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

"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

"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

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

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