Truly Converted

HI!  Dang I feel like you guys have been going everywhere lately.  I think I might rather go see Dave Ramsey than a cruise though.  I read like 1/4 of his book a couple years ago.  Besides probably nothing will top the last cruise we went on and its more fun at that age too.   If I can live through dad going to sporting events without me I can live through a cruise haha  as long as you make up for it September 2015 if ya know what I mean ;) (The BYU vs Nebraska game)

This week was really good but we didnt get  any work done in our area.  We spent almost every day planning or in meetings and conferences.  We had our training meeting on Friday.  It was pouring rain but we still went contacting downtown.  We were soaked and Obama was in town so everyone thought we were there for other reasons.  

Conference was amazing as always.  Cant believe it was already my 3rd one...   I couldn't believe that announcement though.  It will definitely shake things up a bit.  It will be interesting to see the young ones starting to come out in the next few transfers.  I'm guessing the number of missionaries will shoot up at first but probably level back down.  It was weird to think Ryan could be gone before I get home too.  But that is definitely not something he should ignore or decide right away. If the Lord needs him this summer he better be ready and you better be ready to let him go haha.    Something he will have to pray hard about.  Elder Holland totally stole my talk too haha well  kinda, I gave a talk on that same story my last week in Youngstown.  I have to say his was much better and much more convincing haha.  I hope you all got something out of conference.  I think the theme of it was that in the world we live in it is no longer enough to only have a testimony and knowledge of the gospel.  With the temptations and peer pressure we all face we need to be rooted and personally converted if were gonna make it.  And its something no matter how long we have been in the church or how old we are we need to be doing every day.  Every day being more converted and willing to follow the Lords counsel.  It was cool because Elder Perkins spoke in Priesthood and Elder Nash in conference.  2 GA's that have been to our mission since I have been here and have spent a day learning from.  It was cool to see them again and hear them speak. 

So last week we just got a random call from a girl saying she wanted to come back to church.  We met her on Friday night and she is 19 and going to school in Cleveland.  Basically she said she was sick of the way she was living her life went in and told her work she was taking Sundays off and going back to church and then called us.  Her and her family were baptized when she was 12 and fell away shortly thereafter.  She even came to the church with us on Sunday and watched conference.  I am pretty impressed with her.  She just decided to change one day and is actually acting upon it.  So many people, especially younger, realize they need to change but never do anything about it.  Or they do for like 3 days and then get bored and go back to what they were doing before.  I am excited to start teaching her and stuff though. 

Well I hope you have an awesome week and safe travels on your cruise!

Remember to ask the missionaries!  Cuz apparently we can help with everything!  Oh conference humor.  Its only funny to us out here haha,  but the statement is true haha 


Carlos H. Amado: “Some men are willing to die for their faith but will not fully live for it" 
 I think thats the difference between someone with a testimony and someone who is converted.  If you believe you would die for it if need be but if you are converted you will both live and die for your faith.  


Love and miss you!!

Elder Skalla

Message from MOM:
I got to respond right back to this email and was worried he would be mad at me for doing this cruise without him.  This is the response I got back:

"I have been out 15 months mom, I am at the peak of my mission, not much is gonna make me not want to be here haha  It's just a cruise.  Of course I wanna go though.  And Dave Ramsey will probably help me with my future a lot more than a cruise would haha"

I didn't ever think he would want to leave his mission for a cruise, but I did expect him to whine a little!  I  think I should have sent my girls on missions and my boys when they turned 16!!!  I love the growth, maturity and insight that a mission has given to Brad.  I love this boy with all my heart and I couldn't be more proud of him!  I highly recommend this mission thing!  Hardest thing and best thing EVER!!!