Transfers and the Work of Salvation

Hello Everyone!

So Transfers, it was fun stuff! I didn't even cry! (Teared up a bit when hugging sister Liao for the last time for a while but no real tears!) I guess I should start from the beginning. Monday we finished packing and we went to dinner with our members and investigators. It was so sweet to have all of them there and supporting us. I'll miss them but I have the feeling that Kitchener hasn't seen the last of me yet! So when the time comes again I'll be ready! We also went to see Tangier for one last lesson that night and we all just ended up bearing testimonies and he made us all tear up when he started talking about what a blessing knowing this gospel is and how he will keep on sharing and living it for the rest of his life. He's the sweetest most humble person I think I've ever met and I can't wait to see him again someday!

Well we finished packing that night and we started towards the mission office. Long drive but that's okay I enjoyed it. I don't think it felt real until we actually reached the mission office. I felt out of sorts for the rest of the day but it really did turn out okay. I am now working with sister Chen, who is super sweet and is from Taipei, she's about at the same level of English as I am Chinese so we have a hard time communicating sometimes but we're getting there! This does mean however that sister Penrod does a lot of translating between the two of us. Sister Penrod's mom is from Taiwan and her dad's american so she's pretty fluently bilingual. It's a good thing too or else sister Chen and I would be pretty lost! She's follow up training both of us which has been interesting since we're both at different points this means that I actually do most of the training of sister Chen (When I can) and we try and working things out together. She's super cool and reminds me more of sister Erickson than sister Liao which is interesting. We both thought that we would never serve together though since we're the only two Chinese sisters that can drive but we are and she's the designated driver. She's also a California driver so there have been a few points where I've been just a bit frightened. Still she insists that she's the safest driver I'll ever meet and I just kind of smile and keep on praying. (No she really is good just a bit... faster than I am)

Besides that working in a trio has been a learning curve. It's not easy especially with sister Chen and I barely being able to communicate with each other but we're getting better and I look forward to going through this transfer. There's going to be so many miracles! We're going to baptize this transfer too!

Meeting the members here has been fun. The ward I'm working in right now is multi lingual so during Sunday school there's Chinese, English, and Spanish, classes to choose from and to go to and so unless you speak all three languages there's going to be someone that you can't quiet communicate with. Still it's been great getting to know the members and being able to be in a family ward again. (I didn't realize how much I missed primary...)

This area is going to be a little bit different then the last one I think we're going to have to work harder to find people to teach but like sister Penrod likes to say. "The whole mission is run on faith... this area is just running on a little more faith then the average." But I think it's going to be great once we can really get started. We managed to find two new this week anyways. Both of who look really solid. Jane and Brother Tian are going to get baptized I know it! 

Something important I learned this week is kind of an interesting thought. Sitting in church I was pondering on the fact that we are living in a fallen world and therefore subject to Satan's influence. I was thinking about the fact that in a real sense we are living in a battle field. We hear all the time that Satan is working against us but something in the passing phrase of 'God is hastening his work caught my attention. 

If we are living in a battlefield and not just any battle field we are living in the climax. That critical point in history when all outward signs show that the bad guy is gaining strength and good is loosing ground. We are living in the point of the story where everyone is hanging on to their seats and waiting to see the final triumph. That is our day. And yes Evil has it's power right now, but do you ever think about the other side of that battle. If Satan is working against us then do you ever think about the fact that God is working for us? Do you ever think about the fact that God is actively working for us?... isn't that so cool! We are the climax this is the point where God is more active in the lives of his children then ever before. Christ is working with us. The Holy Ghost is urging us on wards and in the face of the opposition God stands at our head. He is not idling He stands. This is His work and His Glory. His work...

Work is hard. But it becomes easier through love. Always through love. 

I know the ending to this story. I know that Christ will reign triumphant. I know that the work that I do now is just a small portion but also infinity important. We must be active as well. If God Himself is working for us then we ourselves can't be idle. That example should make us realize how much more we need to be active. 

God loves us enough to work for us. The least week can do is work for Him as well. 

Have a great week everyone!

-Sister Skinner

Let Us All Press On!

Hello Everyone!

So, TANGIER GOT BAPTIZED THIS WEEK!!!! We were so excited he was excited too and it was such a great experience to watch him and Roy (The elder's investigator) get baptized. They both bore beautiful testimonies and then watching them the next day get confirmed with such joy and happiness on their faces was the best thing. I feel so happy for them. I have loved seeing Tangier progress and seeing him really interact with all the members and people is wonderful.

We had a lot of success this week teaching members and working on the street. There were a lot of people who wanted to meet with us but didn't have time right then and there. Every time we went out we found someone willing to talk to us and that was such a blessing. It was also reading week and so everyone had a little bit more free time so we got to meet with Tangier and the rest of the people who didn't go on vacation....

We also celebrated one of the members birthdays which was a lot of fun. Cheryl goes with us to many of our lessons and helps us get investigators to church. So we tried to do something really nice for her. Somehow she managed to pay for the dinner we took her to though so I'm not sure if that quiet worked out like we thought it would.

Sister Liao and I really felt a lot of spiritual power this week too which was such a blessing. Working with others and teaching to the best of our abilities we saw a lot of success and progress. An investigator by the name of Caleb that we hadn't been able to meet with for two weeks came to our next lesson with him having read almost all of 1 Nephi and he was a totally different person. He wanted to know more about the plan of Salvation, he asked how the atonement works, he actually smiled during the lesson. It was amazing!

We also got to go to the temple this week for the first time. We had a wonderful experience and it was such a blessing to go and to see missionaries we had known previously and to feel the presence of the Lord. It was a very long drive but it was worth it.

So with all the success we had this week, all the joy and the lessons learned and taught, of course that meant that we're too comfortable with how things are so last night we got the call. Sister Liao and I are both being transferred away. She's going to Bayview and I'm going to Mississauga I'll have new companions tomorrow. Sister Penrod and Sister Chen (For all the MTC crowd it was fun to see her again this week at the temple.) I'm not sure if I've mentioned this but there is a grand total of 5 Chinese sisters in the Canada Toronto mission and so with sisters in Bayview and Mississauga that means there are elders coming to our area. For some reason all the members are really disappointed. I just kind of laughed when Jin called us just to scream NOOOOO! into the phone and then hang up.

I'm really going to miss sister Liao she and I have become really good friends and I've learned a lot from her both about being brave and about being kind. I hope I'll get to see her again while on my mission. She's been transferred or moved every transfer of her mission and so she's been preparing to leave all week. I was more stubborn but that'll be okay. When I told her I would miss her she just shrugged and said. 'I'll see you again. If not on the mission then I'll visit you afterwards to watch Start Wars together." ....This post mission Star Wars party is going to be a big one and I'm really excited. You're all invited! Ha! I guess we're all dreamers in the end.

Still spiritually I've felt like I've really grown this week. I made a mistake in a lesson but I was able to make it better still I was beating myself up for it for a while but after some words from sister Liao and a nudging from the spirit I was able to pray and the peace and the gentle. "You are on my errand. I will make it all okay." was one of most comforting things I've ever felt. We have so much to learn and so many ways that we can share and grow. I've got some more packing and cleaning today and I'm sad I have to take all my pictures down just after I put them all up but I'm so very grateful that I'll get to have them with me for the rest of my mission. So thank you all so much for your support and your prayers and your faith. I wouldn't be able to make it with out you. God really will pull us through everything and I'm so very grateful for His love and His spirit. We will go though this life together. Even if we're just on the same planet we'll grow just from our faith in each other.

God be with you all!

-Sister Skinner

 

 

 

Of Birthdays and Baptisms

 

Hello Everyone!

So thoughts on this week. I got to go to my first baptism out in the field (Though it wasn't ours it was still fantastic!) on my birthday! We had all three of our really solid investigators there and we were running just a titch late so we got there right before it started to see them talking to president and sister Clayton. Alex, Jim, and Tangier all really felt the spirit and it's been so great seeing that effect on them. Tangier passed his baptismal interview and will be baptized this Saturday! After the baptism on my birthday president Clayton was shaking everyone's hand and when he got to Tangier and said 'thanks for coming' tangier looked down sheepishly before explaining. "No I should be thanking you, I'm just so grateful your missionaries helped me find this church." I just about melted right then and there. That was definitely the highlight of my birthday was seeing all three of them really gaining strength from each other and from Allen's baptism.

For those curious about the rest of my birthday let me tell you sister Liao is such a fantastic companion and she made the day one of my best birthday's ever even though there was a mix up at the mission office so I won't be getting my birthday mail until sometime next week. As soon as we woke up she jumped out of bed and prepared a duo sa bao for me (one of my guiltily food pleasure) along with a really sweet note.

I thought that was it but it turns out after lunch she had arranged with our old roommates the Hermanas to bring over pizza and another present. She knew I needed a slightly smaller bag and so she got me one along with... well. I'll let you see the pictures for that one. needless to say that I was grinning like a lunatic.

The four of us had a great lunch together and then we headed out into -20 degree weather! it was only for a little bit but we had a great time knocking on doors until the baptism and then we even got dinner with our investigators afterwards. It was a very good day.

We had great success this week too. Jim accepted March 5th as his date and we're super excited for him. Alex still has some reservations but he's also progressing really well and has committed to live the word of wisdom. We also found three new investigators and six potentials (all of whom are female, in elder Kendell's words "The curse! It's broken! We have females again!") It's been a lot of fun getting excited about that. This was also my coldest week in Canada to date but we still had a great time. I am prone to get colds so I've been watching myself in the cold very carefully. No problems yet but the back of my throat likes to ache if I breath too much cold air.

We also had a great time with our fellow missionaries this week and will continue to do so. Sister Liao has told me that it's rare to see this many missionaries this often but I feel a close companionship with my district and zone because of it. And hey, who doesn't like to see missionaries?

We'll be starting ESL (English as a Second Language) This week and I'm looking forward to that and hopefully we'll be seeing new investigators come from this form of service!

Anyways I just want to say a great big thank you to all of you who wished me well on my birthday! I can feel your prayers and your support and I so look forward to reading the actual letters when I can get them!

God lives and he's moving his work forward there are people out there who need us and all it takes is one invitation to spark a fire.

Till next week!

Sister Skinner

Also we had a mishap with the glitter this week and making Tangier's progress record... Golden.

In order from tallest to shortest. Jim, Alex, Allen (The one just baptized), Sid (The member who performed the baptism), Tangier, and the girl is Cheryl who loves being our member present and working with the investigators. And the missionaries are me, Sister Liao, Elder Kendell and Elder Wuu.

 

People and Thoughts

Hey everyone!

So thoughts on this week. Teaching is absolutely my favorite part of missionary work. That moment when an investigator's eyes light up and I know that they are recognizing what the Holy Ghost is teaching them and I got to be a little part in that is just such a magical feeling. Even if my part is just bearing simple testimony or reverting to English while sister Liao translates my explanation. Or even if it's just smiling while Sister Liao preaches with power. Ever appointment is something to look forward and I'm so grateful for the people that we've been able to teach so far.

Tangier is looking really solid for his baptismal date of February 20th and coming to church just yesterday he said he wanted to get up and bear his testimony. He didn't get the chance but it was still very humbling to realize how much he's grown in just a short amount of time.

Jim brought his girlfriend to church! New Female investigator! So exciting Gwen seems really sweet and like a kind soul. She was so delighted by the fact that I could speak Chinese and we look forward to meeting with her soon.

Alex has been devouring the Book of Mormon and loves it. He started off really shaky and wasn't even sure why he was meeting with us. But since really reading the BoM he has grown leaps and bounds.

I could keep going but for now I'll just bear a brief testimony about why I'm here. These people are so important in the work of salvation. Even if none of them get baptized I know that the lessons we've been able to teach changed them in some way or another. That's one of the great things about the Holy ghost is that it does change people it makes us better. If all I do on my mission is bring the Holy Ghost to other's attention I will have done well because the Holy Ghost testifies of truth specifically The Truth. That God lives that His Son is Jesus Christ who is our Savior and Redeemer. If we really keep the God head as our focus in life we will be successful.

Sister Liao and I went on exchanges again this week. That meant that on Friday I was teaching in Chinese by my self... or not by myself with great help from the Holy Ghost. Sister Mamarova and I made it though the day and we were able to make it though. I do have a great testimony in the gift of tongues and I know that I have been so blessed with being able to work as well as I have and I will continue to strive for it.

This week was hard for me emotionally and finally near the end of it I was able to feel a lot of comfort. God is watching out for us and it can be hard sometimes to feel positive when everything goes wrong but sister Liao taught me a great lesson this week about smiling and laughing in the face of adversity. I really have received so much help and blessings and I know that I will continue to receive that help.

We had zone council this week and as usual that was great. The big news from it is that language missionaries might start being called to 'zebra work' which means I might be teaching both English and Mandarin speakers instead of just Mandarin. Which is an interesting thought because I've been so focused on learning in Chinese that I've actually found my teaching in English has gotten better. It sounds a bit weird but I really have become a better teacher since coming out. I will forever be grateful that I have been able to.

I thank you all for your prayers. For your strength and your well wishes. I know that God does live and that He does answers prayers.

We will be strengthened as we live one day at a time.

Lots of love,

Sister Skinner

On Forgiveness and Pride

Hello Everyone!

So thoughts on this week, We have so much potential inside of us. The potential to become gods... do we think about that. When we are tempted to sin do we remember that we are destined for so much greater than that brief moment is worth? We saw miracles this week. Sister Liao and I Tangier accepted a baptismal date, Alex was able to finally understand why the atonement is important, we were able to find people to teach when we prayed with specific intent. I gave a talk on Sunday that was almost more for me then it was for anyone else....

It was on forgiveness. I had about 24 hours to think about what I was going to say and what came to my mind was a few things that have really impacted me this week. The first is something I over heard someone say while sister Liao and I were street contacting. "If I don't get this assignment in I'll never forgive myself!" ... Isn't that the saddest thing you've ever heard? That sentence basically conveys the following: I'm going to base my entire self worth on this one moment in time. I'm going to be so prideful that I'm not going to let Christ help me and I'm going to let a little piece of His Suffering be in vain just so I can be self imposedly miserable. If we want repentance then we need to forgive ourselves. You've heard this before but there's a lot of power in letting your sins be washed away. We have our agency and that means that we can so choose to punish ourselves when we really don't need to. Something else that I've been thinking about is how often people say these two similar phrases to me. "You need to forgive yourself." and "You need to be patient with yourself." Something else that I learned this week is that patience is a form of continual forgiveness. If we can be patient with ourselves and the people around us it is similar to offering up a continual forgiveness to ourselves and to others. If we want to have continual repentance and forgiveness from God then we likewise should be continually forgiving others... Patience.

I have to admit I haven't been very patient with myself this week. Not with the language, not with the scriptures, and not with myself. But coming to the end of this week there was a simple and powerful words said to me at different points. "Your Chinese has gotten so much better from when we first met." , "Thank you for coming to church, when you walk in I can tell you're good missionaries because it's like sunlight." , "You are always able to answer their questions in the scriptures, even in 2 Nephi, you're doing great." These little lights really changed my week they changed me. I'm here to serve others but I need to forgive myself and not hold those little things. The atonement covers everything. That includes me.

So yes it was a really good week. I was sick a couple of days and nearly lost my voice. (That was distressing) but I have felt so blessed this week. God is really behind this work and we can and will see miracles when we reach out to others.

I love you all so much and I hope you know I'm praying for you and that I in turn feel so blessed for your prayers.

God lives.

-Sister Skinner