Skibby sent us the following email and photos on Monday, September 25, 2017:

Date:  September 25, 2017 at 11:00 AM

Subject:  WHAT’S AAAAPPP?!?!?!?!?!?

Hola, fam!! Que tal estáis?! Todo bien acá. [Hello, fam!!  How are you?!  All good here.]

Well, here's the rundown. We had zone conference on Friday. We all got smart phones and a big talk about agency. And then we got what's app. I'm really excited because EVERYONE uses what's app, and if you don't, you're not cool. It's just a lot easier to communicate and make friends. We've had contact with Adrian, and we're going to see him on Tuesday.

Miracle of the week: we had intercambios with the b8 hermanas. It was good. 

 At the end of the day, we went to English class. We were waiting for my companions and when they finally came, they came with someone to teach!!! Her name is Devi. I talked to her on the metro about 2 weeks ago. She came running in at the last second. Sometimes getting on the metro is like one of those spy/Indiana Jones movies when the door starts closing and they just barely slide through, and then grab their hat. It was one of those moments. So I gave her a pamphlet and wrote down her number. She said she is pagan. Can you help me know what pagans are? I had forgotten her number was in the phone, so that day she called us!! We taught the restoration and it was awesome. She said it was crazy for her to think Christ suffered for people he didn't know. I told her I didn't think that was true. I think he knew all of us before. And I think the 4 of us knew each other before. Anyway. It was really sweet. We meet with her on Tuesday.

We are teaching a Chinese guy named Jinzuro. He's cool. The chinitas came and helped us give him a lesson. It's a weird mixture of both my trios, Spanish, English, and Chinese. It's fun. He is praying every night so he can learn better English.

That's about it. Have a great week! The gospel. Is true.

"Mas cerca de ti" translates as "Closer to you."  "Dios" is God.

Heidi's note:  We also received an unexpected email and photos today from Hank and Kristy Nelson, members of our Riverton Utah Stake who are currently living in Madrid and serving in the Madrid Temple.  They wrote:

Subject:  Tremendous Trio

Trios can be a real challenge, but these Sisters brought such a wonderful message and motivating message into our home today.  Sister Christensen is a powerful missionary, and such a great example.  We love to be around her, and so does everyone else.  Thanks for sharing her with us!

Abrazos, Hank & Kristy Nelson

Skibby sent us the following email & photos on Monday, September 18, 2017:

Date:  September 18, 2017 at 10:57 AM

Subject:  The weather is on the turn

Hello!

Well, I'm trying to think of what I can write about. 

We met with Tomas again, and Mercedes. We taught Adrian the gospel of Jesus Christ. He said he would like to be baptized, but he's not sure because he has a lot of family members from a whole bunch of different religions. He didn't come to church this week. 

Yesterday we made brownies with Yvonne and Family. Then we watched The Restoration. It was really fun.

I don't know why I am an in a trio, but I am enjoying it.  Yes, I got the songs, thanks!  [Skibby had asked me to send her some beginning piano pieces for one of her students, and I sent her some.  In my email to her, I asked if she got them.]

On Sunday there was a joven [young person] that gave a talk about the law of chastity. He read the pages in For the Strength of Youth and left nothing out. On the flip side, a member called Jairo gave a talk about the love of God and how we all need to be missionaries. It was REALLY good.

That's about all for this week.

Love you all!

Skibby's caption:  "Madrid y mis companeras"

Skibby sent the following email & photo on Wednesday, September 13, 2017:

Date:  September 13, 2017 at 11:00 AM

Subject:  Milagros existe!!

Hola Familia! Como estan todos?!?!

I feel like weeks have gone by since I talked to you.

I have only been gone a year, and the world is literally falling apart. Can't we keep it together!?

Here are the 2 biggest miracles:

1-- we set a goal as mission to have 25 baptisms in August. And we worked really hard. We got 26 the last day.

2-- we have been trying to get permission to get ... facebeook.. We got it, and every companionship will get a smartphone!! Really weird. I am excited about the success going up, but not that excited about having to use those things.

3-- President Pack is a miracle worker. My release date has been changed to December 28. I know that that was a really tender mercy, and I'm so excited to be able to make both things work.  [Skibby's original release date was Jan. 9, 2018, but she asked Pres. Pack if she could get released a little earlier so she could attend Emily's wedding on Dec. 29 and also be able to start her semester at Utah State on time, on Jan. 8.] 

Well, I am staying in B6. Hna Koeber is from Utah. That's my first Utah companion. Anyway, she came down from Leon and I am back in trio life. It's taken a little bit of adjusting, but I'm really excited for it, and I feel like this past week has been so busy and crazy with talking to people and doing things, and It's been great. 

Here's a small miracle: we passed by a piso that I have passed by many times. Nobody answered, but then a lady walked in and we talked to her a little bit. Come to find out, it's the lady we were looking for. So we set up an appointment for Monday. That was a miracle. Well Monday she wasn't there. And about 20 minutes later we saw her walking down the street. When she saw us, she obviously hid behind her hair and waved to no one across the street as she passed us. (We were a little farther away, so I didn't say anything) We'll keep trying, but it's a good reminder about how important agency is. It definitely can further or hinder the work of the Lord.

We've met with some new people this week:

Tomas

Mercedes

Francisco (from Colombia. Here on vacation. Loves God. Told his son he wanted to go on a walk and that he was going to talk to somebody. His son: who?? Well we found him and talked to him on a bench for a while. We gave him a BOM. He goes back to Colombia next week)

Valentin

Flor

Becky

Cecilia (traveling back to Peru. We taught her the plan of salvation in her friend's house (member).  We gave her a bom and exhorted her to read it.)

That's about it. Yesterday was a crazy day. We can just say that at one point

1 I was trying to teach Ivan a piano lesson

2 Hna Koeber was helping a member set up a profile for pathways

3 We were supposed to have a lesson with Adrian, but all those things were going on

4 A member was talking to Hna Eckel

5 So Adrian came in and said he would just listen a little bit. 

6 Hna Eckel and the member started singing hymns --- while I was teaching-- and Hna Koeber and the members were talking. It was hectic. Luckily I think Adrian liked it.

My lifelong nightmare of getting stuck in an elevator came true. Luckily I lived through it. Love you all! Have a great week!

skib

mom, can you send me Nate's email address?? love you

Skibby is on the far right.  Next to her is Hermana Eckel.  I am guessing that the next person over is Hermana Koeber, the third member of Skibby's new trio.