The work is really hard but the field is definitely white

Dear Family and Friends,
All i can say is wow. I feel for Brandon. But im glad he could pull it out in the end. I feel so sorry. IF you can give him a few words of encouragement for me. Wish both him and Jashon goodluck on there missions. It really has been a newsie letter. Still really jealous about the gardens and tara playing the harp. Shout out to Tara Howlett Congrats on the mission call i know you will do great.
I so excited for millie doing flag football, just remember its flag NO TACKLING!!!!.
This week has been really great. The work is really hard but the field is definitely white. We cant walk down the street without someone stopping us to talk about the gospel. I love it we were suppose to baptize three people this week but we found out that one man had an unresolved marriage and he is actually married to two women but we are figuring it out. We should baptize him next week along with 7 others but we will see how it works out.
Mom yes we buy some food everyday. We found this bread shop and the lady makes an awesome sandwich that has eggs, onions,mayo, some spices,and ketchup. It is 65 LD and is definitely the best thing that i have tasted here.
Don't worry i wont get too excited for my packages because only about 60 % of them make it here to Liberia. When you put what is inside on the outside say as little as possible, put church supplies.
I miss shooting guns not gonna lie. We are already making preparations for Christmas. We are getting a Christmas Tree, course its gonna be fake, but still. We are starting to listen to small Christmas music.
Thanksgiving was great here. I made sure to say all the things i was thankful for and i drank my soda pop and eat my amazing sandwich. Today was a fun day I was able to play Volleyball!!!!!!!! at Super Pday and also watched Prince of Egypt it was sooooo goood. I miss movies.
Dont have much time. I love you all very much and expect letters.
Love,
Elder Skouson
(the White African)

Addresses

For those who are interested, here are some addresses to send the love to Elder Skouson

LIBERIA

Best for packages, regular letters, cards $1.05 stamp, two weeks--month to arrive: 

Missionary Name 
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 
Horton Ave. & Capital Bye-Pass 
P.O. Box 1905, 
1000 Monrovia 10 
Liberia, West Africa

LIBERIA

One page written on one side, folded, regular stamp, send to: 

Liberia 
Missionary name 
Sierra Leone Freetown Mission 
PO Box 30150 
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150 
POUCH


Send letter with DearElder.com

Send package with Called2Serve.com

Photos from Mission Blog

 Quinn and The Mission Presidents

 All the Elders going to Sierra Leone from the MTC in Ghana

All the Elders

One Month Mark

Dear Family and Friends,
Today marks one month i have been on my mission. I didnt even realize it until E. Widdison told me yesterday that we have almost been out for a month. It really has flown by. Especially being out of the MTC. Just this week has gone by so quick. I love my companion he is just the greatest thing since sliced bread. haha no joke. No really he has taught me soooo much about the gospel. Since we last talked we have taught about 30 lessons and also baptized a wonderful guy named Andrew (Leo) i will have the opportunity to confirm him a member and give him the holy ghost. Such a sweet man.
Yes we are getting into Dry Season ugh. But while everyone is putting up there rain boots i am just getting to wear them. Over half of my area in Doe Community is impossible to get to in the rainy season because the water is so high. But just yesterday we taught a lesson far out into the bush where water was up to our mid calves. HAHAHA. My companion and i took a picture, we will try to send it through the snail mail and hopefully it will make it sometime soon. Speaking of mail, i received my first letter on Wednesday from Brooklyn. I guess it was her third letter so i don't know where the other two are. Continue to send letters because i just love them. It really just brightens up my day.
I'm so excited mary moody and mallory reese were able to get there calls and i know they will be such great missionaries. Please keep me posted on more people getting there mission calls. I believe Brandon Jashon and Chett's farewell are this next week. Wish them all good luck and have a wonderful missions. They will truly be such sweet missionaries. The field is white already to harvest, i know it is here in Africa, and if it isnt white make it white.
I havent really thought about thanksgiving very much, and i actually forgot which day it was. Sure im going to miss it. Maybe i will get some spam, yes spam Bro. Lynn and fry it up and have a soda of sorts. I'm not gonna lie but im really jealous of not being able to go down to the belligio and watch Tara play to harp that really is my favorite spot in las vegas. Next week i better get a detailed summary of what happened.:) Oh and speaking of grandma i think she needs to come to liberia to teach these people how to make some good rice, and without chicken feet. They are so gross and chewy, and you probably think im joking but nope im not. Its always a little scary getting food from the members cause you really never know what you are going to get. My companion yesterday after we ate at a sister house, said he thinks we just ate monkey. Haha kinda gross but it tasted alright. There was enough pepay or like really hot spices to cover up any taste. I learning to literally eat through the pain, cause it kills your mouth and throat. Dad i think even you couldnt Beat the Heat. We drink plenty water with our meals.
My missionary schedule consist of 6:30 up and workout and take a bucket bath. 8 personal study, 9-11 companionship study, 11-12 language study so im learning a little bit of french. After that we catch a motor bike to our area which is about 10 minutes away from our apartment. which is actually probably my favorite part of the day, i put my ray bans i bought for like 2 dollars american and fly down the road on the back of a bike with my companion and the driver. Once we get to our area we dont stop teaching till about 630 running from lesson to lesson, then we take the bike back and do our daily planing at 7 then we eat dinner and write in our journal and just talk with the other elders. elder Pentreth from England is so funny and i talk to him mostly just about everything. then we go to bed hoping that the power stays on all night.
Well time is almost up and i have to go but i just want you to know im doing just great and im not homesick really because there is no time to be haha. i love you all and hope the very best for you.
Love your son,
Elder Skouson
(the White African)
p.s. Here is my Christmas wish list.
Tons of Crystal light drop ins mostly: orange early rise, Cherry limeade, raspberry lemonade and please find grapefruit.
Nutella
good pens with fine tip
Any snacks
Candy
Granola bars
And a random crazy gift made from mikaylas mind something small (ex: monsters etc.)
Pictures and Letters
If you dont get me these thing i will beat you. in two years. haha jk i wont care too much.

Addresses...Please Write

To Liberia:

Best for packages, regular letters, cards 98 cent stamp, two weeks--month to arrive:

Elder Quinn Skouson
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Horton Ave. & Capital Bye-Pass

P.O. Box 1905, 1000 Monrovia

10 Liberia, West Africa

Please send pictures and Letters..

Re: Stake Conference

 Dear Family and friends, 
 Well i am in Monrovia!!!!!!! My proselyting area is the Doe Community, on Bush rod island. Its technically an island but i doesn't really feel like an island. We Flew on the plane with just President Roggia and his wife. No general authorities but we still had a wonderful time talking with President and his wife. We arrived in Monrovia and met Elder and sister Kirkham who drove us to Bush rod island about an hour away from the airport.I met my comp and his name is elder Kouao from ivory coast. He has been out for about 6 months. His English is very good but he is still working. 
 
 
 Its sounds like the lord is blessing you financially and i love it. Its different here then in Ghana. The people in our area don't have anything besides 4 walls and a roof. But they are the happiest people i have ever met. Every where i go the children shout "white man" ha ha. I'm just happy to see everyone. We also had the opportunity to participate in fast Sunday. so about an hour before church we walk around doe community and invite everyone to church. Of course halfway through i stepped into a big mud puddle which brought everyone to out to kinda laugh at me, and help me clean off my shoe. But i gave me another chance to talk to more people. 



 During church i had the opportunity to give a small boy the gift of the holy ghost. his name was Sandra Sahr. Such a sweet spirit. The work is going great here. My companion confirmed 2 other people. After church we taught 4 different lessons. We walked all over Doe community. Without Rain boots we can only get to about half of the area, because is all under about a half a foot of water. My comp walks really fast and with a purpose and i love it. We have to take a taxi to the middle of our area because it would be about 30 minutes just to walk there. 
 
 
 Its kinda sad hearing about Dad not being Bishop anymore. Its gonna be even more weird when you start talking about "Bishop Benfield". Sometimes i think about taking naps then i realized i'm on my mission. 
 
 
 My apartment is actually the best apartment i the whole mission, or that's what i want to believe. We actually have power from 7pm to 10 am so we can run FANS!!! It my not be a big thing to you but without it i sweat like a pig. I also took my First bath out of a bucket. Not too bad actually. its quite enjoyable. 

 
 I'm glad Millie had the opportunity to sing in the choir!!! Such a wonderful experience. I'm glad My friends are using there time wisely by singing.;) I don't think I will be able to send anymore pictures over my email. 



 The Food we have had is very good. I tried some cassava root which has a really sweet good flavor to it. We have about 2 cups of rice and kidney beans, onions and some other spices and i love it. ask me how i feel about it after 6 months because we have it morning and night. yummmm. 



 If you see Gerrit before he leaves give him my best and tell him to have a wonderful time with all you can eat food, and cereal and milk and no fish heads. Also tell Brandon and Jashon and Chett to learn the lessons of Preach my gospel because they will be so much farther ahead. 
> 
> 
> Please give Lynn my best and tell him i pray for him all the time. Tell him to have fun on his Ranch. Tell him good job on his talk in Stake Conference. 
> Well that has been most of my experience here in Liberia. Please ask questions so i my answer and tell you about Monrovia better. I truly love you and thank Mikayla for doing my blog for me. I love hearing about home, and don't worry Dad i really am fully involved in the work i just love hearing about home just as an update just to know my family is doing well. 
> 
> 
> Love you For the Eternities, 
> Your Son, Elder Skouson 
> (The White African) 

Still here in the MTC

Well Family,

Its been fun here, it was a great opportunity to go to the temple again. I have truly enjoyed the Ghana Accra Temple. The spirit is so Strong in the temple and thourghout the grounds of the temple.

When i was arm wrestling Elder Allotey,  people were cheering for me it reminded me out freshmen year in volleyball when all the football players were cheering for me. hahaha

I have been stuck here in the mtc one more day our departure will be on Saturday morning at 10 oclock. Im very excited to be getting out of this MTC prison.;) The new missionaries arrived today and we have been helping them just checked in. There are some from Madagascar, togo, benin, DR congo, Cote dIvoire, Ghana, France, south africa and sierra leone.  Elder widdison and i are going to exchange some money with the missionaries whose currency we dont have.

Btw The package i need letters from people and plenty of pictures of anything and everything. i havent heard anything about my close friends and i miss them so if i can get some mail from them i wouldnt mind it being a week later or something. I need just something familiar in my life. Elder widdison is from Hooper Ut, and it seems like all of hooper is here in ghana. I havent seen anybody i know which kinda sucks but im slowly getting over it.

Tell Dad and his brothers that im coming home and going to beat them all at arm wrestling. That is if i dont lose all of my muscle.

Well i will be in Liberia next time i email so i wish you all a great time at home, im having a great time here even though i am stuck.

Love,

Elder Skouson

 

The White African

Just a few Pictures

Elder Allotey and Elder Skouson Arm Wrestling Buddies

Strongmen in Africa (from the MTC President)

Got this little Nugget of Joy today!! Enjoy

Another Day in the MTC

Dear family,

This week has been a successful sad week. I and 11 others are the only missionaries here. it feels like we have been left behind. Many emotions and feelings going through my whole body. Elder widdision and i are the only white/ americans here. we found out the news about o-Bama today from the Grahams we sat by them at breakfast and just talked about how bad it was going to be, even though we arent even there.

But some good news, i am the MTCs strongest man. we started arm wrestling a couple days ago and i had beaten everybody until i got to Elder Allotey. He is about six foot 260 pounds of just pure muscle, i mean the guy has a six pack. hahaha. we arm wrestled a couple time and he won most of them. until president graham saw us then he video taped us and i won. i sent the video and i hope you got it.

Being stuck here a few more days really has its ups and downs. We have the opportunity to serve in the temple again tomorrow. Im very excited to be able to go again. its a very cool experience to do work for people in AFRICA. I am also excited to be flying with my mission president and some general authorites, should be a wonderful time.

im really sorry there is not much to say. But i would like to give you the challenge to read the book of mormon again. it has really taught me alot. i am finishing tomorrow in the temple. i will be sending another email tomorrow because we had to stay an extra day. So i love you all and i will talk to you soon, btw how much did obama win by?

Love Quinn son of Stewart the great and mighty and devonna the loving and caring,

Elder Skouson,

The White African.

P.S. did you get my letters yet??

RE: Gotta get your protien somewhere

Dear family and friends,

this week has had its ups and downs and what i was trying to say about the swearing is my district ( and everybody else has a real problem with swearing so i teaching them not to say anything bad because they cannot feel the spirit when they do.

Anyway, i missed my chance to email yesterday because we too extra time in the temple. One of the elders in my district was sealed to his parents, ya both of them. such an amazing experience really helped me realize even more what i am doing out here over 8000 miles away from home.

My companion said to me two days ago that " the mission president doesnt care how you get baptizms he just wants alot. dont worry i told him off, i dont think i have ever been so mad at one individual. my anger was all bottled up and just came out. he kept telling me you dont understand because i was from america and have lived such a blessed life and i agreed with him on that. but i said if that were the case i wouldnt be out on a mission. the church could find some other robot to fufill that calling. i also expressed that i came out on my mission to help other people come unto christ not be just another number on a sheet of paper. he finally realized that i was right. sorry i just had to get that out.

Like i said its been a long week and challenging week with my comp. but the area president came today president dickson and sister dickson. one of the loveliest couples i have ever met. i shook his hand and he told me that everything was going to be ok as long as you do what you know is write the lord will strenghten you so much, also follow the rules 100 %. Those were the first words to come out of his mouth i am positive that the lord was speaking through him to me. he probably wouldnt remember saying that, it was so power ful to me. then he asked me about who i was and were i was going. such a great guy and his wife was even better. she was just so delightful. they also gave a great lesson to us missionaries. i also found out i wouldnt be leaving the mtc until next friday. but we get to go the temple again.

Is dad still Bishop? and speaking of bishop we are doing this little skit and guess who is the bishop.... ya its me.

i am only in Alma 45 now but its because i have been trying to memorize some scriptures and also some of the skit and the bishop says the most. i really hope you are all doing well. i am doing great here even with the setbacks i dont let them bother me and i do my very best. and reading the book of mormon has really helped me alot to do my best it focuses me on doing the right thing and sometimes standing up for my own religion ( in the mtc) ha. Btw where is mason going on his mission? nobody ever told me. tell sevie hi for me. and also tell millie to say hi to augustin. how is brandon doing? Elder harper? Mikelle? just everyone one. Eris and Eryn?

Well i love you all!!!!!

your son,

Elder Skouson.

 

THE WHITE AFRICAN!!!!!