We have the resposibility to see individuals not as they are but rather as they can become. I would plead with you to think of them this way." - Pres. Monson

Man. My goodness gracious. This week was intense. Many many things happened and I know I will not have time to write them all. Sad but it's tree. Don't you worry though dear reader. I have made it a goal to keep a very good journal so one day I will tell you all the stories because they are all written down.
Well, it is another transfer now, which means another exchange. This time I stayed in Encanto and Hna P left. And she went to PRESCOTT. Yes, Prescott which is like a two hour drive from where we live. So we went half way and met in some middle of nowhere cafe. Yes, it was in the middle of nowhere and it was so weird!! I live in Phoenix. There are people, lights, cars, houses, etc EVERYWHERE. You can drive at night and it is never truly dark. This was not the case on the way to the this middle of nowhere place. And the roads were curvy and had hills. It was an adventure Anyway, we decided to do this exchange last Tuesday to Wednesday. We're missionaries. Life doesn't change for us if it's a holiday or not so that didn't even phase us. Anyway, as the story continues Sis R came with me and Sis C and Hna P went to Prescott. Sis C doesn't have a lot of experience driving. So as soon as Sis R and I got in the car to drive to phoenix Sis R says something about how she's terrified for their truck who's name is Mary Sparkles. Fast forward to the next morning we get a call from Sis C telling us that she got in an accident on the way home. AH! They ended up swerving off the road and hitting a sign post causing $3000 worth of damage on the car, but do not fear both Sis C and Hna P were fine. Anyway, that meant that on Wednesday night Hna R and I would have to drive all the way up to Prescott and back to finish up the exchange overall a 4 hour drive. So we went throughout the first part of our day did all our studies which because I'm Spanish peaking and I'm training last until 1 pm. We went out to this apartment complex and did some contacting and I realized how much Spanish I do know. It was cool. I really can talk to people and understand. But I'm lazy and if Hna P is there I know she's going to do it all so I don't try. But with Sis R who only speaks the Spanish I taught her that morning I had to do it all and I was able to do it. Anyway then we got a call from Elder Rodgers (the Elder in charge of cars) saying we had to drop everything and drive to the mission office so he could drive us to PRescott because traffic was bad because of all the people trying to leave Phoenix for Thanksgiving. But before that we had to stop off at the mission home and talk to Sis Taylor. Oh my heavens. It was a crazy day. And I have now visited the Mission Home 3 times already. In the 2 months that I've been here. So I spent 5 hours in the car on Wednesday night driving to and from Prescott. Sorry if that story didn't make any sense. I feel like I just spit all the words out onto the screen and they may not be written in any coherent manner.

Sarah, has a request for a funny story...well Sarah, I have a confession to make. I am not very good at telling stories. Let alone funny ones. Its a talent I have not managed to develop yet. Sad I know but it's the truth.

But I shall try. I've old ya'll about our investigator Rosi, right? Well, a couple weeks ago we were teaching her in her back yard since she only lives with her dad and she's only 13 we can't teach her inside unless we've set up a member present. Well, this day we did have a member present but she was another 13 year old girl named Rebecca, so we sill couldn't go inside. There are two different types of people/lifestyles you find here. The ones who have steady jobs, money, have been a little Americanized, etc. Then there's the ones who raise their own food, they work in the fields picking melons or will do anything they can to earn money to feed their family, etc. Rebecca the member present is from the first mentioned groups, she doesn't even Speak Spanish. And Rosi well she is kinda a mixture of the two. Anyway. we were in her back yard teaching and Rosi's little nieces and nephews were outside in the back too and guess what they were doing to amuse themselves...? Any guesses? They were chasing the chickens around the back yard. Those poor chickens all clucking and trying their best to get away from these little children and eventually they realized they would be safe if they came over by us. So this one chicken just jumps right up on Rebecca like perched on her arm and she freaks out she's stunned and doesn't even know what to do. Yes, it was hilarious. My story telling did not even do it justice, but like I said, it's a talent I'm still working on developing. =)

This week was also Thanksgiving. We had 6 families invite us to dinner, we told 5 of them we would come over and we ended up only making it to 4. I'm still full. Food hasn't sounded yummy for days. But it was good. One of the houses we went to was the bishop's mom's house and it was so nice to sit with a whole family and to see their love for each other as a family. I dunno. Thanksgiving was harder for me than I though it was. I knew approximately what you guys would be doing at what time, like going to Jean and Kevin's and playing 7 Up and eating eggnog pie. Or going and seeing a movie or sitting around and looking at all the Christmas adds after everyone is done eating dinner. It was hard, but made me appreciate what I have even more.

The bishop's sister, Hna Moreno is so great to all the hermana missionaries. She invited us to eat with their whole family. She's kinda like a long lost aunt or something. I love her so much already. She has a sad story, but that ends well. And this is her story as far as I understand. She got married and had her son somewhere around the age of 19. I think she left the church around this time too. But things didn't work our all that well with her husband. He ended up being an alcoholic and abusive. (She's in Mexico at this time) So because she loved her son so much she left him. Eventually they came to the US her and her siblings and mom. She got residency went to school became a teacher and got re involved in the church. All for her son. She's amazing. I just love strong women. Women that can be caring charitable loving full of the spirit and then when need be they can be strong independent and stand for what they know is right. Anyway, we've been playing match maker with her and we think we've found her the perfect husband. =) As long as he continues to be reactivated into the church of course. But she made us feel like family. She's even giving us a Christmas tree for Christmas time. =) Her son is on a mission right now and she's so proud of him. She's always telling us how he's doing and showing us pictures. She always comes out with us because he's her only family her only son and she wants to be a part of what he's doing. She's so awesome. The end. =)

There's some stories for you. =)

Here's something from Pres Taylor:

Remind your parents and family of our two mission blogs - www.azphxmission.blogspot.com is the original site with Sister Taylor's posts and pictures from mission meetings, transfers, events and happenings, and www.azphoenixmission.blogspot.com (note that "phoenix" is spelled out here) is a new mission blog with answers to frequently asked questions from parents and family members (mission address, releases, visits, email/mail, etc.). Feel free to forward those to your parents.

Love you all. HAPPY (late) THANKSGIVING!!!

Oh and all Christmas gifts (not that you have to send any) should be sent to the mission office. Apparently they do this cool Christmas thing with everyone so yeah.

Much love
Hna Scott

WABAM!!

You know, it's funny. You look forward to P days just about the whole week so you can write your family, take a nap without feeling guilty, or start on that stack of letters that need to be responded to, etc. And then when it comes you realize you have no idea what to write in your letter home and there's no where near enough time to do everything that you want to do that day. Such is the life of a missionary I guess.

Unfortunately, Olivia did not get baptized. She was never able to get an interview because she got sick that day, like really sick. She's better now, but still has lots of problems with her digestive system, I think. They don't really teach you words like "intestines" or "stomach" in the MTC. =) She still comes to church and has just about every week since we first met her she usually comes to all the ward activities and she read the BofM the other day for an hour!! She has her interview tonight so we will see how that goes. We recently got a member to stay with her once a week after the lessons to take more time to explain things. The member ended up staying for TWO HOURS! And she managed to get Olivia's husband interested and to come sit down with them, which is something we've never been able to do. It was legit. Hopefully things go okay tonight and she can come to the interview.

The weather is still lovely here and hasn't gotten any colder than that one night when it was 55 degrees. The sky's here are gorgeous. In the mornings now the sun is barely coming up when we go out to run and it's a beautiful purple color. (Brinny, don't you dare say anything =) ) I do love my morning run everyday, mostly because that means I can run through my scales in my head. I'm almost through them all and then I will start on my arpeggios. (It's a good thing I'm a music major and don't know how to spell that word. =) and that the computers here have such outdated versions of the browser that there is no spell check on them.)

Don't worry about me on Thanksgiving. We already have 5 dinners lined up...okay maybe you should worry about me. Pray that I don't explode from over eating. =) Oh the other day there was a ward party for Thanksgiving and we got to keep the left over Jamica!! I think Jamica is just about my favorite thing here oh that and the tres leche cake. =) I mean, three kinds of milk, how can you get any better than that. =)

Speaking of milk, I recently went back to my old-new habits. The one at school where I could get a gallon of milk to last me two weeks. There's just not enough money to go through a gallon a week and well I splurged and bought cashews, crasins, bacon bits, tomatoes, cucumbers, this delicious popcorn chicken, and lettuce all so I could make a delicious and legit salad. I never realized nuts were so expensive!! So now I have to cut back on everything else. Oh well it was worth it. =) And if I'm careful they will last me a while.

Fun story of the week: we stopped by this house and asked if we could give them a card and bless their home. He said yes, but when we walked in the mom is like gagging trying to clean up this throw up all over the floor. Can you see where this is going? Yes, we served this family by cleaning up their dog's throw up and it was a BIG dog. It was an adventure. I just kept praying "Please help me keep my dinner down, please help me not throw up." =) Don't worry my prayers were answered. We successfully cleaned up the throw up and mopped the floor then blessed them and gave them a card for a free BofM. She said she would definitely call the number. WABAM!! Missionary work through service!

We had a mission tour with Elder Kolliker from the Seventy this last week. It was really cool. Very spiritual which also means very tiring. I left that meeting which was from 9am to 3pm feeling more wiped out than I do on any other missionary day. He gave us some tips to help keep recent converts active. It was legit. When Olivia gets baptized she will go to the temple for bautismos for los muertos no less than six weeks later. We will take good care of her and make sure the ward does too so she doesn't fall away. Or at least we will do everything in our power to do so, she always has her agency.

Well, that is all for now.
Much love
Hna Scott

I have fought the good fight...I have kept the faith - 2 Tim verses...well, now I can't remember. =)

Oh my heavens. I cannot believe it's almost Thanksgiving. This is crazy to me. Avengers is out on DVD, the Hobbit is coming out in Dec., this Les Meserables sounds epic...*sigh* don't worry I'm not going apostate or anything. I'm pretty excited to get to watch them all for free on somebody's couch when I get home. Just sayin'. =) I'm pretty sure it's the weather here. Because it's warm I think that time isn't really passing because if it was really almost Thanksgiving it would be a lot colder than it really is. Right now it's about 80 degrees. The last couple of days have been a little chilly though. One night before we went home it was 55. I had to wear a weater all day. I never expected this to happen. People kept telling me that it actually does get cold in Phoenix, but I didn't believe them. =)

Olivia should be getting baptized this weekend. She has her interview tonight. She doesn't feel like she's ready but she's acting on faith and is having her interview anyway. This lady pretty much rocks. =) Oh and the other day we prayer blessed this lady's home (in English which was so wierd by the way) and when I said amen she was crying. She kept saying this was so unexpected thank you so much for coming by. I really needed this. Etc. It was so cool. We made an appointment to come by the next day, but she ended up getting callec into work. Grr. That Satan. He would. But it was a pretty cool experience. The Spirit was very strong and obviously He touched her heart through me. Pretty epic.

Did I ever tell you about Vero? I can't remember. Well, she was the very first investigator I met out here on the mission. She's super nice always gave us this delicious drink called Manzanita (which means apple I do believe). Anyway, it got to the point that she wasn't progressing. She wouldn't do any of her commitments. One day we went by and like told her straight up that she wouldn't recieve an answer until she read the BofM diligently until she went to church and prayed. It was the weiredest thing. I was saying these words totally calling out this lady 40 year old lady I'd only know for a month. The Spirit wass almost tangilble. Kinda like an electricity in the air. I left that appointment so physically drained that I could barely drive to the next one. And I was in tears because I felt like I had cursed her. That I had said she would not recieve an answer unless she does these things and she would only recieve it from the BofM.
I was/still am afraid of that power that when need be I can use. A little silly I know. Being afriad of letting God use you as a mouthpiece. THat's why I'm here, but it really scared me and it still does. I guess I don't have enough faith at the moment. But don't worry. I'm working on it. And Pres Eyring once said let faith overcome the fear.

After that Vero wouldn't be there for her appointments and one day she told us she didn't want to get baptized that she didn't believe anything of what we had told her anymore. (Before I had gotten here she was ready for baptism. She had recieved an answer she had and passed her interview. She knew getting baptized was what God wanted her to do, but she wanted to wait for her son Henry to be ready) She said she had done everything she needed in order to know and God hadn't said anything so she didn't believe. It was so sad. It broke my heart. That was a sad story, but I wanted to tell you that that power to talk like that well it happened again last night and was basically the same thing again. Calling Michal to repentance saying if he didn't read the BofM he would never know because the BofM is what holds it all together. I hope this time the story will have a happier ending.

Oh and we had a conference with Elder Holland and Pres Eyring and Sister Esplin and the presiding Bishop this Sunday. It wasn't at our building so it was broadcasted and we watched it in Spanish so I didn't undersstand all that much. It made me thankful that I do speak english so I can hear these apostles speak in their real voices and hear the words that go with the expressions on their faces. (Spanish takes a little longer so you see that face that Pres Eyring pulls when he gets a little teary eyed and then you hear what went with that face like 15 seconds later) But I do love Spanish and every day I understand more and more.

Much love

Hna Scott

Well, it's time to go. Another week is passed. Oh and the title, well, I found that scripture today in personal study and I love it. That's what I want to be able to say by the time I get home.
　

Preaching is good, but sermons that don't lead to action are like fires that don't give heat or water that doesn't quench thirst. - Pres Uchtdorf

Well, another week has gone by, marking the end of my first transfer. Weird. But Hna P isn't being transfered like she thought she was going to be so we'll be together for another transfer, like we're supposed to be when someone is being trianed. Our companionship is going through some growing pains at the moment. Which is bound to happen when you work so closely with someone. I think, nope I know that I just don't play well with others. I would rather do it by myself. And I do better when I know that I have to do it and that there's nobody to fall back on. But that is not the way this life works. =) I will get through it. It'll work out.

 

For Halloween we have to stay inside, unless we have a for sure member set up to join us for the lesson and to drive us to and from the house, or if there's an official ward halloween activity, we have investigators going, and a ride to and from. So it looks like we have a lesson at 6 and at 7 we will attend the halloween party. =) If these things fall through we are expected to deep clean the apartment as instructed by Pres Taylor. Once we have cleaned the apartment we are allowed to take the time to relax.

 

So we went tracting this last week for a couple of hours. We met an English speaking family who are history fanatics. They love everything and anything about history. They were really nice and inteligent people. I automatically likeed they're oldest daughter. They are also hardcore Baptist. Those sermons where the preacher yells at the congregation pounds on the Bible. Yeah that kind. Pues, it was intense. They started pulling out all these "facts" about Joseph Smith, that he really was man whore and went around chasing married women, and that the Book of Mormon contradicts the Bible. That works are dead and all you need is faith all you need to do is believe in Him and not work at anything. Which if you read that verse correctly it says that in fact FAITH is dead WITHOUT WORKS. That we are all born sinners, that we are all born going to hell and we have to work to get to heaven that lieetle children are automatically doomed to live in fire and brimstone for all time and eternity. What a sad depressing outlook on life and on the character of Dios (God) Then as we were leaving the mom stopped us and said, "What if as you are walking back to your car, a truck came around and hitand killed you? You would find yourself in hell because you read the wrong book (refering to the book of mormon). Is that what you want? To be in hell because you listened to a wolf in sheep's clothing (referring to Joseph Smith) ? Go home and read the Bible. Not your silly Book of Mormon. And find out if this is really what you should be doing." Then we said goodbye and went on our way. It was a really interesting exchange. The whole time I did not feel angry or dislike this family in the slightest. I just felt sad that their knowledge has lead them to have this darkness. As we were walking away I had wished I had born powerful testimony of the truths that I know, but I didn't. I think on this lady's words quite often. Not the things she has wrong but the fact that she really had our eternal wellfare in mind just like we have hers. The difference is that we have the light of the gospel. We both felt like we need to knock that door so I am confident that somewhere along the line so good will come out of this exchange.

 

But some good news =) We have a 13 year old investigator name Rosie. She's pretty awesome. She has a baptisimal date for Nov 17. She reads every single thing we give her all the chapters all the pamplets and comes to us with questions about what certain words mean. It's legit. She's legit. She just soaks it all in. Oh and she relates everything we say to movies. We were teaching her the Plan of Salvation and she asks us if it was like this movie she saw with chariots in the sky and stuff. It was pretty funny. Anyway we were teaching her other day and we told her that she needs to start coming to church but she usually goes to her mom's house on weekends. So we asked her to pray about it, specifically if she should go to church on Sunday. So she did. =) Right then and there. When she finished she kept her head down and was wiping away tears. Hna P asked her what she was feeling and Rosie said that she was surprised, surprised by the feelings she was feeling in her heart. That she had gotten an answer right then and there that was so strong. It was pretty cool. So she came to church. She went with us to her neighbor's house Sunday morning who is a member and let that member who se had never before met drive her over to the church. She really liked it and her YWs teacher said she was really involved in the lesson. =) AHHH!!! Now we just have to make sure her parents are okay with her getting baptized.

 

Okay, that tis all for now. Peace out til next Monday.

Much love

Hna Scott

Hna P's B-day Party

I know you're all laughing about me feeling cold in 77 degree weather. Well, do not fear. I have had a mental peptalk and now it is no longer cold. It feels splendid. Last night at Hna P's surprise birthday party (it was her birthday yesterday) all the people there were commenting on how cold it was and I felt fine. =) It's perfect here right now.

 

Hna P had a birthday party last night. It was pretty awesome. I told a member that it was her birthday and then we were able to secretly arrange a little get together. It was pretty small at least as far as Mexican parties go with all of the inactive families we've been working with and a few others it was great. We have a fridge full of legit tomalies (nope, no idea how to spell that word) tres leche cake which is one of my favorite things ever much better here then when you get it at Cafe Rio, pasta y frijoles (beans). They have this tradition for birthdays that after you sing this mexican happy birthday song the birthday person has to take a bite right out of the cake, so they're the first one to eat it. But always someone pushes that persons head into the cake. That's the unsaid part of the tradition. =) Anyway, it was no different for Hna P. It's a good thing we didn't have another appointment last night because there was cake all up in her hair nose etc. =)

 

Anyway, this last week has been pretty intense. I didn't tell you earlier because I forgot, but we had some visitors here in the Phoenix mission on Saturday and Sunday. Any guesses? Elder Niel L Andersen. Apparently I'm supposed to learn something from this guy because he's also the only apostle who came to the MTC while I was there. =) But it's all good. Elder Maynes one of the seventy and Elder Cassau (or something like that) he's one of the counselors in the presiding bishopric also came and is French. It was legit. We all got to shake their hands and Hna P and I got to shake Elder Andersen's hand twice. One before the meeting as we made a quick trip to the bathroom and then once during th emeeting with everyone else. It was pretty cool. =)

 

Before the meeting started we were all instructed to stand when they entered the room. At one point everyone stood up like they were coming in, I don't know how to explain it, but I knew they hadn't really entered. The room didn't feel any different. And it was just Pres Taylor coming back in. Then when they really did walk in there was such a change in the Spirit in the room. It was amazing. And we all stood respectfully while they shook all 200 something people in the Arizona Phoenix mission. Legit. Elder Andersen all four times I've heard him speak outside of conference has always testified about Pres Monson and told us that he brings the prophet's love. It's pretty cool.

 

Then on Sunday the three authorities divided up into three of the stakes in the area and came and spoke at a special meeting. And it just so happens that Elder Andersen is the one who came to our stake. And our ward meets in the stake center. So we got to be in an apostle's presence again. Legit. Oh and our oh so amazing invetigator Olivia and her son Eric came so earliy they got to sit in the fron and they got to shake Elder Andersen's hand. =) WABAM!! Olivia has a baptisimal date for Nov 17.

 

THe next intense thing that happened is that we got to go to the temple yesterday!!! YAYHOO!!! We're allowed to go every 3 months. It just so happens that that three month mark for Hna P was in Oct. And her birthday is in Oct. So she made the arrangements even before I arrived go to the temple on her birthday. The APs did want to let her go since I went to the temple a little over a month ago and technecally shouldn't be able to go for another 2. But they eventually said yes!! So we went. Very early in the morning. The Mesa Temple is gorgeous inside and out and it's so different than the temples in Utah at least format wise. It was very beautiful. Then after that since we went to the temple that's the day that's supposed to be our P day. But apparently Pres Taylor set up a doctor appointment for Hna P on Wednesday and as soon as I sat down to read my emails we got a call telling us to head up to Peoria for this appointment. There went our P day.

 

So yep. That's all of the intense stuff that's happened the last little while. =)

 

Just a littl eabout the work:

We have 7 people with a baptisimal date. One was supposed to get baptized tomorrow but he felt like he wasn't being diligent enough in his scripture reading and prayers so we moved it back. Which is totally okay. I thought it was really cool of him to admit and realize that himself. He's dating a member of the ward, the one who arranged Hna P's party actually.

We have set appointments with most of our investigators and with all of the people who have dates. So if all of those citas (apointments) go through we have 23 lessons a week, not including the new people we try to find every week. Now we're working on setting schedules with the ward missionaries and members to come to the appointments with us.

We met with the bishop of Tuesday to ask what the ward mission plan is and to ask how we can better help the ward. Turns out ( like we already knew, but didn't want to tell the bishop) that they don't have a ward mission plan. So we are having a meeting next week with the ward mission leader bishop and all the missionaries to come up with one. We were also given the assignment to help with the visiting teaching for the people in our area. It was really cool because the bishop said that if the ward depends on the missionaries too much then they get lazy (which is true. A member of the ward said the other day, that it's their fault (the ward) that so many people have fallen away because they just ec[ected the missionaries to take care of it) and because so many people are converts it's our job as missionaries to teach them our to do their visiting teaching so then they won't need us any more. I used to be a little annoyed with obispo ( bishop) because it seemed like we had no support, but now I see that we just weren't communicating all that well. =)

 

Anyway, things are good. Love you all. Read the Why of Priesthood Service from the May 2012 Conference Report by Pres Uchtdorf. It's legit. VZery legit. I've read it twice now and keep finding good things in it. And it's from the priesthood session. Who knew, right?

 

Much love

Hna Scott