Say Hello To Seoul - Our Missionary Son

My youngest son received his mission call to

Seoul, South Korea.  Young men in the LDS

church go on a two year mission when they

reach the age of 18-19.  They save to help

pay the expenses for their missions starting 

when they are just little boys.

They apply to go on a mission and when they

receive their mission call it can be anywhere in

the world.

All of their family and friends gather when

they receive their mission call in the mail.

Chase's best friend was called to Vancouver

speaking Korean so when Chase opened his

call, they were both nearly in tears that they

would have the Korean language in common.

Imagine our surprise when he read the date

he was to enter the Missionary Training Center

and it was the same day as our daughter's wedding!

Panic set in but she eventually agreed to change

her wedding one day forward.

You can imagine how crazy busy we are

now trying to get a wedding planned and

executed and a missionary off 

(not to mention that one week later we are

in charge of a youth Pioneer Trek for

over 200 people!!)

Missionaries purchase and pack

everything they will need for two years - two

suits, four pairs of slacks, 12 white shirts, 6-8

ties, three pairs of heavy duty dress shoes (as

they will be walking most of that two years), etc.

so we are running around like crazy trying to

get that done along with his Visa, immunizations,

pictures, and..........

(Kim Chee Stew)

It is great fun trying to guess where the boys will be

called so we offered a prize - everyone was to guess

a state and a country and whoever was the

closest would go out to dinner with Chase and

us to a place that represented that country.

His best friend who speaks Korean guessed not only

the country but the exact mission so we went out

for Korean food.

(Japchae)

Korean food often has a soy and brown sugar base

so everything was delicious.  I loved this clear

noodle dish the best.  It was really tasty with 

the hint of brown sugar.

(Pork Bulgogi)

This Pork Bulgogi had a bit of fire to it which I

really loved.

(Beef Bulgogi)

The Beef Bulgogi is one of their most popular dishes

and is served with lettuce leaves, almost like 

lettuce wraps.  Chase's friend chose all of 

the dishes and each of them were delightful.

It was my first time eating at a Korean

restaurant.  They eat with stainless steel chopsticks

and a long handled soup spoon for the 

stews and soups.  The sticky rice

had little seeds or beans in it.  It was a fun and

delightful dining experience.

I definitely want to give some of these

recipes a try.

My Korean friend Abby asked if Chase was OK

with strong smells.  I said he had gone to China

with his father on a business trip and loved

it.  She said he would do fine then.  He certainly

loves Oriental food.

We are so proud of him and haven't even worried

with all of the trouble in North Korea.  We know

he will be in the Lord's hands as he spreads

the Gospel of Jesus Christ.