Bring Boxing Day to the USA!

December 22nd was my magic day. I will tell you why (it's not as cool as you think it will be).
I'm 22 years old on the 22nd and it was exactly my 2 month mark in my 2nd transfer. Cool huh?

But it wasn't that magic of a day because after lunch I had to use the toilet sooo bad, I thought I was going to die. So we're walking all the way to this appointment and I'm just chanting in my head "one more step!" We finally get there and guess whaaaaaat.

They cancelled.

I really thought I was going to die or my intestines were going to explode.
"What do I do? What do I do?!" So I asked a lady smoking outside her house if I could use her toilet and she let me! People are great.

We were also asked twice if we were nuns. #missionaryclothingswag

Christmas Eve was an adventure. We missed our train to Derriaghy. We were almost there, saw it in the station, ran to it and IT LEFT US. So, we tried by a less active who wasn't there and then caught the next train.

Guess who missed our stop?

...

We may or may not have been pictures of ourselves.

We got off at Dunmurry and I had to use the toilet again so, we entered another random house. We walked back to the train station and saw the train we needed...just leaving... #winning. We just stayed and chapped in Dunmurry and fiiinally made the next train.

Christmas was great! We spent it at the Reid's house. They are so wonderful! They gave us control of the TV because we were allowed to watch G/PG movies on Christmas :) So we watched Frozen and Remember The Titans. SO GOOD. We also skyped home! It was so great to see my family and meet my niece Hattie! I miss you all!

The day after Christmas was Boxing Day. I think we should celebrate this in America! They do their "black Friday" shopping on this day. But us as missionaries got to relax a bit for 2 days! Although I'm pretty sure I gained like 20lbs because we trounced to meal appointment after meal appointment so close together and haaad to keep eating.

My New Years Resolution is to run.

Lezzz be real though. It's the same every year and do I do it? No.
We'll see.

What are everyone's goals? If you get a chance, take a look at Jeffery R. Hollands talk "The Best Is Yet To Be". It is one of my favorites and is perfect for the start of this new year. :)

Sister Skagen

Merry Christmas

Alright, I can't believe it's Christmas in 3 days. Where did the time go? Totally snuck up on me, the stinker. Good thing Christmas is favorite.

This week was a bit different because I was in Bangor for a few days with Sister Stevenson and then picked up Sister Crawley and returned to Lisburn on Wednesday.

So let me straighten something out.

Christmas Cake.

Sounds delicious, right? Christmas is great, cake is great, so this thing must be magic. W R O N G.
It tastes like rotten brown sugar with old raisins and gross marzipan icing (it's like a fruit cake).
And then, you must pretend you like it and eat it all with a smile on your face. Which I did of course, Mama taught me well. I just can't believe that is a thing here, people actually enjoy it. Norn Irn has some weeeird stuff. Love it.

After this delicious treat Sister Stevenson and I headed to the bus station and our bus never came. Just...didn't show up. Cool.

But it actually was cool becaaause, we met Angela. She's 21 and works as the equivalent of a CNA for us murican's. We talked to her about life, accents and the gospel. She thought it was so cool that our church service is 3 hours long and was stoked about coming to check it out. Brilliant.

Sister Crawley, my step mom is so great! I am learning tons from her. I'm so grateful for her and that we got on well :) We were let in to someone's home TWICE this week. swaaaag. Never happens. Most Elders can count on one hand how many times they were let in in this mission. #killinit

One of the homes we entered were Valeria and Eddie from Bulgaria. The sweetest and most humble people ever! They said they would make true Bulgarian food for us and we learned a few words in their language. We are excited to go back.

On the way out, Sister Crawley accidentally pulled the fire alarm.

...oopes.

hahahaha. i diiiiiiiied.

We like to interpretive dance together and order pizzas on a whim. It'll be a good transfer!

I am forever grateful for my Heavenly Father's plan of happiness and that He sent His Son to die for us, so that WE could have a way to return to Him. So that WE could have eternal life. So that WE could repent and be clean from all sin, as well as all feelings of guilt, pain, sorrow, etc. So that WE can have someone, Jesus Christ, who knows everything we are going through and knows how to succor us. I am amazed at the beauty and power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ! I know that if we pattern our lives after Him, we will be our happiest. We will be blessed and recognize those blessings come from a loving Father in Heaven. I know this is Christ's restored gospel on the earth. That is why I am here. To share that message with them and to help them be as happy as I am.

Love you all. I hope you have a Happy Christmas and know that the Lord loves you. We are so blessed!

Sister Skagen

                                                   ​Hanging out in Belfast on Moves Day!

                                                         Me, Angela, Sister Stevenson

​                                                               Sister Crawley and I !

Beauty and the Beast

I am sitting in sadness as I write this e-mail. Sister Firth left this morning! It was so sad, I teared up a bit but don't tell anyone. She has been an amazing trainer and I know we'll be life long friends. My "step-mom" (follow-up trainer) is Sister Crawley! I've been told she has an incredible voice which is great because mine is pretty sad. I pick her up on Wednesday!

We had our last district meeting this week and nobody told me you take lots of pictures so I came in lookin' like a hobo because I wasn't feeling great at all. Soo ya know, there will be lots of hot pictures of myself floating around on erryone's cameras. swag. We went by the hospital to visit Adam, a 16 year old who had a severe asthma attack and the doctors said he wouldn't walk or speak again but he is! He's on the road to recovery--power of the priesthood awe yeah. He is doing great and will get to spend Christmas Day at home!

On our way back we got stuck in traffic for 3 hours. It took us that long to go 7 miles. DA HECK? We don't know what happened--there was no accident or anything, just hit rush hour I guess. But we amused ourselves by taking loads of pics in the car. Check out our "mole face" pic.

We are lookin' fiiiiiiiine.

We had a Stake Relief Society activity on Friday night and Sister Firth and I were starring as background villagers in our wards reenactment of a Beauty and the Beast panto. Michelle Harkness calls us Friday afternoon asking if one of us could play "Beauty" because she was too sick to do it.

......
Me: "So uhh, Sister Firth, you wanna leave your mission with a bang right?"
"Nope. Not doing it."
More arguing ensued.

GUESS WHO HAD TO PLAY BEAUTY.
 -____-

I didn't know acting was part of missionary service. I just had to improv the whole thing which was kind of okay since it was a panto but I started out with...

wait for it...

an awkward british accent.

hahahahaha.

 It's because I had seen Michelle practice and so her voice was in my head! "What would Michelle do? What would Michelle say!?"
I ended the panto with a nice ole American accent. I know I know, I'm a star.

We also met with Sharon and Caleb this week. Two less actives who are so great! Both making amazing progress, I am so proud of them :)

I can't believe Christmas is next week! What is everyone asking Santa for? Don't forget the reason we celebrate Christmas though! Jesus Christ is the center and it is through Him we have all we do. Please take some time to ponder His birth, life and sacrifice this time of year.

OH. And I'M AN AUNT AGAIN! Hattie Quinn Hassell was born December 13th, 2014! :) So flippin' adorable.

Cheers!

Sister Skagen

 

                                                                Our last night together

Kebaptized!

Hiya!

This week was preeetty slow. We didn't get to teach Meghan and her mom and granny again but hopefully this week! Richard our recent convert got the Priesthood and he blessed the sacrament yesterday. He did so well! He also gave a rockin' testimony, we are so proud of him and how far he's come :)

We went to a less actives flat and guessssss what their cat's name is.

Just guess.

Hitler.

hahahaha. I'm dead. Why in the world his name is Hitler I have no idea. They said he's such a great cat and I'd agree on account of he didn't attack me. 

Emma, the wife, knows the church is true but her husband has been having doubts recently. He wouldn't really go into detail but Emma won't go to church unless Michael does. Pray for them! 

While street contacting:

"Hi my friend and I are talking to people about Christmas!"

"Before you go any further, you're nice girls. I know you're Mormon's, I know what you're going to say but I'm happy with where I am."

"Oh that's okay, we're just showing people a video about Christmas."

"I don't need it!"

Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth!? (name that movie..)

We are talking about Christmas! Oh well #ontothenextone

I was "kebaptized" this weekend! All the newbies have to eat a kebab. But not the chicken kind, oh no. You have to eat a doner kebab. Which doner meat, I'll have you know, is illegal in America. No one knows what it's made of. Mom and dad, I hope you're proud. I ate it. 

Well, not all of it because it was a lot of food. But I'm a real life missionary now. swaaaaag. 

We had dinner at the Whithorns on Friday night, they are awesome! Cutest babies in the world holy cow. So hard not to pick them up! 

And apparently there is a misconception going around that American's don't iron.

....now I'm not sure what brought this on. Maybe 'muricans are slacking in this department but my advice to you all, iron your clothes so the Irish know that we can do it. 

Have you all seen the He Is The Gift Initiative? Go to YouTube right now and search it if you haven't. The church has spent a lot of money on this-- rented out the main advertisement on YouTube yesterday, bought out some of those TV billboards in Time Square, NYC and all of the missionaries around the world are pushing this hard.

The world has got so caught up with money and presents during this holiday and so we are trying to remind everyone why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Christmas is all about Christ. Watch the video, share it and remember Jesus Christ and his sacrifice this Christmas season. #sharethegift

Love you all! You're in my prayers.

Sister Skagen

                                                 SIM (Scotland/Ireland Mission) Swag! ​

                         Fast Sunday Problems...staring at the cooking you made the day before.

                                     Pulled out the big guns. Who is who? #twins

Happy Thanksgiving

How was everyone's Thanksgiving?! Hope it was great and full of gratitude :)

Thanksgiving is not celebrated here but we went to the Johnson's, a family in our ward, and they gave us an American Thanksgiving (the husband, Deldin is from California)! They had American cornbread, American stuffing, and pumpkin pie! That family is amazing. Sister Firth and I were stuuufffed -- we took a picture of our food babies #swol. 

The Relief Society had a Christmas Party and a few less actives came so that was great! Do you know what a Christmas cracker is? Everyone kept talking about them and I was "what is so special about these crackers and where can I get them?" Turns out, they are not food. 

Sad.

They're little things you pull apart during Christmas time and there's a surprise inside. It's a cool tradition!

Friday night I taught my first full lesson. (finally!) It went sooo well. We are teaching Meghan (13 years old) and now her mom and granny! We taught The Restoration and the Spirit was so there! Sister Firth said it was the best lesson she's ever taught on her mission #winner.

Saturday our stake was having a Festival of Nativities. Guess who they asked to sing...the missionaries in our district. 

GOOD THING SISTER FIRTH AND I CAN SING.

...not.

Oh man, it was awful. 

All those people....listening..

Now I don't get embarrassed easily, but this..was embarrassing. We had zero kero practices and we tried to sing Christmas carols. We worked so hard but to no avail. It was t.e.r.r.i.b.l.e.

Oh well. Ya win some ya lose some amiriteeee?!

Yesterday we went to Giants Causeway. It was sweeeeeet. Margaret took us and treated us to lunch, I love her! She is like my adopted mom over here, so wonderful!

I'm loving being a missionary! I am learning and growing so much and I only have 16 1/2 months left. AH.

Line of the week:

8 year old reading Isaiah 7:14  at FHE

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive a bear..."

actual scripture:

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son"

hahahahaha.

Cheers!

"You spank the car and I'll rodeo!"

I'll explain the title in a second but first things first.

So, there we were doing a leaflet (pamphlet) drop, just sticking them through people's mail slots all nice like. I open this gate (almost everyone has a gate in front of their house) and all the sudden there is a crazy amount of barking.
*where is this coming from?*
All of a sudden, OUT OF NO WHERE, a Rottweiler-ish looking dog is booking it towards me. So I'm like, "aiiight, I'm just gonna close that gate back up..."

WRONG. The dog starts going for my hand when I try to lock the gate! We start playing a little game - I'm trying to catch the gate without getting my hand eaten off and he's jumping trying to get through the gate while simultaneously trying to chomp on my fingers.

I'm thinking I'm gonna die.

All of a sudden this dog starts yelping, and I mean like, howling. After 10 seconds I realized it was in pain and "I'm like what the heck. You stopped trying to devour me, how come?" I look and see his arm/paw is stuck in between the wooden fence posts that make up the gate. But the gate is still swinging back and forth with this dog stuck in it.
OH. AND MY COMPANION PEACED OUT LIKE 10 MINUTES AGO.

I'm freaking out trying to figure out how to handle this situation. Every time I would try to lock the gate again while it was stuck, it would still try to bite me. Then I thought "Maybe I should remove his paw because he's in so much pain" but I realized I didn't want to for fear of the animal charging at me again.
So there I was awkwardly standing there watching this dog swing back and forth in this gate until the owner finally came out and helped him.

Needless to say I did not give him a pamphlet.


Thursday we had a no show for an appointment but we met a man named Aaron in the Library later that day. We were meeting with a recent convert and Aaron kept looking at us while we were teaching. After the lesson we went down the stairs and almost exited and then I felt like we should go back up and talk to this man. We did and he said we could meet with him this week. Fingers crossed!

We met a man named Robby who gave us his contact info and a woman named Julie who is awesome! She's not interested in the church but we KNOW it would bless her life. She thought Sister Firth and I were twins #ballin. Julie's mom just passed away so prayers for her would be nice :)

Stake Conference was awesome! Elder Leimer from the 3rd Quorum of the Seventy came. He showed us a video of President Eyring speaking about families at the Vatican. Apparently The Pope invited many different churches to send a representative to speak about the nature of families. He killed it! He read The Family Proclamation to the World.

Then he got on the members pretty hard to help the missionaries. HELP THE MISSIONARIES IN YOUR WARD. If every person brought ONE person to church or gave the missionaries ONE referral, we would expand the church by a crazy percentage. Let the missionaries teach in your home! We need help, we can't do this alone.

Okay, spiel done.

We had Zone Interview Training which is all the missionaries in Northern Ireland. I had to give my incoming testimony since I'm new and Sister Firth gave her outgoing testimony since she's dying this transfer :(

Now to the part I know you've all been waiting for. The title.
The Elders from Portadown (Elder Lewis and Elder Tarbet) always give us rides to meetings. We were driving back from Stake Conference and another car of people in our ward pulled up beside us so Elder Lewis and Elder Tarbet put their arms out the window to flap like a bird.
Then Elder Lewis says "Okay now you spank the car and I'll rodeo!"

o___O


S.Firth and I "WHAT!?"
hahahahahaha.

Apparently it's supposed to look like you're riding a horse...
Okay Okay it's not thaaat funny. But we just died in the backseat.

Missionary life is awesome. My nametag is my favorite part. We wear Jesus Christ's name on our hearts and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Cheers!
Sister Skagen

                                          Richard our recent convert! He is the COOLEST!

                                                                      We traded clothes.

                                              ​I turned "1" last week. Only 17 months to go!

What a Week!

Yesterday the library computers were not working so I have my e-mailing time today.

We are basically at square 1 right now. We have one investigator but nothing/no one else so we're doing a lotttt of Finding. 

Sister Firth and I decided to go chapping (knocking doors) on Thursday for most of the day. And Thursday, ladies and gentleman, decides it would like to pour. It was not super heavy rain all week until we decide to be out all day. #drowningratstatus 

It was really funny, we were freezing but just couldn't stop laughing at the situation. We eventually went home and changed. 

I had my first experience with dropping an investigator this week. It was pretty hard but Sister Firth and I felt impressed to not teach him anymore because he wasn't progressing as we hoped. 

Thanksgiving is not celebrated here. AND I FIGURED OUT WHY. It's because they celebrate it every day at dinner. Literally, I am eating a flipping (yes I know that's in the best two years and I know I'm becoming one of thoooose missionaries, #dealwithit) Thanksgiving meal every day! I've attached a picture. I honestly could not finish that particular meal, I thought I was going to explode. But it was delicious.

On Friday mornings we volunteer at a charity shop in town. It's fun! But really hard because they turn the radio on and I just want to sing to all the songs but alas, I can not. #missionaryprobs

(Shoutout to Alanna -- Good Girls by 5 Seconds to Summer came on!)

Other things I noticed this week:

  - The stop lights turn yellow before they turn green! So it goes, Green --> yellow --> Red --> yellow --> green. I think I would race people way more if I ever were to drive here.

 - When shopping, the people working at the registers say "wee" all the time. 

      "Would you like a wee bag?"  (BAGS ARE 5 cents HERE ! NOT FREE)

      "Here's your wee receipt."

      "There are wee instructions on the back so you can take a wee survey."

#iwouldweeallylikeyoutostopsayingthat

 haha but it's a good time. Apparently they are meant to say that because it sounds softer. Like, not just like TAKE YOUR RECEIPT.

Yesterday for P-Day we went into Belfast and to the Christmas Market. 

COOLEST.THING.EVER. 

It is like a farmers market with all things Christmas. 

I know this is Jesus Christ's gospel and that Joseph Smith was called as a prophet to bring forth the Book of Mormon. I am amazed and awed by the beauty of Jesus Christ's Atonement and grateful for the opportunity to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again. I know He loves us and desires to bless us and can fully do that when we come unto Him.

I hope everyone is doing well. Love and miss you all. I would love to hear what you are up to! Even if you think it's silly :) 

Cheers!

Sister Skagen

P.S. Somebody sent me a package with lots of chocolate things and apology about "being a booger" and not writing to me yet. But there was no name attached. I would love to know who it was so I can send them a HUGE thank you. 

Good Morning! 10 November 2014

Good Morning!

Real quick, we made it over here! FINALLY. The traveling was long and I am still jet lagged. It is 7 hours ahead of Provo over here so I'm still wide awake at night and dying in the morning.

We had a real Scottish welcome as it was raining and cold and snowing and WINDY as we (all the new missionaries) climbed a mountain called Pratts Hill. In 1840, Orson Pratt came and prayed for success in his mission. We all went up there and prayed and set mission goals for ourselves. It was a cool experience even though the wind was literally blowing me over. (that is why in the picture I look like a crazy person). Only moment in my life I wished I weighed more. 

My trainer Sister Firth is AMAZING. We are the same person and it is wonderful. I am learning so much from her except she's leaving me in 6 weeks. This is her last transfer and so I'm "killing her" which is what they say when someone finishes their mission. Which sounds morbid to me and I don't actually want to kill Sister Firth. She is from Sandy Utah and did track and cheer like me. She is super happy and always steps up when I forget what to say to someone.

I actually met her Uncle Paul in the airport on my way here. Small world!

But, I am in my first area as the subject line says Lisburn, Northern Ireland! We are just outside of Belfast. I still can not believe I'm here! It does not feel real at all. Especially because of the accent--The other day we were talking with a man on the street and he said "telly" and I straight laughed! It didn't register until after that he was serious and that is what they call the television. 

Speaking of the accent, they use weird words for things! For example:

6:30 = half six

flat = apartment

coach = bus

petrol station = gas station

ham bone = gamon bone

little = wee

They also says "cheers" and "hiya" alot. Before my mission everyone said to come back with an accent but I'm not sure if I will because I just feel silly saying all of these things. But I've almost got the intonations down. In a sentence, Irish people talk from low to high. It's hard to explain but I'm working on it.

ALSO. I'M GOING TO GET FAT AND I AM NOT HAPPY. ;)

The members here feed us heavy food alllll the time. I've had lasagna 3 times and I've only been here a week. They also give us french fries (chips) for like every meal. Good thing I love them. 

The last few days we've been trying to visit less actives and potential investigators but haven't had a lesson yet. We also go chapping (knocking doors) and you lift the mail slot thingy up and let it drop a few times instead of using your hand to knock. But we end up knocking the second time sooo.. 

We chapped on this one house my first night and this old man answered and told us that all religion is "rubbish" and shut the door on us.

I AIN'T EVEN MAD BRO CAUSE YOU JUST SAID RUBBISH.
It was funny hahaha. Seriously, the accent just gets me. 

The weather is not that fun but it hasn't been too bad. It is rainy and cold all the time which is what I expected. Also it gets dark at like 4pm here! So most of our street contacting and chapping is in the dark (sorry mom, I'm safe don't worry!)
I haven't pulled out my huge marshmallow coat so I'd call that a success on account of it's November #winner

We walk eveeeerywhere because we don't have a car or bikes so, ya know. It just takes forever to get anywhere but it's a good thing! It'll keep the weight off. 

Other things that happened this week:

Sister Firth saved me from stepping in poop, she's an angel.

Saw a 10 year old boy straight up smoking! 

I met an older woman named Beryl and I told her all about my Beryl in Orem, Utah :) 

We gave out a Book of Mormon on my first full day as a missionary and yesterday I invited an investigator to baptism #holla. He said "possibly" so we will see. His name is Chris and he's 17 and has had all the lessons before and just randomly walked into church yesterday. 

One last thing (sorry for the long e-mail, so much happened!)

We were in the Library on Saturday printing stuff and there was this man in his 20s and he saw us and smiled real big and said "Hi! How are you?!" all nice and excited (which is NOT what people do here.) 

So I was thinking "Oh man oh man, these are the mission miracles everyone talks about! The person that is just ready and waiting for you!"

Sister Firth says "Hi Phillip!"

-___________-

Man. She knows him! Oh well. He is a potential investigator though so we're trying to set up an appointment with him. 

Anyways. Today is P-Day so we are going to the Belfast Castle- I'm excited!

I love you all and pray for you. I hope you're doing well.

Cheers!

-Sister Skagen

THEY HAVE DIET COKE IN HERE, I HAVE BEEN SAVED.

Hello hello!

THEY HAVE DIET COKE IN HERE, I HAVE BEEN SAVED. It's caffeine free but whatevs, I will make it through! 

H'okay so. The MTC is crazy! Awesome but crazy! The days are sooo long. We sleep for 8 hours and work for 16. #holla It's sweet though, I am learning a TON. Especially from my companion Sister Reed. She is from Houston, Texas and says y'all. She kind of looks like Tina Fey and talks really similar to one of my great friends Meghan Wotring. Sister Reed is a nerd but the good kind. She loves Star Wars and Harry Potter and actually knows what she's talking about when it comes to football (which is not nerdy but I felt like saying it). She is super smart, I learn so much from her! She is a gospel whiz which is great when it comes to teaching.

So I can't really sleep here which is normal for me but hard when the days are so long. But it's amazing what happens when you pray for things and the Lord helps you. Through Christ I can do all things!
Something I was nervous about was getting up at 6:30am everyday, I was scared that I would miss the alarm. Because lets be real, I don't get up that early. I didn't really sleep at all that night and there I was just laying there terrified and the alarm goes off and I literally JUMPED out of bed. More like flew but whatevs. Point is I DID IT. And have successfully done it since :) They stress "exact obedience" here so I do jump out of bed every morning now so that I am up at exactly 6:30am. 

So my district is made up of 8 missionaries, 4 sisters and 4 elders. And our zone has 7 more elders and 5 more sisters. 15 of us are going to Scotland/Ireland and the rest are going to Hill Cumorah Visitor Center in Rochester/Palmyra New York.

We have some really interesting names, I think my favorite is Elder Hornberger BECAUSE Hornberger?! Sometimes I call him Elder Hamburger just for fun. The sisters in my district have a hard time with my name sometimes. They call me Sister "Skager" "Skagens"  "Skags" or "Sister Grandma" because I am old apparently. BUT. we found out I am NOT the oldest in my zone! WHAT. Sister Graham is 23. Boom baby. But I still feel like the mother hen because I have to remind lots of people to do things. Sister Reed is very forgetful haha.

My favorite thing here (besides all the spiritual things) is gym time. BECAUSE FOUR SQUARE. Heavens to Betsy, why has it been so long since I've played that game? Basically our mission dominates (except against the missionaries going to Russia since they've been here for foreverrr) because we are the coolest and everyone wants to be us. For real though, whenever people ask us where we are serving and we say Scotland/Ireland, they're like "That's my dream mission!" And I'm like, yeah I know ;). There are people here going to serve all over the world here! You hear so many different languages on a daily basis. It's super cool! I know you're supposed to talk in your mission language as much as possible but come on, I can not understand you when you respond in Finnish! I just wanted to tell you to have a good day!

One day for gym time we did zone yoga which was sweeeeet. But according to how sore my muscles were the next day, I am not in shape. Good thing I'll be biking and walking a lot when I get to Scotland/Ireland. #beastmode

Sister Reed and I have been teaching an investigator with a drug addiction. We have been praying and studying and practicing for hours! We are working hard. But it seems like every time we plan out this lesson, right before we meet with him the Spirit prompts us to do something else.

For example, we planned out this great lesson about the Restoration and then 20 minutes before the Spirit told me that that was not going to work. I looked and Sister Reed and said "Uh...Sister...I don't think this is what we should teach...it is not going to work." And she looked at me with this "You've got to be kidding me look." So we prayed and we both felt good (and frustrated!) about changing our lesson and it turned out really well. The Spirit was definitely helping me teach, there is no way I could've done that on my own.

Then two days later we worked super hard on a lesson about the Plan of Salvation and 5 minutes before I felt that same feeling from the Spirit that this was wrong. OH MY GOSH. haha. I sheepishly looked at Sister Reed and said "Sister...I hate to do this to you again but..." and it turned out that she had the same feeling! The lesson went great.

It's scary to rely on the Spirit of God but I know that "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."

I know this church is true. I know that the Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and through him, restored Christ's gospel again on the earth. I know that we don't teach the investigators, the Spirit does! I know that I have been called of God to teach the people of Scotland/Ireland and I couldn't be more excited. The Lord has strengthened and helped me so much in just one week. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and because of His great sacrifice we can return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again one day.

I am loving my time as a missionary!

I hope you are all doing well, I think and pray about you often. 

Love,

   Sister Skagen

P.S. MTC food is not very good and I think I'm losing weight because it does not make my stomach happy. BUT. It's food. #blessings 

P.P.S. The computer won't let me upload photos. :( I wanted to show you my nametag because that is my favorite part!

 

 

 

MTC Address

Sahara is entering the MTC tomorrow, if you would like to write or send packages here is her address:

Sister Sahara May Skagen
NOV05  SCOT-IRE
2007 N 900 E Unit  98
Provo UT 84602

Posted by Dane Skagen

Why a Mission?

Deciding to serve a mission was extremely difficult for me. Never in my life did I have a desire to go, it was never something I wanted to do. When I went to school at BYU it was in the back of the mind, "Oh you could serve a mission if you'd like" but I didn't want to so I let the thought go.

About two years ago, I felt like I needed to go. I'd felt this before and ignored it. Why? Because I simply didn't want to go. I felt that a desire to go was important, especially because it isn't a commandment for women as it is men. A carefree month went by and I felt the nudge to go again. "No" I thought, "I don't want to go!" "Leave me alone!" and I pushed the thought away again.

After about six months of this, I went in to my Bishop of my singles ward at that time and I opened my papers. I filled them out a bit and realized again that I didn't want to go. I stopped. But the feeling to serve continued to bug me. I felt really guilty about not having a desire to go. Thoughts like "Why shouldn't I want to go? Missions are wonderful!" "I have a kind, outgoing personality, I could do a lot of good." "What, you don't want to help people?" swam around in my head. 

I DIDN'T WANT TO GO.  

Why couldn't that be enough? Why wouldn't this whole thing leave me alone? I had never felt so frustrated! And still the thoughts and pressure kept on and I continued as hard as I could to ignore them.

 I talked to my mom about this and she told me to pray about it but I even did that wrong on purpose. "Should I go or should I not go?" I'd ask, assuming that He was just going to tell me what to do. If He did, where would our agency be? That would have been Satan's plan. But for some reason, every part of me was screaming that I didn't want to go. 

Two years after the initial impression, I'd had enough. I decided to stop being afraid and ask for real, so I fasted and prayed over General Conference weekend. Andddd, guess what my answer was? Nothing. 

N O T H I N G. 

Come on now. I did what I was supposed to do! kjdfsijoeuahoafo. I talked to my mom again (bless her heart, she is wonderful) and she said I needed to just do something. Close this chapter for good and not go, or start my papers. I decided to start my papers because I had tried over and over again not to go. This process was again, really frustrating. I felt like everything was going wrong with my papers, they were getting lost, they were in the wrong ward, taking a long time to fix small things, etc. AND, I still hadn't received an answer.

I questioned my feeling to go, a lot. I was really confused about what I needed to do. I thought "If I'm supposed to go on a mission, why is nothing working out?" "Am I wrong? Did I just make up those feelings (because I am really great and letting small things take over my brain) ?"

"JUST TELL ME WHAT TO DO!

….I just want to do the right thing."

I felt helpless. I felt alone. Confused, frustrated, lost. One of the lowest moments of my life. 

But, something made me continue with the process.

My papers were completed. Before submission, I had to figure out finances. My family is not the wealthiest family in the bunch, it's just a fact. Since I had never planned to serve a mission, I hadn't saved a ton and my family would only be able to contribute a little bit. (FYI; If you're deciding whether or not to serve, that should NOT be a reason you don't go, the church has ways to help out).

So, my home ward bishop told me to "be a missionary before you're a missionary" and ask my family and friends to contribute.

First I hate asking for money, it is the worst. Second, apart from my mom, sister and I, no one else in our family are LDS, immediate and extended, so I felt that explaining a mission to them might seem weird and they wouldn't understand. I was having multiple heart attacks when he suggested I do that.

The night before I contacted them all, I prayed. I prayed that I could have some kind of affirmation or reassurance or SOMETHING that this was the right thing because I was going to involve other people, and their money, in this decision. I pleaded with my Heavenly Father for something, anything! 

I started thinking about reasons I didn't want to go or what I was scared about (D&C 9:8 - But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.)

and a line from my Patriarchal Blessing popped into my head, one that had never stuck out to me before, and it just fit in with what I was talking with my Heavenly Father about and gave me peace in the decision to serve a mission. It was NOT a "HALLELUJAH YES YES YES GO ON A MISSION" shake my entire body answer. I felt that at this time it was the right thing and I felt comfortable with it. However it was very overwhelming because I had waited so long for an answer. I broke down. 

Gross.

I am so not a crier. But when mission stuff came into my life, I felt like I cried at everything!

Since then, everything has fallen into place. I've gotten to have small missionary experiences with my family, I was given extra hours at my jobs, I found people to replace me at my work, I've had countless friends and family contribute to my mission fund. Shout out to everyone who helped, you have no idea the love I have and how grateful I am for you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I've continued to have experiences that make me excited to serve a mission. It may not have ever been in my plan, but I have really learned that the Lord knows what is best for us and His plan is perfect. I learned that I am never alone. Even though I'm going into this adventure kind of blindly because I don't really know how a mission works and talking about the gospel is one of the hardest things for me to do; I know that with the Lord's help, I can do it. Alma 26:12- "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things."

My advice for those deciding whether or not to serve:

If you feel called to the work, heed the call. If you have a desire to serve and you've pondered and prayed about it and it feels right, go. If you don't have a desire or you've prayed and it doesn't feel right, don't go. It's okay. The Lord has other wonderful things in store for you.

I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the one true church on the earth today. I know through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we can repent, become clean and return to live with our Father in Heaven again. I know that Joseph Smith restored the Lord's gospel on this earth and we have a prophet, President Thomas S. Monson that receives direct revelation from the Lord and leads and guides us today. If I didn't KNOW these things, why would I leave my family, friends, and comfort to share this message for 18 months? 

Oh, I'm serving in the Scotland/Ireland Mission and I leave October 22. Two countries, WHADDDDUP.