Mission President Seminar- Seoul, Korea

Just returned from the annual Mission President Seminar for the Asia North Area. Twelve missions were represented from Japan, Korea and Guam/Micronesia. Elders Cook and Costa and their wives were there and gave us excellent counsel and training. It was truly a feast, both temporally and spiritually!! We were so grateful to be invited. Associating with so many capable and remarkable people is a wondrous treat!

Elder and Sister Quentin L Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve. They are marvelous people and we were so privileged to listen to their counsel and feel of their great spirits!

Elder and Sister Costa of the Presidency of the Seventy
They are originally from Brazil, but have lived many places. He has been a General Authority for 15 years. In our Sisters break-out session, Sister Costa stood and said..."Why did we have to have the tower of Babel?" She speaks Portuguese, but gave her talk in English which was then translated into Korean and Japanese!

Elder and Sister Stevenson. Elder Stevenson presides over the Asia North Area and he and his wife live here in Tokyo. They have been here for about a year, serving as a counselor to Elder Evans, who has since been reassigned. They are great people and we love them!

Monday morning the temple opened for us and we had a session together. It was a very spiritual two hours! The Seoul Temple is very lovely! This is part of our Family Home Evening group from the Area office. The Meads, Browns, Riches, Markers and McArthurs. How we love them!

The Korean Seventies wives (office Sister in the middle) wore their traditional dresses to our dinner and they looked beautiful. Unlike the Japanese, the Koreans are fond of vivid colors!

We had quite a few members come and entertain us with their talents! This Sister is playing a 12 string instrument called a Kaya-Geum. The drum is called a Jang-Go. The music was unusual but very lovely.

These young boys gave a Tae Kwon Do demonstration set to music. They were adorable.

Here is the proof that we were actually there. In a few years I am sure I will have to look at the pictures to be reminded that I was not dreaming!

We also attended the Korean Cultural Museum and enjoyed seeing several centuries of Korean culture. This couple are wearing the old style Korean costuming.

Of course a trip to Korea would not be complete without visiting the huge warehouse market district called Namdaemun. Wholesale goods can be purchase reasonably and the size of the market and the variety of goods is staggering!

Elder Brown and Sister Marker are checking out and buying ties....almost too many to decide!