Missionary Farewell

Well, my farewell went fairly smoothly.  Until I had anything to do with it.  I ended up not playing "If You Could Hie to Kolob" but "Fear Not".  It worked well with what I was speaking on, but unfortunately my bishop didn't know until after I said otherwise, announcing the change over the pulpit.  He asked aside if I could play the original piece scheduled, I said it wasn't ready.  He asked if it could be me just playing, and my friends had already stood up to come to the stand (or, in more eloquent terms, "rostrum").  He conceded, and I played.  STUPID IDEA!  I should have asked him before the program started, but I stayed too long in the foyer, and I actually ended up coming late to the stand.  He didn't like that AT ALL.  However, my impression of his demeanor after the meeting says that it turned out just fine.  But he counselled me to never surprise bishops or mission presidents--they do not enjoy surprises like that!

Lesson learned. Don't EVER do that.

My talk was better than I thought it would be, but it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be.  My biggest hope is that people felt the Spirit, though.  But my greatest joy is that it all worked out in the end.  I thank all of my friends for their great support, and I wish I could do half as well at supporting them as they did at supporting me.

I hope to write all of you on my mission!  If you haven't already given me your address, and you want me to write you, please post it either in the comments, or send it to me via email, Facebook, Google+, phone call (home, since I have no cell), whatever!  I'll send you letters, and I hope that you send me some, too!  Hope to hear from you!

Elder Skeen (of the Samuel variety)

MTC MAILING ADDRESS UPDATE!

For any of you who just might have been wanting to know what my mailing address for the MTC would be, it is:


Elder Samuel Hyrum Skeen
MTC Mailbox # 147
WA-KENN 0221
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Hope to hear from you!

The Time of My Life - 13 Days

I have come to a point where I where I choose to lay aside all of the life I led for a season to accommodate a life otherwise oriented.  In thirteen days I will no longer be living in my house with the family I've grown up with, and without the immediate contact of my friends.  I will align my schedule to strictly follow standards of the life I will be living.  I won't watch television, play Minecraft, or otherwise use such technology for entertainment.  I have ceased the search to make money and have postponed it to a later time.  I may not write in my novel, may not model in Blender, may not take schooling, may not read recreationally.  My job is not to establish myself in a better social standing, actually transforming myself into an individual that most of the population holds in angst, justified or not.  I will be poor, alienated from most things familiar to me, and essentially rely on other people's kindness and support.  I'm not expecting an easy time, nor do I expect overwhelming success.  I will suffer pains and torment of every nature, with the Devil himself casting all that he can to hedge up the way.  I'm staring at him, arming myself, and saying, "Bring it on!"

In just a mere thirteen days, I'll be living in the MTC in preparation for embarking to the mission field.  I wait in eager anticipation for that day, because of the beautiful things I stand as a witness for.  I am eager to serve the people of my mission with open arms and an open heart.  I'm excited to be in the constant flow of the Spirit, and I feel that I will be blessed beyond my comprehension, and that I will enjoy it more than I can currently conceive.  I do not fear leaving all of this behind, and not simply because of the common answer I hear of "because of the sacrifice".  I go, because I know I must, that the Lord has this work for me to do, and I will not let him down.  The Lord knows me, and will comfort me when I stand in need of comfort.  I may feel utterly alone, but I have felt that way more times than you may ever know.  Jesus Christ is the Savior, and has atoned for my foolishness.  I will not fail him because I am determined to be the best missionary that I can.  In Doctrine and Covenants section 109, verses 22-23, it asks (in prayer) the Father "that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them;  and from this place they may bear exceedingly great and glorious tidings, in truth, unto the ends of the earth, that they may know that this is thy work, and that thou hast put forth thy hand, to fulfil that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of the prophets, concerning the last days."  I've been through the temple, and am blessed to know that this scripture is true, and I will see this prayer be answered through me because I will not waiver from Christ's work.