Moves Caaaaa!!!!!

So this transfer was only 5 weeks and we had moves call last night.

I'm staying in Kirkcaldy!

And so is Sister Wilkinson (poor girl, she'll have been here for 10 months)

And........

we are getting another sister, Sister Jackson. We will be in a trio.

Woop.

This week we met Ray who is 89 years old. He bought flowers for his home in honor of our coming to teach him. He wanted to brighten up the place for us. He is so wonderful! One of the most tender moments I've had so far was when he asked:

"Do you think I will see my wife again?"

"Yes, we know you will."

"Really?"

And we were able to testify of the plan of salvation. It was amazing! I'm so grateful to be here and to see miracles every day! I love this work!

Sister Skagen

AND my mom sent me Lucky Charms for my birthday. YES.

Baptism!

Andrew was baptised!

Aside from boiling some water for the font, everything went smoothly.

It was fantastic. The Spirit was so strong. He will be a very strong member in time to come. :)

Guess what we did in celebration? We went to McDonalds.

Grody, we know. But it was so good. How much I have missed a real burger. When I say real, I mean the closest thing to an American burger I can get here.
One day I hope to serve in Glasgow because I've heard there is a Five Guys there and heaven knows how much I love that place.

Yesterday was my birthday and we had Stake Conference. Talk about a sweet way to celebrate being a grandma (I am the oldest). We got to interpret for it because our 3 deaf recent converts came.

UM LET ME JUST TELL YOU SOMETHING.
I think I almost passed out.
There were like 500 people there and normally we just sit in a chair in front of our deaf friends. But, the Stake Presidency decided it'd be a good idea for us to stand up on the stand to interpret.

Oh.my.days.
Alas, we survived.

The Dundee Sisters and my companion made me a crepe with a tea light candle for breakfast hahah and the whole zone sang me Happy Birthday. It was a fantastic day.

Thank you to everyone who made my birthday special! You all mean so much to me and I can't explain how much your support helps me each and every day. Thank you!

Love and leave ya,
Sister Skagen

I got a pinnie!

I cannae believe we are in mid-May. What? Where does time go? I have no idea.

Margaret, an investigator we have been teaching, came.to.church.
THIS IS HUGE, PEOPLE.

She has pretty bad anxiety around people but really wants to conquer her fears. She has the most incredible testimony that God is there even though she has never been very religious.

and. she. came. to. Sacrament.

ACH. It was the most beautiful thing.

Andrew is progressing well and the baptism is scheduled for Wednesday. We are continuing to pray :)

I also may have accidentally fallen asleep WHILE talking in a lesson. Not sure how that can even happen but I was exhausted I suppose. I felt awful but Sister Wilkinson and I laughed so hard about it afterwards. I was literally still speaking but had no idea what I was saying. I think half of it made sense though.

Life is good in Kirkcaldy.

During the week I just had this moment where I felt so blessed to be in this area. I think because my first 6 months was straight tracting, doors slamming, extremely rude people, frozen weather, and zero people to teach..

and now,

We have a few solid investigators we are teaching and I feel SO blessed that Heavenly Father has entrusted me with the responsibility of teaching and helping them receive the restored gospel.

Scotland is amazing. The gospel is fantastic. I love being a missionary.

--I'm attaching a picture of the beach we run on in the mornings :) It is beautiful.
And one of the members made us "pinnies" (aprons) so I'm getting all domesticated over here.

Dundee Fundee

We went to Dundee (Fundee) for Zone Interview Training this week. YES. I love it. Still on a spiritual high y'all.

Although it was an adventure actually getting there.

Sister Wilkinson and I got on the bus but forgot our area book. So we got off the bus, grabbed the area book, and then we raaaaan to a bus stop a few streets away.

We caught a different bus to the Glenrothes bus station and were too late for our normal bus to Dundee. So we got another bus....

and then another bus.

And then we finally got there.

But it was so worth it. I love getting instruction.

Sister Wilkinson and I are having loads of fun together. We are definitely opposites but we mesh well together. We put on our onesies the other night because the heat wasn't working in our flat. Such a party.

We also went to Falkland (foch-lind) Palace today for P-day. It is beautiful and Mary Queen of Scots stayed there. It also has the oldest tennis court in the world! SO COOL.

This week we've been helping Andrew, our deaf friend, prepare for baptism. He is excited and he seems to really be grasping the gospel. Pray for him!

We are so blessed here in Kirkcaldy. We have quite a few people to teach and they are so prepared. I know I am here for a reason. There are no coincidences. Heavenly Father's plan is perfect! I love this work!

Sister Skagen

P.S. I am currently serving in my mission president and his wife's home ward so when they complete their mission in July, I will (most likely) be here to welcome them home! I just love President and Sister Brown!

British Sign Language

Wow.

All I can say is wow.

Kirkcaldy is completely different than my last 2 areas. Different in like, every way. I love being a missionary!

I'm learning British Sign Language. It's hard changing my brain from ASL though. And BSL isn't very widespread in the church. Our deaf investigators/recent converts don't know the church signs so we can't learn the BSL gospel signs from them. We have 1 book of LDS BSL signs which is helpful but we need more! We do a lot of acting out for them and loads of visuals.

So ya know, interpreting in church was pretty interesting.

I like to call it ABSL on account of it was a mixture of both.

And I still do not like to sign the hymns because I don't even know what they mean in English! How am I supposed to translate them?!
The whole ward was laughing at me. I'm sure my face was priceless.

It is a good time here, folks.

I am just beyond excited to be serving here. I know this is where I'm meant to be right now. I love deaf people and sign language and missionary work and e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g!

The church is true! Jesus Christ is our Saviour!

Love,
Sister Skagen

P.S. Sorry no photos, I lost my camera. 6 months worth of pictures, gone.. :(

Drum Roll Please!

Drum Roll Please!


So.

I am moving again.

To Kirkcaldy to be companions with Sister Wilkinson

And

Guess

What.

THERE ARE DEAF PEOPLE THERE.

They just had a deaf woman baptised and are teaching the ward British Sign Language.

ACH.

I cannae handle it. So excited.

In other news. Richie has given us 32 pages of online material to disprove the Book of Mormon.

Man.

Not sure if we can help him any more. He wants such physical evidence but when you deal with spiritual matters, you need to look for spiritual answers and he just doesn't want to do that. And we can't force him. He's still cool though.

Basically all I can think of moves day. I was quite surprised to be moving after only 6 weeks in Montrose but I know that Kirkcaldy is where I need to be right now!

I love being a representative of Jesus Christ and sharing his gospel with everyone! Til the work is done!

Sister Skagen

BringBackthePower

This week was an adventure for sure.

Tuesday after a wonderful District Meeting, we ran by Richie's to pick up his list of questions he said he had for us.

A list of questions actually means a 6 page essay of why there is no God but if there was one, His nature shows that He is a bully and doesn't deserve our praise.

Whew.

We met with him on Friday and it was an interesting lesson to say the least. We assigned him a few Book of Mormon chapters and he promised to read them so we will see.

We went to the Watson's house for tea this week. I have so much love for that family. We played a "tag" game outside with them called "Black Poison" and I will definitely teach it to my future kids.
Note to self, do not wear skirts while playing this game unless you want to run around bent over holding it down trying not to flash everyone.

Yesterday, poor Sister Kirkpatrick woke up at 4:30am with a stomach bug. So while we are trying to fix this situation the power decides to go out. Twice.

And we weren't smart enough to have spare water jugs. (I will have a testimony of food storage after this).

Here I am running around filling up water pitchers and anything big I can get my hands on so we will have water when it stops coming out of the faucet.
But it didn't stop coming out...just didn't heat up. Except the shower didn't work? Apparently it was electric.
I do not understand Europe sometimes.

She is feeling loads better today so tomorrow we should be up and running. :)

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary. I know the Book of Mormon is true! I can know say it for certain. I am amazed at Joseph Smith's courage and faith and his martyrdom. He died for a BOOK. That is saying something. I know he was called as a prophet to restore Christ's gospel and the beautiful Priesthood power back to the earth. How lucky are we!

Til the work is done!

Sister Skagen