Living the Dream Life

Ciao!!!!!

 

I am living the dream life here in Italy! This week has been so fun and crazy. Here is a summary of my week:

 

Wednesday--I bought a coat!! Bought some belgium waffle cookies! Yes they are the best and no I didnt share with my companion. Woops.

 

Thursday--We had two lunch lessons. Both were rice meals. And we were late to the second lesson so we ran with a stomach full of rice! I seriously almost started crying but then I started praying and laughing and looking back it was the funniest thing ever. I prayed so hard that I wouldnt throw up, I have never been so full and God helps me finish that rice! YAY prayers are heard. Packed with the spirit and rice.

Also on this day I sent out our daily text thinking it wouldnt do much good. Well a less active now wants to meet with us because of that scripture we shared! YAY!

 

Friday--the cat lady-Catarina (yes Avarie, that is her real name), she kissed me and told me that she is my mom here in Italy, then her cat threw up all over her couch. Some of Heavenly Fathers children are so interesting but I love them all!

 

Saturday--It was super rainy and I grew close to my Savior in the rain as no one wanted to hear our message I realized the sadness he must feel when no one wants to rely on him and come unto him. We finally found a member who is an older grandma and she feed us millions of brownie cookies! Score!

 

Sunday--ate at a members and slightly understood the spanish they were speaking!

 

Monday--Coolest thing ever. I realized that if I am praying and worthy of the spirit it will carry into the heart of others. I was sharing my testimony of the importance of baptism and shared a scripture when a sweet member started crying. She said she felt the spirit so strong and then asked us why we were not crying. aww so cute.

 

Tuesday--We had FHE at the church and I saw smiling supporting faces as I tried my best to share my testimony of letting our light shine. After my Italian ward family came up and complimented me.

Today--went to a small town and saw a beautiful waterfall and ate yummy pasta!

 

The thing I learned most this week was that I am just an instrument in the Lords hands. The spirit will work through me and others will realize why I am here.

 

I love this gospel and I love my Savior. I invite you friends to read in Matthew and learn more about our Savior and apply his teachings in your life. I know Christ is the only way to return to our Heavenly Father.

 

Love you all! Have a great week!

 

Sorella Skinner

 

Momma Mia!

Momma Mia this week was so great! Dont have a ton of time to write lots this week but here are a few cool things.

 

1. Sorella Skinner loves food, Italian food. She had gelato every day this week. Woops but not woops. Also who knew that you have to eat a whole box of pizza by yourself? And you arent even judged for it here....aka heaven.

 

2. Pavia is a dream place and I got to visit it. It is so pretty.

 

3. There is power in simple things and God is aware of our abilities. We each play a role in his beautiful plan of happiness. If we follow the example of Jesus Christ and have faith in him and repent we can find our purpose. At times it can be frustrating to share my testimony in Italian because I cant say everything that I want to say. But I know as I try and share simply what I know, God will carry my message into the hearts of his children.

 

4. Jesus Christ can comfort us. We have all felt very alone before and the knowledge that He understands us and knows us by name can give us joy. We can know that through him we can return to live in complete peace after this life.

 

5. Its rainy here in Milan and sometimes I feel like Mary Poppins and feel like I might fly away.

6. Kebap...nasty meat looking burrito, actually is pretty good. Momma Mia, the food here.

 

7. Love you all! Wish I had more time to chat.

 

Love, Sorella Skinner

 

Pictures: burritos, coolest street in pavia, and with a new friend who draws so beautiful giuzeppe!

Ciao Amici!!! Strength, the Duomo and Gelato in Italy!

Ciao amici!!!!

 

 

I made it to Italy!!!!! I live in Milano! Thats right, they put little Katelyn Skinner in the biggest city. Sometimes I question my Heavenly Father but I am sure He knows best. So is Italy as beautiful as you would think it is? Yes and more! The people are so awesome and just beautiful culture here! Gelato...yes I live right by a gelato and pizza place and yes i loveeeeeee it! Its the best life. My companion is Sorella Smart from Draper Utah. She is smart and super cute. Also... President Dibb and Sorella Dibb are the cutest couple ever. Awww love them.

 

The first thing we did in Italy was go to the Duomo. It was actually so cool, I walked out from the metro and started crying...so beautiful. I talked to two girls about God and how he answers our prayers...luckily they spoke some english so I spokes Italian and english to them.

 

This week has been crazy. I love being a missionary. Cool experiences throughout the week but I want to share two with you.

 

1- Sunday I got to share my testimony. In Italian!!!!!! The ward is so cute, i got up and said this is my first sunday in italy! they all gasped! haha i shortly shared how i know Jesus Christ lives. Through him  we can return to live with God again. It was amazing the peace as I said that and the spirit I felt. In a different language!

 

2- Okay so on Monday we had a scambia which is when you switch companions. I was with a sister who is a transfer ahead of me. so she has been out 2 months. And we stayed in my area. I know nothing hahaha...luckily she was so supportive and so fun and i wasnt as worried. Her name is Sorella D Ambrosio. She is a cutie. We went back to the apartment and did our personal and companion studies. She found the perfect scripture. Doctrine and Covenants 24:12. It says that strength would be given to us that no man knows if we shared the gospel. Awww we were so nervous that scripture pumped us up! So much joy. So we didnt have any appointments so we went out to go finding. We literally dont know the language at all and we walked out the door and down the street and a man stopped us and asked if we were Jehovahs witness. We said no and then talked to him about the gospel. DAmbrosio was amazing but I had a few bold sentences as well. We got his number and we said a prayer with him on the street. And I said it! Wow we knew then what that scripture really meant. God gave us strength! We continued to do finding and had 6 lessons on the street.

 

Another cool one was that we prayed with a homeless lady that didnt know italian or english. She was albanian. But we pointed up and asked if we could pray with her. She said yes and then we asked her if she was always at that corner. She said yes. Yesterday Sorella Smart and I went to find her but it was raining. I got her a book of mormon in albanian and hope to find her another day when it isnt raining and hope and pray she is there.

 

I have studied lots about christlike attributes while being out here. I was scared to teach the homeless lady but then I remembered as a missionary I am representing Christ and He would pray on the street with them.

 

I am so blessed to know these truths. They bring me peace. I hope I can help others have peace even this early in my mission by the strong one liners I have to say.

 

I am grateful for my Savior and His example. Because of him I know all is possible, because of him i want to keep trying to speak Italian and share this message of hope.

 

Love you all! Hope you have a great week!!!

 

Ciao!

 

Sorella Skinner

 

Pictures: Duomo and Gelato on the nose...i know...you cant help it here.