borrowed an Hermana's card reader last second...
- the freaky santa-looking doll is in our members house. it freaks me out and watched me play the piano. haha. So I took a picture to show you.
I'm so happy I live in a member home and can play a little bit of the piano!! It reminds me of home. It just makes me sad that I don't hear my mom singing along.
LOVE YOU PEOPLE.
♥ Sister Alexis Skabelund
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
First Week in California
Hey hey hey, it's Sister Skabelund.
WHAT'S UP FAMILY?! I've been in the mission field for exactly a week & let me tell ya, it's been real challenging. I left the MTC with my Cali-district at 3:50am on Tuesday. It must have been the nerves mixed with motion sickness...because I got pretty darn sick. Hey! At least I can say that I've thrown up on a train before (I threw up on the front-runner on the way to SLC airport). So that was a fun experience, but I'm happy I was able to talk to my family on the pay-phones (on the other side of the airport) and have the window seat! (:
We arrived at the mission office in Vista and ate our first "California Burrito," which later I regretted eating. We sadly bid our quick goodbyes to each other, as we were handed off to our new companions. My companion is Sister Palmer from Rexburg, Idaho. This is her second time being a trainer, and she's pretty cool. We are staying at a member's home (Sister Trout, a 70-something year old lady), and we are serving in the Torrey Pines YSA ward. Everyone keeps saying that President Kendrick knows I'm an amazing missionary because he sent me to one of the hardest areas (but the best ward). He told me I'm going to be a "superstar missionary." It is very difficult finding YSA girls to teach, let alone anyone to teach, but things are going to get better! Since we are limited to only young single adults, we have a car (because the YSA's are so spread out). As you know, I get very motion sick...but Sister Chiou gave me some essential oils that are supposed to help.
Oh here is something crazy: My first Sunday in the mission field, we were just greeting everybody for sacrament and what do you know...in walks Jake Boyd! Last time I saw him, he was an elder serving in my ward in Oregon! He looks a little different though, like a cali-beach-boy now or something. Or as Sister Palmer would say, "a beach bum." Lol. It's okay, he's rocking the longer hair and the scruff. Love that guy! Oh and my MTC teacher's girlfriend is in my ward. Small world.
I keep telling everyone welcoming me that I feel like I'm on an island, not California. It's weird adjusting to all the palm trees, mockingbirds, a big jungle-like plants everywhere. It legit feels like I am serving in a jungle sometimes, haha. Oh and it's cool seeing the ocean and stuff, I live pretty close, but we can't step on the sand sadly. The work is pretty slow, but that is when we need to rely on the Lord's help the most. We can't ever give up. I've learned so much from the mission field and I've only been out for a week. Honestly, it's been really hard. The struggle is real as Allison would say haha. But really though, this is the hardest thing I have ever done. It's hard when you don't know the area or the people very well. It's hard being new. "Embrace being the greenie. Enjoy being new!" Sister Palmer tells me that every day.
I got extremely tear-eyed when I read Maddy Pattie's sacrament talk! Aww I miss cuddling with that sweet lil sister of mine. I miss all of you! Just so you know, I brought "Sir Orrick" with me... and he's about the closest thing I have to you guys. Oh and I've got a picture of the family that I carry with me wherever I go. I've actually shown it to a bunch of people, it's fun when they can connect with through pictures. Speaking of pictures, I don't know if I'm able to send you any... I'M SORRY! For some reason my card reader isn't uploading the pictures. 😖
Please please keep up the pictures! I love getting pictures from you! My address is at the end of this email! Remember: HEAVENLY FATHER LOVES YOU! He has a plan for you. Don't forget to pray every day and read your scriptures. He has so much in store for you and you are precious to him. "Feast upon the words of Christ. For behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things which ye should do." 2 Ne 32:3
LOVE YOU ALL. xoxoxo.
P.S. this is the only picture I could get. This is my MTC teacher's girlfriend, Elise Millward. She took this picture in the middle of institute when she found out he was my teacher. lol. Oh and the girl on the left is my companion, Sister Palmer.
--
♥ Sister Alexis Skabelund
WHAT'S UP FAMILY?! I've been in the mission field for exactly a week & let me tell ya, it's been real challenging. I left the MTC with my Cali-district at 3:50am on Tuesday. It must have been the nerves mixed with motion sickness...because I got pretty darn sick. Hey! At least I can say that I've thrown up on a train before (I threw up on the front-runner on the way to SLC airport). So that was a fun experience, but I'm happy I was able to talk to my family on the pay-phones (on the other side of the airport) and have the window seat! (:
We arrived at the mission office in Vista and ate our first "California Burrito," which later I regretted eating. We sadly bid our quick goodbyes to each other, as we were handed off to our new companions. My companion is Sister Palmer from Rexburg, Idaho. This is her second time being a trainer, and she's pretty cool. We are staying at a member's home (Sister Trout, a 70-something year old lady), and we are serving in the Torrey Pines YSA ward. Everyone keeps saying that President Kendrick knows I'm an amazing missionary because he sent me to one of the hardest areas (but the best ward). He told me I'm going to be a "superstar missionary." It is very difficult finding YSA girls to teach, let alone anyone to teach, but things are going to get better! Since we are limited to only young single adults, we have a car (because the YSA's are so spread out). As you know, I get very motion sick...but Sister Chiou gave me some essential oils that are supposed to help.
Oh here is something crazy: My first Sunday in the mission field, we were just greeting everybody for sacrament and what do you know...in walks Jake Boyd! Last time I saw him, he was an elder serving in my ward in Oregon! He looks a little different though, like a cali-beach-boy now or something. Or as Sister Palmer would say, "a beach bum." Lol. It's okay, he's rocking the longer hair and the scruff. Love that guy! Oh and my MTC teacher's girlfriend is in my ward. Small world.
I keep telling everyone welcoming me that I feel like I'm on an island, not California. It's weird adjusting to all the palm trees, mockingbirds, a big jungle-like plants everywhere. It legit feels like I am serving in a jungle sometimes, haha. Oh and it's cool seeing the ocean and stuff, I live pretty close, but we can't step on the sand sadly. The work is pretty slow, but that is when we need to rely on the Lord's help the most. We can't ever give up. I've learned so much from the mission field and I've only been out for a week. Honestly, it's been really hard. The struggle is real as Allison would say haha. But really though, this is the hardest thing I have ever done. It's hard when you don't know the area or the people very well. It's hard being new. "Embrace being the greenie. Enjoy being new!" Sister Palmer tells me that every day.
I got extremely tear-eyed when I read Maddy Pattie's sacrament talk! Aww I miss cuddling with that sweet lil sister of mine. I miss all of you! Just so you know, I brought "Sir Orrick" with me... and he's about the closest thing I have to you guys. Oh and I've got a picture of the family that I carry with me wherever I go. I've actually shown it to a bunch of people, it's fun when they can connect with through pictures. Speaking of pictures, I don't know if I'm able to send you any... I'M SORRY! For some reason my card reader isn't uploading the pictures. 😖
Please please keep up the pictures! I love getting pictures from you! My address is at the end of this email! Remember: HEAVENLY FATHER LOVES YOU! He has a plan for you. Don't forget to pray every day and read your scriptures. He has so much in store for you and you are precious to him. "Feast upon the words of Christ. For behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things which ye should do." 2 Ne 32:3
LOVE YOU ALL. xoxoxo.
P.S. this is the only picture I could get. This is my MTC teacher's girlfriend, Elise Millward. She took this picture in the middle of institute when she found out he was my teacher. lol. Oh and the girl on the left is my companion, Sister Palmer.
--
♥ Sister Alexis Skabelund
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
I'm in California
Hey folks,
I love you all!!
--
Sister Alexis Skabelund
United States
I'm in Vista California right now, at the
mission home. President Kenedrick and his wife greeted us at the San
Diego airport! I already love them so much; they are awesome. It's so
sad that they are leaving in July! So yeah.. Just wanted to let you all
know that I am safe, and I am in the place where I am supposed to be. (:
![Black heart (cards) Black heart (cards)](https://a.gfx.ms/emoji_02665.png)
451 W Bobier Dr
Vista CA 92083-1906United States
Monday, May 23, 2016
Only One Day Left at the MTC
Hi family. You're probably wondering why you are getting an email from
me on Sunday. President Harris said that we should email you today
because we can't on Tuesday. This is because we will be traveling to
California and starting right off the bat that day in the mission field!
Sorry I can't concentrate right now because I'm listening to a sister
from South Africa talk. I LOVE ACCENTS! She has an awesome English
accent, soooo fascinating. lol. She's trying to do an American accents
and it's hilarious. And she's laughing at me because I love talking in
an English accent. Oh how fun. I have seen a lot of people here with
accents! Some barely even speak english.
Anyways,
this week has gone by extremely fast! It's crazy to think that I'll be
leaving in basically a day. Only a day left at the MTC with my best
friends! I'm going to miss my district more than you can even
comprehend. They are my family. Yesterday was pretty hard for me because
we went on exchanges with people completely out of our zone. I
exchanged with a sister, Sister Winward, who is called to serve in the
Washington D.C. South mission. We had to be with different companions
all day, and let me tell ya, I really missed Sister Andrew and my whole
district. Although I missed them tons, Sister Winward and I taught an
amazing lesson with Sarina! It was our first time teaching together and I
say we did pretty fabulous. We committed her to be baptized on July
24th! So exciting! Anywho, I gotta go to relief society. I'm sorry this
is so short and there is no pictures. Next time I talk to you, I'll be
in California!!
LOVE YOU ALL!!
![Black heart (cards) Black heart (cards)](https://a.gfx.ms/emoji_02665.png)
![Black heart (cards) Black heart (cards)](https://a.gfx.ms/emoji_02665.png)
![Black heart (cards) Black heart (cards)](https://a.gfx.ms/emoji_02665.png)
P.S.
MOM!
I'll be calling you at the SLC airport on Tuesday morning. Probably
around 7ish? Not sure. But you should be expecting a phone call from
me.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
GOOD MORNING FAM!
Wow. I don't know what to write
about because so much has happened since last Tuesday! It literally
feels like I have been at the MTC for months...but it also feels like I
just got here yesterday. It's weird how time works as a missionary. My
district is my family, I love their stinking guts and I don't know where
I would be without them right now. Almost every night we get together
and basically do a little "testimony meeting" outside in the courtyard,
or we just share whats on our minds. I find that when we are together
and talk about God's love after a long day of hard work, those are the
times that we feel God's love the most. Not only do we feel God's love
for us individual, but we feel it for each other, our TRC investigators,
and just a love for everyone. ![Black heart (cards) Black heart (cards)](https://a.gfx.ms/emoji_02665.png)
![Black heart (cards) Black heart (cards)](https://a.gfx.ms/emoji_02665.png)
These are some of the things I wrote in my journal throughout the week:
Wednesday-
Goodness gracious today was a fabulous day. Our lesson with Taylor went
great! Her faith is increasing, she's praying, and reading the BofM! I
love that beautiful girl so much and I am so proud that she is following
her commitments and coming closer to Christ. Next up: Leah. At first,
Sister Andrew and I did not want to go back to visit her; in fact, we
dreaded it. But, this time we walked in with a positive attitude and to
see Leah as God sees her. We skipped out of that lesson afterwards with
smiles and an incredible amount of love for her; we were on cloud 9.
It's because we FORGOT ourselves and loved her.
Also, the
other district in our zone arrived at the MTC today (their 1st day), and
we had a lot of fun getting to know them. It's crazy to see how fast we
progressed and became the older/experienced missionaries, who are
already helping out newbies. It seems like yesterday, when I walked into
the MTC with butterflies, and all sorts of anxious feelings. It was a
great day. God loves His children!
Thursday- I'm
so tired, I don't really remember how today went. We met with Leah
today and she played the piano/sang for us! She is a beautiful singer!
Then she transposed a hymn for us in the hymnbook so that I could play
it on the guitar. Seriously, she is so talented. Sister A and I sang her
a few hymns which quickly brought the spirit into the room. Leah
actually let us share a scripture with her and listened to us bear our
testimonies of God's love! It wasn't much, but it was something. One of
our teachers told us that sometimes it is good to teach without using
words. Some of the greatest lessons are when we can teach Leah by our
actions, and what we DO to make her feel God's love. We have done this
by sharing experiences, talking about our life/family, singing with her,
and even hanging up pictures for her "(rearranging her room haha).
Because Leah is overweight in pain, she is limited to do certain things,
so that's one of the reasons why we help her so much. I'm so grateful
for music and how we were able to connect with Leah through it. I even
sang Leah my song that I wrote, "Country Romance." She loved it and told
me that my song will be on Kid's Bop one day. LOL. thanks Leah. We are
always laughing with Leah. I LOVE LEAH & I'm sad to say goodbye to
her.
Friday- Today was our last day
teaching Taylor and Leah. We are going to miss them like crazy. During
personal/companion study, we took a break and laughed harder than we
have ever laughed together. We were literally laughing in the fetal
position and bawling our eyes out: all of us. It was a great
district-bonding moment. Elder Allen & Elder Brandt gave my
companion, Sister Andrew, a priesthood blessing which she really needed.
I was able to go in the room with her and hear the blessing. I'm so
grateful for the Elders in our district and for honoring their
priesthood authority. They truly listen to the spirit all the
time...even in role-plays. I love them so much and I'll miss them when
they go off to Saint Louis!
Sunday- Sister
Andrew and I taught a lesson in relief society today. I thought it went
very well and I'm sure that everyone in the room felt God's love. I
love teaching!
Monday- For exercise
today, Sister Jackson and I played "knock-out," a basketball game if you
weren't familiar with it. We played with the Elders in our district
(the other sisters didn't come), and also with a few others in the gym. I
got an Elder out with a "swish" and he seemed a little upset and walked
out of the game completely. lol. I'm too intimidating, or too good I
guess. But guess what? Immediately after that, I made buckets again and
got Elder Allen out. And he quit the game too! CUZ IM A BOSS! haha. jk
it was literally luck. anyways that was funny.
Anyways,
I'm doing great at the MTC. I love it and I'm seriously going to miss
it so much. Although I'm sad to say goodbye to my friends, I'm excited
to go to the mission field in just 6 short days. I can't wait to love
the people of California! This church really does bring so many
blessings and miracles! We must be truly converted, then we will
recognize that God loves us more than we could ever imagine. I have
never felt God's love as much as I do now. Christ's atonement was the
most majestic manifestation of love.
I LOVE YOU
ALL. Have a great week. And don't be afraid to write me or send me
pictures! I don't have much time to reply to all of you, but I love
reading your emails! Oh, and snail-mail is always fun too! Try it
through dearelder.com. xoxoxo
Love,
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
First Email from the MTC
Hey friends and family!
When missionaries tell you
that missionary work is one of the hardest things they have ever done in
their life, but the most rewarding...they are not kidding whatsoever.
My first week at the MTC has been so crazy, yet the best thing that has
ever happened to me. Although I have only been here for about six days, I
have already made life-long friends, taught three different
investigators, talked to my family on Mother's day, faced
discouragement, and have blisters all over my feet.
I
thought I had a testimony of the church and of Jesus Christ before I
arrived at the MTC. But after sitting in my classroom for 4-5 hours at a
time, personal and companionship study, attending devotionals,
participating in the MTC choir, teaching our investigators, and learning
from everyone here...my testimony has strengthened and is bigger than
it has ever been. Sorry if it seems like I'm just listing a bunch of
stuff, but there is so much to talk about and so little time.
My
district is absolutely incredible. I know that we were put together for
a reason. They help me every day to come closer to Christ and remember
why I am here. Together, we have come to better understand our purpose
as full-time missionaries. "Our purpose is to INVITE others to COME unto
Christ, by HELPING them RECEIVE the restored gospel. Through FAITH in
Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift
of the Holy Ghost, and ENDURING to the end." It's all about the work.
Faith is an action word. We when we lose ourselves in the work, we truly
find ourselves. It is not about me, at all! People told me that before I
came here, but now I truly KNOW that it is centered on Christ.
My
companion is Sister Andrew, and she is from Boise, Idaho! She is also
serving in the California Carlsbad mission! In my district there are six
elders, and four sisters (including me). All of us sisters are going to
Carlsbad, as well as one other elder, and the rest of the elders are
serving in the Saint Louis Missouri Mission. We are excited to be the
older district and welcome the brand-new district tomorrow! Oh goodness,
I remember my first few days here, it seems like that was forever ago!
Crazy how fast it all goes by.
Yesterday was
pretty hard for Sister Andrew and I. It was our first day teaching our
TRC investigators (volunteer investigators), and we were a little
nervous. Our first lesson with Taylor went very well! She is the only
one in her family who is not a member of the church. She attends BYU and
really wants guidance; she wants to believe that God exists and that he
loves her. Her sister is serving a mission in Thailand right now, and
she wants that same confidence and direction in life. We taught her the
Restoration and we could see that her faith was already increasing. She
committed to read the introduction to the BOM (Book of Mormon. Sorry I
will be using that reference a lot), and she agreed to pray to know that
she really is a child of God.
For some reason,
I got really discouraged after the lesson. My companion felt great
about it, but I felt as if I didn't do a good job of teaching. I felt
horrible and that I was failing as a representative of Jesus Christ.
Coincidentally our teacher, Sister Greer, taught all of us how to deal
with stress. haha. I needed that. And then we went back to the TRC and
taught Leah. Leah didn't want to listen to a word we had to see about
what we believe. She has been at the TRC for three years, and I guess
she is tired of hearing about the gospel. She just wants someone to talk
to, we think. Maybe she's really lonely and needs to feel loved. But my
companion ended up getting offended by some of the things Leah said.
Let's just say, things were hard for us that night. But we ended the day
in a great testimony kinda meeting with our district and told each
other of our love.
I'm so grateful for my
companion and my district. I don't know what I would do without them.
But most of all, I am most grateful for my Savior. He truly is MY savior
and he loves me. I need to remember that this work is about him and
bringing God's children back. We must see people as God sees them. (:
Today
(Tuesday) is P-day and I can't wait to go do laundry haha. But I'm most
excited to go to the temple with my district! I love going to the
temple, it gives me so much peace.
This is to
my mom: MOM, make sure that you send my weekly emails to everyone who
wants them. Check my Facebook post with all the comments and email
addresses & put them on the list. haha. Or I guess you can just post
it to facebook or put it on a blog or something, idk.
I LOVE YOU ALL!
P.S.
Sorry I don't have pictures attached. Trust me, I have taken a lot, I
just don't know how to upload them yet. I will figure it out
I had to go to the computer lab to upload the pictures. It's complicated. haha. But here they are. (:
The blonde is my companion, Sister Andrew. We have the same bike
necklace too! How awesome is that? In some of the pictures we look
soaking wet, it's because we took a walk around the temple on Sunday
when it was pouring rain. Oh and another picture of
us with the headphones was when we were talking to our family on
mother's day. (:
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
May the 4th be with You!
This is a bitter sweet day for me. My Lexie will be entering the MTC at
12:45 this afternoon. It's going to be so hard to let her go, but I know
this is something she has been looking forward to for many years now.
I'm so pleased with Lexie and her desire to serve the Lord. I look
forward to her letters and know this will be an experience that she will
always treasure. I love you Lexie! May the 4th be with you. ♡
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