Jan. 19 Update

First full week in Korea, and things are going pretty well so far! Lots of interesting things about Korea that threw me for a loop.

First off, the language is coming along pretty well, but there's so much to learn that it's hard to keep up. Gotta be diligent in learning this language, even after you think you've figured things out. Plus, if you're a foreigner, you basically have to study your entire life to learn the language completely. It just doesn't come easy.

The Koreans all tell me I'm doing so well, but a lot of reason for that is that foreigners, especially Americans, in Korea don't even try to learn Korean. The fact that we're trying at all is going against the norm.

The culture in Korea is very different. Talking to people on the street is extremely weird (obviously, as missionaries, we do it anyway), because of a whole set of cultural things based on age and respect... It's all very complicated, but I'll try and sum it up in a few sentences.

If a person is older than you, or younger than you, you act a different way to them. People that are younger have to respect the older person, but can kinda whine and complain about it. If you're older, you have to set the example- and if a younger person sees you mess up, they can call you out on it. You also get to buy them food, if you're older.

Another thing is that people won't let you serve them. You have to let them serve you first. That's super backwards from the US, and it boggles my as to why that is.

A couple of other interesting notes... The police in Korea don't have nearly the respect that they do in the US. Traffic laws are basically obsolete, and churches here are based on very different principles than the ones in America.

As for the rest of it, we have a few people we've been teaching. One has a baptismal date for the 31st! Super excited for that! The others all have potential, and though I'm not supposed to share specifics, I'm really excited for them. It's hard to realize that some of them won't be baptized... On a mission, you'll really feel that christlike love towards all people, even the 전도사들 (Street preachers. They're always interesting) that tell you your church isn't true.

As a last note, I would recommend everyone to not be afraid to talk about the gospel. Maybe they'll accept it and bring another person into the fold of God. For those that fear that their relationship would suffer for it, think to yourself, if a Muslim friend gave you a ceremonial prayer rug, would you reject it? You would probably respect it as something very important to them. Such is the case with the gospel! Share, don't command, and they will respect you even more for your beliefs. Guarantee it.

Go in peace, 안녕히가세요,

~스키너 장로

Korea Seoul Mission

Gyomun area

Korea....finally!!!

안녕하새요! Hello everyone!

I'm in Korea! Things are going well here, but first things that happened between now and the last time I emailed stuff.

Got on a bus at around 4:30 in the morning, took a train to the airport, and ate an egg mcmuffin on an airplane (something I don't recommend, ever). A 2 hour flight later, I was in Seattle, eating a fairly expensive hamburger (which really wan't bad), and almost swearing at a payphone in Russian. That's a long story, but suffice it to say that payphones are not my favourite things.

Then on to an 11 and a half hour flight to Incheon. It wasn't so bad, and we got some Bibimbap and Kimchi halfway through. One of the sisters sitting next to me gave me half of her spicy sauce stuff, so I had extra spicy Bibimbap. It was pretty good, for airplane food.

There was a little screen on the chair in front of me with some games and music (no worries, I only listened to mission-appropriate music... Namely, the Piano Guys and some classical), so I wasn't bored the whole time. I also discovered I'm possibly the worst person at chess, ever.

Landed in Korea and went through customs (quite the line on that one), then went down and met the mission president. From there, we were separated by mission, so I said goodbye to some of my district forever, but that's not so bad. I'll email them and stuff.

We got introduced, then we threw our bags into the mission president's car and got on a train, then a subway, then another subway, then a bus to get to the mission home in Seoul. During that time, we gave out five Book of Mormons, in Korean, with some help from the APs. It was super intimidating for a bit, but I'd gotten pretty good at it by the time we got there.

We ate dinner at the mission home, had some interviews and went to bed... On actual beds, which is the last time we'll ever do that for our entire mission. The mats they use instead are pretty comfortable, and it's kinda cool.

In the morning came breakfast, followed by some meetings with trainers and stuff, where we learned all about the mission and the 12-week language-learning program they have. I met my companion, Elder Moore, who is from Texas. Dad, he lives in your mission boundaries... Have you ever heard of Vidor? He says it's right near Beaumont and Galliston. He got me a University of Texas shirt... Not sure if I'm allowed to wear it, I don't know the family's opinion towards that particular school.

After that got to carry all of my bags around for an hour and a half on public transit to reach the apartment, which is on the 18th floor. My arms hurt pretty bad by that point, and Elder Moore had to carry half of them by the time we got to the city. Maybe I shouldn't have packed so much food... my roommates like it, though, so it's all good.

We're in a city called 구리 (Guri), which is just outside of Seoul. It's got probably twice as many people as Salt Lake City, and the people there consider it the countryside. Why that is, I have no idea. It just is.

Our apartment is considered pretty big, which I'd have to agree with. In the apartment is us and two other elders, one of which was in the district above me in the MTC (Elder Barr- He left 3 weeks after I got there). They're cool, which is good. Elder Fronk is kind of a goofball, and by kind of, I mean he's a complete goofball. It's all good, though.

Since then we've spent a lot of time wandering the streets and talking to people. Usually they're pretty willing to talk to you if you make the first move, especially if you're an American. Koreans love Americans.

We've had a lot of success... We talk to a lot of people, get quite a few phone numbers, and some return appointments that way. We have two new investigators (that are technically investigators), and a few other people who we've met who aren't investigators. Both have committed to baptism, and one has a date already! The work is progressing here, my friends.

We also went out knocking doors for a bit, and we actually got let into a house (not literally let in, but they opened the door and we taught a lesson), which is a first for my companion as well (he's been here about 10 months). We're meeting with him again later this week. We've also committed three people to come to church with us this coming Sunday.

Learning Korean is hard, but it's coming along  bit at a time. My companion says you won't get fluent, no matter how long you're here, but there are definitely missionaries who rely too heavily on their senior companions to take care of things for them.

Gotta sign off for now, I'll send in some more adventures next week! 나중에 봬요! See you later!

Elder Skinner

Jackson is officially in Korea!!

Dear Brother and Sister Skinner,

I just wanted to send you an email letting you know your son has arrived safely in Korea. He is a very dedicated missionary and we are excited to see him work in the Korea Seoul Mission.  Attached to this email is a picture with President and Sister Christensen.

Best Regards,

The Korea Seoul Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints       예수그리스도후기성도교회

Korea Seoul Mission                                                            한국 서울 선교부

Office - 82-2-734-3653                                                  사무실- 02-734-3653

Dec. 24th and Jan. 1

Since these two emails were shorter due to the holidays, I am consolidating both into one post - Jennifer

Dec. 24

매리 그리스마수, 여라분!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Short email today cause I'm running out of time... Lots of Christmas Spirit to send around this week. Just remember all what Christmas is really about, and take some time to think about the life of Jesus tomorrow. He's done a lot for you, you know.

Here at the MTC, Christmas stuff is going on all over the place. I auditioned for a Christmas talent show (about 88% certain I didn't make it in but oh well) playing the guitar, and all sorts of other stuff to do as well.

Got our travel plans today... Which is weird because I've only been here for like a week, right? ;) Seriously though I can't wait to get to Korea. Pictures will abound!

Well, that'll be it for this week, hopefully next will come with it some better stuff.

나중에 봬어!

See you later!

스키너 장로

Elder Skinner

Jan. 1st

새해 복 만이 받으새요! Happy new year!

Last week at the MTC... I almost can't believe I've been here for almost nine weeks now. I also can't believe I can speak Korean... 만이 배움 있어요! 

Well, lots of fun going on here the past week. We had David Archuletta come and sing for us on Sunday, so that was awesome. Dad, if you can get Ryan to come, you should totes do it. ;)

This past week I've been trying hard to fight the slacking-offed-ness that has prevailed for a while... We all want to get to Korea, but we also want to know Korean before we get there. We've been practicing a lot, including talking to people on the bus and on the street. It's strange to think that in less than a week I'll be doing that for reals.

So the MTC computers won't let me upload photos anymore, so the Sunday after this one you'll be getting three weeks of photos, including some from 한국! My P-Day in Korea is on Monday, plus the time change 'n' things.

저는 앰티시 사랑하는때, 한국 사랑합니다.

Talk to y'all later, 나중애 말해요!

Elder Skinner

스키너 장로