Hi Susan and Penelope!

 

     Random quotes that make no sense:

"When I say you probably shouldn't I mean definitely don't."

"Goodbye! I'm going to the Haven!" Said is a spanish accent.

Hey people at home! This week was yet another uneventful one. Except for today. We got our transfer calls! And the verdict is.....

       Wait it wasn't uneventful! We had a zone conference this week! That was fun! Elder Malm of the second quorum of the seventy came and spoke to us. We talked a lot about how we could improve the mission and what we need to be doing on our own. It was very powerful. 

     There was one thing that really stuck out to me though. President Felix got up and I have no idea how this even came up but he says "Being in a young singles ward there are always young women coming to me looking for a Nephi. Why not Alma the Younger?"  Think about that for a minute. Who was Nephi? He was this stalwart young man who could do no wrong. He was dependent on the Lord and knew who he trusted. He was righteous and lived a worthy life and became a prophet. Now let's look at Alma the Younger. Also another prophet. He was strong in the gospel and brought many to the church. He trusted in the Savior and learned in a very different way who he could trust and of the Savior's atoning power. So what is wrong with Alma the Younger? Nothing. He stayed strong until his last day.

    I had never thought about that either. Being in a young single adult ward I experienced that first hand! All of the sisters want these men who have never made mistakes and who are seemingly perfect. What they don't realize is that those who are like Alma the Younger have great strength and have come to know the Savior in a more personal way than those who haven't had to use the atonement in the same way. President Monson gave a talk where he spoke about men. He had a conversation with someone about men and the natural man. This other guy says "Don't you know leopards can't change their spots." Then president Monson replies "you should know that I don't work with leopards. I work men and men change every day." Amen!! So good! Alma the Younger is the perfect example of how men really do change and who are we to say that the atonement hasn't changed them? That is not our place. 

And thinking about this I don't just mean for those poor guys in the singles wards who the sisters are overlooking. I am talking about everyone. When we see people who have made mistakes we need to make sure that we are strengthening them the entire way and helping them get back on to the strait and narrow. If we are judgmental and turning our backs on these people we can't expect people to want to change. How can we expect them to come back to the group of people who are looking down on them? That will work when pigs fly. Be friends to those who are in need. Help them feel of the Savior's love and help them to see that there is a chance for them! No one can fall so far that the sacrifice of the Savior can't cover it. That means we need to do the same. Forgive and forget.

 Those were my thoughts from the conference. That was a long tangent from one sentence but there you go.

     Well, we are going to count that as my message for the week. That wasn't the one I was going to share but there is another video you should go watch. It is called "Lifting Burdens". Again it is on LDS.org or the mormon channel on youtube. It is a powerful video.

  Ok, I am sure you are ready to hear where I am going now. Drum roll please! I Sister Skeeter am going to....Moorpark! Woo. I am still in the same district so I am about 5 minutes away from Thousand Oaks. I am actually going to be companions with Sister Woodlands companion and I am going to be taking Sister Woodlands place. Funny stuff!

Anyway, my time is up! Love you all!

Sister Skeeter