comin' home.

is this real? 

said goodbye to hermana sheffer and hermana cuesta at the mission office, the leaving missionaries tried tirelessly to get all of our luggage to weigh under the allowed limit, and off we went to the Sacramento temple, one last time as full-time missionaries. checking every few minutes to make sure that shiny black tag that carries the name of our Savior is still there (: 

an awesome member volunteered to let us crash in her house so all the sisters were together! the Sister hosting us expected us to be up late... nahhh hahaha we were all SO BEAT!

said a prayer of gratitude before hopping into bed, head hit the pillow.

and then...


it happened...

alarm goes off, 6AM.

today is the day.... 
before I gave my mind time to catch up with what was happening we were already there. 

Sacramento Airport

gave a big ol' hug to President and Sister Jardine and they sent us off, up the elevator and back to the world to hit the ground running.

the missionaries that headed home through the Salt Lake airport all got off the plane together, and we said a prayer. one more time as California Sacramento Missionaries.

(I had a long layover in Salt Lake to see my brothers and my bestfriend!)

and off we went. almost running! haha

AND THERE THEY WERE













7 hours, and another air plane later - around midnight, finally in my mothers arms (:

so... finish line, right?
nah, not even close (:

que siempre tengan adventuras de fe y amor!

Hermana Skidmore

mission accomplished...?

Hola!

The final email to the Skid Squad from Hermana Skidmore..... BUM BUM BUM...

-

I could not have asked for a better week to finish out my service as a full time missionary!!!

GUESS WHAT!?

Hermana Cuesta is coming up to follow up train Hermana Sheffer! YAYAYAYA my babies together! :) you'll get to meet them both! Hermana Hurley is the new Sister Training Leader and she is staying with Hermana Porter. and me.....

I don't know how to feel... I'm basically numb inside.. haha that's reassuring, right!? Like is it really almost over? 

This week we had our ward Thanksgiving party and it was a hit!!!!! I love the spanish people so much. I adore this ward. I love being a missionary. I can't wait to see you all dance with all of them:) hahah 

Bxxxxx is doing great! We are going with her tonight to visit her daughter, it's been a rough road for them so it's a big step for her to be reaching out to her instead of turning her back. She is truly feeling the Spirit of Christ and changing. You will get to meet her, too :) 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One of the goals I made for me as a missionary was to experience indescribable joy....

It's funny because now I find it really hard to describe how I'm feeling.. I AM SO HAPPY! (between the sperts of denial and numbness :)) hahah 

I know that God lives and loves us because he allowed me to be a missionary. I know that He lives because He placed all of these amazing people in my life. I know that prayer is a privilege that we have to communicate with the greatest being in all the universe whenever we want because he is literally our Father. I know that He's listening because when I take the time to wait after the "Amen." I can feel it. and when I rise from my knees, I know without a doubt that everything is going to be okay.

On my mission I've learned that life is about JOY! That's my fav word in Spanish "GOZO!" but we have to make that decision ourselves. I know that obedience and repentance are the keys to happiness. That you can't help but smile when you have felt the forgiveness of God, and His angels cheering you on.... helping you to become a better person, every. single. day. 

It has been such a privilege to go out into the hardcore streets of Sacramento every day, approach total strangers and ask them about.... not just another important thing we should be aware of but rather THE most important thing in eternity - Our Savior Jesus Christ. To look them in the eyeballs, heart to heart, face to face and know that when I say "I promise you, everything is going to be okay." I'm not lying. Our Savior suffered for us, so that through obedience and trying our best, we can be found worthy to make it back to our Father in Heaven. IMAGINE THE JOY THEN! haha See Enos 1;27 in the Book of Mormon. Baptism is the door to returning to that celestial happiness. That has been my focus for the last 18 months. "You're gonna make it! and we're going to help you!" There is so much to be happy about!

The Atonement has been performed, we never have to go it alone. I know because I have felt His strength and guidance, not only the last 18 months, but my entire life... I knew that when I prayed when I was 6 to find that fish book that I'd lost, I knew I would find it. He's just waiting for us to ask for His help :)  

Serious shout out to all of you for your love and support. You are what makes all of this possible. 

My name is Hermana Skidmore, I'm a Mormon, I am a Spanish speaking missionary in the California Sacramento Mission, and I will never be the same :) 

Nos vemos pronto, les quiero con todo mi corazon,

Hermana Skidmore

pics from last few days :) 

our district on my/hermana gomez's last sunday! we sang in sacrament meeting and we coordinated, red/white/gray outfits... mom would be so proud!

 Las hermanas! we all live together and it's the best!

no lo puedo creer!

hey fam!
 
we're not going to talk about how much time I have left :) 

moving on... hahaha 

THIS WEEK WAS AMAZING!!!!!

Listen to this... 

Her name is Bxxx, her husbands name is Jxxx Lxxx, her daughters name is Jxxx, 2 sons named axxxx and Jxxxx.

A loooong time ago, Hna Sierra and I were contacting in the apartment complex that is right across from the church and visited more than once daily by Mormon missionaries that speak all languages, we met a girl name Jxxx, had a nice convo, and asked her if any of her neighbors speak spanish.

"Well, my family speaks spanish..." 

K, great! 

We went back with Hna Sheffer and met Jxx Lxx! Super cool guy! We talked about prayer, and the Restoration of the Gospel.

"Sounds interesting... it's different... I like different..I need different..."

Days passed and we tried to get ahold of him agian... nothing... and every time we knocked on the door, his wife told us "NO ESTA AHORRITA!" (he's not here right now) and not answer the door, tell us she's from another religion... ya know.. the norm haha. 

This past monday - the english elders (our faithful Zone Leaders) were chased down by a spanish woman... She wanted us to call her. Okay cool. 

Before the appointment that the Elders had scheduled for the next day... She calls us..Are you coming?  I think I can count on one hand the number of times an investigator has called me to follow up and make sure I'm going to be there for the appointment hahah...

We get there.. we're looking around the apartments for her number... All of a sudden it clicks... 

OH MY GOSH IT'S HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bxxxxx. She's amazing and I give her serious props for being so humble and seeking us out after totally rejecting us haha. Basically some things happened in her church... and she's looking for a good Church in which to raise her kids! 

Here's the kicker all you members out there! 

The reason she sought us out...and not anyone else.. she has 2 Mormon friends that are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - and she wants what they have, she mentioned how their kids interact, the respect they have in their families... everything.. 

AND NOW THEY'RE ALL ON DATE TO BE BAPTIZED ON DECEMBER 6TH!

The Elders had a baptism on Saturday, they came - Bxxxxx went up front with all the kids to see the actual ordinance. We were all a little nervous about asking them to be baptized... but the Spirit's like DO IT! And Bxxxxx just nodded and with a hopeful sounds in her voice said... "Okay." like she knows it's going to take work, and change. but that it is the best thing for her family. 

They all came to church on Sunday :) Except for Jxxx Lxxx because he had to work. THEY LOVED IT! She told the kids they were going to a party hahah they'll get em! Let's be honest, Primary is a party... 

MXXXXX ALSO CAME TO CHURCH!!!!! He is an investigator that we've had to take really slow, baby steps with... AND HE CAME!! He completely missed Spanish Church but that's okay! haha we went to English and he was so nervous around all the people he was like sweating but so happy! 

We went with him.. missed the sacrament AGAIN.. so we had to go to Tongan Sacrament meeting to get the bread and water, no complaints here - I'm convinced there will be a tongan choir that welcomes the Savior when he comes again. Celestial status. 

This week we've been focusing a lot on the little things, how to get the most out of prayer, and scripture study, and going to church. 

Taking plenty of time to pray, have a list of things so that you don't forget, or read your scriptures with a question, put one that inspires you as the background on your phone. I invite you to think of something to do to help you to feel the Spirit even more during the little things :) 

I promise you that you'll be happier, it's inevitable. When we feel closer to God, we are happier :) 

LES QUIERO MUCHO!!!!! 

siempre habra milagros esperando. 

Hermana Skidmore

 

 service in the park!

 

 

the zone!

 

giving up the keys to the corolla to hna sheffer - now in the driver seat! 

 

 

our beautiful church entry! lovin those trees!

 

foto cred - hna gomez!

FIDEL SE BAUTIZOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

AHHHHHH

BEST WEEK EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Got the news from the Elders in Elk Grove,

meet up with Obispo and the Ochoas at their house... Diana is mysteriously video recording.. AND OUT WALKS....DRUM ROLL PLEASE....

THE HERMANA PITCHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WAHHHH!!!! We all went to Fidel's baptism together.

I got there and saw him for the first time in forever! 

"How do ya feel!?" - Me

"I don't know.... I just wanna get baptized!"  - Fidel

and he did :) 

Hermana Pitcher and I were talking... we felt like we were able to accomplish what the Lord set out for our companionship to do. 

AND FAM BAM YOU BETTER GET READY TO MEET FIDEL! He's expecting us :) 

Les quiero mucho!

Hermana Skidmore

more email to come!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 this week was nutso... 

day by day - play by play 

READY? 

GO! 

Tuesday - My last Mission Leadership Council... because it only happens once a month :( It was the most powerful meeting I have ever been privileged to be a part of. We talked about change, in ourselves, in life, in general. Through humility and obedience, we can accept the will of God in our lives and more fully understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ in order to change. Something that really hit me - If you think that there is something about you can never change (character wise) you are denying the power of the Atonement. It is there for us to learn, to change, to become better and not only once a week, not only once a day, but to ask for forgiveness through prayer every single time we mess up and then stand up and get to work to not repeat the same mistakes ;) 

Faith brings miracles but Repentance (believing in the power Christ has to strengthen and change us) brings miracles, too. 

And last but definitely not least - a quote from President Boyd K. Packer that hit me in the heart;

"You were once generals in the war in heaven. And one day, when you are again in the spirit world, you will be enthralled with those whom with you will associate. You will ask someone in which period they lived and you might hear, "I was with Moses when he parted the Red Sea," or ," I helped build the pyramids" or "I fought with Captain Moroni." 

As you are standing there in amazement, someone will turn to you and ask, "Which of the prophets time did you live in?" When you say "Thomas S. Monson's" a hush will fall over every hall and corridor in heaven and all in attendance will bow at your presence. You were held back 6000 years because you were the most talented, the most obedient, the most courageous, and the most righteous.

Are you still?"

- President Boyd K. Packer, Quorum of the 12 Apostles.  

I know that Jesus Christ leads His true church today through a living prophet, and what a great honor we have to live up to that potential we knew we had in the pre-existence. What an adventure to discover what we can accomplish with His help :) 

Wednesday - I had my final interview with President Jardine... I had done really good, hadn't cried yet.. because I have been sick this week, my face was already leaking so I tried my best to keep my eyeballs from giving in to peer pressure from my other orifices... ew. sorry. 

We sit down, "How do you feel?" 

"I'm really excited to meet with you and talk to you! But... I'm just sad about..."

and he finished my sentence because I cracked and the water works began!

"...what it represents..." blah. 

We talked about marriage... It was funny. I'll have to tell you that story another time ;) After the interview I was crying and Sister Jardine just hugged me and said.. "your mom will be SO happy to see you..." haha. AHH TIME FLIES SO FAST! I've said so many times this week "I feel like I'm dreaming..." and that might be partly thanks to my good friend, NyQuil.

I'm running out of time! So update on investigators and then pictures! 

We had the chastity lesson with Gxxxxxx... and we are now marriage planners! haha We just have to have both sides to be willing :/

During the lesson, Satan was working so hard to make things fall apart! Her house alarms randomly wouldn't stop, the police showed up, and then as soon as we got to the meat of the lesson... families are ordained of God... no sexual relations outside of marriage... Jxx (the baby) FALLS OF THE COUCH and does a head stand before falling flat on his back hahaha. 

Halloween was amazing :) we had zone training! My last :( 

and most importantly... 

HAPPY DAYLIGHT SAVINGS you sleep deprived, beauties!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Les quiero mucho!

 

 

Hermana Skidmore

 

 

Mission Leadership Council

 

last exchange seeing sister schow as a missionary!