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Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Week 9 - He made it to Korea!

Dear Brother and Sister Huckvale,
I just wanted to send you an email letting you know your son has arrived safely in Korea. He looks very happy to be here and ready to work hard. We are excited to see him serve here in the Korea Seoul Mission.  Attached below is a picture with President and Sister Christensen.
Regards,
The Korea Seoul Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints       
Korea Seoul Mission                                                            
Office - 82-2-734-3653                                                 

 The group of all of them at the airport.


President and Sister Christensen, the Seoul Korea Mission President.

Note about Chad's traveling (just so I can remember this):

We knew Chad's travel plans and knew that he had a layover in Seattle.  He asked us not to come to the airport because he thought it would be too hard.  So we didn't.  We knew that he landed about 9:30am and was leaving for Korea at noon, so we "patiently" waited for his phone call. About 10:00am we got a phone call from the Seatte Airport... with no one on the other line.  We got two more calls to our house line, both with no one on them.  I kept answering the phone, "Chad?".  And Derrick told me maybe he wasn't responding because I wasn't calling him "Elder Huckvale".  So the 4th time the phone rang, this time on my cell phone, I tried "Elder Huckvale"... and it still didn't work.

Getting very frustrated, feeling like I was having a heart attack, we kept waiting.  Finally he was able to get through.  He borrowed Sister Jones' disposable phone.  We talked for a while.  It was so amazing to hear his voice!  He sounded exactly the same... yet not, if that makes any sense?  Like it hadn't been two months since we had last spoken to him, but it had.  So the three of us are just talking, and then all of a sudden he gets cut off.  Apparently he had used up the remainder of Sister Jones' minutes - sorry Sister Jones!  We were ok with it, we had talked for about 35 minutes, except that we didn't get to tell him we loved him.

A few minutes later the phone rang again... from another number.  Apparently a member at the airport had loaned him a phone and he was able to call us back.  We were able to tell him how much we loved him and how proud we were of him.  It was amazing!  I'm so thankful for this young man we are sending halfway across the world to represent Jesus Christ.  
Called to Serve, Elder Huckvale, Called to Serve.


One more tender mercy... apparently he sat next to a member of the church on the airplane going from Salt Lake City to Seattle.  That member was sweet enough to take a picture and email it to us with this note...

Hello Huckvale Family!
Just met your missionary on his way to Korea. He's doing great and excited to go. Here's a photo of him in Seattle.


So thankful for all these sweet tender mercies!!!  After I thanked Brother Allred for the picture, this was his response... 

You are totally welcome! I served my mission in Brazil nearly 20 years ago and I'm sure my mother would have appreciated a surprise like that as well - always good to know that our children are watched over on their many travels. I'm actually from central Washington originally (live in UT now) and am here in Seattle for business this week. Your son will be a great missionary!

Thank you Brother Allred!!!

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Week 8 - Your Destiny Lies Along a Different Path Than Mine

Title - Obi-Wan's last words to Luke when they part ways on the Death Star.

Hello Everyone!
 
Well, I'm heading off to Korea next week which is very exciting!  I got my travel plans on Friday!  Wow!  
 
The other elders in my district that I've spent the last eight weeks with are all going to Seoul South while I'm going to Seoul so that's kind of lame but it's cool.  I'll probably see them afterwards.
 
Elder Eads and I taught Yun Hwa on Friday again and she was just left confused by the end of the lesson so that was unfortunate.  Afterwards, our teacher, Brother Driggs, told us that Yun Hwa is afraid to pray about the Book of Mormon and to know that it's true.  Elder Eads and I prayed and fasted to know what Yun Hwa needs to hear.  It was a really cool experience.  The spirit prompted me that we need to tell Yun Hwa that while the things of this world will pass away in time, the gospel, the Atonement, and the love that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for us will never pass away.  I believe that this is what Yun Hwa needs to hear and I am really excited to teach her tomorrow.  Hopefully she will be able to feel the spirit and understand the importance of this gospel and the importance of following the Savior. 
 
Yesterday, Elder Eads and I had a really cool opportunity.  For those who have been to the MTC in the last probably 10 years, you probably remember what I will talk about.  On the first night at the MTC, the new missionaries gather together in a room and have a gospel discussion with an "investigator".  It's to help the new missionaries feel love for the people they teach and get to know them so that they can help them and invite them to come unto Christ.  For the first two investigators that the new missionaries taught, Elder Eads and I played the missionaries and we pretty much started the conversation with the investigator so that the new missionaries could take it from there.  We left after we got the conversation started and then we hid behind the stage to listen in on what these missionaries were saying to these investigators.  It made me think of our first night and how one girl started telling the poor guy about the three kingdoms and another started talking about the millennium and doctrine that I don't even think is true.  It was really awkward.  I remember that Elder Eads went up to one of the investigators and told him that he loved him and asked him to be baptized.  Aw, good times.  It really shows me how far we've come as missionaries and how much more in-tune with the spirit we are.  It was really cool.
 
I am so glad that I have decided to serve mission and I know for a fact that this is what I am supposed to be doing right now.  I have seen many things that are a testimony to me of this.  I know that there are people in Korea that I need to teach.  I know that this church is true and Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that he restored His church to the earth.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
 
Anyways, I'm really excited and nervous to go to Korea on Monday!  It's going to be so rad!
 
Love and miss ya'll
 
Called to Serve!
 
Love,
Elder Huck
 
P.S.  Go and listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir version of "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing!"  It is so amazing!  I feel the spirit so strongly when I listen to it!
 
 Travel plans to KOREA!!!!!
 Trying to pack up all our stuff!
 If you ever wondered if Chad could fit into luggage... now you know.  :)
 Check out all those washer and dryers!!
 Elder Eads created this make shift "cooler" for all their refreshing beverages.
 Eating squid jerky.  Yummy.
Elder Eads, Elder Huckvale and their first investigator, Yun Hwa.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Week 7 - I Want to Learn the Ways of the Gospel and Become a Missiona ry

Title - in the first movie, Luke says something along the lines... "I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi."  Make what you want of it.  :)  (Pictures - Korean Elders push-up train and St. Patty's Day Care Package).
 
I literally cannot believe how fast this is going by!  I only have less than 2 weeks left in the MTC!  Like what the flip?!  IN less than two weeks I'll be boarding a plane to the land of Korea!  
 
Anyways, things have been pretty much the same here, just trying to figure out this language (as in the language of the spirit) and Korean too I guess.
 
Last Thursday night, Elder Eads and I learned that instead of doing Skype lessons with members for TRC, we get to teach Yun Hwa for the rest of the TRC sessions that we have have at the MTC!  Yes!  So we taught her again last Friday, and it went really well.  We sang her happy birthday and taught her about the Restoration.  Elder Eads recited the First Vision in Korean which she really likes.  Also, a member friend was there and he bore his testimony about Joseph Smith and Book of Mormon and so did Elder Eads and I.  It was so cool!  The spirit was so strong!  We invited her to read and pray about the Book of Mormon and I have been praying that she have her heart opened to the promptings of the Spirit so that she can know for herself.  We'll find out tomorrow!
 
We had two freakin sweet devotionals this week!  Our devotional on Sunday was just about 100% Korean focused.  First, Sister Bell from my district did the musical number in front of the entire MTC with Elder Royce (going to Korea, Busan) accompanying her on the violin and another sister playing the piano.  Noice!  Next, the speaker, President Radabaugh (who does something at the MTC but I can't remember), talked about conversion stories.  He ten talked about how last month, an all-sisters district from the Korean branch was able to see their investigator that they taught through TRC baptized!  How awesome is that?!  They showed a video clip of them interviewing the sisters and since they just left last week, it was cool seeing them again and hearing about their experiences teaching the girl, Iris.  Then Iris went up and bore her testimony in Korean with one of her friends from BYU translating.  Her testimony is incredible!  The best part of all was that Yun Hwa was there in the front row watching the devotional!  When I went up to talk to her afterwards, she showed me her finger and that she was wearing a CTR ring she got for her birthday!  She really enjoyed the devotional.  I has been so awesome to see the changes that have happened to her as we've been teaching her.  She is so happy and I'm so grateful that Elder Eads and I can continue to teach her.
 
The other devotional was given by Elder Don R. Clark from the First Council of the Seventy.  Since it was not about the Korean Branch, it was not as good but was still pretty good.  Just kidding, it was really good.  He talked about the ten truths that all missionaries should know.  Probably the thing that stuck with me the most is what he said about faith and how we must act on our faith and be missionaries of action.  Honestly, of all the things I struggle with, diligence is probably at the top so it was really good for me to be reminded that I need to remain diligent.  The spirit will not guide me unless I work for it.
 
Anyways, things have been going awesome here and I am both excited and nervous to get out into the field.  I know that the Lord will help me overcome my weaknesses in order to do His work.  It is going to be a choice time.   I just need to make it through this next week and a half.
 
Love and miss ya'll!
 
Called to Serve!
 
Elder Huckvale
 Korean Elder push-up train.  I believe that's Elder Huckvale in the red shirt, right in the middle.  :)
 St. Patty's Day Care Package.  
Notice the Star Wars Mac & Cheese?  Definitely the favorite... even though it wasn't green.  :)
 Elder Megargel and His Ghetto Chess Set
 Not sure... but thought it was funny. :)

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Week 6 - How do you get so big eating food of this kind?

Title - Yoda says that to Luke when he tastes Luke's "protein bar". 
 
I'm on week what? Six? Seven? It's probably one of those.
 
The food is starting to get to me.
 
It's literally on a two-week or so rotation and it's getting really annoying eating the same exact things all of the time.  Don't get me wrong, the MTC is still great and the church is still true so it works out.
 
This week was actually pretty exciting.
 
On Friday, through TRC, Elder Eads and I had the opportunity to teach our real investigator, 영화 (Yong Hwa), again.  Hopefully, we will be able to teach her this Friday as well but we're not sure yet. It is so much more satisfying teaching real investigators than teaching our "progressing investigators" or the Korean-speaking members who volunteer to allow us to teach them through TRC.  I understand that doing role-playing is important, but it's not nearly as fulfilling as teaching someone who could actually be baptized.
 
On Sunday, we said goodbye to all of the Korean-bound elders and sisters who have been with us for the past six weeks.  We got pretty close to them over the past six weeks so it was difficult to say goodbye, but I'm also excited for them to begin this new journey of theirs.
 
Tuesday night for our devotional, we had a surprise speaker, none other than Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles!  It was awesome.  The devotional was being broadcasted to all of the MTC's in the world.  Anyways, he talked a lot about how we need to open our mouth and that when we are inviting and making commitments, we are fulfilling our purpose as missionaries and the way to be more successful is to be more faithful.  I really enjoyed the talk and am hopeful that we'll be able to hear at least one more apostle with conference coming up in a few weeks.
 
Yesterday, we got our Korean name tags.  They are so rad!  Mine is spelled 헉베일 which translates to Hok-bay-irl.  It is so cool.  I can't believe how close I am to actually going to Korea.  I can't believe that I am actually serving a mission after all of these years of preparing.  It's pretty unbelievable.
 
Anyways, I am so glad that I am serving a mission.   I encourage all of you who are of age and worthy to go.  You will not regret it.  There is no way to come closer to Heavenly Father and the Savior. 
 
Love and Miss Y'all!
 
Called to Serve!
 
Love,
Elder Huck
 
Elder Eads and I with the tripanionship that just left.  
Elder Barton and Elder Wilson are going to Taejon while Elder Okamoto is going to Vancouver, Canada 
Korean-Speaking.
 The District doing stuff.
 My new tags.  :)

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Week 5 - Destroyed... by the Empire

No explanation necessary for the title today.  :)  
 
Although, big SHOUT OUT to cousin David for bringing in In-n-Out for Chad and his roommates!  Big score!!!
 
 
Hello everyone!
 
My MTC adventure continues and like most weeks there wasn't really anything too interesting that happened this week.  However, I am still having a blast and continuing to grow in knowledge and understanding of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ!
 
My Korean is coming along exceptionally!  I have definitely noticed the hand of the Lord helping me as I learn this language.  The MTC is so awesome!
 
There are so many changes going on around here.  Rooms and areas of the campus are being remodeled left and right.  Every time we walk by and somebody says "What happened?" I respond "Destroyed...by the Empire".  It's pretty great.  Half of the campus is currently closed because they're building an underground parking structure.  It's crazy.  Those class room mock-ups I tested out are going to be what the future MTC classrooms are going to be like (Apparently people have been wondering about that, unfortunately I didn't take any pictures but I'll ask around).  They have big plans in store for the future of the MTC from what I've been hearing.
 
Another cool thing that happened was that while we were waiting to go in to the gym for the devotional on Sunday, one of the BYU police guys asked Elder Eads and I to stand outside of a room and tell people they couldn't go in there because the MTC presidency was meeting with the speaker for the devotional.  Apparently it was pretty funny to watch.  At one door there's Elder Eads who's standing completely still with an intimidating look on his face and then there was me standing there, ya know, rocking back and forth, looking around, tying my shoe, studying my Korean words, ya know, whatever.  Yeah, everyone tried going through the door that I was standing by.  One elder tried to go through to go to the bathroom and I told him he couldn't so then he turned around and fell over and pretended to be dead.  It was weird but whatever floats his boat I guess.  
 
Anyways, serving a mission is so rad.  Best decision of my life.
 
Love and miss you all!
 
Called to Serve!
 
Elder Huck

 In-n-Out delivery!!!  Awesome cousin David!!!
 Elder Eads and Elder Stapp
Elder Huckvale :)