The hardest thing

"The hardest thing I've ever loved to do, is getting on this plane and coming back to you.

In a million ways completely torn apart, but a land so far away still owns my heart."

- Nashville Tribute Band

I will forever be grateful for my experience representing my Saviour Jesus Christ. 

It's been the hardest, - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually - yet most rewarding thing I've ever done.

It's bitter-sweet to leave! I've learned so much, grown so much and have seen many miracles along the way, but I know there is still much to do..just in a different part of the world :)

This gospel has brought me more happiness than I've ever known! I'm grateful for my knowledge and testimony.

God loves us so much.

He's given us the Book of Mormon to show again this great love. 

It is the word of God and we can get nearest to Him when we read it. 
Jesus is the Christ.Through His Atonement, we can change. 

All that is unfair in this life will be made up in the next because of Him.

Our Saviour lives!

These things I know and believe to be true, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

Sister Sahara Skagen

Scotland/Ireland Mission

October 2014 - April 2016

I won't be e-mailing next Monday but I will see you all soon :)

You can't spray it in here!

We got super good burritos at a market this week. SO GOOD.

Who would ever thought I would say that I'm dying for some good mexican food?

Had a conference in Limerick where I gave my outgoing testimony. 

Have I told you how much I love my Mission President? So much. Him and his wife are amazing!

Sister Buhler got the flu this week :(

BUT =

1.
[we text the elders to tell them we aren't going to our meeting because of sickness]

Elders call : "Is there anything we can do for you?"

Sisters: "We neeeeed Diet Coke. We are all out!" 

                         Elders bring 23 cans of it.

Sisters: 

2.
 [Sister Buhler is sleeping and I come in to check on her]

Sister Skagen (S): "Sister Buhler how are you feeling?"

Sister Buhler (B): "You can't spray it in here!"

S: "Spray what? The perfume stuff?"

B: "Yeah! mumblemumblemumble GROSS!"

S: "I can't spray it in here because it'll get all gross?"

B: "Yeah!"

S: "Okay I won't do it."

B: "mumblemumble Already did!"

S: "I did?"

B: "Yeah! "

S: "Oh I'm sorry, I won't do it again. At least it smells good?"

B: "It doesn't smell good!!! "

My companion sleep talks so much. It is the funniest thing ever. I'm going to try to get an actual recording of it hahahah.

We went inside some Catholic churches (there is one on just about every corner). Doctrine-wise there are some things I don't understand...offering money for souls in purgatory, paying to pray to specific saints and rosary beads among other things. More questions will be asked.

Although the Catholic buildings are so gorgeous and elaborate, I'm grateful for our simple buildings and the spirit that I feel when I'm there.

I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to learn so much here and serve these wonderful people!

Sister Skagen

4 sister night in Limerick!

Sister Buhler and I 

Diet Coke

Easter with the Obode children (yes I'm wearing a grandma/curtain skirt.. it's Sister Buhlers ahahah)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hope everyone's St. Patricks Day was good! Apart from the parade, most people don't actually wear green. American's just make it a big deal haha :)

We weren't allowed to go into the city or anything for safety reasons so we made cookies and "sneakily" ding dong ditched them.

Apparently I am not a good "sneaker." 

OKAY. It's not my fault people hang out by their windows and I'm not very fast in a skirt soo... but it was so fun and the members loved it.

We went chalking and did a True or False about the Mormons. 

SO FUNNY.

We typed up all the crazy things people have asked us and asked them to people on the streets.

True or False
Mormons:
- can't wear red.

- can't kiss til they're married

- have horns

- have multiple wives

- don't believe in magnets

- have to take dad/brother with them on a date

and so on. (Those are all false by the way).

It was good for people to see that we really are normal!

Something I learned more fully this week about the Atonement was that Christ suffered just as we do. He literally suffered/experienced the same thing that we do. It wasn't any less because of who He was, it wasn't made any easier for Him. The same heart breaks, pain, guilt, sickness, and all else, He has felt. He has endured so that He can help us when we experience it. How much love He and our Heavenly Father have for us!

I am so grateful for this knowledge. I'm grateful I can serve and teach and wear Christ's name every day. Til the work is done!

Sister Skagen

What Didn't Go Wrong...?

Probably one of the craziest weeks of my mission.

1. 

Our washer = full of water after the dry cycle. 

Sisters = "We have got to get the water out."

Sisters = try to drain it using the drain whole about the size of a quarter.

Sisters = UNPREPARED FOR THE VELOCITY AT WHICH THE WATER EXITED MACHINE.

Drain = won't allow sisters to screw stopper back in

Door = bang bang bang!

Sisters = o___O  ?!?!? 

Door = BANG BANG BANG BANG!!

Sisters = Trying to deal with massive amounts of water flooding our house AND freaking out because of previous experience of creepy people at our door

Door = BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!!

Sisters = Call Elders

Elders = come speedy quick and half without shoes on

Our Polish neighbors just about broke our door down because their house was raining...

We are good tenants, promise!

2.

May or may not have flushed our phone down the toilet. 

Either that or some youths stole it.

Can't be sure.

3.

We were nearly mooned.

4. 

Patrick is awesome, came to church AND he drew a little ghost in the margins of the Book of Mormon where it talks about the Holy Ghost. So cute!

5. Super size Diet Coke at BK.

Basically, It was super crazy.

I love mission life. 

Sister Skagen

"Choose eternal life as your highest priority, and notice how other choices fall into place."

 - President Russell M. Nelson

Hip Cramps Are Real

We went to West Cork again and visited some friends. They are so great but they live so far so they don't get a whole lot of interaction with church members. But they are amazing people!

AH. I feel like nothing funny happened but I know that there is laughter in each and every day. 

Oh! Our photo in the car was quite funny. It was literally the smallest car I have ever been in.

And it was so full! Things on our laps, by our feet, behind our heads. 

I legitimately had a hip cramp from two hour ride. 

We had a District Conference in Limerick and it was so good.

Something that was said was this:

"He has no hands but ours."

We are responsible for spreading the message of Jesus Christ. To love, live and serve as He did. That is our duty! He can only use us if we are willing. 

"When obedience ceases to be an irritant, but becomes our quest, that's when God endows us with power."

I have witnessed this! I have a testimony that we are powerful and we are happier when we follow the commandments of God. It is true! I know it. 

I am grateful to represent Him and serve the people of Scotland and Ireland. 

Sister Skagen

6 More Weeks Of Winter

I'm staying in Cork my last transfer with Sister Buhler! hollaaa

Sis. Buhler: "Hey! You're on your last planner!"

Me: ":''''( WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT TO ME?!" 

hahaha I'm going to miss this...6 more weeks of the best experience of my life!

We visited a few more friends in West Cork this week. Josephine is in a nursing home but guess what she did when she was 17?

FLEW PLANES DURING WORLD WAR 2! 

She is the coolest. 

Sometimes at members, Sister Buhler likes to make me be "Samuel Lamanite" and the children get to throw things at me. #bestcompanionever 

One of the Elder's investigators taught us some yoga this week. Who knew it's actually pretty hard? The Elder's were totally lying when they said they weren't sore from it! 

We had a Top Secret Party with the Stapleton children.. SIster Buhler and I were scarfing down pizza right before the branch activity because we hadn't eaten... CAUGHT. Niamh and Mark found us so we snuck them a piece and took a photo :)

Til The Work Is Done!

Sister Skagen

West Cork.. Best Cork?

Okay so apparently there were issues with myldsmail and nobody got my e-mails :( I'm so sorry! I wrote you all back! I will try to forward everything and send last weeks e-mail again. 

Wow. What an insane week. 

First lesson with a former investigator--

Him: "Can you have boyfriends?"

"Not here but at home, yes."

"Do you have boyfriends?"

We both say "Yes."

"Well, it was great to meet you."

SHAKES OUR HANDS- 

GETS UP-

AND LEAVES.

hahahahaha. 

The member with us was just like "Uh.. what just happened?"

hahaha we are still laughing about it. 

We went to West Cork which is BEAUTIFUL. I will attach photos. :)

We had this whole day planned out to borrow the elders car and go to West Cork to visit some less active friends and so we are driving and..

I get this feeling we shouldn't go. o___O

but.. but.. we planned this whole thing! And even had diet coke and chocolate in the car!

We'd driven about an hour so we pulled over, prayed and decided to drive back to see how we felt. But we had to use the toilet so we stopped in a little town called Clonakilty to find one.

This lady sees us in passing:

Her: "Hi!"

"Hello! How are you?"

she keeps staring at our badges

"Have you met missionaries before?"

Turns out she is a member that moved here about a year ago and has had no contact with the church. She has been praying for a year to find missionaries or members and WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT WE STOPPED IN THIS TOWN.

God is real. He hears our prayers. He will accomplish what He needs to - His work will not be frustrated!

AND WE GOT TO SEE INGRID. A member from Germany who lives at the very bottom of Ireland on an island called Baltimore. I've talked to her on the phone every week since I've been here and have developed such a friendship with her and we FINALLY got to go visit her!

I am so thankful to be a missionary! I know that Christ's gospel has been restored to the earth and that is our beautiful message to the world! It is the truth!

Love,

Sister Skagen