I'm grateful for the North. Its a cool
place to be in both senses of the word. It is still way hard but I guess
challenges keep things interesting. Eldste Gunther and I scrounged some
kroner$ together and bought some cheapish Ice cream this week at a
special grocery store about an hour and a half walk away. The Ice Cream
was totally fine when we eventually pulled it out of the backpack after a
long day. Cold weather isn't always bad. I've been really staying away
from junk food lately but its been pretty unintentional, mostly because
we cant afford extra food. I've had maybe 2 sodas in the past 6 week
transfer and it was the first time we bought Ice Cream. I have noticed
that Its way easier to wake up when you eat healthier, but at the same
time harder to sleep because your not in a fat and sugar coma. We've
been having to fend for ourselves up here for meals although we do
sometimes eat with the branch president on sundays and mission leader
every two weeks or so. And that one asian food experience that will
probably not happen again... I would really like to learn how to make
more real food so maybe you could send me some recipes for easy but good
stuff. Maybe my next companion will be a master chef but, then again,
that might make him kind of merkelig.
I'll get Elder Sperry on Wednesday
and say goodbye to Elder Gunther (he's going even further north, we
were cracking up). I am excited to help out another missionary. Its
tough but I would say that I do feel like I have the right personality
for it. I know that its hard for every missionary to start out their
mission, especially up here in Narvik. Its like the same homesickness of
the first couple days of the MTC but times 5. You feel like you're back
to square one. But like all change.. you eventually settle in and the
homesickness goes away especially as you "lose yourself" in the work.
I'm excited for Cade to get out on his mission. I really am worried
about my other homies tom and chris and cesar though but I know they'll
do what's right. I haven't heard from the Franco's in a while. Tell them
I say hi and want to talk to them.
Work here has gone well this week but is still going slowly. we're
working hard and feeling good about ourselves at the end of each day.
This whole mission is really struggling with baptisms this year and
we're now a totally young mission. Its been crazy to see the impact of
President Monson's announcement and its definitely affecting me with
these assignments to leadership while still young. I think we'll have 99
missionaries on wednesday
and it will stay right under a hundred for probably my whole mission.
Its an exciting time to be a missionary and I'm hoping to find those
families and individuals here who are seeking for truth (whether they
know it or not). I know i might not get a ton of baptism but i feel
confident that there's my premortal buddies out there waiting for me to
find them. I feel confidents that Baptisms will come. We've been stuck
doing a lot of knocking on doors and street contacting which is
frustrating because it the least effective. There doesn't seem to be
another way that I can think of. Maybe something will come to me. Im
focusing on stretching my vocabulary and being a more organized
missionary (I am still a clean freak so im not talking about physical
stuff). Organization and planning of my time will really help me work
most effective even though there's not much to plan for other than going
out and trying to talk to people haha.
This week we were knocking and had our first German Shepherd dog
experience. I outran Gunther though so it was all good. Somehow he
managed to not get bitten. It was legitly scary and i'm not one to be
afraid of dogs at all. We were cracking up afterwards. Mission life is
ridiculous.
This morning we went fishing and I caught three tiny fish. Two with
just a hook and no bait. How dumb is that? I'm still thinking of some
parallel with this and missionary work. Hasn't come to me yet but maybe
it has to do with simplicity. I'm excited for General conference next
week although I'll only be able to watch maybe one of the sessions live.
I've come to love general conference talks on the mission and im
excited for a new batch.
Good job with taking care of your overworked situation, I know its a
hard thing to do. Especially for you. Wish I could come and help you
out.
Don't forget that you can always have the opportunity to
change (although I hope you don't change too much..). Richard G Scott
says "we become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to
become each day.." Something I like to keep in mind. We have the choice
to be or become what we want to be. I realize that I have the choice to
choose happiness over depression, hardwork over laziness, optimism over
pessimism, etc. I'm grateful for all of your guys' love and support. it
makes it easier to serve a mission. The church is true and I hope you
all will be having an awesome week! do me a favor and watch this funny
retro BYU video together this week. this kid is the original Napolean
Dynamite. It is so dumb and awesome, dad and patrik will love it
especially... http://www.
Elsker dere, Vi Prates!
Eldste Skinner
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