Back on Temple Square & Today is Half-way‏

To All I love,

Back to Where it All Started:

It's truly amazing how fast 3 months goes. I truly feel as if I never went outbound; that it was one big giant dream. But I know, in the back of my head, that it's false. I'm happy to be back though, and to take everything I learned from Outbound and apply it to life here on Temple Square! Can you believe that I'm now in my 7th transfer and today is my half way mark? 9 months ago today I entered the MTC for the first time and in approximately 9 months I will be headed home. But we aren't going to think about that because I will always be a missionary and will never leave my mission. :) These past 9 months, though, have been some of the most cherished moments of my life. They have been some of the most challenging moments I have ever encountered. But its a learning process. What time in your life can you drop everything and just serve the Lord with everything you have? You only get one shot at it. It's amazing though, that we are allowed to be a part of such a marvelous, divine work. The opportunity to bring salvation to individuals across all corners of the world. We have the key, we have the key to salvation. The only way Salvation can be achieved is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a missionary we get to take this key and invite others to unlock the door to their salvation. Our purpose is simple, "Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel, through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end!" Today in Relief Society President Poulsen made each of us stop and think about how we are fulfilling our purpose. It made me personally stop and reflect on how I am fulfilling my purpose. But this isn't just applied to us missionaries. It's applied to all who will follow Jesus Christ. How are we fulfilling our purpose as missionaries or as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

New found friends in
Woodbridge

Bumped into Sister Sughroue
at the Atlanta airport. She
is replacing me in Richmond!

When we entered the waters of baptism we made a covenant with him. We became missionaries and became a part of this divine work. The only difference is we, meaning the full time missionaries, do this 24/7 - with all our attention consecrated on this sole purpose of helping others receive the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ into their life. But how are we fulfilling our purpose? This is such a marvelous work. It's a blessing to be a part of it and to witness the change that comes to individuals when they accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are ultimately converted to it. The greatest thing is seeing people not just gain a testimony of the Gospel but are converted to it. Being outbound I was able to be in contact with several individuals like Barbara and the Whalen Family who learned about this divine plan, recognized it's importance and then weren't only changed by it but were converted by it. Sister Nguyen, after I left Spotsylvania, came in and began working there. She was telling me the other day about the tremendous progress this family of 4 has made in just a short amount of time. It pretty much brought me to tears as she was explaining to me the simple things that were occurring with this family.

So long my Woodbridge friends!

Every Sunday Brother Whalen goes out with the elders now to teach. Well, for the first couple of weeks Christian, the 10 year old son, kept feeling like he needed to do something but couldn't figure out what. After several weeks, Christian asked his dad "Where are you going?" He informed Christian that he was going out with the Elders. Several minutes later Christian came downstairs all dressed and said, "Dad, I'm ready to go. Can I go with you?" Here is this 10 year old boy who has been observing his dad and now has the desire to go as well. That's not the end. They went to see a gentleman in the hospital. Christian apparently just bore, with his whole heart, his testimony to this gentleman. When Christian got home he looked at Brother Whalen and said, "Dad that feeling is gone now. That's what I was being told to do. I was supposed to bare my testimony to that gentleman." (I may have several things off because she shared the story with me several days ago.) Seeing the gospel change lives is just something I can't describe. It's a feeling like none other. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is remarkable and is truly a divine plan established for each of us to be able to return back home to our Father in Heaven.

A New Transfer:

Well, shall I tell you what's happening this transfer? For starters, as you already know, my new P-DAY is going to be on Thursdays! :) I will no longer be e-mailing on Mondays for the next 6 weeks. I am safe this transfer and get to be just a normal missionary! Which, to be honest, I'm totally okay with. I know it wont last long as the dynamics of the mission have changed drastically since I left. But anyways, my new companion is Sister George. She is from the Joplin, Missouri area. She is currently in her 3rd transfer and we will be serving in Guest Services together! Which means if you call to schedule a tour, ask about guest related information about Temple Square, etc., you have a slight chance of speaking with us. We serve in Guest Services about 2 hours a day everyday. I'm really excited for this upcoming transfer and for the opportunities that we will have together to help invite others to apply the Gospel of Jesus Christ into their life. It's something special, but its our ultimate divine purpose as missionaries, well, as members in general. Sister George and I know that as we have the faith to act, as we are exactly obedient to the rules and to the spirit, miracles will be witnessed.

Saying goodbye to my new friends
in Woodbridge

It's a blessing to be a missionary and I'm grateful for this time I have to be one. I hope you each know your Father in Heaven loves you and he is aware of you. The Atonement is real and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way to be successful in this life and to experience eternal joy in the life to come. It's a blessing to have the Gospel in my life. I don't know what I would do without this simple knowledge. If you don't know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that divine plan for you I invite you to apply it to your life. Take those steps in your faith to find out. We don't receive a witness (an answer) until after the trial of our faith (to apply the things we are learning). I can promise you that you will gain that answer for yourself. It may not come right away but our Heavenly Father will give you an answer. The Whalen family didn't get their answer right away. It came after they made their mind up that they were going to be baptized and they took the necessary steps to do so. As they were taking those steps, they received that answer. The Lord loves you, knows you and is aware of you. I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love Always,
Sister Skaggs

My companion for a week.....

The Close of A Chapter: Halfway Done, Outbound Finished‏

April 13th letter

To All I Love,

The Close to Outbound:

Sister Lee's "Little Sugar Glider" -  a pet flying squirrel

It's amazing how fast time truly does go by. This is my last and final email while being Outbound. It honestly is bittersweet. I have come to love Virginia a lot and there are moments when I just wish the Lord would allow me to stay here. But then I realize that my primary call was to the Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission and that's where I'm needed. Being here I have learned far too many things. I'm just grateful Heavenly Father allowed me the opportunity to have this experience. These past 3 months will be months I will always cherish. The people I have met while serving in both Spotsylvania and Woodbridge will always have a piece of my heart. These past 3 months have flown by. They have been filled with moments of great joy, moments of lowest of lows, moments of miracles, moments of laughter. It has truly just been an experience that you can't describe. Just imagine being called to a mission and you only have 3 months to do EVERYTHING that a normal missionary has 18 months - 2 years to do and then it's done. That's the simplest way to put it. We cram 18 months worth of a mission into 3 months. Heavenly Father, though, has shown to me a lot that I have never recognized before. I truly have seen some of the greatest miracles here. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is "Act in Faith". We must act in faith and trust the Lord. I think back on the experience with Daphne or the Whalen's. What if we didn't act on the faith we had and trusted in the Lord that they would be baptized?

Sister Skaggs and Moore

Leaving new-found friends behind

This past Saturday we had another remarkable miracle occur. We came to this apartment complex to contact some potential investigators. As we were getting out of the car this gentleman caught my attention but I didn't give it much thought. About 15 minutes later he was still leaning against his balcony across the parking lot. Sis. Kellogg got into the car and I started backing her (when backing out of someplace one of the missionaries has to be outside of the car directing the other missionary while backing out). I had this simple thought of "you're going to get in the car, drive away and then regret not speaking to him. Speak to him now." Next thing I remember I'm backing my companion out and yelling across the parking lot to this guy asking how he was. He replied and then asked how I was doing. I mentioned I was having a great day. He then asked what we were doing and what church we were from. I couldn't really understand him due to the noise of the car backing up. So, I awkwardly told him to hold on one second while I have my companion re-park the car so I could hear him. I replied by stating who we are and what we do. He asked if our church was nearby. Then at that moment another car started up he said, "I will just come down to you." We started talking to him and he said he is just struggling with a lot and is wanting to find peace again in his life. He said he has been reading the Bible to gain further direction. He mentioned he had made a lot of mistakes and wants to be clean again in his life. He asked about baptism and church. We invited him to attend church and he said he would. The funny part was when he texted us so we could save his number in the phone he was already programmed into our phone. However, we have never seen his name in the area book. I didn't make a comment to him I just continued on like missionaries had never been in touch before. We gave him the address to the building and he said he would come to church tomorrow. When we got in the car I mentioned to Sis. Kellogg that he was already programmed into our phone, which means missionaries have previously been in touch. We were shocked and kind of freaking out with excitement. We got back to the apartment and found out that last September the missionaries received him as a Church Headquarters referral.

Friends made in
Virginia

I remember that evening, when I opened my fast, praying that I know he would be there tomorrow and that the things said would touch his heart. Lately I have learned that we aren't to ask that, for example, he would come to church but that we are to act in faith that he was coming and then ask specifically for what we would like him to know. At first I was a little hesitant being bold in my prayer but I recognized that as we firmly act in faith and it is something that is good in Heavenly Father's eyes that miracles can occur. Sunday morning arrives and we were still directing our prayers that he would be coming and that as he was there he would recognize certain things. Ten minutes before church starts the Elders come up to us saying, "Your Investigator is here." We look over and there is John with our Ward Mission leader. Fast forward to Sacrament meeting, all of John's concerns were mentioned in the testimonies. I know that as we act in faith, miracles do happen. We need to be firm in our faith and firmly trust the Lord.

In the Bible in James 1 it talks about asking the Lord in faith with nothing wavering. I can promise you, as I have seen with my own eyes on multiple occasions, that as we involve the Lord in our life, as the desires of our hearts are good, and as we ask in faith with nothing wavering miracles are possible. I know the Lord is ready to bless us and pour out miracles to us as we are willing to submit our will to his. What if I allowed my fears to talk to a gentleman across the parking lot while I was backing the car get in the way? None of that would have occurred. The Lord is waiting to use us an instrument in his divine work but we must first be willing to submit ourselves to his will and trust him.

The Zelayas

I will miss outbound tremendously and wish so much I could stay and continue to live this aspect of missionary life. But I know that the Lord needs back on Temple Square. Thank you to all those who have entered my life while I have been here these short 3 months. You have blessed my life in more ways than I can think. I look forward to when I come back to see you. I love you all!!! :)

Shortest Time With A Companion:

Sister Skaggs and Kellogg

Haha, so let's talk about being with a companion for a short amount of time... I just LOVE Sister Kellogg soo much!! It's sad that we were companions for only one week. She is a remarkable missionary in many different aspects! I feel so blessed to have gotten to work with her. The new Temple Square Sister replacing me is so lucky! Sis. Kellogg is a California girl as well, except she is from Clovis. She has 8 siblings!! I don't know what it is with companions and 8. Sis. Moore had 8 in her family, too. Sis. Kellogg and I found out that we were at BYU-I at the same time together. It's funny because we could have bumped into each other and who would have known that a year and a half later we would be companions? She is so amazing! Who knew in just one week you could see so many miracles, have many funny moments, and create a lot of memories? Apparently, you can with us. Just about every night we have found ourselves just laying in bed talking as we fall asleep. We just sat up last night talking about everything. We found ourselves just crying as we talked about our life stories. I wish we could be companions longer.

Funniest Moment of My Mission!

This, by far, is the funniest moment of my mission. Saturday evening we were at our dinner appointment sharing with them a spiritual thought. The spiritual thought was on missionary work. I was bearing my testimony to them about the blessings of doing missionary work when Peter, their 5 year old son, who is sitting next to me, turns and looks at me and says, "Your babies are in heaven waiting." We all just looked at each other like "wait, what was just said?" He looks at me again, "Yah, your babies aren't here, they are in heaven waiting." His dad turned bright red and was like, "We are so sorry." I just decided to go along with it and was like, "Yup, Peter, they are. I still have to finish my mission and then get married, so they won't be here for awhile." It was really funny. Afterwards Sis. Kellogg and I just couldn't stop laughing when we left. We have no idea where that even came from. So, yah, that is the funniest moment so far on my mission!

Halfway Done:

The Spanish speaking Sisters
Hermana Kinglsy & Yost

Okay so this week marks halfway on the mission!! Can you believe I have been out for 9 months!!?? Crazy. Yah, it's scaring me how fast time flies! I just wish it would stop so I could ALWAYS be a missionary. I'm starting to get to the point where I just never want to leave. It feels like just yesterday I was in training and now I'm halfway done with my mission. I was emailing one of my trainers (Sis. Ferguson) a couple minutes ago, who is now off her mission, and it's so weird because I feel like it was just yesterday we were together or I was at the airport picking her up from outbound and now I'm coming back from Outbound. Time is starting to fly. That's why we must live it to its fullest!

Richmond, VA Mission
President & Sister
Wilson with Sister
Skaggs and Nguyen

Well, time is running short. Next time I email I will be back on Temple Square. I have an early morning flight Wednesday, well like 9:45, and then a 2 hour layover in Atlanta and should arrive in Salt Lake about 4 PM. Love you all! Thank you for everything you do for me and for all the support! I feel blessed to have each of you in my life! Love you all!!! Be safe! Again next time I email it will be from Temple Square and I don't know when my Preparation Day will be until I arrive back to the mission office on Wednesday.

Love!

Sister Skaggs

So long Virginia! I will miss
you!!!
Sister Nguyen and Skaggs
at the airport heading back
to Temple Square

Feasting Upon Spiritual Candy‏

[Note from Sis. Skaggs mom - this is from April 6th - I'm a week behind - sorry!]

Spiritual Candy:

Washington, D.C. temple

This past weekend was phenomenal!! General Conference is one of my ALL time favorite weekends of the year! Why? Well it's TWO full days of spiritual candy! It's this sweet treat that you can only indulge yourself in twice a year. It was interesting, the different things they focused on this past conference. I noticed they emphasized a lot on Families and Marriage which was interesting because if you think about it, the family is under attack. It is the basic unit. As we strengthen our family we will have a greater defense to withstanding the storm that is raging all around us. It reminded me of the family I have been blessed to have and the example that you each are to me. Family, thank you for creating an environment that is a refugee from the storm. Growing up I always felt that I had a place of protection. Thank you Mom and Dad for allowing the Gospel to be the center of everything we did. Know that I love you each.

Missionaries at the D.C. temple

Another topic that I loved a lot from conference is the Sabbath Day and the Sacrament. They discussed the importance of keeping these two things sacred and separate from the world. It was interesting to see just how bold they were when they discussed the concerns of these two sacred things. It made me reflect on how I observed the Sabbath before my mission and how I want to observe it after my mission. It is a day that Heavenly Father has given to us to rest from the day to day demands. As we carefully reflect on how we use this sacred time he has given us we will be greatly blessed. I always felt before my mission that is was fine to take naps all day but I realized from General Conference that it is a time that if we spend it wisely we can indulge ourselves in strengthening our relationships with family, growing our testimonies and building our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Ahh I just love conference! I love all the glorious candy we get to feast upon, well, only if we allow ourselves to. What did you learn from Conference? How did Conference bless your life? What enabled you to change?

A Drive, A Walk and A Sprint through Washington D.C.

One of the best days ever was being able to attend the Washington D.C. temple. I just love the temple. This past Thursday all of the departing missionaries had the privilege of attending the Temple. Such a feeling of peace and spiritual rejuvenation comes as we take the time to attend the Temple. It was a special thing to be able to attend with my Mission President and his wife as well. I'm going to miss them greatly when I leave this mission next week. They picked us up at like 9 AM and then we did the 11 AM session. Afterwards we grabbed a quick bite and walked around the Visitor Center. That was different being at a Visitor Center and knowing I would be back there again in a week doing what those Sisters were doing. When that part of the day was complete President Wilson did the scenic route through Washington D.C. When you see the pictures you will understand why it was just a quick scenic drive by. I tried to get a picture with me in one of them as we were driving by but it was a little harder than I thought. When we arrived to the Lincoln Memorial Pres. Wilson said, "Okay, so now you can get out and run to the Lincoln Memorial and take some pictures. And then run to the Vietnam Memorial. And I mean run. So run!" Yah, we looked a little different -- 20 missionaries running up the steps to the Lincoln Memorial and then sprinting the the Vietnam Memorial.  I overheard someone say, "Who are they"... and then someone else said, "They are the missionaries." For some reason it was BEYOND crowded. I felt as if it were summer vacation! So that is why its a drive, a walk and a run through D.C.

Transfer Calls:

Best news ever! I didn't receive a phone call!! So I'm staying in Woodbridge!!! Well only for a week! I'm beyond excited! What is happening is Sis. Moore will drive down tomorrow since her mission is over and then I will be on exchanges with another sister all day. I will get a new companion in the evening and then will prep her on the new area. Next Tuesday, April 14th, I will drive down to Richmond and then on the 15th I will fly back to Temple Square. Then the two new Sisters will fly out and one of them will replace me here in Woodbridge. But GET THIS... on Thursday Pres. Wilson pulled me aside and was like "I received word yesterday as to who the new sisters were that were coming in. Sister Kim from Korea and then Sister (He couldn't pronounce it) she is from California." I started thinking of the Sisters below me who were from California I was like "There is Sister Sughroue" and he is like "how do you spell it?... yep that is her. That is the other one coming in." I about passed out when I heard Sis. Sughroue was coming outbound to Richmond, VA!! What does that mean? Well she has a 1 out of 2 chance of replacing me here in Woodbridge. For those who will read this and don't know, she is a Sister from my home stake that I have known for a long time due to mutual friends. That was exciting! I wish I could e-mail her and tell her ALL about this place but we are asked to have no contact with Temple Square Sisters which will allow us to focus all of our time, attention and energy on outbound. Anyways I just thought that was really exciting.

The Work:

Friends from the senior center

Nothing a whole lot has changed. We have been working a lot lately with recent converts and Less Actives, which I love! Our area has had multiple baptisms from Less Active families within the past several months which our attention has been focused on them. I love this area so much! It has been an area filled with miracles and the people are amazing! I wish I could stay forever but I know that my time here is done, well almost, and that I'm needed back on Temple Square. Its been a blessing to witness many amazing miracles out here in Virginia and I look froward to the many miracles that lie ahead this upcoming week! :)

I love these "grandmas"!

Well I love you all! Continue to press forward. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is the importance to heed to the promptings of the spirit. When we deny the spirit we weaken our senses of the spirit in our lives. Most importantly, just trust Heavenly Father. He truly knows us best. Lean on his son and his ultimate sacrifice for us. It's the greatest blessing of all to have. Give the Lord everything you have. Don't allow yourself to be held back due to fear. As we strive to heed the promptings of the Holy Ghost we will be worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost at all times. We will have the trust of our Father in Heaven.

I feel blessed to know each of you! I love you more than words can describe! :)

LOVE YOU ALL!! <3

Sister Skaggs

More pictures from this past transfer:

Replica of what the inside
of the D.C. temple looks
like

  

The Harrison family

Faith in Every Footstep

Loved Ones,

 

A Time to be Grateful:

 

Sister Moore and Sister Skaggs
with Daphne

Wow can I just say how incredibly grateful I am to be a missionary! Being a missionary has and continues to be one the most joyous times of my life. Why? Seeing others recognize that they are children of God and seeing them take this glorious plan and apply it to their life is just something that you can't experience anywhere else. It is the highest of highs and it's something I wouldn't trade for the world. However as missionaries we do absolutely nothing!! These past couple of weeks I have come to learn that as missionaries you do absolutely nothing. We are just the instruments in the Lord's hands and he gives us the privilege to witness miracles. I'm just grateful for this opportunity I have to be a missionary and to have this experience to be outbound. When we have the faith and we are obedient we can witness miracles. This past Friday we were on exchanges with the STL's [Sister Training Leaders] and it was one of those days where we woke up and we just had appointment after appointment. The evening was coming to a close and all the families that we had been trying to see all week cancelled on us again. We were pretty bummed about that which gave us this awkward 30 minute window with drive time included. We decided, "Well, we might as well go tract." Sister Johns and I decided that we wanted to pass out two "Because He Lives" pass along cards and receive a new investigator and we only had 30 minutes to do so. The first 3 houses nobody was home. We had about 10 minutes left when she is like, "Let's go to the yellow house." As we were walking that direction I was like,  "You know, the white house looks nice. We should try it and then go to the yellow house." As we approached the door the lady answers and we ask if we could share the new video with her. She didn't

At Daphne's baptism

even hesitate to let us in. As we are sitting there waiting for the video to load she starts talking to us about how she has a friend who is Mormon and how she loves to attend different churches on Sunday, etc. Sis. Johns and I just start testifying to her of the Gospel of Jesus Christ being restored on the earth again and how as we attend church and meet with representatives of Jesus Christ we can come to find out these things for ourselves. She mentioned that she would be glad to and that she wanted to come to church but already had plans. Sis. Johns didn't even hesitate asking her if she wanted to attend the Women's Broadcast the following day (Saturday evening). Janet is her name - she was like, "Yah. I have nothing going on I would love to." We talked with her a little bit more and then bore our testimonies

Daphne and Sister Skaggs

and left. We were acting in faith that she would come but you never know. Well, Saturday we had Daphne's baptism and then right after, the Ice Cream social. As we walk into the cultural hall all I hear is, "That's her." I look over and there is Janet talking to this lady from another ward.  I, at first, was shocked but then beyond excited that she actually came! We showed her around the building and then watched the broadcast. Afterwards we were talking about what stood out to her and she said, "I love the emphasis on families and how they really instill to you young people your purpose as Daughters of God and how to raise families and be moms and wives, I really loved that." We are meeting with her again, as of right now, on Wednesday. She is so sweet! I really just love the simple lesson of - as you act in faith miracles happen.

Making A Covenant with Your Father in Heaven:

Daphne's family at her baptism

Daphne and her new
scriptures from her parents

Probably one of the greatest moments was seeing Daphne baptized this past Saturday and then confirmed on Sunday. Seeing this precious Daughter of God so excited to make this covenant with her Father in Heaven and then to see her parents and little brother there to support her is something special. Sis. Moore and I were just in tears the whole time - tears of joy. Daphne has been wanting to be baptized for months but never had received the approval. But then we acted in faith and with the Lord's help put her on date and she was able to receive the approval and be baptized. Daphne was shocked when she received her quad (set of scriptures with the Old and New Testament, Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price and Doctrine and Covenants) with her name engraved on it from her parents. She is such a special little girl and I feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to witness such a joyous time for her.

Daphne and her Bishop
at her baptism

Sorry this is shorter than usual. My Temple Square President was asking me a few questions about outbound and so I was responding to him, which was really neat because it forced me to spend a couple of minutes reflecting on my experience of being here in Virginia which comes to a close in just 2 short weeks.

Daphne's mom and Sis. Moore

Before I close -- guess what week this week is?! GENERAL CONFERENCE!! The best week of the whole year - well, one of the best weeks!! What a glorious opportunity we each have to hear from the Prophet and other leaders of the Church. We get to hear those messages that our Father in Heaven needs us each to hear! As you take the time the next couple of days, think about those things that your heart is in search of, those questions that you need answered. As you take the time to ponder and prepare yourself I can promise you that your spirit will be edified in more ways than you can think of. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity that you have to listen from a Prophet of God, to listen from his apostles and other individuals that he has called to give us that divine guidance we need that will enable us to withstand the forces of the outside world. I know this Gospel is true and I know that as we open our hearts to the messages of Conference we will receive that personal, divine guidance! I love you all and I hope you have a fantastic week and Easter Weekend as you remember your Savior Jesus Christ!

Love always!!

Sister Skaggs

Below are pictures of Sister Skaggs and other sister missionaries from her area enjoying a fun p-day (preparation day where they get shopping, laundry, letter writing and fun/relaxing stuff to do!)

Beautiful Potomac view

Sis. Skaggs in Maryland??

 

Sis. Skaggs at the waters
edge.....

Sis. Skaggs and Moore

More p-day fun at the Potomac!

P-day fun!

Sis. Skaggs back in Virginia!

Some p-day fun at the
Potomac

Sis Skaggs and Moore
p-day fun at the
Potomac