June 18, 2013

Dear Mi familia,

Yes there are spanyards out here. Not really just my companion has just tan dark skin. but anyway. Happy Birthday millie on the 19th. Its crazy to think i have been out on mission for almost everyone birthday. Besides Marissas and my own and i think Cameron. Cant remember sorry ya. Speak of the man how is he doing in nepal??? Are things working out for him. Or is he alive? 

So i have been really excited this whole week. In this area it is very spaced out so that means there is alot of walking to be done. We walk about a mile or so just to get into our area. But its totally sweet. The people here are so kind. The members are really nice to us. Maybe we get three meals a day for three different families. Throughout this week i have been looking forward to church so i can finally see the branch. The missionaries before didn't really work with the branch all that much and i wanted to give the branch a new perspective on missionary work. 

So Church was great we got to the church building and its actually a gazebo. It kind of just has half walls and a roof on top. Seriously the sweetest church service because there was a breeze coming through the whole time. AkA i wasn't sweating as much. But after church i introduced myself to the branch President and i could see is a very formal business man kind of guy, who didn't have time for some lazy elder. So i introduce myself, ask a few questions and said i wanted to sit down with all the branch auxiliary member sometime to discuss our Branch mission goals. I could tell that he new I meant business and we have a meeting set up for next week. 

I'm doing things i have never been able to do before. I am trying to be more bold. I have noticed sometimes in my life i have let people walk over me. But that one of the things i am trying to apply. Just to be bold and let the spirit testify.  Remember i am not boasting of myself but my God that has given me this opportunity to be a better missionary.

Yesterday we had Zone Conference( thats why i am emailing today). It was the roggias final farewell. They had some of the most impressive words that just really stuck to my heart. Not only do i need to become a better missionary i have to become a better missionary. By doing this im trying to use my time more wisely. Its a good thing because out here in Gardnersville it is VERY isolated. We really don't hear or see too much that goes on outside our compound. It been god because i am setting goals and actually accomplishing them. Like reading the BOM everyday for 30 minutes or Exercising everyday. Just the little things that were hard to accomplish in other apartments I am doing here. I know heavenly Father sent me here for a reason and i think it is to find myself. To seek for personal revelation and even to be more focused on doing missionary work.

I have loved this time i have had on mission already and can see it is going by almost fast. I'm learning to use my time better and be able to accomplish great things. It helps me not to platue as a missionary but to continue to climb every minute of my day.

I love you all very much, i pray like crazy for each one of you that every thing will be alright. In the words of Bob Marley,"Dont worry, Be Happy. ". Sounds like i am a great missionary huh.... ok maybe there is music everywhere. sorry ya. 

Love,

Elder Skouson

Pictures

 Elder Skouson smiling as Elders Humpreys and Elliot do a little dance. 

 At Zone Conference April 27, 2013

June 10, 2013

Dear Family,

Well it is true i have transfered from my old area Doe community to my new one in Gardnersville. My new companions name is Elder Cottrell. He is from Utah in Brigham City. He seems super Dope. But i have only been with him for like 3 hours so i dont know much. Gardnersville is really like Bush i have finally left the city life and come to bush. But i will let you know more about that the next couple of weeks. Im pretty excited to be in a new area.

Elder Finau and i really had gotten pretty close and we were just working like crazy. I can see the Doe Community is going to be in some good hands. Really Doe Community is about to explode. We had our first Family Home Evening yesterday after church. We had a lesson of Old time prophets from Adam to really Peter. It was really fun and we took a couple pictures with some of my recent converts and the Branch. I have had some fun times there in Doe Community and really felt like i left my family again. But i feel like Nanny Mcphee when you dont want me i will stay, when you want me i will go. 

But out with the Old in with the New. I guess. I dont really have to say much about the new besides our new apartment is really quite big. There are some great Elders in the Apartment and we should have a good time together.

Well i hope things at home are all right. Btw im fine now the senior couple just said i was either getting typhoid or just worms what ever it was we caught it really quick so now problems with that. Thanks for the Prayers though. Now i have turned them toward you. Dad i hope your surgery goes well im sorry your arm is like that. Mom dont stress to much the lord will provide. Millie keep your self busy.Mikayla work hard and have fun. Marissa take care of Ethan  Ethan get alot a get big. Cameron save the prostitutes. 

I love you all very much and miss you like crazy. 

Love, 

Elder Skouson 

The white african 

P.s. This is our Going away present for President Roggia. We just typed our conversion story. 

Dear President Roggia,

First President i would like to start off by saying thank you for the love and building attitude you have always shown to me. I know that you have inspired me to become a much better person and every missionary through the things you have shown me.

To start off with my conversion story, it probably isnt that much different then any other child of records conversion. I had grown up in the church all my life. My parents always taught me to be a good person to everyone, be chirstlike , you know the whole 9 yards. It wasnt till i was about 15 when my parent said that i needed to know for my self. At first i thought nothing of it i was just going through life just fine. I had been in Church leadership all the time. But then i decided i wanted to know for my self. I had been to Efy and other really spiritual things that i had felt something really didnt know what it was. but it wasnt until i actually prayed to know about the book of mormon. I had been wanting an answer for a while now i just needed to know. Mission had always been in the back of my mind and how was i suppose to Preach the Gospel if i myself didnt know if it was true. 

I knelt down earnestly seeking to find an answer to my question. I prayed and really didn't feel anything. It wasnt until a day later when the voice inside my head that just said. : "You have known it is true all you life." 

From that point is where i knew that everything i had been taught had been true. The Book of Mormon was true, Joseph Smith was a Prophet and Jesus Christ is my personal savior. 

I really didnt understand how important this knowledge about the Gospel was until my senior Year in High School. Long story short, I played Volleyball for the high school team. I cut my index and middle fingers right before my season started. I really wasnt able to play the whole season because of it. 

This really was the test of my faith, kind of like Job but not as bad. I really was just beside myself sometimes. I know that through this experience that are heavenly father has the best plans for us. We may think our way is the best but sometime we need to be stopped in our tracks and go on a new path. 

I know that my heavenly father loves me and gives us trials to help us grow. He gives us mountains to climb to show us how great life is at the top. 

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and redeemer. I know President Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet today and i know that the Book of Mormon goes hand in hand with the bible and is the word of God.

This is my own conversion story on how i know that this gospel and Church of Jesus Christ is True. 

Love, 

Elder Skouson

June 3, 2013

My Dearest Family,

This week has been wonderful. I'm still companions with Elder Finau in Doe Community. We are working crazy hard at using our time wisely and working out and stuff. We really have been doing a lot this week with Our Branch. We are working so hard that it kind of made me Sick. Don't worry it isn't anything too bad. But Saturday I woke up and had our morning prayers and my whole body just felt wrong. So i went back to bed and really just slept the entire day. I don't really know what it was. I don't think i ate anything bad. We talked to the Helzeltines and they pretty much hinted at that i was Malnourished. But they also said i was allergic to the sun. I really dont know what went on that day. Butttttttt, Im all better now so no need to worry. 

Elder Widdison and Elder Myaka( south african) and in Doe Community now.( See what happens i leave and they need 4 missionaries to do all the work i was doing) hahaha not. more like picking up the slack on my part.

I will be going into my new area on the 10th so i still have small time left in Doe Community. I will continue to work very hard.

Not much time today. Sorry Ya. I love you all very much and cant wait to hear about next week from you. 

Happy Late BIrthday Ethan!!!!! Wow he is already one years old. Definatly want some pictures. ahaha 

Love,

Elder Skouson

(the WHite African)

May 27, 2013

My Dearest Family,

Well sorry i haven't got too much time to email today. But this week has been a wack week. 

To start out with Zone Conference, I don't know if Momma Roggia sent out pictures or not. But it was one for the books, or at least my Journal. Most of the Conferences are mostly about how we can help our people as missionaries. This one being the last conference for President and Sister Roggia it was more focused to us both as missionaries and Brothers and Sisters after mission. 

We learned plenty about Setting righteous and reachable goals. I think about all those FHE we had at the beginning of the year for New Years Resolutions. How maybe i had goals and plans for the up coming year but would completely forget about them a week after. I'm tring to apply what they taught us. There is one Quote in Preach my Gospel that talks about if we don't set goals we will grow up and realize that we really have accomplished nothing of importance in our lives.

Also we had a little bit of Transfer News during the Conference as well. Elder Finau and I will be companions for the rest of this week before i go. Bro. Kollie we go on to be companions with Elder Okunrobo. Sad but happy at the same time. Elder Finau is totally sweet and i really excited for the next week until i leave. I will be going to Gardernsville which is in a different Zone. I really don't know much about the Place but i know That its going to be different. I have really tried to prepare myself for this move for a while now. Doe Community is like my Home away from Home. Its totally going to be weird for me i have been there all of my mission. But this mission isn't for me its for the People i meet. I don't know exactly when i will leave but i will be soon i know that. Pray for me. 

Got a little bit off track there. Elder Finau and I are trying to apply the things we learned in Zone Conference. We have Set many Goals this past week and have planned and then Acted on those Plans. Yesterday we Evaluated those goals and realized i have learned more in this week then i have my whole mission.... not really but i really have learned a lot. 

We have gone into some new areas in Doe Community. I never knew how big our Area is until this week. We have so many potential investigators its not even funny. We are going to be in those areas all week and we will have faith that these people will come to church. It is quite a distance to walk so the people will have to take Bike or Car to come. "Without Sacrifice we would not get anywhere."

I am learning i need to be more bold. I need to stand up for what i know is right and not let situations over rule my judgements. Im going to be making improvement in my life as a missionary and i know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we all can be forgiving. 

Im going to invite you to do somethings, as a missionary We Invite, You Commit and then We Follow Up. So Will you Let the Atonement of Jesus Christ have an effect on you this week? Think of how it can. Think of how are heavenly Father hears and answers our Prayers. Let me know on what you have thought of this week.

One of the greatest ways to feel the spirit for me is through Songs. I have had Hymns pop in my head this whole time i have been typing. If you ever feel like the spirit is not close to you Sing a Hymn. One of our lessons this week really testifys to that. We were teaching a lessons and it was just kind of a simple lesson nothing to fancy. Then my companion decided we should sing a hymn at the close of the lesson. First this was a great way to end an OK lesson to make it one of the best lessons of the Day. They really were able to understand why we come as missionaries, and what our purpose here is.  All of us have a light about us. So let your light so shine before men. Offer some of our light to others who my be in the darkness. 

I love you all very much, and am praying for you constantly. Especailly you Dad. I hope that by  Fusing your neck it wont restrict you from casting that fishing pole or going shooting guns or belching, you know those manly things us men do. haha

Love,

Elder Skouson

(The WHite African)

P.s. It raining super hard right now and the connection is kinda bad so i hope it will get to you. 

PPS Can you send me some Facial wipes. The ones that get dirt off and take away acne and stuff??? Thank you.

This is me just rambling on.... Practicing my typing skills. while im waiting on the internet to send.... 

Ya so my email wont send so i will keep writing some things. Again its raining super crazy hard right now. Its kind of like "When it rains, it pours" kind of things. I think I'm going to buy a sweatshirt because its kind of cold. Like 70 I don't know you probably have it on your Iphone. My compainon Elder Finau really is inspiring me to want to go to BYU- Hawaii. It sounds totally legit and its like in the most perfect place in the world. If i can though i would play Volleyball at what ever school i go to. Well Mission is sweet and life is Good, and i have one question how do you make Sweet and Sour Sauce?? 

And Mikayla..... Is there something wrong?? You know you can tell me if there is anything wrong right??? But a PT Loser crusier thing. Really??? Your joking right? You have to send me a picture. You know back at the flower shop i use to run those things off the road. Even mom said it was a loser. But hey if you like it we are here with you all the way. I just wouldnt be caught dead driving that thing. Its a good thing to cause it i was dead driving that thing it would be a scary sight. hahaha Ya the email still wont send sorry ya.

May 20, 2013

Dear Family,

This has been another wonderful week. Just a beautiful day in the neighbor hood in Liberia. Here is some big news for you. Bro. Kollie my companion as  for now, has just received his mission call. well actually like on Tuesday so we asked permission from our Zone Leaders and we Headed out to Paynesville. Still in Monrovia just like the outskirts. It was about a 30 minutes bike ride from our area. Not gonna lie it was totally sweet just my backside was hurting after a while. It really opened my eyes to different areas in Monrovia and just made me want to move to the country side all the more. This city life is just to rough for me:) We got out there and met his family and the places he lives and works. His family is super sweet and i enjoyed the Potatoe Greens the fed us with. I also got to see my mission father who is now a Zone leader there. He is doing really good with Elder Smith. Then we sat down with his Branch President and Opened his call letter. And what do you know he was called to the Sierra Leone Freetown Mission. We were both Called to the same mission but i will never see the place he will go. He is going to be such a great missionary and i hope he will be able to see Brayden Taylor. Maybe even the Same MTC?? I hope so...

Because of all of that it was kind of slow week. But we had 3 people to baptize this past Saturday. William Gibson who is a super good guy that truly want to change and be a follower of Christ. Also we were able to baptize Angeline and Anthony Nagbe who are Richards kids. It was such a wonderful baptismal service. I loved and felt the spirit so strong during it. Such a awesome thing for them.

On Sunday we had our district Conference and let me just say that Doe Community Represented. We had over two bus full of people and more that traveled there own way. The conference was packed over 1000 people there. For me and the other missionaries shook every bodies hands and did that African snap. My fingers are so swore now because of it, but it was well worth it. We even packed the rows and halls with chairs so everybody could sit down. It was such a good day.

Well i dont have very much time I will try and get some pictures sent off i dont know if it will work though. I love you all very much and am thankful for the prayers and thoughts that are coming my way. 

Love,

Elder Skouson

(the White African)

P.s. My memory card i need is a Fujifilm memory card. Also how do you make sweet and sour sauce? Can you send me rice seasoning things like Taco Bell seasoning and others. And if there is any chance can you send me a volleyball just deflate it. Thank you and i love you.

May 13, 2013

Dear FamIly,

Long time that i have heard from you... Haha that was a joke.... ya not a very good one. Awkward......

Anyways, I loved hearing your voice and that you for the inspirational words that you have told me i hope they keep me going for about 7 ish months. (wink) 

Well today after a long night of just thinking about you all, we had our Super P-Day. I think  they spelt it wrong it was more like pooper pday. We did get a chance to play Volleyball but i think these African UV rays need a like 800 spf instead of the usual 80. Anyways my farmer tan is just coming along great.  haha.

We i will email you more next week not much to say, just keep praying for me and i have a question do you think its like wrong to pray for  a little bit Tanner skin??? Just saying  i would be kinda nice.

Well i love you all, and i will talking to you next week. Any Questions????

Love,

Elder Skouson

(the really white, turned red African)

May 6, 2013

Heeeellllllllooooooooo, (ms. Doubtfire Style)

My Dearest Family,

Well it sounds like there is both good and bad news from you guys. What is Elder Fisher doing over there in Florida?? And thank you for your much needed prayers this past week i know they have helped me with strength and endurance this past week. Its exciting for Mikayla to finally have finished school. Remember i only have an Hour to email both President Roggia and You all. I don't really email friends ( actually they dont email me) and my 10 words a minute dont really help me at all so i'm trying to write more handwriting letters so every one can feell the love.

This past week has definatly been a hard working week, now real time to dwell to much on my spots. Bro. Kollie is such a hard worker and we have just working till we just drop. On Wednesday and Thursday we planned on having over 20 lessons, because we have been so behind. We only actually accomplished 16 lessons. Crazy huh? Just trying to use my time as wisly as possible. Bro. Kollie is like i said from Liberia. He is from the Mpelle tribe which is pronounced Paylay in the back of your throat. Kind of hard to explain. sorry ya.

So Sunday was our General Conference. Totally sweet we were able to watch the first session on sunday. I totally loved it. It was really cool to see the Liberian hear Tab Choir. The Spirit was so strong when they started to sing. The people were just in awe. Amazing experience to witness.  After Conference they put in The Mutaul theme disc, Stand ye in HOly places. EITHER NOBODY TOLD ME OR I JUST MISSED THE EMAIL. SINCE WHEN IS MY WHOLE FAMLY AND UNCLES MOVIE STARS???? I totally watch the clip about Las Vegas and Zion's Youth Chior. I saw like everyone on the little TV 8000 miles away in the little Branch in DOe Community. Not gonna lie it totally almost put me in a homesick coma, but i just back to real life as i left the chapel. Elder Finau (DL) were talking about it after and he really needs to come and visit you all after mission. He is definatley one of the best singers i have every heard. 

Well speaking about home, I will be calling home just like i did at Christmas. They will give me money to call so dont worry about anything.

Again thank you very much for the Prayers. I think rainy season is coming to start. Hopefully my skin will get a little better. Dont worry about the long sleeve shirt... It will totally throw off my Farmers burn. hahaha just kidding. Just send we stuff that will start to repair my skin. Aloe Vera, Acne controlling repairing stuff. THank you and tell Mikayla i loved her Package. 

Remember, The Greatest Test Of life is Obedience.-Thomas S. Monson.

Love,

Elder Skouson

(the red/white african)