April 4th
I am SO TIRED. We played soccer ALL DAY. But I'm glad to hear all is well!
Conference had some amazing talks! I don't know what it is about Jeffrey R
Holland that always just gets me. We'll always be sitting in the secretary's
office (all of the gringos) and be making comments and just listening but
the room always falls into a heavy silence when Elder Holland starts to talk. It was
the most needed talk for me. President Monson is looking pretty sick...
Poor guy. He's trying pretty hard. Huge respect points to President
Uchtdorf for the Star Wars reference!
This week has been long, Hard and sweaty. It's so weird to come from
Popayan which is like a Springtime land of magical wonders, to Cali which
is like the Devil's vacation home (for the heat and weed levels). Most of
our area is red zone or just too dangerous to go into without a member. So
when we don't have a member we're basically just stuck to our own
neighborhood. But we have some AWESOME members. Our Pensionista is really
cool too.
My comp is cool. He worked in the temple and his name is Nefi. Or Nephi..
Well, I'm not sure what else to write about but I just want you to know
that I love you. It's been an awesome ride so far, the whole mission thing.
Glad I came ;)
Elder Skinner
April 10th
Suuuuup Family!!!!
Sounds like ya'll had fun at six flags. I need to hit that up when I get
back.
I'll write that missionary letter right now because it's been a TERRIBLE
week. So I'll skip that and talk about one investigator and the letter you
want to share.
We are teaching this lady named T and she's
really cool. She wants to do the right things and just be on good terms
with God. So she came to church and really liked the Gospel Principles
class. She thought it was really interesting and was able to form some more
questions to ask us. But she's struggling with money and some health probs
her daughter is having. So please Pray for her and Keep her in your
thoughts.
Now the missionary stuff. Missionary work is STELLAR! It is so cool. It's
so hard, buy it is so rewarding. I can't say that the fear ever goes away
because I still have this fear of talking to people in the street. But the
rewards never stop. Seeing the people of Colombia change their lives to
come unto Christ is something I Hope I'll be able to see when I get home.
(I'm totally going to do all I can to visit after my mission). The
blessings aren't limited to just missionaries. The Members are all entitled
to blessings that come from missionary work, even if they don't wear a
piece of black plastic on their chest. The only difference between the
members and the full time missionaries are the rules, the fact we do it full
time and the piece of black plastic. But as the prophets have always said,
"Every member a missionary." The First Presidency message in the beginning
of Preach My Gospel says it all. There really isn't any work more
satisfying like this one. Whether you be a young deacon, laurel or an old
high priest like my dad, this work is for you. Share the gospel with a
neighbor, friend, random person in the airport, ANYONE!!! Because they are
also children of God and deserve the same opportunity to return to him as we
do. So just DO IT!.
I suppose that now that I've written all of that I have to apply it... Haha.
I love you mom! you're the best!!!
Elder JSKINNY
