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.