The Work is Moving Forth‏

From 7/02/15

Family and Friends,

I figured I should probably start writing the main email home instead of replying back to everyone! Family, it sounds like you are doing so well! I can't wait to hear all about your Southeast trip. You're going to have a blast even if I'm not there. But that's, okay because I get to be here serving the Lord and I will be with you in spirit. Not a whole lot has happened this week, surprisingly. I really want to talk though about those we are teaching. If you really stop and think about it, many people, even those you work with, are prepared to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and believe it or not, it starts within our own families. Let me just give you examples of what I mean by talking about the people we are working with!

 

Liberia is Progressing:

 

A motorcoach tour - I love these people!!!

GREAT NEWS!! As of YESTERDAY Liberia was reestablished as a mission, and they received their new mission president! We talked with the Branch President that we are working with in Liberia in a little city called Kakata, and he mentioned about the meeting he had the other week with the new mission president, mission presidency, and the area presidency. He mentioned that the mission will be reestablished as of yesterday and that a little handful of missionaries would be coming with the new mission president. Oh and even GREATER NEWS -- he will talk with them about setting up a day and time for our investigators to be BAPTIZED!! When he mentioned that to me it just made me so happy hearing about this. The Branch President said they will still be a couple months out, more than likely, until they will get missionaries but since they will have missionaries back there it will be a little bit easier to do the baptisms and the interviews. I'm so excited for the day I get to call each of them and hear about their baptism. The hardest part about teaching them is not being able to establish an actual baptismal date with them because of the situation we have. We still currently don't have local missionaries but that is okay for now. The church is firmly established there and so we know they are each in good hands. Let me talk about each of them!

 

Morou - We got a hold of Morou the other day!! We talked with his wife on I believe Saturday and mentioned that we would try calling on Sunday. Unfortunately we were unable to get a hold of them so we tried calling again on Tuesday. And guess what??? Ahh they are just amazing! So we are talking with him in the morning to set up a return appointment and Morou is like "Call me again late tonight. I will be home with my wife." We are like okay that will be perfect. He then proceeds to say, "You are teaching me the Word of Wisdom right? My wife told me that's what we would be talking about. I will be ready to learn about the Word of Wisdom." As a missionary that just makes your whole day when your investigator says that. It had been about 3 weeks since we last talked with him. We called them at like 10:30 P.M. their time (they like talking late) and they were both waiting together to be taught with their Word of Wisdom Pamphlet all ready to go. As we asked him questions and read and discussed about the Word of Wisdom he gave us such heartfelt testimonies about why he should live the Word of Wisdom. Here he has had to wait months to be baptized because he doesn't have local missionaries and it is just a little complicated and with the phone connection but he is still being diligent about preparing to be baptized. His wife is SO FUNNY! I just love her! My favorite part is when they say the opening and closing prayers. They are heart felt and sincere. They mentioned about how someday I will have to come and visit them in Liberia. I said someday I will whether in this life or in the next.

 

 

A family from Mainland China

Patricia - We taught Patricia the other day as well! Her fiance is a member but she is not but she goes to church every Sunday and has a desire to be baptized. We had her pray about a baptismal date but she hasn't come to that conclusion yet on when she feels she will be ready to be baptized. We asked her why she feels she needs to be baptized or meet with the missionaries and she says, "I need to meet with you in order to be baptized and it will all prepare me for being married." They each have such a firm desire to follow the word of God. The one thing that just breaks my heart is when they ask if I will be at church on Sunday. I have to tell them every week that I wont be there. I wish that I could be reassigned to Liberia. But I know that is one prayer Heavenly Father won't answer. I told them I look forward to the day when I can say that "you will have missionaries at church tomorrow" but for now we will only be there in Spirit. Patricia's fiance, Jorou, is like, "Sista Skaggs, where are you staying when you come?" and then every-time I have to inform him that I'm actually in Salt Lake City, Utah in America. The Gospel is true, people are prepared! In both of these instances they are family and friends who have brought those dear to them to church and because of the example they have set these loved ones are preparing to enter the waters of baptism. It will be a glorious day when they can each be baptized.

 

A family from So. Cal.

Cyrus - Cyrus is so prepared! He has been attending church EVERY SUNDAY for the past 6 MONTHS!! When we talked with him I asked him, "Cyrus why do you want to meet with the missionaries?" His reply, "Well, I know that I want to be baptized. I know that I must meet with you and you will teach me the word of God which will prepare me to be baptized." He has been living with his Uncle for these past couple of months. We invited him to really read the Book of Mormon and testified about how it will prepare him to be baptized. He asked us if we would read with him and so we gave him a chapter to read and then on Saturday we will discuss it with him and then on Sunday we will teach another lesson with him. He is an amazing example of someone who is dedicated to the Gospel and who has truly been waiting for this opportunity. 6 MONTHS!! I bet we have people all around us who are waiting to be baptized. Here he has been wanting to be baptized and has been waiting for such a long time. What are we doing to help hasten the work to bring our family and friends into the fold! 

Having this opportunity to work with them each week and to help prepare them with Heavenly Father's help to be baptized is such a treat! They are the most humblest of people who are eager and prepared to be baptized. It makes you stop and think - Who around me has been waiting to be baptized? It takes just a simple act of courage to invite our friends and loved ones to follow Jesus Christ. The simplest thing to do is invite them to a church activity. But you can first pray and seek Heavenly Father's direction instead of just asking the first person you see. Use Heavenly Guidance. The Gospel is true and I feel so blessed to be apart of this amazing work!

  

Oh and FYI transfers are next week and so I do not know when my new P-DAY will be!!



Sis. Skaggs and Sis. Lin

Love you all and hope you have a great 4th of July!!!

Love Always <3

Sister Skaggs

The Enabling Power of the Atonement‏



From 6/25/15
 

Family and Friends,

Me and my awesome comp -
Sis. Lin

I don't even know where to begin with this email. Things are going so well! I'm just in amazement more and more each day with what the Lord allows us to see and do as we include him in all aspects of our life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blessings from the Atonement:

As the days get hotter the more people flock to Temple Square. WHY?? Ummm, good question. But as we have more guests that means the demand for us as missionaries goes up. As it has been getting hotter and we are pushing ourselves to points we didn't think were possible it is really tiring. But something quite miraculous happens. We are able to truly see a sneak peek at how the Atonement is applied to our day to day lives. We are able to access the grace that is given to each of us through our Savior Jesus Christ. We are given that added measure of strength to just keep going, to be a little more diligent and to meet the demands that the Lord needs us to meet. Let me give you a sneak peek as to what I am talking about. Lets flashback to SATURDAY:

A Flashback to Saturday - Working hard is something that every missionary at some point or another recognizes as a means to an end. Saturday is a prime example of what it means to working hard but accessing the powers of heaven. It was like any other day. It started with us needing to be at the Flag Pole at 9 AM to give a tour around to anybody that speaks Mandarin. Unfortunately 9 AM rolls around and we didn't have anyone show up. We then receive a text from West Gate of about 18 Mandarin people at West Gate (The main booth for all tours). Sis. Lin and I decide we would take them. I just LOVE, or in other words, practically obsess with being able to give tours to Mandarin speakers or people from China. We were able to give them a tour around! 30 minutes later we finish the tour. As we just finish that tour another tour of 27 Mandarin people show up 30 minutes early. We had nothing to do so we decided to take them around as well! I LOVE THEM so much!! Just imagine a group of 27 people from CHINA in their 60's with BRIGHT colors, hats and umbrellas (they hate getting tan), SNAPPING PICTURES of EVERYTHING they see!! During the entire 30 minute excursion around Temple Square to the Tabernacle, Temple View and Assembly Hall they completely paid attention and were completely intrigued by us. As we finished the tour in the Assembly Hall since they were such a sweet, fun and just plain funny group Sis. Lin gave me permission to hand out the special Temple Picture that the Church made for them (we give it out to Mandarin tours who pay attention and are interested). Yah, BAD IDEA!!! Lets just say next thing I know Sis. Lin is over in the corner talking to several people who wanted a Book of Mormon and then there is me literally being attacked by 20, 60 year olds from China with 2 ladies grabbing my arms wanting pictures. The picture you are getting in your head right now is exactly what happened. [Sis. Skaggs' mom here - an actual picture of that would have been hilarious!] I just love them sooo much!!! After I quickly handed out the cards I stood there for a good 10 minutes getting my picture taken. I felt like one of those characters at Disneyland with a whole bunch of people wanting to take a picture with them. When we finished the photo shoot a handful of them asked for a copy of the Book of Mormon and so they had to fill out one of the referral cards. Something about this group is when one got something they all wanted one. Next thing I know I have 5 more people coming up to me for a pen and a referral card so they could get one of those books that their friend had. But the neat thing was turning around and seeing them all sitting on the planters reading their own copy of the Book of Mormon.

 

They are prepared and the second China opens - the Gospel will be flooding to the couple billion of people we have there. We spent a good 15 minutes having them fill referral cards. The sad thing is we are unable to call them. But I know the Lord knows what he is doing and before we know it the Gospel will be flooding their own cities. Right after we took that tour we had another scheduled tour that we literally had to run to because we were already a little late. 3 hours of tours back to back. We had a little bit of lunch and while we were at lunch several sisters asked us to cover their Motor-coaches that evening. In the end, we had 3 Mandarin motor-coaches back to back at night with a 5 minute dinner break here and there. It was a wonderful day!! It was busy but it was exhilarating! Seeing how the Gospel changes people is something you can't experience anywhere else full time but on a mission. And it is something, that along the way, changes you. The Gospel is true and the Atonement is real. By the end of the evening Sis. Lin and I were just wiped but we knew we could get through it as we accessed the power of the Atonement. Which is a real thing. As we are willing we are able to have it carry us. Which is something that is vital if we want to help not only ourselves but others achieve their divine potential. As we ask for the Saviors help he is by our side carrying us and will continue to carry us. It is only through him that we are able to accomplish and overcome all that is put in our path. But the blessings are tremendous as we invite Christ into our lives!

Sis. Lin - after a long, hot
day on the Square

Me - after a long, hot day
on the Square....

How do we access the Atonement? - A big question I believe we all have through life is this: "But how do we access the Atonement?" For me it is a simple answer...through our faith and our belief that it's possible. We have been told that it is possible to receive this Heavenly help and so why not try it for yourself. You can't know it unless you try it. For me, enabling the power of the atonement comes through recognizing that it is in and only through Christ I can receive strength. As I remember him, and pray during those hard times for strength and continue working knowing that all will be well, it is fine. In the end, it's our view point, it's our thought process, Faith+Hope+Prayer+Action=Accessing the Powers of the Atonement. As we do so we are able to do things we didn't think were possible but are in and only through the Saviors help. I'm still recovering from that crazy day but it was so worth it and I know that I can do it again with my Saviors help. Think about a little kid trying to climb a hill. Sometimes they can't do it on their own and their parents know that because they have more than likely climbed the hill before. And so when it gets difficult the little child usually turns to their parents for help. Most parents then pick up their child and help carry them to their final destination. That is us. As we turn to the Savior he will carry us. Through his help we will be able to arrive again at our Heavenly home. 

 

 

The Work is Progressing:

Made homemade dumplings!

The work is going well! We have a good handful of people we are working with. Morou is just amazing! He is the one that lives in Liberia and is supposed to be baptized this weekend but unfortunately it more than likely wont be happening this week. We haven't been able to finish teaching him due to the phone connection and he has had a lot going on. With his wife having Malaria again and his daughter being in the Hospital. However, he mentioned that we can call him tomorrow. It's interesting to see the lengths Satan will do to stop the work from progressing. Then we have Patricia. She was referred by her Branch President in Liberia as well. With no local missionaries back in Liberia just yet we are taking their place for the time being until we get the local missionaries back within the next couple of months. She has been attending church. We invited her to be baptized and she accepted. We will work with her on preparing her to be baptized. I don't know when that will be because it is a little complicated in Liberia right now. But we want to have them ready so when the baptism takes place or the missionaries get there they will be completely prepared and ready to go. We have several others we are in the process of working with right now. We didn't have a whole lot of Teaching Center time last week due to the fact that we were just so busy on the Square and we for some reason missed a lot of our assigned TC time due to tours. But the work is hastening and ever so slowly we are inching into our busy season. July is the busiest of them all and next week we will hit JULY!

 

 

Special Guests:

Elder L Whitney Clayton (Presidency of the 70) -

That's just what we do!

He and his wife came on Sunday and were our speakers for Sacrament meeting. Some of the main points that really stood out to me was when Sis. Clayton talked about having the eyes to see the wonderful and using our hearts to capture the wonderful. And how, with the spirit, the missionaries and the Heavenly Message we create a Heavenly Combination.

Elder Clayton focused a lot on our Legacy. What are we doing to leave a legacy? When we die how will our name be remembered? What are we doing to be followers of Christ? He focused A LOT on how we can GIVE A SIGN TO GOD. He said "Do you really want the Sacrament to sanctify you? Then you must prove to God." He mentioned how it comes by how we we keep the Sabbath Day Holy! Which is interesting. How do we keep the Sabbath Day Holy? Are we showing God on this day that we are taking him seriously? Or do we do contrary to the things he has asked us? He asked us what more can you give to God on the Sabbath Day to KEEP it holy? I thought about the many times I wasted doing things that weren't bad but things that weren't the best choice. In order for the Sacrament to sanctify us we must give a sign to God through our faithful and diligent actions to follow him on this sacred and special day. It is a day to remember his son and to draw nearer to him. It is a sacred day that has been prepared for a time to worship him and to do the things that would be pleasing to him. It made me really stop and think about WHO do I want to BECOME after my mission - when it comes to OBSERVING the SABBATH DAY?

Brad Wilcox -

This morning for Relief Society we had the opportunity to hear from Brad Wilcox. Many of you will know him by the devotional he gave several years ago at BYU called "His Grace is Sufficient". It was really powerful as he focused on the power from accessing Grace and what it really means. It really allowed me to stop and think about what is Grace and how does it apply to me. When reality is - it is applied to each of us.

A day in the life.....

This past week in general has been AMAZING! Sis. Lin has become my BEST FRIEND and I thoroughly enjoy being able to spend this time with her! We have A LOT of fun. Things have GREATLY improved between the two of us and I feel blessed each day to be her companion. This week has been particularly tough as she has had to chose between staying and finishing her mission here on Temple Square or going back to Oakland/San Francisco for one transfer and then going home. We have had a lot of talks this week as a companionship as we have been trying to seek Heavenly Fathers help. It has been amazing to witness just how strong she is and the desire she has to do what her Father in Heaven sees fit for her to do. On Tuesday she felt like staying here and so she talked with President Poulsen and he said he would give her Mission President a phone call to see if that was okay for her to do so. As she was praying that night she felt that she needed to go back. Torn between these two feelings she was just confused when she went to talk with President. Again, he mentioned that her Mission President gave her the go ahead to finish her mission here since she only has 2 transfers left. As we were touring the Conference Center yesterday all she could talk about was the desire she had to stay here and she asked about all that would happen if she would stay here. So I mentioned what life is like for a missionary who leaves here and how, if she stays, she will be here for General Conference. This morning she talked with President again and gave him her final decision. When she came out I said, "So what is your choice?" Well, let me just say she stinks at lying!!! Haha - she looks at me with big smile, "I'm going back." Haha - yeah I nudged her and said, "You're lying. You're staying." Her reply, "Haha - yeah, I am." I'm so excited! We had a rocky start but it's amazing how fast a relationship can change when you just forget yourself and focus on what matters most. She is amazing and I love her so much!!

Well this email is like an eternity long so I'm going to get off now! This sums up my week and all that I have learned! Know that I love you and I pray for each of you! Never give up on the Lord. Allow his atonement to heal you and to give you the strength to endure.

I love you so much!! Your favorite, daughter and sister ever *Cough cough* the only one!! :D <3 Oh and friend! ;)

Sister Jen Skaggs

 

Random pictures for you all to see ------

It was a LONG, HOT day.

 



My family made it in the
Temple Square blog!

Witnessing Tender Mercies‏

From 6/18/15

 

 

To All I Love,



My Eternal Family!!

Okay for starters I would be in trouble if I didn't talk about some of the most important people in my life!! Haha my mom and dad!! One - because it's FATHERS DAY on Sunday!! And two - because Mom, it's your BIRTHDAY on Sunday!! Haha that will be interesting with you both celebrating each others big day.

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday/Fathers Day:

Mom and Dad, I love you both soo much!! I can't believe Sunday is your day! I feel so blessed to have two parents who are so giving and dedicated to their Father in Heaven and to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I look up to you both so much and am so grateful for everything you have/continue to do for me! I often wonder how I was so incredibly blessed with such dedicated and devoted parents. I hope I, one day, can become the parents that you are to me. One of my favorite things to testify of each day is when I'm at the Temple Model testifying about Eternal Families. Often I inform the guests about how my family is my best friends and it's such a blessing to know that through the Temple I will be with them for eternity! Thank you Mom and Dad for everything! I love you more than you will ever know! Mom and Dad, you are my absolute Best Friends and I know I can go to you about absolutely anything. Since being on my mission I have really come to cherish you both so much and my two little Broskis! Love you!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY & HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!! Oh, by the way, Mom I forgot how old are you turning?? I don't want to say the wrong age. Wait, now I know. You're turning 29 right?? ;) jkjk

 

 

Blessings From Heaven:

This past week has just been MARVELOUS! I can't explain enough how it's been just so marvelous! Maybe because all the little tender mercies. Whether it's the spirit warning us of danger, the work just excelling, witnessing the Lord's hand in all things or just little things people have done for us. Something that is really neat to recognize is the little tender mercies the Lord shows us each and everyday. One of them is the work. I'm just amazed with how the work has been going this past week!

 

 

Sis. Lin's "passed off"
dinner at the Lion House

Manna from Heaven - It's interesting because I don't feel as if we are doing anything all that spectacular to see so many simple miracles. And no, it isn't blessings of food but it's blessings of missionary work. It's interesting to see what the Lord does. On Monday Sis. Lin passed off in Mandarin - yay!! That means we now can take Mandarin Tours! It was interesting because ever since she has passed off on just about every Mandarin Tour, someone will refer. One of my favorite stories is of this couple from Mainland China. They are here in the USA for 6 months. Before they came to Temple Square they stopped in Monterrey, CA and wanted to go to a Christian Church. The first one they found on their GPS was "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." As they attended the services the missionaries gave them copies of the Book of Mormon and briefly taught several principles and then that was it. Well they just so happened to show up to Temple Square. We weren't supposed to take them around but Sis. Lin and I, even though we were at the point of being really tired, we decided to take them anyways. As we were showing them around you could really feel of the spirit every time we testified and taught a certain Gospel Principle. At the end they both decided to refer and stay in contact with us. Since they will be in the States for another 3 months we have the go ahead to continue to teach them and prepare them for baptism. We sat down and continued to teach them more and as we were doing so they mentioned that they had already been baptized but they would be baptized again. This couple mentioned that they know for sure that God answers their prayers and they have seen him answer each of their prayers. It was a really powerful lesson as we were able to teach this couple right then and there next to the Temple Model about the importance of baptism and receiving the blessings that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has to offer them. It just amazed me seeing this couple so humble and so willing to submit to the will of their Father in Heaven. We have only 3 months to prepare them for baptism and it will be challenging because they will be traveling for the next 3 months. Some asked well how can they be baptized if they aren't staying in a specific area to be taught. My answer is, "Will their Father in Heaven deny them the right to be baptized because of that simple little thing?" No. It will be a little challenging but it's 100 % possible as we rely on our Father in Heaven. People can be baptized in one week. Oh and something that is so AWESOME!!! This couple met a total STRANGER IN A LAUNDROMAT down in New Mexico and they referred him to us. We called him the other day and he is open to meeting with us. It just blows my mind! Are we that willing???? Here, a couple completely foreign to the Church comes and then refers a complete stranger they met for but a brief moment at a Laundromat. It just shocked me! It was a great example to me of all that we must be willing to do!

 

 

Being In-tuned to the Spirit - [NOTE FROM SIS. SKAGGS MOM - I wish she had provided pictures of THIS experience!!] Okay so this is a 'what not to do' situation!! The other morning Sis. Lin and I decided to run up towards the state capitol like we used to do. We originally weren't going to but then changed our mind. We were going to run around the capitol this time instead of just running up the stairs. As we got there we started going around the Capitol. I just felt weird but nothing super serious. I looked ahead and saw a lady walking toward us. Well, I didn't really think much of it because people walk by you ALL the time on the sidewalk and its just normal. As we came closer I recognized that she was just different. I recognized that she may be homeless but I was like okay. At that moment the spirit started whispering to me that this wasn't a good situation based on what I was witnessing (she had a white stick/straw sticking out of her ear) which isn't normal and it just didn't feel right. I then moved onto the grass so I wouldn't come near her and have to be in contact with her. She was about 20 feet in front of me at this particular moment. She then moved directly into my path and then let out an evil laugh and her eyes got really big. I then caught myself screaming for a brief second. One - because I think it just really startled me and two - because I realized we needed to get away from her ASAP. I then turned to Sis. Lin nearly running into her and just saying "Run. Run Sis. Lin. We need to run." We start booking it back to the capitol steps at a pace I haven't ran in a while. As we were at a good distance away from her we were able to catch our breath and unannounced to me she apparently started chasing us down the street for a bit and then stopped. A car nearby stopped and asked us if we were okay and what had just completely happened as he witnessed the scene. Several other joggers came back and watched her briefly get away. We didn't call the cops because she didn't harm us in anyway. It was just a really good lesson about the importance of listening to the spirit and how the spirit will always warn us. I pushed this particular situation away and was getting ready to push it a little further until I recognized she was at the point of charging towards me. But it was a blessing as we were able to recognize the spirit and recognize the importance of listening to the spirit.
 

Seeing My Best Friends (Eternal Family) -

Sept 2013

June 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My baby brother in June 2015

Something that is a little different here is we are allowed one visit from our family while on our mission where we can go to dinner and take them around on a tour. On Saturday I got to see my family. It was such a marvelous blessing being able to see them! I love you 4 more than you will ever know and I recognize that as a pretty marvelous tender mercy from the Lord. Just the day before was a part on my mission that was a really hard day for varying reasons. It's interesting because whenever I have hit really rough points on my mission I usually will see someone I know or love right after. It's been really interesting, it happened when I saw Uncle Rich, Aunt Nancy and Lauren and when I saw Uncle Bob. When Friday was a really hard day it was comforting knowing that a huge tender mercy was coming by way of my eternal family! I loved being able to spend time with each of you. Sorry if it was different. It was just weird being a missionary but being with my family. I didn't really know how to balance it. Haha - I'm going to be soooo weird when I come home in Feb. It was something I really needed! It is a blessing to have each of you in my life! I wouldn't be who I am today without you in my life. I love you so much, family! Showing you around my home and going to dinner will always be a moment I will cherish. It was something special seeing you while being on a mission.
 

My baby brother in Sep 2013

After the mission we will go on an even more in-depth tour of Temple Square. I promise! There was so much to get done in such a short amount of time. It's crazy to think I have been out longer than I have left. Only 7 months left until I will come home. And I don't want to think about it because I'm truly getting to the point of I just want to be a missionary. Family, continue to just excel in the Gospel. Do all that the Lord requires of you! It is a blessing to be a part of this latter day work. Seek for ways to magnify this divine calling he has given you! Each of you have a responsibility to learn and to grow. What are ways you are magnifying the call to prepare to meet your Father in Heaven again? I love you you!!





So MUCH has happened this week! Sis. Lin and I are doing AMAZING!! She is truly becoming one of my best friends! Haha - we have a little too much fun sometimes! I wish I could share with you all the tremendous blessings of this week! I have learned that the more we give and do the Lord's will the more he pours out the blessings of Heaven upon our heads. We have sacrificed so much this week and have seen tremendous miracles! The work is hastening!! And are you a part of it?? OH and LEARN MANDARIN!!!

 

Love you!!!! For all ETERNITY!!

Sister Jen Skaggs

Miracles Are Performed Through the Spirit‏

From 06/11/15

To All I Love,

This past week has been such a blessing! I can't even begin to express just how amazing this week has been. One thing I have recognized is just how aware the Lord is of each of his children. And how we won't always recognize how he uses us to be an instrument. Teaching by the Spirit is going to be your greatest resource in teaching.

 

 

 

 

 

10 Months Later... You Can Witness Miracles:

 

Heather - 10 months later...

Let me fast forward to now and then later on I will rewind to what happened. This past Sunday, everything we had set up, Tours etc., were falling through. At first I was a little disappointed about what was happening because we had really planned on what we would do for those tours. A whole bunch of stuff was happening and then again another tour didn't show up. We had 15 minutes until we were allowed to take our dinner and so we decided we would go to the Square and contact the people we see. After we walked out of the South Visitor Center we see this lady sitting on the flower beds - just sitting there. As we started talking you could tell that she was going through a rough time. She mentioned to us that she had just turned in her mission papers and how excited she was to finally be going on a mission, that so much was happening in her life and that the process to go on a mission was really long.

All of a sudden she stops and looks at me and says, "You're the one who changed my life." 
I was caught off guard and said "What do you mean?" Heather replied by saying, "You're the one that changed my life. It's because of you that I'm going on a mission." I told her that it probably wasn't me and that I was a little confused. But as she started to open up to me more I recalled play by play the exact moment that I met her back in Sept. She said, "Because of what you said that evening I knew I needed to go on a mission. I lost your number and so I couldn't tell you what you did for me that day. But right after, I went to the grass lawn in front of the Assembly Hall and broke it off with my boyfriend (whom she waited for, for 2 years) and then started my mission papers. So much has been happening and so I finally was just able to submit them today. I actually came here today to Temple Square for that reassurance that going on a mission is what Heavenly Father needed me to do. And, well, I met you - the one person who changed my life."

Seeing the Koerner's on Temple Square

Old family friends - the Koerner's

As Heather was relaying this to me I was completely caught off guard and just shocked that our conversation just 10 months ago had such a profound impact. But I think back at that experience in general and how honestly we did absolutely nothing. The spirit did EVERYTHING! What happened was Sis. Casagrande and I were running late to something and as we were passing by the ramp to the Christus I noticed a girl walking down the ramp who just didn't seem 100%. I just briefly commented on something I liked about her and then quickly kept going. As she was walking away I kept getting this strong but subtle thought that I had to speak to her. I kept putting it aside because she had already walked outside and so it would be really awkward to just race after her. As we got closer to the Teaching Center I just stopped and looked at Sis. Casagrande and said that I felt we needed to speak with her. I was really hesitant but then she said, "Well, if you feel that way, that's the spirit telling you to talk to her." We walked outside and I don't remember what happened. But I recall that we just bore our testimonies and just really talked with her. At the end we were both crying and that was it. I had thought about her from time to time but didn't think much of it....until on Sunday when she mentioned she was the girl. I just think soooo much about how powerful the spirit is and how CRUCIAL IT IS TO LISTEN!!! What would have happened if I wouldn't have listened to the spirit? It goes for each of us. What do you think happens when we don't listen to the spirit? The Lord uses us in the most simplest of ways and a lot of time we don't know why. In this case I didn't know that a 20 year old's life had changed forever because we talked with her and because we had listened to the spirit.

 

Using the Spirit:



At Elder Perry's funeral

I couldn't imagine what would happen in our lives if we didn't have the spirit with us to direct us and tell us what we are to say. On Tuesday we were at a particular assignment talking to the guests that came into the South Visitor Center. Well, I see this gentleman walk by maybe in his late 20's. As usual I just started to make small talk of "Why are you here? Where are you visiting from? etc." As we are talking he started opening up a little bit more. And I started to recognize things in his life he was particularly struggling with. At that moment I then started noticing just how bold I was being with him but how natural and not scary it was doing so. I recognized though, that it was the spirit. He had mentioned that he was struggling with a lot and that he didn't fill he had a purpose in life. I bore witness through the spirit that he did have a purpose here and testified of so many other things. I then caught myself looking at him and saying very boldly that what he is feeling is the spirit right now testifying to him that what I was sharing with him was true and that as missionaries we are just guides to help him recognize his purpose in life and to receive that guidance and direction. I briefly explained about how the Book of Mormon would bring direction, peace and truth into his life and that we as missionaries would love to call him and continue to share with him more and be those guides. He, without even hesitating, said yes and then quickly had to go. It is such a powerful experience being able to witness the spirit touch the lives of everyone. When we have the desire to have the spirit take lead in our lives then the Lord will allow us to witness miracles. We do absolutely nothing. We just get to witness these miracles.

 

At Elder Perry's funeral

The Work is Progressing:

 

I'm just loving the work right now! Morou is doing AMAZING!! His wife is just a PHENOMENAL MEMBER! For FHE she is reviewing ALL of the lessons with him and is really just preparing him to be baptized. Morou has been going to church and is just looking forward for when he will be baptized. Sis. Jallaa is just a prime example of an amazing member who is just dedicated to the work of the Lord. Morou, with his work schedule, is just beyond busy but has a family and every Monday they wait until he comes home now so they can hold family home evening. I just think of how much dedication and diligence that must take. But the blessings that come as we work to put the Lord first in all things and strive to magnify our callings as his representatives. We are still having some problems in regards to the connections but we know the Lord has it all under control. As we do our part and have the faith the Lord will provide.

Here, on Temple Square, we have a Standard of Excellence of 50 solid tours a week with 2 new investigators a week from those 50 tours. Sis. Lin and I have really been working hard to see our goals fulfilled. As we have gone through these past couple of days we have noticed just how much the Lord is providing. We have seen just how much the Lord has provided these past couple of days. Our number of tours have almost surpassed our goal for this week. But we know we haven't done anything. We just recognize that as we truly want to be his servants that means we must work hard, diligently and with the spirit. As we are bold and not overbearing the Lord will perform miracles in our life. We are working on inviting to stay in contact with everyone we meet on Temple Square. I have noticed that when it's a tour done by the spirit and you are bold but not overbearing they may refer. But when we go through the motions (without the spirit) that's when people are more timid to do so because they couldn't feel the one instrument that is the key to all conversion. I'm just loving it here! The Gospel is true and it's a blessing to have it still today in our lives.

 

20th BIRTHDAY on a Mission:

Happy Birthday to me!

Sharing my birthday!

It's interesting because going into my birthday I wasn't expecting it to be anything special. But it's funny how the Lord ALWAYS has stuff up his sleeve. I have to say it is probably one of those birthdays that I will never forget. I just can't describe how special it was. In the morning I had sisters call and sing me happy birthday and then a lot of sisters were just so excited to see me throughout the day and wish me happy birthday. They were wanting to do so much for me and surprise me in any way that they could. And then to have my second family surprise me during District Meeting with balloons and a cake was just super special. Having them so willing to bring me a cake (on my mom's request) was just something that meant the world to me. I just about broke into tears when I saw them at the top of the stairs. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by people who I just love and who mean the world to me. Spending the day with some of my 200 best-est friends, even though I was missing some, was something I will never get again. The Lord, a lot of the time, reveals his love for us through other people. I definitely could feel that love. Whether it was through unexpected letters, packages, HUGS, singing, quality time, or surprise visits. It was a day that was deeply cherished. I can definitely give it a thumbs up for being one of my all time favorite birthdays!!

A great 20th birthday in the
mission field!

Partying missionary style - just lots
of fun and crazy!!

I am a blessed birthday
girl!

My second family surprising me
on my birthday!!

The Lundquist family - my 2nd
family - on my birthday

Feeling the love from my fellow
sister missionaries on my birthday!

Sis. Lin and me with the Lundquist
children - on my birthday!

It's a tremendous blessing to be on a mission. It is beyond hard!! But it's a blessing. I don't want to lie and say it's always easy. It is HARD and still continues to be each and everyday. And at moments when you feel like you can't go ANY further, like literally you can't go any further, the Lord provides a ray of hope which enables us, through him, to push forward just a little bit more. As we continue to seek for those rays of hope through Christ we will be enabled to push just a little bit further. We are given trials, hardships, tough people, etc in our lives for a reason. It's up to us to chose to keep going or to give up. But just know, like I learned yesterday, that it is very possible to rely on the atonement especially when you can't go any further. I love this gospel. I love the work and I love the opportunity to be in his service. I hope you are each doing what the Lord is requiring of you. As you rely on the Spirit and push just a bit farther you will see MIRACLES PERFORMED THROUGH THE SPIRIT.

Love You ALL,

Sister Skaggs