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