What a week!
Transfer calls came pretty late last Monday... and I got moved to Daejeon!! (Specifically serving in 둔산 and 선화 wards--super close to the headquarters of our mission!) I always anticipated the day would come, especially since I spent quite a bit of time serving in the promised land!! I was surprised though the peace and comfort that overcame me after I received the news. I know this is part of the Lord's plan! I was fortunate to spend my final few days visiting those whom I've come to love and bear testimony to them one last time! I was greatly blessed ... God is good!
There are so many changes that have happened! It's hard to list them all... my new companion is Sister McQueen from New Zealand! She's been in Korea for one transfer, but is the hardest working, sweetest, and most loving sister... not to mention her accent! I'm trying hard to pick it up from here before I Skype home for Christmas. :) ㅋㅋㅋ We cover a bit larger of an area than Cheomdan, I think... it's hard to tell. All I know is that it takes quite a while on the bus to get to church... 35 minutes? We cover two wards who meet in the same building. I had to bear my testimony in both yesterday! Super fun... luckily I've practiced bearing my testimony up there so many times! And the wards are quite a bit smaller than Cheomdan. One has about 10 or 15 members who attend... the other has maybe 50 or so! But I love them already... it's amazing how fast God helps you heart increase. I also moved down here with my old district leader--Elder Stroud. He's still district leader up here, and covers the 둔산 ward with his companion. There is another set of 선화 ward elders.
Since both my companion and I are pretty new, it's been an adventure coming to know the area! hahaha... we've turned asking for directions into quite the effective street approach. It's has a lot more of a diverse feeling here in Daejeon, and I've also seen WAAAYYY more 외국인딜 [foreigners]. We have a pretty nice group of English speakers in 둔산 ward, which is super cool! This weekend we will be holding a Thanksgiving feast!! Ahhh... so excited. Also, my companion and I got roped into singing parts of the Messiah with the choir for the Christmas program. I'm loving it here!!
Among all of the new experiences here, I'm so grateful how closely I've witnessed the love of God for His Children. In the words of Nephi, I do not know all things, but I do know that God loves His children!! He is all-seeing, all-knowing, and all-loving! Sometimes we can't understand why certain things happen in our lives, especially as we strive hard to do our best. But through trusting in the Lord, we know that He has some sort of plan for it. We will receive peace. We will receive guidance. And we will receive His love. As we approach Thanksgiving this week, let's take time to ponder upon the great blessings and tender mercies in our lives. God is so very good!
Love you all!! Have a wonderful week!
Sister Marissa Hatch
해치 자매
Transfer calls came pretty late last Monday... and I got moved to Daejeon!! (Specifically serving in 둔산 and 선화 wards--super close to the headquarters of our mission!) I always anticipated the day would come, especially since I spent quite a bit of time serving in the promised land!! I was surprised though the peace and comfort that overcame me after I received the news. I know this is part of the Lord's plan! I was fortunate to spend my final few days visiting those whom I've come to love and bear testimony to them one last time! I was greatly blessed ... God is good!
There are so many changes that have happened! It's hard to list them all... my new companion is Sister McQueen from New Zealand! She's been in Korea for one transfer, but is the hardest working, sweetest, and most loving sister... not to mention her accent! I'm trying hard to pick it up from here before I Skype home for Christmas. :) ㅋㅋㅋ We cover a bit larger of an area than Cheomdan, I think... it's hard to tell. All I know is that it takes quite a while on the bus to get to church... 35 minutes? We cover two wards who meet in the same building. I had to bear my testimony in both yesterday! Super fun... luckily I've practiced bearing my testimony up there so many times! And the wards are quite a bit smaller than Cheomdan. One has about 10 or 15 members who attend... the other has maybe 50 or so! But I love them already... it's amazing how fast God helps you heart increase. I also moved down here with my old district leader--Elder Stroud. He's still district leader up here, and covers the 둔산 ward with his companion. There is another set of 선화 ward elders.
Since both my companion and I are pretty new, it's been an adventure coming to know the area! hahaha... we've turned asking for directions into quite the effective street approach. It's has a lot more of a diverse feeling here in Daejeon, and I've also seen WAAAYYY more 외국인딜 [foreigners]. We have a pretty nice group of English speakers in 둔산 ward, which is super cool! This weekend we will be holding a Thanksgiving feast!! Ahhh... so excited. Also, my companion and I got roped into singing parts of the Messiah with the choir for the Christmas program. I'm loving it here!!
Among all of the new experiences here, I'm so grateful how closely I've witnessed the love of God for His Children. In the words of Nephi, I do not know all things, but I do know that God loves His children!! He is all-seeing, all-knowing, and all-loving! Sometimes we can't understand why certain things happen in our lives, especially as we strive hard to do our best. But through trusting in the Lord, we know that He has some sort of plan for it. We will receive peace. We will receive guidance. And we will receive His love. As we approach Thanksgiving this week, let's take time to ponder upon the great blessings and tender mercies in our lives. God is so very good!
Love you all!! Have a wonderful week!
Sister Marissa Hatch
해치 자매