27 New Investigators in New Area

I'm so ashamed to say, I forgot to write to Justin on Monday. I can't believe it! I'm a terrible mother. I usually write to him on Sunday, but didn't get to it...Late church will be my excuse. I even had several reminders on Monday, but not one put the thought into my head to write to him. So...that will probably explain the reason this letter is so short. My punishment. haha. -Mom (Dad did write and we did sent him a TON of audio files from our vacation so there is that.)

“Elder Munar y Yo”

“My comp, Elder Romero”

I´ll just assume that you were too busy and forgot haha ;)  

(True statement, but no excuse! I will repent.)

I'm having a great time here in Cerrito. My Comp is super rad and we've
been having a blast. 

Cerrito is SUPER small compared to pretty much
everywhere else I've been. Centro or downtown is like a normal street in
Cali. With a bunch of super weird stores but hey! I've got my eyes a SWEET
Star Wars shirt. Totally illegally made just like everything else that has
name brand stuff on it.

We are in a small branch of about 63 members who come to church. We go to a
casa capilla house chapel which is just a house that the church rents to have the
meetings in. 

WE FOUND 26 NEW INVESTIGATORS!!! Two of them being named D
and K. They're a couple with a three month old baby and they are AMAZING.
Super shy but they are going so strong. D read up until 1Nephi 4 just
because he liked what he was reading. Which is awesome because He hates
reading haha. They're on date to be baptized on the 21 of November, but have
to get married first. Pray for them so they can make it there!!! 

In Dad's even shorter letter he wrote that they haven't found a house yet so they are living in a tiny place meant

for two with a trio of missionaries. (That's five all together!)

Love you guys!

Elder Skinner

Transfers-Opening up a New Area!

Sounds like every one is having fun!!! I miss you too but I´m also glad I'm in the mission.

First things first. TRANSFERS CAME IN!!! I'm now going to be opening an
area (yikes!) with Elder Romero from Paraguay! We'll be in a small village
on the outskirts of Palmira! That's not part of Cali but it's close. Also a
lot hotter. So we'll be starting from scratch on almost everything.
Including finding a house! So in the mean time we have to live with three
other missionaries and I'm kind of annoyed. But Elder Romero is SUPER
cool and was my zone leader in Limonar. So we are way excited to start. And
guess who came to replace me in Morichal? My old companion from Morichal. Elder Ore
didn't want me to leave.

But yeah! The week was not too hot up until the interviews. I was still
stuck with the headache until Wednesday morning which was followed by a
fever that lasted from Wednesday to Thursday. But I got some very well
needed rest while I got over it. 

(Last week, I didn't post it...he had what he said was a Migraine. The first on the mission.

He's usually out for the day puking and in the dark. But this one was just a huge headache 

that hurt to move his head. I think it might sound like the flu if it ended in a fever.)

 And then came the interviews! President Pricoli is incredible. I sat down
and just explained just about everything I've been telling you guys for the
past six months being with hard comps and he pulled out 2Nephi 2:1-2. 

1 And now, Jacob, I speak unto you: Thou art my firstborn
 in the days of my tribulation in the wilderness. And behold, in thy 
childhood thou hast suffered afflictions and much sorrow, because of the
 rudeness of thy brethren. 

 2 Nevertheless, Jacob, my firstborn in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.

He explained that my brothers, the missionaries, have been causing a lot of
grief in my mission. But that there will be something better for me. My
afflictions will be consecrated for my benefit. He looked me in the eyes
and said, "I don't know why you have to go through these things. but the
promise Lehi made to Jacob stands for you too. I know you haven't done
anything wrong. Los tontos son *ellos* (they are the idiots here or the
stupid ones are them)." 

I'm so thankful that Justin finds his mission president's council so comforting and helpful. 

I would just want him to FIX it! haha 

So with that little boost of encouragement, it helped
me love my companion until the second we got to the bus station. And now I'm
going to be with someone who works hard and needs me as much as I need him.
So the afflictions are paying off. 

I know this is going to be super hard opening an area but I'm ready to face what comes.

I love you guys! I wish I had remembered to make a recording for the entire
extended family... :( But tell them all I love them.

He loves you.

Buy me a big sucker from Disneyland. ;)

Love,

Elder Sexy Sapo Skinner

On a General Conference High

So conference was only the greatest thing that has ever happened in the history of the entire universe. President Uchtdorf's talk Saturday morning was meant for me. Because he emphasized that we don't have to be outstanding in everything we do. He and you really helped me realize that I'm being too hard on myself and a I really need to take a step back and start looking at the things I do right. I get up on time. I DO study and do everything I should do during those given hours. And I've been more patient (thanks to conference). My comp has been insulting me every time I open my mouth (almost literally every time) and he's joking but it's super annoying. But thanks to conference and the Spirit, I've been able to take it without getting as angry. This is only since Saturday so I had a good week of losing my temper haha.

And wow. Elder Holland's talk was probably the most spiritual one. All of the gringos were in the clerk's office watching in English and we were all DEAD SILENT. We were all so thankful for our moms but sad we couldn't give them hugs right then and there ;) I love you mom! You are the greatest. And I inherit being too hard on myself from YOU because YOU are too hard on YOURSELF. You're a stellar mother and you shouldn't ever think you're
anything less than that.

Something funny that happened this week... It rained like CRAZY one if the mornings this week and because of our stupid patio and the drain that is two inches above the ground, we woke up to a wonderful ankle deep flood. Only in the patio but i remember being kind of groggy and walking to get some clothes hanging up and almost killing myself trying not to fall into the water I almost stepped in. That woke me up!! So that was funny.

I was inspired this week by conference obviously and the fact that we have three new Apostles. That was pretty cool thing to witness. I was inspired by a class in our district meeting that was about our faith in action as missionaries. It was cool.

I love you guys!!! Especially my mom!

Elder Skinner

Yum. Eating Salad.

 Warning: Super White guy dancing!

“I lost the game during a family home evening and had to dance the Pato as punishment.”

“Our swimming pool”