I Saw the Wind this Week

Hot Pots with our singles branch on Christmas!

Grilled tuna!

Hello Everyone!

So thoughts on this week. First of all attitude makes all the difference. People are much more willing to talk to you when you have a smile on your face! Secondly Christmas is awesome, Hot Pot's are great! I just didn't realize how much food would actually be there... Still eating too much is a big part of Christmas right? Thirdly the language will come, even if you feel light-years behind everyone else just keep trying. We are a church of progress and God delights in our growing if we are really trying the blessings will just keep coming. 

Also apparently my brain has some issues with driving with a TIWI (The mission sponsored driving monitor) I don't think there's been a night here where I haven't had a dream that involved that automated voice telling me that I was never going to be allowed to drive again. (This is amusing since really I've been one of the best drivers so far so...)

Also being on time makes such a big difference. Christmas, starting out with accidentally leaving our phone back at the apartment so instead of being early to our skyping session we were late. That one thing set the tone for the rest of the day and we were five minutes late to just about everything after that. It was awful! We knew that the spirit was still there when we were teaching but it was so much harder to invite it in while we were being late. Having the spirit with you is an effort and once again if you are trying then it'll be there. God blesses those who try.

Also, starting a new area is hard! We had very few appointments this week as our biggest teaching pool is made up of students who all went back home to China for the holidays, so that meant hours of street contacting everyday walking up and down the now very empty streets. Talking with everyone who passed our way. After the first four hour day of walking my feet hurt! Like the really not good kind of hurting, not just the sore but the "I'm worried I might not be able to walk tomorrow if the bones in my feet keep feeling like they are going to break" feeling. I called up the mission nurse and he told me soaking with epson salts and inserts. So I got the inserts I soaked my feet and after passing a natural health nutrition place in the mall I got some peppermint oil. (I just know my dad is out there proud of me!) My feet are doing great now and all is well. 

Skyping was an interesting experience. Kate (the member at whose house we skyped at has three dogs. Luckily they only interrupted me once but let me just tell you those were the fastest forty minutes of my life! I loved seeing my family and feeling like I still got to be a part of Christmas morning. They had so much snow in Utah! and I was sitting there looking at the green grass and the blue skies and just kind of laughing. Luckily my mother had some divine inspiration about my health and encouraged me to buy some boots. I kind of nodded just to agree but the next day was boxing day (Think Black Friday except Canada) so we actually went to the mall parking lot to contact and there were some amazing boots on sale and I got them. Well, yesterday, (Another holiday... I don't know what for but that's why I didn't email on Monday) it did snow! A lot, it was really cool actually for the first hour of the snowing the flakes were so small that you almost couldn't see them and once they were on the ground in windswept piles they looked like white sand. The snow was so fine and the wind so strong that if you looked around you could literally see the wind flowing through the streets. It was beautiful it looked like you were walking on clouds. However beautiful it was also very cold. There were even fewer people out and those out wanted to get back in. Still it was on this day that we finally found a real solid "Yes I can meet with you tomorrow" investigator (The rest of them were more like, try January... Maybe) It was such a blessing. We also met with another investigator yesterday (Not technically our find but still ours) and I extended my first baptismal invitation. It was amazing. I actually knew how to say the words I needed to say and it just happened. Afterwords I could totally fee the Holy Ghost's influence but in the moment I was so focused that I didn't even really think about it. 

Finally I spoke on Sunday to our little singles ward branch and that was amazing as well. I had been praying all week that I would know what to say and that I could say it with out seeking any of the glory for myself, (Knowing that with God's help the talk would be amazing and everyone would love it.) and it worked. I said what that little branch needed to hear and know I just have to figure out how to give that same talk in Chinese and hopefully by then I can use it to help others. 

The thing about the wind is that it's there and we can see it's affects but not the actual wind. This week I got a taste of how God working in our lives is similar to the wind. Watch out for miracles big and small and you'll realize that God is working in your life and you really can see the effects and in time we will be able to see the day when He is revealed Glorious and Eternal. This life is not run on coincidences but on God's power. 

I hope you all have great weeks. 

Love,

Sister Skinner

 Hello Everyone!

I'm not sure how to describe this week. First of all you should all know that there is currently no snow on the ground and even though it did snow on Thursday none of it stuck I've been told repeatedly that I should count my blessings. I just smile at them and then tell myself that I'll get better at handling the humidity. When the wind isn't blowing I'm fine but when it does hit I'm freezing now matter what the temperature is!

Also Sunsets from 10,000 feet up in the air with snow clouds on all sides is one of the most beautiful things I have every seen and would recommend it to everyone. So yes flying was fun. Delayed often but fun I really enjoyed it. I could have looked out those windows forever. I was also a bit airsick but not enough to stop me from really enjoying it though!

I arrived around 7 o'clock Canada time and it took a while to get through customs as none of them really knew what to do with me. Somehow I got the wrong intentions letter (It was the one for elders instead of sisters) so well... now my visa says I'm staying here until February 2018 so... fun stuff looks like I'm serving two years instead of 18 months! So after much confusion there I was picked up by some sisters and taken to the mission home where President and Sister Clayton were holding a party for the All the senior missionaries so I got to meet all of them which was nice.

I stayed with the sisters that night and then the next morning went though a bunch or orientation stuff and around noon got to meet my new companion! It would have been sooner but once again there was some paperwork confusion and I somehow got put down as speaking Cantonese instead of Mandarin which was really confusing for everyone as there are no sisters who speak Cantonese in this mission. (A couple of elders who go back and forth between here and Montreal) So, when they asked me if I spoke Cantonese my eyes got really wide and I said "No... Was I supposed to?"  Let me tell you I think that might have scared five years off my life.

So yes, I got to meet sister Liao and we've hit right off our personalities are similar and it's so great working with her. We spent the rest of that day driving around picking up her stuff, and then driving to Kitchener, where we are currently staying with a couple of Spanish sisters. They are both super nice and it's fun speaking three languages in the house.

Wednesday we started meeting with members and doing some street contacting. That was also terrifying. I keep switching back and forth between English and Chinese and forgetting who speaks which language so that was fun! Still I loved being out there and standing in the street and wondering who had been prepared by the lord. I loved meeting with the Chinese members as well. There is a lot of focus on new converts and returning members here. So we try to meet with people from the ward often. I really do enjoy sharing my testimony and I got a powerful witness this week that right now if I promise them a blessing from God it will happen... Isn't that so cool! I was inspired to promise one member looking for a job that if he went to the temple the Lord would tell him where to go and the spirit was so strong.

So yah, contacting members and trying to find new investigators as Sister Liao and I technically opened up a new area and don't have any new investigators so we're starting from scratch! That's been fun. Also it gets dark really fast being the middle of winter so were going to try going out in the mornings more this next week and then spending the dark hours studying instead of in the mornings where we feel safer out on the streets.

I've been driving this week too! Getting used to Kilometers has been super weird and I'm still trying to figure it out. So first time I got in the car I heard a weird noise when I braked and I called Elder Erickson the elder in charge of cars right away. He said that the sisters who had been driving it previously had been fine but if the noise continued to take it in to a shop. So Saturday that's what we did and guess what? Back right tire there was NO break pad left. It was metal on metal and they wouldn't have it fixed until Monday. So I called Elder Erickson again and so for the last three day's I've been driving the Kal Tire Minivan... Got to go in style right? I was just thankful that we were okay for those days that we did drive it. God really does take care of His missionaries. (It also helped that I've learned from experience to follow promptings when it comes to cars so...)

Anyways, I really am doing great. I'm still trying to figure out how everything works and trying to find my place here at the mission but I'm so excited to be here and in time I'll get to see how things continue.

I love you all and appreciate your prayers and thoughts.

-Sister Skinner

 

 

So what did you learn?

Jumping off of edges has always seemed incredibly stupid to me... 

You're probably looking at that sentence and squinting your eyes a little bit. You know where I'm going with this and you also know that I could very easily take this the wrong way. But I'm going to say it anyways. 

Jumping and therefore falling doesn't seem like the smartest idea to me. I like to say that we are made up of parts but wings are not one those parts. Still despite this belief of mine I still find myself often standing on edges and looking down into something that honestly scares me. Now here's the lesson I've learned this week: Don't look down. 

There is a reason that we are supposed to have an eye single to the glory of heaven and that reason is because heaven is upward. When we are standing on the edge there is really only one person who can give us the wings we need and that person is God. If we are continuously looking up He will bless us and give us the strength we need to go on. 

So even though we all have this inclination to look down ward to see whats the worst thing that could happen we need to realize that God has all the parts we need and he knows where we need to be. I have been reminded many times this week that as a missionary I will be seen as an Angel. 

Angels have wings.

I do not plan on falling on this mission. I plan to fly. 

---

So this is just a test email. I'm making sure that every get's my letter who wants it and that you all get a chance to see my love for you. There is so much to look up for in the world and I hope you get to see that this week. To those of you who have helped me and touched me throughout this MTC experience, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. To those of you who continue to pray for me you are adding to my wings everyday. Stay strong, know that God lives, know that He loves you.

We are not meant to fall. 

So this is me, standing on the edge, I will miss you but we are made up of who loves us. 

This week has been great but now it's time to jump after all...

I'm flying off tomorrow. 

-Sister Savannah Skinner

P.S.  Hey Everyone!

I sent of my usual inspirational message mostly because I have the hardest time remembering what actually happened. Tuesday we had a wonderful devotional from Sister Oscarson General Young women's president and one of the best things I learned from her talk was that Sometimes we just don't understand and that's okay. Have faith in others area's and all will be well. 

Really this week has been made up of goodbyes and laughter which really is okay with me. I love my district and I love my zone and I'm so very grateful for them and what they've taught me. Sister Roberts hurt her foot this week, Sister Hughes found out she broke her hand this week, Sister Erickson sent off and got many letters this week (both for her and not for her), Elder Ramanlal got a package from his mother which as usual was almost more for us than it was for him and his back hurt less this week, Elder Joly has been nervous but excited and hilarious. Really life is good. 

Friday was in field orientation where we got to learn so many things about working with members, using all our resources and really just doing our best.Saturday was spent taking pictures with teachers and hearing all their testimonies. And this entire week has been spent periodically packing and making sure that none of our suitcases are over fifty pounds while trying to decide what to send home and what to take with us. 

I learned a lot this week about flying but I'm sure you all saw that one. I wore a light up necklace to breakfast most mornings. That was fun to. I photobombed a lot of pictures. That was especially fun. But in all honesty I went through this week just feeling ready to go. I want to be out there and I want to teach and the fact that I will be able to in less than 24 hours is such an exciting experience for me. 

I head out tomorrow everyone. 

Wish me luck. 

I love you all and hope you have a great week. 

-Sister Savannah Skinner

On Worthiness and Flying

Hello Everyone!

So what happens when you reach the end of the beginning? If we were talking about a story I would say that I'm almost done with my exposition and am going to be moving on to the rising action soon. I think that really hit me when my district and I went to the mail room together on Friday to get our flight plans. Everyone has a travel companion... except for me, the only person who's never been on an airplane before... My first thought was that I sure hoped that airports were as easy to navigate as people keep telling me. The second thought is that I always have a travel companion. So since then I haven't been nervous at all. The District keeps talking about the fear of heading to a different country and I've just felt so calm. I sure hope I keep this peace all the way up to actually getting on the plane. 

So yes, this week has actually been characterized by peace and love with is really nice. President Newel started our last interviews this week so Wednesday he came to start mine. He came in at 6 left at 6:45 to pick up his wife, came back right around 7:30 and we talked until about 9:15 So in total we were talking for over two hours. I loved it. For talking to me for that long I really didn't say as much as I thought I would. I got some amazing stories from him, however, his daughter was a skater in the 2002 Olympics. He spoke at a Geneva conference. He's done just about everything and we talked about it all. I told him some of the fears I've had and he shared some of his. Really I enjoyed it so much. At the end he was able to offer me a blessing, where I finally got the answer to one of my prayers that's been ongoing for nearly two weeks now. I felt so blessed. The thing is I've been struggling so much with wondering whether or not I was actually worthy to have the spirit with me. I was praying and worrying and thinking about it almost constantly and instead of answering me right away God has been blessing me in other ways with other experiences. It's been quite the test in patience but as par usual Christ has been watching over me. Finally after President Newel and I going over more of what I had been feeling about something that was said in my setting apart blessing that's been worrying me. But after some tender sharing on both our parts when he started the blessing one of the things that he said was that I was called for my worthiness not my 'perfections'. The tears started there and they just kept coming. I was told that that I was being prayed for and that the Spirit was delighted to be with me. There was much said but one of the final points was that I am pure before the Lord. I don't think I can describe the peace that descended over my soul. Since that point I've just felt so ready for the things that are coming. It really has been a good week.

Anyways, singing Christmas songs and telling stories has been great this week. I'm not sure I can fully describe the happiness that has come from my study of the scriptures this week and the thoughts that have come to my mind. It's day 35 of my spiritual fast and I am really starting to feel the promised blessings. 

Anyways I think I'll keep this shorter this week. But I want you all to know that I know that God lives. There is such power in those words that I could bask in the knowledge all day. This week is the beginning of my end and the end of my beginning. My story might never be over but today will be a good start for now. I'll be flying physically for the first time in my life next week. (Not for the first time spiritually though.) So that means there might not be an email next week but know that I'm thinking and praying about all of you. There is much to be gained from coming unto Christ. I have experienced so many blessings. I love you and God Loves you. 

Till next time, God be with you.

-Sister Savannah Skinner

Thoughts About Learning

Hello Everyone!

I'm glad to let everyone know that I am in good health, and that this week was so much better than last week. I am so very grateful for my companion who has helped me pull through some really tough things. I'm also grateful for an amazing branch Presidency who all know exactly what to say and do to help us improve and come closer to Christ. (I've told you this before... I think, but if you have time President Newel has his own Wikipedia page... Let me tell you he has some interesting stories.) I am grateful for a supporting and loving family, extended family, and friends. I read all your letters and love them. You are all such a strength to me. I am also grateful for a day of gratitude. Let me just say that Thanksgiving was an amazing experience, and I really will remember it for the rest of my life. If you saw it mentioned in the news that was my district interviewed however Sister Erickson and I were not there with them at that exact moment in time so no Sister Skinner in the story sorry. Still it was a powerfully spiritual day and it ended with the starting of the Christmas season which... CHRISTMAS!!! I am so excited! I think I freaked my District out a little when Elder Joly told us his mom had sent him a little Christmas tree. We decorated it last night and it was so much fun... all three feet of it. 

There was a lot that happened this week but what I really want to share is something that I learned. And it's a bit long but I did try to explain it to the best of my abilities. I do promise to write more of my experiences next week. (I'm sure they're will be plenty to talk about. I get my flight plans this week!) And I wish you all the best of this start to the Holiday Season. Enjoy the Church's Christmas Campaign this year. (I've already watched like 20 times and I never get tired of it.) #aSaviorIsBorn is so much fun to watch and I can really feel the Spirit every time I watch it. The lights here are beautiful and after having Elder Oaks sing to us on Thanksgiving I'm almost sad that I wont be here for Christmas... Almost. 

---

So I learned an interesting truth this week. It started with something I heard in passing. "God would have atoned for us if he could have." This made me pause. It rings true to me but at the same time... Something in that sentence made me stop and think. I've had this theme that's been with me for the last month or so and I thought I had shared it in this general email before but looking over my emails I realized that I hadn't yet shared this particular thought. It's something that came to me while I was writing down my thoughts in a stream of conscious one Saturday my second or third week here and since I wrote it down, variations of it have been following me around since then slowing embedding itself into my soul.

Perfect Beings are Perfect because they Love Perfectly. 

When I think of perfection sometimes I have this tendency to think of it in an almost negative light. Sometimes I think of perfection as the Dursleys of Number Four Private Drive. After all "they were perfectly normal, thank you very much." But see the true stressed word in that sentence is the normal... not the perfect. Now here is one of the truths I learned this week: God is not normal... Think about that. Now that I've said it I think about it and laugh, because of course God is not normal he is extraordinary. And why is he extraordinary? Because He Loves us so perfectly that He would have died for us if He could have. 

So why didn't he? Or rather, Why Couldn't he? The answer of course lies in the Book of Mormon. Alma 34:8-20 The description about Justice and Mercy is an often quoted one but the interesting thing is that Justice Needs Mercy just as Mercy needs Justice.They are one and the same. This sound familiar at all? That's also how we often talk about the relationship between God and Christ. God is extraordinary because He is Justice and yet He begot Mercy. God is Merciful through Christ. Just as Christ is called by God.

God loves so perfectly that He gave His Son who also Loves so Perfectly that He Suffered for us.

Perfect Beings are Perfect because they Love Perfectly. 

How do I express exactly what it is that I learned with out saying things that you've heard before? How do I express the Joy that comes from realizing that God Loves us so much that He stands for Justice and yet Loves imperfect beings so much that He sent a Savoir who was also perfect to also Love us. 

They are one in purpose... Just as the Holy Ghost is one with them. I figured I should make a quick note that this Perfect Being line that I keep quoting myself on comes from a stream of thought that was about the Holy Ghost. The Spirit does not have a body of Flesh and Bone. Isn't that interesting? That is part of the divine purpose, and yet what a sacrifice it must be to spend thousands of years comforting and testifying. (perfectly I might add) of a Perfect God and a Perfect Savior and to not have that one thing that separated God and Christ in the beginning. I don't think we realize what an amazing gift our bodies are. The Holy Ghost testifies of Christ, and that must be something that He loves. Because to be a part of the God Head. To be a Perfect being. One must Love Perfectly.

Perfect Beings are Perfect because they Love Perfectly. 

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So I hope you all enjoy the next week. I promise that if you learn to love the rest of the Christ Like attributes with start to follow. Our church really is about love the Ultimate Love. The Ultimate Sacrifice. The Ultimate Hope. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas everyone! I can't wait to tell you more next week. 

Love,

Sister Skinner

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carry On!

Ni Hao Everyone!

So this week was a hard one. Last week was hard too but in a busy way. This week was hard emotionally. It started off with the oldest district in our zone leaving. I said goodbye to five powerful elders and I look forward to seeing how their missions go. Still, It was good hearing from them one last time and being able to see how excited they were to head off to Three British missions, and Two California missions. They are going to do great. Still I was riding off of an emotional high from last week so my district and I soldiered on happy for them and ready to take on our role of being the leaders in the Mandarin Branch. Tuesday started out fantastically, so many things to do and a devotional to look forward too that night I was very excited. Tuesday we got the privilege to hear from Kim B Clark of the Seventy and he gave a wonderful talk about what makes a successful missionary some of my favorite lines/quotes/impressions were:

"You are acting as angels because you are angels."

"To be a good missionary let me tell you that it has nothing to do with personality."

"They are Obedient to both the rules and impressions from God."

"They have the Spirit, they tell inspiring stories and avoid that which would drive the spirit away."

"They Love the people."

"The most powerful thing you do is WHAT you do."

And then he ended with a powerful story about a boy from Idaho who in his teens decided to run away from home and join a motorcycle gang. He was with the Hell's Angels for nearly twenty years before he woke up one day in New York and realizing that he had no idea on how he had gotten there. Drove all the way to California to one of the 'safe houses' where he tried to sober himself out. While sitting on the front porch of this house he saw two missionaries walk by. He just sneered at them when they started towards his gate which was guarded by two attack dogs. However, to his immense surprise just as the elders opened the gate the two killer dogs simply went to the base of their chains and fell asleep. Too surprised to say anything he watched as the missionaries came up to him on the porch. One of them smiled and nodded at him while the other asked where he was from. Looking at them warily he responded with his home town in Idaho. The elder paused and then asked if he knew two names. He nodded once and then responded "They're my parents." The missionary blinked nodded once and then said. "They're my parents too." While this revelation blew the man away the Elder then had the state of mind to continue. "God has sent me here to invite you home." And he did. He went home he cleaned up he got to know this brother he never knew he had. The end of the story is that just about a year ago he was sealed in the temple to his wife.

This was a powerful story for me. One about love and about how God shows his love. There are no lost causes, we are all of infinite worth to God and He will put us exactly where he needs us to be. I don't know who's out there that needs me right now but there is someone who needs my exact words. While it's probably not going to be a long lost brother/prodigal son there is a brother or sister in Christ who needs me to invite them home.

So afterwards we came back from devotional and had our district review which turned into a zone review since at that moment we only had two zones. It was very powerful we had some great insights. I loved Elder Welch's testimony about being where we needed to be and loving the fact that this is His work and His glory and we are just the tools. I got a powerful impression about my Pride thoughts, which was that when they come don't squish them redirect them towards God. He is the standard of all success. Overall it was a beautiful and powerful night.

And then once we had said goodbye to our presidency and to the other district the seven of us knelled down to pray and Elder Welch told us that he was going home in the morning.

It was heartbreaking. To see him smile at us and say that he didn't know if he was going to be okay but there wasn't anything else he could do to get better at the MTC. Up until the very end he had been studying Mandarin and laughing with us. We had known that there was something wrong with him for the last couple of weeks but he did his best to act completely normal while he was around us. Listening to him tell us all how grateful he was for all of our testimonies, I got an overwhelming feeling of love. The Love the Heavenly father had for Elder Welch and the love that Elder Welch had for each of us. I knew that Heavenly father was going to take care of him and while I might not see him again for a long time. God had a plan for him and it was going to be okay. I didn't start crying until I got back to the dorm but once there I got to bear a powerful testimony of the truths I had learned to my room mates. I don't know what's happening with Wei Zhong Lao but he will remain in my prayers until the end of my mission. He was one of the greatest examples I have ever met and I hope to be able to give him the hug of comfort that I so desperately wanted to give someday.

The difficulties of the rest of the week came from feeling the absence of our district leader very keenly. I was also having a difficult time health wise the last half. I'm actually still very weak and tired even as I write this. But I have learned so much from God this week. Lessons on patience and Love and Enduring to the end. On being Diligent and on paying attention to the spirit. I wish I had more time to explain every moment that's been going on in my head but I have my first Skype teaching session with a member in Taiwan tonight and Sister Erickson and I have to prepare.

I love you all and I hope that you can feel that love. I'm striving desperately to have the love of Christ that I have seen so clearly this last week in my heart and in my prayers. You are so very loved. By me and by God. Always by God.

Till next week.

Sister Skinner.

Craziest Week Yet!

Savannah with Sister Erikson last week outside the Provo Temple

Hello Everyone,

 

So Monday night I went to bed fairly satisfied feeling like I had gotten a lot done for P-Day that day. Then in the middle of the night I was woken up as Sister Hughes and Sister Roberts packed up some stuff to take with them to the ER as that was the only place open at 3 AM. I was still half asleep but I do remember sister Erickson telling them to take pictures. There were in fact many pictures taken. That is definitely a day that we will not be forgetting anytime soon. So 6:30 comes and the day starts and we are missing our room mates and I'm getting really worried about the fact that they aren't back yet. Within the hour sister Erickson and I were called to the front desk to head to the hospital because Sister Roberts would need a companion while Sister Hughes was in surgery to take out her appendix. So after leaving a brief note to our Elders about where we were going and picking up some food for Sister Roberts we were put into a van and taken to the Hospital. (If any of my BYU friends felt their ears burning on Tuesday it was because I was telling my companions about you in an effort to lighten the mood.) 

 

President Newell was out of town for the day but we did manage to call Brother Averett and he was able to come in and give Sister Hughes a blessing before he surgery so it was all good. She had caught the pain pretty early so her appendix hadn't burst yet and she was a little lower on the priority list so she didn't get into surgery until almost 11 We got to spend this time in the waiting room talking to some amazing people. It was actually one of the best experiences I had that day. A woman actually bought us lunch from the Hospital Cafeteria, her exact words were "Please let me buy lunch for you. I need the blessings." What can you do in that situation but nod and let her do it. It really drove home the point that was told us this week before we entered the cafeteria: That a food offering to us while being called as missionaries is an offering to God. She said those words with such conviction that I knew the meal I was about to eat was going to bless her Family... I didn't think I would ever say anything like that but this week has been one of the most interesting of my life and I really hope I'm able to get everything down today. 

 

Anyways, while eating there were other things I noticed about being outside of the MTC. The first being is that the Black Badge really is the most noticeable thing about me right now. As long as I have that on I will be seen. I could feel eyes on me constantly and it made me realize how much of a representative I really did pledge to be when I sent in my papers. For as long as I wear that tag I will be seen and known as a representative of God and at least in Utah that means that people will just feel comfortable just coming up and talking to me and my companion like they've known us for years. The other thing that really stuck out to me was the fact that I could see the difference between the people who had the gospel in their life and the people who didn't. The contrast was probably made much more apparent by the fact that we were in a hospital, a place of extreme emotion and feelings. But there was something there. While the woman and her family who fed us and talked to us about their Brother/Son/Husband/Father who had accidentally shot himself in the foot and was getting it amputated the same time that Sister Hughes was getting her appendix out She told us about the miracles that had brought them all to the hospital, for the blessings that she could see in her life. About how the spirit was speaking to them as a family and the power of the promptings it gives. We had a fantastic testimony sharing experience in that cafeteria that day. Anyways after Sister Hughes got out of surgery we found out that we could get her out of the hospital in a couple of hours and we were back at the MTC by 4 o'clock that afternoon just in time to see the Elders and make sure sister Hughes got to the room safely before getting dinner and heading to choir practice. This was a significant decision as both Sister Erickson and I were exhausted and we would have liked nothing better to join Sister Hughes and Sister Roberts in going back to the dorm and going to bed several hours early. However the night before, during planing, I had felt a strong impression that I needed to go to choir. The choir teacher here is a really cool guy and going to choir is often like going to a secondary devotional. So sitting at the dinner table with sister Erickson looking at me with exhausted eyes I got the impression again that we needed to go to choir. So we did. 

 

To be honest I didn't feel that spirit that I was expecting to feel from such a clear prompting but hey we were there so we might as well stay for devotional... I am so grateful that we did. Elder Hugo Montoya spoke to us and that was the strong spiritual experience I had been waiting for. He spoke with much power and told some fantastic stories. By the end of it I felt spiritually edified and fed. And then we went to the district review where I got some powerful insights from Elder Welch, Elder Joly, and Elder Ramanlal all of which I would have missed if Sister Erickson and I had decided to head back to the dorms and sleep. Promptings are important and what I just wrote wasn't even half of what really happened that day. But the rest of the week was also busy so I'm forced to move on. 

 

The next day our district was called out to host the new incoming missionaries for three hours. This was also a great experience as it kind of marked our half way point. Watching the families come in and helping the new sisters feel more comfortable was a great experience and I'm looking forward to doing it again this coming week. 

 

Thursday Wu LaoShi had us go out side in search of leaves to write get well notes on to Sister Hughes. I also got some good lessons on teaching from one of the younger districts. Speaking of districts the oldest Mandarin learning district. (Also known as the Boy band) are heading out this week. I'm going to miss those Elders they had some great lessons to share with us and some hilarious stories to tell But the Liss twins, Elder Anthony, Elder Holybrook, and Elder Hales are going to do great in their missions and I'm grateful for the leadership they were able to give our zone. 

 

I don't remember Friday... Saturday we had TRC and another outside hunt to find a rock to write a number on in order to see who had the closest number to Wu LaoShi's and whoever did got to sing the class a solo. (These activities really do make class much more exciting.) I also ran into a wall on Saturday but both the wall and I were okay. 

 

Sunday started out like it normally would. A bit more time getting ready in the morning. Long enough that I was shaping my eyebrows. (As my family knows I like to do) it was early enough that morning that as I was doing them I got nervous about plucking a certain hair so in my mildly sleepy state and with all the faith that being a month out into the MTC brings I prayed about how I should do my eyebrows that morning. Anyways after that little adventure we had breakfast, and then headed to class so Sister Erickson could go to her 'council' meeting. While I sat in the classroom and wrote my talk for church. Elder Welch got called as our new district leader last week and so he was gone too which left me with Sisters Roberts and Hughes, and then with Elders Ramanlal and Joly we all kind of knew what was coming. Being in the MTC means switching around callings a lot so that everyone can have the experience of leading and with the Boy Band leaving that was going to make our district the most experienced district in the MTC learning Mandarin right now. Sister Erickson has also been in her calling as Sister Training leader for longer than expected. So it was of no surprise to us when near the end of the meeting, President Newell walked in and asked Sister Hughes and Sister Roberts to come in and then asked Elder Ramanlal and Elder Joly to come in as well, then he looked over at me and said "Oh, we can't leave you in here alone can we? Well you can come along too, that'll be just fine." Like I said we all knew what was coming. Even though only Sister Erickson had been called as the Sister Training leader usually they call companionships. (They didn't because when she was called there really was just us four sisters in the Zone, but by the end of this week there will be 11 so calling a companionship this second time around would make more sense.) Also because I am Sister Erickson's companion I went around helping her with a lot of the duties that she had been called to do so I we all really knew that Sister Hughes and Sister Roberts were going to be called. So we walked into the room, it was really crowded but we managed to all find seats. Brother Averett handed out the leaders binders to Sister Roberts, Sister Hughes, Elder Joly, and Elder Ramanlal and the meeting commenced and then just after President Newell announced that Elder Joly and Elder Ramanlal were going to be called as the new Zone leaders he looked over at the Sisters side of the room and very simply said. "And we will be blessed by the leadership of these fine three sisters." Now, I thought he had misspoke. (He does that from time to time.) and so I didn't say anything, but then he looked me in the eye and said. "You weren't going to be called, but as I saw you walking into the room, just like the Lord was speaking right next to me, I heard a voice say, 'She will lead.'" 

 

Well, this next part is going to be odd but my very first thought was. 'This is because I prayed about my eyebrows this morning.' and suddenly the spirit was testifying to me that if I wanted to become the leader that president Newell had just prophesied I'd be I needed to keep praying about all the decisions in my life including praying about my eyebrows. Now here's another sentence I never thought I'd say. I got called to be a sister training leader because of my eyebrows. And so President Newell bore a powerful testimony about the Lord calling who he needed to call and I just sat there in mildly stunned silence as the spirit told me about the power of prayer and how I was going to do a great job if I kept praying sincerely to the Lord. 

 

So after that, meeting there was a sister's conference that was another powerful witness about prayer and about how faith brings miracles, and a question about whether or not we are holding on to our weapons of rebellion without realizing it. We then went to relief society and then to Sacrament meeting where everything was on the power of faith. There were some great analogies about how faith works and I wish I had more time to tell you about this but there is still more to tell. After dinner I went to choir again this time on splits with the newer district Sisters Bello, Greenhaugh, Hendrix and  I enjoyed choir and for devotional we got to see a seek peak of the Church's Christmas campaign this year. And then we went to the after movies. I got to see one of Bednar's first devotionals to the MTC and holy cow that was such a powerful and amazing experience for me. I could really feel the spirit and by the end of his "Becoming a Missionary I was on such a spiritual high that I sang for the rest of the night. 

 

This email only covers a few of the life changing and growing lessons I've learned this week. I've been feeling so blessed and so loved. I also wanted to include my letter I sent to President Newell this week so you all can get a feel for what's been going on in my head this week. So this is where I'm going to end. I love you all and I hope you all have great weeks. The lessons are there for us every day we just have to look for them.

I'm not sure how to start this. I'm never sure how to start a story when I'm not sure where the end is yet. But these scenes will start up in my head. A moment where something inside of me says 'that was significant' and suddenly I can see my life down on a page. Words flowing into images and bringing out life to someone who wasn't there in that exact slice of time. Yet now there is something there, something shared. We are made out of parts and pieces and we grow when we share those parts with other and they share their pieces with us. Elder Montoya said something that really stuck with me this week. "Love the people who change you life." If that statement is to truly be followed then I must follow the saviors advice and love everyone because every new person I meet changes me in some way.

This week I have truly grown to love the people who are currently in my life I pray for them daily and have learned to have supreme patience when dealing with the pieces of them that don't quite fit into the collage that is my ever changing self. My spiritual fast is reaching a point of fatigue I don't always have the strength to go on. And then someone else needs my strength and suddenly I realize that I can make my strength last out for them. In giving away of my pieces I gain the strength needed to keep moving forward. 

God is the author of my story, and though I stumble and feel inadequate, He sends me reassurance from time to time that I am playing my part. That I am giving when needed and overcoming when not. I still make mistakes, my lines are not always the ones that he would have me say, but I am trying. Trying to overcome my self-centeredness, trying to let that still small voice be my prompter and my muse. My story is far from over and starting up a new every day will get me no where. I must build on what is given me and reach out from there. God created the book, we choose our own subplots, and he makes sure that in the end we will all be able to reach that final happily ever after. The pieces will eventually fit. I can learn to be kind and gentle and patient with those of whom I associate and by so doing will be able to become a great author of my own part in the Great Writer's story. 

I have learned much. 

I am grateful for your advice. 

I pray for those in my district that are afflicted and hope that you can comfort them in ways I can not.

God is my author, and I can live up to the vision he has for me.

Thanks for everything,

Sister Skinner,

Ran JieMei

A Week of Thoughts

Hello Everyone!

So this week's been an interesting one if only because everything has been so internal. I'm learning so many little lessons that I'm having a hard time describing them because they just keep adding up. Anyways, last Monday I got a challenge in the form of a talk under my door to be more spiritually connected, and I've started what the talk described as a spiritual forty day 'fast' in an effort to feel the spirit more abundantly in my life. I am now on day six of my fast and it's been much harder than I thought it was going to be the three things I've decided to 'fast' from. Are as follows:

1. No more "When I get home..." thoughts. My mission should be like my time at the temple, purposefully timeless. This time I have here is going to end so much sooner than I think it will and it does me no good to think about a time far off when I have today to focus on. 

2. No more internal stories. I'm sure some of you are looking at your screen and wondering if I'm going to be able to accomplish this one. Plot is just the way I think. I enjoy bringing in characters and concepts into my head and just see the world through the lenses of a fairy tale. This has been the one that I've had the hardest time with so far. Just in the little moments while cleaning during service, or walking between classes my mind tends to wander. But once again this is something that pulls me away from the people in front of me. The gospel should be my focus and I have tried really hard this last week to live in the moment. 

3. No more searching for the pride of the world. Or more internally no more comparing myself to others. For good or for bad. This is something I've struggled with for a long time and this one has also been hard to try and work around because it's such a habit to look for ways that I can get recognized for my actions. I feel like an awful person just for writing it out but there it is. I am a prideful person and this week trying to completely rid myself of those thoughts and actions has been very difficult. Still I do feel like I am getting somewhere and even if this is a 'fast' that I have to struggle with for the rest of my life I will because that's the type of person I want to be. 

4. And then in place number four, which really isn't a fast but more of a nourishment is a goal to really read the Book of Mormon and study from it in all my free time. This one has really helped me the last week. I thought I would be able to listen to music more but it's banned in the MTC dorms so I've only been able to listen to the occasional conference talk in the mornings. I think that void was just leaving me time to think/drown in my own thoughts and worries. Now there's something for me to really do during the night and it's been really nice. 

I've really had to struggle with these four items at times this week and last night the last couple of hours or so I just felt really discouraged about it all. I didn't feel like anything had changed in me even though I was getting close to a week of really trying to get through this. I went to bed simply relieved for the chance to be unconscious and not have to think about anything. And then this morning we went to the temple. I'll start with the fact that I love temple trips they're wonderful things. But this one really spoke to me. Sitting in the celestial room after the session I just started pouring out my soul to God and I got a couple of impressions I'd like to share with you.

Firstly I got the distinct impression that everything was going to be alright. I can and will make it though this mission. Even though some days really do feel like a struggle just to make it through the day, I will be able to find great joy in this service to the Lord. He wants me to find joy in it.

Second off, Is that I am protected. There were a couple of times yesterday where something happened and I just suddenly felt very venerable and scared. Today I got the reassurance that Christ is going to protect me through this. There are people watching out for me and they are not going to let me down. 

Thirdly is that I am here for a reason. I have been called. That realization may sound almost repetitive but it's something that I don't think I really believed until this morning. Some part of me was worried that I left more for myself than for God. But while sitting in the temple I could feel the words in my mind. "I have called you for a reason." It was such a powerful moment and I hope I can live up to that calling. 

Anyways, I feel like my emails really are just time for me to tell you what's going on in my head instead of around me. Sorry about that. Still, it's not to late to repent. This week we had Richard G Maynes come and speak to us on Tuesday about making sure that we are constantly reaching out. One of the lines he said was that "We don't know we're living the story until it's over." (This did not help my 'fast' at all my mind immediately went to how perfect that line would look as chapter title) Still, when thinking about it later I realized that this is my story and it's my chance to make it a good one. He also talked about being on fire with the spirit. It was a very good devotional but all of them are so... My district got picked to host this next week. So we're going to be doing that on Wednesday. Guiding the new missionaries in to the MTC. Sounds like fun, here's to hoping the weathers good. Ge LaoShi went to Texas this week for four days so we got to meet and be taught by ALL the Mandarin teachers and it was kind of fun (There happens to be four Li LaoShi's at the MTC and it's a bit hard to differentiate when talking about them.) The language is also really picking up. I feel a bit like I'm falling behind in memorization but as long as I can still testify I'll consider that good. 

So yes, that's my week (roughly) I hope you all have fantastic weeks and you'll hear from me again next Monday.

-Sister Savannah Skinner

We are made of dust

So now that time is moving on I feel like every day at the MTC gets better than the last. Which I am told is an unusual opinion to have but hey whatever I'm going to keep my good mood for as long as possible.

The Lessons I've learned this week have been long and difficult ones. If only because they are much more internal than external at this point. This week was hard on my district as there was a lot of negativity floating around. I was very bothered by it. I still am whenever it comes up. On Tuesday we were sitting in add study waiting for class to start and I don't know how the ball got rolling but I was sitting quietly getting more and more frustrated with the people around me until I heard the phrase. "I just don't even look forward to class anymore." I kind of snapped. For the people who know the story of my Jr High and High School years well. I pulled a seventh grade choir on them. I stood up and told them that they were wrong. That they're focus determined their reality and that as long as they believed class was going to be hard for them it would be. I was in the middle of my 'lecture' when my companion just stood up, walked out, and said "I'm done with this." and suddenly everything came crashing down. I didn't have authority to tell them what to do. I didn't have the right to speak to them like that. And the last time I did something like that I was then shunned by a good portion of my peers for years to come to the point where my sister when asked if she was related to me got told that 'oh, that's too bad, I don't like her very much'. I nearly started crying in study time right there and then. It felt like none of the people I'd gotten to know over the last several weeks would look at me and I couldn't help but start wondering what the next seven weeks would be like if I was under the silent treatment. I really did just make a much bigger deal out of it then I should have. But part of the reason I apologize so much is because when I was younger and more forceful I ended up pushing people away and now I have fear that if I say or do something wrong I will be punished socially. Anyways it all turned out all right, I apologized to my district and they forgave me for telling them what to do. Ge LaoShi had interviews that evening and I got to talk to him about some of the complaining and negativity I had seen with my peers and he and Wu LaoShi have really come together to try and fix it. 

They weren't able to completely fix the problem though. 

Words are powerful things that can make or break a situation the way you say things is powerful and dynamic. Just a complaining word here and there can completely color others perception of you. Take this principle and apply it with the fact that we currently live in a society where complaining is a good story. When something bad happens we go tell someone about it because it's a way to 'connect' as it were. So it all accumulated on Friday night when I got pulled aside by our sister trainers (Who aren't really our leaders as they are in the other Mandarin zone, but were the only other sisters speaking Mandarin until this week.) Who told me that we were gaining a reputation as the negative district. This was really disheartening for me as I love the people in my district and even though it was hard week for them I didn't feel like a week of down was going to be enough to hurt others perception of us. Also it was hard because I'm not sure how to fix it. Telling them they were wrong wasn't the way to do it and yet I didn't want them to have to go through the difficulties of having to push through preconceived notions. Also we had a new district come into our zone this week and I really felt like we needed to be an example to them. 

Along side all of this happening I was struggling with my own problems. I felt like the spirit was inconsistent in my life. It was there with me some times and other times it just wasn't. When the Trio (The name given when referring to the sisters in the other zone all of whom are leaving this week. (Sister Cherkas, Sister Sylvester, and Sister Mark)) pulled me aside they first asked me what I felt I needed and I told them about not feeling the spirit consistently and while talking it our it dawned on me what the problem was. Those moments I didn't have the spirit with me were the moments that I was speaking out in desire of the praise of the world. 

I have always struggled with pride. It's my greatest vice and I realized this week that if I want the Holy Ghost to truly be my companion I was going to have to get over my desire to be seen and heard for my own benefit. It was a humbling revelation and I have been fasting and praying about it both on Sunday and then today I started fasting for revelations on what exactly it is that I need to 'spiritually fast' from if I want to have that power with me in my day to day life. I know fasting twice in a row isn't the best for me but in the temple this morning I felt a strong impression that this is what I needed to do. I'm going to find a way to have the Holy Ghost as my constant companion and I am so excited for the day that I can truly be an instrument in the Lord's hands. Already he has given me so much. After starting my fast on Sunday, part of which was to get over my pride, another part to have the opportunity to lovingly let my district know that there was something wrong, and just a little bit to be able to take faster showers. I got an answer to my district prayer in district meeting where I felt impressed to tell them what was going on. I'm not sure it fixed everything but now they are actively trying to be better and that's really what it takes. I'm also trying to be a more positive person and that's been helping me so much in my day to day life. 

I hope this letter wasn't too rambly. and I hope you know that I really and truly believe that the people in my district were called off God and will make amazing missionaries. I have learned to fight off my pride and hopefully as I start my 'spiritual fast' tomorrow I will be able to report to you next week how my progress is going. 

God be with you till we meet again. 

-Sister Savannah Skinner

Hello Everyone!

So despite this being my second week I really did a lot of firsts this week. This week was the first time I had a pear. (It tasted like a green apple to me but everyone said that pears taste like pears... I think I've had pears in those fruit mixes before but I can't quite think about what pear tastes like outside of juicy pear jelly bellys) It was the first time that I realized that my room mates have never seen Star Wars, Indiana Jones, or Back to the Future. (I was in shock for most of the day) This week was the first time that I had my branch president bring me Subway at 9:30 at night. This was the first week that our district got 18 packages in five days. (none of them were mine, but that's okay because most of the packages were food and we have WAY to much food. (Please don't send me food, they feed us fine here, thank you thought for the though)) This was my first week that I was sick at the MTC. This was the first week I got a letter. (Shout out to my Grandma Elton for that honor.) And most importantly this was the first week that I asked someone besides my dad for a priesthood blessing. 

You're probably wondering why that's important. Obviously I would have to ask someone besides my dad since he's not at the MTC, what's the big deal? Well it's a kind of long story but it really defined my week so I hope you're all ready for this. 

See the key word in the sentence wasn't 'besides'... it was 'ask'. 

I started out this week feeling alone and homesick. I was feeling bewildered and mildly alone, because I seemed to be the only one missing home. I just kept crying and I was trying so hard to present a happy image that every time I failed I felt horrible. After P-day I woke up on Tuesday with a mild sore throat and the beginnings of a cold. But all through Tuesday I just kept on praying for strength and comfort and after several spiritual experiences and a devotional I started to feel better emotionally/spiritually I felt hopeful as I went to bed that night that I would be able to go through the next day without feeling like I was fighting the whole way just to feel calm. And then I woke up Wednesday with a horrible headache and a throat so sore I couldn't talk for the first hour of the day. I slept though Gym time and determinedly set forth to do my study for the morning half of the day. By lunch I felt like I was going to pass out on my plate but we had a lesson to teach that night and I was really excited for it I really wanted to go but after lunch a few minutes into scheduled class time Ge Laoshi sent me back to the dorms where I slept from 2:00 til just after dinner when Sister Hughes and Sister Roberts came to check on us at 5:00 I woke up feeling great (not perfect, but strong enough to teach.) So we taught our lesson and it was the best one yet! I was super excited. But as the day really started to wind down sister Erickson kept urging me to get a blessing. Every time she asked I just shrugged and told her I would get through it. I always did so I would be fine. I just didn't think that my ordeal warranted a blessing. However she believed otherwise, she believed so strongly that she went and talked to our branch president. The thing was though that she'd been urging me to get a blessing since the second day. She firmly believed that a blessing would help my homesickness but I kept turning her down. So by the time I got sick she was fed up with me. 

It was after the day was and we were just preparing to leave back to our rooms that President Newel showed up. He asked me how I was doing and I told him I was doing much better my physical ailment was nearly gone and I was feeling so much stronger emotionally that I felt wonderful in contrast to the last eight days. I did mention though that my companion had missed dinner because of me and we were just going to eat the cookies and other assorted foodstuffs that have collected in our rooms over the last several days. He looked at his watch and then at the two of us and offered to get us something to eat... We both excitedly said yes to what I'm sure was a once in a lifetime offer. When he brought us back the best sandwich I had ever tasted he asked me about a blessing. I looked at him bewildered. I was feeling better, there was no need for a blessing now that the rough patch had passed. He asked me how often I had asked for blessing before I and shrugged and told him not often... He told me to repent. 

The next day I couldn't stop thinking about it by the time we were in our evening class it had consumed my mind. Finally I asked Mi LaoShi if he had a testimony of the priesthood he held and he pulled me out of the class room to ask me in English why I was crying. I broke down and all the thoughts and realizations came rushing out. 

You see when I was little my dad was the bishop and he'd often come home with these amazing stories about the power of priesthood blessings and the great acts of healing and help they could provide. But somewhere along the way I started to believe that those things were the only things the priesthood was used for, the great things. I didn't ask my dad for a blessing for my pain from my appendix until I asked him to take me to the hospital and the hospital question came first. Somewhere along the way I started to believe that I wasn't worth priesthood blessings and that belief had followed me into the MTC. Worse yet, I was worried that me asking for one would be akin to testing God. I worried that if I didn't get a miraculous miracle from a blessing outside of a Father's blessing that I would just never ask for one again. I also felt like I should be able to get through it alone. That's why I decided I could go on a mission right? Because I was strong enough to deal with the challenges? 

My teacher let me cry and then he bore a powerful and personal testimony of MY worth and about the power of priesthood. He shared with me the scripture of Romans 8:31-46 and they spoke to my soul... The next day after a long personal prayer with God I asked for a blessing and received peace to my soul. 

I have something now that I didn't have last week. Isn't that an amazing concept. I am already growing and it's only day 13. I have such a testimony of prayer, of how God answers prayers and I'm so very grateful for all that He has done for me. 

I hope you all have amazing week's and I can't wait to tell you all how I've grown next week. Until then, 

God be with you,

-Sister Savannah Skinner

Ni Hao!
So here I am at the MTC and life is rather surreal at the moment. For some reason a part of me didn't think this time in my life would ever come but here I am on my first prep day writing the first of many emails. I guess I should start out with what's been going on. I got dropped off on Tuesday and was taken to my room where I meet my companion sister Erickson or for the people of 3200 Haley who moved out after first semester. We were both really surprised because we hadn't remembered each other's last names but by this point only five day's later I feel like we've become pretty good friends. We are very different though. I thought I was blunt but she takes it to a whole other level. She says what she thinks and I love it. We met one of our teachers on Thursday night he was a red head and the first thing she said to him was "Hey red! Do you got a soul?" This happens often and it's already taught me a lot about how people react to things and how we all really do love each other.

Anyways, we're already teaching people even if it's just practice it forces us to try and learn the language really fast. I can pray and recite the Missionary purpose and introduce myself as Ran JieMei but that's about it. So when it comes to teaching I do a lot of reading out of my language book and rely on the lord for the spirit.

So, other people I live with, Sister Hughes, or Hu JieMei, Sister Roberts or Luo JieMei and the three other elders in our district who we spend almost half the day studying with are, Elder Ramanlal or Hai ZhongLao, Elder Joly or Le ZhongLao, and Elder Welch or Wei ZhongLao. I got lucky and was able to tell our primary teacher Ge LaoShi, (Ironic yes I know but he's a great teacher) that I my dad went on a chinese speaking mission and I was able to get out of the name Pi JieMei which I wasn't as fond of. Sister Erickson has my old name of Sun JeiMei.

Anyways I think that's it for now I'm drowning in Chinese but life is good and I'm happy with where I am. Staying focused is hard sometimes especially since I'm surrounded by awesome people with fantastic stories and lifes but that's the way things are we are all dedicated to Christ and we need to focus on keeping ourselves centered in Christ and his Gospel.

I love you all so much and you'll hear from me next week.

Sister Skinner