June 14, 2015 - No subject

Hey kids. You know when you walk in to a bathroom just after someone showered and as soon as you open the door a wall of steam smacks you in the face?

Well that's kinda what it's like walking out the door everyday. So much for showering, right? Might as well pull a Chris Kreuzberger and "Save Water Shower Together". 

Hah. 

Okay not really. 

This week was wierd, kinda like the wall of steam, but only in the best way. We had exchanges again which kept us busy and we've met some really cool people on the street and engaged in some really really cool street lessons. It's been hard to meet with Mina because of her crazy work schedule, but we met this week and she still has this huge desire and love for the gospel. And Shinee and Ganaa came to church yesterday! Which was so great. One of our mongolian members, who is the nicest, translated for them through sacrament and gospel principles so it was really cool to watch.

We also had the biggest miracle of all, a new investigator who has taken the lessons in Australia and just moved here for a few months. Sister Kim! She's twenty and the coolest ever and not only came to church with us yesterday, but loved it. We're planning on giving her a date this week so we're pretty pumped. 

Pumped. Haven't said that in while.

We had a pretty exciting episode that began late Thursday night when we had to take Sister Lee to the hospital. She was having stomach problems and collapsed/ threw up several times. Long story short, she recovered and we were all SO grateful to have been in a threesome. I was able to talk in english with President to figure out what to do and Sister Ju was able to figure out everything at the hospital. Seriously if there had only been two of us... 

Yeah, we don't want to think about that. :)

So much to be grateful for this week and so many little laughs and miracles. I've been reading "The Power of Everyday Missionaries" lately too which is a great read. Seriously I'd put it up there with The Portrait of Dorian Gray, Screwtape Letters, Kite Runner and my 8th grade Algebra textbook. Okay I didn't like math THAT much, but you get the idea. 

I love you all and feel your love every week through your emails. 

You are all my heroes.

Love,

Sister McCloskey

 P.S. Here's a sunset and blurry rainy Seoul. Love you guys.

June 7, 2015 - Nuts

Sister Sieverts and her family

So I left my planner (SINNER, I know. I'll repent.) at the apartment so this'll be short. But maybe that's just Heavenly Father telling me it's time to stop putting it off and just sign up for my classes already... Sigh. Fine, I'll do it.

But first. :)

This week was nuts. Almonds, pistachios, pecans... gang's all here! We had MLC on Tuesday again where we got training from President and the APs which was super great. I had a mini exchange with Sister's Bell and Olsen (both so awesome) and then Zone Training on Wednesday! We are STLs over two zones so we had to split and I gave the training in another zone. It turned out to be really cool bearing my testimony in front of a bunch of missionaries I had served with in the MTC and other areas. Needless to say we were totally wiped out, but the week kept moving. 

This week we picked up the coolest thirty something year old Mongolian couple this side of the Mississippi (Geography was never my forte, but if I remember right there's quite a substantial amount of earth between the Mississippi and Korea... so that's saying something) as investigators! Shinee (such a beautiful smile) and Ganaa (looks like a Mongolian version of the bad guy in Italian Job... in a really good way, of course!). They have been to church several times and love it. They are very busy with work and Ganaa is struggling to overcome a long smoking addiction, but we're so excited to be meeting with them.

You know who else I was excited to meet this week? Yeah, I think you do. SISTER SIEVERTS and family popped on over to Korea and we went to dinner and just had the best time with them. That day was one of those days I wish I was famous and had the paparazzi there to catch every moment.

(This is one of those times when common sense comes in whispers, "careful what you wish for, rach")

I take that back, I don't want to be famous... but you get the idea. 

After our tummies and hearts were full we bid adieu and boarded the subway. I wanted to share that same love I felt from Sister Sieverts with every single person on that subway and it was then we saw a miracle. The very last person, a high school student, I talked to with only a few stops left, had talked to missionaries before and I was able to get her number right before hopping off at our stop. That night I flipped through our area book and happened upon a very familiar name.. Turns out she was a former investigator who's name and information had gotten lost... and we found her. :) How cool is that?

Okay, and last but not least. Remember Uditha and Sisera (our Sri Lankan investigators)? Well, not only did they stop smoking, share the gospel with their family and friends... But they got baptized on Sunday. :)

Now, how. cool. is. that. 

Love you all so so much.

Love,

Sister McCloskey

P.S. Moonlight and the package. Thank you so much!

I wasn't able to go to the baptism (as it was on Sunday), but here's a pic. :) WOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Easton on his mission in Paris using the chalk that you gave him.

May 31, 2015 - Let me tell you a tale

Let me tell you a tale 

like those of old 

that begins at the beginning

and needs to be told.

It began at dawn

a break from the mundane

as we arrived a bit early

and boarded the train.

The train was quite empty 

not a person in view

so we pulled out our scriptures

and began to review.

An lady approached

looking old and quite tired

and of the books in our hands

whence they came she inquired.

"It's God's word" we replied

and began to explain

and the Spirit, it seemed, 

just could not refrain. 

We set up an appointment

to meet her the next week

whereby we could share with her

the great knowledge she did seek.

You'd think this little lady 

is the hero of this story

but in fact she's not!

I'll get there, don't worry.

So we met her and her friend

in a new little town

new people to find

new streets to walk down.

To make this long story short

and to keep my little audience awake

I'll spare you the details 

and less time I will take.

It turned out that neither

the old lady nor her friend

were interested in our message

or in the words we did send.

But because of those two 

and their invitation to talk

we found ourselves on a road

never before did we walk.

And it was on that road

that we happened upon four men

Sri Lankans, you know,

are greeted by Ahayoobowan.

We met them again

and the gospel we did teach

and now four months later

eternal life is within reach.

Two of those men are in fact

the heroes of this tale

and for others to follow

they are forging a new trail.

Yes, you got it, my friends,

they are taking the first of many steps

to come unto Christ 

and be lifted from the depths. 

Because of these two, 

six more have been found in this land

and more in their hometown

have begun to seek for God's hand. 

I, too, can't help but feel 

that He is here and He knows

each one of His children

and in their hearts seeds He sows.

Heavenly Father is there

and guess what, His plan's true

so take a look around 

and you'll find He's right beside you.

There she goes again. This is when I get to spit out all the English I have bottled up inside me during the week, so I apologize. :) But pretty darn cool story, eh? We really see so many cool little miracles everyday and are keeping very, very busy. And are very, very happy. Mina came to church yesterday which was the answer to many a prayer and fast. We have a new Sri Lankan investigator! And are still meeting with our other Mongolians and Chinese. It's really hot. I was given a "Jesus Fish" necklace by a lady I talked to on the street. We had a combined Seoul and Seoul South mission conference where I got to see some old friends. Sister Ju and Sister Lee keep me laughing everyday. It's really hot. Wait, did I mention that already? Yes, but did I mention the fact that I'm really quite happy? Ah, yes, it appears I've done that too. Guess that's my cue.

Love you!

Signed... sealed... delivered,

Stevie Wonder

Did I say Stevie Wonder? Oh, I'm sorry... Sister McCloskey :)

P.S. Us at mission conference and a whole lot of peace signs (with Ehneh our mongolian investigator featured on the right!)

Tschau tschau!

Mission conference

A cool view from our church

May 24, 2015 - Bird Poop

Have you ever had a bird poop on your head?

 

Yeah. Me neither.

 

But my companion has. Heh.

This week was too good.

 

We had a few days in a row jam packed with miracle after miracle. It's like watching Dad after a trip to Costco thinking there's no way he could fit that last bag of dried mangos in and he does it again! Heavenly Father just kept the miracles coming where we thought there was for sure no more room. Not only was a prayer answered and two former investigators returned from their sudden departure to the land of the Mongolians, but we found two long lost less actives, Mina accepted her baptismal date and brought her friend along to meet us, and we found two new investigators! Both are university students and both (I bet you can guess) are foreigners! Sister Wang is from China and we've gotta start from step one with her, but she's great. Then there's Ehneh from Mongolia who has a little religious background and speaks very little Korean, but yes, is great.

 

But yes, bird poop did fall from the sky and Sunday was like the blue to the rest of the week's orange. We had several appointments cancel and potential investigators drop as well as some pretty hard rejections on the street. You know that feeling you get when you rip off an old bandaid and it leaves a little shock and stinging tears in your eyes? Yeah. That's kinda what that feels like.

 

Thankfully I'm so lucky to have two of the best this nation's got to offer by my side to keep the sun shining. (Speaking of weather, it's beautiful these days). We're working everyday to be better missionaries and learn how to work better together. And even though a bird pooped on my companion's head, and maybe we got rejected once or twice on the street, we are learning to just love every moment, give the best we have, and rely on the Lord to do the rest. Missionary work is hard, but in the words of that one girl in How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, it's surprisingly... Upbeat! (jen better get that reference).

 

Also I may as well just print out the emails I got this week and send them to D.C. to be glass boxed and propped next to the Declaration so everyone can feel the same love I felt reading them.

 

... And then I'll pull a Nicholas Cage and steal em all back and keep them all for myself. Wahah. Love you guys!

 

Love,

Sister Meck.

 

P.S. If you guys haven't seen "The True Story of Todd Sylvester" I would recommend you drop everything (except the computer that's on your lap... or the Ander that's on your lap... those are pretty irreplacable) and go watch it.

P.P.S. Selfie.

 

 

 

 

 

May 17, 2015 - I'll take two, please!

So funny story. I bought some socks last week, the small kind you wear with flats, and the first day I wore a new pair, a big hole was rubbed in the bottom. I let it go happily singing, "there's a hole there's a hole there's a hole in the bottom of my sock". It took me three days and three more pairs of socks to notice that there was not only a hole in the bottom of every sock in the same place, but a big black spot on the bottom of my hole. It was then that I realized that my plan to sue, or whatever they do in Korea, the sock manufacturer would not be justified as it was not the manufacturer's flaw, but there was, in fact a hole...

.. in the bottom of my shoe.

Heh.

Oh missionary work.

That's what I get for spending my childhood barefoot, hm?

Thankfully that's the only hole I've discovered lately and there's no need to worry. In fact the hole Sister Jeon left me with after finishing her mission this week ㅜㅜ was quickly filled by not one, but two companions. Both of which call this beautiful land home. Koreans! Yes, your assumption of my loss of english speaking ability is correct. And no, I don't want to play scrabble.

It's been one heck of a week that's felt more like a few months, but I can already tell this transfer is gonna be a blast. We're adjusting pretty quick to the whole threesome thing, as it is for all of us a first, and make quite the team. I seriously love them both so so much and am learning so much from them everyday. It often takes a while to figure out why you are put together with certain companions, but I can already see why I was put with these two. And I thanks Heavenly Father for sending them my way everyday.

This is not to say it has been a San Diego oceanside breeze Helping Sister Ju adjust to being a new STL and Sister Lee to being a new missionary, along with supporting the two zones of missionaries, and taking over a zone where the sisters closed, but it's helped me to understand the importance of relying on the Lord for our daily bread. I honestly don't think any of us would be able to do this without him.

In other fun news, Sister Jeon and I spent our last pday together at one of my favorite spots in Seoul and had the fondest of farewells. I love her and learned SO much from her and couldn't be happier we got to be companions for the short time we were together. Last transfer flew. And then all the missionaries got to go to a BYU symphony show traveling through Korea which was great.

And last, but certainly not least, our investigators! We met with Yang Yang (Chinese) and had the best lesson about prayer and God. We taught her to pray and shared testimony and experiences and it was so powerful with the three of us there backing each other's words up. And Mina in doing great and working toward being baptized next month on the 14th!

Love,

Sheester Meck.

P.S. Mom, don't stress. I've got another pair of shoes. :)

P.P.S. The new comps and I at the symphony and the district on pday! Love you!

May 10, 2015 -ㅋㅋㅋ

We all knew the response to Dad's "Guess what I made for dinner!" now didn't we. It's been over a year, but... some things just don't change now do they. :)

I might as well place my order now cause you're probably pretty backed up, huh Dad? I'll take a Mac and Cheese (made with only the most raw unprocessed of velveeta cheeses, of course) and two pigs in a blanket. I'll even pay you in advance... do you take won? :)

Thanks for all the laughs, guys. I love my family. I could have practically opened our window and shouted it at all the little people on the street. But they just wouldn't get it. So I suppose I'll spare my vocal chords and just use this little keyboard to try and convey to you how very much I love you.

I LOVE YOU.

There were so many moments while we were talking where I didn't even know what to say when you guys were talking. All these little Korean phrases kept jumping in my head in response to what you were saying, but I had to stop myself and think really hard about what an alternative would be in english, and sometimes there just wasn't one. 어쩔수없어요. :)

So you heard the news, but for anyone else who cares I will be staying in Dongdaemun and my new companion is 주혜연 (Sister Jue, yes, Korean!) and we are sister training leaders over two zones now. Woo! And as if that won't keep us busy enough... We're getting a greenie. Yup. We're training together! It's gonna be wild. But I'm so excited. Like I said, I was hoping for a Korean companion or to train.. Was that prayer answered or what?

In other news I just literally got off the phone with Mina who we will be meeting here in a bit and she is bringing her other Mongolian friend! She is so great. And when we gave her a tour of the church and explained all the meetings, she was glowing when we showed her the baptismal font. She's so excited to be baptized and it's the cutest thing.

We had another Zone Training this week and we trained the zone on Keeping the Sabbath day holy. I realized more than I ever have what a huge blessing the Sabbath is. Heavenly Father literally commands us, "thou shalt rest". (see somewhere in Exodus). Is that not the best commandment or what? You know full well how much I love missionary work, so I don't need to mention that. But one of the coolest things about it is the opportunity to set aside worldly worries and cares and just focus on strengthening ours and others relationships with God and Jesus Christ. And when I got to thinking about it, we have that same opportunity every seven days! We don't know what the next seven days will bring, but we know it will bring the Sabbath. What a cool thing.

Another cool thing? We found two new Chinese new investigators this week! I forgot to mention that, but we met one (Yang Yang) on the street and set up a return appointment with her and she ended up bringing her friend (Sooee). Both are super cool and have so much potential and curiosity about how to find God.

So, yeah, I'm having a ball here. Like one of those one's in Pride and Prejudice. Or maybe more like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies...?

Wouldn't that be somethin.

Have a great week, okay? And don't worry. I'll teach you guys how to say I love you when I get back. :)

But for know you're just gonna have to learn on your own!

사랑해요!! :)

Love,

Sister McCloskey

P.S. Here's a sunday school sketch and my cute companion at a palace we explored on P-day. Love you! Muuuuuuuuuuuah!

Sunday School sketch

My companion at a palace on P-day

Yes, that is cotton candy and spicy octopus on a stick

Yes, that is an old lady flashing me a heart.
Yes... This is Korea.

May 4, 2015 - 포스가 너와 함게 하도록 하길

You know those warhead candies Brandon had the brilliant idea for us to eat that one time at Nickel City that made our faces twist into all sorts of fun shapes? The initial shock is what gotya, but really they are quite sweet if you just let it sit.

Well I thought then that I understood the meaning of the word, "Bittersweet" when I ate that, but it has taken on a whole new meaning. Thursday morning, as I was attending to the tedious task of coating my eyelashes in that gooey black stuff (pretty wierd that we do that if you think about it) and the thought came into my mind to use the waterproof mascara I've had in my bag my whole mission and haven't thought to use til that day. Heavenly Father was looking out from me from the beginning. 

It wasn't until later that morning when the unexpected phone call from President informing me of Grandma's passing, that I realized I that following that prompting coulda saved me 5 cents worth of mascara. It's interesting how God works, isn't it? Sister Jeon and I knelt in prayer after the phone call and as she prayed for the family and Grandma, that's when the tears came. But I know Heavenly Father was looking out for me that day, opening my scriptures to D&C 100. :)  

And the day turned out to be a pretty wonderful day full of more laughter than tears. That day we even got to do service at an elderly care center. The laughter came when one of the old ladies pointed out the "fur" on one of the Elder's arms and he proceeded to show a portion of the forest on his leg. Her reaction, I'd say, was something like that of mom's after Felice so lovingly put her claws in her bottom. It was filled with shock, horror and a little jump. I'd pay good money to watch that again.

But what I would rather watch again is the lessons we have had with Mina this week. GUYS MINA. You want to know what she said to us as we were reading the Book of Mormon together? She stopped us and said, "I've been to other churches, but this church has something other churches don't. This church has the Spirit." I've never met someone who is so pure and is as receptive to the Spirit as her. I wish I could tell you everything, but I'm running out of time. Just keep her in your prayers cause she's the most prepared person for this gospel I've met my whole mission and we couldn't be happier for her. We couldn't be happier because of her either. :)

So, yes. All is well. Sister Jeon and I are happy as can be, though not looking forward to her return home in a week and a half. :( I'm glad to hear that all went well with the funeral and looking forward to hearing your familiar voices this week.

All my love as always,

Sister Me

P.S. I can't find my connecter thing so no pics this week. But don't worry I just taught a lesson on repentance, so I'll get right on it!

P.P.S. If you thought I forgot today was STAR WARS DAY ask a Korean what that subject says and you'll think twice. :)

P.P.P.S. Really, love you guys.

P.P.P.P.S. My mission forwarded some pictures from our mission conference and Jon Schmidt concert, so it looks like I do have some to share after all.