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
MTC
Going to the temple
Sunday, September 29, 2013
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
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