Team Cork

Our awesome team in Cork is getting split up! 

AND SISTER STEVENSON IS LEAVING ME :(

Our time together is like that of Princess Diaries: "[We] are invisible and [we] are wet."

And we had just too much fun. 

But Sister Buhler is coming down to Cork so I am okay with it :)

We had a miracle with our friend Tinyiko. Long story short:

he is from South Africa,
has learned from missionaries before

and will be baptized in February :)

I love witnessing miracles!

I asked a uni student if he used the internet hahahaha. It popped out before I could stop it. He was not interested but he took the card! 

It was a seriously crazy week and I can't adequately describe it. But I will say that since we've begun involving the Lord more in the work, we've seen almost immediate success. If we compare the last two weeks, DANG what a difference. We are only the instruments!

I am so grateful I get to work along side of these other missionaries and represent my Saviour Jesus Christ!

Til The Work Is Done!

Sister Skagen

Elder Christensen going home/pre-roadtrip 2016 photo 

Pretty colored houses!

In Humility..

We went to Limerick for a meeting and GUESS HOW LONG WE SAT DOWN FOR.

12 hours in total. Our bums were sore. BUT (haha no pun intended) we got to watch the Worldwide Missionary Broadcast which was awesome. 

I love gathering with loads of missionaries and learning from everyone. What a wonderful opportunity we have to teach each other and testify that this is the Lord's work!

I was sick again this week -____________- 

but it's all good. I am taking lots of vitamins and I think it's helping and we will be ready to roll these last few months. :)

We met 2 young boys that were playing with a soccer ball but they were hitting it with everything APART from their feet. Body ball will be in the Olympics one day. 

If you could pray for Tinyiko that would be great :)

Oh hey also, the pride cycle? Yeah that's a real thing. #imbeinghumbled 

I've learned again that I can't do this by myself. It doesn't matter how long I've been a missionary or how well I think I can teach etc. etc. I can't do this work alone, without the Spirit or without my Saviour. I'm ready again to be a willing instrument in His hands.

Love,

Sister Skagen

Oh and I finally got my Christmas package! (Hence the zebra pajama's haha) Thanks mom, I love you!

I met Jane!

I MET JANE! :)

She is a deaf woman that lives here and the elders see her allll the time and I've been praying so much that we could find and we did! I talked with her on the bus for half an hour and she is so cool.

She knows ASL, BSL, ISL and KSL (she's from Kenya) so she uses a mix of all of them. It's slightly confusing but my brain is mixed up too going back and forth between ASL and BSL. We just laughed together about it.

We went to Dublin for exchanges and went to a wedding and a dinner. 

Got soaking wet... again. #irelandproblems

We went street boarding with the elders and it was the first time I've seen them get screamed at and spit on. Sister Stevenson and I were SO mad but these elders were such an example of Jesus Christ. They told him to have a nice day and smiled genuinely.

I am amazed at these missionaries. I know I'm not thaaat much older than some of them but they are truly incredible. 

I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon. It changes the direction of my days! Heavenly Father loves us so much that He's given us this additional testament of Jesus Christ. Read it, pray about it and you can know these things for yourself. If you've done it, do it again. You will be filled with the Spirit of God and know that He is aware of you, He knows you and loves you and wants to bless you if you come to Him. 

Til the Work Is Done!

-Sister Skagen

P.S. I'd like to formally apologize for openly expressing my frustration with the lady at the bus stop last week. People are still people and I shouldn't have shed her in that light. 

"Is this water sanitary? It looks questionable to me!"

after the wedding

Dublin bus ride

These things are sent to try us..

I seriously love being a missionary. So many crazy things happen!

We were chapping and this man opened the door, held up 1 finger, turned around, pulled up the leg of his trousers and showed us..

a giant Satan tattoo. 

Well that was unexpected. 

When asked why he had this tattoo he said "To scare religious people away."

"Oh okay. How is that working out for you?"

"Are you running?"

Sister Stevenson and I look down at our feet and back at him "..No."

He wasn't interested but he let us pet his dog! 

We met Cillian Murphy's (the Scarecrow in Batman Begins, he's also in Inception, Red Eye, etc.) dad, Brendan Murphy! That was pretty sweet. We explained to him what we did and although he wasn't interested he said "I'm fiercely impressed with you two."

We needed that because the rest of the week people were so rude. Sometimes it's frustrating when a lot of people don't really see us as humans.

At a bus stop, I asked this lady what time the bus came and she freaked out, couldn't even look at me and frantically said "No! I'm Catholic. I know you're Mormon, I'm Catholic and not interested!"

Finally after the 3rd time of asking about the bus and getting the same response I looked at her and said "I know you're Catholic. That's great, but I'm asking about.the.bus."

"Oh. It comes in about 10 minutes."

We love people! :)

But really, I do love them. I've had the opportunity to meet so many incredible people and learn from and with them.  I've learned so much about who I am and who I want to be (and who I don't want to be). This experience has completely changed me. I know that Jesus Christ is my Saviour. He is my refuge, my strength and my light. Matthew 4:16. 

I love this work!

Sister Skagen

We like to get soaked in the rain.

And our thumbs up after meeting Brendan 

I'm learning the guitar. Aaron, we can jam out together when I come see you and Sara and the boys when I'm home. And mom I took a nice picture for you in front of our little Ireland flag haha :)

2016?

I'm sick of being sick.

This week pretty much I just died in my bed. Happy New Year! How is it 2016 already!? AH.

I think I'm on the mend though and this week will be a good one, I feel it in my bones. :)

We did see this group of people in the middle of city center kneeling or standing and praying while this man preached. I've seen people with megaphones before and giant crosses and stuff but I've never seen a group of people surrounding them kneeling. 

It's highly Catholic here. I learn that more and more every day.

We are teaching our friend Agatha who is from China. She grew up without a belief in God (in any form) and so she doesn't have any religious foundation. We are taking it slow but it's a completely different concept for her so prayers would be great. :)

Sister Stevenson and I finished our "Blackout Year" which is an entire year Jan-Dec on a mission. We wore all black and took some photos in honor of the occasion. 

P.S. the bottles in the background were apparently for a murder mystery at this member's house. Sorry they're in the photo!

Marry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas was great, we went to volunteer at the soup kitchen on Christmas morning.

Boxing Day had so much swag.

6 hour original trilogy Star Wars Marathon. (because we were allowed to watch G rated movies).

WHAT. 

I actually received revelation whilst watching. Who knew it could relate to the gospel so much?

Sister Stevenson and are working on channeling our inner Yoda (greenie faith). We'll let you know how it goes :)

Happy New Years everyone! Sorry I can't write you all back! 

Sister Skagen

P.S. I used one of those outside bathrooms for the first time on my mission...they are a bit dodgey... but I took a selfie. swag. 

SORRY!

I am so sorry to everyone but I literally have like no time today! We don't have a P-day for 2 weeks because of Christmas and New Years so I won't really be e-mailing.

But, quick story. The week started out great this morning because, get ready for this.

We had to leave early to go to the Immigration Office to pick up my ID that allows me to live here and I grabbed a piece of toast for Sister Stevenson and I each and we went on our merry way.

There we were in the middle of the road, walking to the bus stop and 

THE WIND BLEW MY TOAST OUT OF MY HAND.

and flew down the street.

I would've been a lot more upset had it not been so hilarious.

Yay for Monday's.

The week was okay with being ill, getting SOAKED FOR DAYS, Branch Christmas Party, awkward caroling at a Nursing Home and funny things people say.

I love my Saviour Jesus Christ and I am so grateful we have this time to really focus on Him and His example. 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Sorry again I can't respond to all of you, but know you are each amazing and I'm so thankful for your support!

Sister Skagen

and yes, Christmas is big in Ireland.