Just Feastin'

ahhh, just back on that pday email scramble grind... Yes I am fine. Yes, the Lord's taking good care of me, yes the Korean is hard.. awhh, there really isn't much to complain about living in a bubble. Other than the fact that I miss you all! I ....ran... into my two very best friends last week on my way into the temple.. OH MY GOODNESS. Tender mercy galore. I am so very grateful for both my family and friends.. for all of your incredible examples to me.. I have so much to look forward to in life.. so much to work hard for. Thank you!

If I wasn't gaining so much faith and hope each day I might say I don't think I will ever have as good of a week as this last.. Not only did Elder Richard G. Scott come to talk to us, but as did 3 other members of the General Presidencies. I am saying Hongumar sentences like jackie chan, I got the best chips and salsa.. Kudos to Tina. We get to sing at GENERAL CONFERENCE and I can honestly say I am not only a step, but steps closer to being the missionary Heavenly Father needs me to be. This might sound absurd, but I never want to leave. The MTC is this glorious dedicated earthly heaven.. and I refuse to leave. I hate talking about this.. but It's already been over a month.. and I'm sitting here crying thinking about the fact that I only have 17 more of these. I once thought I never wanted to leave Jerusalem.. ya, that was pathetic compared to this. 

Even though every moment of our hectically mapped out days is beneficial... I have been able to gain more out of a sole hour of personal study here than I have in all of my life's study sessions prior. The difference between reading and feasting is HUGE. Especially when it comes to the Book of Mormon. Every year towards the end of November we gather up our families for this holiday we call Thanksgiving. We spend all day working up a sweat.. whether it be through cooking, running turkey trots, playing sports until someone breaks a nose hahah... and then.. we feast. We eat until our hearts content, until we can't eat another kernel of corn. And then what do we do? Bounce right out of it and play more sports?? NO. We sit and we converse, being completely overwhelmed with our feasts that often times, it hurts. We are so grateful and then we help one another in cleaning.. and we leave each feast better people and with more love. What's the difference between this feast and the one the Lord asks us to do every day? 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for people, it's about their progress and their ability to move forward. Hopefully, moving upward. Moving upward is slight differently from moving on a continued flat surface.. First of all, it takes about a fraction of the energy.. and second, it doesn't push us. Although there are moments in my life that I wish someone could just push me up a hill.. (I once tried this with Mak hahhaha).. I can assure you that it doesn't work. We need to put in the energy. We need to feast. How are you feasting on the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

I will admit, whenever I am feeling the least bit discouraged... I am the first to resign, clam up and take the back seat. I absolutely hate letting people see me puffy eyed and tear stained.. It's incredible what measures I find myself taking to avoid letting anyone see me cry. (blinks blinks blinks) And why go through such large and extreme measures? Because I know that I have been blessed with a happy disposition on life... I am not allowed to be sad... what type of missionary would I be without a smile on my face??? Ya ya, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU SISTER WILLCOX??? A mission is HARD. Well, a friend once told me of a pivotal moment of their mission.. the moment they realized how much people pay attention to our emotions.. A very similar experience happened to me at the start of this week and I remembered that story when an elder gave my companion a high five and told me I didn't deserve one since I wasn't always smiling. I don't know exactly how it feels to receive a bullet through the heart.. But I would assume it's pretty similar. 

No, I wasn't expecting this to be easy. Nor did I assume my pillow wouldn't catch a few tears at night.. But how could I? A mission isn't anything like what I had imagined.. I would have never imagined the fatigue, frustration, temptation... the happiness, joy and love I have received.. It isn't something one could ever explain. I half wanted to punch, half wanted to hug the Elder that refused to give me a high five. This is hard.. living the Gospel is hard. learning a new language is hard. putting in 100% effort each day does not come without a toll. But what is it that I am doing? For what purpose am I learning Korean? Why am I putting in every ounce of energy I've got??? Because I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. Because I have a testimony of my Savior and His atonement for all mankind. Because I know that God sent us to Earth to be tried, tested and proven worthy to return to His presence. I know exactly how to achieve eternal life, not only for myself.. but for my family and loved ones. This life, however hard it may be, is not the end. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU SISTER WILLCOX??? why AREN'T you always smiling?? Although this lesson was hard to accept... my mouth now hurts in the corners and I will probably need surgery to remove the smile off my face when I return. Rejoice family! We have the Plan of Happiness.. not the plan of rules, trials or lessons.. .But the Plan of Happiness. 

I need to learn to stop limiting the Lord. With Him ALL things are possible. (Luke 1:37) And guess what? That promise isn't only for missionaries. I know that if God doesn't fix something, then He will carry us through it. He has promised to be on our left and on our right.. continuously bearing us up through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Do you understand what that means??? Our choir director shared a very intricate universe, stars, galaxies message to us.. And since I refuse to butcher it.. I'll just share one specific quote I know I got word for word... "The Lord is as personal as He is grand." He knows your life, even more than I do.. He knows your strengths, potential.. just as well as your weaknesses and trials.. He has and continually prepares you for these experiences.. Rejoice, the End is Eternal Life and the Lord is here to direct and lead you to it! I may not be superstitious, but I am a little stitious.. and sometimes, I trust in myself only... But each day I learn more and more how much He LOVES us and wants us to return to Him and receive Eternal Happiness. I know that with every step we take in drawing closer to God and becoming more like our Savior, is an equal step closer to happiness. I want people to recognize me as the happiest person they know.. I know that goal is a looooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnng way down the road.. But I know who's helping me down the path. I know who we can trust.

We are not on the Lord's side, the Lord is on ours. As He died to make men Holy, I will live to make men free.

All my love,

Sister Willcox

I am constantly being teasing for my small feet... And for flipping my hair behind my left shoulder. (hello, my name tag needs to be showing) Also, the native Koreans came into the laundry room today with sheets covering their faces and pushed each other through the laundry room. I think Korea is going to be a treat. I'm always praying for you. 

Keeping Things Fresh

HI HI HIYAH. which reminds me, there's only one person in my entire district that's ever seen heavyweights and he's from Denmark. What is this new generation??!?!?

    I refuse to start every email with, "This week was awesome!", so just remember I'm always thinking it. Line upon line, precept upon precept.. This is the working of the Gospel. Although I will testify that we can receive explosive truths and manifestations.. nothing speaks quite as softly as the Holy Ghost. I will be honest and admit this used to frustrate and confuse me... Why would the Lord want to wait to give us spiritual confirmation and understanding? Wouldn't he want to us to know immediately after inquiring, learning or hearing??? Why would He suffer His children to wander in darkness? If the Lord wanted something to be done, it would be done. If the Lord wanted us to be able to speak Korean fluently... We wouldn't need to be here for 9 weeks. If I had felt the confirmation that it was my time to serve a mission anytime previous to this year, I would have received it already. But I didn't.. Instead, I had a year full of ups and downs, question and answer and no confirmation that it was finally my time to go. You know exactly what I'm talking about from this past year.. yet, the idea still remained, the desire strengthened and now here I am. One hundred times over more refined, prepared and ready to be the Lord's representative. Although I do not understand the Lord's timing in my life... I do know that He was always watching over me and preparing me for a pathway I knew even less about. His timing has helped my testimony, personality and character line upon line, precept upon precept. Don't get me wrong, there is still mountains to be moved on my road to discipleship.. but He has helped strengthen my faith in order for it to be done. I know that just as aware of me He is right now.. is JUST as aware of me He was as I 'wandered' in darkness. He is always watching over us. I don't know why it's almost been 2 years since the mission age change and I am finally going.. But I do know that His timing is perfect. Frustrating.. but perfect nonetheless. I love my companion. I know that there isn't anyone in the whole world who could teach me the lessons she is sharing with me. I love my district and am blown away as they answer questions I've wondered for years.. I love my teachers and their own individual ways of helping me become a more effective missionary. I love my Branch Presidency and every single moment I am edified by their knowledge. And these are just a fraction of the reasons why two years was worth the wait.. The Lord's timing will always be worth the wait. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost's role in my life this week in answering that huge question I've been questioning the past two years.

    I know that with every question we could possibly think of is an answer waiting to be learned... I may not always be the answer we want, but it's the Lord's answer.. and I have a slight hunch that He knows better than we do. In addition to the large questions I've wondered in my life... I often times find myself asking simple questions with no apparent answer. And I wait, wait, wait... Racking my brain for understanding, search scripture after scripture, say prayer after prayer... all to no avail.. and then suddenly, it comes. Softer than my purple suede flats, brighter than the light flooding the room every morning and more exhilarating than the thought of an apostle speaking to us.. I love the Holy Ghost.. I'd be willing to spend days, weeks even years waiting for an answer. As long as I knew it would come, and the glorious thing about this Gospel is that we KNOW that they will come... they always will.

    I only have about half the time I usually have, my bad. But I do want to share something that really inspired me this week.. During our Tuesday night devotional, we were graced with the presence of Brother and Sister Sitati! Oooo, quick side note. As a STL, we had the privilege of picking up a new branch of Native Koreans on Tuesday.. As I stood outside their classroom waiting for them to be dismissed... Brother and Sister Nally approached me (MTC President and wife) and gave me hugs and we chatted for a while.. until the Sitati's got there and I got to talk with them and shake hands/hug them! Blessings blessing blessings!! Anyways, in his address, Brother Sitati kept saying "you are a Representative of Jesus Christ"... and it finally hit me. I was not called as a missionary simply to spread the Gospel.. If that were so... Korean speaking natives wouldn't have to learn German in order to preach in Germany! Nor I sent to anywhere that wasn't English speaking.. But we were called to Represent Christ.. Christ wasn't just a teacher, but an example.. Not just a carpenter, but a healer.. My calling is not only to spread the Gospel.. but to love, serve, help, comfort His children.. just as He did in His earthy ministry. The task ahead of me is great.. but I know that He is with me every step of the way.

    In a letter I received from a friend this week were three words he held to the utmost of importance, especially for that of a missionary. The words were Ponder, Remember and Become. Coincidentally, or not ;) the day after I received this letter was the day I got to 2 Nephi 32 in my scripture reading. As I read this chapter these three words kept popping back up in my mind.. We must ALWAYS ponder the words of Christ so that we may remain in the Light of Christ.. (verse 4) After we have pondered these things, the Holy Ghost will tell us all of the things that we must do.. and then we must ponder them still (verse 8).. As we do that.. as we continually feast upon not only the Words of Christ, but the promptings we receive from the Holy Ghost, I know that He will show us all things that we must do.. And for me.. that will be to become an angel of the Lord.. Someone who will be able to speak with the tongue of Angels (vs. 2-3). What does the Lord want to teach you? What does He want you to become? Remember your divine worth.. and let the Holy Ghost help you become that. My life has been so much more... everything, as I've let the Lord take me down the pathway He has prepared for me.

    These past few weeks have been incredible. I have seen countless blessings, miracles, answers to prayers and changes and this is only the beginning! I am so very grateful for your love and support.. not only at this time in my life, but always. It feels like Christmas whenever I receive a letter from you, except better. I don't know how I got so lucky, not only with you.. but everything in my life! Well.. everything except for my inability to keep pairs of socks. You'll never guess what went missing today.............. I love you all so very much. I pray for you constantly.

All my love, 

Sister Willcox

Just practicing our Korean bowing

my companion and one of the new natives!!!! Sister Oh. 

I currently have 14 knots in my back

Open Your Mouth and It Shall Be Filled

Although I have not yet learned the purpose of all things, much less the reasoning behind anything... Day by day, Heavenly Father reveals little truths to me through the ever so quiet spirit of the Holy Ghost. How incredible to know that all knowledge, strengthened testimony.. even Korean I am learning will all rise with me! That the things I am earnestly seeking for and often times struggling to learn, will never go to waste! No time on earth is worth a second of waste. This thought alone has made this week.. as hard as it was.. worth it. But do you want to know what makes it even more worth it?? When we are privileged with even but a glimpse of His purpose... a slice of understanding to our Father's grand design. "There is no such thing as a coincidence, only God working under an anonymous name. Each and every investigator, I will have.. has been called and selected and elected to be my investigator.. as long as I remain worthy and listening to the promptings of the spirit. This same principle applies to each companion, president and leader I will have throughout my mission. However, I hadn't realized how true these words would ring to my MTC teachers. I absolutely love my teachers!!! Both Brother Scoville and Sister Simonson have been exactly what I have needed... in my high points as well as in my low points. Their spirit, testimony and faith have encouraged me every single day and I am getting anxiety attacks thinking about 6 weeks from nowwhen I have to say goodbye. Each day I leave their lessons with more and more motivation to serve the people of Korea! To someday speak the language like them. To dedicate my life to missionary work. 

I am often quick to forget that I was not called on a mission to Seoul, Korea to simply speak Korean.. Even though it's easy to think that when all I do is jam my mind with Hongumar...... No, I was called to represent our Savior Jesus Christ, to spread the Plan of Salvation to the children of God.. To share the testimony of Sister Jamie Willcox through the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I can't say I've always loved bearing my testimony.. especially not at the girl's camp bawl fests. But in the latter years of my life, I have enjoyed strengthening my own testimony with each bearing and have looked forward to each opportunity. That all changed this week. As a STL, we have the opportunity of... in the wise words of our Branch President, representing the Celestial Branch by being the very first people to welcome the new Korean missionaries. Usually I would say I'm pretty okay meeting new people, hardly ever intimidated... But how could I not be when one of our responsibilities was to bear our testimony in Korean???!??!?!??!? Hello, we haven't learned the stating facts grammar form.!!!!! I was a nervous wreck following our Tuesday night branch meeting.... aka only had one day until our new missionaries arrived.! Since our branch meetings follow after Tuesday night devotional and district meeting.. As soon as I got back to our residency with only 20 minutes until quiet time.. I planned out exactly what I needed to accomplish in order to be ready and said an earnest prayer for help. The following morning, I was looking forward to the hour of additional study time we had to really prepare myself... until our DL starts shuffling us to host the new missionaries. Needless to say, I had zero time to prepare. 

I don't care who you are or what your story is. God answers our prayers. Whether they be for helping in school, work, relationships or even just in bearing your testimony in a foreign language.. He answers our prayers of help. I woke up yesterday without a clue on how to bear my testimony, but when the time came.. very unexpectedly as our two zone leaders and my fellow STL threw me under the bus and opened the floor up for me first................................. I smiled, stood up in front of our two new districts.. said a prayer... and bore my testimony. Words came to my mouth that I didn't have any recollection of studying. D&C 33:8. Sentences were formed and for the very first time since entering the MTC, I knew exactly what I was saying.. and why I am here. Heavenly Father is earnestly seeking out opportunities to answer our prayers. I promise that as you turn to Him, with everything... Not just just the things you're humbled to rely on Him for, He'll be there. He will answer you, regardless of how He does it. I was nervous for 24 hours. Sometimes, he may answer us immediately and others might take years.. But I know that He does answer them. That He will. That He always will. 

"Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men." (D&C 138:56) This is my own personal work and glory... to do the work of my Savior. To spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that the Gospel is true. That it is the plan our Heavenly Father created in order for us to return to Him. I know that none can be saved without the redeeming as well as the enabling and purifying powers of the Atonement. I see a miracle every single hour or every single day.. I see the miracle of the Atonement of Jesus Christ working on me.. Slowly, very slowly working on my flaws, weakness and struggles. But they are miracles nonetheless.

 On several different occasions this week I found myself in the lowest of moods.. The veil of ministering angels and love has become just as thin as satan's. I was naive in assuming I didn't have to worry about him, he is always waiting.. always tempting.. always placing negative thoughts in our minds. But as soon as he's ready to enter, I witness one of those miracles. Whether it be small and seemingly insignificant, or large and life changing.. The power of God will win every single time. How grateful I am to know that each day can and WILL be better than the last. That the Atonement will not only fix us, but make us new and even better than before! 

I hope you enjoyed your trip to California!! You better have given Grandma Call my loving. I would say I'm jealous, but there isn't a place in the entire world I would rather be. Thank you so much for your love and support!! I love you all more than I can ever express! I put all my hand written letters in the mail earlier today, so hopefully you get them before the end of this week!! Sorry for the penmanship... I've become very skilled at characters and print no longer comes easy.. As for this email.. I swear I am losing my ability to talk in English. 

Onward, ever onward 

All my love, 

Sister Willcox

ps, the pictures won't attach on these computers.. sorry.. I'll send extras next week! Such a bust.. I got a few keepers this week. Ps. ANGIE, SEND ME MORE PICTURES. Gooble gobble I have the most beautiful niece and nephew. 

Polka dots sisters

Have I mentioned how much I love my district?

My view... 6 days a week

CUDOJAW

I always thought I knew what missionaries meant when they said that the days seems like weeks and the weeks seem like days. I've been here for 2 weeks already?? Is that even possible??? I feel like I've only been here for one day... but then again.. sometimes I feel like it's been a month. Time.. weird. Since I'm fairly new at this whole "weekly summary" ordeal, bear with me for the randomness of thought and word.. My brain feels like it's working more right now scrambling to figure out what I want to talk about then compared to when I am in class learning Korean. The irony. 

I never knew of this immeasurable amount of happiness... The type of happiness that isn't dependent on who I am with, who loves me or where I am going.. But happiness from being obedient to The Lord. I just chopped 7 inches of my hair... and I'm still smiling. I can't remember how to play To Satisfy The Law on the piano anymore, and I am still UNBELIEVABLY HAPPY. Even if I don't get to teach a single lesson on my mission, I am so grateful for this opportunity I have to learn of the blessing of being obedient! I started a new journal the other day filled with Life Tips... Almost every single one of them contains the word obedience.. and faith. Obedience is not only the first law of the Gospel.. but it is the basis upon which all blessings are predicated. I have never been so obedient in every aspect of my life, nor have I ever been blessed so abundantly! The Lord truly wishes to bless us. 

BEST WEEK EVER! hahaha. Don't get me wrong... it was the hardest week ever, but even a two week old missionary knows there's opposition in all things. Even though I refused to show it, I was stressed out my mind. Korean is proving to be more and more difficult with exceptions, rules, sentence structure, urgghhh... Saturday night hit and I was pretty internally in the slumps. I have never felt so weak in my own abilities and so acutely aware of the "natural man" that I am.. but, being blessed with a happy disposition, I arose the next morning determined to forget myself and depend on the Lord. Within 10 minutes of getting to our classrooms after breakfast, President Yost came into our room and asked to meet with me. Feelings of love overcame me as I thought to myself, wow, the Lord knows I needed comfort and a destresser... This is awesome. Well, immediately after closing the door, President Yost said, "I read your email Sister Willcox, and I know you're feeling slightly stressed but now we would like to add to your stress and extend the assignment of Sister Training Leader to you." I so wish I could have a recording of my face in that exact moment. My heart started pounding and feelings of love and power completely consumed me.. and then a boatload of feelings of more stress. HAHAH. It was an interesting second Sunday to say the least. One in which I more fully understood what the chickens to hens... quoted 21 times a day scripture mastery meant... If you guessed Ether 12:27 you're doing something right. I have never in my life felt so inadequate for a calling... I had only been here for 10 days.. couldn't even formulate my own Korean sentences.. how could I be a STL as well??? Well, the Lord has helped me in my weaknesses.. and has made me strong. I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to add this assignment to my mission call. I have grown more in love, compassion and understanding in this last week only than I have my entire life. The Lord has provided me a way to look outward, even if it is by assignment and not according to my own natural desires... haha. 

I am so excited to continue to keep growing and learning.. Each day and I find myself incredibly happy and grateful for the progression I am able to make with the Lord helping me along. I have never felt so close to Him in my entire life. I know that he is always with us. Loving us, guiding us and forever strengthening us. The Atonement was not simply a once in a lifetime event.. Although it is singular in moment... I know that Jesus Christ lives. That He is STILL fighting for our Salvation. He will forever be our Savior, Redeemer and our loving brother. He will continue to plead for us, not just on a weekly basis as we turn our hearts to Him during sacrament meeting, but daily, in every single moment of our lives. He continually sends us angels, both not in and not in this world. I am so grateful for all the people in my life.. Who have acted in His behalf in helping me getting to this point. You have all been an angel from the Atonement of Jesus Christ.. Thank you. 

Every day is an opportunity for us.. to not only draw closer to the Lord..but to reach the limitless potential we rightfully earned in the premortal world. I have never pushed myself harder.. Not in my geeky AP class or college courses, never. I know that we have a divine calling in this life.. and I am going to do everything I can to attain it. President Yost told me, "When you were in the premortal world I know you were nagging to be sent to earth. To be tested and then proven worthy to return to our Heavenly Father. All you thought about was the day when you could finally return to Him. Well, your time has finally come.. But with that patience you were able to gain, utilize this time of MTC preparation just like you did in the Premortal. The day will soon come when the Lord needs you, be ready for it." I may not be a total perfectionist.. but I know I am a determined person.. I don't care where the Lord calls me, I am going to be ready to reap the harvest in the worst possible area. To teach the grumpiest Koreans. To bring the gospel to my family. I am a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and with God, I know all things are possible. I refuse to wait until the end of my mission to ask myself if I gave it my all. 

Thank you so much for all the love and prayers you have sent me, I feel them and I testify of the power of prayer. I love you all so much. Thank you for bringing me a happiness I have only obtained by knowing my family can live together for eternity! I'll send off your letters a little later today! I'm always praying for you!

All my love, 
Sister Willcox

ps.. I love my district.. All we do is warp Office quotes and make them spiritual. Jama Lama Ding dong Forever.

UNYOUNGHASSAYOOOOOOOo

How many times have I driven, ran or walked past the Provo MTC but not once actually made it inside... Well, I finally made it inside the gates and... speechless. 

I have never been so overcome with emotion. Everything from love, excitement, anxiety, nervousness... it's all found here inside the black gates. Everything around me screams, "Isolation!". Yet, I have never felt so comforted, strengthened and loved. This is a dedicated building, calling and work and I have the privilege of worrying about nothing else for the next 18 months.. Sorry suckers. 

I've waited all week to be overcome completely with anxiety, stress and worry... Everyone always says, "The first week at the MTC is so hard." Well, thanks to your repetitive teaching.. Be where you're supposed to be, when you're supposed to be there and with whom you're supposed to be with... Those feelings never came. The day has finally come when my own desires have matched up with the exact same desire of our loving Heavenly Father, and I know that there is no other calling for me at this time. I am a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What a privilege and honor. What a terrifying responsibility and calling to stand in proxy as our Savior, Jesus Christ as a shepherd for His sheep.

Every night as I write in my journal, it starts off with some variation of, "Best Day EVER!" I feel like such a dweeb whenever I write it out, but there really is no other explanation. I have never been so incredibly happy in my life. I have also never been so worn down mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically.. But that just adds to the happiness. What better joy can we find then in turning to our Savior for His strength? I was never asked to do this alone. In fact, Christ has literally yoked Himself with me and I won't ever have to do this alone. Whenever I feel in the least bit down, I immediately turn to Him and find strength beyond measure. Jacob 5:72 states that the Lord has promised us that He will labor with us. He didn't just send out his workers and stand by as they did all that He asked. No. He went out with them and I can truly testify of that truth. He has been beside me day in and day out... along with so many angels surrounding me. I have felt your prayers, love and faith and couldn't possible quit. Thank you so very much for all your support and love... it's funny how big of an impact one little note, letter or package has come to have. Your love motivates me more and more to put in my best efforts and I couldn't thank you enough!!! I especially loved the chips and salsa.. The MTC food is indescribable... I literally could not come up with words to convey my thoughts on its greasy, nasty.... you get the picture. Anyways, as much as I know you care to hear about the MTC food...

My companion's name is Sister Merri Lee Stancliffe from the Toppenish reservation in Washington. She's 21 and has attended BYU-I since graduating. She also studied Korean there and has been obsessed with KPOP and Korean Soap Operas for the last couple of years. I knew I should have gotten more into Lovers in Paris! She's practically fluent and then there's me, the half Korean. hahahahahhahaha. Ahh, it's been so great to have someone to motivate me to try my hardest and put my best efforts forward. I may not be up to speed yet, but I know that through the gift of tongues, I will get there. That's one thing I especially loved hearing in my blessing!!! By the way.... feel free to send it anytime ;) She is by far the happiest person I have ever met, it's slightly stressful, but the greatest blessing. She has such an honest deserve to serve, especially the people of Korea. I love it. I am in District 28, also known in the MTC as the Celestial Branch. I'm in District E and I LOVE THEM. I love seeing these younger generations going forth to serve our Heavenly Father. Even with the limited experience they have, they have put their full faith and trust in God and it is a privilege to serve with them. The work hasn't gotten easier, but I know that as we turn to the Lord, as I've seen all of these young elders do, the work becomes more effective. 

Once again, the Gospel has changed me, I am a being who seeks for endless growth... I am now the most obnoxiously punctual person known to man. I absolutely cannot stand being late as opposed to my more.... casual companion. Hahhaha. I have never been tried in patience so much. Patience in waiting to get to class, to start companionship study, to learn Korean and then to actually be in Korea. THIS IS A PUBLIC APOLOGY FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE EVER HAD TO WAIT FOR ME. Trust me when I say I am paying for it now. hahha. I love knowing that every day when I wake up there is so much more to learn as well as things to change. Good thing I have 9 more weeks here!! I am like this huge purple sponge, always absorbing and learning and... I LOVE IT. It's taxing, but why would I ever want to be the same person I was? Isn't that the purpose of the atonement? To change everyday? To become more like our Savior Jesus Christ? Satan cannot change the simple truth that we have a divine destiny to reach. I can assure you that we will not reach that destiny without valiant effort.We cannot give Him our birthright, no matter how tempting it may sound. I have covenanted with my Heavenly Father that I would live up to all that He asks of me, and in return He will give me everything. I have made my decision, I hope you will as well.

Wow... The clock is tick tick tick tick tickkkkkkkinggg. If only the days felt like that... I swear the days are 434907523905-237592017-5 hours long until it gets to 9:30 and then next thing I know it's 6:30 again. I told myself that I wouldn't have one single regret on my mission. So far I have lived up to my word and have been blessed because of it. Nothing has given me greater joy than fully immersing myself in the Gospel and knowing that I am doing as I should. Not only has my heart been opened up to all those around me, but I am getting more comfortable being myself at all times. The Lord didn't just call a missionary to serve in Seoul, Korea. He called Sister Jamie Willcox, long hair, weird sneeze and all. We may all be from the same Loving Heavenly Father but we are all each our own individuals with each of our own strengths and weaknesses. This doesn't inhibit us from becoming all that we can, but should motivate us. I love looking at all the elders and sisters around me and knowing that I have been endowed and empowered by the same Heavenly being. I can become all that He hath created me to be, regardless of however long the path may take. My weaknesses have never been so apparent, but neither have my strengths. I am so grateful for this opportunity to be refined by Him. Don't wait like I did.. Decide that you want to change now. Alma 34:32. 

I love this Gospel. It is true and I will bear solemn witness of that if it is the last thing I do. There is nothing as sweet as being able to pray in Korean... not because it's a different language, but because I KNOW that it is to the same Heavenly Father that I've always prayed to. 

Love,

Sister Willcox

 

 

CANDID PIC>>> just so you can see how happy I am

MY ZONE GIRLS I MADE THEM ALL PLAY VOLLEYBALL!

favorite korean :)