New Transfer - New Companion

Just to put time into perspective for you... Sister Jihei Lee (my former companion) spoke her first sunday in the ward 5 weeks ago, spoke last week (new missionaries give a 10 minute talk about a month in) and then spoke again this week for her last words in the ward. In case the subject line didn't give it away.. I have a new companion and Sister Lee is no longer serving with me in Uijeongbu. WHAT?! I couldn't help but ask President if I had done something wrong.. only one transfer with a companion is more on the odd side.. But we were really in the groove.. seriously being drowned in miracles and blessings.. so to quote President, "We're just sharing your attributes with everyone and helping you increase the number of eternal sisters in your family.".. comforting.. but not too comforting saying goodbye to a miracle transfer... Having already served here 3 transfers, I was open to the idea of being transferred to another area, but leaning more on the side of sticking with Sister Lee and serving together another transfer.. So when we received the transfer call Saturday night.. If you could only have seen our faces. Let's just say I am so so grateful for the amplified trust Heavenly Father has helped me develop in President Christensen. I know that we are called to serve where He needs us.. where the people have been prepared for us to teach.. as well as where the people have been prepared to teach us. 

I am so so grateful for the chance to continue to serve here in Uijeongbu.. To continue to serve the incredible ward members here, work with our recent converts and less-actives, and continue to meet with our investigators. I am so excited to serve here with Sister.... JeYoon Ahn.. That's right.. yet another Korean companion!!! I really have hit the jackpot.. three companion exchanges in a row! She is from down south.. the oldest sibling in her family. so FUN and happy.. She studied at BYU-Hawaii for a year.. and I am so excited for this new transfer! 

It was a huge wake up call to see that Sister Lee would be leaving our area.. Woke me up to the fact that I won't be living here in Korea forever.. that I could be leaving this area at any given time... But through that knowledge.. I have come to realize the importance of making sure that every second counts.. to make sure that I live each day with as few regrets as possible.. that I accomplish all that the Lord needs of me, in the time that He has allotted me to accomplish them in. I know that 

Peace and Joy

Well.. Sister E Youngjean told me you accepted her on facebook.. and that you congratulated her on her baptism. Kudos family.. she loves you almost as much as she loves me! Yesterday was incredible and went by way too fast! who are we kidding.. time in general is going by way too fast! Except sometimes.. I think it's a good thing.. the final hour of church couldn't come fast enough and then I about cried when Sister E Youngjean poked me in the side and said only 40 more minutes.. the greatest countdown of my life. 

I tried explaining this to President and Sister Jihei Lee (my companion).. but it has been a blessing watching the timeline of Sister E Youngjean and the Church. From our very first initial meeting with her.. which would not have continued the way it had without Sister Choi and their similar music tastes.. to the teaching that would not have gone on as well as it did without Sister Lee.. They were both so needed.. at the moment that they were here! Each day gives me more and more confidence in this new transfer. I couldn't see all the blessings or need of the changes that this new transfer brought, somewhat hesitant to accept them at first.. but little by little.. I can tell that Heavenly Father is accomplishing His will how it needs to be done... and you know what.. I'm learning it goes a lot smoother when I just accept that and follow it as closely as I can! Even when we cannot see the outcome, each and every little act, thought, everything.. hangs into this balance that we are a little too blind as natural men to see. but when we take a hold of Heavenly Father's hand.. I know that we can see where that path takes us.. and it is to places we cannot go alone. 

I still don't understand how I was so blessed to be able to take part in Sister E Youngjean's conversion.. still not sure why or how Heavenly Father could trust me with the teaching of such an incredible, amazing, beautiful daughter of God.. but I will forever be grateful. I could talk your ears off about how inadequate I felt in trying to teach her all the lessons in Korean.. (once again, so blessed to have 2 Korean companions) But I just love her so much.. and wished she could have been taught with someone with better Korean skills and just more experience.. but it all worked out, and I cannot imagine my life without her. She initially wanted to play a piano piece at her baptismal service.. but we had to keep it as sacred as possible.. so she wasn't allowed to play a song that wasn't church music.. so last minute.. they offered her the chance to bear her testimony instead. I will be honest.. I was quite nervous.. there isn't a certain way to bear a testimony.. but it's definitely not something you learn without practice.. but wow. Once again.. she put my thoughts and feelings into words.. and this time not through a piano piece! She started off by talking about the day that we met.. how we stubbornly kept talking to her.. and how she stubbornly kept ignoring us or giving us one word answers.. but how there was something different about these two missionaries.. so she decided to keep walking with us. We ended up walking with her for almost 30 minutes.. and the rest is history. I think we all know that I am not her.. so I don't know all the things that go one in her mind.. but I was privileged to see the changes that took place in her life from the first day that we met and family.. I just want to add testimony to what she said.. I know that the atonement can change us.. that it does change us. That even when we don't think there is a way/possibility that we could change, it proves us wrong. And even though she was taught it through broken Korean.. there's that atonement.. making up the rest. I am so grateful for my opportunity to learn about the atonement and to learn what it means to me personally.. but I know that it's not just because I'm on a mission.. so family.. I would encourage you to find out what the atonement means to you personally.. and then to apply it, rely on it and be grateful for it every second of everyday. 

Missionary life is great family.. the longer I am out.. the more I am realizing it's not because of the name tag on my chest or the fact that i'm in Korea.. but I know it's because it's the closet I've ever been to fully living the Gospel. Wherever you are.. you can have this joy.. the joy that comes from trying your very absolute hardest- not necessarily being perfect, and then having the atonement make up the rest. I had a few thoughts I wanted to quickly share with you from my personal study this morning. I restarted the Book of Mormon again this last week and read chapter 3-4 today from 1 Nephi.. two things that really stood out to me was first chapter 3 verse 39.. where it says that 'Laman and Lemuel were chosen to be under Nephi because of their iniquity'.. WHAT because of their iniquity?? Well what could have happened if they had been righteous? What would have happened if they had reached their divine potential??! Family.. I don't know about you.. but I don't want my Book of Jamie to have a sentence like this in it. Live up to what you were created to be.. not the consequences of what you didn't do. The second thing came from the whole chapter 4 in general. now.. don't take my word for this.. I will have to read the rest of the Book again to check myself.. but I don't think there is another chapter quite like 4... it says the word I about 2836032986535264 times. Really. I ended up circling each one.. and the whole page is full of I's. I applied this to my current mission life.. but I am sure you can apply it to your life. We have covenants and commandments to live under.. and then we have missionary rules to live by.. and then we have Seoul Mission rules to live by.. so it's become quite easy for me to just wait for someone to tell me to do something.. and then just do it. But as I read this chapter..I realized that God expects us to act.. A principle I am quickly learning is what truly brings the miracles. I know that God gives us the chance and opportunity to accomplish the tasks that are ahead of us.. that He gives us all the tools and ways to accomplish them, even when they seem hard.. however.. He has also given us our agency.. and we must first put forth the effort. I know that if we follow Nephi.. take initiative and do.. instead of waiting for the Lord to say turn left, go right, and Laban will be head on the left... but just go out and do, trusting on the spirit.. that we will be lead to where He needs and wants us to go. Don't get me wrong.. there will still be Labans to be slain in our path.. but that's when the Lord will deliver our trials "drunk" and with a sword to use to conquer them. Family.. Go out and act in faith.. in doctrine.. and with the Lord. I know that as you do so you will see miracles in your lives. That you will be able to do what the Lord needs you to do!

I love you and you're always in my prayers. Make me proud and work harder. 

All my love, 

Sister Willcox

 

an investigator asked me to clay make her...it looks like a mulan character man...hahaha

Seeing my trainer!! SO SO HAPPY!!

One happy happy day!!

 

Miracles

I cannot believe you.. sending me the superbowl score... trying to make me an apostate missionary??!? I also cannot believe the superbowl is today... I should have realized with the marathon last week.. but wow, time is flying. For Tina's sake, I hope the Seahawks win! I can't believe how completely out of the loop I am of America.. Hopefully nothing crazy is happening over there!!! 

I would like to write a dialogue between me and my companion.. this is word for word:

"I seriously cannot believe this week, do you see all these miracles??" - Sister Lee

"Yeah we were really busy this week." - Me

"NO, look at your planner." 

(holding up my planner) "I am." 

"What's wrong with you?! This is a miracle." 

"Look... I'm still a new missionary.. I don't know what these numbers are supposed to be, what they usually are, anything. I'm tired.. so I think we're doing something right." hahahah she was so mad at me and lectured me on being grateful. 

Even though I played it off like nothing to my companion... this week was A MIRACLE FAMILY. It took me a while to understand that.. but really, like I shared last week.. we are finally tasting the fruits of our labors and it's glorious. It's baffling to me how much has changed within just 2 weeks! Coming from one of the lowest points of my missionary service to this.. Heavenly Father is so eager to bless us. 

Everything started at the Temple.. another inspiring, uplifting and peaceful day. 4 Missionaries from our zone are returning home at the end of this transfer.. which means they shared "final testimonies" in the chapel before we entered the Temple. It was bittersweet.. I've worked with all 4 four of them for at least 2 transfers.. 2 of them I've known since I first got here.. 2 of them are our housemates.. We're losing a large chunk of missionaries starting with this transfer and each following one until Aug.. our mission is dropping by half the size in Aug... super sad!! We need more "Seouldiers" hahahaha, but really. Anyways.. hearing their testimonies reminded me of an "activity" in Preach My Gospel.. where you think about the last day of your mission and ask yourself certain questions.. I redid these questions after the temple and have been so pumped up since. It was so motivating to see what can happen to hardworking missionaries in 18 to 24 months.. now to follow in their footsteps! Even though you're not currently walking around with a name tag.. I would encourage each of you to set goals with an end in sight.. goals of where you would like to see yourself, attributes you want to have others see in you, etc.. Your time is just as important as mine, it just depends on how you're using it! I know you can reach all your goals fam.. especially with the Lord's help! 

I refuse to acknowledge time as far as missionary service goes..  and even though this time is but a blimp of a lifetime of millions on millions of memories, not even considering eternity..... they all pale in comparison to this chance and time to be Heavenly Father's full time missionary. I still have so far to go.. things that won't even happen while I'm in Korea.. but from what has happened.. I am so grateful. Not only have I come to a firmer knowledge and understanding of His love for me.. all of His children.. He has helped me to develop that love for these incredible people. In just a few short months.. in this tiny fraction of His vineyard here on earth, my heart has grown larger than it ever has. Sometimes that growth brings tears as commitments aren't kept, investigators drop us, rude comments are said.. even piercing -20 degree weather whips at my face.. but the blessings have outweighed all the negativity.. and it's changing me. I don't think there's been a day since I started serving.. that I didn't cry.( just being real, no need to worry.. most of them are good tears;)) However, instead of those tears only coming during personal prayers.. I've come to just accept those tears as they come at any given moment throughout the day. There is no wonder in my mind anymore why the first commandment.. and it's closely followed second, were given in the order that they were. I know that when we keep these two great commandments.. that everything else falls into their place. Despite people pushing or spiting! I am so grateful for my chance to learn what the love of God is.. to feel it, experience it, and have it for His beloved children.. One in particular.. the investigator who's picture I sent last week. her baptism is this upcoming week.. I couldn't be more thrilled.

Through the 8 am appointments before school.. deep doctrinal questions, questioning family, trial in keeping all commitments.. Sister E Young Jean is making her first covenant with our Heavenly Father!! Ahh fam, I can't express my happiness and pure joy through watching her progression and testimony. Don't get me wrong.. I have loved all of our investigators, recent converts.. reactivated Less-actives.. but this girl has really changed my life. It sounds weird.. but having been privileged to attend every appointment with her.. I was the first one to talk to her on the street when we met! (Sister Lee and Sister Choi both taught her with me) I have seen the incredible mountain she has climbed.. and it hasn't been easy.. but she's put her trust in the Savior and has made it to the top.. There are others after this one, but she's conquered this one!! Having been privileged to attend every appointment, she reminded me a lot of mine own conversion to this gospel.. witnessing her progression of self, testimony and love.. She has already changed so much.. and although she doesn't see it, I do.. and It's reminding me what the atonement does for us. It's amazing to me that someone would trust us... give their life over to 2 sister missionaries just a few years older than her and tell us her personal life, trials, worries, mistakes... and it's teaching me so much about trust.. and showing me how much more trust I need to have in my Savior.

As I said to my companion.. I'm still new.. and I will probably call myself that for the rest of my life.. so I'm not sure what's normal.. but these last few weeks with Sister Lee haven't felt normal and I can't stop smiling! It's been hard.. less sleep and a lot of adjusting.. but one huge miracle and blessing after another. The fact that I haven't had time to really write in my journal was the first sign! It really is incredible how large of a debt I am accruing to the Lord with all these blessings... I know He never expects me to pay it off.. not that I could.. but I just don't understand how He does it!

family.. live worthy of these blessings.. they're suffocating. but in a good kind of way! I love you and am constantly praying for you! But my prayers are useless unless you're getting down on your knees as well.

All my love, 

Sister Willcox

 

Seoul Temple with President and Sister Christensen!

Housemates at the Temple!

the unstoppable duo

the best companionship!!

Bishops wife.

Our cute 13 yr old investigator

my last piece of gluten. weep.

the biggest fish I have ever seen

Don't ya'll miss me?

Bean Burritos!! yum yum!

 

True Happiness

Fam fam fam,

I may have stopped writing best week ever.. but as I take the time to reflect on each week.. I hope you remember that I always mean it.. this week especially. What an absolutely incredible week.. and we didn't even go to the temple!! (we're going tomorrow) From the sounds of things.. it sounds like you all had a great week as well.. So jealous about stake conference.. it sounded awesome! ours will be Feb 7-8.. in Korean. I'll try to relay the messages to you as well.. testing out my translating skills ;)

I started a new thing this week.. writing down every blessing that I saw throughout the day.. my planner was completely filled before the days even ended and I found myself that much more happier and energized to do all that was asked of us and more. My companion said she's never known someone to smile so much.. it's been a 360 kind of week. As most of you know.. this new transfer has been a pretty rough transition for me.. But as I said to Angie & Stu and as it states in my blessing.. I have been so fortunate to not have doubted, not even for a second.. my decision to serve a mission. We're told that this is a Priesthood duty.. and in no way a requirement for sisters. When I was STL, there were countless sister interviews I participated in.. where the sister was questioning her decision to serve a mission.. each one always reminding me how blessed I've been to know.. without any doubts.. that this is where and what I should and need to be doing. This may seem like a small thing, and I know that there are so many other faithful sisters who are serving or who have served without any doubts as well.. except the thing is.. this small fact has carried me through some of the hardest experiences of my entire life. it has carried me through this excruciatingly hard transition... and has helped us transform this transfer into a one of miracles! 

As I've said before.. missionary work is hard. We all have our own free agency.. and as much as I wish I could just sit our investigators down and make them understand, know and feel my testimony of this message we are sharing.. Know of the love I have for them.. only a fraction of the Love Heavenly Father has for them... understand that this is ETERNAL LIFE.. I am repeatedly slapped in the face- the choice to accept is theirs.. and theirs alone. Which leads us to pushing ourselves harder than we ever had.. I really have never studied this hard in my life.. the Gospel.. and the equally difficult and never-ending Korean.. praying constantly.. just to be as effective as we can possibly be in His hands.. to be the tool that these people need to feel, know and do all that we are sharing with them. And you know what? IT STILL DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME. hahaha.. but, for the first time since getting to Korea.. I'm not only just seeing the fruits of all of these labors.. but really tasting them.. and it isn't a taste I've ever had the privilege of knowing before.. and it's different than what I ever assumed it would be.. Our investigators, members, less actives, my companion.. just everyone in my life.. is blowing me away and making this SO SO WORTH IT!. 

family.. I am so happy. I thought I was living the life.. that I had it made.. i love you all, have great friends, love BYU, am a member.. but none of that will ever compare to these feelings I'm living. The investigator who's picture I will include at the bottom of this... the one who has all of my heart and would make everything I ever experience in life worth it.. is a piano prodigy. I've never heard, known, seen someone play the piano like her before. it isn't a hobby or a skill.. the piano is very much apart of her. Well... she has a hard time expressing herself.. so one day, I asked her to express how she feels through a song.. she sat down and told us that this is how it feels when she meets us.. how she feels at church.. how she feels when she reads the book of Mormon.. and that song changed my life and put my very own testimony into words. I am happy. 

I love you all and I'm always praying for you.. thank you for your prayers and your motivation. I am so so blessed and grateful for all of you! continue to come unto Christ.. to be perfected in Him. 

Moses 7:21.. I know that process doesn't happen by chance. 

All my love, 

Sister Willcox

Sister Homes. We were on exchanges.. I fit right in with Koreans.. but serving with her this week was interesting.. SHE'S SO TALL

this is my angel

I love her so so so much - (if I haddddddddddddd..... to choose a favorite investigator...... but we don't do that.. so I love them all so much) her baptism is the 8th of Feb.

GLUTEN FREE FOR ME

I've read the purple folder a million times over.. and listened to the cd a billion times over.. and have cried looking at the sheet music.. thank you so much for the birthday packages!!! or as my roommates (other 2 sisters, not companions) like to call them.. the Mexico in a box!! I've eaten mexican food or korean food everyday for the last week.. it's been amazing. Which reminds me.. I'm not sure which of you I informed.. but the MTC doctors told me I needed to go off of gluten.. it was fairly easy to do so in the MTC.. what with all the food being labeled in English.. but that 'diet' slowly went down the drain as I got to Korea saying as how I don't even know the word for gluten in Korean..  But after going to the doctor again this week.. thought I'd inform you, I'm off gluten again! After a few weeks of only getting 4 hours of sleep.. and having medical issue after medical issue.. I've discovered I have a intolerance for gluten.. stink. Anyways.. thank you thank you thank you! I am so glad that the postage worked! The ward lady that gave me her APO address, said that you can use it whenever.. for letters even! Just keep in mind that I don't know how long I'll be in this ward.!! She also told me to tell you, that if you send things in a priority flat rate box, it's a lot cheaper!! For those of you other than Reb.. A lady in my ward works for the military.. so she has a US address.. and if you send things to her address.. it costs the same as sending it in the US.. so A LOT CHEAPER... and it gets here in the same delivery time as it would sending something throughout the US! I'll attach her address at the bottom.. also, I hope you got the new mission address email I forwarded to you!

Okay... now to the nitty gritty of another week in the black marshmallow.. it snowed SO MUCH this week.. It was a miracle how much snow there was.. simply because I've never seen so much snow in my life.. and then 2 hours later.. it rains.. and it's all slush.. and we have another ice rink city again. We're going to shovel the church after emailing.. we have permission to have a snowball fight. It's almost embarrassing how thrilled I am! I've quickly learned how miserable snow is.. unless you can play in it.. okay okay.. nitty gritty- This week was by far one of the greatest learning experiences of my life. It was both a privilege and excruciating.... hahah.

Saying as how I am in Korea... I learn a new word about every 10 minutes, even more when we are outside.. but one of the first words I learned since entering the mission field.. was miracle. Almost every single missionary said 기적 (miracle) in their prayer.. and after so many prayers.. one begins to wonder what such and such a word is. So I distinctly remember asking my companion, one night after ending planning.. what in the world that word was.. She stared at me incredulously.. and said it's a miracle! I thought she was meaning that it was a miracle that I didn't know what the definition was... so I apologized and said I never learned it before.. she started laughing.. literally "ROFL" at me.. and said no.. it means miracle. I've included it in every prayer ever since. And it's true.. we see miracles daily, by the hour.. and I am so grateful for every one that brightens our day... that brightens our investigator's day.. but it quickly changed definitions from the original definition i once held for the word. I am ashamed to admit how large my expectations of a miracle became to be.. oh grateful i became for such and such happening.. for a certain investigator coming to church.. for so and so accepting baptism.. but as this week passed me by.. literally.. I still don't know where the time goes.. I began to realize how skewed my definition has become. Heavenly Father is always blessing us.. more than the downpour of snow that falls... and my new definition of miracle.. failed to recognize those little things in my life! all those little snowflakes that make up a whole court yard of snow just waiting to be played in! I would try and blame all the missionaries that throw that word around so lightly.. but I only have myself to blame for forgetting how miraculous everything about every day is! We were in a lesson with one of our Recent converts.. and it was as she was offering a prayer.. that I realized how much more grateful I can and need to be.. family.. I know that this applies to you as well. We have been so fortunate to have been in the church.. to be sealed together as a family.. to have a church building... sorry church buildings.. within walking distance of us! Heavenly Father is a God of miracles.. and I know that He has certain ones for us specifically.. now it is only up to us to recognize those miracles! however small they may seem to be!

Sorry for the shorter response today.. it was fun to personally chat with some of you! I am stoked for Oma to move to UTAH! have fun in Utah this week! Congrats to dad for completing the WHOLE MARATHON! YAYYYY DAD WOOHOO! YOU ROCK! i love you all and you're always in my prayers!! 

All my love,

Sister Willcox

Ward member address: 

Address to Jennifer Willcox Hwang 

HHC USAG Casey Unit 15543 Box 189 APO AP 96224

 

Sister's at the temple!

22!

I found Eric's signature in the memory book!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I don't know about you.. but I'm feeling 22!

Just over here chuckling to myself.. what a blessing... I don't have to listen to that song! Except.. I demand that all of you listen to it once.. in honor of me. Thanks in advance. 

Well, another year has come and gone.. This one.. without pound cake and strawberries or the office "it is your birthday".. let's hope I survive! If we have another week like the last.. not sure If I will.. but here's to hoping! Saying goodbye to my trainer, Sister Choi.. Was one of the hardest things to do.. we really have been through everything together.. and I trusted her like a true eternal companion. I know that might sound absurd.. but it's incredible what coming to a foreign country, inadequate in the language, inadequate in Gospel knowledge, inadequate in everything.. can do to a greenie missionary and her trainer. I received my new companion this week.. she's korean, but has lived in Canada for the last couple of years. She has an older brother and sister.. and she's 24. I don't have a picture of her yet, sorry!

We had the opportunity of going to the Temple again on Tuesday.. absolutely needed.. and without it this week.. I don't think I would have survived. I absolutely love the temple.. Family.. please go.. please be strengthened from it's power from on high.. learn.. and be changed! I really can never express my gratitude for the fact that there's a temple in our mission... how fortunate I am to be able to go every 6 weeks.. We need the temple just as much as those waiting for their work to be done.. and I know that when we sacrifice to make it a priority in our lives, we will leave even more blessed and happy. it's impossible to leave the Holy House of the Lord and not feel the peace of eternal life. After going to the Temple, we went and got our teeth cleaned at Sister Choi's grandfather's dentist office ( huge blessing.. kmichi is rotting my teeth!!!!) and then went with the elders to the famous Seoul outdoor Ice rink!!! It was the worst ice rink I have ever skated on in my entire life.. (it only costed a dollar) which makes that understandable.. but it was so much fun nonetheless! There were even famous Netherlander ice skaters there.. and I can do 4 new ice tricks! It was both a last pday/birthday celebration.. and I am so glad.. for the end of an incredible transfer.. and then new energy and excitement it gave me to start a new transfer. 

We transferred early the next morning.. making it another 4 am morning alarm clock for me 2 days in a row. (the 4th time in a weeks time.. I'm a little sleep deprived since our bedtime is always 10:30) and it was bitter sweet kneeling together for our last prayer as companions.. but I am excited to see why my new companion and I were called to serve together.. i know that Heavenly Father is acutely watching over all of His children.. but with especial care for His missionaries.. and that there is purpose in all things! Now just to learn patience and figure out why! I've been trying to quickly (not to sound rude) forget about Sister Choi.. I feel as if I am cheating on my new companion every time I bring her up.. but what can I say.. our break up came too soon! But regardless.. the work moved on this week! It was terrifying being the experienced sister of our area.. having to have to describe all of our investigators, less actives, members, and recent converts.. It has been such a blessing being able to rely completely upon the atonement.. because i definitely would not have been able to do it without it. I finally learned how (even if it was by force) maneuver our way around this area.. to read the insanely difficult Korean map.. and find apartments and meeting places.. to do our calling and set up a schedule full of miracles.. but He's helping us along.. and I can't express my gratitude for the relationship we've been able to gain. I absolutely love my Savior and this chance to strengthen that relationship.. 

I don't really know how I make it through each day, but it all comes with His strength.. with His love.. with His infinite sacrifice.. How much we need both the cleansing and enabling aspect of the atonement is not measurable.. just as it's powers. I was not at all ready to serve here as the experienced sister.. but by some miracle, we made it through this week... with miracles left and right. I know that it's because of hard work, faith, obedience, and total reliance on the atonement. I know that Heavenly Father is waiting to bless us if we humble ourselves enough to receive them. I have gone through my fair share of feeling inadequate on my mission.. but this week takes the cake.. It showed me how completely reliant I was on Him.. and although it was hard to realize at first.. to know how little man is.. and woman... I'd much rather rely on Him.. the blessings truly have been countless... one of my favorites of this week being.. with an investigator sitting to my left.. turning around and watching one of my favorite Less actives hustling down the hall towards the chapel.. she made it just in time for the sacrament.. and sitting next to her.. after visiting her almost every week since getting to Korea.. for the first time.. as by far the HAPPIEST moment of my entire missionary service so far.. I love this Area.. I am so glad that I have at least another transfer to serve here.. to serve these people that I have grown to love and continue to watch them come unto Christ. They are changing my life more than I am helping them... 

Family.. I love you all.. thank you for all the birthday wishes.. I think for the first time in my life, I can honestly say I'm getting older.. not necessarily in looks.. apparently I still look like I'm 19.. but with my testimony.. with my desires.. with all of things that all sum up to being the best birthday gift of my entire life. I'm always praying for you all.

I love this Gospel. I love my Savior and I love Heavenly Father. I love this opportunity to bear a piece of the cross... to finally start to realize how incredibly heavy it was. He loves us.. I can bear firm and solid testimony of that. He loves us with more than I can even imagine.. 

All my love,

Sister Willcox

ps.. shout out to Tina for sending me It is your birthday.

My mom is leaving me....

I am not sure how it goes in other missions.. but the Korea Seoul Mission is a Mom (trainer) and daughter (trainee) mission. It might sound weird to others.. but I have called her Oma more than by her name.. and she has called me Dar more than sister Willcox. Transfer calls were this last Saturday and even though we already felt as if we were going to be split up.. it didn't make the phone call any easier.. my mom is leaving me.. to greenie break another sister in my district!! THE BACKSTAB! hahah To say I am a little jealous is an understatement.. We have been together through so much! I've said it before.. and those of you who have served a mission understand this.. but missionary work isn't something that you can describe.. no matter how hard I try.. sure.. there are a lot of cliche phrases that I am sure I could throw around.. but none of them would do it justice.. so I usually just end up saying it's good.. it's life-changing.. it's hard.. blah blah rewarding. But in all honesty, it really is just too expansive to narrow down into a paragraph of description.. But if I were to pick one sentence to describe missionary work form this last week.. It would be impossible to do anything without a companion! I am not entirely positive.. but I believe I've mentioned a few absolutely ridiculous stories with this Sister/Mom of mine.. like her all of a sudden SPRINTING after a bike and running faster than I have ever (even to this day) seen her run.. and without questioning anything... I found myself sprinting after her.. (We ended up chasing an investigator).. or all the times I snuck her the food I just couldn't eat at meals with investigators or members houses.. All the times we've cried together either from being overcome with the spirit.. the hardness of Korean/missionary work.. all the broken sentences.. going to a bath house together.. She's my companion. And because I don't know any better.. I could swear (if I did) that she was my eternal companion! How lucky was I to be the only one to receive a Korean companion amongst the sisters of my district ! how absolutely inspired was it.. that Her grandfather knew our family.. sealed dad and Oma... We saw so many miracles.. prayed an infinite amount of times.. I don't exactly know what I'm going to do without her.. but I do know that I trust my President.. that I trust Heavenly Father.. that they love their missionaries.. and that my new companion ( ANOTHER KOREAN!! IT NEVER HAPPENS! THERE ARE ONLY 60 SISTER MISSIONARIES AND EVEN LESS KOREAN SISTERS.. SO TO BE COMPANIONS WITH 2 IN A ROW IS A MIRACLE! I feel so so so blessed... It has multiplied my Korean learning abilities.. and I just really cannot express my gratitude enough!))) will be another blessing in my life! okay okay.. enough of this sob story.. she's sitting right next to me and i'd rather not cry.. again. 

Well.. I know you're all curious.. what with the picture I sent you!!!! But Hadobogee came to church this week.. to our WARD! It's 20 minutes away... and I wasn't expecting him! It was the most pleasant surprise! He initially committed to only coming to church once a month.. but he has made it 3 times in a row now!! he even came home early from His home town to make it to church and to our appointment Saturday night! He is chugging along and i am so glad that I wasn't transferred away from here and can continue to teach Him! He is the sweetest and has the best more kind personality.. Please pray for him! As for our other investigators.. SO awesome! I feel a little intimidated by the fact that I have to show the ropes around to my new companion.. but I know that we've also got the Lord working with us.. we are working with 2 of them for baptisms this month.. soo... keep them in your prayers as well! (we are encouraged not to mention names// which stinks.. but... you should always be praying for investigators and missionaries anyways.. right ;)) 

I love you all.. we are going to the Temple tomorrow.. soo... less time.. sorry.. but I love you all and will get better at emailing.. I promise! Please continue to come unto Christ..t o focus on that which matters most.. and continue to strengthen your testimonies!! 

All my love, 

Sister Willcox

ps... as for an update on the tongue.. it's healing nicely.. i've bitten my tongue a thousand times.. but... it's weird how much longer it is. hahahah! hahahahhaha wait.. I actually have to share this really fast.. imagine me.. numb tongue.. acutely aware of everything else... see scissors... oh my BRAIN COLD. it was so creepy and I kept squirming in my chair with him charging me with scissors.. and they just kept yelling Korean at me and I had no clue what they were saying and it was by far the scariest moments of my life.. they gave me a toothbrush to grip and it broke. so there's that. 

also.. the new years hike pictures i sent.. we woke up at 4 and went on the most beautiful hike.. the pictures don't do it justice.. and i was completely inadequately prepared.. i had 4 layers of bottoms and 4 layers on top.. but it was -20 and 89 wind humidity.. especially on top of the \mountain.. i thought I was going to die. literally... it was SO COLD. there was snow.. and we had to scale the mountain.. but we made it up without any harm.. everyone else fell.. except yours truly. HAPPY NEW YEARS!

 

so bloody cold!

soo pretty!

so cold, my water bottle froze in my pocket

beautiful, freezing Seoul

I look scary...but the coolest 6 am hike to a natural spring!

grandpa and the fam at church!! the biggest sunday miracle!

the mom who warmed me up!

oh my the coldest day of my life, but the best NEW YEARS EVER!!!

hiking with the district!