We sent this message out to our family and friends via email and decided that we would like to also have it as part of our blog. Our appoligies to those who have already read the email, but we wanted to add some more pictures here.
Now that spring is here we are starting to receive visitors here in the mission. It was our privilege this past weekend to host two Korean couples, the Kims and the Mins. The Kims are the parents of our friend Yeagi, whom we met in 2008 in the Netherlands, who was working on her masters degree in violin there. She finished the degree and moved back to Utah to pursue her doctoral degree in violin and music. She lived with us 2 or 3 nights a week while we were home in Utah. We met her parents at her wedding last July in Provo, Utah. Steve and Abbie Kim picked their friends, the Mins, up at the Chicago airport, upon their arrival from Korea, and headed east.
They had made stops in Nauvoo and Kirtland, then Niagara Falls before coming to Mendon, NY. After their arrival, we had dinner and then took them to see the Mendon LDS historical sites. They really enjoyed seeing the place where Brigham Young and 30 other Saints had been baptized. They also thought it interesting when we visited the Tomlinson Corners Cemetery and saw the headstone for Solomon Kimball, the father of Heber C. and great grandfather of Spencer W. Kimball. Miriam Young, Brigham's first wife, is also buried there. Our next stop was the Tomlinson Inn, where Samuel Smith sold one of the first copies of the Book of Mormon to Phineas Young (introducing the whole Young family to its truths).
They were excited with seeing all of those things and then to be able to sleep in the 185 year old home that we live in and that John and his son Brigham built. We wondered if they would rather see the Palmyra sites on their own, but they soon let us know that "they would be honored" if we would escort them. On Saturday morning we drove to the Welcome Center at the Smith Farm to start our tours of those sites. While waiting to start, a young family walked in to join us. The husband was obviously Asian. When we mentioned that our guests were from Korea, he came right over to Brother Min and said, "Are you President Min?" He said that he had been born in Korea, adopted by an American family, and then went to Korea on a mission. He first learned the Korean language at that time. He had known Pres. Min during his service there. Pres. Min is currently a Stake President, and was recently an Area Seventy. So, that was their first opportunity to speak Korean with others that day. We had a wonderful tour of the Smith cabin and frame home led by Sister Lovell. We then walked through the Sacred Grove on our own. That was such an amazing experience. Sister Min has an excellent voice and began singing, "Oh How Lovely was the Morning" in Korean. Her voice echoed through the Grove and added to the Spirit that was already there. She sang a few other songs, and got our group to join her is singing, "Nearer My God to Thee". It was a great experience. The Grove probably had not heard such good singing in a while.
Next it was on to the Hill Cumorah. We drove to the top of the hill and walked around the Moroni statue. Of course Sister Min had us sing, "An Angel from on Highl", which talks about Cumorah's lonely hill. We then walked to a vacant picnic table and ate our lunch. Sister Servoss drove the car to the Visitors Center at the bottom of the hill, while the rest of us hiked back along a lesser known trail through the forest. We then toured the Center and enjoyed talking with the missionaries there.
We then drove half an hour to Fayette and the Peter Whitmer farm. There is a sister missionary from Korea who lives at the farm and was on duty there that day. We had told her several days before that we would be coming there to see her. She spent extra time studying the tour guide information and translating it into Korean. She was so delighted when we arrived and she was able to greet and hug her fellow countrymen and women. She really lit up and was almost bouncing around with joy. She then proceeded to give her tour in Korean. It was a wonderful time. Before we left her, she was given some Korean food by our guests. They promised to share some kimchee with her later.
In the Fayette church parking lot we met some men from Utah that comprised the singing group, "Octapella". One of them stepped up to our guests and started speaking in Korean. He had also served a mission there.
Our final stop for the day was to drive back to Palmyra and the Grandin Press or Book of Mormon Publication site. We had another great tour by one of the Senior Elders, Elder Nielsen. He had to pause often so that Steve Kim could translate into Korean.
Brother and Sister Kim and Brother and Sister Min were very impressed with all that they learned. At each of the sites they could feel the Spirit. Pres. Min told us later that it had been such a highlight to visit the sites. He has taught about these sites during his time with the Church Educational System (CES). It was so great, he felt, to finally be able to visit those sites. What a day it was!
Sunday morning after breakfast, we had a short discussion about their experiences here, then Pres. Min offered a prayer in Korean (we later were told the interpetation of it). The Korean people are so humble and sesitive to the Spirit. We were soon at church meeting members. After Sacrament Meeting, we were standing in the foyer before their departure. The Elder's Quorum President, Trent Sutton, approached us and started speaking in Korean. We had forgotten that he had served there. So, as our guests left, they left with a new appreciation for the historic sites in this area and a sense of belonging with all of the Korean speakers they had met. We really enjoyed having them visit us and we appreciate even more this area and what it means to all of us. IT IS ALL TRUE!
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