Date
November 3, 2018
Area
Daejeon, South Korea
Companion
Sounenirs
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but today is November 3rd. Every story / letter must have a beginning. I also plan on providing a middle and an ending. Not all stories end up as you intend them, but seeing that I have no intention here, we’ll see where this story takes us.
We left the office early on Thursday and drove down to the Daejeon Markets to buy some souvenirs. Parking is a problem. We found a spot along a street where it said “No Parking.” Even though the sign was in Korean we knew it meant NO PARKING, so we drove on down the road. About a block later we figured the sign probably didn’t apply any more and parked. When we got to the souvenir stores the missionaries had told us about, they were closed. Everything else was open, but the souvenir shops were closed. We couldn’t figure out why. Denice told me to ask someone why and when they might be opened. She’s use to me asking questions, but this was a bit beyond me. When we got back to the car there was a ticket on the windshield. There were two tow trucks doing the job of ticketing and towing. We were fortunate to only get a ticket. We’ll have to wait until Monday to find out how much this story is going to cost us.
Here’s the middle of my story. We left the office early again this afternoon to go shopping at Daejeon Markets. There’s a delightful Japanese restaurant near Skybridge. I’ve been hankering for their tasty katsudon (strips of pork cutlet on top of onions, eggs and rice, with kimchi and hot peppers for a side). I’ve also been told that it is not wise to shop on an empty stomach, so we ate first. When we got to the souvenir shops, two out of the four were open. We weren’t overjoyed or under-joyed, we were just pleased that we might be able to purchase some Korean souvenirs. I’ve written the word souvenir now six times and only have four more times to go before I can spell it automatically without thinking. That’s an important part of my story, because repetition is an important theme in my life. Well, we bought an art panel from one lady and some figurines and a Korean Mask wall hanging from another fellow. He was the one who made the wall hanging and I was able to say, “You made this?” It made up for not being able to ask when the stores might be open yesterday. I don’t know if you knew this or not, but today’s gains can make up for yesterdays losses. Life is somewhat of a balancing act. Naver guided us home. It would have been easier to turn around and click my heels three times, but it usually doesn’t work all that well.
Here’s the ending. We got home and while Denice answered all her calls and finished helping some missionaries with various tasks, I searched for a decent movie to watch. I found one called “In The Land Of Women.” and fell asleep while she talked. When I woke up she was watching a movie called “Lovely Phil” that she found on her Utah Overdrive App. It was about a man going through dementia and how his family struggled to keep their connections alive. How much do we struggle to keep our connections alive? Souvenirs are an attempt to keep connections alive. I felt that the important part of our souvenir shopping was that we decided together. It wasn’t so much Korean trinkets that we bought tonight, but the shared experience that we’re having here in this far away land on the other side of the world. God asks us to do certain things because he knows it will help us overcome and grow.
I went to the bank this week to replenish the petty cash. I’m always glad to see “my friend at the bank,” but I felt so frustrated that I couldn’t talk to him. I decided it didn’t matter and I tried my best to make some conversation. I talked to him in Konglish and he used Korean. Finally he pulled out his phone and started showing me pictures of his family. I understood perfectly the love he has for his family. He has a beautiful wife and two beautiful daughters, along with a mother and father that he respects and loves. This is a souvenir memory that I will always cherish. It didn’t cost anything but a few coins of courage.
After our combined District / Zone Council on Wednesday, we drove two Elders to Daecheon about ninety minutes away. They needed to get to a Halloween party and wouldn’t make it if they took the bus. With Denice’s encouragement we decided to drive them. We had great conversations and got to know them better. The party was at an English Hogwan (after school class) of a recent convert. She has been inviting the missionaries to meet with her students, help them with English and see if they have any gospel interest. There was a little girl there that kept looking at me. I’ve been so frustrated that I can’t talk or connect with Korean kids, so I asked her what her name was. She didn’t answer me, but wrote it down on a piece of paper and showed me. One thing led to another and we were having a great time being silly and having fun. I showed her how to do backward cats eyes and ring the dishrag and of course Donald Duck showed up. We had a blast - another souvenir memory.
I’m sure that was ten because it came off without a thought. Souvenir: a thing that is kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event. Someday I will be returning home. I’ll bring my souvenirs with me and put them on display. If anyone asks I will share a story or two about them. In the not to distant future I will also be returning to my heavenly home. Trinkets are not allowed in our heavenly luggage, but souvenir memories are. The End
P.S. Just one more trinket from my journal:
We went to the flower festival at Urim Park yesterday. We got there about 4:00 p.m. It was amazing! We decided to stay until dark so we could see everything with lights. Around five we came across our neighbors from the 8th floor. We went with them over to the bonsai and rock tents, then took a stroll around the park again. Denice and July (her English name) exchanged phone numbers and I had a good conversation with the fellow (still unnamed). He’s going to quit his job next year after twenty-four years to meditate and try to find greater meaning in his life. I hope we can help him out before he does anything rash. It was really enjoyable. (I’m hoping to introduce him to Brother Lee so he has someone to talk to and share his life with. It is one of my goals and I’ve been trying to enlist members of the ward to reach out and include him in their circle of friends). We are all enlisted…
Love, Elder Porter