Amazing Grace

 

 

Hello Everyone!
 

So life is good. I feel like so much but so little has happened all at the same time.

I guess first of all... it's like... spring? In February? In Canada? Yah, it's weirding me out just a little.

So this week was a good one, we've been facing some days with absolutely no appointments at all and even with more discretion it's kind of scary sometimes looking at five hours of OYMing in a day. But both sister Chen and I are tired of letting our fears get in the way. So we went out and we walked and we talked, and we bus talked, and we walked some more and we talked some more and we actually found a solid new investigator this week!

We met with him yesterday for the first time and both sister Chen and I were really worried about the lesson because it was family day and none of the public sitting places were open so when we finally found him it was in front of a movie theater. The only open place in the mall. This particular theater had a play place and an area where you could sit down before you went into your movie and seeing that we had very little options left we went in. The lights were dimmer then we would have liked and the distractions were plentiful but as the lesson progressed everything seemed to fall away. He was paying attention to our words and asking wonderful questions and about mid way through I was hit with a powerful wave of the spirit. God made that little buttered popcorn covered table in the only open venue a place where the spirit could be felt. It was a wonderful lesson and we left that table with a special feeling.

We're looking forward to the coming weeks where we will keep finding and keep searching for the little miracles. I don't think we'll ever have a lesson in a movie theater again but I will always remember the lesson I learned about how God takes what we have and works with it.

I made a lot of silly mistakes this week. For example last p-day I bought myself new shampoo and conditioner and have been really confused as my hair suddenly decided to rebel and go super static-y and dry even though I was using the same brand I always do and then I read the labels this week and realized! I bought TWO bottles of shampoo and have been using them for a week already! I was so upset! Then we went to go meet a member at a restaurant and usually I'm pretty good at directions but we took a wrong turn and I got so lost and I had left my GPS at home that day! Took us a while but we made it back.

Those are kind of the minor mistakes I made this week though. I made some larger ones too. Nothing serious and none of it on purpose but I was feeling all around stupid by the time Sunday came around. It's frustrating sometimes feeling like you aren't reaching your full potential just because of human weaknesses. Especially when you know how important your current calling is.

So Saturday night and Sunday we had stake conference, one of the greatest blessings from my mission has been the conference meetings with such inspired and powerful leaders. This week we were blessed to hear from Elder Meurs from the 70 and his wife both of whom are from Australia. They shared beautiful testimonies of the savior and they were both wonderful meetings. But on Sunday Elder Meurs shared something that I needed to hear. "The atonement doesn't just cover your mistakes it covers your accidents too." When Christ was in that Garden he took on everything! Not just your sins, but you. He took you, as you are, and as you could be, and as you will be. This is what we mean when we say his atonement is infinite it covers YOU in your entirety.

The spirit touched my heart and there were tears in my eyes as he shared about an experience where he had fallen asleep at the wheel and had crashed his car injuring his family. Even though everyone walked away from that experience able to fully physically recover. For years, he could not forgive himself. It wasn't until he deepened his understanding of the atonement that he was able to change. God Himself suffered for the world that we might not have too. And until we realize how to access that power sometimes we will torture ourselves needlessly suffering for a debt that has already been paid.

Think about that pain. The pain of someone rejecting your greatest gift.

And then think about the joy and the rejoicings that we are told about in heaven when anyone repents.

This is why we worship Him as our Savior.

I love you all and plead with you to use His atonement in your life.

He already carried you.

So let Him help you become the best you can be.

The Eternal you, the one who has learned from both your mistakes and your accidents and has come out better for all of it. 

-Sister Skinner

 

 

Best Week EVER!

 

 

Hello Everyone!
 

This was one of the best week's ever and it was also one of the most exhausting week's ever! So pretty normal.
 

So Tuesday we had lunch with a member and her visiting teachers and it was a good lesson all around! It was also really good food all around, I can feel myself putting the weight back on. So we walked out of that lunch appointment and nearly fell down because it was freezing rain again! So lot's of extremely slow travel and opportunities for service. So slick though sister Chen and I just kind of held onto each other and shuffled down the sidewalks. Because of the weather we had an appointment cancel and our member present cancelled too but that's okay safety first! Sister Chen and I made our way carefully to WeiXin and Dennis house to teach the 10 commandments and Obedience, it was a good lesson and we are just so happy for them!
 

Wednesday was Zone Conference! Yay! I love missionary meetings. We met in Oshawa and even though we had to travel an hour to get there on still icy roads it was more than worth is! We got to see sister Wu! It was good to see her again and see how much she's grown in the time we've been apart. Anyways, we learned a lot about accountability and repentance! My favorite revelation though goes like this: "Repentance is not me and discipline, It's Christ and me." That struck me so hard. I feel like so many times I've forgotten that repentance is not something I need or even can do by myself. Real change comes from Christ and I will spend the rest of my life doing my best to let that truth sink deep into my soul and spread to everyone else. Because that's what this world really needs: A Savior.
 

Thursday we did service for Tina again! Cookies and Cards and teaching her how to use all this arts and crafting stuff she had bought! Sister Chen and I really enjoyed that part. Then we traveled to the church to practice the missionary skit for the Chinese New Years Party on Saturday. Why was our wards party on Saturday like a week after the actual New Year was over? Because everyone went to China to celebrate and now they are all just getting back to we hold it when more people are here! That being said most of our 'free' time on previous days of this week were spent writing a script, translating said script, coordinating with ward leaders and trying to find appropriate clothes to wear for the night. Plus... we were also preparing for the baptism on Sunday, figuring out logistics and calling people for assignments and making sure we had white clothes to use and the list goes on and on. There were moments where we really just needed to sit down and call people for hours on end. We organized like half the party and all the baptism and sister Chen as a bonus drew the program and it was beautiful and she's amazing!
 

Friday the snow started to come down! In dangerous quantities and so guess what? Our member present for Dennis and WeiXin was unable to come again! But that's okay, safety first! The lesson turned out really well and even though Dennis was nervous they both were anxiously anticipating Sunday. We were too! After the lesson we picked up some Tim Horton's for Dinner and made out way to church to Coordinate and practice some more! We were going to help set up too but we had to get home by 9.
 

Saturday was the big party day and sister Chen and I decided to invite anyone and everyone we could talk too! We OYMed for three hours, taught Tony about seminary and institute! (Both of which are inspired programs and you should all enjoy them to the fullest!) And then we booked it to the church to finish the preparations only to find that it was full of a smokey burnt smell! I got called on to use my 'big nose' to find the source of the smell but couldn't do it! That was okay though because once the food arrived the smell was overpowered and the night turned out great! and I got to wear a traditional Chinese dress! Our missionary Skit was kind of painful to watch but we got through it! The food was great the decorations were perfect and we were just so blessed to have so many people come! Sister Chen and I spent a lot of the night helping out and talking to new people but we did take a few moments off to say hi to CALEB! Who came up for the party and for my birthday! I was so touched. It turned out to be a success, God was the one who really set everything in place though and I know that He provides for all our needs.
 

Even though Saturday was exhausting our work wasn't done yet and so Sunday we got up and kept on with our last minute prep for the double baptism. True to the weather patterns every time something was happening for WeiXin and Dennis the weather turned for the worse! So much snow! But they came anyways! Church went well and as soon as church was over we got them all preped for the baptism and taught Tony how to baptize his little brother and even though the water was cold and there were too many little kids running around both Dennis and WeiXin offered their testimonies at the end and I felt so much love for them! WeiXin told us that her being baptized and choosing to live the word of wisdom was the greatest gift she could give her children! I just felt so blessed to be there and to feel of the love in that room.
 

God answers prayers. We have been praying for WeiXin and Dennis for Two months now and every time there was something that kept pushing the baptism back but it was all according to God's timing. When we started teaching even though she wanted to get baptized she wasn't willing to let go of some of her preconceived notions about our church being the only true church. She told us that she wasn't sure the word of wisdom was important and that she didn't want to give up coffee. And now two months later she stood up in front of the church and told us that this is what she wants in her life. To be with God. It was such a miracle and even though my birthday is today I felt like that was the true gift.
 

Because Christ is the ultimate gift.

His atonement is real and life Changing.

He can change you for good.

I want to end this with something that I read this morning in True to the Faith and I plead with all of you to take these words into your hearts. You can make it. I know you can.
 

"As you ponder your progress on the "strait and narrow path," be assured that eternal life is within your reach. The Lord wants you to return to Him, and He will never require anything of you that you cannot fulfill."
 

The Celestial kingdom is not just a dream it's a reality and you can make it. We all can.

Lots of love,

-Sister Skinner

PS. Thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes having my birthday on a p-day has been super fun so far :)

 

Didn't you 'ear, It's so Romantic!

Hello Everyone!
 

This was another very long week! And I know if I write it out it's going to look even longer! So I'll try and keep things just a tich shorter this week and highlight some of the adventures had, while also trying to set things up for the spiritual building that I saw this week.
 

So Tuesday we went to lunch with Tina, who got us authentic Taiwanese food and I was only a little worried I might find a bug in my rice but it was still really good! Tuesday it was snowing like crazy and the wind was fierce but we walked around and tracted anyways and then we found a new by the name of Eric! Quietest person I've ever met. But he's sweet and really wants to improve his life so we'll keep going from there!
 

Wednesday we also had lunch with a member who took us to Cantonese food and the bo lou cha shao bao's are the best things ever! If I could I would eat them for the rest of my life! Chinese bakeries are one of my favorite things, the bread they make is SO good. There's a certain kind that's one of sister Chen's and my favorites the pineapple bread (it doesn't have pineapples in it but it's like flaky and tastey on the top) and this particular pastry has sweet bbq pork on the inside and I just die every time I eat it. It's that good.
 

Sorry about that in depth description, I'm a bit hungry right now...
 

Anyways we then dropped by some less actives before heading over to Sister Wei's house to meet with her and Dennis. It honestly was one of the best lessons I've had on my mission. The spirit was so strong and sister Lee was able to really touch their hearts and we found out the reason Dennis wants to get baptized is because my covenants vs ordinances parable with the pancakes made sense to him and now he wants to show God that he's willing to follow him. It was so sweet and I was just so happy for both of them! We're hoping the baptism will be this Sunday so be praying for them!
 

Thursday was SO COLD! and windy to boot so that was worse! But we went out and dropped by and talked to people and saw one of the biggest dog's I had ever seen in my life. We taught Li Yen who is a member that we thought might be less active but she's not she taught us about the importance of tithing. We also met with Alwin who is still having a hard time realizing that the bible happened like... 2000+ years ago. We're working on that.
 

Friday was Zone Council! YAY for happy things! We are officially starting up the new missionary schedule and will be moving forward from there! It was a good council on planning and doing our best no matter what. We also taught Cherry that day and she's so smart! We only told her that prayers was a two way communication between her and God and she just connected all the dots right and left. And I'm serious this is a direct quote. "Oh, so prayer is supposed to help me develop a personal relationship with God!" Ding, Ding, Ding! The prize goes to Cherry the wife of James Ding! Exactly!

Saturday we had coordination and then another good lesson with Dennis and Sister Wei. We also met with Ken the Temple Square referral who suggested multiple times that we go to Montreal to look at their Basilicas. Still a good lesson though. We then went home to do our weekly planning and to try and figure out the best way to prepare for Dennis' interview on Sunday.
 

Sunday was fabulous. I woke up with just he best feeling of peace. And it just went up hill from there. Dennis passed his interview and church was just amazing the spirit of peace and comfort that comes from the Sacrament is real. Because Christ Lives! and He is an active and engaged part of our lives. As we work we continue to grow and we are making leaps and strides that we're even possible before. This is what it means to endure to the end. To Grow in JOY!
 

We also went to a member dinner that night and Jane had invited a ton of people over so it was like a party and it was wonderful and we got a potential investigator out of it! The food was great too! On the way back from the party sister Chen and I gave a homeless man our bag of left overs but because of that we were late getting to the subway. So we booked it and ran for the doors and I made it and sister Chen did not. I freaked out because even though we knew it was a possibility we had not planned for it and so I just kept traveling... and then waited and she didn't show up on the next train... or the next... or the next...  So I freaked out even more and used a pay phone to call which didn't go through but I left a voice mail telling her that I was going back to the station we had been separated on (Which I really should have just done in the first place) It was great though because when I got off the train we did a really dramatic run across the platform to hug each other in relief and laughter. It was a great moment and then a lady with a dog standing near by exclaimed. "Oh that was so romantic! You met in the middle!" Sister Chen and I have been making "It's SO romantic!" Jokes for the last 24 hours.
 

Still even that experience taught me a lot about God's love. He really does take care of us and he doesn't punish us for little mistakes He'll even help us fix them when all is said and done. He's the only way that we can overcome those moments of self doubt and accidents.
 

I know that God is real and I know that He loves us. I can not doubt that. He's carried me through everything so far and I know He'll continue to do so.
 

I love you!

-Sister Skinner

 

 

Another Long One from Sister Skinner

 

 

Hello Everyone!

The news is in and sister Chen and I are staying together for ANOTHER transfer going for the Gold! Six transfers! taking them two at a time! two in Mississauga, two in Kitchener, and two in Bayview! It's been awesome but sometimes I worry we know each other too well... Ah well! We're excited to keep working and to go forth with renewed vigor!!!
 

So Tuesday was a long day and by long I mean we got a request for service from a member down on one side of town and that was a blast! Loved it but it takes an hour to travel from our house to hers and then we had an appointment way up on the OTHER SIDE OF TORONTO! So that travel time to get to there was almost THREE hours in the bus, and then after the lesson... Which was a little weird as he wanted to share his own testimony with us and not really hear ours... We had to travel back to our apartment and that took another hour and a half! So even rounding down we were in the bus for FIVE HOURS! Sister Chen and I were just about dead after all of that travel time most of which were in buses that were so packed that we were smashed into seats or clinging desperately to poles. Not the best contacting environment. Still, we learned a good lesson in better planning out our lessons and to not travel across Toronto during rush hour.
 

The miracle of Tuesday was during service there was another member who came to make us food and she was so kind and the food was so good and seeing the joy at being with people and missionaries when she's usually alone touched my heart and made the whole day worth it. It's really those small moments where I see why we share this gospel, young or old God's gospel changes lives and warms hearts.
 

Wednesday was the long anticipated Worldwide Missionary Broadcast. I have five pages worth of notes but I think I'll list a couple of my favorites.

• Stop worrying about your success and you will be successful
• Teaching involves a constant spirit of prayer
• The ultimate confrontation with the natural man is when you examine your own motives.
• The Holy Ghost is the senior companion.
• Faith is Action Fear is Inaction.
• God lives and He's doing something!
• Don't be to fatalistic! But if they aren't willing right now then it's okay.
• I will respond! That is real intent.
• Help the understand that baptism is a part of the Plan of Salvation.
• Always believe you can baptize because you CAN and you WILL!
• Talk about Christ constantly, it will never be too much.
• "You tell them that they Hallow every door they knock on. That is what being a missionary means."
• Now go and put what you learned to WORK!

Okay that was more than a couple but it was all so good! Even the cheesy 'mission office' tour they gave at the beginning. And the way that Elder Oaks smiles in to the Camera makes it look a little bit like he's laughing at the whole recording situation. And of course they also said that there was going to be big changes of the missionary schedule. Planning in the mornings and if you so desire going to bed by 9:30 in the evenings. Every mission in the world has more discretion on what works and what doesn't I'm not sure ours is going to change much because it's not implementing here until President Shields can meet with his Jedi council and teach them his will to pass onto us. So for now we're still planning at night... Also a little thing is that lunches are now half an hour and the Farsi elders were freaking out. "BUT IT TAKES 30 MINUTES TO MAKE RICE! WHAT ARE WE GOING TO EAT?"  and then sister Chen replies. "You can freeze rice and eat it later?" and he's just like "What? NO! that's gross!" and I'm sitting there like... We just got so many blessings and you're worried about rice? Mind you I was a little worried about it myself later when I realized that it takes us forty minutes to make a good soup but it'll be okay! HA!

Okay after wards we went to teach Faye who's so cute! But is going to China like everyone else and their mom! Still it was a good lesson and she has a real desire to know god! We also traveled to go meet Mr. Liu who we haven't seen all transfer! But we met and he actually agreed to pray this time! I was so excited. Miracles I tell you!

Thursday is the day that I have to confess to you all that I got sick again. I've been sick all week, with a particularly Nasty cold. I've been doing all the home remedy stuff that I can: Humidifier, (which we found in the apartment and was also a miracle this week) medicine, (both chinese and canadian) sleeping early and during eating hours (don't worry I ate food too).

But Thursday was the peak day and we had about four hours of being outside talking to people scheduled. I woke up that morning and knew that if I wanted to live to see Sunday our plans would have to change. So I asked sister Chen if we could do an inside activity instead and so we made a quick stop to Dollarama and then made a wonderful dot map of our area! It's great but it's still not done even after those four hours so next sick day we'll keep going!

Anyways we did have some lessons that night. We had dinner with a member, and then dropped by a part member family. I got to watch their eight year old son practice teaching his little year old sister how to fence. She was actually doing it. And they were fighting each other with shoehorns, and it was the cutest thing ever! Ha! You probably think I'm a bit crazy but they were adorable. We also taught Alwin who doesn't seem to grasp time lines. As we were teaching him about priesthood and gospel dispensations and he asked how Joseph Smith and Lehi knew each other, and why if we have prophets today their words aren't in the bible? That was a fun experience, we're bringing visuals next time.

The Miracle on Thursday was that we did actually set an appointment with that part member family even though we stopped by at a super inconvenient time. God prepares the people and we just walk around and do our best.

Friday I actually wasn't feeling much better but we did our best! We taught Sister Wei and her son's and her husband was actually in the room for some of it! So that was cool. It's been tough trying to figure out their situation and I'll tell the whole story when we finally get them all baptized this transfer. Still it was a good lesson while we were in it I explained what the difference between a covenant and an ordinance and promised sister Chen I would make her pancakes the next day and said this is a covenant and then the ordinance is when we shake on it in front of people who will keep me accountable. I can't quiet explain it well in email but I thought it was good! We also had a huge dinner and then stopped by another part member family who weren't there. But we left a Happy New Years card on the door and headed home.

The miracles came that night when Sister Wei texted us and said if we needed to we could start meeting twice a week to get Dennis baptized! It's going to be great!

Saturday we planned and had coordination and Yiwen fed us Hot Pot again! So good. They also gave us the best cheese cake I've had in my entire life. We then ate that cheese cake with chopsticks... I loved it!

Sunday was the real day of miracles though. Sister Wei, Dennis, Tony, and Thomas, the father came! ALL OF THEM! THE WHOLE FAMILY! And they said they were all going to come next week! WHAT!? YAH! So much love from our father in heaven, and then later James and Cherry came! We haven't seen them in two weeks and they just came to church! It was so cool! God really does just pour out his blessings on us. We also had dinner with the Lee's that night and as usual it was fantastic.

I totally just made this super long I'm so sorry, but at the same time I'm not despite being sick I've been so blessed this week we're going to take it one day at a time and keep loving it every step of the way!
I love you all!
-Sister Skinner

Oh also I got a Christmas letter from SriLanka this week! HA!