I'm going to be fat lol.

 

Let's see other good news oh I gave away my first Book of Mormon on the street to an older man. We chatted a bit with him and he knew some English which was nice gave him a Book of Mormon and committed him to read the intro page :) Then gave him our number, but still no call. Hopefully some day. I really liked him a lot and hope he calls us. I also met two older ladies one at a bus stop and another on the bus and that was pretty awesome!! They talked to me after I initiated the conversation lol!! One complimented my curly hair :) and then reprimanded me for writing in my journal in English lol she said I should be writing in Korean. I tried speling out Korean in Korean and forgot a character so she took my paper away and wrote her name and a few other things lol I loved it!!! Super sweet and she lives near us so I'm hoping we will run into her again because I loved talking to her!! Another crazy experience my companion got yelled at by an elderly woman, not so much fun!!

 

Anyway, I think that's all for now next time hopefully I'll have more time. I'm so excited to be in Korea and I am working really hard to learn this language. There is a scripture that says that the gospel will be taught to everyone and in their own langauge I want to help be part of making that prophecy come true and I really hope to be able to I just have work hard! I love the people of Korea they are so kind and patient with my horrible Korean. I love this gospel and my Savior. I know that if we let Him He will mold us to who we are meant to be and who we can be. I know He loves all His children becuase that is why I'm here across the world bringing them His gospel! I love this work and for my friends and family at home please be part of it we can't do much without the help of the members, you are vital to work. I'm so escited to continue on this crazy adventure! I'll let you know how it goes! I love you all so much! Thank you for your love and support.

 

Always,

 

Sister Tovar :)

November 3, 2013

Family and Friends!

Wow the past week has been an adventure! =)
So awesome! A few things have happened  a)I got my travel plans =) b) I stepped out into the real world as a missionary =) c) there was a great devotional Tuesday =) d) Apparently feet are more important than I thought, who would a thought?

I'm sorry its been about two weeks since I last wrote its just been super busy. Okay so I'll start with my feet first. I had been having some pain in my feet top and bottom so I made an appointment with the foot doctor and apparently I have hyper mobile feet and at some point in my life, not now, I will have to have foot surgery.  It is very common so its not too much of a concern but thanks to it I had to get orthotic shoes.  So much fun =), no they really aren't that bad.  Well this is where going to the outside world comes in.  To buy the shoes my companion and I went to Modern Shoe. It was so odd to be in the outside world! A man came up to us and said, "Hello Sister." Small thing but it was so cool to be called a sister! I'm so grateful to be grouped as a missionary it really is an honor.

Okay so now for the big news........drumroll..... I leave November 7 for Korea! That is 4 days from when I am writing this.  Crazy right!?!? I'm so excited though and I know it will be great! I don't know the language but I know Heavenly Father will help me because this is His work.

Speaking of missionary work a few days ago I went to infield orientation and found out that only about 2% of all members do missionary work =(. How sad is that? I know I was included in that 2% before my mission but I hope never again. As a missionary I've been able to see how much we really do need members.

The scripture that has been in my head a lot this week is "Lean not unto thine own understanding but trust in the Lord with all thy heart, mind, and strength" (sorry if its not quoted 100% right. Bu the main idea is that we put all our trust in the Lord and our faith in Him.  We must learn to lean on Him.  Fear is not faith and we have nothing to fear if we have faith in God and if we are doing what we can to show our faith. Enduring to the end is our, is my goal.

I am sorry this is a short letter but I'm sure I'll have more to say next week.  I am so grateful for all my friends and for all my family.

Always,

Sister Tovar

October 20, 2013

Family and Friends,

Sorry I skipped a week of writing it is just chaotic here sometimes.

So this past week we had a visit from the Oaks. =) It was awesome to hear both of them talk.  It's funny I thought I would get more from what he said but I was wrong.

Sister Oaks told a story about when she was in the MTC in Hawaii! So cool right? She told us about one experience she had and what she learned. While she was at the MTC she was learning Japanese because that is where she was headed. For those of you who don't know the dynamic of it here is a quick overview. At the MTC you have your bedroom and then you have your classroom which is your home here. Second only to your companion your class or those in your class are the ones you spend the most time with so they are like your family, because of how much time you spend with them. Back to the story, Sister Oaks tells about when her class, all but me, finished their language book and they all understood it, al but one. Because of this they all began to celebrate, cheer and clap and be happy they had finished, he ran out of the room in tears.  Their teacher immediately stopped their celebration and said, "Don't you get it? If one of you fail you all fail. You came here to learn to as Jesus Christ love."

That line, "if on of us fail we all fail," really hit home.  We have not been put on this Earth to compete with one another we are all together because we are meant to help one another. I love  Mosiah 18: 8-10 because it tells us what our baptismal covenants are. If one fails we all fail! But we must remember President Uchtordf's  talk, we must respect agency. Some may choose to not accept our help or love which is always heartbreaking but not something we can change.

Which brings me to the next part I loved about her talk, "we are here to learn to love as Heavenly Father (and Christ) love." What does that mean? Well I'm still trying to figure it out but what I understood this weeks is that maybe it means we treat everyone as though they were family. That we care for and about them as if though they were family. Because they are someone's family here on earth and they do have spirits rooting for them just as we all do.

My favorite scripture is 2 Kings 6:15-17 because to me it reminds me of all those fighting for us with us and helping us.  Although we may not see them. For me I specifically think of my brother Ramiro David. That is my goal to love all as family to search for them as though they were lost family, to help and succor as though they were family because they are family. God love us all as His children and we must love one another as brothers and sisters.

A question I heard for the second time this week was, "If you were the only one on this Earth do you believe Christ would still have gone through the atonement?" The answer I know to be true is "YES", if I were the only one Christ would still have come down and atoned for me.

This is my testimony that has only become stronger while here. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are aware of me and each of us and I know He loves each of us and that he knows us individually.  Heavenly Father has helped me so much, if I didn't have a testimony of Him of His love, of the truthfulness of His gospel I would not be serving a mission. But, I am and I do know this is His gospel, I know Joseph Smith was His prophet and that He restored the fulness of the gospel that Christ had established in His lifetime.  I know President Monson is a true and living prophet. I know that everyone can have this knowledge for themselves if they pray sincerely and with faith.  "Knock and it shall be opened, ask and ye shall receive." Nothing is easy its not meant to be, but it all will be worth it and we can all find joy in the journey and at the end.

I dont mean to be preachy but this/these are all things I have come to learn and are learning to apply in my life right now.  Remember you are never alone, I am never alone.  Trust and have faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.


Always,
Sister Tovar

P.S. I leave for Korea in 2 /12-3 weeks! (as of her writing this letter, as of today she leaves in less than a week!!!!!!) Two letters from now I should have travel plans to write to all. =) (She leaves Thursday to Korea)