July 29, 2013

Mon. July 29, 2013
Hello, everybody!  So, I don't have any paper with me but I couldn't bear NOT to send a letter this week (especially with on hour & a half bus ride looming ahead).  So, I've scrounged around in my bag and found some random scraps to write on.  This bit was once a Korean tithing donation envelope, but now as you can see, it makes beautiful stationary.  You might be wondering WHY I have no paper??  Because (not thinking) I packed it all up and shipped it ahead of me with my books and clothes and other things.  I never knew that you could send luggage through the post office-do people do that in America??  Anyway, so my paper lies in wait for me in (sheen jung) which is right smack in the center of the city Ulsan - ring a bell?  Yep, I was here a few weeks ago to visit a very special family.  I never would have guessed (but my old companion did!) that I would be back so soon and here to stay!  The "Ulsan family" does not live directly in our area, but there are no sisters in(that area) so we're kind of in charge of that area too... there are no coincidences! Hopefully we'll be able to meet with them again soon.  Keep praying that we will be able to teach them!!  I am now serving in a TRIO with not just two other americans, but two other Utahites as well.  Sister Burgoyne from SLC and Sister Smith from South Jordan.  Sister Burgoyne entered the MTC at the same time that I did, but she arrived in Korea 4 weeks later because she had to get her tonsils taken out.  Sister Smith is in her 5th transfer, so she was trained for two transfers (like me) and than SHE trained a Korean companion for 2 (which means she's awesome) and now here we are all!  The LANGUAGE is certainly going to be an adventure for us all, but we know we can do it because God wouldn't put us here if we couldn't!  I am so excited for what we will learn and do as we all serve with each other.  Leaving Gupo was a tearful event, and I will miss (Esuebean) tremendously, but I feel such a peace and excitement because I know this is where I'm supposed to be next!  I am grateful to know this and feel this because not everyone does.  It was super hard on my companion.  But her new companion - Sister Ellingson(!!!) will take good care of her I know! What a small world it is :).  Now, I promised to send the story of my violin but I never did.  Thank you Sam, for reminding me today!  Its crazy that was exactly six weeks ago.  This transfer went by so quickly.  So six weeks ago, after transfer meeting, Sister (Esuebean) and I ventured off to Haeundae to visit a violin shop owned-->

by the brother of our branch president's wife.  We went and I told him my price range and he pulled out a few violins.  Most of them sounded pretty terrible, but there was one that sounded pretty nice for the kind of violin I was going for.  It was about ($300ish) over what I wanted to spend, and it was already marked way down because it wasn't "new" and it had been sitting for a while.  I guess Koreans are fond of new violins, but I have always been taught that they improve with age.  Anyway, when the shop owner discovered that this was the one I liked he said, "Alright then, that's the one you can have at the price you said."  I was quite astonished and so grateful.  He even included the bow, the case, the rosin, the shoulder rest, everything!  It was a HUGE blessing and I felt so excited and grateful!  He put new string on and polished it up and his only request was that I pay in cash, not with a card, because there are many steep fees for foreigner cards.  That was fine with me!  We went on a quick trip to the bank and . . . . oh, the horror!  After 4 months without use I'd forgotten my pin #.  Whaahh!  We sweated about it and dear, dear (Esuebean) even offered to pay for it herself until we would get it figured out, but in the end the shop owner let us pay with a card at just a slightly higher price.  Looking back it seems like such a small obstacle, hardly even worth the story! But at the time it was a huge worry.  I named my violin "Kelly" after (Esuebean's) english name.  Her help and kindness in helping me get that violin was phenomenal!! My violin has been put to good use!   I bring it with me just about everywhere.  In Gupo we went one Sunday early to church to practice, and then in sacrament meeting they suddenly announced that the sister missionaries would be having a special music concert before church every sunday!  It has been a helpful tool in getting people to church, not just on time, but early!!  Also we put together a number with all us 4 Gupo missionaries - the elders & sister Lee (Esurbean) singing & me on the violin.  We used it a lot after meal appointments and in visiting less actives.  Hoorah! It has been such a blessing & I am so, so grateful.  I am so excited to see what will happen here in (Ulsan) with an American trio!!  Lots of love,
Sister Burton