Peace out America!

Ciao!!!!

On Tuesday I will be leaving the states and heading to Italy! YAY!

Not much to say this week other than a few neat experiences I had.

So yesterday our teacher Sorella Teichert gave mini talks/testimonies in Italian and we each had to translate everything she said into English. I was so nervous and I was the last one so I had to wait and see everyone do a good job and was nervous I was going to butcher it but then I said a little prayer in my heart and I got up there and I knew everything she said. It was AMAZING! I know that Heavenly Father heard my prayer even though it wasnt majorly important, he heard it and helped me. He hears every sincere prayer we say because we are that important to Him. My Italian is very broken but I am trying my best and God is aware of that and so He will continue to help me as I try.

Also on Thursday we did our TRC. We skyped a real Italian and had a lesson with him! He knew English and wanted to speak English with us but we didnt let him. It was really cool. Kind of hard to hear him but amazing.

I know that all is possible through our Savior Jesus Christ. If we build our foundation on Him we can accomplish all we need in this life and the next life. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. I used to be afraid of teaching about repentance. But repentance is a beautiful blessing. It is the happiest part of the gospel that through Jesus Christ we can be forgiven of dumb things we do and strive to be like Christ and return home to our Heavenly Father. This is true joy. 

Anyway I want to just thank you all for your love and support. I have amazing friends and family. I love you all! Keep me in your prayers this week as I fly across the world to share my testimony of this beautiful gospel and the hope it brings in my life!!!

I love this gospel!!! Io so che questa chiesa e vera! (I know this church is true!) 

Io so che Dio ci ama! (I know God loves us) 

Love you all! Have a happy week.

Sorella Katelyn Skinner

 

 

Ciao popolo bello! Week 4

 Ciao!!!

My love of the gospel has increased this week! I have been at the MTC now for about a month! I only have 2 more weeks left until I get to go to ITALY!

Highlights of the week:

- Our teacher told us we could no longer use notes in our lessons. My thoughts: "What no notes???What the...how is that possible!?" Then on Sunday we had a devotional and the speaker said that it doesnt matter how our language is coming along, we could talk like a hill billy in the language but God will pick up the rest for us if we are doing our best! So on Monday and Tuesday we didnt have notes and it actually was amazing! I know that because I have faith in Jesus Christ and that I am a missionary teaching the words of God that He will help me!!! The spirit is real people, it brought things to my remembrance as I was sharing about the spirit of God!

-Fun fact: I love being a missionary! I wake up and get to put my nametag on and sometimes think what the, I am a representative of Jesus Christ! How cool is that?! We all can be, even if we arent set apart as missionaries.

-Best scripture find this week: 3 Nephi 17 (i think), Its when Christ is praying with people in America after he is resurrected. Sister Besco and I read it together and just started balling in our classroom! How neat would it be to hear Jesus Christ pray for you? And the people couldnt even write down what he said because it was just that powerful! 

-As for fun...my district still makes me so happy every day! I love my companion! She has such sincere prayers, being her companion has helped me want to have more sincere prayers. Sister Besco and Anziano Jaques quote Napolean Dynamite with me, it makes me feel at home. Our favorite we use daily after we eat our froot loops is; "This tastes like the cow got into an onion patch." Anziano Jaques can almost do a Kip voice as good Tyson Schwartz!!  

Also they sing da-who-doris from the grinch!  

The question I invite you to ask yourself today and this week is when did you know for yourself that Jesus Christ atoned for your sins? 

I want you all to know that I love my Savior. Sometimes life is hard and we want to give up but with Faith in Christ we can make it through the rough patches. We are never alone, Christ is always there!!

Love you all so much! Have a fantastic week!

Love, Sorella Skinner

 

 

 

Week #3 Half way through the MTC!

Ciao!!!!

I cant believe its week 3! I am half way through my time at the MTC! I enjoy it so much! Every morning I wake up and I just feel so blessed! Its hard to wake up at 6:30 every day but then I remember my purpose! I am a representative of Jesus Christ! How cool is that? What I learned this week is how blessed I am to know that God has a plan for us! A beautiful plan of happiness and joy! I am so glad this life is full of 2nd chances! I really loved Isaiah 53:4-7

Conference was of course AMAZING! I loved Elder Scott's talk about the little things that help us grow closer to God. And being aware of others needs, we seriously never know when we can be an answer to someones prayer.

Sunday Devo we had Vai Sikahema come! He was a great speaker! He talked about sharing his testimony on a plane ride with a lady and it having no affect on her but it had an affect on a 10 year old boy who was sitting there and helping him explain that we dont blame eve or adam for the fall! 

I could hear the BYU game from the MTC, I heard a touchdown too! Wooh! 

My favorite dessert this week was definitley an ice cream sunday with m&ms and marshmallow topping! Wooh! I cant wait for real italian food though. Gelato here I come! 

Most spiritual experience/ progress in italian! Yesterday we taught Alessandro about prayer and scripture study and how through these we grow closer to God. During these lessons I try hard to look up from my notes (which is difficult at times). But it was my turn to talk and I said one sentence that wasnt planned! And guess what? It made sense and he understood me! The spirit was so strong! The language is coming slowly but it is coming! 

Embarrassing story: (aka your favorite part) I have a little cold because the MTC is a germ magnet. I started to have a cough attack during my lesson with Martina (new person we teach). I coughed so hard I started tearing up while my companion was talking. Then it was my turn to share my testimony and I was wiping away tears haha. And I dont know if she realized it was because i was coughing but it was super funny and slightly awkward! I may be a missionary but I still am awkward! No worries friends!

Love you all! You are in my prayers!

Love, Sorella Katelyn Skinner

Ciao! Week 2! I can go the distance!

Ciao!!!

 

This week has been so great! I feel like singing that Hercules song called I can go the distance! So when I was set apart as a full time missionary for this church I was promised that I would have joy that I couldnt explain or write down. And I already feel that joy! Each day is long and hard but its so rewarding! I know more than ever that I am where I need to be! 

Ok so this week we are teaching our teacher who is playing the role of Alessandro! He is atheist and he drinks and smokes. He is hard to teach because his knowledge is very basic. It is so sad to think some people dont believe in a God who is there for you constantly to help you out. We taught Alessandro about God and that he hears and answers our prayers. We invited him to read Alma 32. I love that chapter about faith. That is the first step to come unto Christ. We cannot feel of our Heavenly Father's support and love without faith. He invited Alessandro to pray as well. I know that Heavenly Father is aware of each situation that we have. Life is hard but we are never alone. This week I have grown to be closer to my Savior then ever before and to know my Heavenly Father is there, ALWAYS! He is ready to help us and guide us if we allow him to. We have to communicate with him though! 

I love this gospel, I know its true!

I would like to invite you all to read Alma 32 and pray about it as well! It has strengthened me, I hope it strengthens you. 

Quotes of the week from district 33C:

"I feel sick to my stomach with Satan!"

"One time I was on my bus for track and I had potato soup but I didnt have a spoon so I used my keys"

Oh these friends help me out as well. We are constantly laughing and feeling the spirit!

Love you all! Have a good week!

Sorella Skinner