The Simons Seven: Daegu Military Branch

We have been so lucky to get a congregation that feels like family. For many people who are not military, that may seem like a given. But for those of us Mormon military members, we move so often that a lot of times people hold back from really getting to know each other. In some ways, it feels easier than getting attached only to have people move away a few months later. The problem with that is that then you lose out on the love and closeness that strengthens families and individuals. This time we have gotten so close to our branch that the teenagers act like siblings and the kids call other sisters in the ward "mom." Perhaps, the best part of this is the spiritual example that every member of our branch sets for each other. My children are happier and spiritually stronger than they have ever been. As any military member knows, this too shall pass, so we must hang on to the experiences while we can.

Saturday was a ward temple trip to Seoul. From Daegu that is about a 4 hour drive. The branch rented a bus for anyone who wanted to attend. We took our whole family. Oakley, Chloe & Gwynyth were going to do baptisms for the dead (if you're not LDS, I know this sounds weird, but just know there are no actual dead people involved--that always makes me laugh when people think that), and Brian and I were going to do a regular session. There is a house on the temple grounds where younger children can play and be babysat while parents do temple work. I thought this would be an excellent way for the whole family to get excited about going to the temple.

Our Korean bus driver had to the be slowest driver ever! We were worried that the youth would not make it to their 9:30 baptism session. Koreans are very strict with rules and time and will not wait even 5 minutes if you're late. When we got to Seoul, we had 8 minutes to get the kids changed and into the temple, but the bus driver got lost. One of the Korean sisters in our ward was translating Bro. Gordon's directions to him, but he refused to listen (probably because she was a woman and Korean men do NOT take directions from women). The driver pulled over and refused to go any further until he figured it out HIMSELF. Finally, the branch president said, "Forget it, we're close enough!" All the teenagers got off the bus and started running through the streets of Seoul toward the temple in order to get there in time.

One of the youth got separated from the main group just after the bus driver (the rest of us were still on the bus) pulled away and started driving around AGAIN--still lost and still refusing to take directions. The girl called her mother to tell her she was lost, and then to make things really eventful, her phone died. So we had a stubborn bus driver, a group of teens running through the city and a lost girl unable to contact anyone again. (I couldn't believe how calm her mother was!) After the bus made yet another U-turn, we spotted the lost girl on the side of the road. We made the bus driver stop the bus while her father ran after her. In that moment, the bus driver threw up his hands and stormed off the bus. We had no idea where he was going, but we all just sat there. . . laughing. . . because it was like some sort of twisted sitcom! Ahhh, Korea!!! The branch president tracked him down and brought him back. But, if a 6'8" 300 lb American came after you, you'd probably not put up much of a fight either. Finally, we made it and everyone was able to get their temple work done.

The older children helped care for the younger children as the parents did sessions, as well as getting in some good card games. (See how much they love each other???)

Here you can see about 2/3 of our branch all together in front of the temple. I kept telling my children over and over again, "You just don't realize what an incredible experience this is--you're so lucky!"

Every good Korean bus is fully equipped with Karaoke machines. So for a couple hours of our 8 hours on the bus everyone rocked the bus with our (not quite that awesome) singing. It was so sweet to hear all of the kids laughing and singing. At one point, I even teared up a little because they were all so innocent and sweet--looking for clean songs to sing together and smiling radiantly. That is the happiness that only comes from trying to live a life of integrity and virtue--and all of those teenagers are just like my kids, so it makes me so proud of them.

Finally, we all stopped for kimchi, ramyan, bimibap and whatever that pork cutlet thing is called! Definitely a day to remember.

The next day I took the seminary students to take pictures for the New Era. This year we have been studying the Old Testament and how slow the Children of Israel were to remember their Lord. I taught them how President Kimball taught that the most important word in the English language is REMEMBER. I had all of my seminary students design banners with the world "Remember" on them to help them remember who they are, what they stand for, and the covenants they have made.

I believe that my wonderful students not only wrote the word upon cloth, but also engraved it in their hearts. Most weeks we do not hold seminary on Wednesday mornings because of several conflicts. However, the week of semester exams, my students came to me and said, "Sis. Simons, we were wondering if we could hold seminary this Wednesday. We were thinking that if we remembered to put the Lord first, then he would help us on our exams." How could I turn down that kind of faith. Of course we held seminary that Wednesday. The next week all the students expressed to me that they had done amazingly well on their exams and that Heavenly Father rewarded their efforts.