Week 5 - Schedule Change

안녕하세요 (Hello)  Mom,

저는  사랑하십니다  (I love you)  The first day of the schedule change was okay.  I like how there is a time when I can read your letters now.  So, I can fully read your letters now, I found a few that I missed last time.  We are supposed to study our language on Pday, the new schedule has a set time for it too. So, I can’t remember the questions I answered last week, if any. 

I’ve tried to take my vitamins everyday. My diet is okay. I’ve been having a salad or piece of fruit for every meal, unless the salad is out or there is no good fruit (some are too ripe).  I take tons now (pictures).  My companion is from Texas. He was home schooled and his favorite thing to do is surfing. He leaves on the same day as me June 6^th.  I exercise everyday.  On Pday our day ended at 2 o’clock, so from 7 am to 12 noon was laundry time.  My companion dries his clothes twice.  Then I write letters until 2 pm. 

A zone is bigger than a district and there are 7 missionaries in my district.  The Called 2 Serve letters do print out the Korea characters.  I did get the donuts you sent & I ate some of them.  Also I love your goodie boxes.  Oh I’ve shared my goodies but my companion is allergic to peanut butter.  I don’t get to call you on Mother’s day ! ! !  : (    I also don’t get to see you when I get on the plane to Korea, but I can call you I heard (on Mother’s Day) once we get transferred (to Korea).  Well that is all I could find, thank you for Carmen’s address.  I’m doing well & I’m excited to be the older 동이 soon. 

Love & miss you                 

Hi Dad,

I love you so much. I’m doing fine at the MTC.  The time change has thrown me off big time.  We woke up earlier and things were different, which I’ll explain in an email. When it gets to that time.  WOW, it has been rough.  I just want you to know I love you & I miss you.  I hope to hear from you more.

Hanna 안녕하세요,

학교가  어대셨습니까  ?   공보를 잘합니까   ?   모범생입니다  ?   Clinic  재미있습니까  ?

(How’s   school ?)    (Are you studying well ?)   (Are you the best student?)   (Is the clinic fun?)

I’m tired, so if I miss spell words, that is why?  자랑해요  (middle for love) & miss you.  Soooo sad that Chaplain is sick, poor kitty.  I’ll pray for him, okay, tell me if he gets better.  So June, that’s closer than it seems.  Less than 35 days or 840 hours,  yes I’m counting down.  I leave June 6^th.  Well good luck & love you.   

안녕하세요  Rhylie,

How are you?  It’s sad that you can’t go to Drivers ED yet.  I was lost during the rest of your letter.  I didn’t understand what you were talking about.  But it sounded fun.  Is there anything happening over there, sounds like you guys are only working on the house.  Oh, I think there was some thing with track, I’m not sure though.  Well I live you & I hope you do well with waiting for DV  Ed.  I’m trying to pick out a nice card for you.  Love & miss you.

Stephen  안녕하세요,

How are you buddy, still lonely?  I miss you & Mom so much.  I hope you have as much fun as you can.  I guess I’m missing you way more than I thought & I wish I would’ve tried harder to do things with you. One things for sure, I’m going to try to be a better brother.  I’ll pray for you & school.  Are you almost done with school & how are you doing?  Stephen remember . . .  똑 똑해요 아주 똑똑해요  ! ! !  ( You are smart, very smart)  You can do anything.  I love you Stephen & I miss you, so much.  I know you will do great.  Less than 2 years from now we will meet again.

Mom  사랑합니다,

I’m sorry I just got overwhelmed last week.  We are preparing to teach a full 35 minute lesson from what we know.  So far we can go for five minutes, along ways off for now.  I think I can be better off now.  I’m getting how to form sentences & I feel more relaxed about teaching.  Answering any questions is still far off since we can’t understand them.  I’m sorry Mom,  I was so upset with myself & I kept over reacting to everything.  I love you & I want to give you a big hug.  Oh I wrote this letter after I sealed the first envelope.  I love you Mom & I miss you soooooo much.

사랑합니다   Elder Westarp

Week 4 - Wonderful snail mail

Hi Mom,

Well I finished the question sheet today.  Every day seems to be the same.  Little things happen, but only so often.  I wish I could write more, but about what !  I guess during gym there is a rivalry between Japan, Cambodia and Korea. That’s what’s happening.  It’s kind of annoying, I mainly just go running.  I’m nervous about the other district missionaries leaving us.  They help us in our Korea, so much.  Only seven more weeks.  I love you so much & I miss you.  Bye for now . . . . .

Oh, I finally finished everyone’s letters.  I still haven’t found your other sheet.  I guess you’ll have to read Stephen’s letter for him.  Tell him I miss him.  Oh, so much learning and so little time.  Korean is so cool.  It’s like math in a strange way & what ever is the easiest, is the right way.  I love the Easter card  I got, it is amazing.  I saw that Reagan was on there, is she still cute?  I know that there are so many questions that you have for me but I don’t know how to answer them.

We have been learning forms of verbs. Like this ( 주다 )  to give,   you can drop the  다   then add to the verb what tense & if it is a question,  so like this    주 +  겠다  that makes it the future of give,  then if it is a form of high or middle you drop the  다   again and add   ᄇ니다   or  습니다   depending on if it’s a vowel or not.  Then it becomes   주겠습니다    which is  I’ll give you.  That is the same for all verbs & only the last word gets this change and if the whole sentence is future tense.  So much to take in, Right ?  We’ve been getting 2 of these each day and there are tons of them,  but it is coming, slowly.  I miss you.  I can’t wait though for the 7 weeks to be over.  I love the packages you sent so far.  I do love mom.  I’m taking tons of pictures now.  Stephen’s letter is a little for you too.   Love You Mom

Hi Dad,

How are you?  I’ve heard from about everyone else but you.  By the time the mail arrives the day is done & I’m mentally exhausted.  This is every day, so enough about me.  How are you & how is the house?  I don’t quit get what’s happening, sounds like the down stairs is done with painting.  It sounds like everyone is doing well.  I miss you Dad & I love you.

Hi Hanna,

Oh NO !! you have Senioritis !  that’s bad I hear.  You know there is no known cure for that.  So it looks like you are enjoying your time at the shelter.   At least Ryker, Ethel & Chaplain are getting your attention, they are cute. (these are kitties at Hanna's work)   Augh ! !  I’m sick of the food here & I think I know now why it makes me sick.  Every Friday my district serves in the kitchen & packs the food in the freezers.  It smells bad it there, some areas worst than others.  It is better than cleaning toilets though.  So as for your Senioritis, I say just do your best to work hard & set goals to stay focused.  I’m so glad you are having fun.  I wish you the best of luck with school.  Oh I read your letter over again & I don’t miss them.  There is no time here to miss TV & video games.  If fact they are no longer important to me.  The only thing I wish I could do is be there for Stephen.  It sounds like he’s having a hard time.  Well Hanna, I love you & miss you.  I hope you do well in College.                                   사랑합니다      

PS     give Brian my address or give me his

생일  행복합니다  (Happy  Birthday)  Rhylie,

Sorry I forgot to write on your Birthday.  I hope it was special & it turned out the way you wanted.  I miss you, I just want you to know that.  It seems like I’ve been here forever & I’m getting sick of the food here.  It’s the same thing almost everyday.  So when do you start drivers ed ?  The excitement is building up here.  The older   동이  have only 6 days left.  Pillage piles are building up everywhere & I’m getting cool things like posters, an iron, etc. . . . .  Nothing to make a good b-day gift though.  I wish you the Best Late Day Bday ever   사랑합니다    (love you)  I’ll try to draw you a picture, some of the older  동이   want one too,  but I want yours to be the best.  I miss you Rhylie,   사랑합니다    Just enjoy life, treasure every minute of it. Only one chance to be a kid . . .

Stephen ! ! !

I miss you little buddy & I hear you are lonely.  I know you can do well in school. You are a smart kid.  Oh boy, I didn’t realize how much I’d miss you until I left.  I didn’t realize a lot of things.  Like what’s important, what I should do, what really matters to me.  I pray that you do well in everything you do.  You are smart, creative & determined.  Make going on a mission you goal.  It has opened up my eyes & I’m taking more things to mind.  Stuff I never thought of before.  Read your scripture, they will help you more than you think.  I know that it is hard, but you can do it.  I’m so excited for you.  Do your best & remember I love you.  You & Me Best friends forever.  Oh, the little picture you drew on my package was awesome.  You are amazing.  I love you Stephen,   사랑합니다

Love Elder Micah Westarp

This is a letter to a friend

Daelin  Yah,

Things have slowed down so much now. So가메하매하  ! ! !  I don’t know final flash yet so this will have to do.  It is so exciting here & I say the food isn’t bad (it does things to you)  Sorry this is the first letter I wrote to you, the Seme’s must stick together.  I have twelve weeks minus 4 now. WOW, so many things are going through my head, which is so little, use yours well.  I miss hanging, which I will make better in 2 years.  The Korean’s are awesome & I love them.  I’m so excited, I’m trying to get better at writing to others.  This letter is one of many .  Kakarat Daelin, (brat)    the time seems like an eternity since Portage.  It’s now 28 Apr & I can’t wait until I’m in Korea.  Oh, how are you & what is going on?  Any luck with Mindee?  Oh tell Ben SORRY, I forgot to send a Bday card.  WOW, 2 years of  this, there is nothing better.  Bye for now, archfriendsish.

우리의신간와습니다  하지만  위리는들아겠숭니다

Week 4 - Old District Leaving (email)

Hi Family,

I didn't find out how to write a letter before hand so I'll try my best. I'm so excited this week, it’s almost the half way mark. The older district missionaries are leaving and we will be them soon. I couldn’t find the question in the letters this week but I filled out the one sheet of question you sent. Oh, there is so much to do and so little time. It feels like I’m learning so much here. The language is awesome.  My district jokes about how we're going to make Korean our permanent language. My companion is still the same, so live and learn to deal with everything. It’s been an amazing experience so far here and I love it. Gym is getting worst now, before I would go running then go play Four Square. Now I try to avoid it as much as I can. Awhile ago some of the less um... I'll leave it at that, Elders made some of the other mission areas upset. So, now the Japan ... Oh Sorry I wrote about this in another letter.  Ok now Japan, Cambodia, and Korea are rivals. I'm by myself in all this but oh well. Everything is blurring together I can't focus at night. It’s supposed to be my time to relax and prepare for tomorrow. I'm tired and Korean is constantly going through my head. But I love the feeling here it’s so peaceful. I'm trying my best and that's all I can do. I wrote you and I’m writing letters to everyone. The days seem to be the same since I do almost the same exact thing.

Oh, The TRC...

It’s a simulation were volunteers come and pretend to be investigators... It's so weird right now since it’s in Korean and English. So, every week we go to the TRC to practice. There is a task or contact, which we do in Korean then we teach a lesson in English. Oh, that is until next week, when we will be doing it all in Korean. That will be fun... The TRC is an awesome experience; it helps me to understand that there are other people in the world and that in seven weeks I'll be finding them. I just want you to know that I doing fine and I miss you. I pray for you everyday and hope that you are doing well. oh I got your Easter package and I’m excited for that. I love you and miss you.

I'll write you more in your letters (individual),

   -Elder Westarp

Week 3 - Snail Mail

Hello Again,

Today was rough again.  I forgot my stuff, Again ! So I don’t know the new questions you asked last week.  I will say this, if you want me to answer your questions, as soon as possible, send them before Tuesday.  I don’t receive them until after 5:30 pm that day.  So when I finally get them the day is over. So far how am I ? better.  My  Companion is sick of his little pals & their pranks.  This means we’re not hanging out with the Gadianton Robbers anymore. So , Hooray !

It’s been a better week so far.  I just got my stuff and read over it.  The problem with my companion is solving itself.  You can’t be rude to others & expect kindness back.  So the cookies were Rhylies, they were good.  Every one who had one liked them.  Thank you for all the letters & stamps.  Oh, your letters are filled with characters like &#%$^ when ever you put the proverbs & scriptures in Korean. Oh for the cream of the crop, they explained that the Korean Missionaries have the most potential. The Koreans expect that from us, so we need to do our best.  They also say you can tell who didn’t want to be a missionary when they come back really good at ping pong.  It was crazy here on Thursday , someone changed our clocks to ring at 3:15 am, 3:30 & 3:45 ……. It was horrible.  It’s to noisy in the laundry room today, I’ll try to write an awesome email,  Bye.

(This was added to Micah’s letter)

 Elder Westarp is the best missionary in the MTC.  From Sister Lund

(2^nd letter attempt)

Hello Mom,

I don’t have much time to write this week, it seems that the days are blending together.  But it has been a better week.  Monday was particularly good.  I woke up and thought  “Heavenly Father Loves Me !”  With that thought it made everything easier.  Even my new personal goal of reading the entire Book of Mormon in ( 몰몬경 )  Korean.  I have a Korean version now & I’m trying to read it often, everyday.  Another reason this week was better was because of the humbling trials of my Companion.  I’m not happy that he feels discouraged, I feel happy that he’s coming to know that you can’t treat people poorly & expect to get kindness back.  The worst was when he rudely asked our teacher, who is a Sister, if she just woke up.  OOhhh, she was so upset, she did not tolerate  his foolishness the rest of the day.  So the biggest question is will he learn from his mistakes.   Oh, a Sister Lund wrote on one of my letters this morning.  WHY?  I do not know.  It was acquired from me, then she asked me lots of questions, then it ended off with her asking if she could write you &  the rest of the family.  That was weird.  I find her very opinionated.  My Companion & her were arguing about policemen today, my companion was a cop like thing or something, I’m not sure though.  I forgot where I was going with this … so… Oh Sister Lund and her companion, Sister Allen, are two the kind missionaries who are there for me.  Also Elders Russen & Miers.  Everyday they ask everyone,” Is there something I can do to help you?”  There are many other people who look out for others here, but Elders Miers & Russun are the most ready to serve others, I feel.  Life is good & the food is okay.  It doesn’t really agree with anyone here, but it’s not that bad.  Oh oh, the Koreans ! This last week the native Koreans arrived at the MTC.   It is so cool having them here.  It makes all of us, the whole zone, want to be in Korea, RIGHT NOW.  Only 8 more weeks to go.  I can’t wait until then.  The last week I’m supposed to get my last hep shot, yeah, the week I leave the MTC.  So all is okay here.  Oh, Hanna had some questions about the MTC.  So, what we learn is the gospel , how to teach it, the Korean language & the culture.  I found out that you should do most things with two hands.  When shaking hand, the closer your hand is the more respect you show.  Never slide or toss , Anything.  Always hand it with both hands & receive it in the same way.  When sitting (which is on the floor) don’t have the bottom of your feet pointed at someone, it shows disrespect.  The head is important too, so don’t touch the top of someone’s head, it’s disrespectful.  Oh I eat Kimchi & it’s pretty good.  Also at the MTC we have a goal to make at least three contacts in Korea.  That is all I can think of for now.  I love you so much & I miss you.  So how has everyone been?  Has the work on the house gone okay?  Has Stephen been good for you?  Tell him I love him.  I’ll try to write more.

Love your son,

Elder Westarp      (노인  위스타프)

Week 3 - Going Better

Hello,

 This week has been the best so far. I feel I'm learning so much. Sorry I didn't answer your questions last week I got them at the end of the day. I have been so busy this week it seems that it flashed by, also so seems like it would never end. Its so weird, I feel like I've been here for months now. I miss you guys, oh I received your package. It was nice, my goody pile is building up now. The cookies went fast, they were still soft and delicious. I love Korean, it is so much easier than English in some ways and not in others. I now have to think... " What would Yoda say? "   They say things so that its opposite to what we would normally say. Besides that its awesome, the rules are the same for everything excepted for few words.  For example there's one past word that's changed to be said easier and its the only exception to its rules. Also I don't have to worry about changing words except the last one. It"s awesome, also my prayers are becoming more complex and thought out in Korean. I try to say a prayer in Korean at least five times a day. I find it makes my day better. So everyday seems to be the same, like a cookie cutter, but it's all worth it. OOOOOH, there are Koreans here, Four Elders and I think three sisters it's so cool.   I try speaking to them and they can kind of understand me, luckily they speak English also. They speak so fast and say complicated sentences that I don't understand, but its awesome. I can't wait until I can say something without pausing. Also I meet some one here I know, Guess who... Elder Harper, Reese Harper.  He's going to Taiwan, he got here six weeks before me. I couldn't believe it when I saw him...Oh out of time almost, I'm doing great this week,  better than the other two. It's nice to hear from you guys. My roommates are jealous that you write me ever day. They even joke about me asking you if you could write them for a week. Love you and miss, but not to much... Bye For now.

P.S. I will mail you more information, Write me your questions before Tuesday if you want to know right away

Got to go,   bye love you.

Elder Westarp

week 2 - "Read at Your Own Risk" (very sad snail mail :[ )

Hi Mom,

Love & miss you soo much. The email I wrote this morning was a disaster. I felt I left you with more questions than answers.  So here is my second attempt to write you.  The reason being, I was panicking through the whole email. I got brain froze . . . . . oooppps! Only 30 minutes to read my emails & then write mine, all while big red numbers (a timer) are blinking at you.  So what I’m trying to say is, I’m sorry for the short email.  So to answer some of your questions again.  I live in  room 301 an the second floor, as I said there are three other elders who share the room, Elder Hatch, Elder Cuttler & Elder Theobald.  Before I go any further I’m going to tell you again what happened last Tuesday.  At the start of the day, at 6:30 am, my companion woke up and told me we were going to do laundry. He grabbed all his stuff & ran for the laundry room, leaving me behind.  He does this often, I think he believes that the rules don’t apply to him.  On that day I tried my best to get ready & then grab all my things to catch up with him, in doing so I forgot my ID card. ( ID cards help with everything, they can be used to buy things, start the laundry machines & open doors …..) So when I got to the laundry room my companion said, “Oh, I forgot my card, we need to go back and get  it.”  Then he ran off ! I took off after him, after I found a safe place for my clothes.  He wouldn’t listen to what I had to say until we arrived at the RH  (Residents Hall)  then he asked me to open the door.  Since we both didn’t have our cards we had to wait for a half hour to get in … well no it was more like 15 minutes.  I waited there while he ran back to the laundry room to get help.  One of the other Elders in the zone decided to help us with our problem. But a way to email you was still not possible, but then a solution came from the other 동에, I think that’s how it’s spelt, he said they (the other Elders) email after they do laundry,  in a special room, since ten billion people try to use the one out of the two computers that was working that day.  There are five, but two are broken & one eats up your time.  Some ones time only lasted 15 min and then he switched computers.  So I choose to play it safe & go with the other Elders to the lab, but my companion had other plans. Time for more explanations. You see there are two groups in our district, I call them the Nephites and the Gadianton Robbers. I chose these names according to their attitudes & obedience to the rules. The group I want to hang out with are the Nephites, but my companion loves the other.  They don’t care about what they do or what they say. They laugh at those who want to be obedient.  Gym time is the worst.  There is a bit of a rivalry between the Japanese & the Korean Missionaries.  But this group takes it too far, they search them out to bring them misery.  Hummm …. Sounds familiar. Just a side thought.  So where was I, oh yah, so when it came time to leave my companion & the other five Elders (Gadiantons) stayed behind to write their emails at the laundry room.  How the accomplished this, was that one Elder waited to get a computer, this was the single working computer  .  .  .  no there was two. So, there was no big deal with that, but the after effects were the worst.  What I mean by this, is that each Elder spent like one to two hours writing their letter then they pasted it to the email and sent it, that way they could take all the time they wanted. Which didn’t leave me any time.  Next, they left for the RH to put away their laundry and get lunch, at around 12:30 pm. After lunch, they went back to the RH. While we were there, I lost my companion for the longest time.  The rest is a blur until we left to go to the Temple.  After that, we had no time to use the computers to write emails.  So I wrote a letter to Carmen …..  OH !! That’s what I did with the missing time before the Temple. I wrote your letter & got some stuff to mail it to you, but it was a blessing/miracle I was even able to do so.  My companion lost his stamps so we ran to the book store, the only thing I was grateful for that day.  So Carmen’s letter never made it there, that stinks.  I was hoping it would make it.  Your came back & so did Tim’s family letter.  Oh well …..  I miss you so much &   I  LOVE the letters I get from you.  They brighten my day so much.  I want you to know that I got your package of goodies.  I’ve shared with others to show that I appreciate them, my companion got none.  But I understand that he supposed to teach me something to strengthen me & I think I know what it is . . .   Missing the family but I’m okay now, today was the best day so far.  I went on a split like thing that enabled me to be with a different companion for a short time. I needed that !!!  Besides my companion, everything is great.  I Love the language. I’m learning so much, it’s hard but I’m getting it.  My teachers are nice and the other Elders are so supportive.  I like it here, there is such a good feeling most of the time. So how is everyone? Is the house & is the job getting done?  Is Stephen being good for you & does he know I’m gone yet?  Oh before I forget, June 6th is when I leave . . . .  YEP, 12 weeks or 십이 , at the MTC . . . .   I’m doing fine. I miss you & tell Rhylie, I miss her too.  I love you & I pray for you & the family daily.   It’s going to be a long, hard, enjoyable, sad &  wonderful Two Years.  See you then,

Love your son, Micah

PS  if there was any thing else I forgot, tell me.  I didn’t realize how much you & everybody else meant to me until I didn’t have them.  Miss you so much, bye.

PSS Oh sorry about not telling you more about every day I’ve been here.  It’s that it is so repetitive, everyday seems to be the same, I feel it’s been like a month now, but it’s like two weeks. Time has seemed to stop, like a dream or something.  I’m doing the best I can.  This was the first Conference; I got so much out of it. It has been such a learning experience, so I leave you with this  . . . . .

Week 2 - "Short but Sweet" (Email)

Hello,

So this is my second PDay and it’s already running smother than the last one.  So in your letter you had many questions for me and I can’t remember them, but I’ll try my best.  My room is a fairly large area with two bunks, I sleep on the bottom.  My companions name is Elder Theobald.  Also there are two other missionaries in our room, Elder Cuttler, he is part Korean and he is from Utah and Elder Hatch, I think you’re talking to his mom, right?,so you know a little about him.  These three are the only ones in my district besides the three sisters.  My typical day goes like this. I get up around 6:30 am and start my day. Then I go to a classroom and do personal study until breakfast.  From there I go back to class and either taught by a teacher or I do a preplanned study.  Oohh  I’m going to cut it short for now. I miss you guys so much, but not too much.  As for your letters, I enjoy reading them a lot, I only wish I had more time to enjoy them.  The language is coming along pretty good, I would say.  I know how to read, write, pray ask question and more in Korean.  I have so little time left to write, I hope next time I can write faster.  I’ll send you another letter, bye for now….

Love your son,                                                                                                                

 Elder Westarp

Week 1 "First week at the MTC"

                                               

(안녕하) Hello Mom,

It was my first Pday today (Tuesday) & I was so excited to write home.  The MTC is okay over all but most everyone seems restless & tired.  The food is not bad & all the old Elders (장로)  are really friendly.  So far I have learned soo much. The alphabet, how to pray, & bare my testimony all in Korean.  The first few days were ok, but Friday……… No Saturday was tough.  The whole day you could tell we were all tired, that was the worst of it all though.  I miss you guys & I’m beginning to realize I’ll be gone two years, but Korea is still a dream to me.  My companion’s (동반자)’s name is Elder Theobald.  Also in our district there two other Elders & three Sisters going to Seoul.  I received yours & Rhylie’s letters & the package.  Thank you ! I needed to have those papers.  I found out that I leave June 6^th, so I have a long time to learn at the MTC.  I haven’t taken many pictures since there are so many restrictions on where you can use them & when.  I’m trying to get as many as possible.  The feeling here is great & I feel fine.  So many of the other Elders are sick but I haven’t seemed to be affected by them.  Oh, MY ZONE or all the other missionaries going to Korea are awesome.  They have tons of respect for everyone.  They look out for everyone. They even help us with the language.  I really enjoy my zone, something else about the zone, is that they say they are the cream of the crop ! What? is the first thing I thought, but later on I found this to be more & more true.  The first thing they did was write us a letter for when we first arrived.  Then as a tradition, the old Elders make our bed the first night. They told us that this happened to them as well.  It was nice since they were weird sheets and I didn’t know how they went on.  To explain what it was to make myself not look stupid helps. It was a mini mattress thing, weird.  After that they got to know everyone and told about themselves.  Most everyone is going to Seoul.  The last things or main thing is just for the Sister missionaries.  They stand up when a sister comes to the table & then take their trays.  We are the only zone that does that.  They respect everybody & that’s nice.  I hope to hear from you soon.

Your son,

Elder Westarp