The Cold, Broken Bikes, And Crazy Adventures

October 20, 2015

Hey family and friends!

It's been a tough yet awesome week. We are doing less tracting and we are visiting a lot of non-members. And yes there are plenty of non-members in the great state of Utah. I got a door slammed in my face this week!!! What an experience hahaha. We literally didn't even talk about missionary work we just wanted to get to know the guy but I guess he didn't want to get to know us. Its ok though. Everyone has their agency.

On Thursday we met with Heidi! She is a lady in her 50's and she lives in the trailer park with her inactive husband. Her trailer house is actually well kept and is free of drugs so that's a plus. She is very interested in the gospel she just wants to have a foundation of it so she knows whats up with the LDS religion. The one holdup she has is her concern with the Sister Wives show. Apparently on that show a woman is trying to become LDS but apparently she has to "give up her family" to become LDS. Which I find total bullcrap on the shows part. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THE REAL STORY ON THIS SHOW PLEASE EMAIL ME.

Also with Heidi she has LOTS of medical issues. Like a ton! She has trouble breathing and walking and during the lesson on Thursday she was really struggling and asked us to give her a blessing. Elder Sagmeister anointed and I sealed the blessing. The blessing was short and sweet and actually I thought I did a bad job. But one thing we have to remember is that I didn't say the words I wanted to say, Heavenly Father gave me those words. After the blessing Heidi thanked me for such a precious blessing I gave her and what is awesome is that everything I said was exactly what she needed to hear. We ran into her randomly yesterday and had an impromptu lesson at her house last night and she was a whole different person. It was like the Lord took all of her pain and health problems away and that just strengthened my testimony immensely. It reminded that I am worthy and adequate to be out here as a missionary.

On Sunday I gave two talks in the 8th and 10th wards. It was the same talk but worked just as great. I talked about missionary work. I purposely didn't explain to the congregation about who I am. I simply just jumped right into the talk because part of missionary work is getting to know people so I left it up to the congregation to get to know me on their own. A lot of people were surprised to find out that I have only been out for about a month. They thought I was out for at least a year or so! The spirit can work wonders for you that is for sure.

Well that is pretty much the highlights of this week! Email me! I like to hear from people! I probably can't get back to you because time is missionary work around here but I love to hear from my fellow family and friends. Stay true to the Faith. We need Faith. The gospel starts with Faith. If  your are having trouble with your faith that is ok. Faith without works is dead(Somewhere in JAMES) You have to work at it. Read the Book of Mormon. Everything will work out in the end. We just have to endure!

Love you guys!

Elder Skabelund

Week 1, The Real Deal

October 13, 2015

Hey family and friends waaazzzuuupppp?!?!?

So I arrived in the mission on Tuesday!!! I was supposed to leave the mtc at 5 am and then when we got to the travel office they told us that we weren't leaving til 6:30 am. STUPID.... hahah but it worked out. We took a train to Ogden and the mission assistants drove us to the Logan Temple which was super surreal. The spirit was strong because I know that that is where the Skabelund family was sealed and it was awesome! We then drove to the home and had some training (I also got the treats gramma sent me and yes gramma they were perfect send me more ;) ) We had dinner at the president's home and they had HAWAIIAN HAYSTACKS. I almost cried because it seriously felt like I was at home for 30 minutes hahah. PS my mom's is still better. We then had a small hike and devotional and I shared a great testimony. OH I also had an interview with the president and it turns out that him and his wife are both pilots! Pretty dope. I stayed with the ap's that night so I was well taken care of.


The next day we had a mission conference and I met my companion, Elder Sagmeister! He is straight out of Germany and has a cool accent. He is an awesome trainer and he tells me all the time that I am training him. We then drove to my area and I am serving in Pleasant View and Harrisville which is the ghetto of our mission right by North Ogden. It's cool though. We are staying in an old basement in the home of a former bishop and I think my companion broke his Ice Cream machine ;)


We go tracting everyday in these nasty and smelly trailer parks. It just smell like weed, poop, and alcohol. hahaha But I've picked up a lot of techniques and I am trying hard to see people as children of God everywhere I go. Tracting has been very successful. We have 20 return appointments and 2 baptisms on date.


The members are awesome. We have a waiting list for dinner appointments and we get fed every night. One night a couple took us to CAFE RIO. AHHHHH!!! IT was sooooo good!! hahaha There is also a place called Kurts and is pretty much a Pete's Fish and Chips but a drive in version. They give us half off everything cuz we are elders. So I get a drink, fry, and burger for 3.50! NOT BAD!


We are like celebrities here. We don't have bikes so we either walk or call members to pick us up. But when we do walk everybody honks their horns at us and they feel a need to talk to us sometimes hahaha. We do get bikes later tonight so that will be tight.


The stake is really hard to work with. That is the only downside of this area. They feel like they have to set up appointments with us. Which isn't necessarily bad but they set up appointments with ACTIVE MEMBERS..... We could be teaching non-members so I don't know what they are thinking. Our calling is to baptize and sometimes reactivate. Active Members don't fit in that category. Granted they may have issues(which I can't ever tell when I go over to teach them) but if they do have issues they should go to the ward missionaries or elders quorums or something. The stake doesn't think like that and they go through us first.


I respect the stake and I love them but Elder Sagmeister and I are doing our best to help them rethink their mission plan.


There is a lot of work to do here surprisingly. LOTS of NON MEMBERS and LOTS and LOTS of INACTIVE. Some wards have half of their members not showing up to church every week.


I love this area though. My companion told me that the missionaries here in this mission are of the best missionaries. They need to be that way because of how tough it is to convert here. I am called here for a reason and they strongly need my help. In all of the lessons I've taught I've felt the spirit guiding and directing me.


I love my family and friends. It's only been 3 weeks but it's felt like 3 years. The standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage. Mobs may combine. Armies may assemble. Calumny may defame. But the Truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.


Love you guys,

Elder Skabelunds

All of these pictures were either texted to me or shared through Facebook by the members in Kyle's area. It's so cool to get a random text from someone telling me how much they love our son! One lady even said her 4 younger girls were smitten with Kyle once he played "Let it Go" on their piano for them. So cute!

Logan!

October 9, 2015

We just got this letter from Kyle's mission president today. I can't even tell you how awesome it is to see a picture of him standing in front of the Logan Temple where his grandparents were sealed for time and all eternity. I'm sure at that moment in their lives they couldn't even have imagined the legacy that they would create, and that one day their most favorite grandson, (lol!) would be serving in that very place! Very, very cool!

Dear Brother and Sister Skabelund,

Sister Allred and I would like to inform you that Elder Skabelund arrived at the Utah Logan Mission on 6 Oct 2015.  We are excited and grateful to have him in our mission.  Please find attached pictures of his first day at the Logan Utah Temple and a beautiful view of the valley above the Mission Home.

Elder Skabelund arrived with a group of 24 other missionaries where they were instructed and given orientation prior to his initial assignment to Pleasant View.  His companion is Elder Sagmeister.  I have carefully and prayerfully selected an outstanding missionary to serve as his first companion to ensure that his initial assignment will be a successful experience.  It is our goal to help each missionary reach their full potential and “Go Forward With Zeal” in accomplishing the Lord’s work.  Please know that your weekly letters to uplift and encourage your missionary are invaluable, and Elder Skabelund will be able to write or email you each week on Tuesday, which is his P-day.

The past few days in the Utah Logan Mission have been amazing as we have welcomed our 25 new missionaries. They have gone through orientation, received instruction, had an opportunity to have their first teaching experience, have dinner at our home, and participate with the entire mission in a wonderful conference.  They have been physically and spiritually fed.

We are grateful to have your son in our mission and look forward to serving with him in this part of the Lord’s vineyard.

Please feel free to contact us with any concerns.

Sincerely,

 President Jerald K. Allred

Utah Logan Mission

Mission Office:

179 East 800 North

Logan, UT  84321

Week 2

October 5, 2015

HEY GUYS!!! How's everybody doing? This week has honestly been a blur. It will probably be like that my whole mission. This week Elder Angus and I had the opportunity to teach 3 investigators (probable members) in the mtc. THAT WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE. It really forces you to break stuff down and teach in a real simplistic manner. I've definitely had the spirit on my side. There's been times when an investigator asks a really tough question. In these times I just pause for 10 seconds and just start talking and it is unbelievable to see how what you say actually answers the investigator's concerns.

On Wednesday, Elder Angus and I got to welcome the new missionaries in the zone and we were responsible for conducting an orientation. It went pretty well and it was crazy to introduce missionaries to the mtc when we just got there one week earlier. It's another testament to how missionary work really does improve yourself in such a short time.

That night we had a zone prayer and I shared the story entitled "Marks of a Man" Its a good story and you guys can Google it. I shared it towards the very end when I gave my farewell talk. Anyways I was bawling like a baby halfway through because every time I read it I increase my testimony in the Savior's ministry and it relates missionary work to his ministry. I had almost everyone tearing up and the spirit was just soooo STRONG. 

Conference at the MTC was awesome!!! It was the first time that I've ever watched all sessions. The only complaint I had was that the bleacher seats we sit in bruise your butt for 2 weeks. Not even joking. hahah but really I definitely learned a lot in conference. They testified of really striving to keep the Sabbath Day holy and to really focus on keeping the commandments. President Monson was really straight forward and I really enjoyed his talk

On a side note, Claudio R M Costa visited the MTC and he gave an awesome quote. He said that "when you cut an apple in half you can count the number of seeds you have. You cannot count how many apples those seeds will produce" Pretty much he is saying that you can count your baptisms but you can't count the ripple effects it bring and it was cool to hear him put that in such a way that made sense.

Oh by the way I leave to Logan tomorrow! I get to wake up at 4:20 and take a train to Ogden. Then from there they will shuttle us to Logan. I am beyond stoked. I am a little nervous but I am mostly confident and just anxious to go. That might change but for now I have to feel that way to keep myself sane!

Also some advice. DO NOT COME TO THE MTC IF YOU'RE NOT READY. Whether you are 18 or 25 it does not matter. We are one in purpose and age is not a factor. We had a new missionary come to the MTC this last Wednesday and  he went home this Friday. He was literally here for 2 days and he was not ready whatsoever. With that said you will never know when you are ready. A good indicator is if you have read the Book of Mormon and can testify it and if you are independent. It is better if you have to wait a year rather than going home after two days. 

With that said I know that I am ready to serve. I have taught with the spirit and I have a strong testimony of the gospel. The church is true. Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. The people of Logan are waiting for me and I know I am called as one worthy and ready to serve my Lord.

Elder Skabelund

PS: Some group called Vocal Point? Yeah I think that's right.. or was it Choir Point? idk.... anyways they came to the mtc on Sunday to put on a devotional and they sang the whole time. It was alright... I was in the front row so that was kind of cool but I don't think they are that big of a deal. I don't think they're that famous...

BE JEALOUS >;)

The MTC

September 29, 2015

Hey guys!!! It's Elder Skabelund! How's it going?!?!?! The mtc experience has been awesome!! I have learned soo much in soo little time. My companion is Elder Angus and he is from Chicago IL. My district is awesome. It is made up of my companion and 3 other companionships. Elder Angus and I are both going to be serving in Logan so that is awesome. The other companionship in our district is also serving in Logan! One of the Elders going to Logan is Elder Toalapi and he is literally straight outta Compton and he is too legit! 

My district has been getting along real well!! We all love each other!! We have seen miracles here at the mtc. One elder in my district pretty much had a ball chucked in his eye (on accident) and he had to go to the ER. He had a huge chance of actually going blind. While in the ER his companion gave him a blessing and the next day all the blood that was in his eye went away. All the pain was gone and he was able to see. WHAT A MIRACLE. It reminds me how the savior is always there for us when we need him. It is up to us to knock on that door and he will be able to take our pain from us. 

Anyways me and Elder Angus were made ZONE LEADERS on the SECOND DAY. That pretty much means that we are over 4 districts. Pretty crazy. Our branch presidency is awesome. He has so much love for the missionaries here at the mtc. On my third day here we had to teach the restoration! It was rough but it went pretty well!! It is true that the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days here. The longest days I have ever had have been felt here at the mtc. We learn sooooo much. 

My companion is awesome and he is there for me when I need him. He has a water polo scholarship to BYU. Pretty legit. But I still one up him by being a pilot ;) 

The food here is alright. Not the best, nothing can compare to my mom's food but that's ok. 

Oh yeah so how are the ARIZONA SPORTS TEAMS DOING? I need to KNOW!!!! hahahah at least some sort of information from the outside world would be great! However, it doesn't really matter. The only thing that matters is being on the Lord's errand when he needs you.

On Sunday night we had a devotional and a church film. I watched a film about the Characters of Christ by Elder Bednar and just WOW. The things that he noticed about the savior was just mind blowing. He pretty much talked about how when most people turn inward(on themselves and selfish behavior), Christ was able to turn outward. He talked about how the savior helped others, even when the people he helped rejected him. He talked about a mother who had called Elder Bednar. The mother called him because her daughter was in a terrible accident along with two other girls and she was informing him that he needed to go to the hospital. While on the line, Elder Bednar noticed that the mother was on the line with a nurse at the same time. While on the line, Elder Bednar heard the nurse tell the mother that her daughter had been killed. Instead of turning in she turned out and informed Elder Bednar to go to the hospital to help the other mothers. Later on in the story the same mother(who is a relief society president) was on the way to her daughter's funeral. On the way she got a call from a sister in her ward who was chewing her out for not bringing food to her when she was sick. Instead of turning in she turned out, drove back home, and brought the sister a meal, and then attended the funeral for her only child. WOW. I wish I can be like that. A true representative of Jesus Christ.

The spirit here is strong. It has been my constant companion throughout the good and the bad times. (and yes I have had plenty of bad times). I was doing real well up until the last couple of days where my stress was turning into distress. I asked my companion for a blessing and you know what. He reminded me of my purpose. Why I am here. I am here to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. After that blessing I felt so much better. It reminded me to not so much focus on sharing what you know or think to the investigators, but to share what you feel. Share what you feel needs to be said. Share what you have felt all your life growing up in the church.

Anyways I am feeling a whole ton better. I miss you guys like crazy!!!! I forget my MTC address but I sent my mom a letter with it so she should be able to forward it to you guys. I think about home a lot and last night I was really homesick but it's ok. I'm over it ;). Anyways stay true to the faith. The Church is true. God is our loving Heavenly Father. We are his children. We are sent to this Earth to learn and grow. Heavenly Father knew that we could not always make the right choices. For that reason, he sent his only begotten son. A savior, our savior, Jesus Christ. To pay the debt of all our pains, afflictions, and sins. Because of Jesus Christ and our decisions, we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. IT IS THAT SIMPLE. The world makes it not so simple but we have to remember how beautifully simple the Lord's plan is for us. Your Heavenly Father does not lose sight of you. So don't lose your sight on the truth. Stay strong and God Bless

Elder Skabelund

Kyle with his Uncle James just before entering the MTC

Elder Skabelund, his companion Elder Angus and some cute Sister Missionaries!

District 64

Saying Goodbye

September 23, 2015

Kyle was set apart as missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Tuesday night September 22nd. President Whimpey spoke to our family for awhile and also had Kyle bear his testimony to us.The next morning came way too soon as Kyle had to be at the airport by 5:15 am. While waiting to check him in we saw at least 10 other families getting ready to say goodbye to their missionary as well. It was comforting that we were surrounded by others going through the exact same thing, not wanting to say goodbye but so excited and proud at the same time. It was also great that there was a plane full of missionaries all travelling to the MTC together. As hard as it was to say goodbye, the Spirit that Kyle carries and his desire to serve others is so strong.  I remember having the thought that I can only imagine what Mary must have felt as she watched her son give his life upon the cross for all of us. It must have been unbearable. It makes the 2 years pale in comparison. We are so proud of Kyle! He has prepared well and we know that he was called to the Utah Logan mission for a reason. We are excited for him and the many experiences he will have serving others and sharing the Gospel for the next couple of years. WE LOVE YOU ELDER SKABELUND!

        

                             

SEE YOU IN 2!

The Call

August 10, 2015

Kyle's call arrived in the mail Monday afternoon while I was in Tucson getting Darrin set up in his new apartment at U of A. We weren't sure he was going to open it that night but finally decided that we couldn't wait! I hurried home and we quickly got the word out that he would be opening it that night. When everyone arrived we had them put their guesses on a map of where he would be called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Most people guessed foreign but little sis Lyndi was closest as she guessed UTAH! We were so overwhelmed by the love and support that our family felt as we get ready to send our son off to serve the Lord and the people living in Logan, Utah!

UTAH LOGAN MISSION!