July 25, 2016

Hello Everyone!

BAPTISM! EMERSON GOT BAPTISED! YAY FOR MIRACLES! So I totally didn't have time to write this today sorry about that and now I'm running low on time but I will send out a larger letter next week in the mean time enjoy the pictures! I love you all so much and I know that God lives, He is the head of this church and if you want to know that is true go and read the Book of Mormon that will change your life!

 

 

Miracles and Being Busy

Hello Everyone!

This was a week of miracles! So last Sunday we got a text from Emerson who asked us to postpone his baptismal date. We were kind of freaking out because when that happened with Nan, who was doing fabulous before he talked to his parents, he then changed his date to two years from now... which we're working on fixing. But last Monday when we met with Emerson at 6:30 he told us that he had prayed about it and received the revelation that he was supposed to get baptized. So keep praying for him because he's heading for the water this Sunday! He passed his interview yesterday and practically was organizing his service himself. There's actually going to be three YSA baptisms this next week. One for us, one for the English elders, and one for the Portuguese elders. To say that this area is doing well is and understatement! We're super excited for all of them.

Also news from this week. Robin is looking forward to his date on the 30th and Caleb, after 6 months of investigating during a great lesson on the atonement, obedience, and repentance, Committed to August 13th! (And then we realized that there is going to be two YSA weddings that day and so no one would be able to come... so we'll probably need to move it.) Still Caleb is so ready and so committed to the gospel it's great!

We also walked out of a lesson this week and ran into a returning member no one has seen for two years and who is willing and wants to meet with us. That was such a blessing. We served, taught 24 lessons, drove to Brampton and back for a medical follow up, went to our usual eight hours of meetings on Sunday and had Channy (Yay for female investigators!) come to church for the first time and then sign up for next week's YSA conference where our new mission president will be speaking. 

Fabulous week area wise. Everything just keeps going forward. I also had the chance to get some mail this week! the mail system is semi spotty right now and we're not supposed to send anything through Canadian post but I want to sent a shout out to my Grandma Gazdik for the beautiful outfit, Sister Joanna Hugo for the post card and fond memories, Sister Haley Erickson for the hilarious letter, and of course the Friendly first ward in the Hobble Creek West Stake, the monthly ward news letter is always so much fun to read.  

We're going forward! Slowly but surely we're going to make it there! God's work will prevail.

Love you all!

-Sister Skinner

 

 

Overwhelmed and Semi-relevant humor

 

Hello Everyone!

Wow! this week was a busy one! and they are just going to keep getting busier! We found three new this week. Taught a ton of lessons, met the new mission president, moved in sister Chen, set up a swamp cooler, almost had a baptism, (and then his parents asked him to wait) met with three different ward mission leaders, tried to figure out how were going to manage a whole stake of people rather than two wards, and generally laughed and cried a lot over all of the above situations.

I've been all over the place emotionally this week. Ups, downs, moments of nothing. There was so much just happening all at once. There is still so much happening at once. I think this is the first time I've felt guilty for having a p-day. There are just so many people to call and to set appointments with and to try and lift up and here I am sitting at a computer and thinking about what we're going to eat in the coming week. (I do know that that's important it's just a feeling in the back of my mind right now.) Still, it's also been such a blessing, God really does provide when you throw yourself into the work and we know that he's going to keep on helping us. That being said this week really was difficult the mandarin level in the house has gone up so high, and it's a wonderful thing as it's really pushing me but it's not easy by any stretch of the imagination. Sister Chen and sister Deng get along like a house fire and I keep having to remind myself to participate instead of pull back. It's natural, but it's not going to get the work done and boy do we need to keep working!

We also did get to meet president shields this week, which went well. It was just also kind of a surprise and so we had to reschedule 7 appointments right that night. Still we're doing okay! President Shields really is super excited to be here and it's a blessing to be able to have this chance to work with him. He's going to keep taking us upward and forward and this mission is going to keep teaching repentance and baptizing converts. Speaking of baptisms. We've got like... 7ish people we're working on for them to get baptized in the next two months. That's a big number! Still kind of freaking out here in Kitchener!

Also found out this week that a less active in the KW ward had been going to the K2 ward this whole time and is super active... That was a fun phone call! They're having us over for dinner on Tuesday. Also, another Less active who I knew last time I was here wants to beat me in a joke competition. I'm not entirely sure where he got the idea that I have a functioning sense of humour as the only joke I ever told him was: What do you call an ocean of noodles? ..... it's aPASTAsea. And now he periodically sends us semi-funny humor. I'm not sure how to respond but he is willing to meet now so that's a plus!

New Convert wise. Jim is the only one willing to meet with us, the rest are all in China or not answering their phones. Tears! Hopefully things will pick up in the member area when school starts again in the fall.

So yes! we'll be moving forward, and keep going in this work. Hopefully I'll be in a slightly more calm state next week but for now I'm just still kind of freaking out.

I love you all! and I'm so very grateful for the chance to be here on a mission! The church is true! Don't ever doubt it!

Sincerely,

Sister Skinner

 

 

No Title

 

 

Hello Everyone!

So transfer calls were last night!

WE'RE NOT LEAVING KITCHENER! In fact sister Chen is coming to trio with sister Deng and I and it's going to be awesome! We're both super excited. However we're both super nervous, because of the mission numbers they are taking out the mandarin elders and reassigning the Zone Leader area to Brantford. This means that there is once again only one set of mandarin missionaries in Kitchener Waterloo and so we're taking over all the investigators... our teaching pool went from like 8 to 20 people over night. It's kind of overwhelming because in a way I don't feel like we earned these people, we haven't earned their trust, and we don't know all of them yet. But we're also feeling very humbled by the experience and we know that God is going to lead us through all this. So, a mixed bag of nervousness and excitement but we're getting there!

So investigator wise this week. We met this guy named Mars while tracting. He's 35 so not YSA, he owns a Karaoke bar, he's got problems with every single part of the WoW, and he sat down in our first lesson and asked. "So when I join your church how much do I have to pay?" First of all focus on that word WHEN. He's different from anyone else I've ever taught but he's in it to win it. He wants to know if God is real and he wants to be a better person. We're excited for him.

Jian pulled back a little this week. He's not comfortable with July 16 but is still willing to meet with us. Caleb is doing super well and did fabulous at church this week. We might have to Turn Alex over to the Lord if he keeps insisting that he can't go to church. Andrew came to church and told everyone there that he is a Roman Catholic. That was fun. Tracy didn't answer us. We were running around like crazy because we realized that due to Canada day our branch president, brother Ince, our branch mission leader, and our relief society president were all going to be gone! So the whole ward was scrambling. So we ended up teaching Gospel principles on Honesty and had a great time with that.

We also had dinner at the Stake Center, tracted everyday, and freaked out with our district leader who's dying this transfer and was also freaking out.

Over all it was a good week. I'm sure I'll have lots to tell you all next week but for now we're on a roll and we're not stopping for anything! Even a new mission president. He's here and he's excited to be here and we're also excited to have him. Things are flying and we can't slow down! Not for the work of God!

I love you all so much and a special shout out to my lovely sister Bethany for turning 8 and being baptized this week. You are so very precious to God and to me.

Till next week!

-Sister Skinner

Oh as a side note the Canadian postal workers are going on strike and we have no idea how long that's going to last. So you won't be getting any paper mail for a while sorry about that. I'll try and send what I can through fedex but well see how everything turns out. Also no mail coming in :-/ that's a bummer but we'll live!

I also have more pictures but we took a lot with sister Deng's camera this week so well get those first.

 

 

Progress and walls . . . literally!

Hello Everyone!

Wow this week was one of the slower ones on my mission. Not really for any particular reason except we weren't able to teach as many lessons as we usually do but I am so very grateful for every single moment of learning and growing. So I guess in review.

ZiQi has a date! WAHOO! He's going to be preparing for the 23 of July but we're going to have to meet with him a lot to get him there. Jian (who also has a date... I don't remember if I mentioned that before.) he's also doing super well. Since we invited him to church he's been every time for the last four weeks and he still loves it! We taught some of the commandments this week and he told us he was totally willing to give up coffee and tea. Which was really nice since our second meeting with him he brought us tea to show his gratitude. Sister Deng threw hers away but I just dumped mine out and kept the bottle for a keep sake. Caleb fasted yesterday! He came and smiled all through church and he and Jian and the elders investigators are all friends and once they all get baptized they're all going to keep each other strong and it's such a blessing! for Alex it finally clicked with him this week that the book of Mormon had to have come from somewhere and now he's finally reading with real intent! We found a new this week who is from Tiawan and he's living with his family and his mom is actively trying to discourage him from meeting with us which was really hard on us at first because we thought he felt the same way but then he keeps calling us and asking to meet with him. So we'll see how that goes!

We also officially fixed the car this week! Yay for air conditioning. Yay for working blinkers! yay for a lot of blessings!

Really though we have been so blessed this week. Sister Deng and I have really been trying to work in unity and it's been helping. We still have a long way to go and we still make mistakes but it's all going to be okay.... I just know it! God knows it too after all this is His work.

Sorry I forgot to take pictures this week because I was charging the battery and then just forgot to put it back in my bag so not very many...

Anyways I'm running a little low on time today due to writing president Clayton his last letter.... I'm so sad that he's leaving but I trust in the prophet and I know that he called president Shields for a reason. A phrase I've heard a lot this week is that 'You aren't assigned to a mission, you are assigned to a mission president. Similarly a mission president is primarily assigned to the missionaries.' President Clayton has helped me so much and I while I can't imagine what the next half of my mission is going to be like without him I know that similarly president Shields has been called here for a reason.

So President Clayton asked for his last letter to include some of the miracles we've seen so I'll share a little with you today!

So, as for ways this mission has changed me. I'm sure if I were to list them all there would be quiet the extensive list but I'll try and shorten it down to some of the greatest miracles I've seen thus far.

His name is Tangier. He told me that he was so grateful for this change in his life and knew that it was going to be everything he strived for. Her name is Angela. Her parents are less actives and she looked at me and asked why everyone didn't understand the book of Mormon was true. His name is Caleb, he fasted this last Sunday and smiled all though the meetings. Her name is Kate. She's struggling but she is a daughter of God. His name is Ted, he wants to know if this church is true because he wants to know if he'll ever see his mom again. His name is Jim. He almost didn't meet with us, but the joy in his face when we asked him how his temple trip went is something I will never forget.

They are people and they all have names, they have stories and less then a year ago I didn't even know that they existed but now I feel like they are a part of me. Studying for them has changed my perspective. Praying for them has changed my desires. Loving them has changed me.

This is God's kingdom on the earth. We are his hands. He will not let us fail.

I love you all and I hope you all have the best of weeks!

-Sister Skinner

The only pictures I took this week were of walls... sorry about that. We needed to verify that we put in our new CO alarms and then I was thinking about my dear sister Beth who has a birthday this week so I took a picture of the wall above my desk.

 

 

All Directions!

Hello Everyone!

I'm really crunching for time this week and for that I'm sorry! But I'll do the day by day run down as fast as I can!

Monday: We did our weekly mad house run around trying to prep for the rest of the week and for exchanges that night. Started the exchange with the Hermana's right at 6 and I went flying into Spanish work.

Tuesday: Finished the exchange, I found out that when people talk to me in Spanish I respond in Chinese and then we're all confused. Got to see a member I hadn't in a long time and ate way too much!

Wednesday: We taught lessons to investigators and new converts, and ate Korean food, and tried to make sure that everything was all set for the next day because...

Thursday: We drove the hour and a half to Brampton in order to bring sister Deng to a doctors appointment and I spent the day in Kitchener with sister Penrod on mini exchange while our companions were with the Doctor. That was fun. We dropped the car off to get the blinker fixed. (Again) and they found out that it's not the problem they thought it was and they were going to need it for the night. We were all like okay, we'll just walk home then. Got home and realized the home key was attached to the car keys... Fun stuff! the landlord let us in and we had dinner and rejoiced when our companions all came back in one piece.

Friday: We taught more lessons with all our progressing investigators, Caleb, and Jian are doing fantastically by the way. Jim cancelled on us due to tests, (This happens with everyone, it's kind of like we're teaching college students or something) We also had district meeting where our contacting skills were improved and refined.

Saturday: The night before I dreamed that I was teaching the gospel to Twilight characters which put me in an odd state all that morning. But since we had been busy thus far we had weekly planning and we taught more lessons and bought hats as soon as we got the car back. (Still not fixed by the way, they don't know what's wrong with it the blinker's still not working even after replacing the whole car computer and replacing the bulb like five times.) The hat's thing is medical as sister Deng can't be out in the sun super often just in case your wondering if that's a good use of time. It was important even if I thought every single had was cute on her and she didn't. I did get some pictures of the experience though and I'm sure my mom will be forever grateful that I'm wearing some sun protection.

Sunday: Church is the best! in-between the 3 companionships who work in YSA there were 9 investigators at church this week. (three of them were ours and we're hoping that all three will be baptized in the next month or so, I hope we get to be there for that!) Afterwards we had a great meeting with one of our active members who helped bring some light on a couple of inactive members that we've been trying to work with and miracles! We were actually able to make contact with one of them that night, after some serious prayer and pondering about the situation.

Wow, that wasn't as short as I thought it was going to be and that's like... a brief summery! I don't know what to say there was so much going on this week and I'll end with my testimony about hope. This week was up and down in all directions but through it all there has been so many moments where the way that the spirit was speaking to me was through the hope that all would turn out all right. I know that God loves us so much and he will never leave us comfortless. Keep on trying. We will make it to the end and the glorious future that awaits us!

Lots of Love,

Sister Skinner

 

The Wheels on the Train go Round and Round

Hello Everyone!

Wow this week went by fast but I guess time will just keep flying as the saying goes! So first of all, we had our last zone conference with President Clayton... The last time we're going to see him until he leaves... in like... two weeks! It was super biter sweet and while we learned so much in the meeting we could all feel the sorrow of a chapter coming to an end. We're all looking forward to president Shields and sister Shields but the Claytons will forever be in our hearts. Seeing them cry when we all sang to them was heart breaking but in a good way. (As a side note president told us that he's planning to do a lot of sealings for his missionaries in the coming years so....) Still the meeting was inspirational and we finished with a renewed sense of determination!

This week was very good investigator wise. (A little harder on the member side of things but we'll keep growing grace by grace there.) so here's the summery I sent out to president. 

So this week was an interesting one. Our investigator Jian is really progressing well. He asked some really great questions at our last lesson about why we feel guilty if we spend all day on the computer playing games and we had a really good lesson on why God gives us the commandment to work and to be self sufficient. It was really powerful and the spirit was there. Caleb couldn't come to church this week but he expressed disappointment about it and is really looking forward to coming next week. He is also praying about whether or not Joseph Smith was a prophet or not and he told us as soon as he get's his answer he wants to be baptised! Tracy is a former with a LOT of potential, she feels a little overwhelmed in the English portions of church but she still loves the Chinese classes and believes reading and praying are good for her! ZiQi didn't talk to us a lot this week but he's also committed to coming to church next week and told us that he missed us while he was preparing for his tests. Andrew is a new we found this week who's super prepared and told us that he was a truth seeker. We're super excited to give him the opportunity to find that truth! Alex is another former but we'll be working with him mostly through mormon messages for a while but all of these people show so much potential we're so happy for them!

That's six people who are super strong in our teaching pool right now! I love each and everyone of them they are so prepared! We're also going to be working on tracting a little bit more in the coming weeks so that's going to be great!

Really there were so many little miracles this week. There are still moments where things hurt and we don't get as far as we wanted to, but it's always worth it. I know that God has been looking out for these people and even if they don't get baptised this transfer they will be better off by the end then they were at the beginning. 

Hope comes from seeing Jian's eyes light up as the fact that God is our Father really sinks in and confirms to him that this is why we have commandments. Hope is seeing Caleb looking at us and saying simply. "Yes I know that God loves me." Hope is watching thoughts pass through Alex's eyes and knowing that he has a desire to know if God is there or not. Hope is seeing Tracy smile at church because she feels she belongs. Hope is hearing Andrew tell us that he felt for his whole life that China was missing something and then he came to Canada and realised that it was religion. Hope is walking down the street and realising that all these people are children of God. 

There is a work for us to do and it's not going to get done just by thinking about it. Work comes from doing. When the Shields do come we will be ready. Already flying down the tracks, We're not slowing down for anything!

Till next time!

-Sister Skinner

PS Sorry for not as many pictures this week! But here we are in the car place (Because when don't I have car problems) And sister Deng likes taking pictures of food so I did a little bit of that too. Oh and a car with my future license plate on it that we followed for like 10 minutes and so I had to take a picture while we were at a stop light. 

 

 

 

Last picture with President and Sister Clayton! *tears!*