"I Can See [China] From My House" -- January 4, 2015

{Here is a really rushed email from Sam which I also think is bursting with emotion though he tries to hide it. My view is that he is really sad to leave Sangye and really sad to leave Seoul and pretty scared to go to a place where talking to people will be really hard because everyone is only on their way to Seoul. I'm sure things will work out but now he is pretty bummed. The title for this blog post was the title of his email but I have no idea what it means~the Editor}

Happy New Year to all! I hope that last year passed peacefully away into a beautiful first week of 2015. Wow, really hard to believe. Really crazy. For a somewhat shorter update this week I will apologize in advance; we had a busy day and have an appointment later tonight, so time will not be in excess.

Sam's "Zone" in Sangye. President and Sister Christensen
are front-row left. Sam is far right. 

It's been a great week. We're all about new starts and re-dedication, strong goals and personal improvement. And what better a time to look in and move forward than now?

It's wonderful to be out here. Lots of emotions. This time and all of the vicissitudes that go along with missionary life are beyond valuable to me, and I can only hope that maybe just sometime during this time someone's life will be better because we followed what the Lord wanted for us.

Ilsan-Goyang city, a planned commuter
development northwest of Seoul

I'm transferring this week. Wednesday. I've been here for a while, and in Northeastern Seoul my entire time in Korea. It's my favorite place to be, but now I'm out West to Ilsan-Goyang city. It's about an hour outside of Seoul, and we'll go {to Seoul} pretty regularly for things, but it will certainly be a big change. I've heard that it is beautiful and diverse, dotted with lakes and with plenty of people, even if most of them work in Seoul. We may have to try to get studies moved or something to get people on the way to work, we'll see {meaning, move usual morning studies to later in the day, so they can be out when the people are out on their way to work. Sam is always trying to think of new ideas!}. {here is a link to info about Ilsan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilsan}

Sad farewells to Sanggye, with many people that I have gotten very close to and who I will miss greatly. I spoke in church yesterday a bit, got some pictures, and went in the evening to Brother Kim's home one last time. We ate today with our ward mission leader, and will have meals with a couple more families tomorrow as well. I'm a different missionary because of {my time in] Sanggye, that's for sure. Now going to what could very well be the last area of my time as a missionary, I'm ready to work harder than I've ever worked, love more than I've ever loved, and seek to be led more than I've ever been led, because there are people there that I want to help feel the love that's always ready for us. I'm excited, it will be a fun time, and I am blessed with the realization of a wish that I've had ever since the MTC {missionary training center, at the beginning of his mission}, to be reunited with my MTC companion, Elder Rosenberg, and serve together again. We're going to have a great time, and work, work, work, just as hard as we can.

We had the chance this week to get up early, very early, on New Year's day and hike Suraksan {the looming mountain that borders Sangye}
 to see the sunrise. It's not an easy hike, but we're proud of all for making it, and it was a beautiful way to start the year. I wish I brought pictures, we've been out all day so I don't have them here, but I'll send some later- it was a spectacular view, in spite of the nearly -20 degree celsius temperature with the wind chill and treacherous terrain. One of our investigators, somehow, also got up and came with us, and we got McDonalds on the way back.

Congratulations to Caleb on finishing college applications. My love to all and a very happy New Year. Life moves on quickly, and may bittersweet returns to home for Sisters Thompson, Peacock, and Hilton be joyful, and the missionary spirit never leave.

All my love until next week. Happy 2015~ <3

"...Gather ye out from among the nations, from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other . . . and they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy."

E South