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!