On our way to a lunch appointment at the Kim’s home two of the three assistants let the other assistant along with Dad and me out of the car to start walking while they found a place to park. A man was in the street and an assistant asked him directions, then we followed him for a while. I thought he was just directing/walking with us because the streets were so winding and tight and confusing. Finally one of the elders told me this man we were following was the host/Brother Kim. Oh brother! Did I feel silly. But as we were walking to his home we saw this building and I HAD to take a picture for you! I enlarged it so this picture is deceptive? The streets are more narrow than they appear in this picture. I would not be able to find this store again.
Brother Kim showed us his family pictures of his two sons and their wives. Both daughters in law are expecting babies…..their two first grand babies! Their home was nice with a view from different directions. It was an amazing climb up to the upstairs apartment after winding through little side streets and alleyways. We saw small doors that led to cafes and homes. Wondering how anybody could fit their way down or up or in. A truck was parked maybe a quarter of an inch away from a brick wall. I don’t know how it got there. The Kim’s have access to the rooftop of the building their apartment is in. They hang their laundry out there and have a garden/trees as well. Amazing looking.
Brother Kim showed us his certificate when he was called as a bishop (the first time), in Korea, in 1979. If you look closely it was signed by the First Presidency: Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, and Marion G. Romney. Dad remembers when they came to Korea back in 1979, when Dad was in Seoul. Then they traveled down to Busan to form the first stake there.
As we were leaving the Kim’s home I just had to take a picture. It reminded me of action movies. Like maybe the Bourne movies. I could picture somebody being chased by bad guys jumping across from rooftop to rooftop, down stairs, upstairs, turning corners, zigzagging in and out of alleys.
After going down the stairs we walked across a small walkway and saw this tiny garden plot that the Kim’s have taken such good care of. They have about a 2 ft. By 4 ft. Piece of grass that is beautifully manicured with orange trees, a plum tree, an apple tree, a tangerine tree, and an Asian pear tree. When they left on their three year mission they did not ask anyone to care for their garden or apartment. They said that when they came back the grass had grown so high but all the plants survived without any care. It’s like a little piece of solitude in a crazy outside world.
These beautiful, dainty flowers were planted around the border of the Kim’s garden. They took such great detail and care as to paint the ends of the intricate twig fence.
This week we had zone conference in Poole and Elder and Sister Adler came as visiting authorities from Germany. It was amazing to hear them speak. I felt as if he was talking directly to me. He spoke of how we need to be converted, converted to our missions. He spoke about how success in life is related to our level of conversion. It really made me think, how converted am I? I have gained a testimony of this gospel that I am so grateful for- I never want to stop building that testimony and living that faith. I want to always live and share this gospel, no matter what trials come my way or the circumstances I’m in. All the little things are so important, reading the scriptures daily, going to all my church meetings, and making time for prayers each day accounting to the Lord.
At the beginning of his talk Elder Adler said that he was struggling as to know what to talk about because the spirit had prompted him to speak on something so different then the day before. He then spoke about repentance and forgiveness. He said that the key part of repentance is forgiving yourself, which was cool because that is something that a lot of missionaries need to hear, they spend time thinking about past mistakes they have repented of but it’s not full repentance until you move on, it’s over, and you forgive yourself. This is the case with many people actually, they hold on to their past mistakes and forget to move on or let the Atonement really change them. We do have a Savior, He did die for us, so that each of us could have faith, and repent, and be cleansed from sin, and to change if we let Him change us.
After the conference was over Elder and Sister Adler had us all give them a hug and gave us a little chocolate. They are so sweet and you could feel the love. It was a great zone conference.
Afterwards all the other district leaders, STL, and other missionary companionships were traveling back to their respective areas, but the zone leaders had interviews and a leadership meeting with Elder Adler, and since Sister Kofford and I had gotten a lift with them we had to stick around. We walked in the chapel to wait for them in their interviews and saw Sister Adler and Sister Millar on the stand just sitting so we took the opportunity to go sit on the floor next to them and talk. It was so fun, and it made Sister Adler light up, she got to talk about her family and show us pictures. She is a cool lady! She was a convert when she was 21 and when she shared her testimony she just speaks with the greatest love and appreciation for the gospel. She’s amazing.
After a while they went in to the leadership meeting but after two minutes Elder and Sister Adler sent the AP's out to get me and the one other STL that had stayed they said they wanted us to be a part of the leadership meeting. It was great to be included and to feel of their love.
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