Merry Christmas!

HI!!!
 
I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas!  Remember to keep the true meaning of Christmas in mind all throughout the year as we strive to remember our Savior every day!  It was so nice to talk to you yesterday! its crazy how fast that time we have to talk goes!  I figure I should give a re cap of what I did this week because I remembered things after I hung up haha. 
 
So Tuesday we got to go to Kirtland for our Christmas Conference!  It was sooo cool we had a meeting in the Kirtland temple and i had the opportunity to stand in the temple and bare my testimony! It was so cool not many people probably get to do that!  after we went to the stake center and had more meetings and stuff.  Then we got to watch the movie 17 Miracles.  Its amazing!!  It made me realize that the Lord asks very little of us today and that me serving a mission is definitely not a sacrifice.  Ya I have to put some important things off for a couple years but I would be losing MUCH more by not serving a mission. 
 
On Friday we helped a former investigator named Matt move.  He is a very nice guy and is really interested in the church i just think he had commitment issues but he was very grateful for us helping him.  On Christmas eve we went over to give him a little Christmas gift and ended up getting to teach him!  It was really cool!  Later that night on Christmas eve a couple more missionaries came down and we went to the hospital to give someone a blessing and sang her some Christmas songs.  We ended up singing to a bunch of people in the hospital.  I felt like it was a very good thing to be doing on christmas eve.  We then went to some neighborhoods in Alliance and went Carolling the rest of the night.  At about 8 we were gonna go get some dinner and drove all over looking for an open place to eat but the only thing open in the whole city was Walgreens.  it was seriously packed too we couldnt find a parking spot and the line inside was huge.  We went in and got a couple frozen pizzas and had them for Christmas eve dinner.  Not your typical Christmas eve but it was still fun! 
 
Christmas morning we just got up and went to church and then had dinner and spent the day with a family in the ward.  it was weird being around someone elses family for christmas but we made the best of it and had a lot of fun!  Thank you for all of the Christmas cards and gifts from everyone!  I love getting mail and they all made me happy! 
 
Well that is pretty much all that happened this week!  I love and miss all of you and hope you have a good rest of the time in Boise and drive or fly or whatever home safe!!  
 
Love
 
Elder Skalla

Great Week

Hi! 

So this week has been MUCH better...  I didnt really explain much last week but it was seriously one of the hardest weeks on my mission.  NOTHING was going right.  I thought it was going to get even worse when everything fell through last monday night but the Lord really knows what he is doing and if we press forward we see the blessings.  I was frusterated monday night and Elder Dransfield (the AP) called and asked if I could give a 25 minute workshop (which is just like a talk or lesson or presentation)  in training meeting for the trainers and new missionaries on planning and companion study.  I thought that was ironic considering my planning obviously sucked because it never worked out haha but I am so so so grateful I was asked to do that, I learned so much.  The workshop went well and I feel like I did an ok job.  Everyone said I did well and Elder Dransfield called me last night and let me know how much him and the other AP and president liked it so that made me feel good. My plans this week worked out much better and we taught a lot and had some awesome lessons.  It is still hard because Elder Buxton is still trying to figure it all out so I do most of the planning and stuff but he is learning so that is good!  

So like I said we had training meeting this week in Cleveland.  It was so weird being there... I couldnt believe it has been as long as it has since my own training meeting. I had to drive all the way there this time though. haha It isnt fun driving in downtown Cleveland though, but we made it safe.  After, we got to go contacting downtown like I did and even though it was freezing it was so fun.  I was with Elder Hargis (the one that knows the Johnsons and went to the ranch a couple months ago)  He is an awesome kid I really like him.  It would have been fun to train him.  But we talked to a ton of people and gave out like 4 Books of Mormon.  It was cool I had one of those like totally random promptings and was walking and then all the sudden I just felt like I needed to turn around and talk to these people at a bus stop so I did and didnt say anything to Elder Hargis it was just like I did a 180 and started talking haha it was cool but anyway we ended up talking to these 2 people and one had taken a tour of the Johnson Farm and was really interested in meeting with missionaries so that was really cool.

This Tuesday we get to go to Kirtland for Chirstmas conference so I am way excited for that.  We have a meeting and testimony meeting in the Kirtland temple!  I guess last year they had the sacrament in the temple but president had to get 1st presidency permission to do that so we might get to do it again this year I dont know.  I am very excited, I love having Kirtland in my mission.   Thats cool president sent everyone a letter. haha He is VERY on top of it. haha He is like all business, all the time.  He is probably one of the most on top of it mission presidents in the world... he doesnt mess around.  We are very lucky to have him. 

Elder Buxton is doing awesome.  I like him a lot and he is working hard and learning a lot.  He is planning on going to USU when he gets home so that is why he has the shirt haha.  He isnt a big sports fan though, but thats ok it keeps me focused when my companion doesnt like sports I decided haha.

I figured I should tell you the ward is taking very good care of us.  At the Christmas party Saturday night they had us come up and gave us a big box of all kinds of stuff! It was very nice, we have an awesome ward.  So we are good on hand warmers, chap stick, tooth paste, envelopes, stamps and junk food haha. 

I did get the Cds and dvds you sent and LOVE them! We have used that Christmas one a ton this week,  but the one with the rest of the movies on it doesnt work.  Im not sure if it is just our DVD player or what but the Christmas ones work great.  So I dont know if you can do this but some missionaries have a DVD of a ton of the "Mormon Messages" on them and they are awesome for teaching so I was wondering if you could make me one.  If you cant or its hard to do, dont worry about it.  Thats ok you didnt get me much for Christmas haha I really dont need much! So remember that because christmas in July sounds good to me :)   haha  I am glad you talked to Elder Johnsons mom! haha thats cool!  He is hitting his year mark tomorrow... CRAZY!  So there were no underlined questions so I hope I answered all of them haha but as for Sunday we are going over to the stake presidents house and they will either have a computer or an I pad so I will be able to skype or do facetime or whatever but I will call you before and we will figure it out.  Its gonna be so weird!  haha At first it was weird not talking to you but now its so normal for me its gonna be weird to actually talk haha.  I am very excited though!!  I will talk to you Sunday!  Love and miss you!!

Elder Skalla

Merry Christmas from Elder Skalla

I promise I had nothing to do with this!  I was a surprised as anyone when this came in the mail complete with a hand written letter!  But….he is his mothers' son so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.  He did this all on his own!  

A new companion

Hi

So I got your package and we set everything up in our apartment.  haha It looks good so thank you for sending everything! Well I picked up my new companion Elder Buxton from Eagle Mountain, Utah.  He is an awesome kid and I am really excited to work with him!  The bad part is we had one of the worst weeks I have had.  I got everything set up for him and had appointments set up all this week so he could start teaching and almost every single one cancelled!  It was soooooooo frusterating and it was hard to find things to do all the time.  I felt bad because he got a bad first taste of missionary work, but this week is looking better so hopefully no one cancels on us!! 

I am LOVING training though!  It makes me think so much about my first weeks.  Its hard because he doesn't really know anything about the area yet and I have to come up with things to do on my own, but its good for me and I am learning a lot.  He is a really hard worker and always wants to be involved which is really good.  It was funny at his first door I had him talk at,  they answered and he was like "Hi were the church of missionaries". hahahaha I think he was a little nervous and I busted up laughing after but he got better the more people he talked to.  Made me wonder what dumb things I said at my first doors haha but like 800 doors later,  I am getting pretty good at it.  It's so weird having someone looking to me to find things to do and to talk to people and to do everything. haha But hopefully I am doing an ok job for him and he is learning. Its funny too how he thinks things are so cool that I like think nothing of. haha He got all excited about a possum that we saw on a porch and cats and dogs jumping on us and someone being really rude to us and lessons that we teach that I just think are normal, but he feels they are amazing. It makes me miss that feeling of everything being so new and wonderful, but its good because he is making me remember.  Not much else exciting happened because so many people canceled but hopefully we have a better week this week. 

I am glad everyone got the Christmas cards.  I just sent them to all the friends and family I had addresses for so I am out of them now, but I figured I should do something for the holidays haha.  We have somewhere to go on Christmas and I will be able to skype.  But where are you going to be for Christmas??  I thought Jenni and Ali would come there. 
Well I am sorry this week was so crappy.  I hope next week I will have a lot more to tell you!  I cant believe next week is my last e mail before I get to talk to you! I remember saying in the airport in Detroit I'll talk to you in December feeling it would never come! haha I love and miss you!!

Love 

Elder Skalla

 Elder Buxton, Elder Skalla, Elder Johnson and Elder Richardson

Elder Buxton is being trained by Elder Skalla who was trained by Elder Johnson who was trained by Elder Richardson.  

Merry Christmas!!

Called as a Trainer!

Oh man this has been one loooong week!  Probably because I have been excited to e mail you and P day is on Tuesday so it seemed like forever.  The thing I was holding was a picture of Jesus?  How did you not know what that was? haha (I knew that one!  I meant what was the other thing!) The other thing I was holding was a nintendo controller.  I will keep Elder Smith in my prayers.  That is so cool he has members like you he can go to.  I am glad you guys take such good care of them, I know how much those little things help.   Why doesn't Ryan use my Nitro board?  That one is nice.  Don't you dare let him use my good one haha.  I had a dream about snowboarding last night. haha I think my legs know what time of year it is and are wondering why I'm not on a board! haha  I am so proud you got moved to 4.0!!! Good job!!!  I am allowed to skype for Christmas :)  The problem is finding a member that has a computer and internet to let us come over... Hopefully we will find someone.  

Soooo for my big news I am staying in Alliance and was called as a trainer! So I will be here allllll winter. President called me Tuesday night and asked me to train and told me I had to be in Cleveland the next day for trainers meeting.  I was kinda bummed it was on Wednesday because we were having a non member funeral in our building and would have been an awesome oppurtunity to find people, but I didnt get to go haha.  So on Wednesday we got up at 5 and drove to Canton where I picked up another trainer and Elder Warner went with his companion.  Then I drove up to Tallmadge.  I didnt know we were meeting there so when I found out that morning I was way excited because I never thought I would get to see my old area again.  So I got to go back to my apartment and see Elder Johnson and hear about everything going on in Tallmadge.  It was awesome!  I was so happy to see him.  So we met 2 more trainers there and I got to drive the truck up to Cleveland.  Wednesday was the first day it really snowed so I felt right at home driving the truck in the snow haha.  I was expecting there would be a few others from my group that I came out with training, but im the only one.  The meeting was at the mission home and was way good.  I am way nervous but very excited to train.  I cant believe it though, I still feel like a brand new missionary and its gonna be crazy getting to serve with a kid that doesnt know anything like I didnt know anything just a few months ago!  Its good though because its fresh in my mind how he will be feeling this week so hopefully I can help him.  I have been trying like crazy to set up good appointments his first few days here like Elder Johnson did for me so he can start  teaching right away.  I am excited to meet him tomorrow.  Elder Warner is getting transfered somewhere else for his last 2 weeks.  He got his travel plans this week so he is getting pretty trunky, but its all good were still working. 

Well thats really the only thing exciting that has happened this week. haha We're just teaching a lot and doin missionary work!   Elder Johnson said Brian wasn't happy that I left and didn't like the whole transfer idea but they have only gotten to see him like twice this transfer.  But elder Johnson said he was starting to question his beliefs a little so I dont know.  Sister ___went to the temple a couple weeks ago which made me way happy and Ray and Areo and Kim are doing good.  They both have baptism dates for January.

Well thats really all that happened this week... I am sure I will have more next week since so much is changing.  I am excited but keep praying for me to be a good trainer cuz I need it! haha 

I love and miss you!!

Elder Skalla

I am a Mormon

Click on the link below to read:

I'm Brad and I am a Mormon

Happy Thanksgiving

HI!!

Im glad you had a good Thanksgiving!  That stinks about the pipe and Kristi being sick but it sounds like you still had a good week!  I loved the pictures of the kids and seeing everyone with Hillary.  That made me happy.  Although I wasn't able to see the video you sent me. Not gonna lie, Thanksgiving was harder than I thought it would be.  Our ward didnt have a turkey bowl and there is something about waking up at 6:30, working out, studying for 2 hours and then having a weekly planning session that doesnt quite scream Happy Thanksgiving.  It was hard to stay focused and stuff but I am just glad its over.  We went over to a members house and had a good dinner and played Monopoly. Haha It was fun.  I would have rather been playing/watching football and with my own family, but I still had a good time.  That night we went and spent time with some investigators and other members. 

Other than that this week hasn't been very exciting, haha just missionary work.  I found out a cool little fact about my area.  Did you know the angel Moroni on top of the Salt Lake temple was casted in Salem Ohio?  Haha Me neither till I watched Mountain of the Lord this week.  Salem is in my area and I go there all the time.  That is probably the most exciting thing that has ever happened in the town of Salem though haha.   On Saturday we went to our ward mission leaders old house to help him clean up a little bit and take some stuff out.  It was crazy. I have never been in a burnt down house before. 

I cant really think of anything else exciting that has happened.  Yesterday we had dinner at a members house that have a daughter that lives in the Roxbourough ward boundaries. She isn't a member but I found out the members here have been to our ward in HR twice! Weird huh?  They are way nice.  We had a really good dinner.  We had steak and like all this other food like peas and mushrooms and weird salad and other food I would have NEVER eaten at home, but I like now haha.  Its weird how much my eating habits have changed in 4 months.  Ill eat just about anything and like it now!  We were just talking about how you will be shocked when I get home and I am not picky.  A mission didn't really cure Elder Warner though.  He is SO picky and like doesnt eat anything when we go to members haha.  

So I have been meaning to tell you this for like 3 months now but always forget.  Everyone needs to get a mormon.org profile!  So tell Dad and Ryan and everyone else to make one if you havent already and link it to your facebooks and whatnot. (I will link his profile in a different post)

Thats sad your missionary is leaving, haha you better get used to it.  Its easy to get attatched to us and then they rip us out! haha  Speaking of that, transfers are next week so p day will be on a Tuesday.  I dont feel like I am getting transfered, but hey I didn't last time either and look what happened.  I dont know whats gonna happen to Elder Warner if he will stay or if we will be in a triple up or what but he is going home December 20th which is right in the middle of the transfer so im not sure whats gonna happen.  We will find out next week.  So just in case dont send me mail unless it will get here before the 7th!

Thats exciting you gave Olga a Book of Mormon!!  You need to invite her to take the missionary discussions!  I dont know how they count referrals out there but here they are strict rules, hard to come by.  But if you do ask Olga make sure you specifically ask her to take the discussions so the missionaries can count it on their numbers.  haha It's annoying when the missionaries are introduced to members friends but they were never invited to take the lessons by the member so its not a referral.  But hey it might be different out there I dont know. 

Haha you can send me some Christmas stuff, just dont go overboard. haha I dont think we need a tree haha.  I will start thinking of something I want for Christmas too.  Maybe my suits dry cleaned.  All my clothes smell like smoke since everyone smokes here, haha its nasty. I hope you have a good week and the basement gets finished!


I love and miss you!!

Elder Skalla

Tommy, Elder Warner, Elder Skalla, Debbie & Bruce

These are from his ward mission leaders home that burned down.  He said he is amazed at what didn't burn.  I can't tell what he is holding up in the first picture.

A Great Week!

Good another not so exciting week!!  haha (I told him nothing exciting at home lol)  My week has been way good!  First to answer your questions I have already been to steak and shake like 3 times. haha Don't send a giftcard because we dont have one in our area.  We eat out every once in a while but mostly at home.  Its cheaper and healthier.  We usually only eat out when we go up to Youngstown for the day but even then Rocky takes us out.  Thats good you finished your yw project!  Hopefully it all turned out ok! Drive safe to Utah!  I am so jealous but I sure I will be well taken care of here.  Not sure where we are going yet but we will find somewhere.  My p day is the same as the elders there.  We get untill 1 today to e mail and shop and then Thursday is an all day p day except we have to weekly plan that day too.  Im so sad this ward doesnt have a turkey bowl.  Tallmadge does and appearently it's a big deal and a good missionary oppurtunity I wish I could go back there for that! haha

 

So my week was awesome.  On Wednesday we had zone conference and after went on exchanges with the zone leaders.  Zone conference was the best! I went with goals, questions and things I wanted to work on and really gained a testimony of personal revelation.  If we ask Hevanly Father for answers and dilligently seek to find them he WILL answer every one of our prayers and inspire our minds on what we should do.  It was awesome how it all worked out and I recieved answers to my questions.  I had to give a short workshop at zone conference as well and its awesome when you are talking and the spirit just takes over and you dont even go off your notes and just know what you are supposed to say and ask.  I love when that happens.   I went on Exchanges with Elder Helton who was in my first district in Tallmadge.  It was awesome getting to serve with him again and getting advice and help with things. 

 

Saturday we went to Kirtland with a less active named Tommy, our investigator Bruce, his daughter and his less active girlfriend.  It was awesome!  I love Kirtland and Bruce really enjoyed it too.  They are doing this nativity thing this year and they have like 1000 of them all over, its pretty cool.  It was cool because in the school of the prophets when they were talking about the word of wisdom Tommy told us that it was in that room he decided to quit smoking and hasnt had a cigarette since going in there.  It was pretty cool and I hope Bruce has the same experience as Tommy since Bruce is trying to quit smoking. 

 

So remember Tim? (the guy from the robbery story) He showed up at church yesterday!  I was like seriously shocked.  We havent talked to him since Elder Vang and I went there that one time but he found a ride on his own and came up to me and shook my hand in church and said thank you and that he is starting to get his life in order and solved his arrest warrant, figured out how to pay the rent and found a job.  It was truly a miracle we showed up that day, but we are gonna start teaching him and Tina again so hopefully he will figure it out. 

 

Speaking of things I want for Christmas I kinda already bought myself one haha.  They sell replicas of the original printing of the BOM in Kirtland and I wanted one and didnt have cash so I put it on the credit card haha. 

 

Well I think thats all I had to tell you. haha I hope you have fun in Utah and give all the family a hug for me!  I miss you and love you all!  Have a great Thanksgiving!!

 

Love

 

Elder SKalla

This is a short note that was attached to his photos:

Our shower didnt drain and I got sick of showering in 6 inches of water every day so I stuck a hanger down there and pulled out clumps of hair haha we found like 4 more balls of hair like the one in the pictures haha nasty huh?   (I am glad he is so resourceful!)

A little too much excitement!

Hi! 

 

Well I am glad everyone is back home and stuff!  (Randy was out of town for 10 days!)  I cant believe I have been out 4 months already...  It feels like I just got here!  But I have plenty of time left haha.

 

I had one crazy week haha,  every week is pretty crazy though.  Monday night we parked on the street to go visit a less active member and some crazy black lady came out and told us we couldnt park there and thought we were dealing drugs.  She called the cops on us. haha I was on the phone with a member and he heard the lady talking about drugs and he was like "drugs?!  where are you?!"  haha It was so funny.  Elder Warner got some of it on his recorder so I am gonna try to send it to you (he did, I will try and attach it cause it was so good to hear his voice!) But the cops came and he was like what are you guys doing and we said we were missionaries and he was like oh jeez someone thought you were dealing drugs but nevermind and left!  haha It was pretty funny.  

On Wednesday we went on exchanges and I was with Elder Vang and we visited a semi investigator randomly.  It ended up being a miracle that we stopped by.  He was dressed in all black and had a mask and knife in his coat and was about to go rob a gas station!  This was the first time I had ever met him but Elder Vang knew him and his girlfriend from when he was in Alliance.  But he had a warrant out for his arrest, no money, he and his girlfriend were being evicted the next day and had no where to go.  Elder Vang had no idea what to do and neither did I.   They just kept asking for money and stuff.  Tim was a little drunk but Tina was like balling and seriously wanted help.  She is the one that has been actually interested in getting her life together and coming to church so I felt really bad for her.  She needs to get away from Tim.  She was freaking out because Tim was supposed to get surgery on his face that next week and now they can't and his face could be really messed up forever.  He got his jaw blown off by a kid who accidently shot him in the face with a shotgun.  He has a big peice of metal where his jaw is supposed to be but everything around that is gone so he has a big hole in his face.  Anyway I kinda gave him a talking to.  I took the beer out of his hand and threw it out the door and told him to get it together and focus on where they were going and what they needed to do.  I think he was kinda taken back by a kid telling him what to do,  but I think he actually realized I was right so we called a member of the stake presidency who was one of his face surgeons to see if he could help.  We had to go to an appointment but President Wagley said he would take care of it, but we needed to leave which was probably a good idea.  I have no idea what happened to them or if he is in jail now or what, but at least we talked him out of robbing a gas station.  I never expected I would be dealing with people like that on my mission haha, but I swear it happens like once a week.  (Great!)

 

Other than that crazy stuff things are going well.  We are taking an investigator named Bruce to Kirtland on Saturday so I am really excited for that.  He should be getting baptized as soon as he and his member girlfriend get married.  

 

That sounds like an awesome service project for the young women!  Speaking of that our ward mission leaders house burned down this week so we had to help him clean some of that up. Apparently it was on the news and in papers and stuff they lost everything.  You could probably google it. (I did)  It was in Hannoverton, Ohio.  It kinda sucks though because now he is busy with all that and cant help us much. 

 

I am proud of Hill for going all out for the BYU game!! (She painted her face and arms!) hahaha Thats what I would have done!  I am excited to see this!  I am glad USU won though!  I cant believe its already basketball season though....  crazy.  And with the Christmas card you do have to realize I am in Ohio... haha not much too exciting here, but I will do my best and get a picture to you hahaha  Oh! One more thing I drove a car for the first time in 4 months on Saturday! haha that was exciting!  Elder Warner got a bad migraine when we were in Youngstown so I had to drive back to Alliance. haha I still remember how to drive so thats good! 

 

Well I gotta get going!  I love and miss you all and hope this week is good and nothing too exciting happens again! haha 

I love you! 

 

Elder Skalla

Week 16 in Alliance

Yes, I LOVED my extra hour haha it was good.  Tell Ryan sorry I didn't write him I didn't have much time because we had to drive all the way to Youngstown for zone p day and district meeting since we weren't allowed to work on Halloween.  I didn't get Lil Rays  address because I didn't think I was getting transferred haha but she said she was going to add me on FB so I don't know.  I am not really sure what P days are going to consist of here since Elder Warner doesn't like sports and we aren't close to the other Elders in the district and the rest are sisters.  The sisters that cover the singles branch along with Tallmadge are in my district so its nice to get updates from them on things going on there.  I am still the backer in the car haha I hate it haha but my thoughts are that I will finish this transfer then train for the next 2 here in Alliance so I have a feeling i'll be here till at least March haha but it's OK, I like it.  We have to pay for laundry in our apartment but its cheaper than in Tallmadge so that's good.  But still feel free to send me quarters if you have any :)  

I am sure Clayton will see Elder Lewis.  The Spanish elders here I see all the time and most are paired with an English companion and not in Spanish areas.  One of my ZL got called Spanish and he hasn't even used it in like 6 months haha. 

Thanks for your package though!  I will still use the air fresheners!  I took a nice blanket that someone left in Tallmadge with me so I am good although I am starting to get cold at night so I may need to buy a big one soon.

So I had a bad experience this week that really got to me.  That family I was telling you about that I was way excited for dropped us...  We had an appointment and I called to confirm and Mike just told me they had prayed about it and done "research" and decided they didn't want to meet with us anymore.  I like was shocked and my stomach just dropped and I didn't know what to say.  I cant even describe the feeling it was like getting dumped or something.  I asked if we could come by and talk about it but he said no.  I have never been dropped by someone I actually cared about and was excited to teach. I had been studying and praying for them and it just made me feel like crap knowing they didn't want it. It really got to me and I couldn't stop thinking about it for days.  I knew they were into anti stuff and it just makes me so mad.  I am so sick of that crap, you have to be an idiot to get caught up in all that stuff.  It frustrating because it makes so much sense to me and I get frustrated when other people don't get the gospel and get caught up in stupid things.  We are gonna try to contact them in a couple weeks but I guess all I can do now is pray for them and move on.  I guess there has to be opposition or else it wouldn't all be true. 

Not too much else exciting this week.  Just still trying to help the ward out and get them going on the ward mission process.  It will be slow but once it gets going things will hopefully take off.  I hope everything is good at home and everyone is doing well!  Cant wait to hear from you again!  Love and miss you!

Elder Skalla

Brad's new home in Alliance, Ohio

Elder Warner & Elder Skalla

Elder Warner is finishing his mission and going home in December.

I feel like I need to send a dust ruffle and bed spread!  LOL

This is AFTER he has been scrubbing a little bit every day for a week!  YUCK! 

 Kitchen  after he has been cleaning every chance he gets!  Makes me wonder how bad it really was!

Alliance Ohio

Hi!!!!

I loved your e mail this week! Sounds like it was pretty exciting haha so before I get into everything going on in my new area and stuff I have to tell you some stuff about Tallmadge I didn't get to. We met a kid named Jawad who went to Akron U and taught him. He ended up being Muslim and brought his Qur'an with him and stuff. It was hard but really cool to teach someone about God and Jesus Christ when they really have no idea who they are. We read a lot from the Bible and Book of Mormon and from his Qur'an. It was really cool there are A LOT of similarities between the church and Muslim.  He wasn't comfortable praying but we set up another appointment with him so I think Elder Johnson taught him on Friday. I wish I could find out how it went but oh well. Also my last night in Tallmadge we had a lesson with a lady we tracted into named Michelle who was from Hawaii and been to the Polynesian cultural center and stuff who was golden.  It was awesome and I know she will get baptized so I was bummed about that, but whatever.

It was harder than I thought leaving Elder Johnson and Tallmadge!   I feel like a mission is 2 years of goodbyes! Elder Johnson even started tearing up when I said bye haha I am gonna miss him so much. Tallmadge is now the zone leader area for the Akron stake so Elder Johnson is now the Akron zone leader. He was nervous about it but he will do great.

So now I am writing you from the wonderful town of Alliance Ohio! Its sooooooo different from Akron. Its just a small like dying town and there is no ghetto which I am sad about I loved talking to people in the ghetto. Everything is old and stuff but I like it so far. Our area is huge. Its like 5 times the size of Tallmadge and we get the same amount of miles which is stupid. That one thing different about serving in Alliance is that we spend a ton of time driving. Most of the members live in Alliance or a suburb of Youngstown that is like an hour drive from us. Lots of farm land and even some Amish people haha I hate having to drive so far I feel like I am being very unproductive just sitting in the car. There is not a whole lot going on so far here. We have like 3 investigators and every single one is on probation so I dont know about them. But the night I got here we got a HQ referral for some people that live in Brodman or something like an hour away and we went and taught them and I am way excited about them. They have lots of questions though. It was cool because Brian prepared me for a lot of their questions. haha They were like cake compared to his. We are seeing them this Saturday when we are back up there. That's another thing I hate we can only see people like once a week because we have to spend so many miles getting there to teach them.

My companion is Elder Warner from Ontario California.  He doesn't like sports at all and knows nothing about them so that's gonna be different not playing basketball and talking about sports all the time like Elder Johnson and I.  He has been out a looooong time. In fact I will be killing him(terminology meaning he will be sending him home).  He goes home after this transfer.  He is supposed to go home in January but he is getting released early to go back to BYU for winter semester. We don't have a lot in common but I think we will do good work.

The apartment is pretty nice now that I cleaned the heck out of it. It was disgusting there was like mold and nasty stuff everywhere and smelled horrible. Its bigger than my last one and has a pretty nice kitchen and a sun room. I feel like I am gonna be here a long time so I figured I would at least make the apartment nicer haha

I have still been sick its so annoying I have had the worst headache and stuffy nose. I thought I was getting better but I guess not.

I was excited to hear about all the missionary work you have been doing!! Keep me updated on how everything goes!! I did get the YM/YW package haha they were pretty funny letters thank you for that. With the boots I will look around here for some. The library is in the "mall" and there is a JC penny right next door so maybe I will go look. So I left some glove liners in the center console of my truck and I kinda want them. Will you see if they are there and send them to me. Also everyone has this spry stuff that is supposed to keep your shoes dry and not smell on the inside so could you find me some of that. And any air freshener stuff. I am gonna go buy some of the plug in kind today so maybe some refills. Like the ones we have at home with the little glass thing full of stuff that screws on.


Well I have to get going but I sent my memory card home so be looking for that. I love and miss you and cant wait to hear from you next week!

Love

Elder Skalla 

First Transfer…

Well this was one looooong week!  haha I will just go day by day.   Tuesday we went on exchanges and I was in Cuyahoga Falls with Elder Weaver.  All of the appointments cancelled so we did A LOT of tracting.  haha We met this Nepali family and lets just say I am glad I am not serving in Nepal! haha This lady invited us in and it was like walking straight into Nepal and it smelled like the food.  There was music playing and all kinds of decorations and stuff.  There was like a billion people coming in and out of the house and we had discussions with like 3 different people who were the only ones who spoke a little english. haha It was quite the experience.  The whole time we were there the lady kept bringing us all kinds of drinks and Nepali tea, haha then all these teenagers came out of no where and she brought out these plates with massive piles of weird food and everone just starting eating it all with their hands and it was like rice and stuff.  haha We were just praying she didnt bring us a plate!  We didnt really get too teach because of the language barrier and all the different people coming in and out. Then all the sudden everyone just like ran out of the house and disappeared and it was just me, Elder Weaver and some 22 year old Nepali girl that didnt speak English and she just kept  staring at us so we were just like ok we gotta get going! haha It was so awkward. 

Wednesday we did meet with Brian, but we didnt talk about the Godhead he had all sorts of other things about prophets and stuff but we had a good discussion.  I am not really sure his desires are pure but I don't know,  I guess we will find out.  We are still teaching Alex but he is having some struggles right now so I dont know when he will ever be baptized but we still teach him every once in a while. 

On Wednesday night I started getting sick and had a sore throat and woke up the next morning all stuffed up and coughing and had a sinus headache and everything.  That lasted till Saturday so Thursday and Friday were just long and horrible.  I dont even remember what I did, I just did my best to act like I wasnt sick and get through the day and go home and take nyquil and go to bed. haha.  Its sooooo hard to want to do missionary work when you are sick but Saturday morning I got up and felt a little better and we had a ward service project mulching stuff so we went to that and I got better throughout the day.   I am still stuffy and coughing now but at least all the sinus stuff is better. 

So for the big news I am getting transferred...  Im not gonna lie I am not real excited about it.  The whole time we thought Elder Johnson was leaving and he even  said bye to people and stuff yesterday.  But now I am the one going. I feel like everything was finally starting to pick up here and I knew the area and what to do and was actually excited to take it over but now I have to leave and go start all over again somewhere else...  I have no idea where I am going or with who I just know I have to be packed and at transfers tomorrow in Kirtland.  Even though I am not excited about it now, I know the Lord has a place he needs me and Ill do work wherever I go.  So I will e mail you next week and tell you where I am and my address and stuff. 

Thanks so much for the Halloween package though!  That was a lot of candy! haha I dont know how I am going to pack all that now but I will figure something out. haha  Next time you send me a package in a month or whenever you should send more razor blades haha just so I dont forget in a few weeks.  I am glad the basement is fixed though!  Its good to finally get that out of the way!  

Well I am glad everything is going well and not too much exciting is happening haha I dont want to miss anything too exciting.  I love and miss you and cant wait to hear from  you next week from wherever in Ohio I will be!!

Love

Elder Skalla

Elders Skalla and Johnson have been teaching the two girls.  The guy is a boyfriend of one of them.

Elder Skalla and Alex

He was hoping to be able to baptize Alex before he was transferred.  I guess that won't happen but hopefully he can go to the baptism if he is in a close area.

Looks like Elder Skalla doesn't need a Halloween mask!  

Not all work…..

These pictures are from Zone Conference that they call "Zoned Out".  This was taken on the Johnson Farm.  I got them off of the mission blog and found the ones that had Brad in them.  He is wearing the gray shirt and black socks if you can't find him.  He says they play a lot of football on P-day with the other Elders.  It is great to see his cute smile!
I miss him like crazy, but don't want to see him for 21 more months!  Love this boy!

Week 11- Lot's of Teaching!!

Hi!!!

I am glad you guys had a good relaxing week!  My week was really good too!  It went by fast!  We taught a ton this week which was good.  We have a couple new people we are teaching too that I am very excited about!  One from Akron U who committed to be baptized so that was awesome.  He is 28 because he was in the army for a few years after highschool.  We are also teaching a girl tonight for the first time that wants to start coming to church and stuff.  She has a boyfriend on a mission right now so hopefully she will want to be baptized!  We thought it was kinda sketch at first because she requested not to be taught by sisters and wanted to have us over at her apartment for dinner for our first lesson haha we told her we could as long as we brought other people haha so we are doing that tonight. 

We also had a less active lady call us to come give her fiance a blessing.  They were just watching tv a while ago and he fell asleep and never woke up.  He has been in a coma for over a week now and they have no idea whats wrong so that was kind of an interesting blessing to give.  One of the AP's  who is going home next week came out and spent Tuesday and Wednesday with us.  It was really good we learned a lot from him.  I also had my first interview with president this week.  That went really well, we just talked about how to best help our investigator reach baptism. 

My companion had a pretty bad wreck on his bike the other day too haha He was just like riding and fell over and ripped a bunch of holes in his slacks and was covered in mud.  It was really funny but I felt bad haha.  That kid has the worst luck with bikes. 

So transfers are the 26th so dont send any mail unless it will get here before then because I have no idea what is going to happen.   The ZL's said there was a big change coming for this area and with the singles branch that is a big surprise to them, but they arent allowed to tell us so I dont know what will happen with me next week. We initially thought I would stay in Tallmadge and train but now with this new thing coming up I dont know what will happen.  And P day is on tuesday next week so I will let you know then where I am going.  

I am excited to see the basement and stuff!  Too bad we cant get new carpet down there.  I cant believe dad got an I phone too... He will probably have a mac computer by the time I get home haha Thats funny about Ryan haha that battery isnt that old I am surprised it died.  I miss my truck.  And driving haha hopefully I get to drive next transfer.  We have a rule that whenever the car is backing up you have to have someone behind you backing you and thats my job. I hate it, haha its so annoying.  Especially when I get in the car and then remember I have to back haha thats like the only reason I want to drive. 

I also did get to go to Q doba this week.  It was gooood :)  Do you know how Westley and Dustin and Clayton are doing in the MTC?   Tell Ryan to e mail me this week and I will write back.  I just dont have his e mail anywhere. 

Well I hope you have a good week!  Love and miss you all!  Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Love Elder Skalla

Week 10

I am glad you made it to Florida ok!!  Im jealous!  But the weather here has been beautiful all week!  Its been like low 70's and clear so we got to ride bikes without suits and the leaves are all changing so its really pretty here!  I hope the weather in Florida gets better though!! Too bad you didnt go to church, I know like 6 people from the mtc serving in that mission.  I cant wait to hear more about it and see pictures with nice weather.
 
This week was really good.  I got in my first door tracting! haha After the hundreds I have knocked and been rejected I like didnt even know what to do when the guy invited us in haha! It was funny but he is an older guy named Paul and we taught him a first lesson and have a return appointment with him so thats good!
 
On Wednesday when we taught Brian he texted us and said he really wanted to dive into the Book of Mormon today so we were all excited but he clearly found some anti.  He really wants to find the truth and wasnt bashing with us at all.  He has trouble with 3 seperate beings of the godhead and Christ and Heavenly Father having seperate bodies.  We have studied everything we have and cant find an answer he would be satisfied with.  And we have thrown the whole one  in purpose thing and everything I know about it but he wants like scriptures. It should be an interesting lesson on Wednesday. 
 
We did have an awesome week for church though!  We had 2 new investigators there and had multiple less active families that havent been to church in years back it was awesome to see.  Everyone was so excited they were back. 
 
We have met a lot of people through the table we have set up at Akron University too so we have been teaching quite a bit!  I wish I could just teach every hour of every day and not have anyone cancel on us haha but that would make a mission way too easy.  Its hard to find things to do when people cancel and its 8 at night and you cant tract because its dark and you just make people mad. 
 
Well I am sorry to not write much but we have to drive to the Akron building for zone p day and play football and I would rather play football than e mail haha no offense haha we just dont get to play sports much :) 
 
I love you and miss you!  Have fun on vacation!
 
Love
 
Elder Skalla
 

Week 9-Conference Weekend

Hi!!

It is a great time to be a missionary!  I dont think there is ever a bad time to be a missionary!  Conference was amazing though!  It killed our numbers and stuff because we like didnt teach at all this weekend but I loved it!   There were some very powerful talks this conference especially Elder Holland and Elder Packer.  I hope Ryan was listening.  I never appreciated conference at home but I have been looking forward to it forever here and like loved every talk.  One after another I kept thinking ok now that was the best talk none will be as good as that one then they were haha.  I loved all the talk about missionary work, charity, the scriptures and knowing that God loves us. I felt like I could apply those into my life and the work I am doing here.   I wish I brought my notes to the library with me but I forgot them. 

 

I got your letter!  I am impressed with all of your tennis matches by the way, you better get moved up!  Man I feel bad for Chloe, she is a trooper though! haha she wont seem to quit!  We do get the ensign and I have already read that whole Book of Mormon one but I am going to keep it for the future.  We get one every month but you should send me the conference one because I want to take more time reading those and have it to keep, but after that you dont need to send me the ensign. 

 

I am glad President Walker used that part of my e mail!!  The ward mission process is key and if used will work wonders!  The Bishops need to realize this! 

 

It has been FREEZING this week.  We went straight from hot and humid to freezing I seriously thought we were going to wake up to snow today but no just more rain.  I dont think it will ever quit. I am jealous you get to go to warm Florida!  

We taught a lot of good lessons this week and found a lot of new people but we will see if any of them progress.  Our really smart investigator Brian had awesome questions when we taught the plan of salvation.  The most in depth I have ever gone into it with an investigator but it was a really good lesson!  Friday was like the worst day ever.  Ryan Swingle who just got off his mission came out with us all day and we had a ton of lessons planned and every single one flamed us or cancelled.  Our entire day and evening was shot, it was horrible.  We didnt even have a dinner that night haha but then the Swingles took us out to applebees for dinner which was way nice of them and made the day seem not too bad.  I just HATE when people flame us or cancel on us last minute.  If people dont want to meet with us just tell us, I wont be offended haha.  I just hate planning people in and then wasting time.   But we learn and grow the most on the days that are hard and even though I thought the day would never end it did and we learned from it! 

 

Could you send me my priesthood line of authority for me though?   Like type one and laminate it.  Lots of people have problems with the whole priesthood authority restored thing so I think it would help them to see how it can be traced back to Christ. 

 

I am still doing great and loving it even on the hard days.  The lords hand is truly in this work and I see miricles every day teaching people the gospel.  I am so  thankful for this oppurtunity to serve a mission.  I hope everyone is doing well and tell Ryan good luck at Deca and you guys have fun in Florida!  Love and miss you!

 

Elder Skalla

Week 8-First Baptism

Hey!!

Well first off we did have the baptism yesterday!!  It went really well and Ben was really excited.  Even though he is only 9, it was still cool to have my first baptism!

Thank you so much for the package and also what you told Sister Swingle to make for dinner :)  That made me really happy and it was sooo good!  I also loved the note you put in my baptism pants, that just made everything even better.  I am glad I found it before I got in the water though haha. 

Nothing else too exciting has happened this week.  On Wednesday we went to the hospital to give someone a blessing and we had to like wear surgical gear.   They made us put on gowns and masks and gloves before we could go in so it was interesting giving a blessing in all of that stuff haha.  Things are going well with our investigators though!  Alex is doing well and we are teaching a couple new people.  

I did find a Qdoba though!!!  We found it at ZDM in Canton so next time we have to go to Canton we are eating there.  haha I am excited!  

I am able to get your pictures. haha Sorry I never say anything about them but I enjoy them so keep sending them! 

Thats funny about President Maynes coming to the house though!  If President Sorensen came to our house I know I would be a little worried!  haha But I know they had everything cleaned up and stuff he wouldn't come without letting them know.  President Sorensen has never come to our place to study with us but when we were helping move the sisters a while back he sat down with us and helped us prepare a lesson which was awesome.  I am pretty sure he is like the most inspired man I have ever met next to the prophet haha. 

Its starting to cool down here a lot.  Everyone says Ohio is amazing in the fall because of all the trees.  Its like a jungle here to me so I am excited to see all the leaves start to change. 

I am sorry I dont have much to write this week,  I just cant think of anything that happened!  The days just jumble together but were doin good work every day.  I need to start writing things down throughout the week that I want to tell you then I will have more too write.  Everything just isn't all new to me anymore so things that I thought were so crazy and exciting are just normal now haha so I forget!  I promise I will get better!  I hope everything is going well and I can't wait to get your letter this week!   I love and miss you all! 

Love,

Elder Skalla

Week 7-Akron

HI!

So this week has been really good with the exception of the rain all the time.  These storms last for forever its annoying haha.   The work is really starting to get going here.  The ward mission process was not working well when I got here and nothing was happening so we are working with the bishop and ward mission leader with it for like a month now and we are finally starting to see it work.  We are teaching a ton of less active members and we have already had 3 big families come back to church since I got here.  I almost love seeing less active members come back as I do investigators.  There are part member families we have worked with too and there is so much potential!  I cant believe no one has even invited these people back to church or to take the missionary lessons until now but we are teaching them so that's good!   It's amazing what can happen when the ward actually applies the ward mission process!  We randomly stopped by a less actives house this week and we went in and they shared their conversion story and committed themselves to read the Book of Mormon as a family and come back to church!  We didn't even say 2 words and we got that far!  Sometimes that is all it takes! haha

This Sunday I am baptizing a kid we have been teaching for a while named ____.  He is 9 and his mom and grandma are members and he wants to get baptized so I am excited for that. 

We have had a couple tough teaching situations where I am not going to lie I didn't feel I had the knowledge to teach.  Wednesday we taught a guy named _____who ran into some senior missionaries at the Target he is the manager of and told them he had been studying the Book of Mormon and wanted to talk with someone about it.  He went to Bible college and has studied a lot of the Book of Mormon and is VERY intelligent in the bible and religion in general.  The teaching materials we have are way too light for him and he showed us all these books he has read about the LDS church.  None anti but some very in depth book.  We pretty much spent the whole time answering questions which were quite difficult but I felt like the spirit was there and we did a great job answering them.  We have another meeting tomorrow with him so I am excited to see how it goes.  We also had to teach institute on Thursday.  We had to teach Genesis 1-3...  Without really a teaching outline or anything haha it was hard.  It got too deep too fast but we did our best to bring it back in but it is hard to teach that to 30 college kids haha it was interesting but I think we did ok. 

I loved what you said about the weapons thing.  I definitely think there are some weapons we can all put down, especially as missionaries haha.

Zoned out yesterday at the Johnson farm was fun!  We got to take like a mini tour and play games and football and stuff.  It was pouring rain the whole time too so we kind of made a mess out of the pretty rolling grass hills dad was talking about in his e mail haha. 

The primary program was this week in our ward too haha it was way good.  I love the primary program.  (especially because 2 of our investigators were in it hahahaha)

To answer your questions Elder Johnson is the only one that drives the car.  So its weird I haven't driven in over 2 months haha. I think I am going to wait a while to buy a blanket.  I found a good one in our apartment I may use for a while until it really starts to get cold.

Well that's all I can think of for me but thanks for all the updates on Ryan and the tennis team and stuff I enjoy reading about it!  I hope everyone has an awesome week!  I know I will, I have big plans for this area in the near future!   

Love Elder Skalla

PS.   All these women in church keep coming up to me and telling me about sister Garrison and stuff haha I really wish I could have met her.  (Sis. Garrison is "Becky George" from our Omaha days. She used to babysit Brad as a little guy!  He doesn't remember her, but the girls do and she remembers him.  She is now the mother of 3!)

Elder Skalla at the Johnson Farm.  Brad is a direct descendant

 of Joel Hills Johnson.  This is the home where Joseph Smith was taken from and tarred and feathered.  The Murdock baby that they adopted passed away in this home.  

Elder Skalla, President Sorenson and Elder Johnson

Week 6-Akron

HI!!

I am glad everyone is doing okay and Jenni and Greg are doing well!  I am impressed you went 35 miles!! (On our bike ride) So transfers are tomorrow so that is why p day is Tuesday.  My comp and I are staying but Elder ___from our district is leaving and Elder ____who has been out one more transfer than me is going to train.  So we will get a new missionary tomorrow so I wont have to be the new guy in the district anymore haha.

This week was ok.  We were supposed to have a baptism on Thursday but some things came up and we are going to have to move it but it's ok, Alex is an awesome guy and will be baptized.  We had some serious transportation problems this week haha.  We caught caught in downtown Akron on our bikes and it was pouring like no other.  It is like a 30 minute ride home so we were drenched. After everything was soaked you kinda just forgot about it and had some fun haha.  I just took my tie off so it wouldnt get ruined since it was silk and we rode home.  Of course right when we got home though the down pour stopped haha.   Also we were driving and I was typing something in the GPS and Elder Johnson got pulled over and got a ticket and I have to pay half which is like 87 bucks so that is dumb but rules are rules.   He also popped his 3rd bike tire this transfer haha I dont know why but they keep popping and he keeps having to get new tubes and tires.  Other than those things it has been a pretty normal week.  No really new investigators but we have a couple of people we have  talked to that have a lot of potential.

So there is an Elder Johnson that just got home from the Denver south mission and he is in my ward here.  We had dinner at their house last night and it was so weird to talk to him about home and how he knew Elder Rassmussen and Elder Tonga and stuff.  He was mostly in the mountains but he spent some time in the Columbine stake.  I think I remember you saying you took our Elders to transfers so you probably saw Elder Johnson there.

So in Tallmadge they have the Tallmadge circle which is a ridiculously huge round about that is a pain in the butt for traffic but on Sunday for 9/11 they line the whole circle with candles.  One for each person that died.   The white ones are for civilians, red firemen, blue police and green service men.  It was way cool although I dont think you can see much in the pictures. Sorry.  The other one is just a cool sunrise when we were out playing football.  I know I look dead haha its 6:30 am.  The weather has been making me so mad this week.  Like every day it is 69 degrees and we have to wear jackets if its under 70 so I have been soooo hot running around in a jacket.  And then the one on my bike I am soaked.  You cant really tell but I am drenched haha.

I am not sure when I am e mailing next week because Monday is Zoned out where 3 zones get together at the Johnson farm and play football and stuff.  I am way excited to go to the Johnson farm. 

I hope everyone is doing well and you all have a good week!

Love
Elder Skalla

This is the round about area he talks about.  

These are taken when driving by while in Canton for exchanges.  I hope he gets to go there one day!

 Beautiful Sunrise!  Randy and I were wondering if Brad had ever seen the sun rise before his mission! He likes to sleep in!  

Soaking wet rain!

Hi dad!

Sounds like stake conference was way good.  I cant believe President Walker knows where all of us are.  Sounds like you had a good bike ride too!   Do it in a suit and I may be impressed hahaha. just kidding.  PLEASE keep the sports updates coming!!  I need those! haha Stupid Federer though.  He blew it.  We were in Dicks last week buying Elder Johnson socks and sportscenter was on and Nadal was like in a press conference but he was like screaming in the chair and almost fell off.   I think they said he was cramping or something.  haha I thought that was kind of weird.  But please keep giving me updates, haha I like to know.  Its hard not watching sports!   We have a guy in our ward that he gets a pizza and watches monday night football every week and hasn't missed a monday game since they started them and he invited us over yesterday and I knew the Broncos were playing haha its hard to say no to that!! hahaha but its ok I will survive. 

Love

Elder Skalla