TRAINING!!!

Sounds like you've got your hands full of responsibility!! And guess what...
ME TOO!!!

Transfers came in last night and Elder Guerrero left at 4 this morning for
Pasto. Really cool and I'm happy for him. He's a good guy. But I was shocked
to hear that my new companion really IS new. I'M GOING TO BE
TRAINING!!!!!!!! I'm getting a greeny named Elder Mariaca. I don't know
where he's from but I know that I'm gong to Cali on Wednesday to pick him
up. I'm actually really excited. It was something I dreaded for SO long but
now that it's here and I'm coming out of a good companionship, I'm really
looking forward to it. From the sound of his name, he's from Peru, Bolivia,
or Ecuador. I'm currently with Elder Smith form Riverton, Utah who will also
be training for his first time. He's pretty cool and we are having some
fun.

The week was a good one. Still having a problem with being sleepy. But I'm
sleeping wonderfully! And having some crazy dreams. Super weird ones. But I
kind of like it. It's like I'm dreaming a music video to a Psychedelic Rock
song. Quite stellar.

Owen's car was DEFINITELY the coolest one there. Doesn't matter if he won
any prizes because he already has the best family in the world.

(Owen's pinewood derby car-3D printed exterior over the wood block from the kit. He got most Retro-tastic!)

Loving life here in Popayan. Even though I'm soaked to the bone by the
rain.

I love you mom! You're the best and now I can try out my new goals about
taking iniciative.

Elder Jenky

Valentines on a mission is just another day...I HOPE!

 
Yooooooooo!!! Sounds like some fun things have been happening. Most of
which being involved with Guitar Center, Roller Coasters and Gram and
Grandad, in that order (just kidding haha!)

It's been a pretty great week. We had a baptism on Saturday for a recent
convert's daughter and that was super cool. She really likes the church and
after being baptized said that she felt like a burden had been lifted.So
it's cool to see the promise that the First Presidency made in the
introduction to Preach My Gospel. Read it and weep!!!! Because it it 100%
truth.

Today during study I had a pretty cool insight. I was reading in Alma 10
when Amulek is talking to the people and he says that he didn't recognize
the things of God because of the wickedness of his heart. Well, that's a
lot like Laman and Lemuel in 1Nephi 15 when they say "The lord maketh no
such thing known unto us" when Nephi asks them if they had prayed about
their doubts. The insight was that really, we cause our own confusion.
Someone who is not willing to try living the word of wisdom because he
doesn't understand will never understand because of the "wickedness of his
heart". We have the answers or at least a way to get them. All we have to
do is look.

Also, whilst I was showering this morn, I had one of those, "I love the
mission" moments. Because of the mission, I've really come to know my
Heavenly Father and what he wants for me. I really have grown to love the
promise that families ARE forever! Forever would be a long time to spend
without the people I love.

I love you mom!!!! I'm getting better about standing up for myself. 

Love

Elder Skywalker (Skinner)   AUDIO FILE




 Colombia never fails to have new, weird fruits! This is Guama.



 This looks so gross to me! Like little baby mice or something. -mom






And this looks like some animal toe or hoof. UG! haha -mom

No word if it was any good...

Popayan-Feb

Loved the pictures.
This week has been very good. We had some more interviews with President
Pricoli and we were able to talk about some of the good changes that have
been made. 

ELder Guerrero is treating me very well. We get along super well and since
he's a nerd too, he doesn't mind when I talk about Star Trek or Star Wars.
He's more of an anime nerd so we basically just take turns listening to
eachother.

We got locked out of our house last monday and as we were breaking into our
own house, a guy started to talk to us and ended up asking what he could do
to have a visit. So we went to his house and had a super cool lesson. HE
really wants to change his life but is having a hard time thinking that
it's possible. SO we've talking a LOT about the Atonement and what it can
do to people. I used myslef as the example because I haven't always been
the ridiculously good looking and humble guys I am. 😋 Just kidding haha.
But he's excited to change but is really scared. SO pray for him. His name
is Pedro.

I've been pretty stressed with the whole being a district leader thing but
I'm getting the hang of it. It's hard when Everyone has their own Idea of
how the district meeting should be. Kind of annoying but maybe I should pay more attention to them.

I got my camera to work a little better so I uploaded some PICS!!!!

I love you guys! You're the greatest and my family is AWESOME!!!

Love you mom!!

Elder Skinner

Audio File Here

Not the new shoes he's talking about in the audio file. Ha! 

Decided to spoil myself. This is the official shoe of Justin. He has about 6 other pairs in different colors here at home that he didn't take.

Great Week in Popayan

Howdy ya'll!! Good to hear from you twice in one day haha. He didn't get our letters last week. :/

It's been a very good week. Elder Guerrero is a great companion and is
really funny. 

He's a huge geek so we've been abale to nerd out a little
bit.  fyi  "Geek" is a compliment from Justin.

We had some good lessons and we are trying to get the daughter of a
recent convert baptized here soon. Floresta (my branch) is INCREDIBLE!!!!
The members are excellent, the ward council WORKS, and the converts are just
full HD. They are coming in white shirts and ties and blessing the
sacrament now. We should have several baptisms soon. We attend the same
chapel as where I started and so I've seen a lot of the other members and
they actually remember me!! Wow right? The youth are still saying
"mushroom" and still think it's the worst swear word in English ;) They taught them this the first time he was in Popayan, tired of being sworn at with real English swear words.
Did my first baptismal interview this week for a little girl whose mom was
recently baptized. That was pretty cool. We had divisions with the zone
leaders and that was really rad. I was with Elder Green who went to Layton
High and knows some of the same people I know. Super funny and a cool guy.

I'm just glad I can breath a little now. No more disobedience. Elder G is
super cool and wants to follow the rules so we've been getting along
swimmingly. Stress free!

I love you guys. I think Ian should fast and pray and if the Lord tells him he should leave on his mission before I get home and we don't get to see each other, oh well... I'll be very sad cause I really miss hanging out with him but waiting to go is really dangerous. So

pray about it and see what the Lord says.

LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!