[2] Hello from California & a little more of Life at the MTC!

Our second letter from our Missionary :)  It was a bit tough not hearing from Sister K last week in a letter form. (We did get a phone call from the airport, and it was good to hear that she was so happy and ready to fly to her Mission area.)   Hope you are all doing well and enjoying your summer!  If you get a chance send a post card or letter Sister K's way, I know she'd be very happy to hear from you.

Subject:  [#2]  Hello from California and a little more of life at the MTC

Hello everyone!

I'm sorry there was no email last week. We flew out on Monday, which was our P-day.  (Prepare and preparation day.) We were really busy all day as they filled us in on everything. But before I get into California, I will begin with a little more about the MTC.

DEVOTIONALS

We had some awesome devotionals while I was at the Mission Training Center. I wanted to mention three of my favorites.

On the 17th we had the Apostle Elder M. Russell Ballard come and speak to us. He gave an inspiring talk on how we should not be ashamed to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. He also gave us a promise that we can always look to our Prophet and Apostles of our Church, because they will never lead us astray. It was so powerful. The Spirit was so strong as he spoke. When Elder M. Russell Ballard was done my companions and I got a surprise. As we were leaving we went out the wrong door and ended up outside. When we looked over we saw Elder Ballard get into his car. As he drove away the three of us waved at him and he waved and smiled back. I felt like Violet in Incredibles "He looked at me!"  

We also had Sister Sheri Dew come and speak to us. She is in charge of Deseret Book Industries (The CEO.) I heard her speak at BYUH too so it was a special bonus to hear her again. Her message was on how the Spirit is the true teacher when we invite others to come unto Christ. When people can feel for themselves that the message is true, then they can understand our message.

Our last devotional before I left was an extra special one. My companions and I were trying to guess who it could be, since all the new mission presidents were being trained that week and the Prophet and all the Apostles were at the MTC too! Sister Beatty and I kept joking that the prophet would speak to us, but alas we were wrong. Instead we heard from the church song writer, Sister Janice Kapp Perry.  Which was totally wonderful.  It was one of the most excellent devotionals I have ever attended. Her husband spoke first and he is the sweetest little old man. You can tell how much he loves his wife.

Sister Perry's message was about how all types of beautiful music can bring the Spirit and help you during hard times. Since she has written several church songs, we had a Sing-A-Long and sang them together as a congregation.  The feeling was beautiful. She then told us how she met her husband. Sister Perry said they were in a music class together where they had to pass off different instruments. Right before their clarinet performance she was wetting her reed and getting everything ready. Suddenly somebody nudged her. So she said to him, "What do you want? It's my turn next" The man that would later be her husband said "I was just looking at your lips and thinking they could do better things than play the clarinet" Everyone burst out laughing and then to make it better, her husband got up right then and KISSED her on the stand! All the missionaries went a little crazy. Cheering etc... When she got everyone settled Sister Perry added, "Well, I'm never telling that story again... or maybe I will." :)  She was so funny as well as uplifting throughout the whole thing. At the end she gave us a special treat. She played her 'Family Song' that she wrote herself. The recording had all of her children and grandchildren singing along with her husband. She sang her part as the recording played. It was so good! - "Sing a little song with me in harmony. Sing a little song to make me smile."   It was a history of their family and it was adorable. I'm glad I got to hear her inspiring message before I left the next day.  It was the perfect ending to my MTC life and a  wonderful beginning to start off to Ventura. :)

TEACHING 

In my last email I didn't really explain how we teach at the MTC. The best way to explain it is to think of it like Disney’s Monsters University.  In the movie the students have to read an assessment of a child and then decide which scare would be best for the child. Well instead of scaring we are sharing the happiness of the gospel! They give us a little background on our investigator and then we have to decide what is best to teach them based on that. My companions and I taught two people, Tali and Carol. They were both dear people and I feel they ended up teaching us a lot as we were teaching them. Which is the best. 

LAST DAYS AT THE MTC

The last week of the MTC flew by! And so many wonderful things happened. On Wednesday the new missionaries arrived! It was fun to say, "Welcome to the MTC!" just like everyone did when I arrived the week before. 

I want to say a big thank you to those who sent me the Krispie Kremes doughnuts! I was so surprised! I had no idea you could send them to Missionaries in the MTC. It was signed "The Skinners,” so I know it must be from my caring family in Montana, and I want to thank them so much, it really made our day! My whole District thanks you also because I shared with all of them :)

I received another surprise at the MTC, which also involves food. Since the new Mission Presidents were there being taught, they started giving us different types of food. Some were from restaurants in the Provo area. I have to admit I was excited when I saw what they had on Friday – ‘Teriyaki Stix.’  (My family knows my favorite place to eat in Utah was always there, sadly they have closed more and more.)  It felt like a special prize, like someone was thinking about me, by having me get to enjoy a food that I have liked since living in Provo when I was little. I feel we are always being looked after, even with small things. 

VENTURA CALIFORNIA

After the wonderful experience of the MTC I am now in California!! I met President Castro and his wonderful wife. Sadly, I won't to get to know him very well though because we are getting a new Mission President this week. Hopefully we will meet our new president and wife soon and we are looking forward to it.

It was also sad to leave my ‘trio’ at the Transfer Meeting. After only 12 days we have become close friends as well as companions. We would quote movies all the time to each other. And we learned a lot in our classes/lessons and during our teaching experiences. I know they will both do great wherever and whichever area they serve.  And I hope to see Sister Beatty and Sister Evans again soon. 

Even though I will miss them a lot, I am happy to meet my new companion and I love her already.  Her name is Sister Xayadeth! She is so sweet and we have already discovered that we have a lot in common as well. I am excited to work with her and share in this missionary experience and share our love we have for our Savoir Jesus Christ with others who are seeking truth.

I am out of time and will write more about California next week. I will end with two scriptures. 2 Cor. 5:7 ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight.’ John 14:6 ‘Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

I love you all and pray for you each and everyday!

Sister Skinner - Karatassos

Pictures - (6/22/14) Ten Totally Terrific Pictures (so far) from the MTC!

We were happy to see that Karissa (AKA Sister K) was able to 

send us some pictures this week after all! Our bonus blessing :)

                                                      

                                       Here is Sister K's terrific District Group. She say's a favorite

                                       thing for the Elders to do, is make their ties match in color each
                                       day :)  And the Sister Missionaries have tried to join in (Notice

                                        the green on skirts and blouses) =) It was good to read that they

                                        have been growing closer as friends.

           

                                       Sister K and Sister B (Sister Beatty) 'Serving & Smiles' :)

Super happy to run into another Pittsburgh North Stake Pennsylvania Native - Sister G :)

                                   Sister K said some of her favorite days have been going to
                                   the temple. She took this beautiful picture of the Provo Temple.

                                      Sister K's Zone (The bigger group than her District)
                                      Awesome and lovely sister missionaries.
                                   

   Sister K's sweet companions, Sister B and Sister E

                                                                 
                                                                      Temple Day

                                            Sister K was happy to meet some familiar faces. Here
                                             is one of her Friends, from BYU-Hawaii, Sister W.
                                            They took a Missionary Preparation class together. :)

                                             One of our favorites. At the Missionary Map.

                                                       
                                               For now, here is one last (but not least) picture
                                               of another of Sister K's friend from BYU-Hawaii
                                               Sister B, who they took a Book of Mormon class
                                                together. :)  I'm a bit prejudice as the mom but
                                                I think they are a couple of cuties! :)

[1] First Email. Life at the MTC!

Hello All!  After checking my email all day and hitting 'refresh' too many times to count... :) Our first letter from our Missionary daughter is here! Sounds like she is keeping her spirits up, (so good for a parent to hear.)  Hope you all enjoy it as much as we did!   

-Faithann K.

Subject - (#1) First Email! Life at the MTC!

Hello family and friends! 

I have almost been in the MTC for a whole week now! I'm sorry to those I told that my P-Day (Prepare Day) was on Monday, it is actually today. It has been so crazy here and I have learned so much. In the welcome orientation one of the speakers said "The MTC is the happiest place on Earth". I mean, it's not exactly Disney, but it is a very happy and special place and I would say in many ways a lot better:)

ARRIVING AT THE MTC

I arrived on Wednesday June 11th, at 1:30pm, said goodbye to everyone, and off I went! The girl (or Sister I should say) that helped me with my bags was so nice. She is going to be serving in Hungary! She led me to all the different rooms to pick up my materials. When they gave me my badge, I just stared at it for a second. I have wanted this my whole life. It was an amazing feeling. We then went to my room, or residents hall as they call it. There are three bunk beds, but only three sisters staying in the room. Yes it's true, I'M IN A TRIO! I was so excited when I went to class and met them. Secretly I was hoping I would get to be in a trio companionship and it happened!  

MY COMPANIONS

My two companions are named Sister Beatty and Sister Evans. They are both from Utah. We have a lot in common too which is especially great :)

Sister Beatty

She is from Hurricane, Utah and she went to Utah State University. She is majoring in Computer Science. She also ran in a marathon this year, which is amazing! It's good too, because she is the one who keeps us in shape. Here's an example of one of our gym night experiences. We jogged a mile and then we did 100 sit ups, 20 (girl) push-ups, and then 20 burpees. So you might be proud of me, because the most physical activity I do at home is get up to walk to the fridge. I'm slightly kidding, but I was seriously kind of proud of myself :)

Sister Evans

It's her birthday today!! What a perfect day for it. We got to go to the Provo temple this morning and now we get to write to our families. Hurray for P-day! Sister Evans is so sweet and kind. She always keeps us positive with her 'jokes of the day'. She is from Payson, Utah and she went to Snow College for Engineering. 

As I was saying, we have many similarities. We all like to read a lot of books and color. (We've been making our scriptures colorful, in a reverent way of course :) We like to 'people watch' during meals. We like things organized so our room is very clean. We work really well when we teach too. Sister Beatty is the personable one and is good at asking questions and learning about the investigators, I'm the happy one who smiles a lot and tries to keep thing positive, and Sister Evans is the 'scriptorian'. It's great. We are such a good team. I like to think of us as the Three Caballeros :)

CLASSES

My teachers are so nice! And they are really young too which was surprising. Most of them have just gotten home from their missions within the past two years!

Sister White 

She served in Canada and she is a pastry chef! Sadly, she's not allowed to bring us anything though. She is leaving this week to go to a friend's wedding where she is going to be a bridesmaid and is also making the wedding cake. She is a good teacher and you can tell how much she loves the gospel.

Sister Wells

She served in LA, which is right next to my mission! She said she loved it. She has only been home three months and has already gone back to visit. She is so sweet. She's one of the nicest people I've met here. She has such a beautiful strong testimony.

THE DISTRICT

Each classroom is a District. There is us, the three Sisters going to Ventura, California, and then four Elders going to Jacksonville Florida. We've become closer as the week went on. The Elders are funny, but sometimes have a hard time focusing. The teachers keep them in line though :) All the Elders try to match their ties everyday and it's pretty cute and cool. They try to get us on it too. Today is black and white day if you were wondering :) 

OUR ZONE

Our Zone is two other classrooms. In one there are four other sisters going to Ventura too! They all seem nice. Our Zone has church all together on Sundays. There are two speakers (we had two very good speakers and you could just feel the spirit as they spoke) and then they randomly choose missionaries to talk. Thankfully I wasn't picked last week,  but we'll see what happens next Sunday... ;) 

THE FOOD

The food is actually really good here. One selection is usually a meat with gravy and different sides. There's always gravy. Everyday. Which is fine, but all I could think of was the line from Emperor's New Groove, "Is there anything on this menu that is not swimming in gravy?!".  :D  I don't have to make waffles for some of the meal like I used to at college when I didn't like the main course :) I heard not to drink the orange juice so I have stayed away from that. Not sure if that is just a rumor?  Instead I drink POG. I was so excited when I found it! It is basically all I drank at BYUH. It's passion orange guava juice. SO. GOOD. 

FRIENDLY FACES

I've seen three friends here so far! It is so exciting to see familiar faces. I saw Sister Gunn at the beginning orientation when we stood up based on where we were from. We proudly represented Pennsylvania :) I also saw two friends from college. Sister Brockbank was in my Book of Mormon class. She leaves tomorrow! Sister Wilson was in my Mission Preparations class. It's so cool to see her again at the MTC.

Story time! 

When I was flying out of Pittsburgh it was cloudy and rainy. I was mostly 'people watching' since I had been set apart as a Missionary and I couldn't use electronics. Everyone was in a bad mood because our flight was delayed by hours. When we finally took off everything went smoothly and we soared above the clouds. Up there the sun was shining bright and everything looked so beautiful. It made me think of one of the Mormon Message posters. It has a bunch on blue balloons at the bottom and one yellow one at the top and the caption reads "rise above the blues". I hope you all can do the same thing. I think it helps to try and stay positive.  One of my favorite Scripture Mastery's Nephi 2:25.  Everything will be ok. All we need to do is trust in the Lord  :) My flight above the clouds also made me think of a quote by C.S. Lewis "I believe in God like I believe in the sun, not because I can see it, but because of it all things are seen."

I have so much more to tell you, but my time is running out. If any of you want to write me something while I am in the MTC you can use DearElder. com. You can write me a message and they will print it out and deliver it to me the next day. I leave next Monday (June 23rd) so feel free to write! I love getting mail :)

I love you all and pray for you everyday!

With love,

Sister Skinner-Karatassos

PS   Sorry there's no pictures. I don't have an adapter to get them off my SD card. I'll try to find a way next week! Thank you for the mail mom! It made me so happy. I will share the yummy food from the care box with my district :) And I'm saving the letters to read each day. I love you a lot!

Pictures - (6/9/14) Sister K (aka Karissa) last Sunday in Pennsylvania for awhile :)

                              Karissa's dear friends, the Henries stopped by to say goodbye :)
                              Can you tell by their 'hands on hip' pose that they are dancers? ;)

                                                 
                            Karissa's Aunt Jane (my sister) and her cousin's came from Ohio to                                                                            attend her farewell.

                                          Karissa going to the Ventura, Califorina Mission!

Pictures - Karrisa's day at the Washington DC Temple

                                                           
                                                       Karissa's Temple Day

                                                   Beautiful day, beautiful temple,
                                                            beautiful daughter!