Happy 21st Birthday!!!

HA I cant believe I am 21 either...  I dont feel like it.

I had a great last week as an assistant with transfers.  I can not thank Heavenly Father and President Vellinga enough for that opportunity.  I learned more in those 6 months than I think I have my entire life.  I saw myself doing things I didnt know I could do. I will think back on those times for the rest of my life.  Everything went pretty smoothly with transfers.  I think we finally have how to do these big groups down.  Transfer meeting was great.  President had me conduct one last time and he said some really kind things about me being his assistant.  It was hard calling up all the missionaries up who went home. I like almost got a little choked up.  I have spent my whole mission with those guys and there were 3 assistants and 4 zone leaders so I was around them a lot.  It was hard to say bye to such a solid group.  

I am loving my new area!  My new companion is pretty good too.  Kinda frustrating though.  He goes home the transfer after me and I am pretty sure he is way trunky.  He is way too concerned about getting his "personal time",  his days revolve around what he is going to eat for lunch and getting to P day. He refuses to take less than an hour for lunch and dinner.  He also has a little planter faciitis or whatever so he has to stretch and ice his feet like 4 times a day which takes forever so that is frustrating but whatever, I think we will be fine.  Its always going to be different coming from "heaven" with Elder Weaver and Elder Ingersoll to someone else.  

This area is soooooo different though.  The Shaker Heights part is way nice but we only cover a little bit of that.  Our area is either really, really nice or really really, really ghetto.  Its part of the East side of Cleveland.  Its the weirdest place I have ever been.  You can be on a corner and look at one street with huge, nice, beautiful, historic homes and then turn your head and see one of the worst parts of Cleveland.   I have already seen some pretty dang funny stuff too.  People are so weird.  Just last week the Elders came back to the apartment and there was a huge black man in whitey tightys asleep on Elder Christensen's bed.  haha They were in the back of the apartment and then he just walked out and there was a big black man in his bed, haha.  They took a picture and called the cops and they came and got him out haha.  We always make sure the door is locked now even if we are just inside the apartment for a minute haha.  We live with the East Cleveland Elders too.  The apartment is pretty cool.  Its in a place called Shaker square which is a nicer part of town.  Its beautiful, you should google it. (like I hadn't already!!)  The buildings are really old though.  We have all hard wood floors and stuff.  Its cool though I like it. We have a truck so we dont have to bike at all.  I am actually working on selling my bike so hopefully I can get rid of it soon.  The ward here is pretty good.  We share it with 2 sets of Sisters.  It is mostly all young medical students.  I think it is the loudest ward I have ever been in. haha (lots of babies??)  The baptism on Friday went great and it was cool but really weird to see Elder Weaver with his family.  She gave me a hug from you haha.  

So one of the brand new missionaries Elder Flinders lives with us.  His birthday is today too so we are going to go out and eat to celebrate.  He is turning 19 though haha.  Do you want to buy my lunch for me?  :)  And groceries is exactly what I was going to ask for for my birthday.  I always need stuff when I get transferred, mostly cleaning supplies because missionaries are not very clean and also I will need a lot of food.  We never get fed in this ward so we eat at home every day. I have had a PB&J every meal since Wednesday.  I am so sick of it haha 

President called this morning as well as the Thompsons from the Lakewood ward and Sister Vellinga.  Sister Jacklin e mailed me another picture of her granddaughter and said she says happy birthday, but I have a feeling Elder Ingersoll and Elder Labar had something to do with that one. haha I laughed though. 

I will be back in the office on Tuesday for mission council. 

 So I am confuse about what you sent me.  Should I go home and check the mail before I go out to eat and use that money?  

Love, Elder Skalla

Brad's new apartment…yes, they sleep in the living room haha

Current and Former Assistant's

 Saying good bye is always hard.  These two have been great examples to Brad.

A "District" run