HALLOWEEN! 할로윈!

We had the opportunity of having a Zone meeting this past week and I was filled with the spirit as a missionary in my zone read 2 nephi 27:21:

21 Touch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in mine own due time; for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work.

One of the greatest things I have gained on my mission is a testimony that this is truly God's work. Everything is according to God's plan and time in the mission field. This isn't our work, but as we do our best and work really hard, God will bless us. I have learned that as we show God that we want to do His work, He will let us be a part of this special work.

This last week consisted of Halloween preparation and Halloween english class and a Halloween party. We decided just two weeks ago that we were going to throw a halloween party so it was a little hectic trying to plan and put everything together for it but it turned out so awesome. Way better than I could have hoped for. We worked so hard to put it all together and invite everyone that we could. Every effort we put into it completely payed off on Saturday at the party. We were able to see so many miracles and it was a complete success. Before the party we had a halloween english class. We played halloween bingo and then did 2 different halloween word searches and gave out lots of candy. I think that everyone that came had a really fun time. Later in the evening at 4 we started out halloween party. Out investigator Gwondohee came with her friend, Out other investigator Parkheesun came with her 2 kids and her sister who is a less active and her kids, Derrik came, Aya came with her 2 kids, 2 random kids who saw our invitation for the party in the elevator of our building, and one of our members invited 6 of her students who were 13 who all got permission from their parents to come who all became potential investigators. We had about 10 of our church members who were able to make it. We had more investigators, less-actives, and potential investigators than members who came! haha. it was awesome! We planned all sorts of activities, (shoutout to my incredible mother who gave me most of the ideas) We had a photo booth where people could go inside a coffin and take a picture, we made creepy skeleton hands with popcorn, played pin the tail on the cat, guess how much candy is in the jar, toilet paper mummy races, and a few other activites as well. Our members also prepared a really good dinner! We were so happy about the turnout of people! yay Happy Halloween!!!

I had a really neat spiritual experience yesterday while I was at church. It was fast and testimony meeting and I was about to get up and bear my testimony about God and His love for each of us but I wanted to be reassured that this truth was real before I got up. so I said a sincere prayer to Heavenly father simply asking Him, " Do you really love me?" my answer came so strongly and immediately as I felt the spirit I imagined Heavenly Father saying "of course I love you! How could you think that I don't love you?" I felt like Heavenly Father was so sad that I would think that He didn't love me. tears began to fall down my cheeks. I know without a doubt that the truth that God loves us is real. It's not something that church leaders tell us to make us feel better but it's a truth. God truly does loves us with an infinite and eternal love despite our weaknesses and mistakes. This was an experience I hope I never ever forget.

Also this morning during personal study I was able to read Mark 14-16 and I was completely filled with the spirit. I was reminded that Christ truly is our Savior and that He lives. How grateful I feel to have a Savior who frees me from sin as I turn to Him. I know that the missionary work I am doing right now is the best thing I could do for my life.

As I look back on the past 17 months I can confidently say that I have never given up. I haven't been a perfect missionary but I have tried my best. I maybe haven't been able to reach the high standards that I set for myself but I know that God is proud of what I have done and what I am doing. I don't have a perfect knowledge of the gospel and I have so many weaknesses but I have tried to rely on God in all things and He has answered my prayers and has shown me miracles. My mission has been way far from what I expected but I trust that I have been given what I need the most to help me in my life. I will never regret the decision that I have made to serve a mission! Words can't express my gratitude for the opportunity I have to be a missionary. I have less than 7 weeks left and I will be so sad to leave this incredible country that I now call home.

I love you all so much!
The Church is True!!

Sister Hurley<3

Our English card that we hand out!

Bowling!

Preparing for Halloween!

I'm never going to eat dog.

What a great week! I've been reading the New testament recently and I can't help but be so grateful for my loving Savior Jesus Christ. This last week was full of a lot of personal spiritual uplifting experiences for me. One of them included having an interview with our mission president. President Barrow shared D&C 6:14 with me which was the scripture I read in the temple while deciding to go on a mission. I really felt that he was so inspired to share it with me and I was able to feel God's love so strongly. 

Also Sister Yang and I got put in charge of teaching primary this last week! It was so fun! we thought of some fun activities and mormon messages to watch. It was a good experience.

A funny/disturbing experience that happened this week:

For those of you that don't know, in Korea, there is something that is called dog soup. yes. it's actually dog in a soup. A lot of missionaries try it just so they can say they have tried it because it's something that you can't get in america. So this last week as we were farming with our member we were talking about dog soup and Elder Long and I both said we wanted to try it before we went home. Well... God heard us say this because 10 minutes later we were walking back to our members house but we got a little lost because we were in the middle of nowhere and we happened to run into a dog farm. Let's just say... I decided right then and there I am NEVER am going to eat dog. ever. And I'm going to give max the biggest hug ever when I get home... because I saw things that I hope none of you will ever have to see in your life. Please don't ever eat dog! They are pets not food!

I have so much more I want to tell you all but I guess you'll have to wait till next week because I spent most of my time figuring out my schedule for BYU so sorry!!

I hope you have a great week! oh and happy halloween!!!

Sister Hurley<3

My District. Last Transfer <3

We are eating duck! My new favorite kind of meat. not kidding. sooo delicious!

​helping Sister Kim pack, I'm going with her!

The senior missionaries in our mission came to Andong so we took them to get the most
 delicious food in our area called jim darg. They absolutely loved it, and we did too:)

​our investigators daughter drew a picture of me. looks just like me right?

And this is a picture of the elders investigator Derrik who lives right next to us.
 I look so short in this picture:(

eating spicy octopus while on exchange with sister Stratton in Sangin.
 the elders in Sangin. Eating octopus is so normal for me now.

andong family:)

the primary kids that we help teach. the boy in front is an investigator.

Farming <3

​anyone want some rice?

The elders working super hard.

Happy Birthday Elder Long!

The beautiful leaves are changing color!

made these scary halloween party invitations for our
 branch Halloween party this week!:) Happy Halloween!!

Hey Hey Hey

Hey everyone! I don't have a lot of time this week so I'm sorry! Just wanted to leave you with quote Sister Yang have been sharing with a lot of people recently because it's soo good!

"You are loved. You are dear to you Heavenly parents. The infinite and eternal creator of light and life know you! He is mindful of you. Yes, God loves you this very day and always. He is not waiting to love you until you have overcome your weaknesses and bad habits. He loves you today with a full understanding of your struggles. He is aware that you reach up to Him in heartfelt and hopeful prayer. He knows of the times you have held onto the fading light and believed- even in the midst of growing darkness. He knows of your sufferings. He knows of your remorse for the times you have fallen short or failed. And He still loves you. And God knows of your success; though they may seem small to you, He acknowledges and cherishes each one of them. He loves you for extending yourself to others. He loves you for reaching out and helping others bear their heavy burdens-even when you are struggling with your own. He knows everything about you. He sees you clearly- He knows you as you really are. And He loves you-today and always!" -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I hope you all know that God loves you so much!

cool story of the week:

I called Sri Lanka. yes. you read that right. I CALLED SRI LANKA. It was awesome. Our awesome investigator who is amazing at tennis left to Sri Lanka this past week for a tennis tournament and before she left she needed some help making sure her hotel was all set up for when she arrived there. It needed to be in English so I was volunteered for the job. It was awesome! I had to ask all sorts of questions and make sure that someone would be there to pick her up from the airport. So that's the cool story of the week. There was actually a point where I accidentally started talking to the person in Sri Lanka in Korean...it was kinda funny. I'm so used to just talking to people in Korean. I'm going to be so weird when I get back... My English has become sooo bad. please don't judge:)

one more funny experience

-I was Looking in the cupboard of missionary supplies to see if there was anything in english that we could give the Philippine sister we are working with and thinking that all the books and pamphlets that I saw were in English because it was so familiar to me but it was in Korean...I thought we had all sorts of supplies! Soon after I realized they were all in korean...

the struggle is real. I love Korean:)

Hope you all have a great week!

Love, Sister Hurley<3