Jesus take my handlebars

Ciao Tutti!!!

1. I got in my first bike wipeout on the mission the other day. Tore my tights....skinned my knee pretty bad. Started crying but laughing because it was pretty hilarious and I hope someone got a laugh out of it besides me and my companion. It did have a pretty bad sting though. We went back to the apartment to take care of it and I was just praying in my heart. I wish my mom was here to kiss it better. I knew I needed to "man it up" and go out to serve. I said a little prayer and for the rest of the time out I felt not sting. This may sound like the cheesiest of cheeses but I learned lots for that little wipeout. I know Jesus can help me...I know he feels my pains. 

2. Women's conference with sister burton and oscarson. Oh my gosh so great!! We got to meet each of them. I felt loved as the general relief society president looked me in the eyes and thanked me for my service. The spirit was so strong! 

3. Marta. She is a student we met a few weeks ago. We finally got to meet her again. She has so many questions and overall just is searching for happiness. I know as she can find this happiness with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the fullness of it contained in the Book of Mormon. She committed to read it and pray about it and she prayed with us there. It was so great.

Well in Doctrine and covenants 101:36 it says.."Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full." 

 Jesus Christ is the way. He is the joy. I think everyone is looking to be accepted. I know that we can stand taller as we accept our savior. As we turn to the true peace in this world knowing who loves us perfectly and understands us perfectly and will accept us perfectly if we have faith in him. 

With my wipeout and all my experiences this week I have really felt my saviors love. And as Carrie underwood says Jesus take the wheel I feel like I can say Jesus has sure taken my handlebars this week and I know he can take each of our handlebars in the right direction so that we can have this great joy!!! 

4. Today I went to Siena for pday!!! It's been my dream to come to Siena ever since I got my call to Italy. It is incredible and beautiful and I felt like I was in new moon. Haha there is something about just getting on a train and going to Siena and eating a panino (sandwich)... Sorry bragging rights. I love my mission. 

Have a good week everyone. Lots of love.

Sorella skinner 

 

 

Find Someone

Ciao tutti!!!

2 nephi 32:4

Sometimes we don't realize the greatness we have before us. In nephi we are told to feast upon the words of Christ. But we cannot know of their truth if we do not ask and that's sad because we have the answers from our loving Heavenly Father right in front of our eyes but we can't see that light. Maybe we are too focused on the sadness the bitter things in life.

This week was hard for me and my companion. We got many flat tires, cancelled appointments, 50 minute walks home. Oh and best of all some witty teens calling us and saying they wanted to learn about the law of chastity. Lies. Ugh I was so mad. We had three really hard days all in a row.  But yet we still tried to find miracles. My miracle this past week was Sorella Lauren smith. 

I am grateful for her love during this hard week. We decided this was maybe the roughest week we have ever had before....but we move on with a smile. We decide to kick satan in the stomach by opening our mouths and continuing to try to be his instruments. 

One cool experience from this week. Well ok it started off quite dumb...we went to the  questura which is the place to do documents for being legally in Italy. (Yeah excuse my English....that is a struggle too haha don't remember the name in English of this place...but you get me) So we go in and we explain my companions situation which is complicated. Well we had to leave and call the mission office to figure it out. A cute senior sister in the office challenged us to give a pass along card to the man we were figuring this out with at the questura. I thought....well this guy is really upset with us so probably not. Which he was...he said he couldn't find her in the system and was very upset. Well at the end I decided to act on the challenge....I told him why we were in Italy and how we share a message of hope and that we believe Jesus Christ can help us! Well then all of the sudden he smiled. He completely changed. And he said he would watch the video we told him about online. 

Wow...it was incredibly cool to act on that challenge. I didn't know what would happen...or if he even watched the video...but I know that yeah we all have hard days...and maybe I caught him on a bad day. I know as daughters and sons and brothers and sisters of God we can help each other. Find someone to help his week. 

Vi voglio bene my family and friends!! 

Love Sorella skinner 

 

 

Eternal Goal

Tutti !!

This week has been great!!! I have surely seen the blessings come from following the spirit and being obedient. We went to the park Sunday and we found two girls super interested in our message ...best friends both named Marta. One of them the next day was leaving for London. So elder skinner will have to look out for an Italian Marta. But the other Marta we are going to teach more. I am so excited. She has so many questions about life and knowing God and who Marta is!!

I know that we have a purpose and sometimes I want to just stop people on the street and ask them who they think they are. Maybe a new fishing technique haha kidding. 

I know our choices matter and I know that as we act and follow our savior we can achieve eternal life!!! And I don't know about you but I want it!! 

Some quotes and scriptures...

John 17:3

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

“Most of us are born with [or develop] thorns in the flesh, some more visible, some more serious than others. We all seem to have susceptibilities to one disorder or another, but whatever our susceptibilities, we have the will and the power to control our thoughts and our actions. This must be so. God has said that he holds us accountable for what we do and what we think, so our thoughts and actions must be controllable by our agency. Once we have reached the age or condition of accountability, the claim ‘I was born that way’ does not excuse actions or thoughts that fail to conform to the commandments of God. We need to learn how to live so that a weakness that is mortal will not prevent us from achieving the goal that is eternal.

Alma 12

14 For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence.

Have a great week!!! 

Oh also funny things. I love Italian ladies. I had the best meal this week made by an 82 year old Italian lady. I don't even know what it was I just know that it was Italian and I ate it all up. Some beans and stew type thing. This lady was hilarious...she said Idaho so funny. And she came out and said..."you know in church today we were talking about being prepared...well guess what I did?" She pulls out a picture of a headstone...yes her grave. And on it...it's a picture of her with a Book of Mormon and Jesus. Wow best missionary ever. Haha she said when people se her grave she wants them to find the missionaries. Aw I love this lady. I hope you all can be like Sorella Lucia and maybe not create your gravestone but find others who need the gospel and be ready to share.

Love Sorella skinner 

 

 

So how do you feel about that? Yes, Freaky Friday quote

Ciao Tutti.....

 

Pisa!!! I am in Pisa now with Sorella Smith! She is awesome from Vegas! Pisa is adorable and small compared to other cities I have been in but still bigger than the burg. 

There are adorable Italian ladies in this ward and we have some great potentials here. I know as I open my mouth and be the message of the gospel than others will except it if they have open hearts. I know they have a Savior who understands them perfectly. We taught lots about that this week. It sure strengthened my testimony.

Conference!!! Allora...I loved it. I loved President Uchtdorfs talk about simpleness of discipleship. The gospel is simple. It's beautiful and simple. And I love that because man I am simple! 

Using our mind without our heart will not bring spiritual answers- Elder Andersen 

Focus on what you can do and not what you can't do...Elder Stevenson

To serve others we must see them through a parents eyes...Elder renlund 

 

Ponderize the scriptures!!! Elder Durrant 

1 nephi 17:50 we chose this one as a companionship this week. I also invite you all....to pondering a scripture every week and I know that you will feel more peace as you do so! 

Also a less active while I introduced myself this was her reply....

"Skinner is a sport. " 

Love ha. Peace and blessings or Pisa and blessings.

Sorella skinner 

 

 Sister Skinner and Sister Smith at the leaning tower of Pisa.

 If you love the people....you love their cats :)

 Sister Smith from Vegas. They are on bikes. Yikes!