MTC
Going to the temple
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
He hears every word
Well, yet again, another week has gone by. Goodness gracious. I honestly just can't believe it. Before you know it...well we don't think about that.
This week has gone really very well. We had zone conference last Thursday. It was delightful. And I mean that in all honesty. Believe it or not I am trying to give up sarcasm. =) Not sure how well it's been working but it's the thought that counts right? PS last time I said that to Hermana Day she responded with, "But faith without works is dead. So your thoughts don't matter one bit."
Head desk.
Really? I mean come on.
It's true though. I can say I'm going to work on giving up sarcasm but until I actually act on it, it's no use. It's a lie.
Anyway, Zone Conference. Delightful. We learned this new way to involve members in missionary work and it's pretty awesome if I do say so myself. All you have to do is say when someone asks you a question about you, like why you don't drink coffee, or why your family is so important, or why you go to church every Sunday, you respond with "would you be willing to hear a brief message about ____________?" Fill in the blank with what they asked about. If they say no continue on with your conversation like normal. If they say yes, tell them you know two amazing young women/men who would love to share the brief message, get the needed information and WABAM!! You just did member missionary work! The key is to say "willing" and "brief."
So, the next time someone asks you about why you are the way you are, will you try the willing and brief approach?
I promise you the joy that comes from sharing the gospel. It is indescribable and I really believe a taste of what heaven really feels like.
I also spoke briefly with President Toone, which was also delightful and got a priesthood blessing. I really do understand that the priesthood in the boy (aka the normal little 18 year old missionary) is the same as the priesthood in the man (aka big seven foot giant mission president) but the big seven foot mission president always gives blessings that are beyond understanding or beyond explanation.
I really did love all the talks from conference about the priesthood and the respect and how we all are blessed from it. My goodness. I got chills from them. I'm even going to print one of them off right now so I can study it later.
Love you all.
Have a splendid day/week.
Hna Scott
Conference man.
“There may be times when you feel detached—even isolated—from the Giver of every good gift. You worry that you walk alone. Fear replaces faith. When you find yourself in such circumstances, I plead with you to remember prayer.”
—President Thomas S. Monson
Well, I loved conference. Every single moment. I learned a lot, but I hope to actually this once be able to do what Elder Hales said. To study and pray and ponder the messages. The greatest blessings really come AFTER conference. I want to focus on that this time around. But there's always so much to do! How am I ever going to find the time to study all of the things I want to study?!? What is the deal with my life?!? =)
In case you wanted to know I did a covenant count this conference. Just on Sunday because I didn't think about until Saturday night. The Sunday morning session mentioned covenants about 10 times. The Sunday afternoon session about 14 times. I printed off the Relief Society broadcast and read those talks counting every time the word covenant was there. How many times do you think it was mentioned in Relief Society? Any guesses?
About 81 times.
WABAM
That's right. =) Once the other talks are available to be printed I will be doing the same with the Saturday sessions.
Have you ever noticed the difference between when woman talk about covenants and when men talk about covenants? Well, there's a difference. Both are good, but just pay attention next time.
This week has been fun. We managed to teach some more lessons. We're being really good with our miles. We have an investigator named Bianca. She's so prepared! If only she realized how prepared she was! Her oldest daughter has a friend, a member from the church, who tragically died a few months ago. Bianca knows that she was a member of this church, she even took her whole family to the funeral in the chapel. Last time we were at her house she thanked us for everything we've taught her, it's helped her so much etc etc. My it touched my heart. IT's moments like those that you look forward to on a mission. But she has no desire to change her religion. We've thought about it and prayed about it and we feel like we're supposed to continue teaching her. So we told her that. We also told her we would continue to keep inviting her to be baptized. But she's free to say no if that's the answer. She agreed. And it became an agreement to disagree. =)
We were out contacting people last night, looking for places with Hispanics in them, and we ran into this lady. She had a...um how to explain her accent? Black? Gangster? Hood? She told us how she used to do drugs, she used to be invloved in gangs and drinking and selling drugs and all sorts of bad things. Then one day she got shot in the head. No one but God knew where she was that night. And He saved her. She said the bullet is still in her head, but she's not dead and she knows that it was God who spared her life. She said, "Jesus is in my heart." I responded, "and that's what's most important." She then looked at me and said, "Girl, when you're talking to me you don't talk like that. You say, 'that's what's up." Yep, I was taught how to speak a little more gangster/hood-like last night. =) We got a good laugh out of it. This same lady then told us that she doesn't need another church and that's she's going to take the whole road with her to her church. So we'd better not be preaching to any of the people on her street.
Yep, learned how to talk correctly and got warned to not proselyte on her street. =) It was pretty funny.
But honestly. What if all of us had the same attitude this lady has. She knows Christ saved her. She knows His words and teachings will bless her. She even described that when you listen to His words it sounds like honey. And now she's going to get the whole street she lives on to go to church with her.
What if we all did that?
It makes me think of M Russell Ballard's commitment he gave us. To find one person and lead them by the hand and introduce them to Jesus Christ, If everyone of us did that then millions of people would feel of the love of Jesus Christ.
That's a promise from an apostle people! It has to happen! Are you going to lead someone by the hand to Jesus Christ before Christmas?
Conference really is His conference. The talks are given and directed by Him and the SPirit takes the message you need to hear to your heart.
I love this church. I love my family. I'm so thankful for all of you that pray for me and support me everyday. May we keep the feelings we felt in conference with us. May we remember the love we felt from out Savior.
Hna Scott
This week has been fun. We managed to teach some more lessons. We're being really good with our miles. We have an investigator named Bianca. She's so prepared! If only she realized how prepared she was! Her oldest daughter has a friend, a member from the church, who tragically died a few months ago. Bianca knows that she was a member of this church, she even took her whole family to the funeral in the chapel. Last time we were at her house she thanked us for everything we've taught her, it's helped her so much etc etc. My it touched my heart. IT's moments like those that you look forward to on a mission. But she has no desire to change her religion. We've thought about it and prayed about it and we feel like we're supposed to continue teaching her. So we told her that. We also told her we would continue to keep inviting her to be baptized. But she's free to say no if that's the answer. She agreed. And it became an agreement to disagree. =)
We were out contacting people last night, looking for places with Hispanics in them, and we ran into this lady. She had a...um how to explain her accent? Black? Gangster? Hood? She told us how she used to do drugs, she used to be invloved in gangs and drinking and selling drugs and all sorts of bad things. Then one day she got shot in the head. No one but God knew where she was that night. And He saved her. She said the bullet is still in her head, but she's not dead and she knows that it was God who spared her life. She said, "Jesus is in my heart." I responded, "and that's what's most important." She then looked at me and said, "Girl, when you're talking to me you don't talk like that. You say, 'that's what's up." Yep, I was taught how to speak a little more gangster/hood-like last night. =) We got a good laugh out of it. This same lady then told us that she doesn't need another church and that's she's going to take the whole road with her to her church. So we'd better not be preaching to any of the people on her street.
Yep, learned how to talk correctly and got warned to not proselyte on her street. =) It was pretty funny.
But honestly. What if all of us had the same attitude this lady has. She knows Christ saved her. She knows His words and teachings will bless her. She even described that when you listen to His words it sounds like honey. And now she's going to get the whole street she lives on to go to church with her.
What if we all did that?
It makes me think of M Russell Ballard's commitment he gave us. To find one person and lead them by the hand and introduce them to Jesus Christ, If everyone of us did that then millions of people would feel of the love of Jesus Christ.
That's a promise from an apostle people! It has to happen! Are you going to lead someone by the hand to Jesus Christ before Christmas?
Conference really is His conference. The talks are given and directed by Him and the SPirit takes the message you need to hear to your heart.
I love this church. I love my family. I'm so thankful for all of you that pray for me and support me everyday. May we keep the feelings we felt in conference with us. May we remember the love we felt from out Savior.
Hna Scott
"We go to the temple to make covenants. We go home to keep them." -one of the wonderful women in the General Relief Society presidency
Sept. 30, 2013
Well, okay. Can I just tell you about what happened on Saturday night? Relief Society broadcast man!
So the last few weeks I've been studying covenants again. They really tie into everything. Honest they do. So I've made this summary paper of all the things I've learned and even when I thought I knew it all... =) ...God taught me more. So of course I've been sharing everything I've learned with the lovely sisters that I live with and my companion (poor girl has to hear it twice. Once when I tell her during companionship study and again when I tell everybody else in the house). They're all loving it too. They've started their own studies of covenants, reading old conference talks and noticing how many times covenants are mentioned and they never noticed. This morning we had a discussion about - okay, now I'm off topic. Anyway, We go to the broadcast one one of the first things that Sister Burton said was about keeping covenants and being covenant keepers.
There was an audible gasp from all four of us. Best thing ever.
Then The sisters who spoke quoted the talks I've been studying, mentioning all the things I've learned, solidifying what I knew and expanding on it.
It was totally awesome!
Now I'm expanding my study of covenants to encompass a few things mentioned in the broadcast and I'm going to buy a notebook today specifically for covenants and all the branches off of it.
Oh! And something I learned on Sunday while reading a talk about the sacrament! He talked about how important the sacrament is, then he commented on how all of the ordinances in some way or another are tied to the Atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ.. Think about it. It's true. Then today I was reading a talk by Elder Hales and he said that the blessings we receive from our covenants are possible through the Atonement. I'm a little unsure of how that works, I mean I trust that it's true something about grace and the enabling power. But by golly, I'm going to figure out how. =)
Just in case you were all wondering and I'm sure you are, I'm being fed quite delightfully here. So much so that I feel like I'm permanently full. The only reason I feel like I'm hungry is because my body is trained to eat at 7, 12, and 5. Just a heads up, I'm going to come home a little softer around the edges. Spiritually, emotionally and physically. =)
Hmm.
Oh yes.
There's this awesome family here in the branch. They arrived from Mexico 6ish months ago. They're awesome. They're a middle aged couple with their kids all grown and gone. They've only been married for 2 years now and the husband has only been a member of the church for 2 years. They, my heavens, are the most proper people I've ever met. They're always wearing their best clothes. Their house is always spotless, they speak so refined that at first I had a hard time understanding them because I'm used to hearing not refined Spanish. He used to work for one of the presidents of Mexico. She has all sorts of degrees and learning. They've both held high prestigious jobs in Mexico. Then something happened that they decided they needed to come to the United States. Things have been hard for them here because of immigration. Only she has a work permit, he is a dependent of her until he gets his. And she can't find a job, even with all of her qualifications.
Though most importantly, they are disciples of Jesus Christ.
The other day, he went to another member's house right as she left to go pick up her mom. Like usual, he was dressed in a suit and tie. Instead of leaving or sitting in his car with the air conditioner on, he got out and started pulling weeds while he waited for her to come back. We've heard tons of other stories about this family that are similar. They are disciples of Jesus Christ. They are keeping their covenants through service to their fellowman.
Due to their circumstances they may not be able to stay here. I pray they find a way because our little branch needs their example of discipleship.
Have a splendid week. Watch conference. Drink in the words of Christ. Receive the personal revelation you need. Go with a question and it will be answered.
Hna Scott
Sunday, September 29, 2013
"The Father having raised me up unto you first, and sent me to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities; and this because ye are the children of the covenant—" 3Ne 20:26
Guess what!!
I officially finished el LIbro de Mormon yesterday!! In Spanish, claro. Reading out loud for the first part of my language study time. WABAM! I am officially fluent now. ;-) Reading the Book of Mormon out loud in a different language really grewmy testimony. Because sentence structure is a little bit different I had to pay really close attention to every word I was reading. It's amazing how much more you understand and how things that you never noticed before in the way it's worded because you're not really paying attention to the little filler words. I remember when I read 2Ne 9 out loud. I was just about bawling my eyes out because of how much more it hit me while reading it.
Yep the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is another testament of Jesus Christ. The more we read it, the more we learn about Him, the more we come to know who He is and what He expects of us. I love this book. With my whole heart.
Learned some legit things today in personal study. I'm studying covenants again... =) Because they're awesome. And I wanted a page with all my thoughts observations and the references on it. I realized something that I think I've realized before, but not in this magnitude. We as children of the covenant receive His blessing and help to turn away from our iniquities, just as the scripture in the subject says.
So how does He help us turn from our iniquities? Chastening, afflictions, trials, etc.
BUT
He says He's been sent to BLESS us in turning us away from our iniquities. So often we look at trials as an awful thing we have to get through, not as a blessing to help us turn from our iniquities. And He comes to us, He chastens us because we're children of the covenant. He's covenanted to do all that He can without taking away our agency to help us turn away from all iniquity. And Jesus Christ, well, He's a covenant keeper.
Also in D&C 101:4-5 it says,
"they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.
"For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified."
We have to accept chastening whether from our leaders, from God, from the scriptures. We have to because without chastening how can we know where we need to improve?
And before in verse 3 it says, "Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels."
How much pressure and heat does it take to form a precious jewel? Lots. So how much will it take to form a sanctified daughter of God who has infinite worth?
And that's the very very simplified version. =)
Love you!
Que tengan una buena semana
Hna Scott
I officially finished el LIbro de Mormon yesterday!! In Spanish, claro. Reading out loud for the first part of my language study time. WABAM! I am officially fluent now. ;-) Reading the Book of Mormon out loud in a different language really grewmy testimony. Because sentence structure is a little bit different I had to pay really close attention to every word I was reading. It's amazing how much more you understand and how things that you never noticed before in the way it's worded because you're not really paying attention to the little filler words. I remember when I read 2Ne 9 out loud. I was just about bawling my eyes out because of how much more it hit me while reading it.
Yep the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is another testament of Jesus Christ. The more we read it, the more we learn about Him, the more we come to know who He is and what He expects of us. I love this book. With my whole heart.
Learned some legit things today in personal study. I'm studying covenants again... =) Because they're awesome. And I wanted a page with all my thoughts observations and the references on it. I realized something that I think I've realized before, but not in this magnitude. We as children of the covenant receive His blessing and help to turn away from our iniquities, just as the scripture in the subject says.
So how does He help us turn from our iniquities? Chastening, afflictions, trials, etc.
BUT
He says He's been sent to BLESS us in turning us away from our iniquities. So often we look at trials as an awful thing we have to get through, not as a blessing to help us turn from our iniquities. And He comes to us, He chastens us because we're children of the covenant. He's covenanted to do all that He can without taking away our agency to help us turn away from all iniquity. And Jesus Christ, well, He's a covenant keeper.
Also in D&C 101:4-5 it says,
"they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.
"For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified."
We have to accept chastening whether from our leaders, from God, from the scriptures. We have to because without chastening how can we know where we need to improve?
And before in verse 3 it says, "Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels."
How much pressure and heat does it take to form a precious jewel? Lots. So how much will it take to form a sanctified daughter of God who has infinite worth?
And that's the very very simplified version. =)
Love you!
Que tengan una buena semana
Hna Scott
To connect us with heaven and help us overcome the confusion of the mortal world, ordinances raise our view, providing a vision of the things of eternity.
Well, this week has been intense. Like normal. =)
I got a new companion. I knew I would. I never keep a companion for more than a transfer unless I'm training someone or when I was trained. God works in patterns you know.
Her name is Hermana Day. She's from Ohio. She is in same stake as Hermana Macy from the MTC, actually. She got to go to the Mexico MTC. Legit. Her Spanish is much better than mine coming out of the MTC, but I really think that's because she went to that MTC where everything everything is in Spanish. She's totally different than Hermana Taylor which is to be expected. =) I really do like her a lot. She is going to be a great missionary one day.
We've been pretty low on lessons lately. We don't have enough miles to drive anywhere. Like two places in the whole area and then we have to stay there are just walk around and talk to people because we don't have the miles to go anywhere else. And I don't have a bike since Elder Rodgers took mine away to give it to someone who would actually use it. Little did he know I would move out here where we have an area that seems like it's 100 times larger than my last one with the exact same amount of miles. Oh well. I need to call the vehicle coordinator over here and see if there are bikes that they'll let me borrow because I really don't want to buy a bike at this point. It would be silly.
So today I read this passage of scripture. Alma 48:11-13, 16-17 and I learned some cool things about Moroni.
Moroni was:
strong and mighty
had perfect understanding
did not delight in bloodshed
soul did joy in liberty
heart did swell with thanksgiving to God
did labor exceedingly for the welfare of his people
firm in the faith of Christ
his heart gloried in his faith and keeping the commandments of God and resisting iniquity
Then at the end of verse 17 we learn that if we were all like Moroni, "the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever," and that Satan would never have power over our hearts. My goodness. I want that. I don't want Satan to have power over my heart. Do you? I know there are a lot of things on that list that I can work on. A lot of weapons of rebellion I could bury never to get out again. Is it worth it to get rid of those interests and activities that aren't in harmony with God's will? Of course it is. But can I do it? Will I do it?
I'm going to start with one thing from this list I think. I'm going to work on being a woman whose heart does swell with thanksgiving to her God, for the many privileges which he has bestowed upon me. D&C 78:19 says, "And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even anhundred fold, yea, more" Yep, I'll be honest I want that promise too. =) So that's what I'm going to be working on to become more like Moroni, to make it so Satan has no power over my heart.
What are you going to do to become more like Moroni?
"And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will." Alma 33:23
Well, in case you didn't know, it isn't always sunshine and heat in AZ. Sometimes it's rainy. And the streets are flooded. Yep. It's a nice change. Very nice. =)
Okay, FB man. I never knew all those photos I took in college for fun and then put on FB would ever be a problem. I had to go through one by one and take down all of my pictures. It took AGES!! And there are more I should probably take down as well. Harmph.
Now, without meaning to, I have a pretty good idea of all of my friends who have gotten married and had children. My close friends have been good enough to put those kinds of things on hold for me, but the others...not so much. =) Now the problem is figuring out how to use FB in a productive way to share the gospel. Hna S one of the sisters that lives in our house is so good. She uses every minute of her time productively. I'm taking lessons from her. =)
The rules for FB because you're all probably wondering if you can even talk to me is that I have to ask myself, "am I living my purpose?" So looking at so and sos wedding pictures is definitely out of the question. =) Other than that it's up to the missionary's discretion.
The funny thing is, just a few weeks ago we were doing a noche de hogar with the branch president's family and they asked us what the thing we missed most about home was. I could not think of anything really other than my family and my friends. The family didn't believe me. What about music what about sleeping in what about the internet. Etc. So then I told them I was addicted to the internet before my mission and that I don't want to get addicted to the internet again. Now I'm allowed and hour of FB time a day!! Sheesh! So much for not getting addicted to it again. =) Not to mention all of the dreams that I have that include being at home also include the internet in some form or another.
Ok so news of the week. Transfers are Wednesday. I got a call this morning and I'm training again. I'll be staying in Casa Grande. It's going to be intense.
Yesterday, we taught a prepared man. His ex wife is a member and so are all of his kids. He's been to a temple in Idaho, the one in SLC, Mesa and the lights for Christmas and the Easter Pageant. He knows all about Jose Smith, including his multiple wives, but when we told him that what matters is if he's a good person called of God he asked how he could know that. He asked what good things Jose Smith did in his life, so we told him a few and then expounded on the BofM and told him that if the book is true then Joseph Smith is true. If the book's false then Joseph Smith is false. But you must READ the book and PRAY to find out. It's like a chocolate cake you've got to taste it before knowing that it's delicious or if in fact you really don't like chocolate. It was so cool. I got about 5 mosquito bites during that lesson (we were outside) but it was totally worth it.
Oh and there's this one investigator who has the CUTEST little dogs. They're super crazy and always jump on us and bite the hems of our skirts until one day we found out that if you scratch the ones belly he immediately calms down and if you pick the other one up she calms down as well. They're adorable. Unfortunately, the investigator has stopped answering the door, but we'll keep stopping by at least to play with his puppies. =)
There's a family here in the branch. The wife is from Argentina. The husband is from here. And he doesn't speak any Spanish. When they got married she didn't speak a word of English. Now she does though. The other day she told us how they met and got married. It's an intense story including her soon to be father in law dragging her down the isle because she suddenly didn't want to do it and because she hated the man waiting for her by the bishop. Their relationship is interesting. =) It's so funny. But they make it work and now they love each other...thank heavens. She talks in this really high pitched overly sweet voice and it's really hilarious to hear her say things like "kill them" or "are you mentally ill" which she says quite often. She's a family history professional and always says exactly what's on her mind, even if that means telling the whole elders quorum that their salvation is on the line because they're not doing their family history work. Oh and she has a file on her computer for all of her genealogy files called "Alicia's Dead People." We eat with them every Sunday. It's a hoot. =)
Have a splendid week!
Hna Scott
Okay, FB man. I never knew all those photos I took in college for fun and then put on FB would ever be a problem. I had to go through one by one and take down all of my pictures. It took AGES!! And there are more I should probably take down as well. Harmph.
Now, without meaning to, I have a pretty good idea of all of my friends who have gotten married and had children. My close friends have been good enough to put those kinds of things on hold for me, but the others...not so much. =) Now the problem is figuring out how to use FB in a productive way to share the gospel. Hna S one of the sisters that lives in our house is so good. She uses every minute of her time productively. I'm taking lessons from her. =)
The rules for FB because you're all probably wondering if you can even talk to me is that I have to ask myself, "am I living my purpose?" So looking at so and sos wedding pictures is definitely out of the question. =) Other than that it's up to the missionary's discretion.
The funny thing is, just a few weeks ago we were doing a noche de hogar with the branch president's family and they asked us what the thing we missed most about home was. I could not think of anything really other than my family and my friends. The family didn't believe me. What about music what about sleeping in what about the internet. Etc. So then I told them I was addicted to the internet before my mission and that I don't want to get addicted to the internet again. Now I'm allowed and hour of FB time a day!! Sheesh! So much for not getting addicted to it again. =) Not to mention all of the dreams that I have that include being at home also include the internet in some form or another.
Ok so news of the week. Transfers are Wednesday. I got a call this morning and I'm training again. I'll be staying in Casa Grande. It's going to be intense.
Yesterday, we taught a prepared man. His ex wife is a member and so are all of his kids. He's been to a temple in Idaho, the one in SLC, Mesa and the lights for Christmas and the Easter Pageant. He knows all about Jose Smith, including his multiple wives, but when we told him that what matters is if he's a good person called of God he asked how he could know that. He asked what good things Jose Smith did in his life, so we told him a few and then expounded on the BofM and told him that if the book is true then Joseph Smith is true. If the book's false then Joseph Smith is false. But you must READ the book and PRAY to find out. It's like a chocolate cake you've got to taste it before knowing that it's delicious or if in fact you really don't like chocolate. It was so cool. I got about 5 mosquito bites during that lesson (we were outside) but it was totally worth it.
Oh and there's this one investigator who has the CUTEST little dogs. They're super crazy and always jump on us and bite the hems of our skirts until one day we found out that if you scratch the ones belly he immediately calms down and if you pick the other one up she calms down as well. They're adorable. Unfortunately, the investigator has stopped answering the door, but we'll keep stopping by at least to play with his puppies. =)
There's a family here in the branch. The wife is from Argentina. The husband is from here. And he doesn't speak any Spanish. When they got married she didn't speak a word of English. Now she does though. The other day she told us how they met and got married. It's an intense story including her soon to be father in law dragging her down the isle because she suddenly didn't want to do it and because she hated the man waiting for her by the bishop. Their relationship is interesting. =) It's so funny. But they make it work and now they love each other...thank heavens. She talks in this really high pitched overly sweet voice and it's really hilarious to hear her say things like "kill them" or "are you mentally ill" which she says quite often. She's a family history professional and always says exactly what's on her mind, even if that means telling the whole elders quorum that their salvation is on the line because they're not doing their family history work. Oh and she has a file on her computer for all of her genealogy files called "Alicia's Dead People." We eat with them every Sunday. It's a hoot. =)
Have a splendid week!
Hna Scott
Another week in the mission
Well, I decided I needed to start keeping a list so I could actually write stuff to you all about what has been going on here. So I did and here I go. Okay just kidding left the list at home...opps.
Last week I got a hair cut. The first one since I left the MTC. WHich means more than 11 months ago.=) Eep. The lady looks at my hair and does not stop saying "how did you go so long without a hair cut?" I tried to describe how when you only have so much time on Pday getting a haircut is one of the last things on the list. Especially when the only sister in your ward that cuts hair only speaks Spanish. You try describing what you want done to your hair in another language. It's a frightening task. Let me tell you. Then the sister says, "well, there's so many dead ends and damage from being in a ponytail I'm going to have to cut off 3 inches. WHAT?! 3 inches?!? Yeah. Now my hair barely reaches my shoulders. But at least it's healthy again.
Golfing. We went golfing a couple of pdays ago. How does anyone play that sport for fun? I just don't understand. I don't. At least I didn't break a club like Hna L did. She hit the ground and the ball and the club went farther than the ball. And it was one of those expensive clubs with the big head used for hitting the ball really far. Hehe. It was funny. Driving the golf cart was really fun though. I enjoyed it that part.
Have I mentioned that it's a branch here? Well, it is. The branch president is Latino but both of his counselors are American. LOVE his counselors. I like him too of course. The other day at our coordination meeting we were running out of time so I just told him the important parts. Then he looks at me and says, "Hermana all of them are important." Then I promptly told him to read the paper. That's why we fill it out. *head desk* everyone busts out laughing and I slap my hand over my mouth and apologize over and over for my unbecoming behavior. Thankfully Presidente G is a forgiving man. And a jokster so he just laughed about it. =) He informed me the other day that he did indeed read the paper. =)
His counselors.
Hno S. An eyedoctor. Married for over 12 years. Has 6 kids his wife wants to have 2 more. And his kids are ADORABLE!!! Oh my heavens. I love them. During dinner the 4 year old facepalms after his dad tells him he has to eat his salad before he gets desert. I could not hold it in I just laughed and laughed. SO hard my face turned red. Hno S gets things done. He's always behind presidente following up asking about missionary work asking when they can go do member visits with us. Yep he's awesome. Fun facts: Looks like John Druit from Sanctuary and his at the time twelve year old niece set him and his wife up.
Hno B. Works for an insurance agency. Has been married for 5 years. And has five kids. They do not plan to have anymore. 2 of their kids they adopted. Recently the youngest's adoption was finalized and they got to go through the temple to be sealed to him about a month ago. Their first 2 kinds are 4 years old. THey're three months apart. The next three are between 18 and 14 months. THey have a set of twins and the child they adopted. Eating dinner last night was so fun. THey had three highchairs all next to each other for the babies. Hno B was helping Kye pray for dinner and it was the cutest thing ever. Hno B is super patient. He really wants to magnify his calling. And his one daughter (all the rest are boys) is totally a dady's girl.
We have six girls living in our apartment. Sisters V and T are English speaking. Sister V is from Korea but lives in Hawaii. She was adopted when she was 13 years old. Sis T went to Utah State and actually was one of the recuiters who gives tours of the campus and all that jazz. Hnas S and J are the other two Spanish sisters. They work in the branch with us. Hna S is from Columbia but moved here when she was 6. She's hilarious. I love her. Hna J actually reminds me a lot of my friend Bri. Other than the fact that she has flaming red hair. She's also from WJ but went to Copper Hills. She's been great to talk to when no one else is there.
Ok so that's all I can remember from my list. Oh other than one thing.
starting tomorrow.
I will be using my already existing account. Just sos you know.
Love ya
Hna Scott
Monday, September 2, 2013
Another Week in the Mission
Well, I decided I needed to start keeping a list so I could actually write stuff to you all about what has been going on here. So I did and here I go. Okay just kidding left the list at home...opps.
Last week I got a hair cut. The first one since I left the MTC. WHich means more than 11 months ago.=) Eep. The lady looks at my hair and does not stop saying "how did you go so long without a hair cut?" I tried to describe how when you only have so much time on Pday getting a haircut is one of the last things on the list. Especially when the only sister in your ward that cuts hair only speaks Spanish. You try describing what you want done to your hair in another language. It's a frightening task. Let me tell you. Then the sister says, "well, there's so many dead ends and damage from being in a ponytail I'm going to have to cut off 3 inches. WHAT?! 3 inches?!? Yeah. Now my hair barely reaches my shoulders. But at least it's healthy again.
Golfing. We went golfing a couple of pdays ago. How does anyone play that sport for fun? I just don't understand. I don't. At least I didn't break a club like Hna L did. She hit the ground and the ball and the club went farther than the ball. And it was one of those expensive clubs with the big head used for hitting the ball really far. Hehe. It was funny. Driving the golf cart was really fun though. I enjoyed it that part.
Have I mentioned that it's a branch here? Well, it is. The branch president is Latino but both of his counselors are American. LOVE his counselors. I like him too of course. The other day at our coordination meeting we were running out of time so I just told him the important parts. Then he looks at me and says, "Hermana all of them are important." Then I promptly told him to read the paper. That's why we fill it out. *head desk* everyone busts out laughing and I slap my hand over my mouth and apologize over and over for my unbecoming behavior. Thankfully Presidente G is a forgiving man. And a jokster so he just laughed about it. =) He informed me the other day that he did indeed read the paper. =)
His counselors.
Hno S. An eyedoctor. Married for over 12 years. Has 6 kids his wife wants to have 2 more. And his kids are ADORABLE!!! Oh my heavens. I love them. During dinner the 4 year old facepalms after his dad tells him he has to eat his salad before he gets desert. I could not hold it in I just laughed and laughed. SO hard my face turned red. Hno S gets things done. He's always behind presidente following up asking about missionary work asking when they can go do member visits with us. Yep he's awesome. Fun facts: Looks like John Druit from Sanctuary and his at the time twelve year old niece set him and his wife up.
Hno B. Works for an insurance agency. Has been married for 5 years. And has five kids. They do not plan to have anymore. 2 of their kids they adopted. Recently the youngest's adoption was finalized and they got to go through the temple to be sealed to him about a month ago. Their first 2 kinds are 4 years old. THey're three months apart. The next three are between 18 and 14 months. THey have a set of twins and the child they adopted. Eating dinner last night was so fun. THey had three highchairs all next to each other for the babies. Hno B was helping Kye pray for dinner and it was the cutest thing ever. Hno B is super patient. He really wants to magnify his calling. And his one daughter (all the rest are boys) is totally a dady's girl.
We have six girls living in our apartment. Sisters V and T are English speaking. Sister V is from Korea but lives in Hawaii. She was adopted when she was 13 years old. Sis T went to Utah State and actually was one of the recuiters who gives tours of the campus and all that jazz. Hnas S and J are the other two Spanish sisters. They work in the branch with us. Hna S is from Columbia but moved here when she was 6. She's hilarious. I love her. Hna J actually reminds me a lot of my friend Bri. Other than the fact that she has flaming red hair. She's also from WJ but went to Copper Hills. She's been great to talk to when no one else is there.
Ok so that's all I can remember from my list. Oh other than one thing.
FACEBOOK
starting tomorrow.
I will be using my already existing account. Just sos you know.
Love ya
Hna Scott
Last week I got a hair cut. The first one since I left the MTC. WHich means more than 11 months ago.=) Eep. The lady looks at my hair and does not stop saying "how did you go so long without a hair cut?" I tried to describe how when you only have so much time on Pday getting a haircut is one of the last things on the list. Especially when the only sister in your ward that cuts hair only speaks Spanish. You try describing what you want done to your hair in another language. It's a frightening task. Let me tell you. Then the sister says, "well, there's so many dead ends and damage from being in a ponytail I'm going to have to cut off 3 inches. WHAT?! 3 inches?!? Yeah. Now my hair barely reaches my shoulders. But at least it's healthy again.
Golfing. We went golfing a couple of pdays ago. How does anyone play that sport for fun? I just don't understand. I don't. At least I didn't break a club like Hna L did. She hit the ground and the ball and the club went farther than the ball. And it was one of those expensive clubs with the big head used for hitting the ball really far. Hehe. It was funny. Driving the golf cart was really fun though. I enjoyed it that part.
Have I mentioned that it's a branch here? Well, it is. The branch president is Latino but both of his counselors are American. LOVE his counselors. I like him too of course. The other day at our coordination meeting we were running out of time so I just told him the important parts. Then he looks at me and says, "Hermana all of them are important." Then I promptly told him to read the paper. That's why we fill it out. *head desk* everyone busts out laughing and I slap my hand over my mouth and apologize over and over for my unbecoming behavior. Thankfully Presidente G is a forgiving man. And a jokster so he just laughed about it. =) He informed me the other day that he did indeed read the paper. =)
His counselors.
Hno S. An eyedoctor. Married for over 12 years. Has 6 kids his wife wants to have 2 more. And his kids are ADORABLE!!! Oh my heavens. I love them. During dinner the 4 year old facepalms after his dad tells him he has to eat his salad before he gets desert. I could not hold it in I just laughed and laughed. SO hard my face turned red. Hno S gets things done. He's always behind presidente following up asking about missionary work asking when they can go do member visits with us. Yep he's awesome. Fun facts: Looks like John Druit from Sanctuary and his at the time twelve year old niece set him and his wife up.
Hno B. Works for an insurance agency. Has been married for 5 years. And has five kids. They do not plan to have anymore. 2 of their kids they adopted. Recently the youngest's adoption was finalized and they got to go through the temple to be sealed to him about a month ago. Their first 2 kinds are 4 years old. THey're three months apart. The next three are between 18 and 14 months. THey have a set of twins and the child they adopted. Eating dinner last night was so fun. THey had three highchairs all next to each other for the babies. Hno B was helping Kye pray for dinner and it was the cutest thing ever. Hno B is super patient. He really wants to magnify his calling. And his one daughter (all the rest are boys) is totally a dady's girl.
We have six girls living in our apartment. Sisters V and T are English speaking. Sister V is from Korea but lives in Hawaii. She was adopted when she was 13 years old. Sis T went to Utah State and actually was one of the recuiters who gives tours of the campus and all that jazz. Hnas S and J are the other two Spanish sisters. They work in the branch with us. Hna S is from Columbia but moved here when she was 6. She's hilarious. I love her. Hna J actually reminds me a lot of my friend Bri. Other than the fact that she has flaming red hair. She's also from WJ but went to Copper Hills. She's been great to talk to when no one else is there.
Ok so that's all I can remember from my list. Oh other than one thing.
starting tomorrow.
I will be using my already existing account. Just sos you know.
Love ya
Hna Scott
Monday, August 26, 2013
Obedience is the principle upon which our obedience is based
I don't know why these emails just seem to be getting harder and harder to write. Honest pants do you get bored reading them? Is it just the same thing over and over again?
Because sometimes I feel like I write the same thing over and over again.
We had a visit from Sister Toone the other day. I just love her so so much. We talked for a while about obedience. How obedience is the principle that our happiness is based on. They have 8 children. All of them are endowed and all but one who is not married yet have been married in the temple. SHe said that people have often come up to her and asked what it was that they did to raise such a large family of which all of them are active in the gospel of Jesus Christ. She told me it all comes back to obedience. As a parent when you don't walk the line of what you can or can't do on Sunday. Rather you desire to make it a holy day given to the Lord. Or how you where your clothing. She said that when you truly understand obedience you don't walk the line you don't even care to know where the line is because no matter what you're going to obey it. She said that as a parent you desire to really be obedient with your whole soul affects your children they see and they grow up with that love of obedience and of the Lord.
Then she said sometimes it's hard to be obedient when those around you aren't. That it's hard when no matter what you do you're children don't understand why you expect obedience from you. When their disobedience makes it hard for you to be obedient. That's where I am right now. Then she hugged me. I love her. It's amazing how mission presidents and their wives are called specifically for us.
Well, love you all lots
Because sometimes I feel like I write the same thing over and over again.
We had a visit from Sister Toone the other day. I just love her so so much. We talked for a while about obedience. How obedience is the principle that our happiness is based on. They have 8 children. All of them are endowed and all but one who is not married yet have been married in the temple. SHe said that people have often come up to her and asked what it was that they did to raise such a large family of which all of them are active in the gospel of Jesus Christ. She told me it all comes back to obedience. As a parent when you don't walk the line of what you can or can't do on Sunday. Rather you desire to make it a holy day given to the Lord. Or how you where your clothing. She said that when you truly understand obedience you don't walk the line you don't even care to know where the line is because no matter what you're going to obey it. She said that as a parent you desire to really be obedient with your whole soul affects your children they see and they grow up with that love of obedience and of the Lord.
Then she said sometimes it's hard to be obedient when those around you aren't. That it's hard when no matter what you do you're children don't understand why you expect obedience from you. When their disobedience makes it hard for you to be obedient. That's where I am right now. Then she hugged me. I love her. It's amazing how mission presidents and their wives are called specifically for us.
Well, love you all lots
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Now that you know you can't do this without me, are you prepared to accept my help?
My goodness!
We had the mission tour last week with Elder Cardon of the seventy. It was so so so so so so so sooooo good. My heavens that man is blunt. (if you don't know who he is, he gave the talk something along the lines of God want to forgive in the last conference) I learned a lot of things. Things about myself, things about life, things about how I can improve, things about the mission, etc etc. President Toone gave a wonderful talk as well as his wife. No announcements about FB though...=( But that's okay. Who needs another new thing to throw into the stress of missionary work.
President Toone talked about an experience that he had before getting the official call to be a mission president. I won't go into details, but after spending a few days without feeling the influence of the spirit in his life he suddenly had an out pouring of the spirit and of love and he felt the words, "Now that you know you can't do this without me, are you prepared to accept my help?" It was so cool. How often do we go about our lives thinking we can do this on our own when really we can't? We must have His help. We must live by His Spirit. We must breath study hope dream help by His Spirit.
Well, this is short. I know. I need to learn to balance my email time better. Love you all!
Hna Scott
We had the mission tour last week with Elder Cardon of the seventy. It was so so so so so so so sooooo good. My heavens that man is blunt. (if you don't know who he is, he gave the talk something along the lines of God want to forgive in the last conference) I learned a lot of things. Things about myself, things about life, things about how I can improve, things about the mission, etc etc. President Toone gave a wonderful talk as well as his wife. No announcements about FB though...=( But that's okay. Who needs another new thing to throw into the stress of missionary work.
President Toone talked about an experience that he had before getting the official call to be a mission president. I won't go into details, but after spending a few days without feeling the influence of the spirit in his life he suddenly had an out pouring of the spirit and of love and he felt the words, "Now that you know you can't do this without me, are you prepared to accept my help?" It was so cool. How often do we go about our lives thinking we can do this on our own when really we can't? We must have His help. We must live by His Spirit. We must breath study hope dream help by His Spirit.
Well, this is short. I know. I need to learn to balance my email time better. Love you all!
Hna Scott
August 12, 2013
Mormon message for the week. SO good. We women, we are awesome, divine and beautiful. http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages#daughters-of-god
So this one time, Hna Folsom kept telling me to get my eyes checked out. My eyes hurting like they always do when I wear my contacts isn't normal she said. Ha. And it just turns out that the first counselor of the branch presidency here is an eye doctor. He's also white. And he looks like Druitt/Jack the Ripper from Sanctuary. I can't even imagine what he really looks like. Druitt just comes to mind. So much for being consecrated. =) Anyway results from eye appointment. I have astigmatism (sp?), my current prescription is too high, and I have huge bumps on my eyes caused by allergies. I didn't even think my allergies were bugging me that badly. Apparently I was wrong. Don't worry I have steroid drops to make it better. =)
Hmm what else.
Oh I got a new bed. Never before have I been such a complainer. Never. Never have I felt the need to go to the people in charge as much as I have here. I'm not sure if it's a good things or a bad thing. But I called and said the bed was unbelievable. In the nicest way possible of course. She proceeded to tell me that those are the beds they give out but she would see what she could do. I wished her a splendid day and started praying for the ability to support my affliction. Then on the day of interviews she texted us and said I had a new mattress. WABAM!!! New bed. Yes, the little things that matter to us matter to God. =)
We went to a baptism this week. Everything combined against her. Even her husband and she knew exactly what she wanted. She wanted to follow Christ. So she got baptized. The room was so full of the Spirit you could almost chew it. It was cool. Hna L taught her before she got split from her English ward.
There's a general authority coming here this week. We're having a mission conference. It's going to be legit.
Phoenix mission got the okay to start using Facebook everyday for an hour to preach the gospel starting next month. A little jealous. Won't lie. And they wear their tags on the left. VERY jealous.
Spiritual experiences...
Well, when it gets hard, pray. And then pray some more.
Read D&C 98:2-3. You have a COVENANT from God that He will answer your prayers as long as you ask for that which is right.
D&C 98:12-15 Covenants - can you abide in the Lord's covenant?
Jacob 2:4 or something Our pride will destroy us
Jacob 5 read it thinking of the roots as the covenants. Coolest thing EVER.
Well, as you can see not much happened this week. Not much at all, but everything happens for a reason. everything.
Love you all
Hna Scott
Monday, August 5, 2013
Faith in the Lord also means faith in His timing
1182 Jardin Drive
Casa Grande Arizona 85122
Please feel free to write me at any time.
http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages#looking-through-windows
Love this one. Everytime it makes me laugh. =) How many times have we done something like this in our lives?
Well, I got transferred.
I just spent 10 and a half months in the city. In a 3 square mile area. Full of only Spanish speakers. Ward of 400 people and 150ish of them come on a weekly basis.
Now..well, this is not the city. I'm not in Phoenix anymore Toto. I'm not even sure how big our area is. HUGE is one way to put it. A branch of 40ish people. And just about everyone speaks English.
Talk about opposites.
My companion is Hna Limberg, She's from Washington. She went to BYU-I for a year before coming out. She's cool. She looks like Sarah sometimes. She's been out for 6 months. She's been here in Casa Gande for her whole time out here in AZ. We have a great lady named Christina on date. Her sons are all baptized and have the aaronic priesthood. She's been coming to church for the past 4 years, but wasn't married to her husband until about a month ago. She's adorable and I love her already. Her spirit is so sweet.
I live in a house with 5 other people. It's a little bit like college again. Except instead of being at school with people my own age they're all 3 to 2 and a half years younger than me. It is just about the best thing in the world.
I miss my matress back in Encanto. Like I said, it was the best matress I'd ever slept on. Here all I've got is this little thin matress you'd put on one of those little toddler beds. After I've been on it for about 10 minutes it sinks all the way down to the wood panel. Don't you worry I will be making a call to the housing coordinator about this one. No ancient 22 year old adult should have to sleep on something like this. Maybe the young and lively 19 yearolds could handle it, but I can't.
I met some missionaries at the transfer meeting that know Carol. They were nice and sweet.
Today I was thinking about Nephi. You know, the whole I will go and do and the Lord has commanded because the Lord will always provide a way for us to keep His commandments. Then there's another scripture in 1 Ne 17...25 I think, that says if we keep the commandments he will always support strengthen and provide a way. So obvioulsy Nephi has a testimony about God providing a way. The first scritpure was written before he killed Laban. So he had that testimony BEFORE that amazing experience. So what did Nephi do to get there? So I read up to that scripture. chapts 1-3. Trying to figure it out. How did Nephi obtain that testimony and that faith of God always providing a way for us to live His commandments? Basically this is what I came to
He had a dad who taught him well
He had had afflicitons
He had experienced the tender mercies of the Lord
But I think Nephi had read the scriptures. He knew and understood the who God is. That He's merciful and kind and lovling and perfect and just etc etc so he knew that God didn't want him to fail. He knew God wanted him to succeed.
BEFORE he even went down to Jerusalem to get the plates.
Cool.
Well time to be off. Have a plendid week.
Hna Scott
Casa Grande Arizona 85122
Please feel free to write me at any time.
http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages#looking-through-windows
Love this one. Everytime it makes me laugh. =) How many times have we done something like this in our lives?
Well, I got transferred.
I just spent 10 and a half months in the city. In a 3 square mile area. Full of only Spanish speakers. Ward of 400 people and 150ish of them come on a weekly basis.
Now..well, this is not the city. I'm not in Phoenix anymore Toto. I'm not even sure how big our area is. HUGE is one way to put it. A branch of 40ish people. And just about everyone speaks English.
Talk about opposites.
My companion is Hna Limberg, She's from Washington. She went to BYU-I for a year before coming out. She's cool. She looks like Sarah sometimes. She's been out for 6 months. She's been here in Casa Gande for her whole time out here in AZ. We have a great lady named Christina on date. Her sons are all baptized and have the aaronic priesthood. She's been coming to church for the past 4 years, but wasn't married to her husband until about a month ago. She's adorable and I love her already. Her spirit is so sweet.
I live in a house with 5 other people. It's a little bit like college again. Except instead of being at school with people my own age they're all 3 to 2 and a half years younger than me. It is just about the best thing in the world.
I miss my matress back in Encanto. Like I said, it was the best matress I'd ever slept on. Here all I've got is this little thin matress you'd put on one of those little toddler beds. After I've been on it for about 10 minutes it sinks all the way down to the wood panel. Don't you worry I will be making a call to the housing coordinator about this one. No ancient 22 year old adult should have to sleep on something like this. Maybe the young and lively 19 yearolds could handle it, but I can't.
I met some missionaries at the transfer meeting that know Carol. They were nice and sweet.
Today I was thinking about Nephi. You know, the whole I will go and do and the Lord has commanded because the Lord will always provide a way for us to keep His commandments. Then there's another scripture in 1 Ne 17...25 I think, that says if we keep the commandments he will always support strengthen and provide a way. So obvioulsy Nephi has a testimony about God providing a way. The first scritpure was written before he killed Laban. So he had that testimony BEFORE that amazing experience. So what did Nephi do to get there? So I read up to that scripture. chapts 1-3. Trying to figure it out. How did Nephi obtain that testimony and that faith of God always providing a way for us to live His commandments? Basically this is what I came to
He had a dad who taught him well
He had had afflicitons
He had experienced the tender mercies of the Lord
But I think Nephi had read the scriptures. He knew and understood the who God is. That He's merciful and kind and lovling and perfect and just etc etc so he knew that God didn't want him to fail. He knew God wanted him to succeed.
BEFORE he even went down to Jerusalem to get the plates.
Cool.
Well time to be off. Have a plendid week.
Hna Scott
Monday, July 29, 2013
Designated Mission Unifiers
Subject #2 "When you want to get to know your mission president, do bad things." - Obispo C.
Weekly Mormon Message: http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages#dare-to-stand-alone
Dare to stand alone, but know that God is always behind you backing you up.
Well, rollercoaster week. Man.
Okay, since I know you are dying to know, I'm leaving Encanto. On Wednesday. My dear trainee will be taking over the area and I know she'll do great. I'm headed off into the unknown of the Tempe world. No calls from the president so no exciting assignments for me this transfer...hehe. Other than when he came to our house and told us that Hna Taylor and are are basically the mission lords. Or as we decided to better define it: designated mission unifiers.
Yep that's us. =) Though he may have said it just to quiet our words and complaints about this whole situation. ;-) Who knows. Other than the fact that the Spirit was there when he told us that we are the key to unifying the two missions, that this is why we came to Tempe, to help everyone live together in harmony. So, I won't doubt the Spirit. I'll trust and continue on my way. We received our very own presidential blessing then sealed by the Spirit. It was legit.
We found our first investigators in a month on Saturday, it's a family of 3. It's almost like they were waiting for us to knock on their door. It also happened to be same day Pres. Toone showed up at our apartment and talked to us for over an hour. So I guess when I say it was an intense week I really mean it was an intense Saturday. =)
But don't worry, we didn't really do anything bad to get him to come. Our bishop was wrong. You just have to ask the mission president to come over and give him a good enough reason like your comp is having an emotional breakdown and then he'll come right over. Nothing bad at all. So then you get to spend an hour with him and then his wife just calls to make sure you're all right and that if you ever need anything you can call at anytime. So another part of the rollercoaster week then I guess is that this week was super hard for Hna T. But things are good/better now, thanks to Pres T and his intervention, so we continue forward.
I'm scared to leave my bed here in my apartment. I don't know if I've ever told you but it's the best matress I've ever had and doesn't make my back hurt at all. I'm also sad to leave my members. I was talking to one who we helped return to church and she said she remembers that we've told her that sometimes it's hard to find people to teach, but we aren't called to a certain area for the investigators only. We're called for the members as well. She said we've helped her so much and she's thankdul for what we've done. Man I love her. She's single and she has a friend who's been telling er to move to Utah to live with her. And her friend happens to live in WJ! She says she's thinking about going! YAYHOO! I won't have to come to AZ in the blazing sun to see her. I'm so excited! I also asked Hna M, my mission mom, if when the time comes she'll drive me to the mission office at the end of my mision. She said yes. =) I love these people.
Don't write me at my apartment address now. I won't live there in 2 days. Here's the mission office address in Tempe 1871 East Del Rio Drive TEMPE, ARIZONA 85282 you can write there until further notice. Um...nothing else. Have a splendid week.
Hna Scott
Well, rollercoaster week. Man.
Okay, since I know you are dying to know, I'm leaving Encanto. On Wednesday. My dear trainee will be taking over the area and I know she'll do great. I'm headed off into the unknown of the Tempe world. No calls from the president so no exciting assignments for me this transfer...hehe. Other than when he came to our house and told us that Hna Taylor and are are basically the mission lords. Or as we decided to better define it: designated mission unifiers.
Yep that's us. =) Though he may have said it just to quiet our words and complaints about this whole situation. ;-) Who knows. Other than the fact that the Spirit was there when he told us that we are the key to unifying the two missions, that this is why we came to Tempe, to help everyone live together in harmony. So, I won't doubt the Spirit. I'll trust and continue on my way. We received our very own presidential blessing then sealed by the Spirit. It was legit.
We found our first investigators in a month on Saturday, it's a family of 3. It's almost like they were waiting for us to knock on their door. It also happened to be same day Pres. Toone showed up at our apartment and talked to us for over an hour. So I guess when I say it was an intense week I really mean it was an intense Saturday. =)
But don't worry, we didn't really do anything bad to get him to come. Our bishop was wrong. You just have to ask the mission president to come over and give him a good enough reason like your comp is having an emotional breakdown and then he'll come right over. Nothing bad at all. So then you get to spend an hour with him and then his wife just calls to make sure you're all right and that if you ever need anything you can call at anytime. So another part of the rollercoaster week then I guess is that this week was super hard for Hna T. But things are good/better now, thanks to Pres T and his intervention, so we continue forward.
I'm scared to leave my bed here in my apartment. I don't know if I've ever told you but it's the best matress I've ever had and doesn't make my back hurt at all. I'm also sad to leave my members. I was talking to one who we helped return to church and she said she remembers that we've told her that sometimes it's hard to find people to teach, but we aren't called to a certain area for the investigators only. We're called for the members as well. She said we've helped her so much and she's thankdul for what we've done. Man I love her. She's single and she has a friend who's been telling er to move to Utah to live with her. And her friend happens to live in WJ! She says she's thinking about going! YAYHOO! I won't have to come to AZ in the blazing sun to see her. I'm so excited! I also asked Hna M, my mission mom, if when the time comes she'll drive me to the mission office at the end of my mision. She said yes. =) I love these people.
Don't write me at my apartment address now. I won't live there in 2 days. Here's the mission office address in Tempe 1871 East Del Rio Drive TEMPE, ARIZONA 85282 you can write there until further notice. Um...nothing else. Have a splendid week.
Hna Scott
Monday, July 22, 2013
The person I can become is very, very different than the person I am now, but becoming that person is worth any sacrifice
Well, because I've forgotten the last few weeks, your weekly mormon message
https://www.lds.org/youth/video/origin?cid=HPL2P09W03012&lang=eng
LOVE this one!! It's all new and shiny. (And one day when I make mormon messages they will be like this. intense music. quick blurring clips. And quoting Josph Smith.)
Also a I'm a mormon video. Just kidding momron.org is down at this moment in time.
I would like to tell you about my lovely new friend. His name is Tiwi. Or sometimes I call him Piwi. Or stupid box from Satan. Or whatever appropriate name I like at the moment. He tells me when I forget to login. He tells me when I'm driving too fast. He tells me when I turn too fast and whatever other car driving mistake I make. And then he adds up the points and sends them to the mission president. Pft.
All you lucky future misisonaries out there this is what awaits you when you have the priviledge of driving a car. I know you're excited. Turns out that along with testing the ipads and iphones, Tempe is also testing the Tiwi. Yep, phoenix was much better. Just testing iphone and ipads without the curse of the Tiwi...harmph. BUT I will have you know. I have only had 2 violations. One for speeding on the freeway (who goes the speed limit on the freeway?!? I mean HONESLTY!!! And the other was when I forgot to login because we were in a hurry. So don't you worry. My driving is pretty good if I do say so myself. Tiwi I think would agree as well.
Well, this week has been a week of tender mercies. For your enjoyment: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages/mormon-messages-2010?lang=eng#2010-03-05-the-tender-mercies-of-the-lord
The other day I was starving. Starving I tell you! I was going to fall over and die of starvation. So before going into see Laura I prayed that she would give us food of some kind. As we were leaving she just says "Karen get them the Ritz crakers." (In Spanish of course) So she gave us both crackers a whole roll of them!! Tender mercies man. Then, that same day my uncle shows up at the door with groceries. Man. Tender mercies. (Don't worry I didn't actually see him ;-) )
Hmm. What else happened this week...an elder from our district went home for medical reasons. We knocked a whole bunch of doors and nobody let us in. We're struggling to find people to teach. We're in a weird transition of going into Tempe but not really because we're still our own section of Phoenix, a weird appendage of Phoenixness. Hna Taylor is really struggling with it because this all just happened to happen at that time in your mission when you're deciding if you really want to be here and we've had some not so great experiences with the few Tempe missionaries we actually have met. Who knew combining two missions would be so stressful. I think part of it is the rules and all that jazz. In Phoenix we lived by the white handbook. We were left to decided mostly for ourselves exactly what it meant. And our specific rules inlcuded for elders button up your suit jacket when you stand up sister where some kind of suit jacket or cardigan to all meetings, or slang means terms like "greenie, white washed etc" Here there's a specific rule for everything including another book of rules we have to read from. Everything in Tempe is more formal more business like. The APs run the show, the leadership ZLs DLs and Sister training leaders have so much "power" and to be honest from what we've seen they abuse it. Phoenix we were equal. We we're all learning together. The APs weren't any more special than us normal missionaries. It's a little weird and hard. I won't lie. But Pres. Toone is a good man. I trust him. And we can't always be comparing everything to Phoenix. I know that. There's a reson for everything.
I finished the Book of Mormon again this week. I studied repentance this time through. And MAN repentance is AWESOME> My favortie way to describe repentance is that God sees us as we can become and repentance is how we get there. It's something good. It's something as small as deciding to say your prayers everyday or as big as changing an addictive behavior. Love it. Oh and I started it again studying repentance and the holy ghost. And I've already learned something about the HG that I never really thought of before. That the Holy Ghost is a promise of eternal life. It's like a down payment on what we can have. The Holy Ghost gives us a taste of te joy we can have forever if we but endure to the end.
Well, that's enough for today I believe. Have a splendid week!
Hna Scott
https://www.lds.org/youth/video/origin?cid=HPL2P09W03012&lang=eng
LOVE this one!! It's all new and shiny. (And one day when I make mormon messages they will be like this. intense music. quick blurring clips. And quoting Josph Smith.)
Also a I'm a mormon video. Just kidding momron.org is down at this moment in time.
I would like to tell you about my lovely new friend. His name is Tiwi. Or sometimes I call him Piwi. Or stupid box from Satan. Or whatever appropriate name I like at the moment. He tells me when I forget to login. He tells me when I'm driving too fast. He tells me when I turn too fast and whatever other car driving mistake I make. And then he adds up the points and sends them to the mission president. Pft.
All you lucky future misisonaries out there this is what awaits you when you have the priviledge of driving a car. I know you're excited. Turns out that along with testing the ipads and iphones, Tempe is also testing the Tiwi. Yep, phoenix was much better. Just testing iphone and ipads without the curse of the Tiwi...harmph. BUT I will have you know. I have only had 2 violations. One for speeding on the freeway (who goes the speed limit on the freeway?!? I mean HONESLTY!!! And the other was when I forgot to login because we were in a hurry. So don't you worry. My driving is pretty good if I do say so myself. Tiwi I think would agree as well.
Well, this week has been a week of tender mercies. For your enjoyment: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages/mormon-messages-2010?lang=eng#2010-03-05-the-tender-mercies-of-the-lord
The other day I was starving. Starving I tell you! I was going to fall over and die of starvation. So before going into see Laura I prayed that she would give us food of some kind. As we were leaving she just says "Karen get them the Ritz crakers." (In Spanish of course) So she gave us both crackers a whole roll of them!! Tender mercies man. Then, that same day my uncle shows up at the door with groceries. Man. Tender mercies. (Don't worry I didn't actually see him ;-) )
Hmm. What else happened this week...an elder from our district went home for medical reasons. We knocked a whole bunch of doors and nobody let us in. We're struggling to find people to teach. We're in a weird transition of going into Tempe but not really because we're still our own section of Phoenix, a weird appendage of Phoenixness. Hna Taylor is really struggling with it because this all just happened to happen at that time in your mission when you're deciding if you really want to be here and we've had some not so great experiences with the few Tempe missionaries we actually have met. Who knew combining two missions would be so stressful. I think part of it is the rules and all that jazz. In Phoenix we lived by the white handbook. We were left to decided mostly for ourselves exactly what it meant. And our specific rules inlcuded for elders button up your suit jacket when you stand up sister where some kind of suit jacket or cardigan to all meetings, or slang means terms like "greenie, white washed etc" Here there's a specific rule for everything including another book of rules we have to read from. Everything in Tempe is more formal more business like. The APs run the show, the leadership ZLs DLs and Sister training leaders have so much "power" and to be honest from what we've seen they abuse it. Phoenix we were equal. We we're all learning together. The APs weren't any more special than us normal missionaries. It's a little weird and hard. I won't lie. But Pres. Toone is a good man. I trust him. And we can't always be comparing everything to Phoenix. I know that. There's a reson for everything.
I finished the Book of Mormon again this week. I studied repentance this time through. And MAN repentance is AWESOME> My favortie way to describe repentance is that God sees us as we can become and repentance is how we get there. It's something good. It's something as small as deciding to say your prayers everyday or as big as changing an addictive behavior. Love it. Oh and I started it again studying repentance and the holy ghost. And I've already learned something about the HG that I never really thought of before. That the Holy Ghost is a promise of eternal life. It's like a down payment on what we can have. The Holy Ghost gives us a taste of te joy we can have forever if we but endure to the end.
Well, that's enough for today I believe. Have a splendid week!
Hna Scott
Friday, July 19, 2013
Once upon a time...
July 15, 2013
Once upon a time...
Once upon a time there was a misionera.
Everyday she goes about her missionary duties. Get up, excercise, study, eat, leave, preach, plan, sleep. Everyday she reads the scriptures learning a little bit more about the kingom of God from them. Everday she feels and understands a little bit more of God's love. Everyday she tries to be more humble, striving to be stripped of pride so she'll be ready for the day she meets God. Everyday she tries to grow in patience and understanding so that she and her companion can teach in love and unity. Sometimes she succeeds and sometimes she doesn't. But that's okay, because she knows and trusts in the fact that she can use the Atonement on the condition of repentance.
Some days the Spirit teaches her something new about the importance of the family, of temples, of His love for her. Her mind opens as she studies and thinks. Her mind catches hold of a sentence she reads in a book. "Only the home can compare to the sacredness of the temple." She longs to have a home like that one day. Pure. Sacred. Full of peace. For now she thinks about how she will help others learn to create that kind of home and stive to develop the qualities she needs to help her home be like that one day.
Somedays she visits members, young women mostly. She can see in their eyes the pain that they feel from the burden of their sins and this missionary longs to help. She, with the help of her companion, sooth the hurt by helping them apply the Savior's love, to help them understand that He really does come with healing in His wings. Other young women thrive on hearing the good word of God. The misionera speaks excitedly as she explains the awesome power of faith, hoping they'll catch a whisper of the Holy Ghost telling them that it's true.
Other days she visits member families who, because of sickness, pride, a recent death or another worldy exeriences, are struggling a little bit. Some rise and trust in God. Some use the purifying powers of tribulation to become more like Him. Others let the anger and pain bubble inside of them. Others fall away choosing not to call on Christ for help.
The misionera sees all these things. She feels them in her heart. She rejoices when they rejoice and she cries when they cry.
Some days she wishes she could force them all to believe. She often has to resist the urge to hit them in the head with a Book of Mormon until the testimony of Christ within its pages seeps into their skulls. But that is not His way.
Some days she knocks on doors in 100 degree weather for hours. Sometimes she knocks on 30+ doors searching for someone who wants to learn more about families and their importance. 30+ doors...4 possible eternal families. Yes, she thinks to herself. That's worth it.
Other days she finds herself struggling to trust in her leaders and their priesthood keys to lead. God trusts them so she should too. Again she finds herself on her knees pleading for the beautiful powers of the Atonement to help her accept His will.
Some days the misionera and her companion don't get along. Pride, the universal sin, keeps them from teaching in unity. It keeps them from testifying with the Spirit. It keeps them from loving. And again she finds herself on her knees praying for herself, praying for her companion.
Everyday she thinks about the growth she's experienced in just the past year. What will the next 6 months bring? Everyday she rejoices in the fact she wears Christ's name on her chest. Everyday she stands as a witness of God, declaring the good news. Everday she gets on her knees and thanks Him for this amqzing opportunity.
One day she will see God's face and know that she served with all her might mind and strength. One day He will say to her, "well done my good and faithful servant." One day she will sit with Him and her family in the kingdom of God for eternity.
Some days the misionera and her companion don't get along. Pride, the universal sin, keeps them from teaching in unity. It keeps them from testifying with the Spirit. It keeps them from loving. And again she finds herself on her knees praying for herself, praying for her companion.
Everyday she thinks about the growth she's experienced in just the past year. What will the next 6 months bring? Everyday she rejoices in the fact she wears Christ's name on her chest. Everyday she stands as a witness of God, declaring the good news. Everday she gets on her knees and thanks Him for this amqzing opportunity.
One day she will see God's face and know that she served with all her might mind and strength. One day He will say to her, "well done my good and faithful servant." One day she will sit with Him and her family in the kingdom of God for eternity.
"I want obedience for you, not from you." - Pres. Taylor
July 8, 2013
"I want obedience for you, not from you." - Pres. Taylor
Well, I don't even know where to start.
Tempe. The best thing about being in the Tempe mission is that we get to go to the temple every 6 weeks as a zone.
For more information please see the last entry on page 722 in the Bible Dictionary and 2Ne 25:25
the investigator that called us a couple weeks ago and said she was coming to church got baptized yesterday. =) It was really cool. The change in her...my goodness. It's been a ride, but she finally made it. Now she's waiting for her husband to save up enough to get an apartment so she can move to Washinton with him and then they will become a eternal family. It's so awesome.
There have been two deaths in the ward in the last couple of weeks. So there was a funeral on Saturday. Most of her family are members of another faith and the majority of them didn't come to the service. But because they don't really know what the Plan of Salvation is there was a lot of crying, from her sister especially. I never really knew what wailing and gnashing of teeth meant before but now I do. I can't imagine hiring people to do that like they did when Jesus' time. The food, of course was delicious. Hna M got a great picture of us by the huge bowl they used to hold it all, but you'll all have to wait a while to see it since it's on her camera.
The other death was with a family I'm really close to. If you remember back to Jan and Feb and a little boy named Fernando. It's the family who got me cake for my birthday and everything and we taught and baptized her son Fernando. She hada ton of things wrong with her then she got samonela (sp) something eventually went to her brain she went into a coma and then eventaully died. It's super sad because the dad does drugs and now everyone's fighting about who gets the kids. We still don't know when her funeral will be.
In other happier news, the Diaz family, Fernando's aunt and uncle the one's who want to keep the kids, are going to be able to prepare to enter the temple soon!! The husband finally got his act together and stopped drinking and he's been strong for the last two months. Bishop told him after 3 months he can get the Mel Priesthood!! Then they can go to the temple!! AHH!!! I cried I was so excited. And then I firmly told them they'd better invite me to said sealing. =)
Well, I don't have much time left. Sometimes the letter just comes out without much thought but this time I've had to scramble for things to write.
Well love you all and talk to you next week.
Hna Scott
the investigator that called us a couple weeks ago and said she was coming to church got baptized yesterday. =) It was really cool. The change in her...my goodness. It's been a ride, but she finally made it. Now she's waiting for her husband to save up enough to get an apartment so she can move to Washinton with him and then they will become a eternal family. It's so awesome.
There have been two deaths in the ward in the last couple of weeks. So there was a funeral on Saturday. Most of her family are members of another faith and the majority of them didn't come to the service. But because they don't really know what the Plan of Salvation is there was a lot of crying, from her sister especially. I never really knew what wailing and gnashing of teeth meant before but now I do. I can't imagine hiring people to do that like they did when Jesus' time. The food, of course was delicious. Hna M got a great picture of us by the huge bowl they used to hold it all, but you'll all have to wait a while to see it since it's on her camera.
The other death was with a family I'm really close to. If you remember back to Jan and Feb and a little boy named Fernando. It's the family who got me cake for my birthday and everything and we taught and baptized her son Fernando. She hada ton of things wrong with her then she got samonela (sp) something eventually went to her brain she went into a coma and then eventaully died. It's super sad because the dad does drugs and now everyone's fighting about who gets the kids. We still don't know when her funeral will be.
In other happier news, the Diaz family, Fernando's aunt and uncle the one's who want to keep the kids, are going to be able to prepare to enter the temple soon!! The husband finally got his act together and stopped drinking and he's been strong for the last two months. Bishop told him after 3 months he can get the Mel Priesthood!! Then they can go to the temple!! AHH!!! I cried I was so excited. And then I firmly told them they'd better invite me to said sealing. =)
Well, I don't have much time left. Sometimes the letter just comes out without much thought but this time I've had to scramble for things to write.
Well love you all and talk to you next week.
Hna Scott
Don't listen to them when they say you can't change the world.
July 1, 2013
Welcome to the ATM...yes, the ATM. I'm trying not to be glum about this whole thing. And I was doing pretty good until Pres Taylor sent us a final goodbye text this morning calling the Tempe mission the ATM. Here in Phoenix...well, when I was part of Phoenix we referred to ourselves as the APM (Arizona Phoenix Mission). Now, I'm part of a money supplying machine. Silly thing to be upset about, I know. But well, it doesn't take much these days.
A lot happened this last week. Not much with investigators or anything since we let them all go last week since they didn't come to church, but ew talk 11 member lessons most of them to the youth, like Elder Ballard asked us to do when he was here a couple of weeks ago. It's so cool to go into their houses and get to know them, see where their testimonies are, and you just can't help but love them! It's interesting to hear the young women leaders talk about their girls. They say things about them, then we visit them and see that what the leader said was completely inaccurate. For example: She isn't interested in church and when she comes she never stays for young womens. Then we go over and the girl testifies of the power of prayer and of how much she knows her Father in Heaven loves her and the Spirit is so strong that you know she's telling the truth. Then when you ask her why she doesn't come to YWs she says it's because she doesn't like the leaders or the girls. This has happened on 2 occasions. And both of them were baptized about 3 years ago. It's so sad. Now, don't get me wrong, the YW president really tries so hard. She's an awesome lady. (if I wasn't a missionary I'm sure we'd be fast friends =) ) She really is trying to magnify her calling.
Also we had our final meeting with Pres and Sis Taylor on Friday. It was intense. Full of testimonies and the Spirit and love. My goodness I can't even explain in words how much I love those two. THey've helped me through a lot the last 9 1/2 months. I've learned so much from them about relationships and what I want. Once I asked Sis T how Pres T was before. If he just always respected her like he does. (if I've told this story before I apologize) They've known each other for a long long time. Like since they were children. She said "Now doesn't think I'm bragging, but he's always adored me." =) Before his mission he used to have nightmares that she wouldn't want to marry him when he got back. =) Pres T holds his priesthood in such a dignified way, even though he speaks from the pulpit with his eyes closed sometimes. =) I can't even explain it to you in words. But I love them so much. And I am so grateful for their example and their support. So as the final goodbye text said this morning I will see them again on the other side of my mission service.
We also met the Tempe assistants to the president and we learned that they wear their name tags on the right side. They don't know why but their guess is because they have a rivalry with the Mesa Mission...I will continue to wear mine on the left until Pres Toone tells me otherwise. I'm proud to have Christ's name visibly written on my heart right now and no rivalry is going to change that fact.
Yesterday I spoke in church for the first time on my mission. EEP!! They told me at 8:40 in the morning and then told me the topic at 10:10. Church starts at 11. =) Well, it was no where near as long as it should have been. Good think Elder Jarvis took up the slack on that one. But I think it went well. It was mostly testimony. And I don't remember most of what I said. So that means it was by the Spirit right? ;-)
Well, I think that's it. Missions are awesome. Love you all! Thanks for your prayers and everything!
Hna Scott
PS Mormon message of the week. Elder Holland man! Love him, love priesthood session of conference, LOVE THIS TALK
http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/youth/mormon-messages-for-youth#2012-07-007-stay-within-the-line
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Salvation man.
Well, how was the meeting? Did you go? If you didn't, well, you missed out. I'm not sure if you can watch it online but I do know you CAN check out this awesome new part of lds.org. =) http://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/a-new-vision?cid=HPL1P01W01031&lang=eng
I loved it, I loved it. I loved Pres Packer's talk. A great teacher saying the greatest teachers are mothers. Yep, enjoyed that a lot. Hmm what else...really liked the lady who Elder Neilson interviewed, I really liked her hair. =) I loved how it said we have to be united members and missionaries. There has to be communication and love. I also loved how they said that bringing back a soul who has already heard the gospel but then fallen away is just as noble as bringing in someone new. I believe that. We've been working with a less active for a while now and she's now been to church three weeks in a row. We invited her to go to the temple with us and...man. I love her. =) Man, I should have broguht my notes. Also loved the story of Pres Monon's about the ward in Canada. It's amazing what faith can do, if it's real faith that leads to action. Overall, SOOOOO good! But what do we do with all this new information and excitement? DO we just go back to life like it was before, or do we automatically do something different? If so, what do we do? This is where I am with this right now. How do I impliment what I learned into my missionary work? Well, my comp was happy because I said we weren't going to go knocking last night like we had originally planned. =)
A little about how we do know it's going to affect us. Internet! Church tours! A lot less knocking! And more! But we were just told that we have to keep it quiet for another week...bleh! But because of certain circumstances Pres T thinks all the changes will take place here in Phoenix and Tempe faster than most other missions. All of these things will be implimented in stages and you have to wait for the missionary department approval to be able to do it. But they hope for every mission to have these changes within a year. MAN!!!!!! SOOOOOO COOL! Sometimes I find myself wanting to be a member so I can help with misionary work...then I remember I'm a missionary... =)
Oh, before I forget. Weekly mormon message:
http://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/a-new-vision?cid=HPL1P01W01031&lang=eng
I love this one. Everytime, man. It just makes me cry. People like Hyrum are special and pure and we could all learn to be more like his sister.
Well, that one old investigator who I told you about who called a couple Saturdays ago and told us that she would be coming to church, yep she's getting baptized!! WOOHOO!!! Then they're going to work on becoming an eternal family! It's so awesome. She's in the middle of moving though because she didn't have the money to pay rent so she's moving in with her cousin, but she wants to learn and she wants to be baptized. They're hoping to move to washington in a month so her and her boyfroiend can get married and become an awesoem church going family.
This week was a little slower because of all the meetings and stuff so we weren't able to do a lot, but it was still good. Karen got confirmed for real this time unlike last Sunday when it really didn't work. BUT that is a story for another time. =) We found out Laura's not married and we are going to invite her to live the law of chasity unti lshe gets married. When we met with them last, she was super discouraged. We talked about family history and asked Karen and Laura to prepare names to go to the temple, but Laura just looked so glum. She doesn't think Omar, her boyfriend for the last 13 years is going to want tpo finalize his divorce with the other lady and marry her. Man, I just wanted to hug her. So we then told her that she can't give up on her faith. She can't get discouraged because that makes us forget our faith. She'll get there and one day I know that family will go to the temple.
Well, that is all I do believe. Last week in the Phoenix mission...then comes the Tempe!
The church is true.
Hna Scott
PS going to the temple Wednesday!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!! Can you say SUPER EXCITED?!?!? =) =) =) =)
I loved it, I loved it. I loved Pres Packer's talk. A great teacher saying the greatest teachers are mothers. Yep, enjoyed that a lot. Hmm what else...really liked the lady who Elder Neilson interviewed, I really liked her hair. =) I loved how it said we have to be united members and missionaries. There has to be communication and love. I also loved how they said that bringing back a soul who has already heard the gospel but then fallen away is just as noble as bringing in someone new. I believe that. We've been working with a less active for a while now and she's now been to church three weeks in a row. We invited her to go to the temple with us and...man. I love her. =) Man, I should have broguht my notes. Also loved the story of Pres Monon's about the ward in Canada. It's amazing what faith can do, if it's real faith that leads to action. Overall, SOOOOO good! But what do we do with all this new information and excitement? DO we just go back to life like it was before, or do we automatically do something different? If so, what do we do? This is where I am with this right now. How do I impliment what I learned into my missionary work? Well, my comp was happy because I said we weren't going to go knocking last night like we had originally planned. =)
A little about how we do know it's going to affect us. Internet! Church tours! A lot less knocking! And more! But we were just told that we have to keep it quiet for another week...bleh! But because of certain circumstances Pres T thinks all the changes will take place here in Phoenix and Tempe faster than most other missions. All of these things will be implimented in stages and you have to wait for the missionary department approval to be able to do it. But they hope for every mission to have these changes within a year. MAN!!!!!! SOOOOOO COOL! Sometimes I find myself wanting to be a member so I can help with misionary work...then I remember I'm a missionary... =)
Oh, before I forget. Weekly mormon message:
http://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/a-new-vision?cid=HPL1P01W01031&lang=eng
I love this one. Everytime, man. It just makes me cry. People like Hyrum are special and pure and we could all learn to be more like his sister.
Well, that one old investigator who I told you about who called a couple Saturdays ago and told us that she would be coming to church, yep she's getting baptized!! WOOHOO!!! Then they're going to work on becoming an eternal family! It's so awesome. She's in the middle of moving though because she didn't have the money to pay rent so she's moving in with her cousin, but she wants to learn and she wants to be baptized. They're hoping to move to washington in a month so her and her boyfroiend can get married and become an awesoem church going family.
This week was a little slower because of all the meetings and stuff so we weren't able to do a lot, but it was still good. Karen got confirmed for real this time unlike last Sunday when it really didn't work. BUT that is a story for another time. =) We found out Laura's not married and we are going to invite her to live the law of chasity unti lshe gets married. When we met with them last, she was super discouraged. We talked about family history and asked Karen and Laura to prepare names to go to the temple, but Laura just looked so glum. She doesn't think Omar, her boyfriend for the last 13 years is going to want tpo finalize his divorce with the other lady and marry her. Man, I just wanted to hug her. So we then told her that she can't give up on her faith. She can't get discouraged because that makes us forget our faith. She'll get there and one day I know that family will go to the temple.
Well, that is all I do believe. Last week in the Phoenix mission...then comes the Tempe!
The church is true.
Hna Scott
PS going to the temple Wednesday!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!! Can you say SUPER EXCITED?!?!? =) =) =) =)
"Let someone else take care of it."
Weekly mormon video.
Awesomeness.
We want to get the jovenes here to do something like this! Hopefully it works out. =)
https://www.lds.org/youth/video/we-are-brothers?lang=eng
Weekly plug:
"The two visitors [to the APM this last week], Tracy Watson (Missionary Department's director of proselyting) and Steve Allen (managing director of the Missionary Department and Brother Watson's boss) said there will be a lot of big announcements at the June 23rd broadcast. Hope you're looking forward to it." - Pres T
June 23rd.
Be there.
Have I mentioned that there are details about what will be announced that I'm not allowed to tell you? Yep, we here in the Phoenix mission, we've got an in and we know a little about what's going to happen and change about missionary work. You want to be there. I promise.
Well, On Saturday Karen was baptized!! I will try and include a picture. AHHH!! Her whole family came. It was so cool! Then her grandman and her aunt came for her confirmation too. It was really cool. Laura wants to go to the temple really bad so we're going to work on that with her, though we learned the other day (fail as a missionary) that she's not married. Don't worry we're working on resolving that issue. As soon as we told her that it was a commandment and that to go to the temple she has to be married she automatically accepted it and said she'll talk to her husband. Man, everyone needs to have her kind of faith. We could tell her God wanted to pack up her stuff and move to New York and she'd do it. Don't worry, we're not going to tell her that. =) We need her kind of faith and strength here in Encanto.
We went hiking today. For the first time on my whole mission. 5 miles. Steep. Hot. We started at 85 (5:30 in the morning) and ended at 102 (10:00) Long. And Fun. I actually kind of like hiking...even though it as just a bunch of red rock and dust. It was a last little informal hurrah with Pres and Sister Taylor before the switch to Tempe. We'll have a zone conference formal thing with them on the 28th. It was a little sad. At the top we sang some songs together talked about how it's a bginning and not an end and The taylors were just about sobbing. Man, I love them.
I learned something intense this week. Mostly on Sunday. Yep, love the santa cena. So I and many other people in the world we have this problem. We're okay with only being okay. We're okay with leaving someone else to solve the problem or clean up the mess. We're okay with passively living the gospel and letting the grandness of it pass us by.
THe other day I made a mess and I stopped to clean it up, we were in a little bit of a hurry and my companion says, "Let someone else take care of it." That made me think. (don't worry I fixed what I had messed up) "I'll just let someone else take care of it." "It's not my problem." "I'm busy right now, someone else will make sure Sis. So-and-so gets visited." I'm tired, and I've got homework to do, I'll just leave my prayer to later." Etc Etc Etc. I can't even tell you how many times I've said things like this. But this is what came into my head when Hna T said that: What if Jesus Christ before performing the Atonement said, "you know what? I'm tired. I've been tempted more than anyone can imagine, my closest friends have left me, I've done everything I can for these people and they want to kill me. I think I'll just let someone else take care it."
He could have, you know. He had the power. He could have done it. And then we'd all be doomed to become like the devil stuck as spirits, damned because we couldn't be resurrected. Not to mention the repentance and grace part of the Atonement as well.
"I'll just let someone else take care of it."
We can't just let someone else take care of it.
Someone was speaking in sacrament on Sunday. He was taling about when he went inactive and then reactivated. He said, "I wondered where my home teachers were. If they had been there, would I have gone inactive." Sis. So-and-so needs a visit NOW. She didn't come to church and it would be an answer to her prayer if someone just went over and said hello. Helped her with the dishes and gave her a hug. And she needs it NOW. And you are the person God wants to do it.
he doesn't need someone who's wishy washy. He doesn't need another member who just goes through the motions. He needs you. And He needs you now. He needs you to be a covenant keeper, to fulfill the covenant you made a baptism to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in comfort. TZo serve Him with all your might mind and strength.
Yes, this is what was going through my head. I decided when I get home I will do my visiting teaching, always. I will fulfill my calling. I will sit next to that sister who's sitting by herself in Relief Society. I will be the member that sometimes I wish these members would be.
Then the thought came, "who are you kidding? If you don't start now on your mission while it's the easiest what makes you think you'll do it when you get home." I will start now. I will talk to people. Everyone. I will smile and I will say the words that Christ would say. I will not passively live the life of a mission. I can't. I won't.
He needs me to step it up and serve with all my might mind and strength. And I will do it.
Now this has taken way too long to explain, but I guess I wanted you all to see how important it is that we are not passive. Being mediocre is not okay. Christ was not mediocre and He doesn't need anymore mediocre members.
"I'll just let someone else take care of it." for me, is going to become: I will take care of it. What about you?
Love you all! Don't think I'm crazy or anything. Just really passionate about some things. =) The church is true.
Hna Scott
Awesomeness.
We want to get the jovenes here to do something like this! Hopefully it works out. =)
https://www.lds.org/youth/video/we-are-brothers?lang=eng
Weekly plug:
"The two visitors [to the APM this last week], Tracy Watson (Missionary Department's director of proselyting) and Steve Allen (managing director of the Missionary Department and Brother Watson's boss) said there will be a lot of big announcements at the June 23rd broadcast. Hope you're looking forward to it." - Pres T
June 23rd.
Be there.
Have I mentioned that there are details about what will be announced that I'm not allowed to tell you? Yep, we here in the Phoenix mission, we've got an in and we know a little about what's going to happen and change about missionary work. You want to be there. I promise.
Well, On Saturday Karen was baptized!! I will try and include a picture. AHHH!! Her whole family came. It was so cool! Then her grandman and her aunt came for her confirmation too. It was really cool. Laura wants to go to the temple really bad so we're going to work on that with her, though we learned the other day (fail as a missionary) that she's not married. Don't worry we're working on resolving that issue. As soon as we told her that it was a commandment and that to go to the temple she has to be married she automatically accepted it and said she'll talk to her husband. Man, everyone needs to have her kind of faith. We could tell her God wanted to pack up her stuff and move to New York and she'd do it. Don't worry, we're not going to tell her that. =) We need her kind of faith and strength here in Encanto.
We went hiking today. For the first time on my whole mission. 5 miles. Steep. Hot. We started at 85 (5:30 in the morning) and ended at 102 (10:00) Long. And Fun. I actually kind of like hiking...even though it as just a bunch of red rock and dust. It was a last little informal hurrah with Pres and Sister Taylor before the switch to Tempe. We'll have a zone conference formal thing with them on the 28th. It was a little sad. At the top we sang some songs together talked about how it's a bginning and not an end and The taylors were just about sobbing. Man, I love them.
I learned something intense this week. Mostly on Sunday. Yep, love the santa cena. So I and many other people in the world we have this problem. We're okay with only being okay. We're okay with leaving someone else to solve the problem or clean up the mess. We're okay with passively living the gospel and letting the grandness of it pass us by.
THe other day I made a mess and I stopped to clean it up, we were in a little bit of a hurry and my companion says, "Let someone else take care of it." That made me think. (don't worry I fixed what I had messed up) "I'll just let someone else take care of it." "It's not my problem." "I'm busy right now, someone else will make sure Sis. So-and-so gets visited." I'm tired, and I've got homework to do, I'll just leave my prayer to later." Etc Etc Etc. I can't even tell you how many times I've said things like this. But this is what came into my head when Hna T said that: What if Jesus Christ before performing the Atonement said, "you know what? I'm tired. I've been tempted more than anyone can imagine, my closest friends have left me, I've done everything I can for these people and they want to kill me. I think I'll just let someone else take care it."
He could have, you know. He had the power. He could have done it. And then we'd all be doomed to become like the devil stuck as spirits, damned because we couldn't be resurrected. Not to mention the repentance and grace part of the Atonement as well.
"I'll just let someone else take care of it."
We can't just let someone else take care of it.
Someone was speaking in sacrament on Sunday. He was taling about when he went inactive and then reactivated. He said, "I wondered where my home teachers were. If they had been there, would I have gone inactive." Sis. So-and-so needs a visit NOW. She didn't come to church and it would be an answer to her prayer if someone just went over and said hello. Helped her with the dishes and gave her a hug. And she needs it NOW. And you are the person God wants to do it.
he doesn't need someone who's wishy washy. He doesn't need another member who just goes through the motions. He needs you. And He needs you now. He needs you to be a covenant keeper, to fulfill the covenant you made a baptism to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in comfort. TZo serve Him with all your might mind and strength.
Yes, this is what was going through my head. I decided when I get home I will do my visiting teaching, always. I will fulfill my calling. I will sit next to that sister who's sitting by herself in Relief Society. I will be the member that sometimes I wish these members would be.
Then the thought came, "who are you kidding? If you don't start now on your mission while it's the easiest what makes you think you'll do it when you get home." I will start now. I will talk to people. Everyone. I will smile and I will say the words that Christ would say. I will not passively live the life of a mission. I can't. I won't.
He needs me to step it up and serve with all my might mind and strength. And I will do it.
Now this has taken way too long to explain, but I guess I wanted you all to see how important it is that we are not passive. Being mediocre is not okay. Christ was not mediocre and He doesn't need anymore mediocre members.
"I'll just let someone else take care of it." for me, is going to become: I will take care of it. What about you?
Love you all! Don't think I'm crazy or anything. Just really passionate about some things. =) The church is true.
Hna Scott
Sunday, June 16, 2013
June 10, 2013
Well, this last week was just about as awesome as things get. I will not lie to you one little bit. It had been a kind of blah week. We only got 5 members to come out with us during the week, one of our investigators told us she doesn't want to learn anymore, zone leaders are kind of hounding us about our lack of numbers, etc, etc etc.
THEN
DUH DUH DUH
Friday we had a lesson and ate with Karen's family. Since Laura, Karen's mom, is already a member although reactiviating we often focus on Karen more, but while we were eating I made sure to talk to Laura. SHe ended up voicing a concern about the temple. Can she go without her husband? Her husband is Catholic. He doesn't go, but because of the family tradition he doesn't want to hear our message. (lamanites, man, and the traditions of their fathers). We told her that she could but that they wouldn't be able to be sealed as a family until he accepts the gospel. We talked a little more and suddenly I felt the need to promise her that as long as she does her part by ready the BofM having family prayers, inviting him to church he will one day accept the gospel. It was a very powerful moment.
After we left I asked Hna T about it and she said that often she receives revelation through pictures in her mind. She thinks she sees it, it's not like it's really there but she feels like she sees it and she thought she saw Laura's husband as a member of the bishopric as a worthy priesthood holder. SO COOL!!! Laura ended up asking how we could promise her such a thing. Well as representatives of Jesus Christ it's part of the job description. ;-)
Then, Saturday during the day Karen passed her baptisimal interview! AHHH!! THe leder who interviewed her said she had some of the best answers she's ever heard. She's getting baptized this Saturday at 6!
Then Saturday night, this is the best part. An old investigator who I just love who we had to let go because she never came to church called. When we were teaching her she always said she'd come someday and it would be a surpirse. I haven't seen her since Feb. She calls and asked why we haven't been by in so long, then she proceeds to tell me that she'll be coming to church the next day. Even if her sons don't want to come she'll come alone. I hung up with her and proceeded to fall to the ground and cry. Not like sobs or anything, but I was jus so overwhelmed by the goodnesss of God. What in the world did I do to deserve to be here at such a historical time working with these awesome people? I'm not sure, but I will always be grateful.
And they came. She came with her two sons. She was so nervous. She called us when she was outside and said she couldn't walk in by herself so we left (in the middle of the sacrament...oops) to walk with her into the building. Oh I hugged her so hard when I saw her.
Her boyfriend who's living in Washington right now is also learning from the missionaries. They both went to church together, although in different states they coordinated their first time at church.
The gospel is beautiful. The gospel is light. The gospel is happiness. And sharing it with people is the coolest thing ever.
Love you all. Love what I'm doing. Love the people. And guess what. The red dirt and the heat are becoming loveable too. =)
Hna Scott
PS 100 degrees and no shade is NOTHING Papa Scott. Try 113 and no shade. And no one home to let you in their house.
PPS Weekly plug. And what Elder Bednar said about last years mission president's conference (with his voice choking with emotion): "I would walk from anywhere on earth just to be at these meetings to listen to my brethren."
"Ward and stake council members, their spouses, full-time missionaries, and other interested Church members are invited to participate in a special session of the Seminar for New Mission Presidents entitled 'The Work of Salvation,' which will be broadcast from the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Sunday, June 23, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. mountain daylight time. The program will be subsequently rebroadcast to many areas of the world. President Thomas S. Monson, President Boyd K. Packer, and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will share messages about missionary work and conversion.
"Where necessary, we ask local leaders to adjust scheduled worship services so that members are able to participate in the live broadcast of this historic event. . . .
PPPS Because when I get home I'll be sharing these on my FB all the time, I might as well start now. =)
http://www.lds.org/pages/
PPPPS
1793 When we went to feed the ducks. YEs, the skies here are awesome
1803 THe Last time I saw Hna P before she went home
1806 Exchanges with Hna C and Hna V
1811 My friend Jaquelin she got baptized on May 25. AWESOME member family!!
1815 The miracle board for reals this time =)
June 3, 2013
And again...
"Ward and stake council members, their spouses, full-time missionaries, and other interested Church members are invited to participate in a special session of the Seminar for New Mission Presidents entitled 'The Work of Salvation,' which will be broadcast from the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Sunday, June 23, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. mountain daylight time. The program will be subsequently rebroadcast to many areas of the world. President Thomas S. Monson, President Boyd K. Packer, and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will share messages about missionary work and conversion.
"Where necessary, we ask local leaders to adjust scheduled worship services so that members are able to participate in the live broadcast of this historic event. . . .
"Where necessary, we ask local leaders to adjust scheduled worship services so that members are able to participate in the live broadcast of this historic event. . . .
Are you going? I am.
Well, yep. Another week has gone by. We've found a couple of new investigators and we've, sadly, lost a few who seemed super golden. We met with another member and role played with her. She knows exactly who she's going to invite to partake in the joy of the gospel. And she now knows exactly how she's going to do it. It's so exciting. It's so cool to feel the special Spirit in the room when we talk with a member about how they can do missionary work and help them realize this desire that they have.
I told you about the miracle count. We have a total of 38 miracles for the month of May. I will include a picture. =) Now we will erase the board and start ever for June. Yep, God is good, God is good.
Yesterday we had stake conference. And guess who came? Elder M Russell Ballard. =) He didn't come talk to the mission or anything, but it was still super cool to listen to him speak. I love the apostles. So great. He bestowed an apostolic blessing on us and he called all of us to repentance. He talked about how we should all treat the chapel with more respect. In the chapel we participate in THE MOST IMPORTANT worship service in our whole church, in the chapel we renew our covenants with God. When we enter the chapel we should change from the worldly things to a spiritual mindset. Man, it was so cool! I love church.
Pres. Taylor also spoke at the stake conference and he talked about the switch of mission boundries and related it to the switching of ward and stake boundries so all the members could understand how we feel. He told the whole stake that he trusts all of us with his life so they should all trust us with their friends. Yep, won't lie. I cried. I have to start praying a whole lot more for the Toones so I actually like them when they come.
Oh and I have to stop using words like "man" and "legit" al the time. It wsa my trade with Hna T so she'd stop saying things like "totes" and "sups" in place of "totally" and "super" Ma-- I mean, by golly, the price I pay to help my trainie become better ;-)
The work is good. Karen will be getting baptized on the 15th as long as her dad is okay with it. We should be getting in to see Paola again soon. We found this one lady because the Spirit is persistent and now we're teaching her. She told us that she doesn't think Joseph Smith really could have happened. But then we testified and told her how God sent us to her house and told her how much He loves her and wants her to know these things and invited her to read the BofM to know. (she's also studying with Jehovas witnesses). So if she follows her feelings, all shal be well. If not, well, we did all we could, and everyone has their agency.
Well peace out my friends. The church is true. Be covenant keepers. Share the gospel
Hna Scott
Jesus is coming look busy
When we realize that we are children of the covenant, we know who we are and what God expects of us. - Russell M. Nelson
May 28, 2013
Okay. Here's your weekly plug:
"Worldwide Leadership Broadcast: 'The Work of Salvation'
"Ward and stake council members, their spouses, full-time missionaries, and other interested Church members (that's you) are invited to participate in a special session of the Seminar for New Mission Presidents entitled 'The Work of Salvation,' which will be broadcast from the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Sunday, June 23, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. mountain daylight time. The program will be subsequently rebroadcast to many areas of the world. President Thomas S. Monson, President Boyd K. Packer, and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will share messages about missionary work and conversion.
"Where necessary, we ask local leaders to adjust scheduled worship services so that members are able to participate in the live broadcast of this historic event. . . .
Yep you're going to get this every week until the 23rd of June. It's that important. No joke. You want to be there. Really. I promise. Will you go? It's historical. Never have they broadcasted the new mission president's seminar like this. You'd better be going.
"Ward and stake council members, their spouses, full-time missionaries, and other interested Church members (that's you) are invited to participate in a special session of the Seminar for New Mission Presidents entitled 'The Work of Salvation,' which will be broadcast from the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Sunday, June 23, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. mountain daylight time. The program will be subsequently rebroadcast to many areas of the world. President Thomas S. Monson, President Boyd K. Packer, and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will share messages about missionary work and conversion.
"Where necessary, we ask local leaders to adjust scheduled worship services so that members are able to participate in the live broadcast of this historic event. . . .
Yep you're going to get this every week until the 23rd of June. It's that important. No joke. You want to be there. Really. I promise. Will you go? It's historical. Never have they broadcasted the new mission president's seminar like this. You'd better be going.
Okay now that that's over and done with...
Hmm. Last week.
Well, last week we looked at our monthly goals and realized we needed 15 people with fechas (dates for bapt) to reach our monthly goal. So jokingly we said we were going to do it. And then it turned into not a joke... =) We didn't even have 14 lessons last week, so of course we didn't ask that many people, but we did invite 3 people to be baptized and they all said yes! WABAM! Now we have 3 dates and 3 awesome people to work with toward baptism. Yep, goals are good. Man if I had realized how good of an idea it is to have goals BEFORE my mission I would have gotten a lot more done. But hey now I know. =)
We went and saw this one investigator/not really investigating person yesterday. Her husband is less active and she is apostolic. They just had a baby and she's adorable by the way. So we talked a littl ebit about how the gospel blesses families and then went into the plan of salvation a little bit. She had never thought about where we were before this life and had never thought about where we go after. Apparently in her church they think after this life we lose all our memories of the people we know on earth all the family bonds all the relationships...just gone. I testified with all my might that she will know her daughter after this life. That it's a reassurance that no matter what happens in this life, we will see our families again. And well, she's says she's content knowing that her mom will be saved and live with God again. At least that what she said. I'm [retty sure she;s going to be thinking about what we said and the more time she spends with her 3 week old baby the more she's going to think about how much she wants to knw her daughter for all eternity. And oh my heavens I am so so so so so so so so sos os os ososososososososos glad we have the plan of happiness that we know what will happen and that the natural human desire that we have to be involved in an eternal family can be a reality. And of course this whole exchange made me think about my family and how much I love them. I love you guys. Very much. And thank you mom and dad for being willing to make covenants so that we can be eternal. Thank you for being worthy. And thank you for raising us in the right way.
Somewhat in the middle of the weekish we went out with an amazing member. And she took us out and of course our cita cancelled and nobody was home. So then she being an awesome returned missionary just started contacting the neighbors that were outside. My goodess. It was crazy and she's crzy good at it. At talking to them like they're real people and then tying the gospel into it. Man. I learned an important lesson that day, one I wish I owuld have learned a long time ago and since then it seems like I need to keep learning it. You talk to everyone. Every single one of them is a child of God and if you really understand how much He loves you then you know how much He loves them. You automatically want to share the gospel with every single creature. And sometimes all you have to do is open your mouth. It just hit me suddenly. It wasn't like a huge rush of understanding or anything, just suddenly it didn't seem so hard to talk to people on the street anymore. I contacted every person I saw that night. Since then it has returned to being a battle with myself to get out of my comfort zone and just talk to them. But still. It was a really cool moment. Now I just need to help Hna T understand it too...
Well, that's about all I have to say this week.
Questions comments concerns just ask.
Love you all
Hna Scott
May 21 2013
Okay, I have absolutely no idea where this week went. It was like "oh it's...what? it's Sunday already?!" My goodness.
I'm not getting transferred. Which means I'm moving to the Tempe mission. And by the time the move happens I'll have been in this area for almost 10 months. I'll just have to wait one more transfer to beat Hna P's 11 months here in Encanto.
We got a new ward mission leader on Sunday. Ours moved to the singles ward recently. The member who just got called was baptized 17 months ago. They gave him the Melchizedek priesthood on Sunday, which is amazing (another miracle up on the whiteboard) we've been trying to get this family to the temple since they hit their year mark but it hasn't happened. Hopefully now it will. =) We actually went to his house on Sunday to do a family night with him...about missionary work. Oops. =) It was before we knew that he was getting called. It went pretty well. And his wife makes the best chocoflan I've ever tasted. =)
The bishop also told us that we're getting a new relief society president as well. But they haven't called her yet.
Hna P (my trainer) is heading home today after finishing her 18 months of service. That's a little weird to think about.
Have you all heard about the broadcast that they're going to have on June 23?
"Worldwide Leadership Broadcast: 'The Work of Salvation'
"Ward and stake council members, their spouses, full-time missionaries, and other interested Church members are invited to participate in a special session of the Seminar for New Mission Presidents entitled 'The Work of Salvation,' which will be broadcast from the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Sunday, June 23, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. mountain daylight time. The program will be subsequently rebroadcast to many areas of the world. President Thomas S. Monson, President Boyd K. Packer, and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will share messages about missionary work and conversion.
"Ward and stake council members, their spouses, full-time missionaries, and other interested Church members are invited to participate in a special session of the Seminar for New Mission Presidents entitled 'The Work of Salvation,' which will be broadcast from the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Sunday, June 23, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. mountain daylight time. The program will be subsequently rebroadcast to many areas of the world. President Thomas S. Monson, President Boyd K. Packer, and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will share messages about missionary work and conversion.
You should all go. It's going to be legit. And "interested members" should mean all of you. Just sayin. =)
Hmm. Well our investigator Paola who we thought was going to get baptized pretty fast, needs a little bit more time. Which is totally okay. It's not a race. She thinks that she has to fully repent before God will answer her prayers. So she wants to wait on the baptism. I think it's a good idea. So we'll wait a couple of more weeks with her. But she'll get there. She's so prepared! She just wants everything to be right between her and God. She wants to make up for all the bad she did in her past life. Yep, so cool.
We visited a less active last night Yesenia. She's awesome amazing and hilarious. She used to always go out with us, but around Oct, she stopped going to church and kind of dropped off the planet. The last little while we've managed to find her at home a lot and we force her to feed us (especially when her mom was visiting from Mexico). But last night was different because my awesome companion busted out in a heavenly inspired invitation. So a little background, I've been going through temple withdrawals (we can only go once every three months) and I keep telling Hna T as soon as June hits we're GOING to the temple. So while we're at this member's house Hna T invites her to come to the temple with us when we go, not knowing that this member has never been. She's 30, single, and been a member for almost all of her life. Suddenly the Spirit just filled the room. And Yesenia felt it. She commited to prepare to go to the temple. =) And then she came to a noche de hogar with us after dinner. It was amazing. She hasn't come to anything like that in a very long time. The Lord. My heavens. He's awesome.
Well, I think that's about it for this week. =)
Love you all. Go to the temple and think of me while you're there.
PS I don't know if I mentioned this already, but I've been studying convenants lately. Yep, just about the coolest things EVER! Maybe you knew this already but I didn't. =)
Monday, May 13, 2013
17 Miracles...okay, almost 17 miracles =)
So last week I informed you about Hna M's (a member) idea to have a ward fast for missionary work. And we did it. We ended up inviting 12ish families to fast for la obra misional and their own missionary experiences. SInce then well, we've had so many miracles we had to start a Miracle Count on our huge white board in the apartment. =) 13 to be exact. Yep fasting man. It works.
The zone leaders tried to tell us that said fast was actually against the rules last night, but do not fear it's not. We're just not allowed to ask people at home to fast for special causes. So we were completely obedient. We are working hard and letting the members know that we want/need their help. Thus receiving many blessings.
Miracle #1:
Background: While I was with Hna G we found a less active in this apartment complex. One time when Hna G and Hna M (the member) went back to visit her (we were on spits) their house was infested with bed bugs.
Present: At this same apt complex with Hna M and our apointment fell through so Hna M asks about this less active. No we had not been back to visit her since that fatefull day. Should we go visit her now? Sure. We've got nothing else to do. So we go over to her house and this less active had moved. BUT there was a younger lady inside. She had just moved in 2 days ago. 2 DAYS MAN!! She asked if we were Christains and told us that we were always welcome in her house. Set an appointment. Went back. Told us that even though she's had 3 miscarrages, she has her 5 year old son and loves him and she knows this hard things make her stronger. She wants to change to become the example she needs to be for her son. Can we say SUPER prepared? Why, yes. Yes I think we can. =)
Miracle #2:
At the ward's mother's day activity on Friday night. We have a list of things to do to make it productive time. We're walking around greeting everyone and the music is SUPER loud. You can barely hear yourself think. We go talk to Hna A. Single mom and super legit. She says hello and then proceeds to half yell at us saying that she's bringing a friend to church on Sunday and she wants us to come meet her on Saturday so that she can feel more comfortable for her first day of church. The friend, Paola, is living with Hna A, has listened to missionaries before, but then had no interest. Now she says she feels like she NEEDS to be closer to him. She wants to repent and be free of the guilt of her sins. We read her parts of Alma 36 and she said that's exactly how she wants to feel. AHHH! Came to church. Loved it. Have a return appointment on Tuesday. And she will be invited to be baptized. =) I believe in miracles.
Miracle #3: Hna J, the Yound Women President gave us a referral a week agoish. We talked to her yesterday at church how she wants us to go about contacting and working with this lady. Last time she gave a referral to the missionaries they went without her and it wasn't as greeat as she had hoped. So she asked us to come to her house and have dinner with her and teach her how she can go about it so it will be more effective this time. She basically she asked us to go over and role play with her about how to invite her friend to listen to the missionaries. Maybe that doesn't sound too miracle ish to you, but really it is. She WANTS us to come hep her be a better member missionary. =) Have I mentioned that fasting works yet?
Miracle #4:
Background: A transfer ago I went with Hna F on exchanges to Estrella ward. There I met this lovely truly converted recent convert, Hna V, and her non member grandma. We proceeded to teach the grandma a spirit filled lesson. She agreed with all we said. Said that she knows this is what her husband who died a couple of years ago wants her to do and that she knows she'll see him again. Accepted a baptisimal date right then and there. She was baptized two weeks later.
Present: Last night we got a call from the zone leaders telling us that we have a member referral from the Estrella ward. He tells me the name and the name of the member who it's from. It's this grandma's grandaughter, Hna V's sister in law. Her brother has been talking to her about the church and told her he's sending missionaries over. Yep, we will be stopping by tonight. =)
Okay, so that's four out of the 13 miracles we've noticed so far in the lsat week. The highlights for sure. Others include a certain less active member coming to church dressed in a spiffy suit and it being the 3rd time he's come to church in the last month, Karen's progress in lessons, Hna M's help in the obra. Etc. Etc. =)
All in all. Great week. =)
Love you
Hna Scott
The zone leaders tried to tell us that said fast was actually against the rules last night, but do not fear it's not. We're just not allowed to ask people at home to fast for special causes. So we were completely obedient. We are working hard and letting the members know that we want/need their help. Thus receiving many blessings.
Miracle #1:
Background: While I was with Hna G we found a less active in this apartment complex. One time when Hna G and Hna M (the member) went back to visit her (we were on spits) their house was infested with bed bugs.
Present: At this same apt complex with Hna M and our apointment fell through so Hna M asks about this less active. No we had not been back to visit her since that fatefull day. Should we go visit her now? Sure. We've got nothing else to do. So we go over to her house and this less active had moved. BUT there was a younger lady inside. She had just moved in 2 days ago. 2 DAYS MAN!! She asked if we were Christains and told us that we were always welcome in her house. Set an appointment. Went back. Told us that even though she's had 3 miscarrages, she has her 5 year old son and loves him and she knows this hard things make her stronger. She wants to change to become the example she needs to be for her son. Can we say SUPER prepared? Why, yes. Yes I think we can. =)
Miracle #2:
At the ward's mother's day activity on Friday night. We have a list of things to do to make it productive time. We're walking around greeting everyone and the music is SUPER loud. You can barely hear yourself think. We go talk to Hna A. Single mom and super legit. She says hello and then proceeds to half yell at us saying that she's bringing a friend to church on Sunday and she wants us to come meet her on Saturday so that she can feel more comfortable for her first day of church. The friend, Paola, is living with Hna A, has listened to missionaries before, but then had no interest. Now she says she feels like she NEEDS to be closer to him. She wants to repent and be free of the guilt of her sins. We read her parts of Alma 36 and she said that's exactly how she wants to feel. AHHH! Came to church. Loved it. Have a return appointment on Tuesday. And she will be invited to be baptized. =) I believe in miracles.
Miracle #3: Hna J, the Yound Women President gave us a referral a week agoish. We talked to her yesterday at church how she wants us to go about contacting and working with this lady. Last time she gave a referral to the missionaries they went without her and it wasn't as greeat as she had hoped. So she asked us to come to her house and have dinner with her and teach her how she can go about it so it will be more effective this time. She basically she asked us to go over and role play with her about how to invite her friend to listen to the missionaries. Maybe that doesn't sound too miracle ish to you, but really it is. She WANTS us to come hep her be a better member missionary. =) Have I mentioned that fasting works yet?
Miracle #4:
Background: A transfer ago I went with Hna F on exchanges to Estrella ward. There I met this lovely truly converted recent convert, Hna V, and her non member grandma. We proceeded to teach the grandma a spirit filled lesson. She agreed with all we said. Said that she knows this is what her husband who died a couple of years ago wants her to do and that she knows she'll see him again. Accepted a baptisimal date right then and there. She was baptized two weeks later.
Present: Last night we got a call from the zone leaders telling us that we have a member referral from the Estrella ward. He tells me the name and the name of the member who it's from. It's this grandma's grandaughter, Hna V's sister in law. Her brother has been talking to her about the church and told her he's sending missionaries over. Yep, we will be stopping by tonight. =)
Okay, so that's four out of the 13 miracles we've noticed so far in the lsat week. The highlights for sure. Others include a certain less active member coming to church dressed in a spiffy suit and it being the 3rd time he's come to church in the last month, Karen's progress in lessons, Hna M's help in the obra. Etc. Etc. =)
All in all. Great week. =)
Love you
Hna Scott
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