Sorry it's been so long since I last emailed. But a lot has happened since so I'll jump right into it. So last time I was in Blacktown with Elder Carter and Kaburara. At the end of my time there, we committed a girl to be baptized who had been coming to church for awhile and been taught all the lessons by the missionaries!! She was going to get baptized during our transfer day, but then her mother changed her mind last minute... So almost, but that's alright because she still knows the church is true, just needs to wait. It'll be good because it'll give her some time to prepare.
After that, we got transfer calls!! Elder Carter stayed in Blacktown. Elder Kaburara got sent to the Bush up in Tamworth! Then I finally get sent to KOREA!!! Or in other words, Summer Hill!!!!! Summer Hill is the remnant of the old Korean areas in this mission, where there used to be the Korean branch several years ago. Also it covers some areas that are VERY Korean. I've dreamed of coming to this area for my whole mission. Summer Hill also covers the City!! So I finally made it to the city!! Then to top it off, my companion is Elder 손유성, a KOREAN!!! I've never been so excited to be in an area as much as I was to come here. I was literally jumping for joy. After 15 months I finally made it...
After that, we got transfer calls!! Elder Carter stayed in Blacktown. Elder Kaburara got sent to the Bush up in Tamworth! Then I finally get sent to KOREA!!! Or in other words, Summer Hill!!!!! Summer Hill is the remnant of the old Korean areas in this mission, where there used to be the Korean branch several years ago. Also it covers some areas that are VERY Korean. I've dreamed of coming to this area for my whole mission. Summer Hill also covers the City!! So I finally made it to the city!! Then to top it off, my companion is Elder 손유성, a KOREAN!!! I've never been so excited to be in an area as much as I was to come here. I was literally jumping for joy. After 15 months I finally made it...
The first day in this area was completely in Korean and I was so happy I could cry. We had service with a Korean couple, 안 형제님과 황 자매님. Afterwards, they took us out to eat KOREAN FOOD!! (Pro tip for future Returned Missionary Brandon Escamilla, if you want to see the happiest human on earth, take him to eat Korean food and sit back and watch the joy!!) We had Korean food with the Korean couple, speaking in Korean. Then afterwards we walked around the area we ate Korean food and it was in mini Korea, or Strathfield. Just Koreans EVERYWHERE. Then my companion was Korean... I could've cried hahaha In our ward, there is also a KOREAN Sunday School!!! Where the Koreans in the ward break off and meet up!!
So my Korean is at a level of.... able to learn... Which isn't a bad area because I've got the basics and fundamentals down, but just lacking in vocab and then the dialect. So I understand and speak Standard Korean. Not a bad place, but different from conversational Korean. In English, there is proper English but then there is conversational English where there is slang, English sayings, fast, slur, omission of words and so forth... Korean is no different... and for having only served with a Korean for 3 months of the past 16 months... I've been getting wrecked with the older speaking in their thick accents, and the young people with the slang and so forth... Since being here, I feel like a brand new missionary... I have this experience and idea of how to go about the work, but I almost can't use any of it because of the language. Lessons I've come to teach heaps, explanations, conversational skills, people skills and so forth... Nothing... because of the language... Heavenly Father surely knows how to keep His children humble... I've been sufficiently humbled these past 3 weeks. Last night with a Korean family, I was told that I was so quiet. Or rather they told my companion in a Korean like I couldn't understand.... Which is partially true... I just process slowly and it takes time to come up with a response... So by time I understand and think of something to say, the conversation has since flown by.... So things have been hard in that aspect. Frustrated with myself, the process and the fact that I am running out of time... They say, it's ok you'll learn and get there. Which would be fine at the beginning of my mission, but by time I get the hang of it and learn it... my time is up.... So I'm just trucking along, because there's only one way I'll get there... I think if anything I need to learn how to spend more time on my knees and reliant on Him rather than my own abilities...
I've been blessed with a very patient and great companion though. We've gotten along so well it's like we've been together for a long time now. He's very helpful with my Korean, and I've been able to help with his English. He cooks very well, and we have had so much Korean food together. I honestly think that I have used chopsticks more than I've used a fork or spoon hahahaha I wouldn't have it any other way hahaha A great missionary.
Serving in the city has been so great, fun and a dream. So many places to explore for Pday, good food to eat, great missionaries to serve and serve with. After having spent most of my mission with Samoans and Tongans, I've come to love with Islanders. Now I'm amongst the Chinese, Korean, etc, and I really love the Asians as well. Kind of funny, so all my areas besides my first area have been wards with so much diversity. Mostly Samoans and Tongans, but also Filipino, South American, Asian, etc. That being said, it's been "Spot the Aussie" in each ward and I haven't served among the.... Aussies... or white people in awhile... So when I came to Summer Hill where there is a lot of Aussies, it was a mini culture shock hahahaha It's been awhile since I was a part of the diverse minority hahaha algoods though, just funny to think about.
So this past Friday was a huge blessing. We had the chance to go back to Blacktown for a baptism of the little girls we were teaching!! They asked me to baptize one of them and Elder Kaburara to do the other girl. It was so good to see them again. One of the girls told Elder Kaburara that she missed us, and that broke my heart. Made me think of and miss my sisters. But, I can't think of any greater experience than to walk in that water with them and baptize them.... My first baptism and it was the greatest experience ever. Especially having been with them during all the lessons. The fun times we had. So special...
Well I hope you all have a great week, can't believe I'm down to my last 6 months... Time flies... Love you all, 사랑해요!!
Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시드니 선교부
So my Korean is at a level of.... able to learn... Which isn't a bad area because I've got the basics and fundamentals down, but just lacking in vocab and then the dialect. So I understand and speak Standard Korean. Not a bad place, but different from conversational Korean. In English, there is proper English but then there is conversational English where there is slang, English sayings, fast, slur, omission of words and so forth... Korean is no different... and for having only served with a Korean for 3 months of the past 16 months... I've been getting wrecked with the older speaking in their thick accents, and the young people with the slang and so forth... Since being here, I feel like a brand new missionary... I have this experience and idea of how to go about the work, but I almost can't use any of it because of the language. Lessons I've come to teach heaps, explanations, conversational skills, people skills and so forth... Nothing... because of the language... Heavenly Father surely knows how to keep His children humble... I've been sufficiently humbled these past 3 weeks. Last night with a Korean family, I was told that I was so quiet. Or rather they told my companion in a Korean like I couldn't understand.... Which is partially true... I just process slowly and it takes time to come up with a response... So by time I understand and think of something to say, the conversation has since flown by.... So things have been hard in that aspect. Frustrated with myself, the process and the fact that I am running out of time... They say, it's ok you'll learn and get there. Which would be fine at the beginning of my mission, but by time I get the hang of it and learn it... my time is up.... So I'm just trucking along, because there's only one way I'll get there... I think if anything I need to learn how to spend more time on my knees and reliant on Him rather than my own abilities...
I've been blessed with a very patient and great companion though. We've gotten along so well it's like we've been together for a long time now. He's very helpful with my Korean, and I've been able to help with his English. He cooks very well, and we have had so much Korean food together. I honestly think that I have used chopsticks more than I've used a fork or spoon hahahaha I wouldn't have it any other way hahaha A great missionary.
Serving in the city has been so great, fun and a dream. So many places to explore for Pday, good food to eat, great missionaries to serve and serve with. After having spent most of my mission with Samoans and Tongans, I've come to love with Islanders. Now I'm amongst the Chinese, Korean, etc, and I really love the Asians as well. Kind of funny, so all my areas besides my first area have been wards with so much diversity. Mostly Samoans and Tongans, but also Filipino, South American, Asian, etc. That being said, it's been "Spot the Aussie" in each ward and I haven't served among the.... Aussies... or white people in awhile... So when I came to Summer Hill where there is a lot of Aussies, it was a mini culture shock hahahaha It's been awhile since I was a part of the diverse minority hahaha algoods though, just funny to think about.
So this past Friday was a huge blessing. We had the chance to go back to Blacktown for a baptism of the little girls we were teaching!! They asked me to baptize one of them and Elder Kaburara to do the other girl. It was so good to see them again. One of the girls told Elder Kaburara that she missed us, and that broke my heart. Made me think of and miss my sisters. But, I can't think of any greater experience than to walk in that water with them and baptize them.... My first baptism and it was the greatest experience ever. Especially having been with them during all the lessons. The fun times we had. So special...
Well I hope you all have a great week, can't believe I'm down to my last 6 months... Time flies... Love you all, 사랑해요!!
Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시드니 선교부
