A Year in Korea!

Yesterday marked a year since Jaden arrived in Korea.

I know it was quite an adjustment for him,

but after what he did last week, I think he's adjusted!

(I'll show you at the end of this post.)

Jaden seems to be enjoying his new area, Won Dang.

He even got to shoot a bow and arrows on p-day which is something he loves to do!

He also sent a picture of the Han River, and across the river is the Seoul South Mission.

(Jaden is in the Seoul Mission.)  I thought it was a beautiful picture.

Jaden was made a senior companion, but he feels he has learned so

much from his companion.  Ever so humble, that boy!

He did have a fun experience on the subway.  Not so fun for me to hear, though!

I'll share what he wrote:

Okay. One other experience. So, we had a big conference for the Korean Thanksgiving on Saturday. Which means we took the Subway. I've taken the subway plenty of times before, but its been a while since I've rode one so often and for so long. We're coming home after our conference, and I thought we were getting off in two stops. I asked another Elder and he said we were going to wait and get off in about 8 stops. So I started talking to a guy with some hot pink socks. All of a sudden, I realize that I'm the only missionary on the subway. Yikes. I'm REALLY glad I learned how to say "borrow" because I asked the guy to borrow his phone. I'm also REALLY glad I memorized our number already, and I called Elder Fisher and let him know all was well and I would meet back up with him in just a minute. No worries, I made it back in one piece. I'm really grateful for kind people who let silly American kids use their phones!!!!

Okay, I just needed to take a deep breath.  He was okay, and it's a learning experience 

for him...just all part of growing up!

Jaden also celebrated his 20th birthday a couple of weeks ago.

I always made him a German chocolate cake with coconut pecan frosting.

All he wanted for his birthday was a white shirt and for me to send him

a cake mix and frosting!  (I did send a few other things.)

He sent a picture of his cake, and also what he ate for lunch and dinner.

Not quite sure what he baked the cake in, and I don't know what the 

soup he ate for lunch is, but for dinner, some of the elders took

Jaden out to Korean BBQ.  Jaden loves that!

(Looks more appetizing than a meal he ate last week, that's for sure.)

As far as teaching goes, I know that Jaden and his companion have a

baptism coming up this Saturday, and he's been teaching a less active gentleman.

Here is his letter from September 21st:

Hello everyone!

This week was pretty simple. We met with a few investigators, talked with lots of people on the street and visited an elderly less-active brother. BUT a few cool things happened from doing that!

ONE:

Brother Shin, the elder less-active brother, is a hoot! He really likes movies from the Fifties and he asks us if we know them. I only knew Oklahoma, but he said the rest are good too. We've been going to his house once a week for a while, just trying to figure out a good way to get him to church. He is confined to a wheelchair and its a long walk that we just might make now! He told us this week though that his brother in law was in town. His brother has a car and so he said "I'm coming to Church!" The only problem was that we had Stake Conference this week, and we didn't know the address of the Stake Center. So we just went to Stake Conference. In the middle of the meeting, we got a call from Brother Shin. He said "I'm here. Where are you?" So we went outside and helped him into the Church. His brother drove him clear to the Stake Center (a little while away) and Brother Shin made it! It was great.

TWO:

Brother Moon, a Junior in High School, is a super awesome kid. He's nice and funny, what more do you need? (Other than the Gospel). We committed him to be baptized next week!!! And he said yes, and he already talked to his dad and got permission to be baptized. Its so great!!! I can tell he's been prepared for it, and now all he needs are some really awesome friends in the ward and he'll be set! I'm so excited for him to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost and always have the Spirit to be with him!! 

I had a good week. I hope you all did too. Remember that I love you all, and be happy!!

Love,
Elder Roskelley

 

And from this past Sunday, September 28th:

 

Well, Brother Moon's baptism had to be delayed. We ran into some schedule conflicts and so Brother Moon's baptism was moved to THIS Saturday. Its okay though, he said he would be okay with an extra week to prepare. Now we just need to find him some white pants that won't fall off of him! 

So something cool just happened about ten minutes ago. A few weeks ago, Elder Fisher needed to use the restroom so we walked inside a store. While I was waiting, a woman spoke English to me and asked me where I was from. We had a small conversation in which we told her we were missionaries, not English teachers as she thought. She let us know she lived in Canada for a while and was back here in Korea. She said she already went to church, but she took our card and we asked her to call if she ever had an interest. I say that to SO many people every week. I've only had one other person call back, and today I had a second. This woman called and asked to meet us. We are going to introduce her to the Sister missionaries tomorrow. She may or may not want to take the discussions, but either way she was impressed enough by us talking with her that she called us back. I feel pretty blessed right now. 

Also, (sorry Mom!) I have one other cool thing to tell you. Not as cool as miracles, but just cool. We went to a dinner appointment with a Brother and Sister in the ward. Fish. We ordered our fish rice, and as we waited the Sister ordered us a plate of........LIVE OCTOPUS!!!! I'll attach a video. They chop the tentacles off into pieces and that's all you eat. It was actually pretty tasty, and it sure did feel weird in your mouth when it stuck to your tongue and moved around. Don't worry, after you bite it a few times it stops moving as much and you can swallow it without any worries. I'm still alive!

I love you all and hope you really do have a great week!

 

So, I was excited to read that the work is going well, 

but not very excited about the OCTOPUS!

He sent this video clip.  If you're squeamish at all, you may not want to watch!

So, yes, I'd say Jaden has adjusted quite well!

Thank you for your continued prayers and support!