HAPPY 2017 AND THE YEAR OF THE ROOSTER

January 1, 2017 in Korea

A tradition that Koreans take quite seriously is traveling to special places on January 1, in the middle of the night (early in the morning), and then taking a picture just at the moment the sun rises. If you make a wish right before you see the sun rise, you might get what you want! The two most popular places to go are (a) the beach, or (b) the mountains. Our friend Vicky and her family braved it down to Haeundae Beach, which is a very popular spot for a New Year's photo.

It is so popular, in fact, that there were estimates of 100,000 people who got up early to be there for the sun rise. There are about 100 total parking places - so everyone takes public transportation, and apparently the subway was full of people smashed next to each other. Of course it is still fun.

Hiking up the mountain on New Year's Day could also be fun, if it weren't so cold and dark. Below is another picture of the crowd at the beach, and the large chicken is celebrating the "Year of the Rooster".

Going backwards to December 28 

We celebrated our anniversary at the same restaurant we went to last year! We are looking out on the ocean with multi-colored lights on the bridges and boats in the nighttime water.

Birthday 

The Elders made a brownie cake, and wrote "George" in m&ms. How nice of them! 

 L to R: Elder Park Jongmin, Elder Park Heeyoung, Elder Roper, and Elder Mahler

I love them.

Going back farther

Christmas in Korea is not very obvious. The big department stores have a few Christmas trees (artificial only because there is a $2,000 fine for cutting down a tree) and encourage people to buy things, but no one really does. Gradually around the Mission Home, there were, however, a few signs of Christmas:

Santa got his coat from the dry cleaners.

Mountains of packages began to grow around the Mission Home.

Books of Mormon had ribbons tied around them.

There were lots of packages to wrap.

It took a long time to get back from the Post Office.

Outside the pond was frozen.

Inside we had special Christmas programs and meetings.

There were Christmas lights in a few places.  Nampo is a huge underground mall, and streets lined with stores, restaurants, and people! They have a huge display of Christmas lights every year.

There was the Ward Christmas Party!

(can you find Junebug?)

The teenagers staged a musical based on the movie "Frozen".

Olaf was excellent!

One of the blessings of this Christmas season was visiting President Bae.

"President" Bae was the first President of the Busan Branch, later Stake President, then went on a full time mission with his wife to Japan, and then served as Temple President of the Seoul Temple. He lives in a "nursing home". As soon as we introduced ourselves, he pulled out a picture of President Gordon B. Hinckley and said, "He's my friend! He took me right down to the ocean and baptized me." Apparently, when Gordon B. Hinckley came to Korea to open the country for missionaries, he met Mr. Bae, taught him about Jesus Christ, and baptized him.

One Berry 

I love this photograph of one last berry hanging on the bush...and one drop of water holding onto the berry.  The creation of this earth in all its complexity and beauty is truly awesome and full of wonder.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!