Brad's new home in Alliance, Ohio

Elder Warner & Elder Skalla

Elder Warner is finishing his mission and going home in December.

I feel like I need to send a dust ruffle and bed spread!  LOL

This is AFTER he has been scrubbing a little bit every day for a week!  YUCK! 

 Kitchen  after he has been cleaning every chance he gets!  Makes me wonder how bad it really was!

Alliance Ohio

Hi!!!!

I loved your e mail this week! Sounds like it was pretty exciting haha so before I get into everything going on in my new area and stuff I have to tell you some stuff about Tallmadge I didn't get to. We met a kid named Jawad who went to Akron U and taught him. He ended up being Muslim and brought his Qur'an with him and stuff. It was hard but really cool to teach someone about God and Jesus Christ when they really have no idea who they are. We read a lot from the Bible and Book of Mormon and from his Qur'an. It was really cool there are A LOT of similarities between the church and Muslim.  He wasn't comfortable praying but we set up another appointment with him so I think Elder Johnson taught him on Friday. I wish I could find out how it went but oh well. Also my last night in Tallmadge we had a lesson with a lady we tracted into named Michelle who was from Hawaii and been to the Polynesian cultural center and stuff who was golden.  It was awesome and I know she will get baptized so I was bummed about that, but whatever.

It was harder than I thought leaving Elder Johnson and Tallmadge!   I feel like a mission is 2 years of goodbyes! Elder Johnson even started tearing up when I said bye haha I am gonna miss him so much. Tallmadge is now the zone leader area for the Akron stake so Elder Johnson is now the Akron zone leader. He was nervous about it but he will do great.

So now I am writing you from the wonderful town of Alliance Ohio! Its sooooooo different from Akron. Its just a small like dying town and there is no ghetto which I am sad about I loved talking to people in the ghetto. Everything is old and stuff but I like it so far. Our area is huge. Its like 5 times the size of Tallmadge and we get the same amount of miles which is stupid. That one thing different about serving in Alliance is that we spend a ton of time driving. Most of the members live in Alliance or a suburb of Youngstown that is like an hour drive from us. Lots of farm land and even some Amish people haha I hate having to drive so far I feel like I am being very unproductive just sitting in the car. There is not a whole lot going on so far here. We have like 3 investigators and every single one is on probation so I dont know about them. But the night I got here we got a HQ referral for some people that live in Brodman or something like an hour away and we went and taught them and I am way excited about them. They have lots of questions though. It was cool because Brian prepared me for a lot of their questions. haha They were like cake compared to his. We are seeing them this Saturday when we are back up there. That's another thing I hate we can only see people like once a week because we have to spend so many miles getting there to teach them.

My companion is Elder Warner from Ontario California.  He doesn't like sports at all and knows nothing about them so that's gonna be different not playing basketball and talking about sports all the time like Elder Johnson and I.  He has been out a looooong time. In fact I will be killing him(terminology meaning he will be sending him home).  He goes home after this transfer.  He is supposed to go home in January but he is getting released early to go back to BYU for winter semester. We don't have a lot in common but I think we will do good work.

The apartment is pretty nice now that I cleaned the heck out of it. It was disgusting there was like mold and nasty stuff everywhere and smelled horrible. Its bigger than my last one and has a pretty nice kitchen and a sun room. I feel like I am gonna be here a long time so I figured I would at least make the apartment nicer haha

I have still been sick its so annoying I have had the worst headache and stuffy nose. I thought I was getting better but I guess not.

I was excited to hear about all the missionary work you have been doing!! Keep me updated on how everything goes!! I did get the YM/YW package haha they were pretty funny letters thank you for that. With the boots I will look around here for some. The library is in the "mall" and there is a JC penny right next door so maybe I will go look. So I left some glove liners in the center console of my truck and I kinda want them. Will you see if they are there and send them to me. Also everyone has this spry stuff that is supposed to keep your shoes dry and not smell on the inside so could you find me some of that. And any air freshener stuff. I am gonna go buy some of the plug in kind today so maybe some refills. Like the ones we have at home with the little glass thing full of stuff that screws on.


Well I have to get going but I sent my memory card home so be looking for that. I love and miss you and cant wait to hear from you next week!

Love

Elder Skalla 

First Transfer…

Well this was one looooong week!  haha I will just go day by day.   Tuesday we went on exchanges and I was in Cuyahoga Falls with Elder Weaver.  All of the appointments cancelled so we did A LOT of tracting.  haha We met this Nepali family and lets just say I am glad I am not serving in Nepal! haha This lady invited us in and it was like walking straight into Nepal and it smelled like the food.  There was music playing and all kinds of decorations and stuff.  There was like a billion people coming in and out of the house and we had discussions with like 3 different people who were the only ones who spoke a little english. haha It was quite the experience.  The whole time we were there the lady kept bringing us all kinds of drinks and Nepali tea, haha then all these teenagers came out of no where and she brought out these plates with massive piles of weird food and everone just starting eating it all with their hands and it was like rice and stuff.  haha We were just praying she didnt bring us a plate!  We didnt really get too teach because of the language barrier and all the different people coming in and out. Then all the sudden everyone just like ran out of the house and disappeared and it was just me, Elder Weaver and some 22 year old Nepali girl that didnt speak English and she just kept  staring at us so we were just like ok we gotta get going! haha It was so awkward. 

Wednesday we did meet with Brian, but we didnt talk about the Godhead he had all sorts of other things about prophets and stuff but we had a good discussion.  I am not really sure his desires are pure but I don't know,  I guess we will find out.  We are still teaching Alex but he is having some struggles right now so I dont know when he will ever be baptized but we still teach him every once in a while. 

On Wednesday night I started getting sick and had a sore throat and woke up the next morning all stuffed up and coughing and had a sinus headache and everything.  That lasted till Saturday so Thursday and Friday were just long and horrible.  I dont even remember what I did, I just did my best to act like I wasnt sick and get through the day and go home and take nyquil and go to bed. haha.  Its sooooo hard to want to do missionary work when you are sick but Saturday morning I got up and felt a little better and we had a ward service project mulching stuff so we went to that and I got better throughout the day.   I am still stuffy and coughing now but at least all the sinus stuff is better. 

So for the big news I am getting transferred...  Im not gonna lie I am not real excited about it.  The whole time we thought Elder Johnson was leaving and he even  said bye to people and stuff yesterday.  But now I am the one going. I feel like everything was finally starting to pick up here and I knew the area and what to do and was actually excited to take it over but now I have to leave and go start all over again somewhere else...  I have no idea where I am going or with who I just know I have to be packed and at transfers tomorrow in Kirtland.  Even though I am not excited about it now, I know the Lord has a place he needs me and Ill do work wherever I go.  So I will e mail you next week and tell you where I am and my address and stuff. 

Thanks so much for the Halloween package though!  That was a lot of candy! haha I dont know how I am going to pack all that now but I will figure something out. haha  Next time you send me a package in a month or whenever you should send more razor blades haha just so I dont forget in a few weeks.  I am glad the basement is fixed though!  Its good to finally get that out of the way!  

Well I am glad everything is going well and not too much exciting is happening haha I dont want to miss anything too exciting.  I love and miss you and cant wait to hear from  you next week from wherever in Ohio I will be!!

Love

Elder Skalla

Elders Skalla and Johnson have been teaching the two girls.  The guy is a boyfriend of one of them.

Elder Skalla and Alex

He was hoping to be able to baptize Alex before he was transferred.  I guess that won't happen but hopefully he can go to the baptism if he is in a close area.

Looks like Elder Skalla doesn't need a Halloween mask!  

Not all work…..

These pictures are from Zone Conference that they call "Zoned Out".  This was taken on the Johnson Farm.  I got them off of the mission blog and found the ones that had Brad in them.  He is wearing the gray shirt and black socks if you can't find him.  He says they play a lot of football on P-day with the other Elders.  It is great to see his cute smile!
I miss him like crazy, but don't want to see him for 21 more months!  Love this boy!

Week 11- Lot's of Teaching!!

Hi!!!

I am glad you guys had a good relaxing week!  My week was really good too!  It went by fast!  We taught a ton this week which was good.  We have a couple new people we are teaching too that I am very excited about!  One from Akron U who committed to be baptized so that was awesome.  He is 28 because he was in the army for a few years after highschool.  We are also teaching a girl tonight for the first time that wants to start coming to church and stuff.  She has a boyfriend on a mission right now so hopefully she will want to be baptized!  We thought it was kinda sketch at first because she requested not to be taught by sisters and wanted to have us over at her apartment for dinner for our first lesson haha we told her we could as long as we brought other people haha so we are doing that tonight. 

We also had a less active lady call us to come give her fiance a blessing.  They were just watching tv a while ago and he fell asleep and never woke up.  He has been in a coma for over a week now and they have no idea whats wrong so that was kind of an interesting blessing to give.  One of the AP's  who is going home next week came out and spent Tuesday and Wednesday with us.  It was really good we learned a lot from him.  I also had my first interview with president this week.  That went really well, we just talked about how to best help our investigator reach baptism. 

My companion had a pretty bad wreck on his bike the other day too haha He was just like riding and fell over and ripped a bunch of holes in his slacks and was covered in mud.  It was really funny but I felt bad haha.  That kid has the worst luck with bikes. 

So transfers are the 26th so dont send any mail unless it will get here before then because I have no idea what is going to happen.   The ZL's said there was a big change coming for this area and with the singles branch that is a big surprise to them, but they arent allowed to tell us so I dont know what will happen with me next week. We initially thought I would stay in Tallmadge and train but now with this new thing coming up I dont know what will happen.  And P day is on tuesday next week so I will let you know then where I am going.  

I am excited to see the basement and stuff!  Too bad we cant get new carpet down there.  I cant believe dad got an I phone too... He will probably have a mac computer by the time I get home haha Thats funny about Ryan haha that battery isnt that old I am surprised it died.  I miss my truck.  And driving haha hopefully I get to drive next transfer.  We have a rule that whenever the car is backing up you have to have someone behind you backing you and thats my job. I hate it, haha its so annoying.  Especially when I get in the car and then remember I have to back haha thats like the only reason I want to drive. 

I also did get to go to Q doba this week.  It was gooood :)  Do you know how Westley and Dustin and Clayton are doing in the MTC?   Tell Ryan to e mail me this week and I will write back.  I just dont have his e mail anywhere. 

Well I hope you have a good week!  Love and miss you all!  Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Love Elder Skalla

Week 10

I am glad you made it to Florida ok!!  Im jealous!  But the weather here has been beautiful all week!  Its been like low 70's and clear so we got to ride bikes without suits and the leaves are all changing so its really pretty here!  I hope the weather in Florida gets better though!! Too bad you didnt go to church, I know like 6 people from the mtc serving in that mission.  I cant wait to hear more about it and see pictures with nice weather.
 
This week was really good.  I got in my first door tracting! haha After the hundreds I have knocked and been rejected I like didnt even know what to do when the guy invited us in haha! It was funny but he is an older guy named Paul and we taught him a first lesson and have a return appointment with him so thats good!
 
On Wednesday when we taught Brian he texted us and said he really wanted to dive into the Book of Mormon today so we were all excited but he clearly found some anti.  He really wants to find the truth and wasnt bashing with us at all.  He has trouble with 3 seperate beings of the godhead and Christ and Heavenly Father having seperate bodies.  We have studied everything we have and cant find an answer he would be satisfied with.  And we have thrown the whole one  in purpose thing and everything I know about it but he wants like scriptures. It should be an interesting lesson on Wednesday. 
 
We did have an awesome week for church though!  We had 2 new investigators there and had multiple less active families that havent been to church in years back it was awesome to see.  Everyone was so excited they were back. 
 
We have met a lot of people through the table we have set up at Akron University too so we have been teaching quite a bit!  I wish I could just teach every hour of every day and not have anyone cancel on us haha but that would make a mission way too easy.  Its hard to find things to do when people cancel and its 8 at night and you cant tract because its dark and you just make people mad. 
 
Well I am sorry to not write much but we have to drive to the Akron building for zone p day and play football and I would rather play football than e mail haha no offense haha we just dont get to play sports much :) 
 
I love you and miss you!  Have fun on vacation!
 
Love
 
Elder Skalla
 

Week 9-Conference Weekend

Hi!!

It is a great time to be a missionary!  I dont think there is ever a bad time to be a missionary!  Conference was amazing though!  It killed our numbers and stuff because we like didnt teach at all this weekend but I loved it!   There were some very powerful talks this conference especially Elder Holland and Elder Packer.  I hope Ryan was listening.  I never appreciated conference at home but I have been looking forward to it forever here and like loved every talk.  One after another I kept thinking ok now that was the best talk none will be as good as that one then they were haha.  I loved all the talk about missionary work, charity, the scriptures and knowing that God loves us. I felt like I could apply those into my life and the work I am doing here.   I wish I brought my notes to the library with me but I forgot them. 

 

I got your letter!  I am impressed with all of your tennis matches by the way, you better get moved up!  Man I feel bad for Chloe, she is a trooper though! haha she wont seem to quit!  We do get the ensign and I have already read that whole Book of Mormon one but I am going to keep it for the future.  We get one every month but you should send me the conference one because I want to take more time reading those and have it to keep, but after that you dont need to send me the ensign. 

 

I am glad President Walker used that part of my e mail!!  The ward mission process is key and if used will work wonders!  The Bishops need to realize this! 

 

It has been FREEZING this week.  We went straight from hot and humid to freezing I seriously thought we were going to wake up to snow today but no just more rain.  I dont think it will ever quit. I am jealous you get to go to warm Florida!  

We taught a lot of good lessons this week and found a lot of new people but we will see if any of them progress.  Our really smart investigator Brian had awesome questions when we taught the plan of salvation.  The most in depth I have ever gone into it with an investigator but it was a really good lesson!  Friday was like the worst day ever.  Ryan Swingle who just got off his mission came out with us all day and we had a ton of lessons planned and every single one flamed us or cancelled.  Our entire day and evening was shot, it was horrible.  We didnt even have a dinner that night haha but then the Swingles took us out to applebees for dinner which was way nice of them and made the day seem not too bad.  I just HATE when people flame us or cancel on us last minute.  If people dont want to meet with us just tell us, I wont be offended haha.  I just hate planning people in and then wasting time.   But we learn and grow the most on the days that are hard and even though I thought the day would never end it did and we learned from it! 

 

Could you send me my priesthood line of authority for me though?   Like type one and laminate it.  Lots of people have problems with the whole priesthood authority restored thing so I think it would help them to see how it can be traced back to Christ. 

 

I am still doing great and loving it even on the hard days.  The lords hand is truly in this work and I see miricles every day teaching people the gospel.  I am so  thankful for this oppurtunity to serve a mission.  I hope everyone is doing well and tell Ryan good luck at Deca and you guys have fun in Florida!  Love and miss you!

 

Elder Skalla