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