Whatever Life Throws at You Throw Back a Smile

Well, how was everyone's Christmas? Was there snow? I sure hope there was. We had a CD that had the the song that goes, "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas." Can't remember the name of it for the life of me. =) Christmas here was good. We were only allowed out of the apartment if we had an appointment or if we went caroling to members of the ward. This was the case for both Christmas Eve and Christmas. So we sat around the house most the time. We watched some of the church movies we have in our apartment and cleaned. It was pretty intense. ;-)

We had dinner with one family in Cielito Christmas night. This family is awesome. The dad is the second counselor in the mission presidency. the mom is just awesome. She always says that her house is our house and that if we don't have anywhere to eat we can just show up to eat. Sometimes at church when she sees us she asks if we have anyone set up to eat dinner with that night and when we answer no, because we haven't made the call yet, she says, okay see you at five and walks away!! We can't even argue with her when she does that! But the ham she made was SOO good!!! I usually don't even like ham that much but this ham was some of the best I've ever had. She made it with pineapple  mmm mm good. She asked us if we could play piano and we all answered yes but we're not very good. So she says well you need something to practice on (in Spanish) and she goes and gets this little toy keyboard that she has for her grand kids and gives it to us. It was legit. I could have just hugged her. Now as part of our companionship study in the morning we practice singing hymns with both the alto and soprano part. We're legit. I know. =) You should have heard us sing Noche de Luz (silent night) man, we were pros. The next time we saw her, her name is Hermana Zayas she says that her grand kids didn't even ask for the piano, they were too busy with all their new toys. So it worked out for all of us.

The rules are pretty much the same for today and tomorrow, minus the caroling part. We have to be back in the apartment at 6 tonight and we have to deep clean, do some "serious goal setting", plan for the next week, etc before we are allowed to have any free time. Then tomorrow we are only allowed out by appointment. So yep. It's gonna be one of the most exciting New Years of my life. I was just barely getting back into the hang of things again after Christmas and now we have to start all over again. Oh well. It'll work out. We're allowed to write letters after we finish all of the above mentioned stuff so maybe I'll have time to catch up on that big stack of letters I still need to respond to. =) Oh and I've fallen behind on my journal writing again so I'll have plenty of time to catch up on that as well. It's turning into a scrapbook kind of thing. No there are no stickers or cutsey stuff going on. Just writing and then the pictures that I've printed off that go with what I've been writing. It's intense man. One day my posterity will look at that and just be amazed by my stunning journal. =)

Nothing too terribly exciting happened this last week. We did get a referral from a lady who went to see the lights in Mesa and loved it but she forgot to put down her apartment number. fail. So we've started on a mission. We are going to knock every single door in the apartment complex to find her. It's gonna be intense man. The good news is that we've already found two potential investigators in the process. We have appointments to go back and see them this week after the festivities. They're both young moms with kids a couple of which are over 8. I've never really worked with a young family before. I'm excited about it. And we're not even one fourth of the way through the complex. It's really big.

Oh and we found this guy. So we got a referral for this lady who lives in this old peoples home. But she didn't put down her whole apartment number. There are four halls and each one has a letter A B C or D and every hall starts at number so the address would be A202 or something like that but all we have in 214. If you're ever going to send your information to the missionaries PLEASE put your whole address down. =) But while we were at this complex we saw this guy as we were walking out and he started talking to us. He said he didn't know anything about God and wanted to know more. He's probably 80ish So we were like okay set an appointment to come back. We went back and saw him and his daughter was there cleaning his apartment for him. She tells us he's a "pervy" kind of guy and that he has alzhiemers (sp?) Great. What did we get ourselves into? But we'd already invited him to church and he said he wanted to come. I thought he was nice. He didn't seem creepy to me, just old and slightly not all there. So we arranged for him a ride to church and he came. He ended up telling everyone he was already a member and he loves the feeling he has a church. It was quite amusing. My comps had to , like always leave early to head to the other ward we cover so I was on my own with him (and my companion for the moment Brenda) until I could find a male to take him to the classes and stuff. He kept getting lost and trying to leave the church building. =) I had to go get him several times. But he seemed to enjoy the whole experience and the family who we asked to give him a ride seemed to really like him. They went and visited him after church and everything. I just am unsure what we're supposed to do. I don't think we're allowed to baptize a man who's not all there. Oh well. Maybe we're just preparing him for the spirit world. =)

Well, HAPPY NEW YEAR my dear friends and family!! Be safe. Make good choices. Keep the Spirit with you. Love you all
Hna Scott

I Believe in Santa Clause, Do You?

Oh man. Well I spent all my time writing Pres Taylor...and looking at all the pictures everyone sent me. =) And well, I shut my thumb in the car door last night, so typing in a little difficult Don't worry, it's only slightly purple and the swelling has gone mostly down, but I still can't bend it all the way.

We had our Christmas conference on Friday. It was absolutely amazing. We did a temple session and got to walk around and look at the lights without having to worry about the investigators that we brought. I was secretly hoping the Holy Ghost had whispered to Carol to show up at the temple, but alas, I did not see her. We also listened to Pres and Sis Taylor speak and sang songs. It was really cool. It's amazing how the Savior is more of a focus now for me than the presents. Don't worry, I'm still excited to open them all tomorrow. =)

I love you all and I loved looking at all the pictures from the family party last night. It made me a little...I am not sure how to explain it. It's a sad feeling but at the same time it's happy. I love seeing all your smiling faces and the Christmas boxers you all are wearing. Part of me wishes I could have been there, but I know this is where I need to be. That when I do see you all again face to face it will be even more sweeter. Hopefully that makes sense. =) And I know, no matter what happens I will be with you all for eternity. What a great gift we have been given. Elder Nelson once said it is part of our human nature to long to be with our family,
that it's a human need. (he said it more eliquently of course.) That too is a wonderful gift. And don't worry. You can still send pictures. =) I really do love looking at all of them.

Merry Christmas!! My heart is with you all!! Stay safe and remember no matter what happens, no matter what you've done, you are a loved child of God. So loved he sent His only begotten Son here to die for you. Another great gift.

Much love and many many hugs
Hna Scott

Hna Scott

On the Second Day of Christmas My President Gave to Me...

Two new companions


Yes, that's right. I am in a trio.

I don't know if I've ever mentioned it to anyone before, but being in a trio is one of my worst fears about being here on a mission. (Followed closely by being attacked by a big huge killer dog, or running into that Muslim guy again who looked extremely not happy that we were there and followed us after we left his girlfriend's house). My companions are Hnas Greenwood (from the MTC. It's a good thing I like her) and Folsom. Hna F was Hna Holmes trainer. So we're in a trio and now we're covering two areas. A part of the Encanto (Loved) ward and a part of the Cielito (little heaven) ward.

And man.

It is intense.

It's weird having to learn to work with new people. Especially two new people. And (not that I'm saying I'm perfectly obedient) they just don't strictly obey the rules. Hna P and I would frequently talk about how we can be more obedient and with all the new missionaries that atre going to be coming in we are now "Tightening Up" so there are all these new rules that we have to follow that are little to help us brecieve more blessings and my two new companions don't follow them as closely as I am used to. I never thought I would say that, but I know that if I don't just accept and follow them I'll hate all these little rules so I have to make myself love them or else I'll just have a bad attitude. So I miss the level of obediance that Hna P and I worked on, but we're all adults and I hate it when people correct my behavior so why should I correct theirs? This is my dilema and it's not like they're doing something super bad, it's just the little stuff. Daily planning now takes twice as long and we have to keep the numbers divided because they're not combining the two areas permanetly (thank goodness) so our numbers are super super low. If you judged us just by our numbers it would look like we weren't doing anything at all. But that is not the case. Have no fear. Nobody answers the door. Or they're too busy bustling around getting ready for Christmas to listen. Which is sad. They don't have time to listen to the misionaras who will bring them the best Christmas gift EVER or listen to the story about Christ's birth...at Christmas time.

Who would have thought?

But do not fear. I do like my new circumstances. Usually. =) And we're learning how to balance two areas at the same time. My Spanish is taking off because Hna P is no longer here to do it all for me and my goodness I love the people in my ward. I mean I always knew it but the thought of having to divide my time between them and another ward was so devistating. But i have been given the gift of charity and am learing to love the people of Cielito. Oh and good news!! For the first time in WEEKS! (even though Hna P and I would go tracting for hours and hours) we FINALLY found some people who want to learn more!!! AHHH!!!! It hasn't happened since we found Olivia (who did not get baptized by the way.) (we've found people, but not people who are so completely prepared for the gospel that you can feel it) So for the first time in probably 3 weeks we have found THREE new investigators who are so ready to learn. (unfortunatley two of them are going to Mexico for Christmas, but I will count my blessings) I've been praying for this forever!! And it's finally happened!! WABAM!! God answers prayers.

It has finally gotten cold here. And by that I mean 40s-60s (I am no longer the designated driver =( , so I don't get to look at the temperature all the time) Saturday and Sunday it rained just about all day. My feet were wet and frozen, but it was on those days that we found the new investigators. =) Funny how that works, right? I have been asked to accompany an elder for the Christmas mission conference...and they asked me on Saturday and got the music to me last night. It's a good thing I'm a SUPER fantastic piano player and can just bust out playing amazingly all the time (that was sarcasm)...I knew I should have kept my musical ability a secret. So we shall see how that goes. I will practice the music for the first time today after we go shopping. And the conference is one friday. I will let you know how it goes.

Well, Christmas time is coming (and the goose is getting fat) There's not much I can do for all of you for this special day, but know you are in my prayers. Watch the Christmas devotional and visit mormon.org/christmas =) Will you do that? (what's a missionary if they don't leave commitments? =) )

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! And may you remember the true meaning of this time of year

Much love
Hna Scott

On the first day of Christmas my president gave to me...

Well, today we got a text. Any idea what it said? And, since it's a Tuesday that means that it's the last P day of the transfer.

Any idea what that means? Yep, you got it right. I'm not leaving Encanto. =) But Hna P is. Which is good. And very sad at the same time.

It's weird. I've developed a love for her that I don't think I've had with anyone before. Kind of like a motherly love. (I've never been a mom I know, but it's the only way to describe it) I've had to take care of her a little bit. Make sure she eats and sleeps. Make sure she's taking care of herself and that kind of stuff. But I've had to do it very sneakily like. Otherwise she just gets angry. =) I remember the day she was so sick she couldn't even get out of bed. Her headache was so bad she couldn't talk. And all I could do was sit there and watch. Watch as Pres and Sis Taylor told me this is just a cycle, that I shouldn't worry, that she does this all the time to get out of working, and if she doesn't stop she's going to be sent home. I just wanted to shake them both and scream in their faces, "THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE SHE WORKS TOO MUCH!!! NOT BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO GET OUT OF IT!!!" I have honestly seen her go from throwing up over and over and in a second as soon as a member walked over, she was perfectly fine and she then went on to ask him about his family his kids his job etc. That is not a person who wants to get out of work. But things are better now. Have no fear. =) She hasn't gotten sick in a while and after that experience I couldn't get mad at her for the little things she did that bugged me. I had to be by her side all the time working with her so she didn't work too much. And now she's leaving. I feel like these last two transfers have been like riding a bike with training wheels. And now the training wheels are impeeding the growth rather than helping. I'm excited to find out how I do this work when I don't have someone telling me exactly how to do it everytime, to develop my own teaching style/personality, to not always be the shadow that follows Hna P around. Hopefully that makes sense. =)

I have some very exciting news. =) Well, other than the fact that I'm staying here in Encanto. We're having another baptism this week!! At least one of our investigators is getting baptized, Olivia!! The lady I found and when I tried to speak in Spanish to her the first time it didn't even make sense, but she let us in anyway. She's had this doubt about Jose Smith for a while now and that's why she didn't get baptized before. Last week we fasted for her and watched the whole Jose Smith video with her. She told us the day after she watched it that she had felt it was all true during the movie, but that she went home and her family started bashing on the church and then she started having all these doubts. So we told her she's ready that she knows it's true and shouldn't wait. So she had her interview yesterday and wants to go through with the baptism this Friday!!! WABAM!!! The other investigator is Enrique. He's the one who had cancer and got a priesthood blessing and a blood tranfusion and since then has been getting better. Well, until recently. We've taught him everything. He knows it's true, but he's been getting sick again. He doesn't have a lot of strength in his legs so he doesn't want to get baptized because he thinks he's going to fall while it happens. But it should happen. And he needs to get baptized. If he keeps getting worse...well, he may not have much time left in this life.

Today, in the beautiful spirit of Christmas, we started the Chain of Charity. Baha. What a cheesey name, I know. But we paid a visit to the hermanas down south. Meaning Hna Macy and Holmes from the MTC and their companions (they live together, just live Hna Greenwood from the MTC and I live together with our companions) we heart attacked their door made them a cake shaped like a big missionary name tag and wrapped their door in wrapping paper and set forth the rules for the Chan of Charity. They have to do an act of charity for two more companionships of missionaries who will then do it for two more and two more and two more and so forth. Kind of like Pay it Forward, but none of us are going to get stabbed. I hope they keep it going. As soon as Hna P gets me the pictures I will send them on to you all.

Well, that's about all for now. =) MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Oh and check out mormon.org/christmas

much love
Hna Scott

Remember you are a choice child of God. Never forget it, always live it.

I always feel silly starting these letters. Like I have to come up with some smart, fancy way that's different than the last week, but I think sometimes I just start them the same every time...just like my journal entries. "Today we..." =) Oh well, you've just gotta bear with me.

Now, this last week.

Hmm.

We found this lovely lady. Her name is Juana. She is 76 years old and has lived alone for the the las 36 years. Her kids say it's her fault that she and her husband got divorced and all but one of them live out of state. The one that does live in Arizona lives in Glendale which is about a thirty min. drive from where we live and this daughter only stops by once a month. She has a sister who lives in Tucson that drive downs every once in a while to make sure she's taking her medication and to clean her bathroom. It really is so sad. On Saturday I asked her how her day was and she said that whether its Monday thrusday or sunday it doesn't matter because all the days seem the same to her. Oh my heavens it was so sad. And this lady is so precious. Everything about her is precious. She has these dentures that she has been saving up for for years and so her smile is so cute. There is one thing about dear Juana though. She's a pack rat. I mean it in the best way possible. She was born duning the great depression so she says she needs to save everything in case she's going to need it eventually. Do you remember that show on TLC that was about helping people clean out their houses. Well, she could almost be on that show. We walked through it all the other day and found like old old raggady ann and cabbage patch dolls with the special signature on them to say that they're legit. We also found a very vintage looking dresser. And she has art, like nice art Picasso and others shoved into this one closet. My heavens. =) This house is an adventure. I love it. Well, except the smell in the kitchen. =) Anyway we went by and started cleaning with her. We got rid of most of her dishes that she doesn't want already and cleaned out about half of the cupboards and cleaned all of her dishes that were piling up on the counter top for weeks and weeks. The ward is coming over on Saturday to help her as well. Hna P and I are hoping to get most of it cleaned out before then or at least all of her treasures so when the ward comes by it doesn't just get thrown out. Man, I love this lady. Seeing her all alone like this makes me so sad. Don't worry mom and dad. When you're 76 and if you don't have anywhere to live you can live with me. =)

Oh yes! And the most exciting new yet! I cannot believe I had forgotten already. Do you remember when I told you the two stories about Vero and Michal? Well, both of them have new chapters. We ran into Vero the other day when we were visiting the apartment complex she lives in. We when in and talked to her and found out that she was moving the next weekend. So we helped her pack. As we were carrying stuff out to the car we heard her son Henry who was always the sweetest little boy cussing up a storm at his little sister and then she returned it with full force. Oh my. It was so devestating to see the deterioration of their family like that. Vero had chosen to regect everything we had taught her. To throw it back in God's face in a way and now her children are not growing up with good values. It was so sad. Henry was so sweet and then we hear him swearing and threatening to kill his sister. It was so sad. And they moved. And Vero wouldn't tell us her address. So we don't know where they are. BUT! The story with Michal continues as well. =) After Wabaming him and reminding him what is expected of him, he stepped it up. He started taking in depth notes whenever he read the book of mormon he started to pray every day. And well on Nov 30 he was baptized. Yep. He was baptized. =) It was one of the best experiences of my life. You know that scripture that says all of our trials and tribulations will be swalled up in the joy of Christ? Well, I know a little bit more of what that scripture means now. All of the things that have happened so far on my mission are nothing compared to the feeling I had as I watched Michal be baptized and then yesterday on Sunday be confirmed. All of those things I had thought of as sad and hard became nothing as I saw him enter into the waters of baptism. And how great shall be your joy if you shall belp but one soul.

So that's just a little bit about my week. Hope yours went splendidly.

Hna Scott