Toronto

Toronto
Toronto, Canada

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Transfer Craze


 
Hello Everyone!

This was a crazy week! But it was also a slow week! Very few lessons this week but that's okay we kept on working and we got a lot of little things done too so that was important! Also TRANSFERS!!! I'm going to be staying in Bayview but sister Wu is leaving! She'll be going to English work and it has been so heart breaking for her and the ward for her to be leaving so close to Christmas but she's amazing and she's going to do so well! I love her so much and it's so hard to see her go, I know I'll see her again but it's still hard sometimes. 

Anyways, Things that happened this week in no particular order, 

Zone council where we tried to figure out how to get referrals. 

We had 7 meal appointments this week... I can feel the weight on my bones! Looks like I'm stocking up for winter! 

It did actually snow this week and now I can wear my giant boots again! Fun stuff. 

There was a cockroach hiding in our area book to start off our weekly planning this week... That was not fun, I killed seven cockroaches this morning alone while trying to make sister Wu pancakes, they could smell the food and I told them NO! I thought we were doing well on the Cockroach front but they came back this week. :/ 

I had a 60 year old man come and talk to me for a solid 10 minutes about Studio C this Sunday, he found out I was from Utah and proceeded to tell me that he would love to live in Utah just so he could go see them live. Sister Wu had no idea why I was so confused afterwards. 

All of our lessons on Tuesday cancelled on us. 

We got a call Sunday night from our new convert telling us that his mom saw the change in him and wants to get baptized ASAP. 

We got white hot chocolate, and gingerbread doughnuts this week. 

Mr. Xing decided he needed a little more time to be baptized. 

Brother Wu committed to invite his wife to the Christmas Party. 

I walk in the snow with my flats on Sunday because I didn't know that it would snow all day long. 

It's sunny right now though. 

Also sister Chen is going to be my companion again! 

I don't really even know what to say this week was hard but it was also good. Life is like that sometimes I think I learned a lot about choosing to press on. Not just be happy but to actively be happy. Sorry this is so scattered this week there is too much for me to think about right now! But I love you all and I know that God loves you too!

-Sister Skinner



 

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Sick but still going!

 
 
Hello Everyone!

So I got sick this week... the cold has been making it's way around and it hit me hard this week and I just kept getting sicker and sicker because I didn't stop for long enough for my body to heal itself until Saturday night we were at a members house and I just crashed I got a blessing from the ward mission leader and bishop and have since felt a lot better but the weekend was brutal. 

That being said I feel like I don't remember much of this week because for most of it I was just feeling miserable! 

But that being said I do remember how much the ward just rallied around me and helped lift me up sister Wu has been so patient with me and I just love her so much, and through it all I have felt an outpouring of love from our savior... even if He did have to tell me to just lay back down and SLEEP on Sunday morning. Sometimes I forget that it is okay to take care of myself sometimes. But don't worry there were a lot of people to remind me of that this week. 

That's probably why I've been thinking so much about love. Because it's just been rained down on me this week like no other time thus far and I'm so grateful for it. So many people have called in this morning alone to see if I was doing better and I'm just so grateful for them. There is so much hope and love that just comes right out from the Gospel and I know that as week keep working and share that light and love and hope with everyone things are really going to work out all over the world and even just at home. 

So updates... Mr. Xin is actually Mr. Xing... My bad! Luckily the only people who noticed were sister Wu and Nathan our white ward mission leader who served here 8 years ago and then moved back to continue on the work and is crazy good at Chinese... He likes to say that he is Chinese at heart... It's been a lot of fun serving with him. Anyways Mr. Xing is probably the most golden person I've ever met we set a baptismal date... and now we've got to teach all the lessons in three weeks! HA! Okay we're going to meet with him a lot this week so we'll see how that goes!

Mr. Liu also came to church this week! It was great because fast and testimony meeting is always great! That and the little old Lady who sat next to me during sacrament basically dragged me up to the stand and said... "You bare your testimony or I won't" and I was like... "Okay" I was still super groggy and exhausted from being sick but I bore testimony about all the love I felt from the ward and apparently the spirit said something to them and everyone loved it... God makes up for those little moments when you really have no idea what to say. Anyways... Mr. Liu will progress... just slowly. 

Also there is a new convert who just got baptized by the Elders two weeks ago who is literally one of the sweetest people ever. She got confirmed this week and I was just so happy for her!

Other things that happened this week. Our 8 year old investigator thought that me and Nathan were living together because we were both white instead of me and sister Wu because we're both female... That one was fun to laugh about. The look of pure horror on all of our faces when she mentioned it was probably fantastic. 

Also there is a new convert by the name of Candice... She's going to China this week. We had just finished doing service at her house and she sits us both down and says she has gifts for us... She looks so proud as she looks at me and says... I remember the first time you met you said you liked this and so I got to you some.... I stared at her blankly... I had no idea what she was talking about.... I told her this and she said I needed to guess... I really had no idea and so she pulls out of her back a pair of socks. A pair that I had told her I liked the first time we met. She was so proud as she handed them over and the smile on my face was so big and the first thought in my mind (probably not the best thought to have when you've just finished a service project) was "Candice has given sister Skinner the Socks... Sister Skinner is FREE!" And I literally could not stop smiling for the rest of the day. I love those socks they're beautiful!

Also, it snowed yesterday... And today it's all going to melt... The weather here is ridiculous. 

Anyways, I do love you all so much and I hope you know that God is looking out for us. Keep on going!

-Sister Skinner 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Light the WORLD!

Hello Everyone!

First of all no pictures from this week because I forgot my camera cord in all of the confusion this morning. But because I've been putting my pictures on my USB I might send some random ones and then sister Wu might have some so we'll see. 

So I'm going to keep this letter short but the big thing you should all know is that the CHRISTMAS INITIATIVE STARTED!!! I love Chirstmas so much and I'm so excited to be able to share it with people this year! #LightTheWorld! Service is the best!

So I did go on exchanges to Spanish work this week. Down in actual down, town Toronto instead of semi down Toronto, I got to see a lot of missionaries that I just love to pieces and sister Tyler is one of my sister training leaders again which is the best! We had a blast together and I did a pretty good job of remembering my Dora level Spanish. We played Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John in Spanish and I have played it before with my family so that was the only way I survived! It was a blast though!

Also, sister Tyler really taught me how bus contacting works to that was a bonus! My stress levels have gone way down since then which has been a relief! 

Also Happy American thanksgiving. I literally forgot that Thanksgiving was a thing until sister Wu told me it was thanksgiving. 

So we set a ton of appointments for potentials this week and it's going to be awesome! We also found a new this week by the name of Mr. Xin sister Wu basically said. "We're missionaries for the church." and he was all like: "Church? I want to join a church! How do I do it?" And we were all like... "Well we usually like to meet with people-" "Okay can you meet right now?" "We actually have an appointment right now, can you do tomorrow?" "Yes!" So we met with him and it was a great lesson and he had a ton of questions about how the holy Ghost works and it was just really, really cool. 

So those were the big things that happened this week but I do want to finish this by letting you all know that God really does look out for us and that the powers of heaven are real. There are miracles just waiting around every corner God is pouring out blessings on His people and all we have to do to accept them is to look up!

I love you all and enjoy the start to your Christmas season!

-Sister Skinner

Sunday, November 27, 2016

An Average Week


 
Hello everyone!

So it rained this week, and it snowed this week, and it was warm this week, and then it was cold, and the weather is so crazy if feels like I'm in Utah! HA! Not really. I learned this week that I really don't want to live in a big city unless absolutely necessary. Call me crazy but I like the slow life sometimes. 

Anyways, on to more important things. The members here in Bayview are amazing and I'm probably going to be spending the next several weeks just extolling their virtues to you all but that's okay (; So first of all we had some great lessons this week. We taught a Mr. Liu and while he had a ton of questions it was still really, really good, I could just feel his potential to just grow and it was a really cool experience, he came to church this week and we'll be meeting with him again tonight so wish us luck! 

We taught setting Goals and Making plans a lot this week in an effort to help everyone see the bigger picture, we think it helped a lot for an Eternagator here by the name of Brother Wu, He actually said he wanted to set his goal to be baptized himself without any prompting from us so that's good!

Also, bus contacting... it's a thing... it's terrifying but it's a thing. I am feeling significantly less car sick in the bus, I still can't text or call in the bus but much better than before!

Sister Wu and I are going to pound the icy pavement this week in an effort to find new investigators! It's almost time for Christmas and we want to really build up our teaching pool here! It's going to be a lot of work but when isn't it? HA! 

Really this week was pretty good, even when we got lost for an hour and a half in the snow, and when sister Wu screamed so loud my ears were ringing when she killed a cockroach with her bare hands, and even when we got the cold shoulder several times this week! It all turned out all right. Life is good and it's just going to keep getting better! Love you all and pray that I don't die in the snow! HAHA!

-Sister Skinner
 
 
 





 

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Bayview!

 
Hello Everyone!
So I'll start with the fact that I found out there is something that I hate! Cockroaches. Okay now that I got that out of the way. Bayview is really, really cool.
So Monday we finished emailing and I finished packing and we went to FHE that night and said goodbye to everyone else. I do miss Kitchener it will always have a special place in my heart.

Tuesday we drove up to Brampton for the big switch around. I officially got the word that yes... Bus area for us... Buses are not fun. I do get car sick on them and then I feel guilty for staring out the window instead of talking to the people next to me and then we'll hit a bump in the road and I won't feel guilty anymore because at least I didn't throw up on them. I have learned that if I close my eyes and pray for most of the trip I do a bit better though. So I guess I should also tell you that we got the apartment and it was a mess... and I had a break down... Because I have been so lucky with apartments my whole mission and then I get to this one and... it was really bad. I wont give you all the details but I killed more cockroaches in the last week then I have killed any other bug for the whole of my life so far combined.
I spent all of my study time on Wednesday cleaning and preparing to move because they decided to close down the apartment and put us in a new one... thank goodness. Also for two days I basically lived off of cookies and graham crackers that I brought from Judy's package a few weeks ago, because I couldn't even walk into the kitchen let alone think about eating anything that had been in there. I think I actually lost a few pounds this week. Everyone keeps telling me I'll gain them back though because the members feed us really well. I've had two dinner appointments in the last week and they were both really good but I guess we'll see.
Thursday we officially moved apartments and I cried again when I realized that there were cockroaches in this one too, but I've only killed five in the last four days so I feel a lot safer. This apartment is a lot cleaner but it's also got a lot of work to do.
Friday I called the mission therapist. She was able to talk me out of the hole of despair I had spiraled into by being completely thrown out of my comfort zone. Since then things have been pretty good.
So now that I've gotten you all worried about my state of mind let me tell you about how amazing this area is.
The members here are awesome! I've been told that my whole mission that I was going to love the Bayview ward and I do! They are some of the most welcoming exciting people to be with and they all think my Chinese is fantastic. (Which it's not but they are so sweet!)

Sister Wu is also one of the nicest people I've ever met she has dragged me all over this huge city with a smile on her face and a skip in her step and we've had so much fun laughing and learning together and she's so patient with me and my zero experience in big cities self.

There are some awesome new converts here and they are all so welcoming. The members all love missionaries and the testimonies of the people here from China just make me tear up because I am literally seeing the gathering of Israel unfolding right before my eyes. Talking to people here is no harder or easier than it is in Kitchener and I'm so grateful for the opportunities we have to serve!
God is so loving and cares so much about each of us. He does take care of us in every way he can and it's through his love that we'll get the chance to see people's lives change. There is a way forward and a way up and out of our sins, shortcomings, and weaknesses we just need to put our love of God first and everything else will fall into place.
I love you all so much and I do know that this gospel is true!
-Sister Skinner




Sunday, November 13, 2016

Another Transfer In

 
Hello Everyone,

So the big news is that Transfer Calls were last night and I'm going to BAYVIEW! The one and only Chinese ward in the Canada Toronto Mission, I've been told it's the holy land and that I'm going to actually start gaining weight instead of loosing it. So that'll be fun. However, I'm feeling a might bit distracted at the moment so if this letter is all over the place that's because I am too.

So Monday right after emailing our Branch Mission leader and his sister the Relief society president took us and the YSA elder's to the Escarpment I don't know if that's actually how you spell it but basically there these cliffs that cross a good portion of Ontario and because of the way they formed they have like... crack caves in the rocks and we wend hiking in them, with Cheryl, Bella, John, and Yuen. So there were ten of us in total and it was awesome! Beautiful and adventurous exactly what my family would have loved! However I did get so dirty my shower that night there was dirt coming out of my hair.

Tuesday through Friday were pretty average. We did have more people cancel on us in one week then I have ever had in my mission before though so that was... disappointing. But that's okay because most of them rescheduled for this week... That I won't be able to go to... Ah well, anyways some high points were Caleb rocking his member present lesson where he helped us teach a guy named Steven for his first lesson. Caleb did wonderfully, and he was so excited too.

Saturday we were running around trying to finish up some of the projects we had on our plate for the week and then half way through the day we got told we were invited to the Adult session of stake conference that night which was a surprise... but was also very, very good. Elder Gordon H, Smith from the area seventy spoke and he was amazing! The next day was also very, very good, President and sister Shields spoke and we got to listen to some great talks. Caleb and Robin loved it and afterwards when we introduced them to president, and president asked them. "So are you coming to that baptism later for the other ward?" They responded with "No we need to go do our home teaching." And that... that was really good. The reports we're getting from the other members indicated that both of them are very good home teachers.

We also saw Allen this week! It was nice to see him before we transfer him over to Mississauga. We found new investigators finished looking for all those lost sheep on the ward list who may or may not be in China. And I'm all packed for transfers already!

I'm going to keep this a little bit shorter this week but I do want you all to know that this really is an important work. I'm not perfect at it no one is. But God makes up for those little mistakes and eventually all things will work out for our good.

I love you all! I'll update you all on how I'm going to handle being in a bus area next week!

-Sister Skinner
 














 

Sunday, November 6, 2016

God Makes Everything Better


Hello Everyone!

So this week felt super unorganized. I think that was sort of my fault though. I've slowly been getting more casual with my planning as my mission has gone on and so this week God put all the surprises into it and because of my lack things were very up and down... But repentance is real and so is God and guess what? We're going to do better! So yes with all things said and done only two of the seven days this week did we actually get to do our studies. Every other day something else came up and we had to go and do our best to work with and around it. Thursday all of our appointments lined up in such a way that we ended up picking up dinner from a member and then eating it in our car because we didn't have time to travel home to eat on a real table. That was a lot of fun actually but it was also exhausting. I've been falling asleep so fast every night this week. (Sorry no crazy dreams.)

Still when all was said and done this was a very good week. We had some really solid lessons. (Though not with Anna as she had a surprise emergency but she rescheduled for tomorrow.) I think one that really stood out this week was with our returning member family. The Wong family has been inactive for several months now and semi active before that. We've been visiting with them every week for the last three transfers and it's been an up and down experience as they have never come to church in that whole time. But this week was an incredible lesson. We talked about sealing and how families can be together forever and Sister Wong was so touched she was crying and Brother Wong looked at peace for the first time that I've known him. They have agreed that we can help them set goals to go to the temple and it was probably one of the best lessons I've had on my mission thus far. God has so much love for His children.

Caleb's lesson this week was on how to pay tithing because we found out last Sunday that he had never seen a tithing slip before... WHOOPS! Our bad! We fixed it though and he was ready to go! That being said we ended up teaching the same lesson to Allen and to Robin just in case.

Allen found a job this week! That was really exciting for him and only a little less so for us because that means he's moving to Mississauga and then he told us. "but I'll still come to church here." And we were all like... "There's a ward in Mississauga too." And this was his response. "It's only an hour drive, and I like it here." And we were kind of like.... "We can talk about this later." And internally we were like... 'If you like it here then get baptized!' We're still working on that for him.

Robin fed us this week and he is a really good cook! But the lesson was good too. He really enjoys looking out for others.

And of course as par usual Sunday was the best day. Caleb and Robin got up to bear their testimonies. (As next week is Stake conference for Kitchener) Caleb had told us the day before that he was so nervous as he wanted to prepare his talk in such a way that it would be able to help as many people as possible. He was the second person to get up and speak and it was amazing. He shared a story about how two weeks ago his new roommate had shared a lot of negative feelings about the church and how distressed he was by how convincing this argument was. "I was so worried that all of the good things I had found and lived were wrong. And so I went into my room and closed the door and said a prayer." He went on to share how he had done an internet search after and was saddened to find a lot of negative things but then he remembered how in conference they had warned him about this and how in school they were taught to always examine the source. He said another prayer and found the strength he needed to keep coming to church even though he had some doubts and was really worried about his upcoming tests. Then after church he was driving home with Allen who offered to help him with his course that he was most worried about. And latter another friend came to help as well. "I prayed to just be able to pass, but God is generous and so he gave me more. I know He will keep blessing us as we live his commandments and go to church."

It was amazing and powerful. After Church I watched as the new home teaching assignments were passed out and Caleb went to find and set up his teaching appointments right then. Robin was barely a step behind. His testimony was also a wonderful analogy about how we are here on earth to make the best out of what God has given us. Our time our resources, our relationships. He also said that he kept coming to church because this is where he finds people who will help him to continue to believe in God.

Caleb and Robin are some of the most sincere and loving people I've ever met since coming out on my mission and there is a light in them that I will never forget. God is real. He loves His children so much and there is nothing that will stand in the way of that. Keep trying keep working talk to as many people as you can because there are people out there who need this gospel. Need this hope. Need God. Need you. Don't give up.

I love you all so much. I hope you had a great week.

-Sister Skinner
 
So some side notes of things that happened this week. We were in the car... A lot. (WAY too much) We saw some pretty sunsets, we saw even more construction. (to the point where every time we see someone wearing neon colors with reflectors we call out "Construction FASHION!" Seriously though, there is SO much construction in the Kitchener Waterloo Area and I was fed up with it this week. There was one day where we were listening to 'You are Loved' by Josh Groban and I made the mistake of saying "I could listen to this song all day." And then Sister Moody said. "Challenge accepted and then we listened to it 45 times in a row. (We kept track) Also something really important for you to know is that there is a man who we see occasionally on Waterloo campus who walks around in full out Episode III Anakin costume (He's got multiple sets) and a Jedi robe and he just struts down the street like it's nobody's business. Unfortunately we only ever see him while we're in the car so we haven't officially met yet but sister Moody got some really bad quality pictures so I can officially tell you all about it with out all of you worrying that I'm just seeing things. And the last one of one of the English new converts Darien who was just knocked out and by that point I was ready to join him!
 

 



 

Sunday, October 30, 2016

... YAH


Hello everyone!

So some quick thoughts for this week. MIRACLES!

We finally found some solid new investigators! 3 of them! and one of them was female! In the words of sister Moody #YahWeCanGetGirls That was really exciting. Anna was super sweet and we taught all of lesson one and gave her a Book of Mormon and she was so excited to read! She was just like... "I can't go to church this Sunday but can I go next Sunday?" and we were all like... "Yah!" and then she was like. "Can I meet with you twice a week? I think I need more then once." And we were all like... "Yah!" It was great.

And then there was Alex. Vincent texted us Monday night and we were a little bit worried because this last Sunday he had gone to a different church on request of his coworkers. But he texted us and instead said that he had a friend who wanted to meet with the missionaries... and we were all like... "Yah!" And then we got to the lesson this week and found out that Alex wasn't even really his friend, they had a mutual acquaintance and Alex had found out that Vincent was meeting with missionaries and apparently this is something he's always wanted to do and he was all like... "Can I meet with you?" And we were all like. "YAH!" He's really cool.

Finally this Saturday we met with Irving. He had questions GALORE! Holy cow we didn't even make it the end of Christ's ministry we spent a long time just talking about apostles and prophets and authority and he was so excited to learn about it all and as soon as the words, "But when we're ready God will send a new prophet." Were out of my mouth his eyes just got wide and he was like. "So there's one here today?" and we were all like... "Yah!"

I don't think I've ever found so many solids in one week. All three of them were just so... Happy. Which was odd because everyone and their mom's had midterms this week. Good luck to all of those who are making the college trek right now... It looks intense. That being said the one thing we really did struggle with this week was member presents. Of the fifteen lessons we had we had one member present... that was sad! We're repenting though and we're going to work even harder to get members out to our lessons! We've got new ones who need fellowshipping!

I also went on exchanges this week. Into English work with sister Gousse She's super sweet and for the first time in a long time I was the shorter sister. (That probably says a lot about the average height of the sisters called to this mission) It was a lot of fun and I got told by some guy in the park that faith was a mental illness... he was playing pokemon go, catching virtual animals out in 5 degree windy weather. At least I came outside to talk to real people! I'm grateful to be in Chinese work, English work is very different.

Let's see other highlights includes one of my 'dreams' that happened this week. Aliens invading, the missionaries being called to protect the saints of Zion and being endowed with super powers in order to do so. Many, many, many, church puns being thrown around and it all ending with president Monson stating: Now is the time for members and missionaries to work together. As the members rise up to help the missionaries battle the invaders... So basically just missionary work just without the aliens... it was a fun dream and it's been fun explaining it to the other missionaries too. Inevitably the question comes up. "Do you have dreams like that a lot?" and I'm all like.... "yah."

Okay there was a lot more that happened this week but those are probably the most important points so I guess just in closing. Even if things seem dark sometimes. God is there for us. It may not be as dramatic as superpowers but God will send you strength from on high and that's a promise. You live the commandments and there will be blessings poured out that you won't even be able to receive them. You are one of his very special children and He needs you in this battle. It may not be as obvious as alien invasions but the consequences are much more serious then life and death... this is eternity. So stay strong you have the greatest being in the universe cheering you on. We're going to win this war.

-Sister Skinner

Also we had an ice cream fish, we put on face masks, Geese are fearless in a country where they know they're the national bird, Sister Hunter and sister Gousse, sister Moody broke a bowl, and we got taken out to breakfast this morning.