Mission Story:
I entered the MTC Jan 21, 1982. There were 10 of us in the Young Dong District, all going to the Korea Seoul Mission. My MTC Companion was Elder Gyle Gale from Beaver, Utah. The other missionaries in the District were Elder Michael Burgess, Elder Nelson Farrier, Elder Keith Minor, Elder Randy Pitchford, Elder Ian Reid, Elder Gus Williams, Elder Ken Wright, and Sister Mary Ann Reed. Our instructors were Sister Bezzant, Elder Donaldson, Alma Nam, and Dolphin.
We flew to Seoul in March 1982. We stayed at the Mission Home for a day or two and then were assigned to our first areas.
I was assigned to be junior companion to Elder Kendall Merkley. He was serving as one of the two Language Assistants to the President. We served in the Han Nam Branch and also at the Military Base at the Serviceman's Branch. It was at the Servicemen's Branch that I heard about the announcement that missions were now 18 months during the April General Conference. I was with Elder Merkley for most of my first three months. I was temporarily transferred twice during the month of June due to some unusual circumstances. Elder Merkley's identical twin brother was serving in the Seoul West Mission. Their parents were coming to pick them up in June, and since the Seoul West transfers were two weeks before our transfers, Elder Keith Merkley was transferred temporarily to our mission to serve with his brother and I. At the same time, there was a need for one of the Korean Elders to go into the military for one week. Because I was in a threesome at the time with the Merkley brothers, I was sent to Chuncheon for a week to serve with Elder Meyers. After the week was complete, the President decided it might be a good idea to send another Korea Elder to serve his mandatory week in the military as well, and so I was sent to Chun Ho Dong to serve with Elder Wixom for a week. After that week was done, I was sent back to Han Nam Dong. Transfers were a few days later, and Elder Meyers came in from Chuncheon and became my new Senior Companion. We served together for a month and then I was transferred.
In July I was transferred to Jamsil as junior companion to Elder Toney. We were companions for two months and then Elder Toney was transferred elsewhere and my new senior companion was Elder Nelson. We were together for one month and then I was transferred to Beon Dong.
In October I was transferred to Beon Dong as junior companion to Elder Argyle. We actually lived in Sam Cheon for a month and commuted to Beon Dong via bus. They were building the subway at that time, and it was a real mess to get anywhere. After a month we moved to a new place in Beon Dong and lived with Elder Perry and Elder Molene there. That particular transfer Elder Argyle and I were made Co-Senior. It was at this time that a large number of Elders from the Korea Seoul Mission were transferred to the Korea Seoul West Mission. Among these was my close friend Elder Ian Reid, who I was in the MTC with. I spent a total of 2 months in Beon Dong and then I was transferred to Seong Nam
The December transfer I was sent to Seong Nam as a full senior companion. My first junior was Elder Rasband. We were working out of the Ward in Seong Nam at the time. There was also a Branch in Seong Nam that had Missionaries serving in it. I was only there for a couple of weeks when Elder Rasband was transferred elsewhere as was the other junior companion working in the Seong Nam Ward. The other senior companion, Elder Orme and I were made co-senior for the rest of the transfer, at which time Elder Orme was transferred elsewhere and Elder Bowler was sent to Seong Nam as my new companion. We served together for three months, and then I was transferred to Young Dong.
The April transfer I was sent to Young Dong to serve as Zone Leader with Elder Rolfson. We were together for one month, and then he went home. My new companion was Elder Rasband. We were Zone Leaders together for my last two months until I went home in July 1983.
