I just never dreamed I would fall in love with a place and a people like I have

There is no such thing as a normal week anymore!  haha I just live day to day on the fly now.  There is just SO much changing right now it is crazy...  Everything we do is just on a huge level now so we have to plan differently.  It is so cool to see though.  I was making a new mission map this week and I just looked at it compared to the one when I first got here and it is a miracle to see what has happened the last 2 years.  It is just a cool time to serve a mission and see all these new missionaries and especially be an assistant and be able to see the whole picture and participate in making plans and changes that will effect this mission for years to come.  I could have cared less about Ohio and what goes on here before my mission, but now I treat it and think about it so differently.  We know the areas and the mission geography and the work a lot more than President just because we have been out there so he relies a lot on us for advice on where to put missionaries and stuff like that and it has been interesting because it is something I fast and pray about now.  I just never dreamed I would fall in love with a place and a people like I have.  And its Cleveland of all places! hahaha No matter where you are called you love your mission not because of where you are, but because of the people you get to meet.  Thats why everyone loves their mission because you have to serve where there are people haha.    

We had our training meetings with all the new ones this week.  We had to do it in 2 separate meetings because of the size.  It was good though.  It is fun to see how much they have already changed in the week they have been out.  One of our meetings was in Bowling Green so President let us stop at Panda again on the way home.  We also had a mission Presidents fireside in Lima last night which went really well.  The only bad thing is that Lima is 3 hours away.  We left right after church and squished Me, Elder Ingersoll, President, Sister Vellinga, Kristen and 2 Sisters we picked up in Bowling Green.  It was funny like right after we left Sister Vellinga pulled out a notepad full of questions and wanted to know what they need to do better as mission President and what has changed since President Sorensen left and all these other questions.  It was funny but they are seriously so great.  I have enjoyed spending so much time with them the last few months.  Speaking of them, Kristens birthday is in May.  Will you look on the internet for me and see if they have anything from the movie "Spirit"  its a long story but just like a lunch box or t shirt or little horse or something like no more than 10 bucks?  thank you!  Also can I send a package of winter stuff home??  

So yesterday at church was crazy.  This new young family moved into the ward, just a couple and a new baby and they walk in and I shook their hands and I like was staring at this lady cuz she looked so familiar. Then she says Hi how are you?!  and I remembered.  It was my MTC teacher Sister Maxfield. It is something different now but  How random is that.  Her and her husband moved into the North Olmsted ward for 6 months while he is doing sales.  She couldnt believe how long I had been out either.  She asked if she was pregnant when she taught me and I said no you werent even married yet and she was like OH well than you must be going home soon then.  I cant believe she even kinda remembered me though.  It was fun to see her again.  

So we finally found a new investigator this week.  It was a guy Elder Weaver and I met a few months ago and he is a great guy just really busy and stuff but he is building a house.  We offered to help all the time but on friday night we finally got a call from him.  He said he just needed help holding something so we just went over in our suits to see if we could help. Ha it was crazy.  It was him and 2 foul mouthed construction workers and we were putting a roof and this huge garage shed thing he is building.  So they have us get up there on like these beams and have us hold the roof frame while they nail it in and stuff.  We were there for like 2 hours standing like 20 feet up in our suits haha.  But the next morning he met us at the church and he accepted baptism and tonight we are going back not in our suits to help.   

Man I was ecstatic when I heard about Steph.  That is so crazy.  I hope she serves in our stake cuz I will give her a million referrals and go teaching with her. I bet she felt a lot like I did though.  A call to Denver south is kind of like a call to Cleveland in terms of excitement, but I know she will love it.   As for apartments and stuff I trust her with my life, so I trust her with that.  I wish I did know someone that was for sure going there though.  There are a bunch of guys from the mission who are thinking about it but haven't made a decision.  Oh well I am sure it will be fine.  I don't know if I even have any questions about school but I will think of some.  I totally forgot I was talking to you on mothers day! haha  I didn't realize that was so soon.  But I am excited!  My church is at 11 so I will get out at 12 your time. I will let you know when to get on.   

As for homesickness advice I am the wrong one to ask.  I have a hard time helping people with that kind of stuff because I am not very Christ like in understanding them because I would just say buck up get over it.  But I understand it is a real concern and some people do have a hard time with it.  Hopefully that doesn't make you feel bad that I don't miss you so much that I can't even stand to focus on anything else ;)       

Well I hope you have a great week!  Love and miss you!!  

Elder Skalla