Week 29 - Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Semua!

I am still in Singapore. Not a white Christmas, but a happy one! I am going to keep this quick. But I love you all!

Miracles this week

1. We were walking home for the night, and a couple walking in front of us turned around and said hi to us. Turns out we see them almost everyday, and we are always smiling. They wanted to know why we were always smiling, and how Jesus Christ helped us stay happy. They want that happiness for their two year old daughter. They are way solid, and I am so excited for them. Wear your religion on your face and people will notice.

2. A person we are teaching said a specific prayer, just like we challenged him to, and he got a specific answer literally five minutes later. God is good. He can do that for you all too!

3. A member gave Sister Wang and I some frozen cheesecake to take home. They didn't know that it was my birthday, or that it was my favorite. But it was the most tender mercy I have ever received.

I hope you all  have an amazing Christmas! Enjoy that snow!

Sister Skinner

Week 28 - Meatloaf by Tiny Cowboys

Apa Khabar,

When I started my mission, and learned more about all the areas I could serve in, I decided there was just one thing that wasn't allowed to happen. That was serving in Singapore with a Chinese speaking companion.

Well guess where I am and guess who I am serving with?

I have learned this week that the Lord doesn't like me telling him what is and isn't allowed to happen. But it really has been okay. I am facing my fears and learning how to serve in a completely different area... Again.

I spent the first half of this week with Sister Tok. The first part of the transfer we really wanted to try door knocking because I had seen so much success from it in Miri. But everytime we made time to go door knocking it would start raining! This week was no different, until the day before I left. I finally bought an umbrella too (Just in case) and we headed out door knocking. Even though we didn't meet anyone willing to learn, I left Subang with a bang.

On Thursday I flew into Singapore and met my new companion, Sister Wang, and drove to my new area in Woodlands Singapore.  Some differences of my new area is that I talk to mostly Chinese people all day, but on Sunday, (after taking the bus for an hour to the nearest chapel) we go to church with a bunch of Ex-Pats (Expatrons?). Which is basically just a fancy way of saying that most of the people in the ward are from America. It was like going to church at home and I am still trying to get over the culture shock of it.

A month ago I was sitting on the floors of wooden homes, speaking a different language, and eating things like pig head. Last night I had meatloaf for dinner, around a table, with a very nice family from Montana.

I already love the ward, and I know that the Lord makes no mistakes. I am excited to serve here and help the ward.

Some miracles I saw this week even though it was crazy!

1. Met a girl and her friend taught them the restoration and gave them Book of Mormons. They loved the Book of Mormon and brought another friend with them to church on Sunday.

2. We met a girl at a members house who was looking to find a connection with Christ! We can help with that! Thank you members!

3. I just need to include that prayer really works. I have seen so many of my prayers answered this week as I have prayed for comfort, for safety, and for knowledge on where to go and who to speak to.

Hey, Merry Christmas next week! I hope you are all cramming in as much Hallmark movies as possible before the season is over. Go look at some Christmas lights for me!

I love and pray for you all!

Sister Skinner

Week 27 - 6 Months Baby!

Apa Khabar!

This week was zone conference. We flew out Monday and got back Wednesday. 

I learned so much! One of the things I learned right off the bat was that I was going to play my violin in one of the songs in the music program. I mentioned once to my Mission Presidents wife that I played. She never forgot.

It was a lot like Sharon Eubanks talk in the Christmas Devotional (If you haven't watched the Christmas Devotion, go watch it!) But it made me happy, even though I haven't played for a long time, my family has a tradition of playing Christmas songs at our Grandparents house every Christmas Eve. It reminded me of my family, and I am so glad I got the opportunity to share that Christmas tradition with the mission. (Although we probably all agree hearing me once was enough).

I also learned other things, like realizing our desires, setting high goals, and quickly testifying of Christ. Especially Christmas season it is so important to always make him the center of everything. I know that if he wasn't the center of everything I did out here, I wouldn't make it through one day without him. Especially in the last half of this week. 

On Wednesday we flew from Singapore and back into Malaysia. I have never been stopped or even questioned at immigration before. I forgot to pray before I went through. Long story short, I have two weeks left here in Malaysia and then we're having a weird short transfer and I will be in Singapore for at least two weeks.

The funny thing is, I had been asked to give a talk in my sacrament meeting in 2 weeks and I had been thinking all day what I wanted it to be on. I finally decided I wanted it to be on peace, and what it really meant that Christ was born. How through him, and the fact that he did come into the world meant that, just like the angels first message to the shepards, we do not need to fear. I felt peace as we dealt with it and even though I am sad I will have to leave my new area so early, I know the Lord is directing his work. I will give my talk the day before I fly out.

Other than that we have just been trying to work like usual. It was a good week. We had an opportunity to go with a recent convert to a pageant the KL Branches all worked together to put on. It was called Journey to Bethlehem and it was amazing! They all dressed up and had different scenes from the nativity in different rooms. I won't forget my journey to Bethlehem!

We also had an opportunity to go caroling with the members to returning Members houses. It was so fun, and even though I can honestly say we were not the most musically talented group, we had fun and made them smile. 

I love what I'm doing out here! Thank you for your love and support!

Sister Skinner

Week 26 - It's Alright It's Okay We Still Love You Anyway

Apa khabar semua!

Hello! It's been one of the quickest weeks of my mission,  but I don't feel like I have much to tell you! 

It was a good week though. I think I am getting the hang of this city thing. When I came into Subang there wasn't a lot of solid people we were teaching so we spend a lot of our time contacting! I talk to 3 times as many people as I did in Miri. But I don't talk to 10 times as many people. Does that make sense? 

This week Sister Tok and I have tried to go exploring so we are not contacting in the 11 malls in Subang area all the time. We have gone to parks, shoplots, and outdoor food courts. I still feel like my area is small without my bike though! 

As we talk to more people, we get a lot more "no's" in a day. This week I tried to start talking to a girl who was wearing some really cute cat glasses. I complimented her glasses and then asked if she liked cats. She looked me dead in the face, said no, and then continued to text on her phone. Another girl literally ran away from us. 

Sister Tok and I came up with a little song we sing everytime we get rejected. It goes like this:

*companion 1 beat boxing "boots and cats" *

*companion 2* It's alright its okay we still love you anyway, it's okay it's alright we just want you to choose the right! 

*together* wicky wicky doing the Lords work

I have a recording. I will attach it. 

We also get a few yes's! And those of course are what make it all worth it! I mentioned we contact in bookstores a lot. We have had a few lessons sitting on the floor of bookstores and it is kind of my favorite. I love finding people who love to read because 1. I love reading too! And 2. I like to show them my favorite book, The Book of Mormon. 

We met a girl this week in a bookstore who loves to read 'inspirational books' and she was way excited to receive a Book of Mormon. 

We also met a guy this week, who didn't know Christ at all, but said when he read the Book of Mormon he felt relaxed and happy. 

Keep reading the Book of Mormon! It changes lives! 

This week I have also run up a down escalator to get back to my companion. Tried to explain what sassy means to my companion (because she is sassy!). And carried around an umbrella half the size of me for a day because I forgot mine. 

Things are going good here in Subang! We will keep growing and getting better! Love and pray for you all! 

Sister Skinner

Week 25 - It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Apa Khabar!

This past week I said goodbye to my beloved Miri. On my last day, our Branch Mission Leader told me "Jumpa lagi di Syurga." Basically he told me we won't meet again until we're in heaven. How sad! I love the people in Miri, I am going to miss them so much! I was overwhelmed at their love and the people who said they are going to miss me. I guess I really am making a difference and helping people out here. It shouldn't have taken me 4 months to realize that! I promise you that you all are making differences in people's lives every day! You are needed and you are loved! Keep going! 

On Tuesday I said goodbye to the new family we are teaching, Jaba, Marolyn and her family, and the BML and his family. It was so hard. But their tight hugs made it worth it. On Wednesday I said goodbye to Sister Weddle and the Senior Couple here in Miri. That was hard too! And then I crossed an ocean (maybe just a sea) to go to my new area in Sebang, KL. 

Kuala Lumpur is Not Miri! I feel like I am no longer in the same country let alone the same mission. I switched out my beloved blue bike for the LRT, outdoor markets for five story malls, and contacting in dog infested neighborhoods to contacting in bookstores. I have also switched out my Malay for English and that may be the hardest part. I think it's a lot easier to contact people when they have to concentrate on what your saying to understand you.

My new companions name is Sister Tok, and she is amazing! She is from Bintulu, Malaysia. Which is one town away from Miri! Even though I am a full head taller than her, she is a full head taller than me spiritually. We get along great because we are both homesick for Sarawak. She is still working on her English and sometimes we are both confused. But we're taking on KL together!

It was a little hard adjusting at first. I'm having a hard time keeping my eyes on the people and not everything around me. I felt a little overwhelmed and I missed the slow pace of Miri! But when I went to church on Sunday everything was okay! Our church is in a small shop lot, but the small church is made up with the big personalities of all the members here! There are people from England, Philippines, India, Indonesia, China, Japan. ALL OVER. They immediately took me in and I am so grateful for them. I am so grateful I have the opportunity to work with the for the coming months.

Good thing missions are about the people and not the place or else I would probably get tired real quick in this fast paced city.

Hey! I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving! (I had mac and cheese) I promise that God knows you and has a plan for you, even if everything is changing! Have faith and keep going.

I love and pray for you all!

Sister Skinner