When You're Happy, Notify Your Face

Hola mi familia y amigos!

 

Well, I am offically a week and a half old now. You see, we measure age here, by how long you{ve been in the MTC. Which makes sense. The elders that are leaving this Monday that are in are zone seem almost as old as me. The ones who are in my district seem super young. They act like it too. But they're growing.

 

Just so I don't have to tell you all seperately: no I do not like the food here. It is yucky. We eat gross food then go sit in a classroom for four hours straight. So, naturally, I feel sick a lot of the time. Until I discovered the salad bar. Now, I eat salad a good majority of the time. Sometimes I'll have a wrap, but the line for those is almost always super long. Though, I do love the milk, as previously mentioned. =) I do have to say that the ice cream they give us is not as good as Aggie Ice cream though I may be a little biased, and I do love my Aggie Blue Mint. =)

 

Muchos gracias to all those who sent me letters. I LOVED reading them and laughing out loud as you relayed a funny story. Hermana Holmes thinks I'm crazy. Oh well. =) I always think of what I;'m going to tell you before I write then I forget when it's actually time to write.

 

Oh, yes. For those of you from USU who know Carrie Dutson, she is my neighbor! Yes, out of all the buildings we got put in the same one, on the same floor, in rooms right next to each other!! =) That's a blessign right there! She has become my hug buddy. Hermana Holmes does NOT like hugs, so I've been feeling a little hug deprived. Then Carrie- ahem- Sister Dutson gave me a hug and it was almost as good as a Wendy hug. (love ya, Wendy!) But not quite. Oh, and Carol, I don't know if you read this, but I ran into an Elder Clayton Freeman. He said he's in your ward. He was super nice. Sometimes when we run into other Spanish speaking elders and they learn that we've only been here for a week and a half they like to talk to us in really fast Spanish on purpose so we can't understand. But don't worry Elder Freeman and his companion were super nice and gave us a few tips.

 

So great hing happened this week: The honeymoon period at the MTC wore off pretty quickly and then I went straight into hostile mode. Everything was making me angry. The elders weren't living up to what I was expecting elders to be. Etc. And on Tuesday I decided, no matter how awkard it was I was going to as my branch President for a blessing. President Claybaugh is amazing and was super nice about it. We talked for a little bit and I realized that what I was the most upset about was my inability to be patient with those around me. My inability to be patient with myself. So I got a blessing from him. It was one of the best blessings I have ever had. I He explained some of the blessings I recieved in my setting apart. One of which was charity. He explained how I am blessed with the gift of charity. I will be able to love others with a perfect love. Etc. Oh my. Okay, I was bawling my eyes out. Won't lie. So now I have this awesome gift. I know I have it because charity is given to all those who are truly followers of Christ. But it's like a new outfit that doesn't quite fit right yet. I need to do some kindness pushups and service crunches before I can truly wear my new charity outfit. (No, I did not come up with that analogy myself. I saw it on a Mormon Message and adapted it to my needs). The next day after recieving the blessing I was already able to see the difference in myself. I could see already how Elder Hicks has grown and I could see the potential of Elder French. It was amazing. The priesthood is real. And it can bless your life. I promise.

 

 Ryan, and any other young man, when you are assigned to home teach sisters at schoold who do not have the priesthood in their apartment, PLEASE I beg of you visit them. Let them know you are worthy and are willing to give them priesthood blessings. My home teachers from jr year were the angels I needed to accept help from my bishop and Heavenly Father. They gave me blessings a lot. Without them it would have taken me a lot longer to get where I am now. SO please do you home teaching. *getting off soap box now*

 

Heremana Macy has been placed in my life  to teach my long suffering and love toward all men. And I mean that completely seriously. There was no sarcasm in that statement. There may have been two days ago, but not now. =) With her help, I have been able to learn more about charity and how to be charitable to those who it is not exactly easy to be charitable to. I am thankful Heavenly Father put her in my life. Even though sometimes I maynot like it. =) So I'm pulling a Bri here, and when you write me next could you tell me how charity has helped you in your life?

 

I'm struggling a little with personal study. I'm not quite sure how to make it effective. So when you write me could you also mention how you make person study effective in your life?

 

Ah! Three minutes!

 

Steph my dear. My mom says your package is on the way. It should be there in a week or so. Girl, I love you so much and I really miss our emails! I have the angel you gave me on the shelf above my desk and every day when I get ready I see it and think of you and your family. I hope all is well. Many many many many HUGS!!

 

So we have a new teacher. His name is Hermano Taylor and let's just say he wears nice ties....and he... well he wears them extremely well. =) (Janie Poo! Shout out to you!!) If he keeps wearing such nice ties it shouldn't be a problem.

 

Loves and many hugs!!

 

Hermana Scott

Memorable Firsts at the MTC

Oh hey guys! First off I'm mucho disappointed. No mail frm any of you. Josh, you said I should expect a letter every day. I've gotten nada from you. Or anyone for that matter except Sis. Dewey. She loves me. =) When you guys do write me, use Dear Elder. That way it will be delivered to me and I can read it any day at my convience, since I only have 30 min. on email in the first place.

The MTC is...different, but good. I've enjoyed everything except the early mornings, the shower situation, and teaching a full lesson to our investigator, Roberto,  in SPANISH!!! on the second night. Basically, he didn't understand a single thing I said and I didn't understand a thing he said. At least it was mutual. I'm finally getting used to going to bed so early. I slept the best I have yet last night, but I am the most tired today. But at least it's a half P day.

Oh which reminds me, my P days are normally on Friday, but since it's our first week it's on Saturday.

My companion is Hermana (sister in Spanish) Holmes. Yes, like Sherlock Holmes, like Robert Downey Jr. Yes, that is how I remembered her name for the first couple of days. =) She's the definition of awesome. We have the same sense of humor so we laugh a lot. Which is great. She's really good at Spanish so where I lack she makes up for it. She's patient with me and says that she will make me learn the language. Which is also great. =) The hermans in the room with us are Hermana Greenwood y Hermana Macy. They are both great hermanas and have much to bring to the mission field.

Okay, so the best thing that has happened yet is I ran into Dennis Jordan and his wife Susan. You know, my old soccer coach. They will be serving in Samoa. (Is that how you spell that?) They fly out on Monday, but will not get there for two more day, though due to the international timeline or something, it will only take one day. They're time travelers pretty much. =) I've ran into him a couple of times since when I saw them on the first day. We talk, catch up on old soccer teammates and they're just a little bit of home.

The best spiritual thing that's happened was on the first day when we had "Your Purpose" workshops. We were divided into groups and we went around teaching investigators as big groups. With the first two we didn't make any headway. They were stubborn and we were prideful. But the third one...it all chnaged. This hermano (brother) wanted to know why God makes people go through hard trials like disabilities, starvation, having to flee you country, being five years old and having to support your family, etc. Basically he lectured us for ten minutes reminding us that we want for nothing compared to other people around the world. Nothing anyone said swayed his view that we were ungrateful little children until one sister raised her hand and expained that yes, she would never experiencce any of the trials he mentioned, that che couldn't understand, that we are young and inexperienced; but there is One who does and that is Jesus Christ (Jesucristo). Oh my heavens. The Spirit was so strong. He sat down and looked at us all and said that his heart had been changed. It was great. I don't know if he really was an investigator or not. Everyone argues about it. But even if he wasn't, we succeeded in inviting him to come closer to Christ. Our purpose was achieved. And I learned the importance of being humble while teaching. I think it's a reoccuring theme God is trying to teach me. =) This experience along with my relization that I'm really going to have to work in order to learn Spanish were those moments when God hits you over the head with a brick and says, "you WILL learn this." =) I got it. And I'm, aworkin' on it. =)

Hmm. Five more minutes...

There are 10 people in my zone. Is that what it's called? I can never remember. Anyway, 6 elders and 4 hermanas. All 4 of us hermans are going to Phoenix and 2 of the elders. Ther other 4 elders are going to various places, none of them to the same place. Oh and Kurt Ingram's cousin is one of my district leaders. =)

Love you all lots and lots! Remember to stick to the basics and that you're a child of God. He is always nearby.

hugs and loves, Hermana Scott

PS I LOVE the milk here!!!! Chocolate milk EVERY day for EVERY meal....yep, that's how I'm going to gain all my weight while I"m here in the MTC. =)