Nearing the end…

Man what a week...  We struggled a little more teaching this week but had some good things happen.   On Monday we went to Kirtland to play Frisbee and stuff with the zone.  We were playing ultimate and an Elder Nailed me right in the face with the Frisbee from like 2 feet away.  I guess it slipped out of his hand but there was a nice stream of blood out my nose for a while and a pretty nasty bruise right under my nose on my upper lip.  It still kinda hurts but the bruise is already going away.  It hurt though haha.  It was funny because the whole zones concern was that I was going to go home with a bruise on my face and look ugly haha but it will be fine by then.  

Tuesday was an answer to prayer...  I guess President talked to the assistants and told them to go on an exchange with us because he felt bad I wasn't getting to work all day.   So Elder Ingersoll came to Shaker and worked with me all day Tuesday and slept over Tuesday night.  I love that kid.  It was so fun just to work all day and teach and be in a totally different area serving together.  I had a blast and his excitement and work ethic motivated me.  I miss serving with him.  I would love to do it again but just be normal missionaries without all the extra stuff to worry about.  I did get my birthday present from him too. haha he got me a really cool Boise State shirt.  

The rest of the week was pretty slow.  We got back in contact with one of the families that was facing opposition from her relatives this week.  I wrote her a letter and left a Book of Mormon and Restoration DVD on her doorstep and she texted us and said she was going to start reading over the weekend so we are going to talk with her again this week.  

I really enjoyed the broadcast!  There were so many rumors flying across the mission it was insane.  It was wayyyyyy too hyped up out here haha.   But it almost made me more like sad than anything since I am leaving.  Some of those videos of the kids preparing for their missions and getting their calls and going to the MTC were tear jerkers for me.  And then seeing all those missionaries in the MTC was amazing.  I just hate that I will never again be part of this in the capacity I am.  But it was inspiring especially as far as member missionary work goes.  So I guess I will get to apply some of that in a few weeks.  I am glad you drug Ryan to it.  He needed to see that.  He is the one that will be doing all of that.  

I have my exit interview with President on Thursday... I am sure that is going to be fun haha. 

That is funny about Elder Hapairais girlfriend, I heard that story a time or 2 haha.  I am happy for him though.  I don't know what it is but everyone is getting engaged lately from this mission...  And all to people they met on their missions haha. There is one AP engaged to a training sister another AP engaged to a sister and an Elder engaged to a member from here and Elder Hapairai engaged to someone from the MTC...  weird stuff.  I tell President that is why we aren't baptizing haha 

I would love to come teach the 4 year olds with you.  I have done it a time or 2 out here and am still alive haha. 

Boy that is quite the topic...  haha I am supposed to share all of that in only 15 minutes??  I will do my best,  I feel like I could talk for days about that. I am excited though.  

I did not know that but I am glad!  She needs to do something else! I haven't talked to her in a little while.  How is her progress towards the temple do you know?? 

i will send you her address next week.  

I hope you have a great week!!  

Love and miss you! 

Elder Skalla

Oh I forgot about part of my week.  On Friday I went on exchanges in East Cleveland with Elder Tam.  That was a blast too.  They dont have a car so they take the bus train and walk everywhere.  IT was soooo different but a ton of fun.  There are some pretty crazy people on busses haha  I did have one amazing experience though.  It was really crowded and we were sitting on different sides of the bus and I started talking to the guy next to me.  Turns out he joined the church in the Navy in 2006 and just got out of the marines 3 months ago and came back to Cleveland.  He was such a cool guy.  He said that the time he was active in the church was the happiest he has ever been in his life.  He said he had looked up the church around here but was too afraid to go back alone so he goes to a Non Dom with a friend of his. We talked for probably 20 minutes and got his information and stuff.  It is just amazing the people that Heavenly Father places in your path.  No one probably knows where he is living and his records are probably floating around somewhere and Heavenly Father sticks me on a bus in the ghetto of Cleveland right next to this guy.  incredible.  His name is Chaz and he is working with the VA teaching an addiction recovery program.  We will hopefully meet with him this week.