New Opportunities‏

From 06/04/15

To All I Love,

Preparing for Elder Perry's funeral
in the Tabernacle

Well another week has come and gone! I am just loving it here! Being a missionary is just so special! Like usual I, of course, don't know where to begin. 

 

 

 

 

 

Teaching All Corners of the World (Liberia, Philippines, Arkansas, Minneapolis, etc. and soon to be Asia):

 

Sister O'Rielly from Corona

Teaching in the Philippines -- While our physical boundaries is closed off to just 30 acres of proselyting our teaching boundaries include the world. :) This past week we had the opportunity to pick up a 12 year-old girl from the Philippines! She is just the sweetest. We were sitting in out Teaching Center taking Chats when this person comes on asking "How can I be a missionary?" Sis. George and I were a little caught off guard. As we continued to chat with them they expressed to us just how excited she was to be a missionary and that she sees missionaries where she lives and it just sounds so exciting to be a missionary. This little girl mentioned how she watched a video about missionaries and how she really wants to do what they got to do. We asked her what she knew about missionaries and she gave us a little information as to what we do. We shared with her the responsibility that we have and mentioned that we could send local missionaries to teach her and prepare her to be a missionary. We then asked how old she was. She mentioned she was 12 and so due to being under 18 we needed to get parental permission to send missionaries. She gave us her moms number and so right then and there we called her mom, who is thousands of miles away in the Philippines. It was really neat as we talked with her because the mom was a little hesitant at first as she asked a little bit more as to what missionaries do and what would be required of her daughter. As we continued to talk with the mom we mentioned we would send missionaries to her home and they would talk with her and share with her the things that will happen. The mom asked if they would bring material on the church for her daughter to read. We mentioned they would bring pamphlets and a copy of the Book of Mormon (explained a bit about it). The mom said that wouldn't be a problem.  They were Roman Catholic but she was okay with the Mormon missionaries coming by. That, in itself, was really powerful, having a mom willing to allow her daughter this opportunity and experience, seeing this mom have a change of heart. We talked with the little girl again and explained to her what happened. She was really excited and then asked us "when are the missionaries going to come see me?" We tried calling again several days later but it didn't work. We called her and asked if we could just chat again and she said that would be better. We then chatted with her again and stated our purpose and talked briefly about baptism and what the missionaries will teach her and just what happens in general. We will teach her again on Friday. She is so sweet and just so precious! As we get off of chat she always says, "Thank you Sister Jennifer, you are so sweet and special. I will never forget you. I love you Sister Jennifer." I just pray that the missionaries will be able to see her soon. I just love the Lord, the gospel and the peoples hearts who are prepared to receive the truth of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It's a tremendous blessing to have this knowledge of this truth in our lives!

 

Getting ready to announce!

Teaching in Liberia -- One thing that makes it difficult to teach in Liberia is the phone connection. It's really hard and sad because they are so prepared and anxious to be baptized but we can't teach them due to the phone connection and we are the local missionaries. We are praying the phone connection will work better. The missionary department and MTC are working on a new system to help us sisters out with the Teaching Center. We had a training on it today. They trained us today on things they have redone for our teaching center which should allow our calls to be much more effective and chats and calls to be much more effective. But anyways we got a hold of Morou last weekend!! He is doing great! He has been attending church and we even had his member wife on the line with us as a member present. It was really neat to hear them testify of these things. We called the branch president and asked if he could deliver pamphlets to them so we could use them while we teach. So while we taught about the Plan of Salvation the two of them had their pamphlet out and they would read with us. I just pray that the phone connection now with the updated system will work. They are so prepared. We talked with the Branch President last week and he was in contact with the Mission counselors who said that we can prepare them to be baptized now for the end of June. We just have one hurdle... THE PHONE... But with faith ALL things are possible! The Lord knows what he is doing and we just have faith in him that all things will work out.



My Mandarin Companion:

 

Sis. Hershey - she knows
Grandma Skaggs & taught
seminary with her!

Well, for starters she is just the greatest ever!! I feel so blessed to have such an amazing companion this transfer. I have a feeling I will be learning and growing way too much this transfer! She is coming inbound for the summer from the Oakland/San Francisco Mission. She is currently in her 10th transfer with 3 transfers left. She is from TAIWAN! Her entire family are members. She is already so diligent, loving, giving, and um, bold. I thought I was good at contacting on the square, yeah I'm horrible compared to her. We were told all of the sisters were visitor center sisters but only 2 out of the 10 are VC Sisters. Sis. Lin has been proselyting her entire mission. Oh yeah I should tell you her name. Her name is Sis. Lin, from Taiwan and family, you will get to meet her next weekend when you come and visit! She came in yesterday! She is so sweet. As we were getting ready for bed she whispers down "I love you." And then she is like, "Do you want to learn how to say it Mandarin?" And so she then taught me how to say "I love You." It sounds like this "Wo I knee". That's not how you spell it but that's how it sounds when you say "Wo I knee". We are going to have such an amazing transfer! It's going to be different training an already trained missionary. But we are so excited. She will teach me Mandarin and how to be better! And I will teach her Temple Square! It was funny last night at like 8 PM President and the AP's pulled us all together after like 8 hours of waiting to tell us who we would each be companions with. When we were told we were companions we were so excited. Sis. Lin was like, "I wanted you to be my companion. I'm so excited!" We just flew into each others arms. President then spent about 30 minutes doing Q & A and then telling us what he expects of us and just what is happening. He again mentioned that he would like us to learn Mandarin and repeated it about 3 times. The Zone Leaders weren't lying. I'm so excited! I already know how to introduce myself, say hi, say "I know the Book of Mormon is true", I love you and other little things we have to say to the guests in-regards to pictures with us. He made a comment to us that we don't recognize now why the Lord has us in this assignment and together here on Temple Square. But in the years to come, as China opens, we will recognize why the Lord had us together. As we get to be an instrument to thousands upon thousands this summer in being an instrument in the Lords hands in preparing the way for China to open. When he made that comment it really caught me off guard but it makes so much sense. I don't recognize why now but in the next 10 or 20 years I will recognize more why we have been together at this time during this exciting time.

 

The Gospel is true and it's a blessing to be an instrument to bringing it to the lives of those all throughout the world who are unfortunate to not have it.

 

Elder Perry's Funeral:

 

A cool picture of the temple

It was so sad hearing this past weekend of a beloved Apostles death. It just broke all of us when we heard about it. It wasn't that expected compared to others. I feel blessed having the knowledge that God has called these individuals to lead and guide us so we can prepare ourselves to return to his presence again. It's sad when one dies but I know that this is the Lord's will, his mission has come to an end here on earth. Tomorrow they will be holding his funeral in the Tabernacle and the older sisters in the mission received tickets to attend his funeral tomorrow, which will more than likely be a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness the memorial and remembrance of a beloved Apostle. They have been preparing Temple Square all week and it's going to be pretty remarkable. Temple Square will be COMPLETELY CLOSED till about 1 PM. ALL of the Church Campus will shut down at 10:30 till when the funeral is over. In order to go to the funeral you have to go through metal detectors and security at the gates. It will be a really powerful experience. They have had rehearsals this week as to how the hearse will get onto Temple Square and they have practiced driving it around Temple Square. It will be a really powerful experience tomorrow, an experience I will never forget. It's such a blessing to have a Prophet and Apostles on the earth today. I know this Gospel is true and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is truly God's church once again established on the earth today.

 

 

Friend's of Uncle Mark's from Colorado

Well, I love you all! Please be healthy and take good care of yourselves! Grandma Susan know that my thoughts are with you. I pray that all will go well!! I love you so much and I know the Lord has everything under control with what happens. Family, know that I love you! My prayers are with you all at this time. Grandma Susan I love you, more than you will ever know. I don't know if you read my letters or not but in case you do, just know that. My prayers are with you at this time.

 

I love you all!!

 

Love always,

Sister Skaggs

 

 

I finally made it on the
Birthday board!



Sister Ferguson - one of
my former comps!

I'm Adopting A Girl (Inbound Training)‏

From 5/28/15

To All I Love,

 

Welcome to China:

 

My Chinese family!!



One day I am going to live in China. I just LOVE people from China. One of my favorite stories from this past week happened yesterday. Sis. George and I were at EF Desk talking with the guests that came into the South Visitor Center when a Chinese family ages of like 16-80 walked into the building. When they walked in I got so excited. I tried talking to them but only like 1 of the 10 spoke English. The rest all crowded around and watched as I talked with this gentleman. I asked what we could do for them and then I asked how to say "Nice to meet you". Haha - he tried to explain to me how to say it, yeah I'm not even going to try and spell it. I kept trying to say it and after a couple of minutes they understood what I was trying to say. So all 10 of them crowded around me to teach me how to say "Nice to meet you". At one point I did pretty well and all 10 of them just started clapping really loud, while saying good job and giving me thumbs up. Then one guy pulls out his camera and gives it to someone and walks up next to me to take a picture, then the girl to my left in the pictures asks to take a picture. But then I decided I wanted a family picture so we all lined up to take a family picture. Haha - then they wanted individual pictures. They are just the funniest and most sweetest people ever! We ended up taking over the front entrance of the South Visitor Center. Good thing no one was around. They honestly are some of the sweetest people ever! And GUESS WHAT?!?!?! I get to serve them ALL SUMMER!! Why??? Well let me tell you what is happening this transfer!

 

INBOUND TRAINING:



 

What I get to see every day!

This will be the greatest part of my ENTIRE mission. For some reason I feel like this is going to be a huge stepping stone for after my life. I have never loved a group of people so much than I do people from China. You're probably wondering what in the world is INBOUND TRAINING. Yes, I am training but its different. Let me give you a background. Here on Temple Square we have visitor's from all over the world that come each summer wanting to take tours. To meet the demands of the guests we have to have their languages and enough sisters who speak that language to meet those demands. We currently have 49 languages offered on Temple Square from 52 countries - this is as of right now. As I have mentioned before, people from CHINA love coming to Temple Square it's like going to Yellowstone. We have heard that this summer alone our numbers, in regards to Mandarin speaking tourists, will be up by around 30%. Last year we had 30 Sisters to meet this demand and now we only have 11 but we will be up by 30%. With that President Poulsen has done all that he could to get Mandarin Sisters to Temple Square but we won't have any coming till September besides the one we got this transfer. What happened is he worked out a deal with various other missions and the missionary department to borrow 10 Mandarin Sisters from 4 missions throughout the country and in return we will send 8 Sisters to their missions. We are borrowing 8 Sisters from Visitor Centers (Oakland, Mormon Battalion, & Mesa Arizona) and we will send 8 sisters to those 3 visitor centers and then we will get 2 more sisters from one of the missions in Georgia. Which will put our Mandarin Sisters at 21 here on Temple Square which will be so helpful to the already current mandarin sisters here on Temple Square. Because these Sisters have never worked in the aspect that we do here on Temple Square, President has called 10 sisters from the Mission to be their companions and train them on the mission. But it will be different because one - we won't do 12 weeks with them, but we will get to do pretty much what every other trainer does. We just get the advantage of they have been in the mission for multiple transfers. On Saturday (May 23rd) the AP's called Sis. George and I into their office to call us to be 2 of the trainers for these sisters that are coming in. Several came on Tuesday and then 2 are coming today and then the rest will come on Wednesday. It will be really exciting!! I get to be with my FAVORITE people ALL SUMMER! When they get here next week we will have one week to prep them on everything and then they will have to pass off on Mandarin (which means take a mock mandarin tour with the Mandarin coordinator to see if they are balanced with their companion, history and teaching). If they pass they will then be given the go ahead along with their companion to take mandarin tours.

 

After that we will then have 1 week to pass them off in English which means to do the same thing but just in English. We had a meeting with our Zone Leaders this morning who gave us more of an in depth look as to what this is all about and what President's vision is, all of the protocols with Mandarin tours etc. It's really crazy! Why?? Well the sisters here now have never gone through this before. They have to pass off within 1 week of getting here and they have to understand all they can't and can say and do in regards to the Chinese governmental regulations that we have. Overall, it will be a VERY BUSY summer! We are already getting a lot of tours coming in. Yesterday morning in 1 hour we had 8 motor coaches of 50 booked for Temple Square and we aren't even at our peak months yet.  We have been assigned to just the Square this transfer which will allow us to be ready for the Mandarin tours we will get to take. Family, I can't express enough just how amazing these people are and how excited I am for this opportunity the Lord is giving me. It's funny how just a couple weeks ago I mentioned I was praying for a Mandarin companion this summer. Haha - it's funny how he answers our prayers sometimes... Haha gotta love him! But he honestly knows what's best for us. I think these people will bless my life more than I will theirs this summer. Something I have come to really enjoy is learning Mandarin. We were talking to the Zone Leaders in our meeting this morning and we asked them what does President Poulsen expect from us out of this opportunity. Their response caught me off guard they said, "He is asking you to learn Mandarin." They were being serious when they said that. Why the Lord is having all this happen I don't know but I do know he is calling me to this for a reason. I don't need to pray to have a love for the people, that is already done but now I must take this responsibility and magnify it to the fullest. Temple Square will be seeing more tourists from Mainland China than ever before this summer and he is giving me this opportunity to serve and teach them this summer. Many of them don't have a relationship with God and while we do have certain regulations, what a neat opportunity to help these brothers and sisters recognize that they have a Father in Heaven. Yesterday alone we came across two groups of people from Mainland China who are so prepared and ready to listen.



Meeting the Elect - We had finished taking an English Hospitality Tour around Temple Square and unannounced to us 2 couples from Mainland China joined our Tour. Afterwards one of the ladies walked up to me and said "I really loved how you talked about families, I love what you said about the sacrament, what is it really?" She started asking me all these questions and wanted to know how she can have this in her family. As I talked more I 

Me and Sis. George

realized she was from China and so I couldn't really share a whole lot. One of our sisters who was on the tour who speaks mandarin ended up talking to her. Afterwards she mentioned that the couples loved what they heard and wanted to go to church. I know they are flying to New York and so hopefully they will have an opportunity to attend Church and see what the Sacrament is all about before they head back to China. Later on that evening Sis. George and I were in the Tabernacle and this gentleman came up to her and just asked "I heard some people say God brings peace to us?" Sis George then went on to share with him more. He mentioned that he really wanted his children, when he had kids, to have God in their life. She talked about Eternal Families and what a blessing it is. I watched from a distance and you could just sense how much this meant to him. He ended up referring but then we realized later on that he is from a place just outside of Hong Kong. Family, whether we realize it or not, people are prepared! We shouldn't have to wait for them to come to us. As we walk the path Christ walked and as we keep our spiritual eyes open and alert the Lord will personally lead us to those who are prepared. I hope one day I will have the opportunity to serve a mission in China if I'm alive to see the work being hastened there. But honestly, we aren't prepared. When the doors are opened we won't have the means to meet the demand. I'm grateful for the this sneak peek the Lord is giving me of being in the presence of so many elect and prepared, to have this time to learn about them and to learn their language. 

Eternity Will Reflect Our Time Used on Earth:

 

This past week we had the privilege of having our Mission Tour from Elder and Sister Arnold from the 70. What a tremendous 3 days it was!! We learned a lot about things we must do now to prepare for the eternities and about how we don't want to regret the time we have to use. These are some of my favorite points that they discussed:

 

1. How are we sharing our Spirits with those around us? 

The Temple after a storm

 

2. When we are disobedient then we are focused solely on ourselves. Which is true. We are being selfish and are looking inward instead of outward.

 

3. We need to have a new writing everyday. Are we using our scripture study time to it's fullest or our we going through the motions? Are we really filling our spiritual tank or are we just barely filling it?

 

4. The only thing we have to give to God is our WILL to God.

 

5. If the Atonement is everything, then what does it mean to me?

 

6. We must use the atonement to keep going forward to not look back on past transgressions. Don't be like Lots wife!

 

7. We can't just marry to marry but we must marry our best friend. Someone who is steadfast and immovable in the Gospel and will help you to prepare to receive eternal life.

 

8. How are we being charitable? Are we looking inward or we using God's gifts for the welfare and benefit of those around us? D&C 46:10-25 and D&C 123:17

 

9. We have a Book of Life. All thoughts and actions are being recorded in heaven at this very moment. What thoughts and actions are you writing in your own Book of Life?

 

10. We must turn to God for value, for our true identity. We are made in his image.

 

This past week has been a marvelous week! And I look forward to all that lies ahead! Family, I will have Thursday p-day so you can come on either day. I would probably come on Saturday. Because we will have all sisters on the Square to take Mandarin tours at that point and so it will be okay to have a mandarin sister off the square at that time. I would come in the afternoon to evening. Mornings are just horrendous on Temple Square when it comes to Mandarin Motor-coaches. But let alone, its always crazy when it comes to Mandarin visitors.

 

I love you each sooo much! Oh and can you believe you're only like 2 weeks away until you have a 20 year old! Well more like a week and a half. It's kind of scary! But anyways I love you so much! I feel blessed to have you in my life. Oh, and mom, I did get my Drivers License renewal :) Thank you!!!!


Got to hold a cute puppy!

Love Always!!

Sister Skaggs

 

 

 



Do You Love God???

Note from Sis. Skaggs mom - I'm sorry I'm so behind on her blog posts! It's going to be rough keeping up with it this summer but have no fear - I WILL get all of her e-mails posted before the end of summer. Also, sometimes she sends home pictures but doesn't label them. I am just posting the pictures without any captions if she hasn't labeled them. She has asked that I post all the pictures as she sends them home so she can have them as a memory when she returns.
Happy reading!!!

P.S.  You will LOVE this week's blog post!!!

From 5/21/15


To All I Love,

Just another day in the life....

Okay, so before I forget, transfers are next week so I don't know when my new P-day will be. I may not be emailing for up to two weeks. I will find out on Monday my new P-Day so yah. I'm a little nervous for next transfer. The mission is soo young and there are so many things president is trying to figure out right now in regards to Trainers, District Leaders, Zone Leaders, etc. It's a little nerve wracking. If I have a particular assignment President will start letting us know within the next couple of days. Honestly, I'm okay if I stayed as a normal missionary next transfer. But I have a slight feeling that may not be the case. But either way we still get to do the Lord's work and that's what matters most right?? Haha yes it is! :)

What has been happening this past week around here on Temple Square?? Yah A LOT!! Shall I get started?!?! :D

Craziest Day of My Mission!
 

Smile!

Yep - that's just how we roll!

Monday was just a crazy day. I don't even know where to start. Early that morning we were talking with our District Leader and we talked about how we could be even more exactly obedient with our schedule. She had mentioned that we need to be on the Square the same amount of hours that our schedule has us assigned to be on the Square for. We had called San from Liberia and his son he would be back in 30 minutes. As we looked at our schedule we recognized that 30 minutes later we would need to be on the Square. We decided that we were going to leave the teaching center and go to the square for 30 minutes and then go back and call San. Our 30 minutes of being on the Square is just about finished when we walk past the West Gate and a sister starts waving us down. I started talking with Sis. Nogueria and she mentions that their 30 English Motor coach came early and no sisters can take it but her companion is in the bathroom throwing up and so she asked if we could take it. I started mentioning to her that we had an appointment in TC and so we couldn't take it. As I was telling her no I remembered that the guests take number 1 priority over anyone in TC. Which was a little hard because we have been trying for WEEKS to get in touch with him. We went on emergency exchanges in hope that Sis. George would somehow get to talk to San and then I would take the Motor coach with Sis. Nogeuria. The Motor coach was amazing!! They were all from Europe and no one referred but that is okay. The spirit was so strong in the tour and to be honest there was a decent amount of people where you could tell they had felt the spirit. Which is fine with me. We did our part we taught by the spirit and so they, of course, have their own agency to accept or reject the message we have to share. It was a really powerful tour!
 

Listening to the Spirit - During the tour we noticed the weather really starting to change. The wind started picking up and the temperature dropped, but that isn't the end. We were quickly walking back to West Gate to drop everything off and just talking about how great the motor coach was when I noticed this older lady walking next to us hiding behind her umbrella. I stopped and just said Hi. She, however, didn't hear me and so I said Hi again. She moved her umbrella and greeted us back and continued walking. I started to just ask how she was doing and then we recognized that she is serving a senior mission here at the Family History Center. I asked how it was and she said she just loved it and then a question that changed everything popped into my head. It was interesting because it was just a simple quick thought of asking "How her mission has blessed her and her family's life?" I decided to ask her that question. She then stopped and broke down into tears. At first I was like. "Great. What in the world did I just do? I just made her cry." She then said, "I came on a mission because I thought by me serving it would bless my family but it hasn't. My family is still struggling and it's only getting worse. Today has just been such a horrible day." We continued to talk with her and Sis. Nogueria started testifying to her about the atonement and how her Savior suffered what he suffered because he knew you would experience this and he wanted to understand what you were going through so he could succor you and be by your side. We could tell she was still struggling. A talk then came to my mind about going through our own spiritual wilderness "Choose to Believe". I mentioned it to her and bore my testimony of it to her. Sis. Nogeuria mentioned to her about how we can feel of his love through prayer and scripture study. As we continued to talk with her she recognized that she hasn't been doing a good job at it. And so we invited her to go home that night and to just pour her whole heart to Heavenly Father, to share with him everything she was going through. We talked a little bit more and then we went our separate ways. We asked if we could text her the following day to see how she was doing. She mentioned that she went home that night and prayed and told heavenly father EVERYTHING she was feeling and then she went to the Temple that day. She says I know I must continue to have faith and to rely on my Savior through these hard times. I can't go through those motions of praying but I must sincerely pray. From that experience I recognized more than ever that we truly don't know what people are going through. Honestly, when I first saw her I thought her life would be amazing, but little did we know this sweet lady was having one of the hardest times. She was hitting complete breaking points. It's a testimony to me that we must listen to the spirit, to be in tuned to the whispers of the Holy Ghost. Don't allow fear to override the unknown. We don't know what will come of something if we simply listen to whispers of the Holy Ghost.
 

Seeing Karly - Before the tour I had heard that a friend of mine from home was on Temple Square. It was interesting because as I was walking back to the South Visitor Center I was telling Sis. Nogeuria that someone I knew was on the Square and I wouldn't be able to see them now because we had to exchange back. Not even 5 seconds after I made that comment I looked up and guess who walked right in front of me? Karly Osborne. It was neat to just see that simple miracle occur. Even if it wasn't super big it was just neat to see that simple miracle. We were able to talk and catch up, since she just recently returned home from her mission. We didn't talk too long because we had to exchange back.
 

The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways (He is Aware) - As we were talking to Karly I noticed the sky in the distance was getting dark and the weather was still changing. Sis. Nogeuria received a text that our companions were back in the apartment because her companion was sent home due to being sick which meant we needed to go back to the apartment about a 5 minute walk to go exchange back. As we are headed down she receives another text that she is to meet with her Zone Leaders (she is a district leader) for weekly report right now. As she is meeting with them I decide to eat my dinner and literally as I was putting my dinner together one of her zone leaders walks into the kitchen and informs me that we needed to go take a 999 Japanese tour. This isn't unusual when it comes to just dropping your food and going. It's funny though because as we get upstairs the weather had completely changed! The wind had really picked up and it had started to rain. As we were taking the people to the Temple Model the storm came right through. It literally poured for a good 20 minutes - sheets of rain were coming off the Temple. You could see it just flowing down the sidewalk. The wind was really blowing. You could see the lightening striking the hill near by. The thunder was literally over the building, it was pretty crazy. It was interesting because if none of that had occurred, her meeting with the Zone leaders, the Japanese tour etc. Sis. Nogueria and I would have been caught right in the center of it. It just made me realize that no matter what, the Lord is aware of us and while at first it was a little frustrating as everything was occurring that was stopping me from not being with my companion and from getting back onto my schedule I realized that the Lord sometimes has other plans in store. He knew what was going to happen and so he put things in our path for a reason. The Lord, whether you realize it or not, is aware of each of us. He knows us and he knows us by name. While we weren't being exactly obedient to our schedule at that time I, for sure, know just how aware he is of us. We just need to trust in the Lord and recognize that sometimes we don't know why some things occur but the Lord does. I think about how if we didn't go on that emergency exchange we wouldn't of met that lady and who knows what she would be experiencing right now? We wouldn't have seen that simple miracle. The Lord is aware of you and I!
 

An Interview w/ Elder Arnold of the 70:
 

Sis. George - my companion

About 2 weeks ago I received a phone call from the Assistants informing me they would like me to interview with Elder Arnold of the 70 yesterday. Why me? I have no idea. We are having our mission tour today and tomorrow and so he wanted to meet with several sisters and so they asked if I would meet with him.

Meeting with him was truly remarkable. I met with him with 2 other Sisters and then we had individual interviews. He asked me what it was that the Sisters needed to hear right now. I mentioned to him what I felt the mission needed to hear based off of what was happening here right now. I haven't felt the spirit so strong and so recognizable before. He made some really powerful comments as we sat there. Something that really stood out to me was how we aren't filling our tanks! Which is so true. Our spirits are being deprived. When we aren't feasting upon the scriptures every morning and truly feasting upon them we are depriving our spirits of the energy it needs in order to get through the day. Elder Arnold talked about how since he was a mission president in Costa Rica he has gone through 6 SETS of scriptures!! SIX! It's because he feasts upon the scriptures. It's like our bodies - when we don't eat in the morning we are so hungry. Don't our spirits feel the same way?? Being in his presence was truly amazing.
 

But one part that, for some reason, I KEEP GETTING asked lately is "DO YOU LOVE GOD? DO YOU TRULY LOVE GOD?" My mission president outbound said that and now a General Authority asks me that same question. But do we truly love God??? Think about that... Because if you do you will be willing to do EVERYTHING he asks of you. You will be wiling to SACRIFICE all that is holding you back from really showing God that you love him. Are we giving him our all? Do we strive to hasten the Lord's work? I think about the leaders of the church...they LOVE GOD. Why?? You see it in their actions. They serve him with everything they have. They do all that they can to hasten his work and to testify of the truthfulness of this gospel. They don't allow the world to take power and clog their minds of things that aren't necessary in the eternities. As I continued to talk with Elder Arnold he mentioned that in order for us to love God we must get to know him. That's in all things. In order for us to love, truly love someone, and do all that we can for them we must get to know them. But how can we do that with God, and with our Saviour Jesus Christ?? That comes through spending our time studying and learning about them. As we study the life of our Savior, Jesus Christ, our love for him will increase and our desire to do all that we can will magnify. I ask this question again but just a little different. WHAT AM I WILLING TO DO TO LOVE GOD??
 

My zone

After we met as a group he asked us to wait outside so he could meet with us individually. When I met with him individually it was a really powerful experience. He looked straight at me and said "What is keeping you up at night? What is really bothering you?" It was interesting getting asked that question. He proceeded to ask about you, family, and how you were doing back home and so I shared with them about you and I talked about Michael. I mentioned how its hard to have my little brother get bullied back at home, but I know the Lord is handling it and it doesn't truly worry me but it's something that is still in the back of my head. He made some comments to me and then said to tell you, Michael, that he says Hi and will be thinking of you, that you can do it.
 

I feel blessed for the 30 minutes I got to spend with Elder Arnold for the things I was able to share with him to help me recognize what I need to become to show God I love him. I'm excited for tomorrow when I will get to hear from him and his wife.
 

I have to go but know I love you all!! Sorry for the million of typos this week!! [FYI - Sis. Skaggs' mom corrected those errors before posting to her blog ;) ]
 

Love you,

Sister Skaggs

More craziness!

My crazy zone sisters!

 

Summer is Upon Us‏

This is from 05/14/15

Skyping on Mother's Day:




 

It was so neat being able to see you guys on Mother's Day through Skype! I'm glad we were able to get it to work and to be able to Skype! I loved seeing each of you and being able to talk to you. It sounds like you are doing so well, which makes me so happy - to hear that you are each doing well. I'm excited to see you in a month when you come to Temple Square for your visit. I love you! Continue to hold tight to the Gospel and don't let go. Like I said, it honestly will be your only life line and life preserver! You are the best! How did I get so lucky!

 

 

Seeing Miracles:

It's really neat to witness how the Lord provides in his own mysterious way. I want to share about some of the miracles he has allowed Sis. George and I to witness this past week. Not a lot has happened this week but we have seen several simple things occur.

 

Muslim Family Refers - On Sunday Sis. George and I received a text for a 999 Tour which means sisters aren't taking it and the people are waiting. Well, we were on the Square and decided we would take it. We meet the mom and dad and their son who is probably a couple years older than me. We start talking to the son and he mentions that they are visiting from the Midwest and are excited to be here to learn more about the Mormons and to see what they are all about. He mentions to us that due to them being Muslim they don't know much about the Bible and they don't really know a whole lot about our beliefs. That didn't bother us because we get things like that a lot. We just have to teach more simply. They asked to learn more about the history but, honestly, the history of Temple Square is the basic beliefs and as missionaries we are called to teach the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, we aren't called to be History Teachers. We share some facts but we mainly just share the Gospel. We let people know that at the start when we are doing our "How To Begin Teaching" with them at the start of the tour so they know what is going to be happening. Well, this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and so we felt it was only appropriate to take this family to the Christus and to share with them what was at the core of our beliefs, which is Jesus Christ. As we took them to the Christus they were just amazed. The son particularly was just amazed. We played the narration for them or what we call now "The Words of Christ." After, we asked them how they felt, and what their feelings were. The son's countenance had completely changed for the good. This is always a good sign :). We continued to take them around and as we were walking to the Assembly Hall the mom kept asking me all these questions and I was doing my best to answer them and to try and relate them to her. They didn't have a whole lot of questions but you could tell their countenance was different. The dad wasn't speaking much at all. It was mainly the son who was asking us all the questions. At the end of the tour we took them to the cut out replica model of the Salt Lake Temple and explained to them what happens in the Temple. The son was like "Why are there cows in the Temple?" It was neat because we were then able to teach and testify about the importance of baptism and how Christ set a perfect example of this. You could really feel the spirit at this point. One thing I have noticed lately is when you can feel the spirit it is SO MUCH easier to be bold on tours!!! We then testified about eternal families and showed them the sealing room and how God gives us these families for a reason and he wants us to be bound to those we love for all time and eternity. We testified to them of how God didn't give us our families for them to be torn apart but that as we attend the Temple these families, under the right authority, can be bound and sealed together. It was a really neat experience being able to testify of the importance of families and how being married in the Temple is so important. As we concluded the tour we , "I would really like that." And was more than willing to keep in contact and to meet with local missionaries. He mentioned that he wanted to read a little bit more though before we called but said he would love for us to call towards the end of the month. He isn't super familiar with the Bible and the Book of Mormon due to his religious background and so he wanted to become more familiar with is before we called and started teaching him. We will call both him and his mom here in the coming weeks and see how their Book of Mormon reading has gone, to follow up on the local missionaries and to see if they are still interested in learning more about how this can bless their life. It is honestly really special when you can just see the change in people from when you first take them on a tour to when you finish the tour. People are prepared. We must not be afraid though, to open our mouth and proclaim the Gospel!

All the returning outbound sisters!



 

Raymond received the Melchizedek Priesthood - I don't know if you remember Raymond, one of my recent converts from back in October. Well, he is just doing phenomenal!! I call him about once a week and we will text occasionally but he is just thriving in the Gospel! Something came up the other day and he asked us to call him and while we were talking to him he mentioned he is getting the Melchizedek Priesthood this week. Well, I just received a text from him not even 20 minutes ago informing me that he received the Melchizedek Priesthood yesterday. He is just so excited right now! He was like, "Sister Skaggs, can we talk right now I have exciting news??" Unfortunately today is P-Day and we aren't allowed to call via our cell phones so I wasn't able to call him but he sent me a text informing me of the news. Honestly, one of the greatest blessings of being a missionary is seeing the Gospel change lives! I have seen on so many occasions how it has changed individuals and families lives for all eternity. Raymond was supposed to go to the Temple, I believe it was last week or the week before but due to the horrible weather and tornadoes in Oklahoma and Arkansas they cancelled their baptism trip. He was just anxiously waiting to go again to the Temple. It is just amazing to see the Gospel change people's lives. Of course we must first have the desire.

 

Working in Liberia:

It is so sad but we unfortunately haven't been able to talk to Morou or San this past week. Every time we go to call the connection is really bad. We spoke with them each for about 5 minutes really quick and they are doing good and are still wanting us to call them but we are just having the problem of getting in touch with them due to the connection. That honestly has been a tad bit stressful because we can't rely on the local missionaries since we are there local missionaries. It honestly just comes down to having faith and ultimately trusting in the Lord. We may have to push back Morou's baptismal date because we have SOO MUCH to teach him and it may be rough getting it done by the 30th of May and him being prepared spiritually for this next step in his life. But who knows? Like I said, the Lord works in mysterious ways. We just pray that all will be well!

 

Transfer's Are Soon Coming to a Close, Which MEANS SUMMER is ALMOST HERE:



Our zone making a quilt at the
Humanitarian Center





Zone activity at the Humanitarian Center

Believe it or not, transfers are almost here again. They are just flying by at this point. Next week at this time we will be in our last week of transfers. I'm nervous yet excited for next transfer. Assignments change, companions change, and responsibilities change but guess what?!?! The work will never change! That is something comforting to know. I'm excited though because that means our SUMMER SEASON will be here!!! I LOVE SUMMER TIME ON TEMPLE SQUARE!! Busy Busy Busy and just plain Busy here on Temple Square. We have heard that this will be the largest number of visitors to the States from China this year and when they come to the States they ALWAYS go to Yellowstone and then if they go there on their tour group they will then come to Temple Square! Our Mandarin Sisters are starting to get swamped. I believe today we had about 9 Mandarin Motor coaches of about 30-50 booked for today. And that is nothing! They honestly are some of my FAVORITE people!! I'm praying for a Mandarin speaking companion for summer time. I may just be dead at the end of summer like literally dead but that's okay. These people are just so prepared! I will explain why!!



 

 

 

MANDARIN MOTOR-COACHES, BEST THING EVER!!



I love the Chinese people!!
Sister George and Sister Skaggs with a new friend!

I have helped take about 3 motor-coaches so far this summer but they are some of the greatest 45 minutes of your life. Why?? They are just so prepared, whether they realize it or not. Yesterday we gave this Motor-coach of 36 Mandarin from mainland China a tour of Temple Square. The entire time we were showing them around they were just so amazed and so willing to listen about everything. At one point we were sitting in the Tabernacle and we were testifying about Prophets when someone says can the 2 Americans sing for us (of course saying this in Mandarin to the Mandarin sister but pointing at Sis. George and I)? Sis. Ye looks at us and says, "They are requesting you to sing to them." Umm, yah, I don't sing..... Well the 5 of us decided to sing together. We invited them to close their eyes and then we sang to them "I Am a Child of God" which is what we normally sing at the end to them. Afterwards they opened their eyes some were crying, others were just amazed, some were smiling super wide. As we were walking out of the Tabernacle they all were saying thank you and were asking to take pictures with Sis. George and I. Haha, they are so funny! When I take Mandarin Motor Coaches sometimes I feel super famous!! But seriously! Seeing them as we showed them around Temple Square is just something so special. To see these Children of God so prepared and intrigued by what they are seeing and feeling is just remarkable. At the end of the tour they were just so grateful and several referred unfortunately we can't teach them at this time, due to governmental reasons. But when the Gospel is able to be preached in those countries that are closed at this moment, it will be an AMAZING sight to see!!! I hope I'm around to see these countries open. The Church is just going to EXPLODE when those countries open. We see thousands of people from over there come here each summer and year and I just can't describe to you what we see. They are prepared in more ways than we can imagine.

Well I better get going! I love you each so much - whoever reads this! I hope you have an amazing week!!

 

Love always,

 

Sister Skaggs!!

A Light at the End of the Tunnel‏

This is from 05/07/15


To All I love,


There is A Light:

The Lord is just amazing!! I honestly don't know where to start with this week! This past week has been just amazing! There is most definitely a light at the end of the tunnel. We must persevere though through the trials that we are facing and keep our eyes focused on that Spiritual Light.

 

Fasting with a Purpose Brings Miracles, Miracles in LIBERIA

 

Sister Skaggs and Sister George in the
teaching center

After I emailed last week things got somewhat better but honestly I was still just so spiritually drained and for some reason the work still was not happening. Sister George and I were aware that fast Sunday was approaching and we had decided that we were going to fast for the full 24 hours and fast specifically that we can have the strength to see the work progress. As we were fasting there were moments that were really hard because we physically wanted to nourish our bodies but we kept reminding ourselves of Pres. Eyring's talk this past General Conference and how important it is to fast with a purpose, to keep it in mind and let our spirits overcome our natural man for this 24 hour period. During the time we were fasting we didn't see anything happen. It was a little sad but we knew that the Lord would provide as we did our part. As we were fasting we both felt we needed to receive Priesthood Blessings and that we needed to have President Poulsen do it. However, he is so busy and so I personally didn't want to bother him with such a simple issue. As we talked with the Zone Leaders about receiving permission to do so "Line of Authority" they mentioned that it would be a great idea. Due to things President had going on he mentioned that he wouldn't be able to till Monday which was totally fine. Well, we finished our fast Sunday afternoon. Right after that we had planned to contact 2 referrals we had received from a Branch President in Liberia. We went in to contact our two referrals and this is honestly where I can say miracles do and will occur. We had the number for the wife of one of our referrals when we called her we mentioned to her who we were and why we were calling. She mentioned, "Oh Sisters, thank you thank you we have been waiting for your call so my husband can be baptized and go through the Baptismal Process." At first I was like "wait, what am I hearing right now?" Well we called her husband, Morou, on Monday and he was just so grateful and appreciative to hear from us. He says, "I want to go through the baptismal process. I want to be with my family. Thank you. I appreciate this so much!" Since we don't have missionaries in Liberia due to the Ebola outbreak last year we are his "local missionaries." You wonder how 2 sister missionaries in Salt Lake City, UT can be the Local Missionaries to a gentleman in Liberia?? Well we will work side by side with his Branch President and will pretty much do everything. We don't know all the details of what will happen but we do know he will be baptized even if we don't have an established missionary force there. We mentioned to Morou what was going to happen and invited him to pray about a date he personally felt the Lord needed him to be baptized by and when he could be ready. Wednesday, yesterday, we called him and we asked him if he had prayed about a date to be baptized and he said, "Yes, the last Saturday for the month, May 30th!" The really neat thing about this is Sis. George, during weekly planning on Sunday, had discussed about when we felt like Morou could be prepared by and we both felt May 30th but we didn't want to influence his decision. When he said May 30th we both knew right then and there that it was a date that wasn't us but it was a date from the Lord.  Morou is so excited to be baptized. We talked with his Branch President yesterday and he said that will be perfect, and he is so excited for Morou. This is just one of the SEVERAL miracles we encountered this week. We are working with another gentleman from Liberia as well who is excited to learn more, too. Honestly, the Lord does provide. He knows us and he knows our needs. We must BE PATIENT with him. Can I say this burden has been eased a bit? Yes. Is it completely gone? No. There is so much we must do to catch up on the weeks we have lost. We must continue to be diligent. Will the Lord continue to test us? Most definitely. Why? Because it allows us to grow. It allows us to be humble and turn to him.

 

 

Meeting with President Poulsen

 

Sister Ryan and Sister Skaggs
with a former Temple Square
sister

I had mentioned earlier that I met with President Poulsen on Monday. It was a time I will never forget. I felt prompted that I needed to have him give me a priesthood blessing but that in general I needed to speak with him. Why?? I don't really know I just felt like I needed to meet with him. I went in to seek counsel on what has been occurring for the past 2 1/2 weeks and to get a Priesthood Blessing and we ended up talking about other aspects of my mission for the entire time. I spent almost 45 minutes speaking with him. Some of the most life changing and cherished moments I have ever had. There are always ways we can change. The Lord is counting on us to be the best we possibly can be. If we aren't doing everything we can then we are holding out on the Lord, which stops him from pouring those blessings upon us. President gave the example of being someone with so much to give but not giving your all. I can't really describe it. He used an example that I can't explain. In the end we may have all of these divine qualities, skills, and talents but we aren't using them to the fullest. But we MUST use them to the fullest. While meeting with him a lot of things that I had concerns about or things I have struggled with on my mission President was able to address with me and was able to give me counsel that the Lord, I feel, has been trying to get across to me for such a long time but I just haven't recognized it. Meeting with President Poulsen was just amazing. It was neat to just be open with him and to him being frank with me about things he and the Lord expects from me. I know this is where I am supposed to be. Have I been the most perfect missionary? By far, no. Can I improve? Yes. Must I improve? Yes. Why? Because the Lord is counting on me. The Lord has a divine work for me to do and for each of us to do and if we aren't EXACTLY OBEDIENT, and the key is STRIVING TO BE EXACTLY OBEDIENT, then we aren't going to achieve all that the Lord has to offer us. President mentioned that we must not think about the past, and we don't have control of the future but we have control of the now. What are we willing to change to be completely dedicated to the now? He mentioned being self-disciplined to the things I want to change and improve on. If I can learn self-discipline now then that will prepare me for so much more to come in life. I honestly can't describe all that happened. A lot of it is just a really spiritual experience. A moment of A LOT of self reflection and understanding of what needs to change in order for me to receive all the blessings the Lord is willing to pour out to me.

 

The Lord is more than willing to bestow blessings upon us. But we must be willing to consecrate our time and efforts to him. What is stopping us from being EXACTLY OBEDIENT to the things he is asking of us? We may say that we will work on it (like I have my whole mission on things I must improve) but are we actually putting those things into action? If we say we are going to read our scriptures and we are striving to but something is always getting in the way then are we making improvement? I guess the best way to do a self reflection is to see if we have made progress. If I'm STRIVING to be EXACTLY OBEDIENT then I'm making progress and I'm learning to be self-disciplined.

Sis. Skaggs & Sis. George
with a Mandarin tour

 

Being a missionary is one of the most amazing things! I'm grateful the Lord is still giving me a second chance, or shall I say 9 months, to continue to improve. I'm grateful I have time to still apply the things that were brought to my attention, to become that missionary that at the end of the mission the Lord can be proud of. One of the worst feelings a missionary can experience is finishing their mission and recognizing they didn't do all the Lord had required of them, for not sacrificing all they were supposed to. President Poulsen used a scripture of when Christ went to his Apostles and asked them to come follow him and that they "Straightway left their nets". Straightway means immediately. If the Lord asks us to do something are we immediately doing it or are we hesitating? Something, though, that was mentioned is just because we aren't being exactly obedient doesn't mean we are unrighteous. We are still righteous and are still capable of feeling the Holy Ghost in our lives.

 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

 

I can't believe Mother's Day is almost here. Mom I feel beyond blessed to have you as my mother and best friend. For being someone who has been by my side through thick and thin. Someone I can call and share all of my treasured moments and some of my lowest of times with. I'm grateful for the relationship I have with you and for knowing you will always be there for me. Even though I won't be there with you this Mother's Day know I love you and will be with you in spirit. I'm grateful, though, that we get to Skype this Mother's Day - to see you and the rest of the family. I love you Mom!! I don't know what I have done to have been blessed with a mother who is so dedicated to the Gospel, who is fearless, devoted to the Lord, devoted to her family and willing to do all that is asked of her. Know that I love you and appreciate all that you do for me! I'm grateful for parents who have raised me with the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a solid foundation in my life. The Gospel is what brings an eternal joy and I'm grateful you and dad were able to instill those simple truths in me. I know I'm not perfect -- haha, nor will I ever be but I'm grateful for all that you two taught me. And a lot of it was done by example. I LOVE YOU!! =0

 

Sisters looking good!

The Gospel is amazing! I just can't describe to you how amazing it is. I love being here, and I love the people I get to serve on a day to day basis! The field is white and it is ready to be harvested! I'm grateful for those who are anxiously engaged in that harvest. For the examples to me. President Harmon, the Branch President we work with, is a prime example. Someone who is anxiously engaged in harvesting the field. As I have talked to other sisters he has referred multiple individuals who are ready to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their life. The Gospel is true and does bless and change lives. I love you all and feel so blessed to have so many amazing people in my life!

 

LOVE ALWAYS,

 

Sister Skaggs