200 days! It is going fast!

Hey!!  

This week was really good!  The work is going pretty well. Still looking for new people to teach but that will come. Yesterday was another busy sunday... Whoever said it was a day of rest lied.... haha jk its all good its the Lords work.  Jacob and Mackenzie were confirmed yesterday so that was good.  Also we spoke in sacrament meeting yesterday.  I think it went well.  I spoke about having urgent faith in sharing the gospel and kinda trusting in God.  I think it went pretty well I dont know.  

So we went out to lunch with a guy in our ward Rocky.  We call him Rocky because no one can pronounce his full name haha.  He is from Tonga.  You know the island from the other side of heaven?  He was born there.  The missionaries that movie is about lived with his grandparents.  Anyway we went to a buffet and I think I gained 30 pounds...  He made us eat so much.  When I was full he made me jump up and down 50 times and eat more haha I thought I was gonna die but Rocky is a body builder trainer so you have to do what he says haha. 

Hopefully we will have 2 more baptisms coming up in February! There is a less active family we started going to like 2 weeks before Elder Warner left who have 2 teenage daughters who arent members.  They havent been to church in forever but they have come 3 weeks in a row and the girls Grayce and Presleigh  (I guess they are Elvis fans?)  are getting baptized.  We are very excited we needed that family in our ward.  The bishop says we hit a home run haha.  I really like the ward here.  I think they like Elder Buxton and I too.  Someone came up to us and said that some people were talking and saying how much they like us and how long its been since they have had 2 good missionaries in the ward.  Now hopefully they will find people for us to teach haha.  

Oh guess what!!! Brian e mailed me!!!  I was so excited haha he said he was doing awesome and hasnt met with the Elders there since before christmas but is meeting with them this week.  Its gonna be the happiest day of my life when him and his family get baptized.  I wish I could still teach him.  Although I think he taught me more than I taught him... haha  

haha I am glad President sent you a letter.  He still hasnt even sent me one saying I am DL yet haha.  Its fun though getting to run District meeting every week and hearing about who everyone is teaching and going on exchanges and stuff. Sunday nights kinda suck because I spend like 2 hours straight on the phone but its all good.  

Hahaha Tim didnt put that there, haha actually the first counselor in the stake presidency is the one that did the surgery.  He is getting another one in a couple weeks to get the metal thing out.   He hasnt come to church but we still teach him once in a while.  He kinda just wants to hang out with us though haha.  

So yesterday we gave a blessing to a members uncle (non-member)  who is in the hospital.  He just kinda like went crazy one day and couldnt remember anything but it was so funny.  I started giving the blessing and said his full name and he was like what?  haha it reminded me of when Ryan did that when he was little.  It was also the first blessing I have had someone ask for a cigarette in the middle of too haha crazy stuff... 

I dont want you to stress about the mormon message DVD haha maybe you could just buy one?  I dont know but I dont want you to spend hours making me a DVD haha its fine.  Well I think that is all I got for this week.  I hope you have fun the rest of the time you are in Utah! Travel back safely!    Love and miss everyone!!  

Elder Skalla

Baptism

Finally some snow

He sent this picture with a note saying that he hoped we were saving our money to buy him one of these when he gets home.  LOL  Yeah right!

Baptism and a call to District leader

HEY!!!!

I am glad you got to AZ safe and got to see everyone.  I am jealous!!  I loved the pictures but I didnt get the video.  

I had a really good week this week we got a lot done!  The weather has been so weird though...  It snowed like 6 inches the other day and then today its like 45 and raining. Ohio is so weird. its funny how many people had to cancel our appointments and things because of the snow but I got around just fine in my little corolla haha I hate excuses.

The baptism went pretty well!  We would usually teach the restoration while they are getting changed but the family requested we didnt because of the non members that were there and I dont know she doesnt want to push the church on them or something so we kinda just bore our testimonies about the restoration instead.  So like the second I get up there and start speaking President and Sister Sorensen walk into our baptism.  He didnt tell me they were coming and he didnt know our circumstances. So I start talking and the whole time I can just see it in his face like what the heck are you doing this is a horrible restoration presentation so I am like freaking out this whole time.  After the baptism I had to like explain ourselves to him because he was probably thinking we were horrible teachers and didnt know how to run a baptism haha it was so bad but hopefully he understood.  The rest of the baptism went really well though haha.  I think they should give you like an hour break after a baptism when your a missionary haha I was super stressed trying to get everything ready and Elder Buxton didnt really know what to do since he had never been to a baptism so I was way stressed all day sunday plus I had to teach the Elders quorum lesson haha I wanted to catch my breath after church but we had an appointment we had to get to haha I swear it never stops... 

 Yesterday was just a crazy day.  Elder Buxton had his first run in with a crazy drunk last night haha it was pretty funny.   He was like about ready to bolt for the door.  I had had a couple run ins with this guy so it wasnt too bad but it was still pretty funny. 

Well that was probably the most exciting things that happened this week.  Just still workin hard and  doin missionary things haha  oh ya and president called me to be the district leader last week so now I get to spend lots of time on the phone reporting numbers haha but its all good I have liked it so far. 

Well i hope you travel safely to wherever you are going.  And dont forget to keep reading the Book of Mormon!  Its easy to start forgetting now!

I love and miss you!!!

Elder Skalla

Hard Week, Wonderful lessons learned

6 months!

Mom I am so thankful for you and how in tune you are with the spirit.  I have no idea how you knew other than that God is aware of each one of us.  I am so glad you paid attention to your feelings because this week was so hard.  I struggled mentally emotionally and physically all week.  I am fine, I think everyone has their weeks out here...  Have you ever really thought about prayer?  I think that is the only thing that got me through this week.  What a gift it is to be able to communicate with our Father.  This all powerful all knowing person that is there waiting for us each and every time we call on him. I read my Patriarchal blessing a lot this week.  "Always remember that he will be there, even in the darkest night. There will never be a time a time where He will not be available and listening."  I had some dark nights this week...  I found myself praying in places and at times I never thought I would.  I am so grateful for the strength that can come from prayer.  I cant say after praying this week I had some overwhelming feeling of peace or anything but I knew God was mindful of me.  He knows what I need better than I know what I need.  I have a quote I thought of a lot this week.  "pray as if everything relied on God and then work as if everything relied on you"...  Thats what I did.  Have you ever studied in the Bible dictionary? I love what it says about prayer.  " prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other.  The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings."   I dont feel like I have ever focused on aligning my will with Gods in my prayers until this week.  I have never asked for strength to keep going and turn my will over to him. But this week I did.  I prayed as if everything was dependent on Him and then worked as hard as I knew how to work.  I am so grateful for the power of prayer.  No matter what He will be there.  I know that now.  

As much as I struggled this week I still think it was good.  I say physically because it snowed a few days ago.  We were walking and it was like a blizzard and 15 degrees and the wind was blowing like crazy. I saw an old lady taking her trash to the dumpster and ran up to her and took her trash for her.  I took about 4 steps onto what I thought  was dry pavement and it turned out to be pure ice and ate it so hard.  haha it was probably like what you would see in a movie I flew in the air and threw the trash bag up and landed right on my back.  It is pretty bruised haha but I just keep telling myself its ok because I will heal and I probably saved that old lady from breaking her hip haha.  

Jacob and Mckenzie are all set for baptism this sunday so I am excited for that!  We also went on exchanges this week.  I went up to Ravenna for a couple days.  it was awesome Elder Hapairai and I "shovel tracted" into this guy James.  He is awesome and was like sex drugs and rock and roll for most of his life and has given all that up the last 2 years and wants to come to church and stuff!  It was a way cool lesson I am bummed I wont be able to teach him.  

I am glad you are all still reading the book of Mormon!  I feel like it is going so fast haha.  I did buy a blanket.  They didnt have one like I have at home.  The lady wouldnt let me separate my stuff so I had to put a couple grocries on the CC so you can take 20 out of my account if you want.  

Well I hope everyone has a good week and you have fun in AZ!  I will have a better week this week I know I will.  Thank you for your prayers!  I love and miss you!!! 

Elder Skalla

Pictures!!!

Brad sent home a memory card last week with some pictures on it.  I have shared some, but here are some more.

Elder Skalla ready to convert Cleveland!

Elder Buxton and Elder Skalla

Elder Skalla is not turning into a Cleveland Browns fan, but it is cool to see the stadium.

Working on his planning schedule…

Shoot me now!  LOL 

These totally cracked us up!  

We love our missionary!!!!!!

6 months!

Hi!!  

It is getting back to normal and it is good!  haha As much as I don't really like doing the same thing every day it's a lot harder to focus when holidays and stuff are thrown into your schedule, so I am glad everything is back to normal.   I am glad everyone fasted!  I didn't forget so don't worry haha I fasted last Sunday too.  I am glad everyone is on track with reading!!!  You should have all just finished 1 Nephi today like me!  I found 121 references to Christ in 1st Nephi!  I probably missed a few but I was surprised there was that many!  That's pretty cool!  

This week was pretty good! It FINALLY snowed on Tuesday.  We got about 6 inches so we spent like the whole day shoveling haha. I think we shoveled the whole town of Sebring.  It was good though and I got to wear my boots for the first time.  They worked well I like them.   Thursday we had our interviews with President.  I cant believe it has been 3 months since my last interview... This area is going by MUCH faster.  I cant believe I have been here almost as long as Tallmadge and that I hit 6 months on Friday!  crazy...   Elder B is still doing well!  His teaching and talking to people is getting much better!  We were tracting this week and he knocked on the door and was talking to this guy and he talked to him and stuff and usually when that happens I kinda bail him out when he doesn't know what to say, but this time I didn't and he looked at me terrified but I just didn't say anything. haha It was probably the most awkward door ever but we talked about it after and I think he learned a lot from it and has improved a lot!  

Man it seems like every missionary there is having all these health problems haha We have been fine!  Some of the people in our district have the flu but we have been good!  I think it would be horrible if Elder B was sick and I just had to sit there all day haha I feel bad for him but I am glad Ryan was there to help keep him occupied.  

Teaching is going all right.  I think we are in a transition phase with our investigators.  The ones we have just aren't progressing and don't want to do what it takes to commit but we have 3 or 4 really solid potentials that we are hoping work out.  Jacob and McKenzie are getting baptized the 22nd and they have a lot of non member family that will be at the baptism so that will be good.  

Hhaha I am going through mail withdrawal haha I don't get anything anymore!  But its all right it happens when you start to be out for a long time haha everyone starts to forget about you haha good thing my mom still remembers me haha ;)    So sister Wagley spoke yesterday in sacrament about preparing your children for missions and helping the full time missionaries. It was really good. She reminds me SOO much of you haha it was very weird.  They have 4 boys and her second son to serve a mission comes home from Germany in May.  I think it was a very good sacrament meeting topic.  Elder B and I said the prayers then a kid preparing to serve a mission spoke then a missionary mom and then the Bishop about preparing to serve missions then Elder B and I taught the young men's lesson about preparing to serve.  We had to teach Sunday school too but that's just because the teacher didn't show up haha so we had a busy Sunday.  We have 5 young men that should be going on missions this year which is like a ton and unheard of for one ward out here so Bishop is very focused on getting all 5 of them out so I thought that was a good sacrament meeting topic.  

So I met a guy in my ward that knows Greg's family. Or at least his parents.  His name is Robert Small.  He used to live in Snowflake haha weird huh. 

Well I am still doing awesome and loving it!   As hard as it is there is no where I would rather be!  I hope you all have a great week!  Love and miss you!!!

Elder Skalla

Happy New Year!

Happy new year!!!!  I am soooo excited to dedicate every single day this year to the Lords work!  Its gonna be sweet.  I cant believe its already 2012 though...  it goes by fast! 

I am glad you liked the pictures, haha you can put whatever ones you want on the blog.  I got the "A town Jersey" in Akron haha and I dont think I am wearing a skirt in any of them... haha except for the one I have the lavalava on.  I got the pillow case from Hill.  She and her mom made it for me! Isn't it cool?  It's the exact same as the ones I brought with me too so its perfect!  I am definitely not getting crafty though haha I am not changing THAT much haha. I am finding super glue very useful though...

This week was pretty good!  Still lots of people "too busy" for us because of the holidays so I am glad they are over. haha I think thats the hardest time to be a missionary.  We had a good lesson with the two kids we are teaching this week.  We talked to president about them last week and he suggested inviting them to ask their parents to help them read the Book of Mormon or pray with them or come to church to see if the kids could help soften the parents hearts towards the gospel.  When I asked them to do that they were really nervous about it but said they would.  Last night Jacobs grandma called and told me about how when they were eating dinner they were talking about the baptism and Jacob turned to his dad and said "dad will you come to church with me tomorrow?"  His dad shot him down pretty quick and Jacob took it pretty hard his grandma said.  I cant believe a dad would turn down his 9 year old son.  I was so proud of him though for doing that.  As he grows in the gospel and is an example to his family they will come around.  We also taught this guy we tracted into this week named Jerry. We had a return appointment with him last night but when we went to his house some lady answered and said he doesnt even live there he just hangs out there a lot haha that was a little weird so I dont know what we are gonna do about him haha.    

On new years eve we arent allowed to proselyte so we went out to a sketchy China Buffet for dinner with some other missionaries and then had our district meeting.  I had to give another workshop.  Not as big of a deal as the one in training meeting since it was just my district, but I think it went so well. I love giving them!  I learn so much. I love how you can just get up and just start talking and then the spirit takes over and you say nothing you have written down and it ends up being amazing haha.  We went back and had our sparkling cider you gave us that was fun.  We were still in bed by 10:30 though haha Thats the first time I can remember I didnt stay up till midnight on new years haha but oh well.  

I am glad you and Dad and Ryan are gonna read the Book of Mormon with me! (WE are doing it with him in 90 days!) I read it that fast the last 3 months. haha I didnt know I would be doing it again the next 3 months too haha.  Well I hope everyone has a great week!  Hopefully things will start picking up here.  I have found the work is much slower in the winter and it kinda stinks, but we will keep working hard! 

Love and miss you!!!

Elder Skalla

 The "skirt" he is referring to.  He said it is a lava lava.  Funny!

The "A Town" look!  Yikes!  

The Christmas tree and some of the decorations I sent for him.  

His companion, Elder Buxton 

 OnChristmas Eve they went caroling in Alliance.  See the previous letter for details about Christmas Eve.

Christmas Morning…lots of new ties!  

 So many gifts he is exhausted???

 The pillow case from Hillary that he mentioned.  I asked him if he was getting crafty or if this was from Hillary.  Him getting crafty scared me a little so I was relieved it was from her!

This is the Sketchy China Buffet he mentioned

We got to Skype with Elder Skalla on Christmas Day!  Best Christmas present ever!!   He told us he just got his first real haircut since he left!  Apparently he bought some trimmers and cuts it himself LOL  That explains why it is so short!   He is doing great and we are so proud of him!  He is used to getting lots of cards and letters so don't slack off now!  He loves getting mail!  Thank you to all of you who sent him letters and packages.  It means a lot to me and he loved it!!!