[23] Acrostic poem of Awesome, Scripture Power, and Live in Thanksgiving Daily:)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

This is going to be a great week! I am excited for the many blessings of Thanksgiving:)  And I'm also look forward to eating turkey, corn, rolls, and my personal favorite, mountains of mashed potatoes :) Oh and pie of course! My companion and I will be making Chocolate Cream Pies with graham cracker crusts (one of my families traditions!) So far we have two Thanksgiving dinners set up, so I hope my stomach is ready for it!

Zone Conference

We had another wonderful zone conference on Tuesday. It was great to see our dear President and Sister Felix and to be uplifted by their positive and spiritual words. They started off right at the beginning by telling us that we are awesome! Is there anything better than to start off feeling good and appreciated? :) We then used the word 'awesome' and did an acrostic poem about it and came up with words that describe missionaries:)

A   accountable, amazing, an answer
W  worthy wonderful
E   excited eager
S    spiritual, shining, set apart
O   obedient
M  meek, miracles
E   example

It was great to know that we are trying to become many of those things, and that striving to do our best we can be described as the words in Awesome!   It was also nice that they reminded us not to compare ourselves to others.  That comparing and jealousies of others for their talents, goods, personalities or even circumstances, takes away the ability to be the happy, loving and serving missionaries that we can be.  It was nice to hear that they thought we each had something to give on our mission and to be called amazing.  I will continue to try and live up to our Mission Presidents expectations.  

Scripture Power

This week continued to be full of ups and downs for us. We had a lesson with (J) on Wednesday which went well. We brought a member with us and she has been friends with (J) for about 10 years, so it helped him to be even more comfortable and to be able to speak openly. She was great and a loving help and was able to answer a lot of (J)'s questions. You can tell that she is also trying to live a Christ like life and loves others. We talked a lot of about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith together and afterwards he said he felt better again about many things. 

We then had another lesson with him on Saturday. He told us there is no question about IF he will be baptized but he said it's mostly about WHEN. We then asked him what is holding him back from being baptized and he said friends and family have started to talk discouragingly about our Church. And so he has been getting a lot of pressure from them to avoid us. 

We then had an amazingly cool experience with (J) as we read a chapter in the Book of Mormon. Whenever (J) prays with us at the end of the lesson he says "show me the way the right way" and as we read 2 Nephi 31 he got an answer this time.  In verses 17-18 of chapter 31, it says  "Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life" It was a perfect answer to his prayer. The path and direction he needs to follow is the example of our Savior. The feeling we all felt after reading together was a wonderful feeling I will always remember.  There is no other way to describe it, but to say it was so powerful.The Lord cares about us and answers our heartfelt prayers.

Live in Thanksgiving Daily!

This morning in my studies I was reading 2 Nephi 2. I never realized how much was packed into that one chapter! I learned a lot and I made sure to try and take good notes:)   One of my favorite verses ever is in that chapter reads "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." It is so amazing to think that the reason we are here is because our Heavenly Father wants us to experience the same joy He has.  That life is not just set up for us to suffer, but to feel joy, which means that we are meant to be lifted up and feel peace and happiness.  

In the same chapter it talks about how there is opposition in all things. Even though we have difficulties and trials there is always something to be grateful for. We can try and choose to be happy, even if sometimes that takes much more effort.  Sometimes it is more difficult than other times, though it always feels better when we succeed in seeing the positive view. That is another reason why I love this Thanksgiving season. We can all take time to appreciate what we have and thank God for our blessings. One thing I want to mention that I am most thankful for at this time is getting letters from my family and friends <3 And as it says in Alma 34:38 "live in Thanksgiving daily". We can be grateful everyday and experience joy by living the Gospel and trying to follow the example of our Savior.

 

Love you all!

Keep me posted!

Sister Karissa <3

Pictures - (11/24/14) Keep your Chin Up, Zone Conference Friends, and Greek Gyros:)

 

A picture of me at the Eye Doctor, nothing wrong with 

my eyes. Please pray if it's possible to have the 

headaches go away. Thank You!

 

One of my sweet friends in Young Women's at a church activity. 

I told her that if she went into business I would buy her

bowls. Isn't it great? 'Keep your Chin Up!'

Another friend and Sweet YW

with her designed mug!

One of my favorite parts of Zone Conferences,

being able to see sweet beautiful people like

Hermana Tauiliili! :)

Love these Sisters-

Sister Hegstrom and Sister Reneer

 

Beautiful and sweet Hermana Ah Mu 

always makes me smile :)

Another wonderful Hermana!

Beautiful Hermana Cuevas Da Silva

 

Hey Mom, I haven't sent a food picture

lately:) Haha! Here is Sister Reneer and I. We

are enjoying Greek Gyro's, tell Papa they

were yummy! :)

[22] Trust in the Lord's Time, and Windows of Heaven:)

Hello Family and Friends!

 

Sending love to you all! This letter will be quick and pretty short because I used a lot of time sending pictures. Hope you enjoy them! The picture of me with all the homemade caramels was the sweetest service I have done so far!   My companion and I helped a sister in our ward who is starting her own caramel business. Yum!  I also wanted to say I enjoy all the pictures you each send me. They keep me connected with everyone and mean so much!   I can't say enough about missionaries loving mail:)

 

 

Trust in the Lord With Ups and Downs and Ups again

This week was a bit tough for Sister Reneer and I. Well, may be a little more than a bit.  We had a lesson with (J) on Tuesday night at our wonderful ward mission leader's home and it went well. We watched the Restoration video which went very well and it was a really good visual for (J).   It helped answer some more of his questions about our modern day Prophets. The next day we had a lesson with him again at our church building with an awesome brother from our ward. 

 

We went over the law of tithing which was a difficult subject for (J). His hours have been cut at work and so that adds a strain to his finances. We explained the blessings that come from tithing and what the ten percent means, and we each bore our testimonies about how we have seen these blessings from paying tithing in our lives. (J) told us he needs time to think about it and wants to push back his baptismal date.  It will not be this Friday November 22nd.  

 

We are still continuing to help him and answer any of his great questions that he has for us. He came to church again yesterday (which was a great thing!) and was able to stay longer than just sacrament meeting, because his boss changed his schedule which was great! And an added bonus was it was the Primary Program and there was such a wonderful feeling of the Spirit when they sang their beautiful songs and bore their testimonies.  (J) seemed to really enjoy it which is always good. My missionary companion and I have been fasting and praying for him and we know that everything will work out for the best if we leave it to the Lord. The Lord has His time table for everything.

 

The Windows of Heaven

This week I have been studying the law of tithing a lot and searching deeper to be able to answer (J)'s questions.  This has helped my testimony of tithing grow even more.  While doing so I read Elder Bednar's talk "The Windows of Heaven."  I love how he explains that obeying the law of tithing can bless us in so many different ways. It may not be what we expect, but it is what we need.  As Elder Bednar says,  "The imagery of the 'windows' of heaven used by Malachi is most instructive. Windows allow natural light to enter into a building. In like manner, spiritual illumination and perspective are poured out through the windows of Heaven and into our lives as we honor tithing".  I think that is said so beautifully, 'spiritual illuminations and perspectives are poured out.' I know this is true. I have seen in my own life how paying tithing has blessed me, as well as my family being blessed for paying tithing. The 'windows of Heaven' are truly opened when we obey the Lord and help to build His kingdom here on earth.

 

Have a wonderful week everyone! Blessings are everywhere, keep an eye out for them :)

 

Lots of love, prayers and thoughts to you all,

Sister Skinner - Karatassos

Pictures - (11/17/14) Rain Dancing, the Sweetest Service, and Butterfly Grove:)

 

Brother (J) garden. Green plants 

and flowers bloom year round.

 

Roasting Pumpkin seeds on Halloween!

A Halloween tradition!

After dancing in the awesome rain!

 

"raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...

These are a few of my favorite things..."

Or more like raindrops on palm trees and

name tags for missions... :)

 

Another picture of our care packages! Thanks 

again Mom & Papa!  Just in time

for Sister Hardman's Birthday!

 

Lots of favorite things! Rocks, the Beast & Harry Potter:)

 

Our District was able to go to the Butterfly Grove

on PDay, plus to celebrate Sister Hardman's B-day.

 

A mission - turning from a simple 

caterpillar, to a winged butterfly:)

 

Seeing them up close

 

My District is impressed, they make me smile! ;) 

Beautiful butterflies everywhere.

 

Hermana C, (And Sister H in the background)

ready to capture the moment.

 

Having fun with our correspondence. 

 

"Have an Ice Cream Kind of Day!"

 

We had ice cream after the Butterfly Grove to

help celebrate Sister Hardman's Birthday!

Birthday's are awesome!

 

Hermana Tauiliili from Hawaii :) (and her 

companion Hermana Ah Mu photo bombing),

They are wonderful and fun.

 

Here is a picture of the Relief Society Activity 

that had a wonderful turn out! 

Lots of warm and friendly people there.

 

Last day for our fabulous four to be together 

 

Best and (sweetest) Service ever! We

helped a sister in our ward who is

starting her own caramel business!

 

Just as yummy and delicious as they look! <3

 

And last but not least another beautiful sunset

here in beautiful Pismo Beach. Our Heavenly

Father sure has given us a beautiful world to live in.

[21] Hope after Loss, Testimonies, and We Are Family!:)

Selamat Pagi! Family and Friends!

And for those of you who don't speak Indonesian, good morning! Speaking of which, you'll never believe it, but I was able to practice a few more Indonesian words this week. As I've mentioned before, we recently got a new Bishop and when we were having dinner at their beautiful house (it had such a wonderful home feeling) he told us he lived in Indonesia for a couple years. I told him I spoke a little (very little) :) and said our Church's name in Indonesian. He said he thought that was good :) and now we are good friends! So I'm counting that as another one of my many blessings of going to BYUH, and that going there helped prepare me for my mission :) Like my Grandpa Jordan always says 'there are no coincidences'.

The Area

We were able to have two more spiritual lessons with (J) this week. They both went really well. We taught him about the Priesthood and bore our testimonies about following our Latter-day Prophet, who we love so much :) (J) has been reading the Book of Mormon daily and you can see that he is really starting to gain a better understanding and appreciation of it.  We plan to watch the Restoration video with him and try to have two more lessons this week. 

He is excited for his baptism at the end of this month and has even volunteered to give our closing prayers at times, which warms our hearts. He has also mentioned that he will be happy and thankful to be able to do the work in the temple for his parents someday. He has had to deal with a lot of loss in his life, and has lost both of his parents.  As he has begun to believe more with time, he is truly happier and brighter.  And hearing him talk about eternal families and wanting to see family members again is very touching. 

Our ward also had a really nice Relief Society Social this week that had a great turn out. We were able to have a less-active sister come with us and she had a wonderful time. And to make the week even better she came to church yesterday! YAYAY :) Her name is (S) and she has such a wonderful spirit, with such a kind personality.  We will go by her house this week to do service and have a lesson. We are looking forward to it, it's going to be great!

Bearing Testimonies

So far on my mission, when the missionaries move to a new ward/area the bishopric ask you to say a few things in church, during the sacrament meeting part, and to bear your testimony.   I enjoy hearing the other missionaries bear their testimonies. It has also gotten a little easier for me and not so scary:) I am grateful to get the opportunity to let my new ward know how much I love my Savior, this church, and my family. And it also helps to look down and see smiling faces looking back at you:)

We Are Family! 

Speaking of church meetings, my testimony today is on ward families. I have been thinking a lot lately about how amazing it is that we have a world wide church. It is so neat knowing I have friends who are serving missions and family and friends who are going to church all over the world.  And it's great that I can be out here in California and feel like I've known these wonderful members here forever. I can go to any type of church building and feel at home because it is the same feeling everywhere. We have sacrament meeting, Sunday school, Relief Society, and Priesthood. Even though I have only been in Pismo Beach a few weeks, I feel so comfortable here. 

The ward has welcomed us missionaries into their ward family and into their homes. I love that we can feel a connection to each other by knowing we are all brothers and sisters of our Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father loves us very much and wants us to feel loved, and having wards and ward families helps us feel that love. I picture heaven one big family reunion! It will have all the different 'family members' meeting and smiling and caring about each other, all the people that we have met during our life here on earth. And this is amazingly possible because of what our Savior, Jesus Christ has done for us, he paid the price so that we may each return to live with Him, Heavenly Father, and our brothers and sisters some day.

Sorry I am out of time on the library computer like always!:)

Have a wonderful week!
You are in my prayers,
Sister Skinner - Karatassos

Pictures - (11/10/14) Sister H's Bday Dinner, Celebrations and Care Packages:)

 

Sister Hardman picked Tai food 

for her Birthday dinner!

 

Happy Birthday Sister Hardman! 

I miss both Sister Hardman and Sister 

Hiopo. They are great Sister Missionaries!

 

Having fun with Sister Hardman's Birthday 

balloons, hats and sticker stars!

 

Thank you mom! The boxes came for my companions 

just it time! Right before Sister Hiopo and Sister Hardman 

had to leave with transfers, it was perfect!

They loved the Lilo and Stich, Harry Potter, 

& Anne of Green items! :) 

[20] Trunk or Treat Success, Transfers, & Thankful for Trials:)

Happy (a little late) Halloween family and friends!:)

I hope you all had a fun autumn holiday! Even though it was a normal work day for us, we had a great Halloween! And you know what made it so wonderful? IT RAINED! Let me tell you, it was a true blessing. Because we are in a bad drought in this area and they haven't had rain here in a long time. I was also missing the rain a lot so when it started we ran outside to dance in it :) 

J continues to learn and grow and be happier

J is still doing really well. We visited him a few times this week. One of those times he gave us our own bottles of Smartwater and mints because Sister Reneer is always drinking water and I am always offering him mints! Haha it was so funny. J is kind and thoughtful. He is really progressing with his Faith and testimony. He notices the change in himself and he can tell he is much happier than he was before and said learning these things from our Church, has helped him with some sad feelings, even the sorrow from losing his much loved dog that passed away recently. He had his dog for a long time and was family to him. It has meant a lot to him to learn that the Lord knows about him personally and cares about him and his losses and things he deals with.

Trunk or Treat

J also came to our ward Trunk or Treat this week and had a lot of fun meeting more of our church members. We also had some other investigators come, (E) and her family were there too! They actually had dropped us but were interested in coming to the party that we talked about:) They had a great time and coming to the church softened their hearts I think.  They had some misgivings and fears about our Church.  But because of the Trunk or Treat I think they saw that we are family friendly and they really liked that!

It was such a fun night and we had a big turn out. That is always good because everyone is helping and sharing with everyone.  There was lots of yummy food for everyone and games for all the cute little kids. The kids were pretty excited and kind of wild or maybe a lot wild at times:)  There was also a fun Spook Alley that the Young Men of our ward did/made. It was so super cool! Lots of cool decorations and lights.  It looked like it was a haunted house, but it was in the church so don't worry it wasn't too scary :) Everyone had a great time and it was a perfect night for trunk-or-treating! We were so blessed to have everything go so well for everyone and their families, friends and neighbors.

Transfers!

It's that time again! And this Transfer I am staying with Sister Reneer in Pismo Beach! Yay! I really love the people here and Sister R and I are great friends. The sad part is that Sister Hardman and Sister Hiapo are both leaving :( They have taught me so much with their beautiful and sweet testimonies and I will miss sharing an apartment, talking, laughing and learning with them.  But they will be wonderful wherever they go! They are being replaced by two Elders so we will have one set of each in our ward now. It's a big change so we will see how it goes! 

Oh before I forget I will say here that my new ward is amazing. We also just got a new Bishop, last week actually! It was very exciting ;) The Bishop and Bishopric are missionary focused and that always helps us Sisters and Elders so much! Our ward members are always willing to go out with us as well. It helps so much!

Choose to be Grateful!

In my studies I was reading President Uchtdorf's talk from this past April General Conference, about gratitude. And this is one of my favorite quotes from his message, "We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?" I was thinking about how that applied to me this week with the wonderful much wanted rain on Halloween and the rain the next morning. And even though it was exciting that we did get to see a beautiful rainbow afterwards, we were grateful for the rain while it was here.

I know every one is struggling with so many different types of trials, so being told that we should appreciate those hard things that are happening to us, is difficult.  But I am learning that if we can try during the tough times it makes those times and all the rainbow times, even that much better.  Sometimes I wonder why I am having this problem, and sometimes I don't have an answer.   Besides, I may be going through a certain trial to appreciate the good times. Or maybe so I'll be able to understand others and what they feel when they are going through bad times. I am also happy that the Lord blesses us with things to be happy about each day, if we try to look for them or focus on those things.

Just like from our Article of Faith #13: "...We follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

I feel we can be uplifted if we rely on the Lord to help us through rain or sunshine:)  I hope to learn to be more grateful for what I have around me and I think it helps to be having Thanksgiving at the end of this month:) Hope everyone has a great week!

Thank you for your love and prayers,
Love,
Sister S-K

Pictures - (11/03/14) Carving Creations, Service and Orange Capris:)

 

Our District's pumpkin caving creations:D

We had a fun District PDay keeping our family

pumpkin carving traditions. <3

 Harry Potter fans! Sister Hiopo is amazing!

Love her! <3

 

The lovely and beautiful Hermana's!

They are so fun, kind and friendly and their 

pumpkins also turned out great! 

The owl one looks neat with all it's shadowing!

 

 

Hermana Cuevas Da Silva and I. We were getting 

in the festive mood. Wearing our orange capris!:)

This is a great invitation to all! <3

 

 One of my favorite pumpkin carvings:) 

Have you seen it yet?  Try to go see it, if you can!

 

 Me and my friend, companion & buddy - Sister R.

 

Our Awesome District Leader, Elder Fagan.

His smiling pumpkin turned out great.

 

The Invites we handed out to let people 

to let them know about our Party!:)

Our sweet friend Isabella as the Mad Hatter 

with her Cheshire Cat:) 

 

"Bow Ties are cool!" :) 

Met two awesome Dr Who's

They even had their own Sonic Screwdrivers:)

 

Aloha from the Trunk or Treat!:)

 

More Service & Smiles. This is an amazing dear

lady that we helped out with yard work. She is

terrific! <3