Well well well,
I have been having a blast here in Barcelona. It was great this past week, because I had a two day vaca to Murcia. (mind you this is said murthia gotta love the theta!) Smelled beautiful and looked great too. Have some fun pictures, but the problem is that it takes so long to upload. When I get my other card, I will send this one home.
We have been working hard to get our area book in order. This week, we counted how many people we retired to the Antiguos section and it was roughly 13. In the past 3 days, we have gotten 7 new investigators. I know that the Lord puts people in our path when we make room for them. It has been amazing to see the miracles that happen. One of our new investigators is Juan. Came to church for the last two weeks in a row. At our first cita with him, he was practically bounding out of the chair to see when he could be baptised!! He accepted the date of 8 May 2010. What a neat experience.
We are having great success with working with all of our investigators. We are learning and growing when it comes to gospel things. I am so glad to be here. I have a great companion. I have a feeling that she will be transferred and she feels it too. This is sad, because I will have a bunch to do still and I don´t know where we will find the necessary things. This week we have planned for roughly 40 citas. This is twice to three times the amount that we normally get in, so we are resting hard today and then we are going to work. HERE WE COME BARCELONA 1!!!!.
We have gotten to be on good terms with the Bishop and we are hoping to keep it that way, so we are making Banana Bread for the auxillaries this week. Yeah we are bribing them to like us. But I am learning how to really work with the ward!! So important.
My companion and I laugh all the time. We travel for about an hour in the metro to our area and we have made up the rules for Metro surfing.
Yes, METRO SURFING!!! The levels get progressively more difficult.
Level one: Normal on the metro feet shoulder width apart and try not to move your feet.
Level ten: Eyes close, standing on one foot, with a Libro De Mormon on your head while taking a reference and writing it in your agenda with a dragon breathing fire on you. Yeah, this one is pretty hard. I haven´t beat this level yet. First of all, it is nearly impossible to balance on one foot with your eyes closed. And secondly, the dragons only exist on some metros!!
I am so lucky to have my companion. She is starting to find out how very weird I really am!! This is great, but we know when to buckle down and work too!
Love you all so much!! Hope things are going well. Tell grani that I bought a classical piano book because I couldn´t handle not being able to play music. Don´t worry, its is allowed!! Tell her that this is something she instilled in me.
Dad- Sometimes I quote you. My companions all want to meet you.
Mom- You are so rad. I miss you but I am having so much fun here! YOu wouldn´t even believe.
Both of you- I hope you are saving your pennies to come to Spain. We would have so much fun!
Marissa-Wrote you a letter and mailed it to you!
Cameron-I hope you are learning to be a rocking couponer like my sister. You should have weekly competitions to see who could get the best deal!!
Quinn-glad to hear that you quoted me in your talk. I hope it wasn´t something about smelly feet.
Mille-what are you doing?? haven´t heard from you in forever!!!
I forgot to sign my name!!
Hermana Skouson
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Weekly Letter
Thing are going well. I have had a week of hard times, but good times. More of the same really, but it has been good. Leticia and Ismael have been out of town for the past two weeks and we are looking forward to seeing them. They are such great people and I really love lessons with them. I hope this last two weeks that have really found a need for the gosple and will want to be baptized. I am excited to see them this week.
Gustavo (one of the live in b-friends of a Menos activo) accepted a baptism date of 22 May. It is forever away, but he feels that he needs this much time to work things out. He is a great guy who loves the Book of Mormon. Monica, the girlfriend, also asked if she could visit with the bishop to work things out so that she would be in good standing with the church again!!
Ousman, A guy from Gambia, also accepted a baptism date for this weekend. The only problem is that he needs to stop smoking. We are working with him to stop, but I don´t think that this Sat will really happen. Bumm deal, but his is a great guy that has made some huge changes in his life. He come to church all the time and works hard to be good.
So tomorrow, I am leaving to go to Murcia. It is the furthest south that sisters can go. Hermana Merrell, one of my housemates, need to get fingerprinted again for residency and her companion kinda stomped her feet to not go. So it turns out that I get to go. I am really excited. It is a 7 hour train ride down and then another 7 back. But, it will be fun. PLUS, they have these great big "man swings"...so Hermana Merrell and I will be swinging on the man swings when we get there!
Okay, this next paragraph was from my President´s letter. I had a bad day yesterday, but it was amazing how hopefull I was through the whole thing. SO here it is...
I had a slight break down yesterday. It was coming and I could feel it. I began to be frusterated by the way things were happening. I was frusterated mainly that I could not communicate the way I really felt I should be able to communicate...meaning that I was not exactly proficient in all the ways of Spanish yet. I got frusterated and I cried. But I can tell you that I have a strong testimony that I know that my Heavenly Father knows the struggles I am going through and he knows exactly who I needed to be my trainer. I know that Hermana Church is really supposed to be my trainer. The way that she helps me and corrects me and directs me are ways that I constantly am reminded that My heavenly Father Loves Me!!
Over all, I am doing well and loving this whole thing. Time are sometimes hard, but I tell you what. I Know that this church is true. I know that What i am doing here is an important work. I also know that Satan knows how important this work is. He is a stinker. But I also know that when I do what I know is right, my Savior and Heavenly Father provide a way for me to succeed. I KNOW THIS!! I KNOW THIS IS TRUE!!
Also, Be a member missionary. SO important. Train the Missionaries in your ward. Ask them if you can attend appointments with them. Ask them if you can take someone to church for them. Have less actives or non members at dinner appointments. These are things members can do. You don´t always just have to have a friend that you can teach, you can do other things!
One other thing,
My stomach is doing better. Just a little pain every now and again. I stopped taking pain meds (aleve, Ibprofen) and the pain went away. The doctor said that some of the pain might have been caused by the medication. So...I am working with all of this.
Love you all so much,
Here is a list of things that if you can find that would be great.
Pictures: Moustach pictures of the family at christmas, any family picture, millies hair.
Those two dresses.
Short sleeve shirts. Found one today and found 2 bras at primart for under 20 euros. More my price range. And your love!! I love you all! So much So so much.
I think of you all everyday and I am constantly testifying that I know that families are eternal.
FAMILIAS SON ETERNAS!!! YO SE!!!!
Hermana Skouson
When you send that package, will you send it to the office which is the address for the mission home and not the Badal Street address. I am afraid it would come when I was not at home and that would be bad!!
Thanks
Love you lot
PS. WEnt to the picasso museum today for Preparation day!
Fun!
Love you
Kayla
Gustavo (one of the live in b-friends of a Menos activo) accepted a baptism date of 22 May. It is forever away, but he feels that he needs this much time to work things out. He is a great guy who loves the Book of Mormon. Monica, the girlfriend, also asked if she could visit with the bishop to work things out so that she would be in good standing with the church again!!
Ousman, A guy from Gambia, also accepted a baptism date for this weekend. The only problem is that he needs to stop smoking. We are working with him to stop, but I don´t think that this Sat will really happen. Bumm deal, but his is a great guy that has made some huge changes in his life. He come to church all the time and works hard to be good.
So tomorrow, I am leaving to go to Murcia. It is the furthest south that sisters can go. Hermana Merrell, one of my housemates, need to get fingerprinted again for residency and her companion kinda stomped her feet to not go. So it turns out that I get to go. I am really excited. It is a 7 hour train ride down and then another 7 back. But, it will be fun. PLUS, they have these great big "man swings"...so Hermana Merrell and I will be swinging on the man swings when we get there!
Okay, this next paragraph was from my President´s letter. I had a bad day yesterday, but it was amazing how hopefull I was through the whole thing. SO here it is...
I had a slight break down yesterday. It was coming and I could feel it. I began to be frusterated by the way things were happening. I was frusterated mainly that I could not communicate the way I really felt I should be able to communicate...meaning that I was not exactly proficient in all the ways of Spanish yet. I got frusterated and I cried. But I can tell you that I have a strong testimony that I know that my Heavenly Father knows the struggles I am going through and he knows exactly who I needed to be my trainer. I know that Hermana Church is really supposed to be my trainer. The way that she helps me and corrects me and directs me are ways that I constantly am reminded that My heavenly Father Loves Me!!
Over all, I am doing well and loving this whole thing. Time are sometimes hard, but I tell you what. I Know that this church is true. I know that What i am doing here is an important work. I also know that Satan knows how important this work is. He is a stinker. But I also know that when I do what I know is right, my Savior and Heavenly Father provide a way for me to succeed. I KNOW THIS!! I KNOW THIS IS TRUE!!
Also, Be a member missionary. SO important. Train the Missionaries in your ward. Ask them if you can attend appointments with them. Ask them if you can take someone to church for them. Have less actives or non members at dinner appointments. These are things members can do. You don´t always just have to have a friend that you can teach, you can do other things!
One other thing,
My stomach is doing better. Just a little pain every now and again. I stopped taking pain meds (aleve, Ibprofen) and the pain went away. The doctor said that some of the pain might have been caused by the medication. So...I am working with all of this.
Love you all so much,
Here is a list of things that if you can find that would be great.
Pictures: Moustach pictures of the family at christmas, any family picture, millies hair.
Those two dresses.
Short sleeve shirts. Found one today and found 2 bras at primart for under 20 euros. More my price range. And your love!! I love you all! So much So so much.
I think of you all everyday and I am constantly testifying that I know that families are eternal.
FAMILIAS SON ETERNAS!!! YO SE!!!!
Hermana Skouson
When you send that package, will you send it to the office which is the address for the mission home and not the Badal Street address. I am afraid it would come when I was not at home and that would be bad!!
Thanks
Love you lot
PS. WEnt to the picasso museum today for Preparation day!
Fun!
Love you
Kayla
Hermanas luncheon with Hna. Hinckley and Virginia H. Pearce
WEDNESDAY: Hermanas luncheon and meeting for hermanas serving in the Barcelona metro area.The Hermanas from the Barcelona area came into the mission home for a luncheon with Hna. Hinckley and the president's sister, Virginia H. Pearce (who is visiting for a few days). A good time was had by all.
Back Row: Hnas. Church, Bustamante, Pearce, Hinckley, O'Neil, Skouson,
Front Row: Hnas. Eberly and Merrell
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
¿Que Tal Familia?
So here are some pictures.The first is the Baptism. MY FIRST!!!! YEAH HOO!! The second is me and my comp. (Didn't receive any pictures in the email - sorry. She just thot she sent)
Well, I don´t even know where to begin. I have a feeling my trainer will be transferred next transfer. We are getting along really well, and that is never a good sign. Plus we went into the office today and needed to buy a new metro pass and they told her to only buy one for one month. Transfers are May 4. AHHH!! Anyways. That will be interesting if that happens because usually trainers are with each other for 2 transfers. WEIRD!!
Oh, Sent home a package on the 6th, has a camera card in it. If you could send that back ASAP...that would be rad cause, I only have my small one now.
For a second. Things are really so expensive here. I have to buy a new bra because one of the ones I have, the Wire snapped right in the middle so it does this funny not good thing. Luckily this happenend while we were doing companionship nightly study, so I was just able to handle it. So we went to find a new one, and DANG GINA... they are like $50. And I am a cheapy person. So Yeah DAD, I will need some money in that account. Will you just let me know how much is in there?
We are working our tails off here. At church yesterday, we were scheduling our week with Menos activos and conversos recentes and investigadors and our week is basically full. Here is the problem, Because our week is full and we still have more to schedule, I am going to have to go on splits. AHH!!! That means that I will have to communicate more with the members and with the investigators. My brains always hurt after a good sunday at church talking with lots of people and trying to translate what they are saying in to a language I understand and then responding, but it is coming. I understand about 95% of what is being said, and I can answer their questions about 50% of the time. This is going up and up and up. Hermana Church is a great trainer. I have come to understand alot about myself with her. I have been talking with her about the reasons I haven´t done some things in the past and it has come down to fear. Fear of Failing. She is helping me overcome this. I am becoming a stronger and stronger person in the gospel and putting my strength in the Lord. There was a quote by the old CCM president, President Hill. "Do something that scares you everyday". I love this and this is what I am working for.
So Things are really great here. I am loving it. Semi rainy today. My shin splints were rubbed out by one of the Sisters I live with and she bruised me, but It is all good, because now I can walk. Also, Mom, you know that pain that I went to the Doctor for, " I have Diarreah" Yeah that trip. It is back and in full force. I am working on trying to find the symptoms. All I know right now is that when I jumprope in the morning it makes it hurt and then I get nauseaus and then when we are on the bus or anywhere else, I feel sick. But don´t worry too much. I think that my companion wants me to talk with the Doctor. He only speaks with us through the phone because he is serving in Germany. But, Maybe something good will come from this. I have found that if I take 2 aleve in the morning, i am alright, but I don´t want to have to rely on this. So I am working with the Doctor.
I get to talk with you all soon. Mothers day is coming up. I am excited to hear your voices.
Thank you all for the emails and for the letters. Especially Fullwoods, Robyn, Brownings (for the cookies), Shayla, Shalese, Grandma!! Thank you thank you thank you.
I love you all. And am excited to be working hard here in España.
Hermana Skouson
Well, I don´t even know where to begin. I have a feeling my trainer will be transferred next transfer. We are getting along really well, and that is never a good sign. Plus we went into the office today and needed to buy a new metro pass and they told her to only buy one for one month. Transfers are May 4. AHHH!! Anyways. That will be interesting if that happens because usually trainers are with each other for 2 transfers. WEIRD!!
Oh, Sent home a package on the 6th, has a camera card in it. If you could send that back ASAP...that would be rad cause, I only have my small one now.
For a second. Things are really so expensive here. I have to buy a new bra because one of the ones I have, the Wire snapped right in the middle so it does this funny not good thing. Luckily this happenend while we were doing companionship nightly study, so I was just able to handle it. So we went to find a new one, and DANG GINA... they are like $50. And I am a cheapy person. So Yeah DAD, I will need some money in that account. Will you just let me know how much is in there?
We are working our tails off here. At church yesterday, we were scheduling our week with Menos activos and conversos recentes and investigadors and our week is basically full. Here is the problem, Because our week is full and we still have more to schedule, I am going to have to go on splits. AHH!!! That means that I will have to communicate more with the members and with the investigators. My brains always hurt after a good sunday at church talking with lots of people and trying to translate what they are saying in to a language I understand and then responding, but it is coming. I understand about 95% of what is being said, and I can answer their questions about 50% of the time. This is going up and up and up. Hermana Church is a great trainer. I have come to understand alot about myself with her. I have been talking with her about the reasons I haven´t done some things in the past and it has come down to fear. Fear of Failing. She is helping me overcome this. I am becoming a stronger and stronger person in the gospel and putting my strength in the Lord. There was a quote by the old CCM president, President Hill. "Do something that scares you everyday". I love this and this is what I am working for.
So Things are really great here. I am loving it. Semi rainy today. My shin splints were rubbed out by one of the Sisters I live with and she bruised me, but It is all good, because now I can walk. Also, Mom, you know that pain that I went to the Doctor for, " I have Diarreah" Yeah that trip. It is back and in full force. I am working on trying to find the symptoms. All I know right now is that when I jumprope in the morning it makes it hurt and then I get nauseaus and then when we are on the bus or anywhere else, I feel sick. But don´t worry too much. I think that my companion wants me to talk with the Doctor. He only speaks with us through the phone because he is serving in Germany. But, Maybe something good will come from this. I have found that if I take 2 aleve in the morning, i am alright, but I don´t want to have to rely on this. So I am working with the Doctor.
I get to talk with you all soon. Mothers day is coming up. I am excited to hear your voices.
Thank you all for the emails and for the letters. Especially Fullwoods, Robyn, Brownings (for the cookies), Shayla, Shalese, Grandma!! Thank you thank you thank you.
I love you all. And am excited to be working hard here in España.
Hermana Skouson
Monday, April 5, 2010
Thank you family!! And I have a baptism for this weekend
Hello,
I am glad to get emails from a bunch of you today!!! IT really lifts my spirits. I have been in piso for 2 days of the week. My companion got sick with goopy eye junk and other side effects. Really gross. So I was in piso on Mon and Tues and part of Wed. But this week we has Zone Conference with the Zones from Hospitalet and Barcelona. They were really great. I love President Hinckley and Especially Hermana Hinckley. They really are supposed to be my mission presidents.
So wanna hear something disconcerting. I might change missions. The mission of Bilboa will be dissolved on the 1 of july and the changes will happen. But here is the deal, if I am sent south for the transfer before the split, I could end up in the Malaga mission. Bum Deal. SO I am staying on good terms with the president and praying that I get sent either north or get to stay in this great city of Barcelona. The normal thing is to be with your trainer for 2 transfers, but from what I have heard, President Hinckley is unpredicatble. So who know where I will be. I am on week three of this transfer cycle and am loving it so completely!
My companion is a new person to work with and she is teaching me how to do so many things, but especially, how to love. I guess this is one thing that I am struggling with. I don´t know how to show affection. Mind you, I do love, but it is hard for me to show affection.
The Elders in Barrio 3 (ward 3) have been teaching this girl names Karin. She is getting baptised this weekend. Here is the problem for them. She has been attending our ward and has finally moved into our ward, but she just moved last week, so the Elders are turning her over to us hermanas, SOOOO, My first baptism will be this week end. We get to meet her tomorrow. YEAH!!!
The teaching is getting better for me. I am actually able to communicate most of my thoughts with the patient members and investigators. We have a family, Leticia and Ismael, that are basically ready to be baptised. They know the gospel is true and the know what they need to do. They came to conference yesterday and had a great experience ( oh, we only got to see the first 3 sessions because of the time difference, so this was the sunday morning session that they went to.) But the problem is that they are going on holiday for 10 days. We will definately know whether or not they are ready to go by this point. They are great people. And they have friends that we made for them in the ward. It is great. IN PMG, it talks about how we should find people for the investigators that are from the same religious background as them, but here it is a different story. Most of the people here in Barcelona are from a different country. Leticia and Ismael are from Mexico and the Ward mission leader is from Mexico also. We took him to one lesson and they hit it off sooooo great. I can´t believe it. They now have time to hang out set up so they can be good friends. I love this work.
Questions from Dads email with answers. Sorry. Sorta confusing. Gotta go soon!
What is the food like there:?? The food is interesting. I love the panaderias (bread shops) And I am limiting myself on how much bread I can eat. Mainly everything is fried, but For the most part, it is pretty good. We also get alot of food from other countries. There are some great cooks in our ward. WE ARE LUCKY!!!
How is your new companion??. She is 25 and studied in England for 4 years. She is great, very similar to me and the things that we need to work on. Sometimes that is not a good thing, but we are working it out.
how are the members??. how is your ward??. BOth great. VEry helpful!!!
What time do you usually have p-day from, where do you e-mail and shop??. Preparatino day, we email from a locotorio and then have the rest of the day to do whatever. LOVE IT. Today we are going on splits with Hermana O´Ñeil and I. We are going to the Gaudi Park. Parc Güell and hanging out with some elders. Pday starts at 11 and goes until 6.
What is your favorite food or fruit or dessert.?? Napolean: Like a crossaint with great chocolate in the middle.
Is the flan good there??. Had it once at a members. Not my fav. but learning to eat anything
Are you learning recipes that you can bring back here? Trying to learn what they are talking about first, then recipes next
.Are you having success in teaching.?? YEs
How is the language coming??. Slow, but good. I can communicate you dont seem to have too many worries about the language. Had a break down the other day about the language and life. But all is good.
Go Brother Marrot. How fun!!! I am excited for the ward. That will be fun! Hope your shin splints are getting better. Still working on them. Evntually I cant remember if mom asked about your money situation.I don´t have a way to access. Will you let me know how much is in my account. Gotta buy some summer clothes and shoes. EXPENSIVE; pero esta bein Do you have some still in your account. Let us know and we can stock it up a little.
Granny is getting worse. Tell her I love her. When you go, go ahead and give my mission president a call. That would be great. That way I could know.
Shayla´s emails: Send them email.
T-bone: MOM, are you okay. How is the car. Did anyone get hurt!! lOVE you lots
HEre is my piso address.
Hermana Mikayla Skouson
C/Badal 64, 5, 1
08014 Barcelona
España
I am glad to get emails from a bunch of you today!!! IT really lifts my spirits. I have been in piso for 2 days of the week. My companion got sick with goopy eye junk and other side effects. Really gross. So I was in piso on Mon and Tues and part of Wed. But this week we has Zone Conference with the Zones from Hospitalet and Barcelona. They were really great. I love President Hinckley and Especially Hermana Hinckley. They really are supposed to be my mission presidents.
So wanna hear something disconcerting. I might change missions. The mission of Bilboa will be dissolved on the 1 of july and the changes will happen. But here is the deal, if I am sent south for the transfer before the split, I could end up in the Malaga mission. Bum Deal. SO I am staying on good terms with the president and praying that I get sent either north or get to stay in this great city of Barcelona. The normal thing is to be with your trainer for 2 transfers, but from what I have heard, President Hinckley is unpredicatble. So who know where I will be. I am on week three of this transfer cycle and am loving it so completely!
My companion is a new person to work with and she is teaching me how to do so many things, but especially, how to love. I guess this is one thing that I am struggling with. I don´t know how to show affection. Mind you, I do love, but it is hard for me to show affection.
The Elders in Barrio 3 (ward 3) have been teaching this girl names Karin. She is getting baptised this weekend. Here is the problem for them. She has been attending our ward and has finally moved into our ward, but she just moved last week, so the Elders are turning her over to us hermanas, SOOOO, My first baptism will be this week end. We get to meet her tomorrow. YEAH!!!
The teaching is getting better for me. I am actually able to communicate most of my thoughts with the patient members and investigators. We have a family, Leticia and Ismael, that are basically ready to be baptised. They know the gospel is true and the know what they need to do. They came to conference yesterday and had a great experience ( oh, we only got to see the first 3 sessions because of the time difference, so this was the sunday morning session that they went to.) But the problem is that they are going on holiday for 10 days. We will definately know whether or not they are ready to go by this point. They are great people. And they have friends that we made for them in the ward. It is great. IN PMG, it talks about how we should find people for the investigators that are from the same religious background as them, but here it is a different story. Most of the people here in Barcelona are from a different country. Leticia and Ismael are from Mexico and the Ward mission leader is from Mexico also. We took him to one lesson and they hit it off sooooo great. I can´t believe it. They now have time to hang out set up so they can be good friends. I love this work.
Questions from Dads email with answers. Sorry. Sorta confusing. Gotta go soon!
What is the food like there:?? The food is interesting. I love the panaderias (bread shops) And I am limiting myself on how much bread I can eat. Mainly everything is fried, but For the most part, it is pretty good. We also get alot of food from other countries. There are some great cooks in our ward. WE ARE LUCKY!!!
How is your new companion??. She is 25 and studied in England for 4 years. She is great, very similar to me and the things that we need to work on. Sometimes that is not a good thing, but we are working it out.
how are the members??. how is your ward??. BOth great. VEry helpful!!!
What time do you usually have p-day from, where do you e-mail and shop??. Preparatino day, we email from a locotorio and then have the rest of the day to do whatever. LOVE IT. Today we are going on splits with Hermana O´Ñeil and I. We are going to the Gaudi Park. Parc Güell and hanging out with some elders. Pday starts at 11 and goes until 6.
What is your favorite food or fruit or dessert.?? Napolean: Like a crossaint with great chocolate in the middle.
Is the flan good there??. Had it once at a members. Not my fav. but learning to eat anything
Are you learning recipes that you can bring back here? Trying to learn what they are talking about first, then recipes next
.Are you having success in teaching.?? YEs
How is the language coming??. Slow, but good. I can communicate you dont seem to have too many worries about the language. Had a break down the other day about the language and life. But all is good.
Go Brother Marrot. How fun!!! I am excited for the ward. That will be fun! Hope your shin splints are getting better. Still working on them. Evntually I cant remember if mom asked about your money situation.I don´t have a way to access. Will you let me know how much is in my account. Gotta buy some summer clothes and shoes. EXPENSIVE; pero esta bein Do you have some still in your account. Let us know and we can stock it up a little.
Granny is getting worse. Tell her I love her. When you go, go ahead and give my mission president a call. That would be great. That way I could know.
Shayla´s emails: Send them email.
T-bone: MOM, are you okay. How is the car. Did anyone get hurt!! lOVE you lots
HEre is my piso address.
Hermana Mikayla Skouson
C/Badal 64, 5, 1
08014 Barcelona
España
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