Hi! Things are going pretty well here at the MTC. I've got two new companions. Sister McKay and Sister Judd are from Utah. They're both really sweet. Sister Judd already knows a lot of Korean and can almost speak it as well as I can, but that's okay. I need to be humble. Teaching this last week in Korean was fun. And very intimidating. The girls we taught (who were in grade school and one in middle school) spoke very fast. I can't believe I'll actually understand them one day. They did their best to help us understand, which was awesome. This next week we're teaching the Plan of Salvation for the first time, which is really exciting. That's a very happy thing.

I wish I had more time to fill you in on the happenings here, but we didn't get to the computers until twenty or so minutes before six. P-Day officially ends at 6. I love you all! I want more letters from you! God bless you in whatever you're trying to do, and try to look for His hand in your life. The harder you look, the more you'll see, I promise.

Sister Oates

This past week was my first experience teaching only in Korean, as the title to this blog says. Well, kind of says. I don't actually know how to make the Korean sounds using our alphabet. So if you try and sound it out, you might sound like you said "Korean taught". Maybe. I don't think I quite sound like I said that when I speak it to Koreans. Pronunciation is fun. And frustrating, at the same time. Learning a language is not easy. But that's okay! It's fun. Korean is a really neat language. The verb goes at the end of the sentence. And the subject is quite often implied. Much more interesting than boring old English. It's really fun being able to write using their alphabet, too. Korean has an alphabet, which is really fortunate. Chinese doesn't. And that scared me from learning the language in China, as great as pinyin is.

Totally random tangent. Anyway, I taught for the first time in Korean on Saturday. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be, though I had a hard time remembering some of the words. (It isn't often that the word to disobey comes up in a conversation.) We (consisting of myself, Elder Vezzani, and Elder Heyrend) taught four young girls originally from Korea. The oldest, Sister Lee, is only 16. The youngest I think was somewhere around 5 or 6. She's really cute. She tries to communicate with me and I have no idea what she's saying, though. The other two girls are really smart, and seem to be enjoying school in America. Anyway, the lesson went well. I got to teach about prophets and showed a picture of Moses. Pictures are great. I love 'em.

Things this past week have been a little on the unusual side. Sister Peterson and Sister Olgilvie left for Korea last week. I sleep in the same room as five sisters headed to Japan just so I'm not alone. I also spend time with them at gym and whatnot. They're (Sister Lung, Sister Nishida, Sister Hobson, Sister Evans, and Sister Lindsey) really sweet. And I'm glad that I've been able to meet them, though I don't particularly know them very well. Most of my day is spent in the classroom with the elders. Our zone is down to the seven of us--Elder Kaing, Elder Peterson, Elder Vezzani, Elder Heyrend, Elder Stubbs, Elder Bessey, and myself. I appreciate how much they generally try to do what is right. Sometimes I feel like I'm their older sister...but often I find them teaching me.

Hmmm...what else is there to tell you about? The weather here is great. Of course, if you're also in Utah, you know that already. We have good food at the MTC. We get ice cream every Sunday and Wednesday. Last week we heard from Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve. He encouraged us to be bold when saying we're following Christ to those interested in the message of the restored gospel. It was pretty neat.

Things are going well here. I hope that everything is going well on your end. I wish that I could write you all letters, but I only have so many addresses...if you want me to write you, you need to write me first.

Annyong he kassayoh!

Sister Oates

I told myself that I was going to post something of a bit of a lighter nature this week, as I know that some of you reading this aren't members of the Church of Jesus Christ, and I really don't want to end up sounding overly preachy or zealous. However, as I spend most of my time studying either Korean or the gospel, I find that I think mostly about preachy stuff as opposed to the menial chores of day to day living. Being in the MTC from day to day is pretty much the same thing over and over. I mean, there are a few things that are specific to certain days, but generally, I do about the same thing. It's hard to know exactly what day it is, actually. It's a good thing we have planners.

Anyway, our devotional on Sunday night was on Joseph Smith, and afterward, we watched "Joseph Smith; Prophet of the Restoration". That's a really good movie. They show it at temple square and at visitor's centers. If you have one nearby, I encourage you to go and see it. Anyway, I thought I would share my testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith.

Joseph Smith was 14 years old in 1820, confused as to what religion he should join. There were a lot of churches in upstate New York (so many that it was actually called the 'burned over' district), and a lot of really zealous ministers trying to convert people to join their church. Arguments ensued over doctrine, and people weren't exactly exemplifying Christ's patience or other attributes. Joseph was really confused. He'd been raised reading the Bible, and he knew that he needed to be baptized in order to have salvation, but he didn't know which church to join.

Joseph read from James 1:5 one day as he pondered upon these things. I encourage you to read it yourself, as my time is limited and I can't quote it here. Anyway, after reading this scripture, he had enough faith to believe that God would answer his prayers. He went into a secluded grove of trees and prayed to know which church he should join.

I testify that God answered Joseph's prayer. A pillar of light descended upon him, and two Personages appeared to the humble young boy. Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. He was instructed to join none of the churches. I testify that he later received records from the ancient peoples of America from an angel, an emissary from God. These records were translated into the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. I know that he was a prophet. I know he taught God's word. And I know that he restored the fulness of Jesus Christ's gospel.

I also know that there is a living prophet today. God loves us. We are His children. He wants to speak to us, and He does through the prophet. I know these things are true, and I know that anyone who earnestly wishes to know of the truth of these things can receive a manifestation from our Father as to the truth of these things through the Holy Ghost. Experiment upon the word. Ask in faith. Even if you already know he's a prophet, pray about it.

I testify that you will learn for yourself through the Holy Ghost, in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.