First Missionary Letter!!

Dear Family and Friends,

Monday we finally got our own internet connection at the apt. Guess it's time to let those who might be interested know what we've been doing since taking off from Mesa on Thurs. 12/27. President Cooley, our stake president, was kind enough to come to our home to set us apart on Wed. Our plan A was to be ready to take off for Provo (MTC) on Thurs. am. Turned out that plan B prevailed. We left about 3:30 pm and headed for Snowflake to bid adieu to Heath & Cedar and family. We went via Globe and Salt River Canyon. When we got out of Globe about 20 miles we were hit with a blizzard. That's right, a severe Arizona snow storm. Some of the big rigs were pulled off to the side of the highway waiting it out. We went on in the storm most of the way to Show Low. We arrived at Heath & Cedar's abode and spent the evening enjoying our sweet grandchildren. Wisely, we accepted their invitation to spend the night and head on northward on Friday am. We prayed for clear and dry highways to Provo. We shouldn't be surprised when our prayers are answered. Well, we had clear and dry highways all the way to Provo! Oh, did I say it was coooooold?? Yeah. -13 coming out of Price, going up to Soldiers Summit. We should have known that Utah Valley was set on helping us get prepared for WI. The whole time we were in Provo we froze, except for when we were at Bethany & Colton's home wrapped up in the alpaca throw they gave us; a perfect gift! Provo gave us a chance to finish looking for the cold clothes we could not find in Mesa, especially Vicki. We also indulged in "Les Mis" on Sat. night, then attended meetings with Beth at the neighborhood ward on Sunday.

Monday am we reported to the MTC. What a machine it is. They have their processes and procedures down. After making all our required rounds, we were directed to the Stadium Ave. Chapel located at the west side of the MTC. During the day it serves as the Senior Missionaries' MTC. Seniors have options as to where they might stay. We elected to accept Bethany & Colton's kind invite to spend the nights at their home. Some of the missionaries stayed at the Marriott, a few at the MTC seniors quarters. The week was filled with studying Preach My Gospel principles. We were organized into districts, ours consisting of three couples and a pair of sisters. We did lots of role playing with each other. Then on Thursday and Friday we had volunteer "investigators" come in to practice our teaching with. It was interesting how close we became to others in our district and in the senior group going out. Mesa was well represented, with 5 couples and a single sister. When Friday arrived, we were antsy, anxious to be on the road to our mission.

President Timothy Jones, or mission president had called and talked with us about our anticipated arrival time at the mission office in Greendale, WI (suburb of Milwaukee). He wanted us to try to be there by Monday mid-morning, 1-7-2013. We were pretty uncertain what we would face in driving conditions, but hoped to meet his expectation. A couple from Morgan UT, Elder & Sis. Poll, going to New Hampshire, were very familiar with I-80 winter travel. He watched the weather all week and finally on Friday gave the green light. I-80 is notorious for horrible weather in the winter. It has closure gates at regular intervals along the way, especially across WY and western NB, and they are used when needed. The stretch across WY is the most brutal. The wind can blow vehicles right off the road. We were a bit apprehensive, and even thought of going south from Provo to Price and taking the I-70 to Denver, and then connecting with I-80 in western NB. Turned out that our prayers for clear and dry roads were again answered. We left Provo Friday evening and drove to Rock Springs, WY and spent the night. At Wendy's in Rock Springs, as we were enjoying our baked potato and chili, a nice man approached us, looked at our name tags, and asked, "Well, where are you headed?" After we answered, he introduced himself as the coach of the swim team from Lyman WY on their way home. He said he was the bishop there. We were reminded that when we wear the name tag of missionaries, we better be conducting ourselves accordingly. We are never unnoticed; ignored a lot, but not unnoticed.

Saturday am we again headed eastward. As we cruised across WY and on into NB, our thoughts were turned to others who had come westward along this same general pathway. We cruised along in the comfort of our vehicle, carrying most of the things needed for the next18 months. They made their way along with little of the things of comfort, but with a burning desire to gather with the saints in the Valley of the Salt Lake. Some of our ancestors were among them. As we approached North Platte NB, I thought of my cousin, Richard Skinner and his wife Sharon. They have lived there most of their married lives. Joel was good enough to obtain a phone number for

Sharon and we tried to make contact. Turned out it was by texting. They were in FL with their daughter Val, enjoying warmer weather. We pressed on to Grand Island NB and stopped for the night. President Jones called us each day to see how our progress as going. Maybe he wanted to be sure we kept on the roadway eastward.

Sunday am we took off intending to arrive in Lincoln NB in time to attend sacrament meeting. This we did, taking he sacrament, then heading out again. We were not sure if we would make it to Milwaukee by night time. We crossed the Mississippi at Davenport IA and headed more northeasterly on I-94. Pres. Jones checked on us in the evening and felt we'd be good for our appointment with him on Monday am. We made it to New Berlin, a Milwaukee suburb by about 8 pm. We found a good place to R & R, got a little food and crashed. By morning we were rested and ready for what our first day in WI would bring.

At 11 am we arrived at the M.O. It is an upstairs suite in a strip mall. Funny, the suite downstairs is in process of re-model to be a pub. We were welcomed by the two office couples, the Smarts from Clifton, ID (north of Preston) and the Shumways from Las Vegas. We had spoken to both couples from Mesa when we were asking our questions of preparation. President and Sister Jones were awaiting us. We had a nice orientation interview with them. We visited about our and their backgrounds. Pres. Jones actually was born and raised up through H.S. in Mesa, a Jackrabbit! He is a nephew to our old bishop, Donald Jones in the 29th Ward. His family actually lived in the old 17th Ward area. Sister Jones grew up in Idaho. Here was a very interesting connection made - When I explained how our Skinner family came to Mesa, I mentioned that our mother and dad had served together in the Eastern States Mission. I couldn't remember the exact years, but about 1936-38 (maybe Morgan can check this for me). I explained that they married following their missions, and that Mom was our Mesa connection. Sister Jones immediately began to quiz me about Dad and his places of service in New York. She asked if he ever served in Auburn NY. I replied that I knew that he did. She said that the years were right. She said her mother was taught the gospel and baptized by an Elder Skinner from Idaho. How's that for an interesting connection?

The Jones took us to the mission home where we received some additional instructions from Pres. Jones, visited more, and enjoyed a delicious home cooked meal (first in a few days) together. At about 3 pm we headed south to Kenosha, our assigned field of labor for the next 18 months. Sister Shumway had rented and furnished an apartment there for us. Before 4 pm we were at the apartment and ready to get unloaded. Two elders, our ZLs, Elders Baker & Church, magically appeared with perfect timing, and helped us carry our stuff from the car to our second floor apartment. Bless them for that! They actually said Pres. Jones had called them and told them we should be arriving. We were so glad to have their help!

We began the process of unpacking and getting situated. It has taken some days, but the apt. is really beginning to feel like home to us. Mom has a unique gift to make wherever we live a home for us. While it is a work in progress, we are warm and comfortable and feel at home. It was a blessing for us on Wednesday last week after our morning study together to dedicate our new home. Back to the Monday of our arrival, 1-7-2013, that evening we went to the branch president's home for supper and a get acquainted visit. David Calderwood, MD, actually spent some time in Mesa as a youth. His mother was from Uruguay and his dad from Tremonton UT. His dad was in the CIA, which is how they met. Pres. Calderwood's wife, Inez, is from Argentina. They met at BYU. They have five children, three of which are away at school in UT or ID. We enjoyed getting to know them. In addition, our Sp. speaking elders joined us, Elder Kanahele (this is actually his middle name; his real last name if Kaka; it doesn't work very well in Sp., so the missionary department gave him permission to us middle name.) from New Zealand/Hawaii, and Elder Ashcraft from ID. They are good elders, working diligently in the branch, and helping us tremendously to get settled in.

We have been very blessed to arrive in this good place to serve. The Lord has answered our prayers for safe travel. We are finding out each day more about what this is all about. As we can, we will catch you up with what we are doing. This is enough for this edition.

Love to each of you. We are grateful for you prayers in our behalf and in behalf of the good Sp. speaking people of our area.

Hasta la proxima.

Elder & Sister Skinner