Rain... Rain... Rain...
Date: July 02, 2008Area: Geum Cheon
Companion: Elder Meier
Hello family!
I hope all is well! I am amazed at how fast time flies! It feels like I just emailed yesterday! But I’m glad I’m back to send my family my love and update them on the work. We haven’t had a whole lot of new happenings since I wrote last. Except I have received some mail. I’m going to take a stab in the dark and say that you didn’t get pictures of your trip huh…? I wanna see the family pictures! It would have been a sweet picture to see the tornado on the water! That sounds like a movie title. Maybe a thriller? Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed yourselves and had a good vacation.
I’m still in Geum Cheon… an area in Korea with not a lot of excitement. As you may have heard on the news or somewhere, Korea is upset with America for the beef… and other reasons I guess. So there are riots and demonstrations regularly in Seoul. There’s not a lot in our area so don’t begin to worry about it. But that’s a huge ordeal in Korea for some reason. But that’s not important. What’s important is that we are all happy and enjoying life. No matter how hard life will be we will receive the guidance, strength and direction needed to pull through to the end and see success and growth through our own efforts.
We still don’t have any baptismal dates in the area but we’re working for them! We have a family of 3 that will hopefully begin to progress and commit to baptism before this transfer ends. I am pretty sure that this is the last transfer here for me… I heard from a little bird that I am about up for a transfer (change of area). I am ready for a change of scenery to be honest but I could stay in this area for the rest of my mission and be happy and see success, but change is good and necessary for growth.
In Korea there is a rainy season when it rains day in and day out for 2 months. It’s beginning. It rains way hard for maybe an hour then lets up for a while, light sprinkle, and then down pour again. It’s pretty fun. Talking to people is tough when we walk the streets because 1: no one’s out, 2: it’s raining. When it rains in America it’s usually refreshing, maybe a little cold… Korean rain is warm, not refreshing, and we continue to sweat! And as I said last week, there’s not a day we get home and I’m not dripping with sweat. It’s hard to go to member’s houses to eat or visit or whatever and be all sticky. Sitting on the floor is uncomfortable when you’re still sweating! And the only way to wipe the sweat from my forehead is to use my hand then wipe it on my pants or shirt! It’s kinda gross! But there’s not a whole lot of refreshing methods of cooling off. Koreans eat a lot and don’t drink a whole lot of water; it’s usually alcohol of some sort. And they drink a ton! But they give cold damp rags at the beginning of the meal to wipe off the sticky skin and cool off before we start sweating way bad during the meal. Koreans also don’t use fans and a/c if they don’t have to. They will just as soon open a window. It’s hot because the house and outside are usually the same temperature. I’ve found that the most refreshing methods of cooling off are 1: eating ice-cold watermelon; 2: stand at the open fridge; 3: buy little slushies at every single hole in the wall shop; 4: take a cold shower. But I’m basically wet all the time. I’m either sweating or it’s raining and I’m sweating. Either way I’m wet. Every night we go to bed sweaty and sticky and there’s only about a 10-minute window after your shower that you feel clean. The rest of the day you just hope no one else thinks you’re as gross as you feel. It’s a fun time…
I received a couple packages and letters yesterday at interviews. I found myself busy last night putting together the candy messages and writing them down in my journal so I could enjoy some real American candy! I loved the messages! I didn’t realize how much candy was sent until I put the messages together and found that I had like 100 candy bars! Haha it was fun. Also I received a bunch of random health stuff. Thanks for that. I’m not sure it will ever be used because I haven’t had any problems thus far but I’ll hold on to it for future cases. I appreciate your generosity and entertainment! Don’t feel like you have to send them to me either! I’m just gonna gain more weight than I already have! But oh well! Koreans like fat people because they are really open with their comments and aren’t afraid to make the comment if someone’s fat. It’s kinda sad but I’m used to it. Also since I have a MONSTER nose, I’m well known. In Korean it’s 코 쟁기 (ko jaeng gi) meaning “nose person”. I love it. Also my hands seem to attract a lot of attention when I meet people and give high 5s. So they like me!
Another important item of business… I discussed yesterday with President Burton my release date… as far as he has been informed I’m set to be released October 27, 2009 which would make my missionary service over 2 years with mtc time… but I’m thinking of talking to president after everything is figured out with the release date to maybe get home in time for the fall semester of school so I can get my grades up and actually get through a semester finally! But for the family planning on coming over to pick me up… please have time available! Haha it’ll be a blasty! I love you tons and tons.
Also… while serving in Korea I’ve been interested in neat national / international stamps… so I hope you are all still saving them up for me! I’ve gotten some neat ones from other missionaries. But I am still wanting stamps by the way! That’s random I know. Sorry.
This is late but I owe a birthday shout out to Pete! Sorry it’s late! I totally spaced it! And I owe a Happy Father’s Day to all those dads out there! Take care of your families and pull through for your family and step up to the responsibilities! I love you!
The last item of business I can think of… Baby Anakin! Is there a definite name yet!? I’m eager to hear! I hope all is well with everyone! I hope everyone is healthy and happy! I pray for you all daily and hope you can all feel my love! This letter is long enough! Take care and smile!
Also, no pictures this week... not until next year! :( sorry! i love you all!
Gregory
Elder Ostler
-Alma 7:23-24
I hope all is well! I am amazed at how fast time flies! It feels like I just emailed yesterday! But I’m glad I’m back to send my family my love and update them on the work. We haven’t had a whole lot of new happenings since I wrote last. Except I have received some mail. I’m going to take a stab in the dark and say that you didn’t get pictures of your trip huh…? I wanna see the family pictures! It would have been a sweet picture to see the tornado on the water! That sounds like a movie title. Maybe a thriller? Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed yourselves and had a good vacation.
I’m still in Geum Cheon… an area in Korea with not a lot of excitement. As you may have heard on the news or somewhere, Korea is upset with America for the beef… and other reasons I guess. So there are riots and demonstrations regularly in Seoul. There’s not a lot in our area so don’t begin to worry about it. But that’s a huge ordeal in Korea for some reason. But that’s not important. What’s important is that we are all happy and enjoying life. No matter how hard life will be we will receive the guidance, strength and direction needed to pull through to the end and see success and growth through our own efforts.
We still don’t have any baptismal dates in the area but we’re working for them! We have a family of 3 that will hopefully begin to progress and commit to baptism before this transfer ends. I am pretty sure that this is the last transfer here for me… I heard from a little bird that I am about up for a transfer (change of area). I am ready for a change of scenery to be honest but I could stay in this area for the rest of my mission and be happy and see success, but change is good and necessary for growth.
In Korea there is a rainy season when it rains day in and day out for 2 months. It’s beginning. It rains way hard for maybe an hour then lets up for a while, light sprinkle, and then down pour again. It’s pretty fun. Talking to people is tough when we walk the streets because 1: no one’s out, 2: it’s raining. When it rains in America it’s usually refreshing, maybe a little cold… Korean rain is warm, not refreshing, and we continue to sweat! And as I said last week, there’s not a day we get home and I’m not dripping with sweat. It’s hard to go to member’s houses to eat or visit or whatever and be all sticky. Sitting on the floor is uncomfortable when you’re still sweating! And the only way to wipe the sweat from my forehead is to use my hand then wipe it on my pants or shirt! It’s kinda gross! But there’s not a whole lot of refreshing methods of cooling off. Koreans eat a lot and don’t drink a whole lot of water; it’s usually alcohol of some sort. And they drink a ton! But they give cold damp rags at the beginning of the meal to wipe off the sticky skin and cool off before we start sweating way bad during the meal. Koreans also don’t use fans and a/c if they don’t have to. They will just as soon open a window. It’s hot because the house and outside are usually the same temperature. I’ve found that the most refreshing methods of cooling off are 1: eating ice-cold watermelon; 2: stand at the open fridge; 3: buy little slushies at every single hole in the wall shop; 4: take a cold shower. But I’m basically wet all the time. I’m either sweating or it’s raining and I’m sweating. Either way I’m wet. Every night we go to bed sweaty and sticky and there’s only about a 10-minute window after your shower that you feel clean. The rest of the day you just hope no one else thinks you’re as gross as you feel. It’s a fun time…
I received a couple packages and letters yesterday at interviews. I found myself busy last night putting together the candy messages and writing them down in my journal so I could enjoy some real American candy! I loved the messages! I didn’t realize how much candy was sent until I put the messages together and found that I had like 100 candy bars! Haha it was fun. Also I received a bunch of random health stuff. Thanks for that. I’m not sure it will ever be used because I haven’t had any problems thus far but I’ll hold on to it for future cases. I appreciate your generosity and entertainment! Don’t feel like you have to send them to me either! I’m just gonna gain more weight than I already have! But oh well! Koreans like fat people because they are really open with their comments and aren’t afraid to make the comment if someone’s fat. It’s kinda sad but I’m used to it. Also since I have a MONSTER nose, I’m well known. In Korean it’s 코 쟁기 (ko jaeng gi) meaning “nose person”. I love it. Also my hands seem to attract a lot of attention when I meet people and give high 5s. So they like me!
Another important item of business… I discussed yesterday with President Burton my release date… as far as he has been informed I’m set to be released October 27, 2009 which would make my missionary service over 2 years with mtc time… but I’m thinking of talking to president after everything is figured out with the release date to maybe get home in time for the fall semester of school so I can get my grades up and actually get through a semester finally! But for the family planning on coming over to pick me up… please have time available! Haha it’ll be a blasty! I love you tons and tons.
Also… while serving in Korea I’ve been interested in neat national / international stamps… so I hope you are all still saving them up for me! I’ve gotten some neat ones from other missionaries. But I am still wanting stamps by the way! That’s random I know. Sorry.
This is late but I owe a birthday shout out to Pete! Sorry it’s late! I totally spaced it! And I owe a Happy Father’s Day to all those dads out there! Take care of your families and pull through for your family and step up to the responsibilities! I love you!
The last item of business I can think of… Baby Anakin! Is there a definite name yet!? I’m eager to hear! I hope all is well with everyone! I hope everyone is healthy and happy! I pray for you all daily and hope you can all feel my love! This letter is long enough! Take care and smile!
Also, no pictures this week... not until next year! :( sorry! i love you all!
Gregory
Elder Ostler
-Alma 7:23-24
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