Letter - 3/9/15

Dear Family and Friends,

Well sorry that I am emailing a little late today! This week we will be going to the temple so our P-day is actually switched to Thursday so we had an appointment after studies today which caused us to email late but we are emailing now so that's what matters! How is everyone? I love hearing updates from my family about all of you! (Jordan & Emily Congratulations, Houston so cool you are going to Tacoma and Permann boys you rock!)   Just want you to know how much I love you and appreciate all that you have done for me! I wouldn't be the person I am today without each of your influences so thank you and I thank my Heavenly Father for putting you into my life.

This week was just another great week! I think it was a big week of learning and change. The mission so far has been struggling a little with finding and baptizing since the new year started and in Zone training we got the whip cracked on us a bit but it was great! I took it as the greatest opportunity to turn to the Lord, repent and change to be better. That is what I love most about the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it invites change and through the Savior and His atonement we can change.

 Now is the time to change and become better. Just do it! That is Sister Matamata and I's new motto! JUST DO IT! Throughout my mission I have found myself questioning my thoughts or feelings wondering if it was me or the Spirit but I learned as it says in Moroni 10 that if it invites to do good it is of Christ and if it is of Christ then it is not going to hurt anything. So my commitment to myself is to not only trust the Lord but trust myself and JUST DO IT even if nothing comes out of it immediately! I love this new outlook and it has already changed the missionary work I am doing here in Korea. I was reading in my Preach My Gospel the section on successful missionary and D&C 117:13 was written next to the passage. I turned to it and found this "...for his sacrifice shall be more sacred unto me than his increase..." That line hit me so hard and I realized that the Lord sees each and every one of our sacrifices that we put forth and He treasures them so we have to just do it so that we can treasure those sacrifices and see us putting our effort in for Him.

Our appointments were great this week! One specific one was with our investigator named 정주영. She was a member referral from 곡반정 ward and she is just the cutest ever. We meet with her each week at a member’s house and it's been so fun. We always have such a party. She is warming up to the gospel but we are trying to figure out how to get her to want to learn and act. That always seems to be the trick in missionary work but the relationship we have built with her is great. We walked to the bus stop with her and I was just linking arms with her singing away! She taught me Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in Korean and then she sang "Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket and never let it fade away" with me! It was a fun memory and I am just so grateful for her love and for the opportunity the Lord is giving me to love her.

We also met with 장미정 this week. We retaught the restoration and invited her to be baptized but found out that her husband really doesn't like the fact that she is coming to church each week so that's a curve ball that was thrown at us. She is thinking smart though and just says to continue meeting and changing then as time goes on her husband will see the change that is taking place in his family and will desire to learn so our focus now can be just getting her really converted by living the commandments and noticing the blessings that the gospel brings through actually living it. She didn't come to church this week though and just a little worried because she hasn't answered our calls our texts but all we can do is continue to show her love. She is still the biggest miracle of my mission.

I went on exchange with the Sister Training Leader this week and what a party that was. Sister Shin is also from New Zealand and we came to Korea together. We actually were friends on Facebook before the mission too so yeah I just love her. But while out proselyting on Saturday we stopped at a park and played tag with 4 little girls for at least an hour! It was the best ever and a great time to just have fun! The Korean children are just so adorable. They made us promise that we would go back next week and play so hopefully they will be there because I am going back.

Sister Matamata is improving and we are just having fun here in the land of 곡반정. I learned alot about her and I just want to tell you how amazing she truly is. Since being on my mission I have truly come to understand that everyone comes from different backgrounds but yet we are all here united in purpose showing our love to the Lord and experiencing our own journey of conversion. That's what I love about my mission is that it is MINE. No one in the whole world has served my mission and what a blessing it is to say that I am serving a mission representing my Savior Jesus Christ in Korea. I was reading in D&C this morning and found some verses that I loved that stressed how great this experience really is. In D&C 42:11 its says "Again I say unto you, that it shall not be given to anyone to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church..." This opportunity isn't given to everyone and I am just realizing that which then leads me to D&C 36:5 "...embrace this calling and commandment..." I am here as a missionary in Korea embracing and cherishing each moment because as time goes by I am realizing that it isn't going to last forever no matter how bad I want it to. I love being a missionary and I am so grateful to the Lord each and everyday for giving me the calling to represent Him as His servant in Korea.

I hope you all had a wonderful week and continue to have a wonderful week! I love each of you and miss each of you dearly but I know that this is exactly where I am meant to be as I learn and grow each day valuable experiences that are preparing me for the rest of my life. I love being a missionary. I love this gospel. I love my Savior. I love my Heavenly Father. I love Korea. I love you all! Remember to just do it and that your sacrifice is what is sacred to the Lord!

Love,
드리스콜자매
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll

Letter - 3/1/15

Dear Family and Friends,

Well it's March and here in Korea the weather is becoming warmer, the sky is becoming bluer and the sun is just shining away. I am so excited for the spring this cold weather is getting old! So this past week has been great and I just love being a missionary.

 I have recently been reading back on my old journals from my missionary experience and it is so crazy to see the growth that has happened in this time that I have spent serving my Savior. One year ago I was writing about how I was struggling with not being the missionary I thought I needed to be. How I wasn't "perfect" and I was beating up on myself and not taking the advice that my dad has always given me "be kind to yourself." Well since that time I have really worked on that and learned to have faith that everything I am doing truly is the Lord's will for me. I can say now a year later that I have learned that the Lord doesn't expect me or you to be perfect but He does expect us to be clean and worthy and to do our best and to have faith in Him. As I realized that, I knew that was something I could do! I can't be perfect but I can be worthy!  I can do my best! I can be me! I can have faith in my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ!  It's amazing to see that growth now as I read and notice the change that has happened within myself. Because now I can see that change and feel it within my heart.  I would and will recommend this experience to anyone and everyone. Being on a mission has truly been the greatest decision that I have ever made and because of the things that I have learned, the testimony that I have gained and the relationship I have built with my Heavenly Father and Savior all the things that come along with missionary work and life in general have been and will continue to be worth it!


This week Sister Matamata and I were planning on being very busy but ended up with quite a few cancelled appointments but we made our time effective and continued going forth with our best effort.  Sister Matamata is just amazing! I am continually learning from her and her example. We are both so different and have different backgrounds but we are here in Korea in unity as we strive to bring others closer to Christ. She is so great and full of so much love and no fear. We were going about proselyting this week and I was helping her practice what to say and finally I decided that she had enough practice and saw the perfect opportunity for her to start a conversation so I encouraged her to take it. Well without any hesitation she said hello and stumbled through her Korean script but did amazing!  I was there of course to help her out but she truly amazing me with her willing heart. She is working so hard with the language. I love serving with her.

During one of our times that we needed to change plans due to a cancellation and turned the planning over to Sister Matamata for that time and asked her what we should do, where we should go and who we should talk to. She stood at the map and after about 5 minutes said "let's go here" pointing to an area on the map. I said "Okay! Let's go!" So there we go out the door searching for guidance from the Spirit. I let her lead the way and she says "lets stop at each corner and see how we feel and then determine which way to turn." I loved the idea! She is amazing so there we went walking in the area seeking the direction from the Spirit. As we walked we talked to people and served people then our last turn we took we found not a new investigator but a member of our ward and the minute she saw us was just jumping for joy. She immediately took us in for ice cream and we were able to have a wonderful time with her. I loved seeing it because like I said although we weren't guided to some golden investigator we were guided by the Spirit to meet up with that member and have a joyous time with her. It was great with Sister Matamata to build that relationship not only with the member but the Spirit also.

Right after our ice cream fest we had an appointment with 장미정 and it was so great! We showed up at her house and sitting on her table was a Liahona, Primary Children's Book and a triple combination of the scriptures! What? Yeah her sister 장옥순 from my last area gave it to her! So amazing! We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and were planning on giving the invitation to be baptized but as we prepared and planned I continually had the thought of praying about the Restoration. As we met she asked us what she had to do to prepare and if she had to meet with anyone to I guess you could say qualify. Well that immediately turned me to the baptismal interview and the questions involved in there. I turned to my planner and Sister Matamata and I explained each question. She said that all of them are good but the second regarding the Restoration and Joseph Smith seems to be hard. Right then and there I knew that is what our commitment needed to be. I asked her to free her from that concern to pray to our Father in Heaven about that question so that she could understand more about the restoration. She agreed. Sister Matamata then testified in her broken Korean that she knew she would receive an answer if she truly wanted to know. At the end of the lesson I realized that I had invited her to pray but I had never heard her pray outloud so I kindly invited 장미정 to say the closing prayer. She was hesitant but after some pondering and thinking she called upon her Heavenly Father in the most humble prayer. During her prayer I felt the spirit so strongly and when she closed I know that she felt it too. It was beautiful and I cannot thank my Heavenly Father enough for allowing me to have those opportunities to see His children kneel humbly before Him and speak with Him.

This week I ended up actually doing a lot of study on prayer. I know with all my heart that our Heavenly Father hears our prayers. Do you want to know why? Well I feel President Uchtdorf says it best "God cares about you. He will listen and He will answer your personal questions. The answers to your prayers will come in His own way and His own time and therefore you need to learn to listen to His voice." Heavenly Father loves us and is waiting for us to call upon Him so He can answers our prayers. He requires us to take that first step of faith though and then once we have done that He expects us to get on our feet and go to work. The power of our prayer depends on us and our prayers for guidance will only be as effective and our efforts. When this type of prayer take place both parties speak and both parties listen. It truly become a conversation. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to learn from a very young age to call upon my Father in Heaven in prayer and trust that truly whatever is important to me is important to Him.

I want to thank each of you for your love, support and prayers in my behalf. I truly know that the growth that has taken place within myself wouldn't have happened without your prayers, love and support. I am truly grateful. I love and miss each of you so much but time is going by fast and cherishing the moment is my focus at the time. I just want you to know that I know this church is true. That Heavenly Father loves each of us and has restored Christ's gospel to the earth today through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that Christ lives and is by our side at all times as long as we invite Him there. I love this work. I love being a missionary and I love serving in Korea! Have a wonderful week! Remember that God hears your prayers and answers them one by one!
LOVE YOU!

Love,
드리스콜자매
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll

Letter - 2/23/15

Dear Family and Friends, 

Well it was an eventful week and not sure where to start but before I talk about my new companion let me tell you about Sister Johnson and I's last few days together! So when I left the email place I mentioned that we had appointments starting at 2pm and not ending until we got home that night at 9pm. Well each of our appointments involved food....lots of food. The first one was great because we hadn't eaten lunch yet so we were starving and ready to eat lots. The member is the type who just continues to cook new things for us to eat too so we were stuffed after. We then had to run to meet an investigator at 3:30 and I mean RUN! We met at a cafe and luckily only had to drink a cup of hot chocolate. It was a good time and she was super sad to see Sister Johnson go and told me that is my new companion wasn't good to not contact her. We had a good laugh about that. Then at 5 we had a dinner appointment with the sweetest lady in the ward. She always cooks traditional Korean food for us and feeds us a lot. We were still in pain from our lunch appointment though and weren't sure if we could eat another bite. We ran to that appointment as well. We enter into her house and she pretty much has a feast prepared for us. I just remember looking at Sister Johnson thinking "We better pray for our stomachs to expand!" I really did say a prayer and it worked for me but after about 30 minutes I could see Sister Johnson not doing so well and the next thing I know she barely makes it to the bathroom and I hear everything she just ate hit the ground. Yeah hearing it caused me to lose my appetite and let’s just say we made ourselves sick with appointments but it's a memory that we will never forget and I think Sister Johnson made an everlasting impression on that sweet member. When we left to go to our last appointment we were laughing. We couldn't believe what had just happened and were so so sick. So I think the lesson learned was don't throw up at a member’s house and always pray because God answers prayers.

So now to the rest of the week. Wednesday was transfers and it was hard. I really didn't want to say good bye to Sister Johnson but I knew that no matter how hard I tried to keep her it wasn't going to work because she was needed in Gangnam. Saying good bye was hard and as I walked away with the other missionaries who were going to be training I really did have tears running down my face because one  1. didn't want to leave Sister Johnson and 2. I didn't know what the future was holding for me. Being back at the mission home with new missionaries allowed me to reflect back on one year ago when I was a new missionary just arriving in Korea. I think I was more nervous this time though. We ate lunch with the new missionaries and it was great. 3 sisters were Korean and 2 were Polynesian from New Zealand and Australia. I thought for sure I was going to get a Korean companion because my trainer was Korean and so it was going to be the opposite situation from a year ago where I was trained by a Korean and then I train a Korean. As President Morrise called the trainers and trainees to meet there companions Sister Glauser (other trainer in my group) and I were the last one to be called with the trainees. One being Korean and the other being from New Zealand. Well President Morrise said "Sister Lee you will be going with Sister Glauser." Which then left Sister Matamata to me in the wonderful area of 곡반정. 

My new companion is Sister Matamata from New Zealand. She is actually Samoan and has a huge family. She has 8 brothers and 1 sister! She loves basketball so we are thinking about running to the park every morning to shoot some hoops for exercise so that will be great! She has an awesome accent and I hope I pick up on it. I am so excited to be serving with her. She is ready to work hard and is full of so much love. I mean so much love. Being with a new missionary is truly a tender mercy from the Lord. I feel that I have lived in Korea for so long that things have just become normal to me and daily Sister Matamata is amazed by the wonderful beauties of Korea that I have forgotten about.

Sister Matamata's first appointment was great! We met with 김지혜 our 15 year old investigator. It was so fun and they got along really well. When we arrived we actually met her dad and that was scary for me because a year ago that was the reason why 김지혜 had stopped meeting with the missionaries because her dad was against it. I thought he was going to kick us out but sure enough he really liked us and we were able to have nice conversation with him.  We are planning on going to play basketball with her this week so that will be fun. I am noticing how much work it takes to be a trainer but at the same time the joy it is to see a new missionary learn grow and share their love with the people they are serving. I am learning so much and and so lucky to have this experience.

We spent our first full day together celebrating the New Year according to the Lunar calendar with the missionaries from our zone as well as another. It was great. We went to another church building and had a sports day. But in the morning we had a wonderful training on study and then had a testimony meeting. One testimony that really touched me was from a sister talking about Nephi when he went journeying to receive the brass plates. She talked about how if the Lord really wanted Nephi to have the brass plates He could have just given them to him but the Lord didn't just want the brass plates, He wanted a better Nephi so He required Nephi to work, rely on the Spirit and turn to the Lord for help. It took 3 times to even get the chance for him to receive the Brass plates so even the scriptures testify that the third time is a charm. As I listed to that I thought of my missionary experience how it has had its ups and downs and all arounds. The Lord doesn't want just missionaries. He doesn't want me to just speak Korean. If He did want me to speak fluently He would let me, but what would that teach me? It wouldn't teach me anything. The Lord wants a better me and a better you. That's why we have to struggle. That's why we have experiences that allow us to learn and grow. He does everything He does so that He can improve us and we can become more like our Savior. I really loved that and I know that I have become better since day one and I know it will just continue.

I love this work so much. I love being a missionary and truly cannot get enough of this amazing experience. I am realizing just how fast time is going and continue to put all my heart might mind and strength into the work of the Lord. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. I truly am so blessed to have so many supporters that I can count on. I know that this gospel is true. I know Heavenly Father loves each of you. I love and miss each of you too. Have a great week and Remember Heavenly Father always just wants a better you! 

Love, 

드리스콜자매

Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll

Letter - 2/15/15

Family and Friends,

Well I want to start off telling you HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.. and my exclamation point key is not working so just imagine a lot of exclamation points. But in the festivities of Valentine's Day I want to remind you all what President Uchtdorf said this last General Women's Conference. "You are loved. You are dear to your Heavenly parents. The infinite and eternal Creators of light and life knows 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 know 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 still He loves you. And God knows of your successes, 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." This knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father has been with me since I was born and no matter how strongly I know this I can't help but feel comfort inside of my heart everytime I am reminded of my Heavenly Father's love for me and all of His children. It is truly something that keeps me going in life and I am so grateful to know that I am loved but my Heavenly Father.

This Sunday morning Sister Johnson and I received transfer calls. We were pretty sure that Sister Johnson was leaving because she has been serving here for 6 months but we were secretly praying to stay together for one more transfer but it didn't happen. Sister Johnson will be moving to 강남 on Wednesday. I am extremely sad to see Sister Johnson go. We have seen so many miracles together and accomplished so much in these two transfers and I hate to see it go but I know it will continue.  And Wednesday I will be going to the mission office to receive a new missionary fresh from the MTC.  Which means I will be training. I don't know how I feel about it.  When I got the news that I would train...well I definitely got really nervous and questioned whether I was ready for this.  Of course I am not, I still have much to learn but it will have to be during this training experience.  I am excited though that this new missionary is coming to this area where so many miracles are happening.  I know that they will continue.  I can't help but reflect back on my days as a new missionary and remember the good and hard times.  I don't know the first thing about training but the Lord does so I know that as long as I turn to Him at all times all things will work out . I also know that doing our best is all that He requires and that is something that I have internalized.  The Lord is never disappointed in us and loves us no matter what.  I love that no matter what I can rely on that knowledge that Heavenly Father loves me and all His children for who they are.  No matter how firmly and strongly I know that to be true it always brings the greatest comfort to my heart and I am constantly needing to be reminded of just how much the love Heavenly Father has for each of us.

This week was great though. We were busy with investigators and members as always. I am just so grateful to be serving here in this area.

We had an awesome opportunity to make Kimbab with members this week which was a blast. It was so fun as we went to the Relief Society President's house with a sister in the ward from Japan and we all learned how to make Kimbab. It is quite easy so maybe when I am home I can make it for you but I do need an Asian Market. Do those exist in Idaho??

We then met with our investigators who have met with the missionaries for 3 years. 임진아 (mom) , 박시현(8), and 박지유(6). They came to church last week and 시현 played the violin for us for a musical number that the missionaries had to do.  It was great when we met to say thank you we gave the girls a little present. We gave them some chapstick that my mom had sent me that had cute quotes on it. One said "Choosing Happiness" and when 지유 put it on she said "Mom I just became happy. It works" It was the cutest thing ever and I had to share that because it brought so much happiness to me.

장미정 and her sons are still doing great.  Having Sister Johnson go was really hard for them though.  We have really drawn so close to them since I have arrived here in 곡반정.  Seeing them say good bye was heart breaking for me and it made me imagine saying goodbye to them and I just don't want to think about that so I am grateful to be still serving here.  We taught the Plan of Salvation this time and they are  still just accepting the gospel and willing to do anything.  I asked her if she had noticed anything different in her family's life since they have started coming to church and meeting with us but she said nothing big yet.  I understand though because it takes time. Things are really looking up though and I am just honored to be teaching such a wonderful family.

We also met with our 15 year old investigator 김지혜. It was great. We love teaching her and always have too much fun because she is so sweet and patient with our bad Korean or not understanding everything that she says.  She isn't able to come to church right now though because she has to do community service hours for school and she does it on Sunday but it will be ending soon so hopefully we can start getting her to church and the Young Women activities.  She is so great though and has such strong faith in Christ and our Father in Heaven.

I think the highlight appointment of the week though was one we had with a member and her 4 year old son. 남궁희정 and 기백. They are the cutest family ever and the mom is a return missionary. We met with them Saturday night for Valentine's Day and we had a great time. The little boy is now my new best friend and boxing buddy. He has so much energy I don't think that he ever stops going but we definitely had a fun time meeting with them and spending that time with them. We really wanted to share something special with the mom because whenever we meet with her she tells us how insufficient she feels and how she just wants to be a good mom but isn't. We were reminded of President Uchtodorf's talk and just knew that she needed to be reminded of just how much she truly is loved so it was perfect.  We shared with her the exact same quote that I wrote above and as she read it we could just tell through her voice and facial expressions that it was exactly what she needed to hear.  I was so grateful and so was Sister Johnson.  We told her that whenever she feels down she just needs to read that quote and be reminded of just how special she really is. It was amazing and the spirit was strong and Sister Johnson and I were just filled with so much love.

These next few days with Sister Johnson leaving are crazy because we have so many appointments.  In fact our appointments are starting today at 2 until Tuesday when we go home. Yep so no P-day for us but it's okay because we love being with our members and if everyday could be like that I would LOVE IT!  I love being a missionary and I cannot express in words how lucky I truly am and have been. I know this is the greatest foundation I could be building for my life and I am grateful everyday the Lord has led me here. I love this work. I know it is true. I am so grateful for each one of you and for all of your love, support and prayers.  Thank you!  LOVE YOU ALL AND MISS YOU!  Hope you have a wonderful week! Remember you are loved!

Love,
드리스콜자매
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll

Letter - 2/9/15

Family and Friends,

Well this past week I realized that I have been living in Korea for 1 year. What? That day was never supposed to come but yet it has and now it has passed. I think about this past year in Korea and all I can do is smile.

This morning during my personal study I read Alma 26 and that just explains perfectly how I am feeling right now! I have so many great reasons to be rejoicing and smiling! I am just overwhelmed in gratitude. I want you to ponder these two questions: What are the great reasons you have to rejoice? What blessings has the Lord given you?

While studying I realized that I have every reason to rejoice and be happy because I have come to recognize the Lord's mercy and His hand in my life. I have come to see that He truly has been there by my side since day one and that's why I can rejoice because the Lord is on my side and with Him I know that I cannot fail. He is the Master and as long as I am doing His work in His way all will be well. I also realized that I have every reason to rejoice because the Heavenly Father has brought light into all of our lives, especially mine. What is that light? That light is our Savior Jesus Christ. He is the light of the world and through Him we can see all things. The Lord is sharing His light and I am honored to let His shine through me.

I have found that the greatest thing about missionary work is that as I see others coming closer to Christ, the closer I myself get to Christ. When I first started my mission I was terrified of whether I was going to be a successful missionary or not. I didn't know what it meant to be a successful missionary and I didn't know the qualifications. Well there isn't a check off list of things to do or a certain number you have to hit on your stats to be considered a successful missionary. I read a talk this week addressing that and there is only one way to gauge the success of a mission and the success of our life and that is through our own personal conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 Everyone goes through a drought on their mission where we pray harder than ever, live more righteously than ever and talk to everyone but yet rejection after rejection comes. I had that experience in my last area with the one transfer with Sister Stout. We fasted, we prayed harder than ever, we were exactly obedient, and we talked to everyone but only rejection came and it was hard. But through the talk I read I learned that at that time the Lord was putting me to the test as a missionary. The reason was to see if He could trust me. Heavenly Father has an incredible work to do and He needs to make sure that we as missionaries are in it to build His kingdom for the rest of our lives not just 18 months or 2 years. The missionaries who recognize the drought and remain strong end up converting the most critical investigator of them all...themselves. After this test the Lord gave me a flood of miracles and I feel it is because during that critical time I truly became converted never to fall away and the Lord entrusted me with so many precious souls.

This week I was able to really see our investigators coming to Christ while seeing myself draw closer to my Savior. This past Sunday we had 3 investigators at church! It was great!  장미정 and her two boys came again along with another family. 장미정 continues to amaze Sister Johnson and I with her willingness and desire. She was the referral to me from my last area.  Over the course of about 2 months we weren't able to meet but she continually came to church with her two sons. We have now met with her twice teaching her the first lesson and she continually just says "Now what should I do before our next visit?" She is willing to do anything and her main purpose of her diligent trying is for her sons because she knows that church will help them. Like it says in Preach My Gospel Chapter 2 studying the gospel and learning of it changes behavior and she is seeing that in herself as well as her sons. Over the course of the 2 months we weren't able to meet we were still able to build such a strong trust, that I know is the reason she is so willing to keep any commitment we offer to her. She is so eager to learn. She is also thinking about baptism and just wants to be ready. We are praying on when that will be but I know it will be soon. Through this whole process I have seen her coming closer to Christ and it has been my greatest joy.

I feel the best part of missionary work is as we help others come closer to Christ we ourselves are also coming closer to Him. C.S Lewis says "We can believe in Christ as we believe in the sun at noon day, not that we can see it but by it we can see everything else." Christ is the Light of the world. He is the light that glows inside of me and you.  Every day we can look out the window and see trees, grass and flowers but not see the sun. However it is the light of the sun that allows us to see what we see and that is how we know the sun exists. The existence of the Son of God is the same. Because we can see at all, we know that Christ lives. What can help us see clearer though?

This past week while studying I read about Alma, Amulek, King Lamoni, King Lamoni's Father, and the Anit-Nephi Lehis. Throughout these chapters I saw just a few of the things they did to see clearer and bring the light of Christ into their lives. In Alma 22 King Lamoni's father takes the ultimate step of faith and prays to God willing to give up all of his sins to know Him. While in Alma 24 the Anti-Nephi Lehi people bury deep in the earth their weapons of war to covenant to God their hatred for sin. They are giving up their sins to see clearer and experience the light of Christ in their lives. What are we willing to give up to see clearer? There are so many things in this world that draw our attention away from the things that matter most where we start worrying more about the reputation we have with the world rather than with God.  Amulek in Alma 10 and Alma 15 was faced with this exact problem. A new convert to the gospel of Jesus Christ in Alma 10 verse 4 he explains of the reputation he has with the people and the world. It's a high reputation. He is a well known man but as we continue the story we find out in Alma 15 verse 16 that everyone, his friends, family and father rejected him because he cared more about his reputation with God. He lost his reputation with the world but in the process came to see through Christ and gained a reputation with God. I know with all my heart that as we draw closer to Christ He allows us to see through new eyes and things become clearer. I know that as we strive to be perfected in Him we can become like Him and overcome all the challenges of this world. 

I cannot express in words how much I love being a missionary. I know this is setting a strong foundation for the rest of my life and I am full of gratitude every day. I know this is the Lord's work and as I continue to do His work "He must increase but I must decrease" (John 3:30) so that I do His work in His way. I know that Heavenly Father loves you. I know that He knows you and He is standing with open arms at all times waiting to embrace you into His arms. I know my Savior lives and is by my side at all time. He knows all things and has perfect empathy. I know this gospel has been restored and it is the true and everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. I love each of you and pray for you daily! Thank you for all your support and love! Have a wonderful week and Remember with Christ we can always see clearer!

Love,
드리스콜 자매
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll

Letter - 2/1/15

Family and Friends, 

Here I am again sitting at a computer and I can hardly believe it. I now have been living in Korea for 1 year and it seems surreal. I just can't wrap my head around it but I am also only filled with gratitude. I love missionary work so much and I love serving the Korean people. There is nothing like this experience. I have grown into a completely new person, someone the Lord wanted me to be. I have also never been so happy. I know serving the Lord not only as a full time missionary but just as His Child truly brings us the most joy! It is has changed my life and I could never imagine my life without serving this mission in Korea. 

President Morrise shared an experience in his email to the missionaries this week and I wanted to share it with you. He was in a meeting a couple days ago with the Seoul Mission where a brother presented some thoughts about missionaries serving in Korea. He pointed out that the language is hard, the work is hard and it's hard to find investigators, etc. All true. Then he showed a photo of missionaries at the airport ready to go home, looking dejected. He said it was because their mission was hard and they didn't have many baptisms. President Morrise waited patiently until he finished and then raised his hand and said this, “Missionaries don’t leave our mission like that. They come to our home before they go. They don’t want to leave. Ask any returning missionary this question: ‘If you could change your mission and maybe go to Mexico or someplace where you would have 50 baptisms, would you?’ The universal answer: ‘No way! I love Korea. I’d never want to serve anywhere else.’ Yes, missionaries want to find and teach and baptize more people. But we want to do it IN KOREA! So, never think that missionaries are sorry they served here. No one is sorry to serve in Korea. It’s a privilege." As I read this experience I couldn't help but get the goose bumps and completely agree with President Morrise's comment. I cannot tell you what an honor it is to be serving here in Korea and developing this Christlike love for the Korean people. I am honored and wouldn't trade this work and experience for anything. I know the Lord sent me here because I needed the Korean people and I needed to have these experienced in Korea. Only here in Korea would I be able to learn the things I needed. Only here do I become who God needs me to be. I love Korea so much. I love the people even more. I am just so grateful to be a part of this great work IN KOREA! 

This past week was great though! Sister Johnson and I are still just as busy as ever that we really are having a hard time fitting in dinner haha but no worries everytime we go to anyone's home they feed us something so we aren't starving. It's so great being busy though especially because it has been COLD so we spend most of our time in homes and traveling. 

Our lesson last Monday with 장미정 (Jangmijeong) was amazing! She is so prepared and I just cannot explain in the appropriate words what a miracle this truly is. We began teaching her son english which is always fun and then we started with the first lesson "The Restoration". She loves the church and her sons do also. They have made lots of friends which was really needed because they have only been living in this area for a year and still don't have many friends. 장미정 is learning and wanting to learn so she is sincere in doing all this because she believes it will be the best for her kids. I just continue to feel the spirit everytime I think about this family. They came again to church on Sunday and stayed for all 3 hours! I love her and her sons so much and so humbled to finally be able to teach them. I am grateful that we have been able to take this slow to because we have been able to build this strong relationship on trust and she has become so much more open and willing. I know this was guided and is still being guided by the Lord. 

We had the great opportunity to attend the temple this week and wow what an honor that is to enter the House of the Lord and feel of the peace, love and comfort He offers us there. I love the temple and know that inside those wonderful places of worship our prayers are going directly to Him because nothing of the world is stopping them. On our travel back from the temple though we had quite a funny experience on the subway. So about halfway to where we needed to go a drunk man got on the subway and started talking to us. He talked to us until we had to get off. We of course kindly listened but during the conversation he was trying to hook Sister Johnson up with his friend. Weird, then when it was time for us to go he asked "is it American custom to kiss people on the cheeks when they leave?" Sister Johnson and I looked at each other and quickly said, "No have a nice day." Luckily it was our stop so we really could get off the subway. Haha It was quite funny and weird but we knew he couldn't do us any harm. 

Another fun experience happened on Sunday. So in our ward we have a member who is from South Africa and she is teaching English at the college here in our area. Well we have become really good friends with her and she doesn't speak Korean. While sitting in Sacrament meeting yesterday listening to the testimonies I received a text from her saying "If I stand up and bear my testimony will you translate for me?" My heart sank. I got super nervous because of course I couldn't say no but me?! I knew that the Lord would put the words into my mouth though so I kindly accepted but telling her to keep it simple. She stood up and then I stood up to follow. I quietly said a prayer in my heart pleading with the Lord to give me the words to say and the spirit so that the people in the congregation could feel the spirit of her testimony. It was really an amazing experience. I only had a few hesitations on sentences that I wasn't sure how to express quickly but other than that the Lord truly through His Spirit brought all things to my remembrance. When I first received the text I was super nervous but by the end I wasn’t and now I am so grateful that I was given that opportunity. It was a humbling and faith building experience that I will never forget. 

Anyways that's enough from me! Thank you for your love and prayers! I am so blessed to have so many supporters back home and I just want you all to know that I love and miss you! But I love this work and I love being a missionary. I know that Heavenly Father loves each of us. I know Christ lives. I know that because Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us they have provided their gospel to us through restoring it through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that we are still guided by a living prophet today who will never lead us astray. I know we can search the scriptures for personal revelation and guidance on our lives. As we do so we will be taught from on high. I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers if we let Him. He knows each of us and is our friend. We just have to let Him in. I love you all! Keep smiling and remember that the Lord loves you for you! 

Love, 

드리스콜자매

Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll 

Letter - 1/25/14

Family and Friends,

Hello everyone! I can't believe I am here on the computer again! What happened to this week? Why do they keep on going by faster and faster? I know it's because I am loving this work and loving being a missionary. Time always goes by fast if you are having fun and if you are happy!

This week Sister Johnson and I had the perfect week planned and we were going to be so busy but then everyone we scheduled appointments with ended up cancelling. And I mean EVERYONE! I really learned the importance of back up plans no matter how reliable an appointment it. It was quite sad  and we also we dropped two investigators but we didn't let that get us down as we continued to work hard and diligent we were able to pick up FOUR new investigators! Two of them being member referrals! I still can't believe what a miracle area this is and I am so grateful to be serving here.

We met with one investigator this week who was going to come to church because we asked her daughter to play the violin for us for a musical number but they ended up cancelling because they were going out of town. But the good news is they still want to do that so hopefully next month we will be able to. I don't know if I have talked much about this investigator but her name is 임진아. She met the missionaries 3 years ago and wanted her two girls to learn English. Since then she has consistently met with the missionaries weekly. And I mean CONSISTENTLY! Her teaching record goes on for days and it has been really hard because we don't know what to do to help her but we don't want to give up either because we know the Lord has a plan and is preparing her. We decided that this week we are going to start teaching the girls the primary songs and teach through those to not only just teach the mom but them to. I noticed that being in primary I truly learned everything I needed to know and through the songs I was taught the simple truth of the gospel.  I feel this is inspiration from God to help the progress of this family speed up a little bit. I love them so much and I can just see the sincerity in her eyes when she tells us that she wants to know.  It is such a wonderful experience to help those here in Korea find truth and know that they can. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of the Holy Ghost and of prayer. I know that through prayer we can find our answers and God gives us those answers through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Friday was our busiest day as we were able to meet with a member and do a practice lessons and also meet with a referral from a member.Our practice lesson with the member was really good. She is a sweet woman in the ward who is a young mom and is really in need of comfort and love. She always invites us over and cares for us so well. This time we met with her she was a little down on herself though and feeling insufficient. As Sister Johnson and I listened I kept praying in my heart to be given the correct words of what to say that would comfort her heart. Nothing was coming to me though. I couldn't understand why and still don't. I truly was pleading but not a thought or scripture came to me. I could tell that she was just reaching out her hand to us so that we could grab on and help her up but I couldn't grab on and I don't understand why. I walked away from that appointment sad because I wasn't able to assist her to the best of my ability. I then thought of the Savior. That is exactly how the Savior is too us but a little switched around. He is consistently holding is hand out to us to grab on and when we grab on those feeling of insufficiency can disappear peace and comfort can enter our bodies and we can know with surety that we are safe in His hands. As a missionary I am the Lord's hands and the Lord is placing people into my hands all the time. I must be like the Savior so that when these people enter my hands they can feel that peace and comfort that the Savior gives. I learned a lot through that experience and sometimes the Lord holds our tongue so that we can just listen and not speak. Or He holds our tongue because He has a better plan and at the moment it is hard to see but we have to just trust Him.

That night we met with another member and the referral that we received. It was a dinner appointment so we were able to just build a really good relationship. It was a great time. The now new investigator is amazing! Her English name is Nanan. She has English interest but she is totally ready for the gospel I feel! We are going to meet her weekly at the members house and things are really looking up.

 Then Sunday the referral that I received from my last area 금천, 장미정 and her boys came to church again! She is not even an investigator yet because we haven't been able to meet with her but she has consistently come to church since I got here and finally we were able to grab an appointment with her! I have loved seeing the Lord do His work with her though. I knew that He wouldn't let her go and if I just continued to trust in Him and His timing things will work out and boy have they ever! We will being meeting with her today and I can't wait! I can see her interest just burning and she is ready to hear the joyful message of the Gospel. I keep feeling so strongly in my heart that she is truly a miracle and she has been prepared by the Lord.

 This week I had read in the Book of Mormon about Alma and Amulek. Amulek was prepared by the Lord for Alma to find and teach. This week we may have had lots of cancelled appointment but we definitely found people that the Lord has prepared to hear the gospel. I know that the Lord is aware of all His children and that each event in our lives is preparing us to more fully accept His gospel and return to Him. I love this gospel and know it is true.

Now for a funny story though on Saturday we went sticker boarding with the district by the entrance/exit of a subway. We had these nicely made flyers made by one of the elders and we put them to use! It was super busy and we were pretty popular, Sister Johnson and I talked afterward and said that had been the most successful sticker boarding we had ever done! I had even had a great conversation with a lady about our English program and a little bit about our church. She was pretty interested so I gave her a flyer.. By the end, some people in dog costumes took over our area.. they were advertising their dog cafe (a cafe with dogs you can play with). So we called it quits but still felt pretty successful! Then on Sunday we were in Ward Mission Council and the elders brought up one small piece of information that was shocking. THE PHONE NUMBER ON THE FLYER WAS WRONG. The elder who had made it accidentally switched two of the numbers.. They called that number that was on the flyer and a lady answered telling them that she had received a lot of phone calls.. ALL THE INVESTIGATORS WE COULD HAVE HAD! Haha when we found out, I was in shock for ten minutes. I couldn't believe it! Our best sticker boarding ever. Wrong number. All those potential investigators.. WHY?!?! Haha we were all pretty upset/mad/frustrated/confused, but in the end we'll all laugh about this, right? That just means we have to try harder the next time we do sticker boarding! And continually apologize to the person whose number is on our free English flyers..

Thanks for all your love support and prayers.! I love each of you and miss you! Remember to keep going forth with faith! I relief society we reviewed Sister Linda K. Burton's talk about being prepared for the temple and as I listened to the sisters comments I realize that the best way to be prepared for anything is to be consistent and diligent. I know that as we consistently strive to live the gospel and be faithful to it we can and will be prepared. It is truly the best way to prepare for all the promised blessings of the Lord. Live the gospel. Love the gospel and Trust in the Lord! He knows what is best for each of us and He is guiding us each day to that we can be prepared. I love being a missionary. I love this gospel. I love this work. I love Korea. I love the Korean people. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior!

Love
드리스콜자매
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll