Merry Christmas Elder Skalla!!

I just love the Christmas Skype call!  He sounds so good and is so happy!!

Christmas in Mexico

Sorry I haven´t written all day! There are 2 missionaries that are going home tomorrow for some health reasons and it was kind of last minute and we had to get their plane tickets bought and all kinds of other stuff figured out so I have been fairly busy...

Send me pictures of snow! Man I can´t wait for a white Christmas haha. I never realized how much snow and cold help make it feel that much more like Christmas! It´s still not even that cold here yet and hardly anybody puts lights up so it´s kinda hard to feel the Christmas spirit. But in the office we´ve got our tree all set up and some stockings so it´s nice.

That´s crazy about Mountain Vista! Do you know who the girls are? I guess I´ve been out for like 3 years almost so who knows if I would know who they are but still that´s insane! That's good nothing happened though...

I´m excited for next week too! I can´t believe it´s coming up so fast. I bet that will be fun doing the Santa thing with Tate! I´m excited to see him on Skype! He seems to have just his own little personality. 

I haven´t gotten Christmas cards yet... They should get here but last year I was getting Christmas cards in like march and April haha. 

I did get Brads video haha it was pretty funny. Who knows how I got that accent haha but I really don´t hear it that much! It´s still weird to me that he is going to the Philippines. Where is he going to stay and who is he going to live with? Who is going to take care of his truck?

Thanks for the pics! They´re adorable haha. How did you get both Santa's to do that haha. 

Enjoy your Christmas dinner tonight! We are going to eat with a family in our ward on the 24th... But we are going to eat at 2 so its more like Christmas lunch... Mexico is a bit strange in the food aspect haha. Their son is serving in Italy and I met him in the MTC. Speaking of Italy, an Italian guy showed up to our ward today! Super weird... I guess he is going to get married to a member in our ward. He speaks just a bit of Spanish. Spanish and Italian are actually very similar. I´m planning on learning Italian when I get home...

I don´t know if President will invite us to do anything with his family on Christmas... If he does it will be Christmas Eve.  On Christmas day our zone is getting together with the Tampico Zona in the Tampico stake center (Where I spent last Christmas) And we get to play volleyball and then when the sisters get tired we can play basketball/soccer. The stake center has a full size wood court too so that will be fun. It´´ts the only one I´ve seen in the mission... We also get to watch a movie... I think we are watching one called Rise of the Guardians. It´s a christmas movie. We are also doing a secret Santa and a couple of other things. At 6 we go out and work til 8.

On Tuesday we had a talent show/devotional with president and his family. Somehow president found out that I play ukulele and told me that if I found one I could use it to play in the talent show. Carlos, the bishops son in Villa Cuahutemoc, has one and he is in Brazil on his mission so I asked him if I could borrow it. So for the past week and a half I have been practicing. I played "We´ll Bring the World His Truth" and Elder Amador sang in Spanish and I sang in English. There were 4 zones there so like 70 missionaries and man that was nerve wracking! I messed up more in the real performance than I ever did practicing. It still turned out alright though. I will send you a video if I can... probably not of the actual performance but I´ll make a new, better one haha. In the performance Elder Amadors microphone didn´t work at first and I was all nervous so it wasn´t the best. It was great to play though after so long! Have you heard the song "How Can I Be"? It was written by some missionaries and they play it on a uke. I´ve been learning how to play that one too. I´m sad to have to give it back now though haha...

Last Sunday we had the awesome privilege to see the Tijuana Temple Dedication. They broadcast it live to all the stake centers in the country and it was great. President Uchtdorf and Elder Oaks were there to dedicate it. It would be cool to go to the Fort Collins temple dedication... When will that be?

I went to immigration for the last time on Friday :( they close from the 18th to the 6th of January, so I had to get everything done that I would need to do in these weeks so that nobody has to be illegal haha. Luckily I made it out clean and nobody is illegal because of me! Yippee! Next transfer there is only one new elder coming and 3 sisters, and all of them are from Mexico! So the next time I go to immigration will be with my replacement to teach him how to do everything. 

Just two more weeks in the office! And two fairly easy weeks... Then its back to the field! I`m excited haha. I have loved my time in the office but... It`s time to leave. I`m excited to see where they send me!

Love you!

Elder Skalla

Mexican transportation

Hey mom! Haha don`t worry my letters for the past 3 months have been pretty lame too... but don`t worry just 3 weeks left and I should be out of here and in the field! Don't get me wrong I love being here, it`s just... different. 

I`m glad the babies are growing and doing great! Can`t wait to meet them!

Before I forget, I mentioned something about my release date getting changed, right? Does that affect anything? If I haven`t mentioned it, most likely my release date will be the 16th not the 9th. 

I thought I sent you the pic... I at least took it haha. I will send it right now.

Aww man you tricked me haha. (I knew about the BYU application date for transfer students but didn't tell him!)  I was all worried about it because I never had time to do it haha. But that's okay. Can you look into the MTC stuff? Idk when I would have to apply to get a job there..

I`m glad everyone is doing well... I guess no news is good news. Over hear it sounds like the world is falling apart and World War 3 is about to start. Something about Paris and terrorists. I haven`t heard much but enough. 

I still cant believe Brad is going to the Philippines but that's cool. Have him look for a job for me when he gets back :p There ought to be someone who needs a secretary or something for the summer haha.

Yah we use a LOT of public transportation... We usually go in taxis or things called Micros. They`re like little buses that follow a specific route and charge 9 pesos. They're fun haha.

This one is a bit more fancy than the ones we have here... But its the same idea. The routes are distinguished by what color the bus is. 

Here is a Tampico Micro! Fun, right?  haha this ones pretty beat up... Some are nice like the first pic and some are pretty beat up... Just part of the adventure.

That`s crazy you are coming to Mexico! You will be way south though, that's where all the good stuff is! I would love to go with you when I get back... Actually there are lots of places I want to go to in Mexico now that I have been here... But I bet you will have lots of fun. Enjoy the luxurious side of Mexico!

About my week... It`s been pretty crazy. We had the new missionary training meetings this week so that's always a chore to plan that all out and get everyone to where they need to be and keep everyone happy and fed. We are getting  lot better at it though so everything went fairly smooth. I am a bit behind on my other jobs though because you kinda have to put everything to one side when we have mission council or new missionary trainings or changes and stuff... We didn`t get to work much in the area. It`s so hard becuase we want to work but then we make commitments with investigators and members and stuff but then something comes up and we can`t go the appointment so we have to cancel and I just feel bad.


we had our Stake Conference this weekend and it was really good!  A seventy came and spoke.  His name is Marion B. DeAntunano.  He gave a super great talk.  He spoke about the difference between having a testimony and really being converted.  There is a big difference!  Lots of us can have a testimony, but conversion is what really helps us progress and what really matters at the end of it all.  He compared it to the parable of the 10 virgins and how our testimony is like our lamp, but the oil is the conversion.  Without the oil, a lamp doesn't do much.  We can share our lamp with others, and the light of our lamp can illuminate others, but with the time comes, only those with enough oil and enough conversion will be able to live with Christ and the Father. We can share our light and testimony with our friends, but we can never share our conversion.  We can share our light and testimony with our children, but never our conversion.  Conversion is personal and a process of our whole lives.  It was a great talk!

It was a pretty normal week... Today is the day of the virgin! Pretty much everybody in Mexico goes crazy and builds altars and worships the virgin and goes out into the street and chants and stuff. Pretty interesting haha.

We re did the correcto/incorrecto thing this week because there is a new secretary and assistant since that last time we made it. This time we made a video and it was pretty funny. It`s a big file so I don't think I can send it, but it`s in Spanish anyway so... I`ll just send a pic or two haha.

Thanks for your love and everything you do for me :) Love you!

Elder Skalla

Packages arrived!!!! Pictures!!

It´s December already! I can´t believe how fast this year has gone.... 2015 has been my "Year of the mission" an now it´s almost over. But it´s Christmas time and I´m loving it! We got our Christmas tree all set up in the office and Elder Tiptons mom sent him a Christmas Tree that we set up in the house so we just have Christmas Spirit all over the place! I got my packages on Friday! I got Grandmas on Thursday. On Thursday I got an email in the mission account from customs asking if they could take the candy out of the package in Monterrey, so I authorized them to take it out and then Friday morning they got here and the guy said I had to pay to receive them! I couldn't pay with Credit Card and he said that if I didn't pay they would destroy the packages! So I paid the 400 pesos. I mean it isn't that much, like 30 dollars, but still it annoys me. If you ever send me a package again, just send it through USPS. That's what the majority of moms do and it always turns out fine. You don't even need to put pictures of the virgin Mary on it haha. It just takes a bit longer to get here but its a lot cheaper and they don't open it. In your last email you said I could open the diapers box but not the amazon box haha, but I opened it and quickly realized it was the Christmas box. I took my CC out and sealed it back up and opened the other one, which had the Christmas tree, the Santa/tree hat, and the beanie. In the other one I saw the credit card, the jacket, 1 tie, and I think a sweater but I´m not sure. Do you really want me to open it? I´d rather wait til Christmas... But thanks for the packages! I love the little tree with Christlike attributes on it! But I noticed the only one that repeats is humility... Is that a hint? hahaha. I'm glad the only candy you sent were kisses, because they took it all out. I don't get why they don't let candy through... weird. But don't worry about it I get lots of candy! I still haven't  gotten any package from that website place...They come straight to the office so I will send a pic when I get it. I tried calling the number to activate the card but It didn't go through, so I was thinking I might not be able to from Mexico... did you get that figured out or should I keep trying?

 

Wow you have been in Boise forever! I bet you are way happy to go home. It looks like you had a lot of fun there though, and Parker looks like a fun little guy! I´m so excited to meet him and Emery! I´m glad they are both growing good and without any problems! And I'm proud of Adalynn for not being afraid of Santa! What a champ! I loved the pics of Emery and Tate you sent! He looks like the best big brother (Brad, you take a close second, don't worry :p) 

I hope Jenn can get her work stuff figured out! I liked her idea of starting a small business... That would be fun! And I hope Greg gets in too! Speaking of getting into school, I realized something... The priority deadline date for BYU doesn't apply to transfers, just new freshman... So I have til February to finish my application. But at least I have it done already! I also saw that on February 28th I will be notified. Crazy!

How are Ty and Ali doing? Ty is still doing well at Fidelity I'm guessing? Those 2 (Jenn and Ali) Just send me pics of their babies and they never tell me how they are haha. I mean I love the babies but I want to know about them too! I feel so out of the loop... That's okay though, keeps me focused. 

I still cant get my head around Brad going to the Philippines... Crazy! Tell him to find me a job in Denver when I get back while he is looking for his... Speaking of that! I might be coming home the 16th of May... Its very probable. They changed the time that native language speakers are in the mtc from 2 to 3 weeks, and that is affecting arrival dates and stuff for new missionaries. So in the transfer that should end March 28th, the new missionaries will get here April 4th, so we will have to extend the transfer a week. We still haven't been notified if that will continue into May, But I´m guessing we will just have a 7 week transfer and the rest will be 6 like normal and everything will just run back a week. So I hope that doesn't mess up your plans... (it does) I will try and have a more solid answer for you next week...

So about my week... I have been writing in my journal every day so I can remember what to write haha.

On Sunday the new Christmas video came out! did you see it yet? there are 2 so make sure you see both. The other one is about how the world would be if the savior was never born. Christmas.mormon.org share it with all your friends! We have new pass along cards and everything and I love sharing the message of the savior during Christmas time! Everyone just seems to be a bit more open and receptive, and it offers us a really easy way to get in and teach! Even just talking to taxi drivers gets a lot more affective and I´m loving it! My goal this Christmas is to be more service oriented. I think that's one of the things Christmas is all about, small acts of service to others. So far it has been going well! On Wednesday we really started using the new pass along cards and we gave one to a lady who came to the office to collect rent for some missionaries house, some to a few members and an investigator that ate with us, and then we helped 2 guys push their car that had ran out of gas. And all of that in like an hour! Then later, a guy in a beat up old red truck started shouting "Elder!" at us, which is pretty normal so we just waved and kept walking, but he kept shouting and following us. He pulled over and signaled us to cross the street and talk to him. We were a bit hesitant but mentally prepared to fight him off ;p turns out he is an investigator from another state who moved to Tampico recently and wanted to find the missionaries.  Seems like a nice guy. We passed the reference to our zone leaders and they are teaching him. Thursday was another one of the those super busy office days. I had to go get the mail and there were TONS of Christmas packages then to the bank to pay for some visa stuff and there was a huge line because everyone was cashing their paychecks in, then we got a call from a missionary who was super sick and on his way to Tampico so that threw a wrench into our plans because my companion had to take him to the hospital. I went with his companion downtown to the immigration office and then we went back to the offices to do some stuff. My poor companion had to wait 8 hours in the hospital emergency room with that Elder. he is doing better now though. Then yesterday we were able to do divisions with our zone leaders! I went with Elder Tenney, an elder from Arizona that got to Mexico with me. He is a good guy. It was nice to leave the offices for a day and just teach. Even though people were calling me every now and then, it was a nice little vacation. We taught a guy who lives in a little wood shack and is just super humble and I haven't seen that kind of thing in SO long since our area is super nice. I miss being in a little pueblo where everyone is so friendly and welcoming and humble. I hope I get to finish in a place like that... Its a very humbling experience and helps me get away from the world a lot easier. 

Alright that's all the time I´ve got. Love you lots! PS What time do you want me to call on Christmas? We will probably call from the office so I can call whenever...

Love you!

Elder Skalla

What's with the Corona T-shirt??  I keep forgetting to ask him!!