Wednesday, February 27, 2013

She's made it to Korea

 Boy oh boy has it been an eventful few weeks!  This blog update will include a lot of information!

I am going to start with week 9... and I am pretty sure we are headed in to week 11.   Great news right?  One more week and we have made it .25 way thru a year which is passed our half way mark!!  (I think I am trying to convince myself this is going by super fast but its not working for me... how about you?)


Hi again, I hope all of you enjoyed those pictures. Don't we all just look dashing??

I feel like I just may be losing my mind. I thought I had a list of all these things I wanted/needed to write home about anddd...I have absolutely no idea where it is. And I can't really remember anything. My days are so long and crammed full of just information. So I can't recall everything that I would like to. But I'll give it a try.

-My Branch President, President Shin, is a very successful business man and he is writing an article in the Korean Liahona which will be published for March 2013, and he is submitting a photo with it...guess who is in that photo? That's right, this girl. I thought that was just about the coolest thing I've ever been published in. We took a lot of pictures different days, so who even knows if I'll be looking my best, but I don't mind.

-Um if any of you were confused about my letter last week, sorry. When I said I saw Elder Cook, I meant the apostle. Not just some random young man elder, Quintin L. Cook. He said hi and I felt very important, even though he had no idea who I was.

-One of my Elders went home this week. If you look back at the pictures I sent this week he is the one pointing to Korea when we are standing in front of the map. Elder Smurthwaite had a few health problems that started here at the MTC, I'm unaware of what they are. Actually doctors are unaware of what they are. They thought he had mono, but turns out the tests came back negative. So with our departure approaching, they started caring about his situation and tried to find a solution for him. Doctors here at the MTC are....not top notch. Elder Smurthwaite didn't feel cared for and all they did was give him a bottle of gaterade and told him to go home and sleep. Listen, the boy can hardly walk, he has no energy, and you think a bottle of Gatorade is going to fix it? Okay, that's just my two cents. I just didn't like how they handled the situation. Also, my district is like family so you mess with them it's game over for me. ANYWAY. Poor E. Smurthwaite had to go home. He told us on Saturday right before lunch. He came into the class room and you could tell he had been crying. After he told us the news I believe it was Elder Fund who suggested that we have a prayer together as a district. We all kneel and pray and I felt a small prompting to say it, but I ignored it because I felt like Elder Fund should say it. Elder Fund was Elder Smurthwaites companion. But in my district there is our Zone Leader, Elder Leavitt. So E. Levaitt told Fund to say the prayer, or call on someone where it was his idea. I feel the prompting again to volunteer to say the prayer. But I ignored it again, because 1- I didn't feel like it was my place and 2- I didn't even know what I would say. Then Fund says okay Elder Leavitt, you say the prayer. Then Elder Leavitt shakes his head slowly and says, "No. I feel like Sister Hunsaker needs to say it."  I already had my arms folded and head bowed when he said this, so I look up and just nod in agreement. I started the prayer, and I was at a loss for words. Silence filled the room as I gathered my thoughts and let the spirit guide the prayer. Tears dropped from my eyes as I spoke. I can't recall everything I said, but I feel like Elder Smurthwaite needed to hear something that I said in that prayer. After the prayer almost everyone, if not everyone was crying. We sang, God Be With You til We Meet Again. That made everyone cry. It was hard seeing him go. It touched me a lot because I thought of the song, I Would Die for That (Zo, you know that song by Kellie Coffee) and I realized that Elder Smurthwaite would die for the opportunity to serve the people of Korea, but God had other plans for him. I guess what I'm trying to say it that I am more grateful for the opportunity I have to be here and be part of this great work. Also, the spirit works in amazing ways, and no one should avoid a prompting. I'm grateful for Elder Leavitt who followed the spirit and called on me to say the prayer, because I didn't have enough guts to to it. People are placed in our lives for a reason. Cherish those around you.

-I have Korean roommates. Sister Ko and Sister Gu. They are just about the cutest Koreans you ever did see. TRC on saturday was amazing. I think Saturday was the first day that I really was excited to go to Korea and teach the people, even though my Korean is poor.

Well that's about all I can say, my time is up.
I love you all so much,
Whitley Jean

Oh ps, I get my travel plans this Thursday (Valentines Day, what a gift huh?) and so I'll send you the details of what I can next Tuesday. I'm pretty sure my departure date is 02/25/13 but I'll know for sure then! Oh also mom I love the scarf you sent me with the coat. I do wear it, just not in the pics sorry.


Well....  if this letter home didn't bring a tear to your eye I don't know what will.  As I was reading thru the letter again it truly made me think of the song Whit referenced (if you look it up you might be a crying ball of mess - just thought I'd warn you) and it seriously made me think of how this Elder must have felt.  If you have been raised in a home with active members of the church you know that most parents, if not all parents, encourage their young men/women to go on a mission at one point or another in their life.  I would assume this particular Elder put a lot of thought and prayer into going on his mission and then to find out just before he was supposed to leave that he can't go anymore.  I think we can all relate to this Elder to some degree, some more than others, but can you imagine???  I am so grateful for Whit and her desire to serve a mission, I honestly don't know that I'd have the guts to do it.  I am so grateful for the lessons she continually teaches all of us thru her letters and her example.  I'm grateful for her strength and her faith in our Father in Heaven which she exercises daily.

Below are the pictures from week 9.



the chalk board is a bunch of Korean, 
just one of the activities we do. Basically
just make 
sentences and then respond.
 Elder Roberson is riding on Elder Leavitt's back.

Elder Leavitt and Elder Fund are sitting with
 the Korean Flag behind them

And the other picture is what Elder Peck did. He explains how to be Sassy! If you can zoom in and read it all, you should. It's funny. Or maybe it's not funny and I just think it's funny because I'm a missionary and little things humor me.

First one is Elder Layton!!!!
 He finally came!!
I think my heart literally
skipped a beat when he was
 walking towards me. I can't begin to tell you
 how happy I am now that I have a
 friend here at the mtc.
I usually see him once a day, and usually
 only in the cafeteria. But it is
 SO GOOD to see him. It made
me think of all the good times we had in Rexburg.

Then the one with the map in the back. The elder pointing at korea went home this week :( it was sad. I'll explain more in my big email.

Then the picture of me in the polka dots with my friend Sister Maddee McKay. He and I were assigned to visit teach each other when we lived in Rexburg. We became pretty good friends. And she is going to New York Mandarin speaking! We are on the exact schedule and her classroom is just across the hall from me. I love being able to see her all the time. It brought me the same sort of joy with Elder Layton when I seen her. I love being able to see my friends here.


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I am going to do this blurb a little different - we are going to start with pictures because 1- they are always fun to look at   2- that is how Whit sent them this go round and  3- if I post the letter first you'll have to go back and reread it once you look at the pictures so I am going to simplify all of our lives.  :)  

 


So these are some valentines that I got! One from e.fund, one from bro.tanner, umm the travel plans came on vday (tell you details later today after I get back from the temple) and zo sent cinnamon rolls! mmm they were yummy, as you can see I'm stuffing my face :)


 

 

Me and the best friend, looking good on valentines day! ;) I seriously adore sister taylor. Um that one cupcake is from e.anderson, him and I are pretty good friends. He has a girl waiting for him back home and we always talk about our lovers. anyway an exgirlfriend of his sent him some cupcakes from cocoa bean so he shared the love. Then all of my district on vday. Elder peck is cupid :) and I FINALLY GOT MOMS PACKAGE! Pardon the ill look on my face. It was a long day. Oh also, on valentines day I did my hair and was feeling pretty great cause ya'll know how much I LOVE valentines day, and then by the end of the day, Korean got the best of me and I had to pull my hair up. I feel like putting my hair on top of my head is a huge stress relief. Haha, isn't that weird? So I'm ALWAYS pullin that hair up.



Haha oh so presidents day was yesterday and we all showed our love for our presidents by wearing red, white, and blue! 'Merica, 'Merica, 'Merica :D



These pics are from Lucy's (sister taylors) camera. Um the one with all of us in red was for the 49ers. I don't really like the 49ers but Luc asked me to wear red, so I'm sportin the red out of love for her. Um then it's us again on valentines day. Oh and then us at the gym! Well after the gym. So after service yesterday (monday) we went "shopping". I say "shopping" because it wasn't really shopping. We went diving in the free boxes all over our building and I found these HUGE shirts. They don't want us to wear just leggings so we had these long shirts to cover our butts. To say the least is was awesome. And everyone loved it. Also, I'm desperate for entertainment, and I hate it. Haha everything is funny, even if it isn't funny. So just laugh. Then us again wearing our country's colors!!
I love you all and I'll email you soooon!



    Hi :)
First thing first, have you listened to my tape yet, or what? My heart is slowly breaking because you haven't listened to it yet.
Okay so this past week was the best, ever I think. Valentines day is THE BEST. You all know how much I love it. And February is just a great month for birthdays/love! Bj I hope you had a happy birthday! And me and eishelle's bdays are coming up quick too! Okay so lets cut to the chase and talk about FLIGHT PLANS!!!!!!!!!!!
February 25: My flight leaves SLC @ 5:52am
Arrive in San Francisco: 8:00am (7:00am utah time)
Then I have a 4 hour lay over (which is when I'll be calling!! :):):):)!!! I can't wait to talk to all of you)
Flight boards in San Fran: noon (11am utah time)
Arrive in Seoul: FEBRUARY 26- 4:15pm (feb 26 12:15 utah time)
Korea is 16 hours ahead of utah time
Flight time (in air) is approx 14hrs 23 mins
Travel time approx 23hrs
So I'll prob sleep on the way there, if my nerves will allow :)
Sixteen missionaries will be traveling with me the entire way from ut to seoul
then 8 missionaries meet up with us in CA to go to seoul and then they will go to the Daejeon Mission just below Seoul.
********I don't want to call too early so I'll probably call you around 9 or 10 (utah time) which would be 8 or 9 san fran time.
I honestly have no idea when I'll be calling though. So maybe just block out those 4 hrs from 8-12? I dunno.
I bought two calling cards just in case cause I didn't know if dad would be home or if any body else would be with mom? Idk.
So each call takes off 130mins automatically. Each card is 500mins. I feel like I have planned for enough to talk to all of you.
Um the dear elders you send me will be shredded if you send them after I leave.
So if you don't write me a dear elder by this friday the 22nd, just don't send it.
I think dear elder works in Korea? I don't really know. I heard it costs. Ya'll have to look into that one.
BRADY and MARK, thank you for my valentines! I forgot to take a picture cause I got them on the 13th! I'm sorry. But you two are always on time making me feel loved. Thank you for making me your valentine! I love you both so much!!!
Okay so there is this talk by Bruce C. Hafen called The Atonement: All for All please look it up and read it. I just want to share a quote with ya'll that I LOVED. Well there are a few. And ya'll know how much I love quotes! Anyway he said, "So if you have problems in your life, don't assume there is something wrong with you. Struggling with those problems is at the very core of life's purpose. As we draw closer to God, He will show us our weaknesses and through them make us wiser, stronger. If you're seeing more of your weaknesses, that just might mean you're moving nearer to God, not farther away."
After I read this I just realized how much we are supposed to struggle in this life. It isn't supposed to be easy, if it were easy we wouldn't seek God's help.
Another quote, "This earth is not our home. We are away at school, trying to master the lessons of the great plan of happiness so we can return home and know what it means to be there."
KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE THERE! Again, in this life, we are meant to struggle. We have to, so we know we deserved our spot in heaven <3
So, I love you all so much!
TALK TO YOU SOON :)
Um do me a favor and dear elder me NO LATER THAN FRIDAY if you want me to call you and what time so I can figure it all out.
Thank you for supporting me on this journey. I know the Lord has blessed all of us for our efforts in this.
As far as being ready to leave...the natural man inside of me is scared to death, but my spirit is ready.
I trust in our Father in Heaven, and I know he is carrying me.
Love,
whitley jean


MY BEST FRIEND COMES TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!! AH :):):):):):) I am so excited to see Eishelle! Every time I think about it, I cry. God is good. He is so good! K love you, bye!


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So Whit emailed all that information on the 19th and Eishelle went into the MTC the 20th.  We love Eishelle & Danielle Whitney like they are our sisters and there are three other Whitney kids that we to come be a part of our family in addition to the parents!  If you know our family you know that we are very accepting, loving, and welcoming - we welcome people into our family with open arms.  So with that being said I should preface these next pictures by saying my mom got to pick Eishelle from the airport when she flew in on Tuesday and was able to take her to the MTC Wednesday.   
...... AND ......


 





So this girl knew EXACTLY what she was doing when she signed up to be a HOST at the MTC!!!  I am SO glad my mom got to see Whit.  I cannot imagine the worry that goes thru a mothers mind each time a letter comes.  I KNOW with ALL my heart that BOTH Whit & Mom needed to see each other before she left for Korea.  That didn't necessarily calm my mom's worries about Korea but she was able to see that Whit was TRULY happy and ENJOYING her mission.  I'm pretty sure if either of them had seen each other last month Whit would be hiding in the car willingly or mom would have heaved her into the car and hid her as they drove away.  hahahah!!!  It just warmed my heart to see the two of them huge and cry together - once again very much so needed.


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Whit called on the 26th from California before she get on her last plane to Korea.  It was GREAT to talk to her.  She had to laugh and make a comment about me being 30 this year and before I knew it 40 would be here - she has a hard time believing she is 23 right now so I let her know in 10 years she would be older than I was right now.  :)  It was so nice to laugh and talk with her.  When I asked if she was nervous she said "not really but yeah kinda" so of course I want to know if it is a "go to the bathroom" nervous or a butterflies nervous.  We laughed again and she told me it was a butterflies nervous but she doesn't want to think about it cause then the "bathroom" nervous will come.  (yes I just said that and yes this is going to be published)  My mom got the following email and picture from the Seoul Korea Mission.

Hello! congratulations, your sons and daughters have safely arrived in the beautiful land of Korea. They spent their evening contacting on the subway home and finished it with a meal at President and Sister Christensen's house. 



P.S.  Whit wanted me to thank everyone who wished her a Happy Birthday.  I received the letter in the middle of our move so I am not sure how the wishes were sent or who all sent them (I only remember a few names) so a BIG THANK YOU from Whit!  She loves and appreciates all the support, letters, prayers, etc that are sent her way every day.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

 Week 8 !!!

Have we really only made it thru week 8 and on to week 9?  Does anyone else feel like we should be on week 38 and on to week 39 or is it just me?  If you break it down in days it seems like it has been much longer than 8 weeks - 56 is a much bigger number than 8.  :)    

You know when you have a funny/embarrassing/"I gotta tell someone" moment and want to share it with someone so you can both get a kick out of your news?  Whit was my go to for that and guess who no longer has a cellular device... yep you guessed it - HER! Whit! My only sister! My parents youngest daughter! My brothers little sister!  W - H - I - T - L - E - Y!!  I say this because last weeks letter was a little rough to read for some of us...  no one ever wants to hear that their loved one is struggling.  You feel even more helpless when you cant pick up the phone to call or get in your car and drive over to offer comforting words.  My mom called last week crying - she just wanted to call Whitely and let her know she is proud of her and try to comfort her, listen to vent her struggles and to remind her how much she is loved and supported.  I agreed with every emotion my mom was going thru and has went thru several time a day I'm sure.  I let my mom know I knew how she was feeling and what I had to do from time to time when I had those moments.  EX:  Remember the picture of Whitley with the fireball in her mouth from a post or 2 ago?  I have been wanting a fireball ever since I saw that dang picture but those are not something I remember to put on my grocery list. I sent the following email to Whit while having one of my cravings that could not be satisfied:  
Whit - I am at work and don't have a lot of time but I wanted to call you on the phone (or text you) to let you know I am CRAVING ME SOME FIREBALLS!!!!  Ever since I saw the picture with you eating a fireball I have been craving some and I forget all about that craving when I am at the store! UGH!!!  
OK - now I gotta get back to work - I often times have random thoughts I want to share with you so this time I did.  :)  
Love you sister!  
Please don't get me wrong - our family supports Whitley (and each other) 110% regardless of what is going on, I just don't think any of us were prepared for this emotion roller coaster.  When Brady left on his mission there were a lot of tear shed but I don't remember any of us being this emotional.  (sorry Braid's - I just don't remember)  Throughout our lives do we subconsciously prepare ourselves for our brother(s)/son(s) to leave for 2 years if that is the what they decide to do?  From my observation it seems as though the parents of young men serving missions hold it together much better than we have?  Do they mask it better?  Is it harder cause she's our sister/daughter and we didn't prepare ourselves for her to serve a mission?  Are we greedy and selfish?  We are VERY grateful for the emails and letters we get from her.  We can all see the change her mission has had on her and it is wonderful to see her growing.  All we can do it take it a day at a time and grow with her.  She has had to lean on our Heavenly Father several times to get her through this and she encourages all of us to do the same.  I am one that tries to look for a bright side in all our challenges - I am truly grateful for Whitley's letters.  She is teaching me new ways to study the scriptures (I've never been good at - or a fan of reading the scriptures, I won't lie) and I swear each scripture I have looked up as of late has had to do with Faith - obviously these are scriptures I have needed to read and something I need to be stronger in or reminded of.  Thank you Whit for teaching us something new each time you write!  We will all continue to be strong and support Whit 110% - I guess we just weren't prepared... 

Below is Whitley's letter from Tuesday along with her pictures.

Family,
So I'm approaching the end of week 8. Holy moly. Is this real life? I mean I feel like I've been here FOREVER, and the same time it feels like yesterday. Know what I mean? Course I'm missing all of you like crazy. But the Lord is sooo good to me. I couldn't do this without him. This week I have been constantly reminded of how much I need him. How real he is. How amazing this work is. How blessed I am to have all that I do. I feel like I have been slightly self centered and I haven't thought about how all of you feel. All of us are in each others lives for a reason. God knew I would serve a mission, and he knew I would need an amazing family and friends to support me. THANK YOU FOR BEING SO AMAZING. I know that I can lean on you and turn to all of you for anything. But you need to know that I am leaning on the Lord to help me get to Korea. Yes, I am a baby bit scared to go, but I am very confident that the Lord will hold my hand every step of the way. I hope all of you are aware that he is taking care of me and watching over me, so don't worry (if that's possible).
--- Highlight of my week- Uh I saw Elder Cook, walked right past me, looked me in the eye and said, "Hello (with a HUGE smile on his face!)" and I smiled and said, "Hi!" So nbd. But kind of. Haha no for real though it was cool, and really neat to see him. He looks exactly like the pictures we see of him. Exactly how you would imagine him.
 ---Yesterday in class I felt the spirit overcome me. I share this with you because in my morning prayers I asked to feel the spirit, (cause I was on a spiritual high from fast sunday, which was amazing) and I know that if you pray for the spirit to be with you, to comfort you or prompt you, the Lord will grant it unto you, as long as you are worthy to have the spirit (obviously).
 ---On sunday I bore my testimony, and a few people thanked me afterwards which was kind of them. I was the first one to bear my testimony, its been a long time that i felt the spirit that strong. But guys, it was AMAZING. Bearing testimony is so powerful. Fast and Testimony meetings are my fav. for sure.
 ---The gospel is everything. It's not what you do, it's who you are.
 ---God has a plan for everyone. A specific plan. Just for you.
 ---I will keep in my heart His son's name, forever.
 
Okay so 8 weeks in and this is what I've realized about Whitley Jean:
 
I'm realizing how much I....love:
Fire balls
ironing
raw spinach
yellow peppers
temple attendance
the gym
being a woman
 
I'm realizing how much I....hate:
Cooked spinach
Hair balls (like literally a ball of hair. i GAG. it is the grossest thing in the ENTIRE WORLD.)
For service this week we cleaned showers and can I just tell you how sick that was? And how grateful I am for you know, cleanliness. Oober goober gross.
 
Okay my 30 minutes is up. Thank you for writing me letters like I am still Whitley Jean.
I'll send pictures around 6pm tonight.
 
Dad, Mom, Zo, Bj, Braid, Mark, Sky, Josh, Tam, and Eishelle I LOVE YOU!
Thank you for being part of my life.
Xo
Whit

Whit just loves this girl...  I guess she has
sent letters to my mom along with Whit's
letters.  I'm glad to see that she has found
some friends she can relate to.

This is Whit's desk.  We have done whatever we could to help make her feel at home while she is away on her mission and from the looks of this desk I'm going to say we have don't a pretty good job!  :)  I love to see all of her pictures on her wall, the pens & paper sent, the manicure set, etc.  This puts a big smile on my face.
She ABSOLUTELY LOVES temple day!