Happy Columbus Day Everyone!
This email is going out a lot later today
because the library was closed so we had to drive half an hour to another
church building in Santa Maria, which was a fun adventure:) Let's just
say we are using more of our map skills:) And the good news is,
since I am writing this, you know we made it! Haha. And thankfully, the best
part coming here, is there are no count down clocks on these computers, so I am
a little less stressed as I write this:) We still only get an hour, so
hopefully I will be able to makes sense with my thoughts, because I have a lot
of great news to write about. We do also have to write our Mission
President, and I just finished up with that. Anyway, this has been such a great blessing week! We have seen so
many miracles in our area!
-Adjusting to New Places with Friendly Faces
I am doing well here in my new area with our
little group of four sisters. We are all trying to stay positive. My companion,
Sister Reneer is such a talented missionary. She works hard and is wonderful at
talking to everyone. That is such a blessing to have a companion like that. The
other sisters in my apartment are great too. Sister Haipo is Hawaiian! I am so
happy to talk to her about Hawaii and we bonded over/about BYUH! Haha! She
lives in Arizona right now, but she goes and visits all the time. She has a
beautiful spirit that you can just feel about her and she is very obedient.
(That is also a blessing to have when you are each wanting and trying to do
what is right.) And Sister Hardman was actually the trainer
to my MTC Companion, sweet Sister Evans. And you know what is neat? I met
one of Sister Hardman's best friends at BYUH, Marissa, (she's a Sister
Brockbank now:) who was in my Book of Mormon class, and I also saw her at the
MTC. Sister Harman is writing her right now actually! :)
Isn't it a small world in the Mormon community?:D
On a health side of my new area, I have been
having difficult headaches recently, so I am planning on getting a blessing
from our District Leader after I write this today. Thank you for all your thoughtful
prayers, I know they are helping me and if you could maybe add a word or two
that 'Sister K's head can stay acting as it should', that would be great
too:)
-President Interviews
We had President interviews this week!
President Felix and his wife are amazing. I'm grateful to get to meet such
loving people who love the Gospel, who want to serve their Heavenly Father and
love their big group of missionaries. President Felix is such a kind man and
you can tell he cares a lot about us when he speaks. It's so great to have
someone on your side like that. When you have an interview with him, you
can feel an extra amount of the spirit and that he looks at you with such care
and understanding, you just want to be a better person/missionary:) His
smiles and positiveness have already helped me so much on my mission. I am so
thankful for him!
-Movie Time
Also at interviews we were blessed to be able
to go see the movie Meet the Mormons! It was AMAZING! My sister companions and I
felt so positive after watching it. I want to share it with everyone and have
everyone see it. If it is playing at a theater near you, PLEASE go and see
it. I won't give any spoilers, but its about some really neat people who
are trying to do their best like we all are. All the money from it is going to
the Red Cross and I can guarantee you will be lifted up, feel more positive and
might even Love it like I did :)
-Especially Wonderful Lessons
Our lessons on Wednesday were especially
wonderful. We invited a member to join our lesson with Mr./Brother (J), who I
mentioned came to watch General Conference the weekend before. We taught the
Plan of Salvation and (J) really enjoyed it. He said he believed it because he
could feel the Spirit and the truth that we were saying. And at the end he
wanted to be baptized! We set him with the date of November 22. Our joy
for him just felt like it would overflow.
Then right after that, on the same day, we headed
over to another lesson with two 17 year-old girls/young women, that we have
been teaching, (R) and (S). We had one of the young men come and he really
helped a lot by bearing his beautiful strong testimony. At the end of the
lesson we invited (R) and (S) to be baptized and they said yes! The beautiful
spirit there felt so strong. It was amazing! I could not stop smiling all
day. I am so grateful and blessed to be a missionary and help others to
progress and learn about this Gospel. Nothing has brought greater happiness to
me. :)
This week my testimony is focused on our kindhearted ward members. It was so wonderful to be able to have members at our appointments this week. Their testimonies are so strong and powerful. Their presence helped to bring the Spirit. You can see the light in each member that comes from living the gospel. Seeing that really motivates me to help others to come closer to their Heavenly Father so they can feel His love and have His light. I came across this in my studies
D&C 6:8 ' Verily,
verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be unto you; and
if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this
generation.' Isn't that great? That's about each of us. You each can do
much good for others and that is the thought I leave with you this week :)
I am sorry I am out of time! I love you all!
Love,
Sister Skinner - Karatassos
PS I love hearing from you all, please
keep me posted. I read your messages over and over throughout the
week and it helps to keep me trying my best.
Here is my new address:
Sister Karissa Skinner-Karatassos
1385 Atlantic City #119
Grover Beach, CA 93433
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