September 30, 2013

Dear Family,

 

Well the rumors are true. I have made a new step in my mission. I recieved a call from President Kirkham on this last gone Friday asked me if i would be his assistant with Elder Pentreath. Elder Pentreath is my old District Leader when i first came on mission. President Kirkham told me i would be going to the mission office today and now i am here. I have big shoes to fill and really have no idea what i am doing here. I am living in the most beautiful home in Liberia, and i really love the gorgeous ocean view. But other than that i would say i am nervous. This is going to be a time to turn away from myself and leave it all to my heavenly father.

Before i leave it entirely i just want to talk about my home away from home for just a moment. This last gone week Elder Humpherys and i didnt really get anytime to be inside Doe Community. Being my last week in the Branch i was ask to give my testimony during sacrament meeting. The podum must have been covered with just chopped onions or something cause not only i was leaking but a lot of people in the congregation. Why do we have to leak out of our eyes just makes us all look bad? Idk but the meeting was so spiritual. There was a smaller number of people there because of the rain but still it was such a wonderful  service. We met with a few members after the chruch and took some pictures just a good day.

 Elder Humpherys and i had one of the most interesting weeks both of us had ever had. So many oppoutunities to serve. On Friday again our Zone had a service project for a members house which crumbled in a massive rain storm. Thankfully nobody was hurt in that and everybody is alright. So we began to build back the walls and roof. But during the project an elderly man needed literally to be carried to the hospital because he was sick and hadnt eat or drinking in almost a week. Elder Humpherys and i carried him to the taxi and then into the hospital. Because he hadnt taken anything to eat, he had no control over his body. very difficult to transfer him from place to place. But i think he is doing much better now that he is in the hospital.

I cant express to you enough how much i love my mission. First assignment as the new AP was to get the Dieing missionaries to the airport. Very difficult to see them go such wonderful examples to me over this last year. I will really miss there presence here on mission.

Well we have areally crazy week we are planning for so i have to stop writing and get back to work. I will tell you more next week. I love you all so much.

Love,

Elder Skouson

( the White African)

September 23, 2013

Dear Faimly,

Hey how di day???

This week has been a very full week of working hard. Elder Vinson for the Seventy came to Liberia. We had a wonderful Zone Conference about How to be better missionaries. Our APs talked to us then President Kirkham who talked to us about Member Presents. Then we heard from Elder Vinson. He gave us the simple instruct to not only listen to what he has to say but what the spirit says and testifies to us. This conference i really tried hard to listen to that still small voice. At first there was nothing but as i tried harder i had thoughts put into my mind that i had never really thought about before. It was cool to be there in this conference. Elder Vinson is straight up powerful. If you read about his conversion story it is really cool as well. Sister vinson (Elder Vinson's wife) told us more about that. That he was a strong man inside his church and she converted him and now he is a General Authority. Really a sweet story. He knows the scriptures backwards and forwards especially the Bible and Old Testament. He talked about "considering our Ways" in the book of Haggai. Very wonderful to hear his great instruction. 

After the Conference he then decided to do Apartment Inspections. He only had time for about 3 apartments but Mom you should be very proud. President and Sister Kirkham walked in taking pictures to show what a clean apartment should look like. They all were very impressed with our kitchen and floors and really everything. Let me just give a quick shout out. I just want to thank my Mother for teaching me know to clean things good, and her mother my grandmother for teaching her. Ya we got an A+.

This week has also been a good one inside good ole Doe Community Branch. We are teaching a women from Sierra Leone and i be learnin de krio small small. She has had a problem with smoking and drinking in the past. When we were on Exchange with the APs Elder Willis and i decided to change our lesson to The Word of Wisdom the second lesson and wow what a change she has made. She came that sunday into church almost yelling at me that her body had never felt better. She says she could breath so well and her mind was clear. Really just another testimony to me to how important Gods commandments are. She is truly talking and using the Atonement in her life.

Yesterday at our PEC meeting the Branch President President Slamie gave us an Assignment. Becuase i have almost been inside Doe commuinty for close to a year, i happen to know most of the people inside the branch. Here in Liberia we are just starting to get solid records and they are finally going in the computers.There is a lot of missing information which my companion and i are going to go out a get from many of these members. It might even be my last week inside Doe Com. Hopefully not but transfers are next week. I guess we will see. If so its a great oppourtunity for me to see everyone before i go.
 

Thank you so much for getting me that information about the Military. I would definitely go the officer route, but one last quick question to clear my mind small. Would i be able to stop after those 4 years of service or still have to remain in? I would like the military to pay for my schooling where ever it may be. And then start my own career after sometime. and Do they pay you for your service every year the 45000 or just the years you serve??

Dont worry i am still working hard as i can. I love you all so much and thank you for the amazing support you have for me.

Love,
Elder Skouson

P.s. Its coming to be dry season. Will you send me Aloe Vera?? Gold bond medicated powder?? and Gold bond lotion ultimate healing with aloe vera. Food seasoning especially (spaghetti and chicken seasonings). 

P.ps. Happy Late birthday to ELder Harper and Happy birthday to ELder Fisher.

September 16, 2013

My Dearest Family,

Just letting you know I am trying to do my best. I have been given very much on this mission, and i am trying to use my specific talents and abilities for righteous purposes. In all essence i read the book how to be an Extraordinary Missionary. I know i am far from being that but i am trying small smalll. I read that extraordinary missionaries polish there shoes not just wipe them off with a wet rag. Because i am starting small small i started with that. Guess what, my shoes are black, for the longest time i thought they had just turned brown. These little things that i have tried to make better/cleaner are really helping me to be the missionary i need to be.

Well this week has been great one of the families i have been teaching even before i went to Gardnerville was baptized. The Giddings family are so great. Every week a church the family come 10 minutes before and Sits as a family. Because of our small efforts the lord really has used us to do his work. We converted the youngest in the family (Jamama Giddings) back with Elder Park since that time we have been working with Moses Giddings the father and just recently the mother. Now Both father and mother are baptized. The last who we are now currently working with is Evenlyn Giddings. Before her mother was baptized she didnt want to even speak with us. Now she too come to church early and every activity we have there. She will be getting baptized and confirmed the beginning of October. Elder Humpherys and I are working very hard in every aspect of the work. 

To answer some quick questions of yours Yes i am taking medicine everyday. It is called Doxycicline also i take my Multi -vitimins everyday. I wont need more vitimins. I have the lemon oil and have began to use it. You are welcome to send me some again if you would like. Maybe even more kinds. Btw i need more toothpaste. I like the red tube the enamel white by colgate.I still have a camera. I will work of sending the memory chip.

I have a few questions for you now. Be prepared....

What if i were to join the military when i got back home?? Maybe follow the example of my cousins Cyle. Go and serve for a few years and get that under my belt. I know with military its not a step in step out kind of thing. If you can send me some info about that. Different options i could do. Go through college get out as an officer??? I cant really remember the whole system. Will you let me know on that?? Maybe ask Cyle Adair his thought on it. Is it worth it?? 

Its really been on my mind a lot lately. I just would like some info or even how i could do it if i could.

WEll no time, I love you all so much i will try to answer questions and i hope you will too. 

Love,

Elder Skouson

(the white african)

Who are some soon to be missionaries in our ward??? Is millie plannin on a mission??

September 9, 2013

Hello Mi Familia,

This week has been a great week just to let everything out. No pun intended. No but seriously its been great to get some time for some extra study and just building my testimony. I have never been one who knows everything about the gospel and trys to know deep doctrine but i know that the gospel is true. I had the opportunity to read a few Liahonas general conference additions. I still just got a major gospel talk crush on Elaine S. Dalton. I'm not really sure why but i think it is just those simple sayings that she talks about that just really hit the spot. Mom i can remember you always quoting things like that so that probably why it has such a profound effect on me. As we had a leadership meeting in which my companion and i conducted i reflected back on one of those profound simple sayings. This time it was "Whatev'e thou art, act well thy part." We introduced this as our Leadership Meeting theme. It simply just means what ever thing you are doing, do your very best at it. In this talk she was explaining about a time when she went traveling on the BYU folk dance club. At this time she felt very alone and depressed she saw this and it lifted her spirits. (Interesting that i found this quote when i was in a similar situation.)  Well needless to say it too lifted my spirits and made things just come out so much easier. Again no pun intended.  But don't worry i didn't stop just with sister Dalton after she is now released but i have to say my favorite apostle is Definitely Elder Jeffery R. Holland. The way he describes more complex doctrine is easy to understand. I love the talks he gave. If you get the chance Look up the talk he gave at a CES fireside about leaving our religion at the door i highly recommend it. By the way WE NEVER LEAVE OUR RELIGION AT THE DOOR. It very good and talks about the gathering of Israel something like Israel, Israel god is calling?? calling thee from lands of woe???

As you can see i didn't do much proselyting but i did learn a lot. Amazingly we still had many of our investigators come to church. I gave one of our investigators a promise. Liberians have the best excuses of not coming to church, "the rain" " by gods grace". I gave our investigator a promise that if they come to church on time they would not be beaten by the rain. And surely it come to pass, about 10 mins after church had started the rains came down and the floods almost came into the church. Thankfully our investigators were all seated ready to listen and feel the spirit. A total of 9 came and there childern it is so wonderful to see the church progressing so much here in LIB.

Speaking of progression, Kakata has just opened and for the first time missionaries will be sleeping there on Wednesday. Elder Elliott and his son Elder Cooper we be some of the first as well as Elder Harris the great Elder Finau and two more. Hopefully sometime i will make my way out that way. So amazing if you could here about the Branch there. i am sure President kirkham has talked about it but what a miracle. WOW. the Church is True. Not only the Church but the Gospel and atonement of Jesus Christ is real. What profound effects it can have on a person if they just let it. I have been thankful enough to see it time and time again. Many wonderful stories i have witnessed and been a part of. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY, now that i have grown a foot or two.

Notice for future missionaries: I was thinking about it this last week about what a person needs to do before mission. Of course they need to study from Preach my Gospel and the Book of Mormon hard core but there are other things to work on. There is a great quote "People dont care how much you know, until they know how much you care". You can know the scriptures backwards and forwards but if you dont actually care about the person they wont ever listen to the words you are saying. Now how do you do that?? You practice now. Find and listen to the spirit now, if it isnt there fix that problem now now. Go out with the missionaries. GO TO SEMINARY. and dont fall asleep. All these small small things are cruciale to having and being a successful missionary.

Family and friends i love you very much, because of your prayers the sickness has moved and i am back and at them again. Dont worry about me i am doing great. nothing is falling out anymore everything is back in place.

Love,
Elder Skouson

(the white african)

P.s. dad great krio, but you need to work on your kolokwa. Im a liberian not from saleone.(sierra leone)

September 3, 2013

Dear Family,

Well!!!!!!!!!!! WHO IS UP FOR ROUND TWO?

This past week i have not been feeling the best. Now nobody wig out or nothing but. Round two as in Malaria and Typhoid. They are minor cases but about every two week for the last 4 months there are just days when my stomach has been just hurting. So Sister Kirkham finally decided i should go to the clinic. Couple hours of some back laboratory things found out that i "not doing ight".

Mom i dont want you to break out in hives or even stress about it. I just am telling you because you all got mad last time. Just know i will be back to normal in a few days. Just reducing small as people here say. I don't tell you this to worry you just letting you know what i am dealing with. NO WORRIES.

Despite that.... we had a great week the days we went out. On Saturday we were privileged to go to Bro. Johnson Cheas funeral. Before he passed away he was a driver for the Liberian National Police. The LNP showed up with their band which was actually pretty sweet and the prayed and played in memory of the Late Chea. It all was pretty cool. Each of the different sides of his family came and gave tribute. Even my companion Elder Humpherys and i gave our own Tribute. We Sang Hymn #165 Abide with me, and I gave a little speech on his behalf. Just explained that i had known and taught him the simple truths of the gospel. I also explained that we had taught him and he understood that this life is the time to prepare and meet God. It was a great funeral and many people had questions answered. I was just a good time for all.

We have been doing our best as a branch in Doe Community. President Kirkham made a visit to our branch and helped us out with our Branch council. THings are coming on small small.

This mission has really opened my eyes to a few things. I realized how easy it was for me to be able to come on mission with my family and friends supporting me the whole time. Elder Myaka and I had a good long conversation about his conversion to the gospel, how his family really just turned there backs on him. He also had to get all of his passport visa and everything by himself. He told me about the tender mercies the lord showered upon him at the time. Miracle after miracle happen for him as he really tired hard to earn money for his mission.

I love to be a missionary here to hear and live so many wonderfully hard experiences. I know I have been blessed to come here to Liberia at a time with so much missionary progress. Our heavenly father knows each and everyone of us and knows exactly what we need. As its states, Our ways are not his ways and our thoughts are not his thoughts. He will make a way everything will get accomplished. I am excited to be here and now.

I love you all and i am trying to work as hard as i can. Know that nothing will stop this work. If anyone trys its just like sticking your puny arm in a great river and saying that you will stop the work. (d and c 121.) I miss you and love you.

Love,

Elder Skouson

(the white african)

August 26, 2013

Dear Family,

Thank goodness everything went alright. Lets pray nobody else goes under surgery while i am on mission. Its just to stinkin hard for me.

Well this week has been flying by. Elder humpheries and i are working very hard. I have been teaching him how to be a zone leader but he has been teaching me everything you need to know about the Old Testament. We are doing so great. Its been a lot of fun in our area seeing so many people willing to help us in missionary work. We are trying so hard to get the branch to be doing as much missionary work as we are. We have at least 2 branch missionaries come with us each day.

That has been really helpful because with have been dealing with a lot of African culture these past few days. One of the family's we have been teaching are bereaving and its nice to have Liberians to show us how we can express our condolences to the family.

We had the great opportunity to have President Kirkham and his wife come to our branch and give some training that really helped the branch out a bunch. We even saw him and his wife drink a soft drink they said first time in 2 years or more. Pretty cool its even hard for them to turn down food.

Well i am so glad that everything worked out just great. I am so happy that Dad is back at home now to get his rest. Thank you for the pictures even though they were a little disturbing the were comforting at the same time if that makes any sense at all. Not that i didn't believe you its just reassuring to see something.

Marissa i didn't forget. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You and your family are looking great sounds like your not feeling great, just remember its your birthday you can cry if you want to. cry if you want to. or cry if you want to.

Well i have to make this short, but i love you very much i am continually praying for you all. Thank you for all your prayers coming my way i definitely need them. Just know i am working hard, keeping the missionary rules and love the work i am doing. There is really no greater work i could be doing at this time in my life.

Love,
Elder Skouson

(the white african)

August 19, 2013

Dear Family,

This week has really opened my eyes to many things. Things that i need to work on, things i need to remember and things that just don't really matter that much. Us as missionaries we teach about the eternal perspective everyday. But sometimes we don't even know the full extent of it. I pray that everything will go fine these next few days with surgery and everything. I want to know all about it. (cause you know i going to be a brain surgeon when i get back). 

Yes it is true Elder Finau has left me to go out into uncharted territory, Kakata and Harbel are waiting for him as we speak. Elder Humpherys will be my new companion. I will be teaching him how to be a Zone leader as he teaches me to be a District Leader. He is super funny and really smart so i cant wait to learn from him.

We had a great day Saturday participating in the All Africa service Project. We decided to clean some of the main road in Doe Community. Really sweet to see the support we had from our branch as well as many people outside.

My i just say thank you very much for the Packages i received. I got 4. 3 for my birthday packages and 1 from Christmas time from Mikayla. Wooooo hoooo i have been waiting forever for them and they came at a great time. We live the law of consecration for real out here so they are all divide up between those who did not receive any. Elder Finau took most out to kakata with him. Maybe in a transfer i will be out there with him. I don't know but i know that would be so sweet. The field is truly ripe and ready to harvest. President Kirkham told the kakata missionarys to recite Alma 26:22 everyday before the go out. He also emphisized on the Thousands they would bring in. 

One of our Baptismal candidates passed away last night about 8 pm. If you could keep Bro. Chea family in your prayer it would be much needed. We know he is being taught the remaining lessons on the other side of the veil. Truly a great man. 

Thank you for the prayers and thoughts put towards my direction. As i am given new responsiblities and oppunities I difinatly need those Prayers. I really hope everything will be alright with everyone. I know this gospel is true, i am having such a wonderful time out here in Liberia. These things that i have learned will truly bless my life for years to come. 

I love you all and pray for you constantly. 

Love,

Elder Skouson

( the white african) 

P.s. Happy 10 months. hahaha