Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

This week thankfully wasn't as slow as last week. And a lot of really great things happened! Last Friday we had a zone conference. Being the farthest north it was a bit of a drive getting there. But we had a member of the first quorum of the seventy speak to us. His name is Elder Arnold and he is truly an amazing man. A lot of what he told us has stuck with me and has really made an influence on the work. One of those things was beginning with the end in mind. Whether we're just knocking on doors or meeting with an investigator, always have in mind their potential of who they can become. Picture them in the baptismal font, or even in their temple clothes. It's given me a whole new perspective of the people we teach and I've developed a very deep love for them. Granted, this much more difficult to do when someone slams the door in your face. But I'm very grateful for Elder Arnold and his inspired message that he gave to us.

Another really amazing thing happened that day. Coming back from the Zone Conference it started to snow... hard. A two hour drive turned into a three hour drive. The roads were slick and we could barely see. We could see an oncoming car in the distance, as it got closer, our car slowly started to slide towards it until we were completely in the other lane. Thankfully Elder Pullman was driving and I just had to hold on and brace for impact. But in the nick of time our car was able to stop sliding and get back into the other lane. It was scary. After that we were pretty startled. So we pulled over to the side of the road and said a prayer. I could immediately feel the comfort that everything will be okay. When we finally made it back to Omak we did some tracting. The first door we knocked on this middle-aged woman named Dina immediately invited us in. She gave us hot chocolate and we talked with her and her husband, Steve. She already knew a lot about the church, she even brought up questions about garments and what goes on in the temple. They were sooo kind to us. We had a discussion about the plan of salvation and the purpose of the temple. We gave them a Book of Mormon and we have a scheduled appointment to meet with them again. Two new investigators! I know that our Heavenly Father protects His missionaries, and we were meant to make it home safely so we could see them that night. 

We had Tom and Rosemary come to church yesterday! It was really good to have to them there finally. Rosemary is an elementary school teacher and it was the primary program, so she recognized a lot of the kids there and so that was really good for her. They are still having a lot problems with their marriage. A few very close calls when one of them wants a divorce. We're doing all that we can for them, and hopefully they will come around. Keep them in your prayers!

We are having Thanksgiving at a the Thompsons (they are the one's whose mother just passed away). They always give us a lot of food anyway! So don't worry Mom I'll be fend plenty. We were also invited to go to another Thanksgiving dinner later in the day with one of our investigators, Jessica and her less-active husband. But we found out that we have a 6 o'clock curfew on Thanksgiving. Which is a huge bummer. We were really looking forward to that because she's making a lot of progress. But if it's what the Lord wants, we'll do it! 

We were finally able to get some members out with us to some lessons. Which we've been struggling with a lot. Not a whole lot of people in the ward who are willing to do that. But we had some great lessons with the members, so hopefully we can keep that up! 

Omak is finally a winter wonderland! Everything is covered with snow! And I love it! 

Being a missionary is the greatest! It's also the hardest, but it's also the greatest! My testimony of this gospel and of the Book of Mormon continues to grow and develop each day. 

Oh how I love to be a missionary! 

Elder Scott

Transfers! But we are staying! Fewww!

Have a great week. Man, this week has been a pretty slow one. Which is pretty odd because so far being in the field time has flown by! But this week has definitely been very slow. Most of our set appointments fell through. Which is very frustrating! But we're really hoping this next week is going to be much better.

Last Tuesday we had specialized training and interviews from out mission president. President Ware is an incredible man, and he is very inspired. He seemed to know the answers to my questions before I even asked them. Everything he told me has gotten me through this week, and it will for the rest of my mission! I've been so blessed to have him as my mission president. 

We tracked into a guy named Joel. He lives in California but he's visiting his brother for a few weeks. He invited us in and we talked for a bit. He use to go to school in Syracuse and he had talked to missionaries there before. We talked about the restoration and gave him a Book of Mormon. Even though he's leaving back to California pretty soon we're still very hopeful for him and his brother. 

We were also able to see Tom and Rosemary. There was a point when they were making a lot of progress and coming to church, but they're slowly starting to come to a halt. There's quite a few things they're having trouble with grasping--Joseph Smith and modern prophets mostly. But we're going to work our hardest to make sure they progress! 

There is a less active/recent convert we've been seeing, the Thompsons. Their mother just passed away a few weeks ago. They had a funeral service yesterday. They invited us to come, and the service was really nice. But man, I've never felt so many stares in my entire life. It was held in a baptist church, and the second we walked in, everyone turned their heads toward us and it seemed like it didn't stop until we left haha. But the service was a great opportunity to talk to a lot of people. And to let them know that we're there to support the Thompsons. So that was nice! 

It's getting sooooooooooo cold. And it's really odd because each day is a sunny, bright, clear day. But it's freezing! It definitely brings it's blessings though. We can already see a difference in the way people react to us knocking on their door haha. People are much more likely to let us in when it's 20 degrees outside. So I'm willing to put up with it! 

We got transfer calls last Saturday. And... Elder Pullman and I are both staying!! Fewww! It's was kind of expected, but it was still a relief. 

Even though this week has been pretty tough with appointments falling through and it being REALLY slow. It's during these times when my testimony grows the most. I can see Heavenly Father helping me and guiding me. I'm so grateful for His hand in my life. My testimony continues to grow each day! The church is true!

Thank you for all of your prayers, love and support. I love you guys! 

Elder Scott 

colder and colder and colder

Hello everyone!

It's been another great week here! It did go by a bit slower but it was still very good! 

We said goodbye to our only Spanish investigator this week, Samuel. He's a picker in the orchards so he pretty much goes wherever the work is. So he's off to California. It was pretty sad saying goodbye because he's sooo solid. He reads in the scriptures everyday and his brother who's in Mexico is getting baptized. But we know that there are much better opportunities for him to learn more about the gospel in California. 

We tracted into a less-active and his nonmember wife. They are VERY nice people. He was telling us about how his younger brother passed away this last May. He showed us a picture of him, and it was Peter's dad! So we asked him, wait, do you know Peter? And he said yes! Thats my nephew! Small world, huh? We then asked him and his wife if we could come back and share a message. And they said they would love that. The wife is very interested in learning about the gospel. The husband was baptized when he was 18 and hasn't been to church very much since. Teaching less-active/part-member families are the greatest. Because when you teach the non-member, it reactivates the less-active. You can't go wrong! 

We tried to meet with Peter again. We stopped by three times. First time only his brother was there, he wasn't interested. Then the second time his brother and his grandma was there. Peter's uncle mentioned that she is a devout atheist, she made that very clear when we wanted to see Peter. Then finally the third time we tried he was there! His grandma wouldn't let us come in the house we had to have like a mini lesson on his front porch. He's still interested. And I'm still very hopeful for him. 

We had a zone meeting this week. Whenever we have meetings they always take up so much of our time. Since we're so far north we have to drive down to Coulee Dam the night before and spend the night the Elders there. But the meeting was great! We're actually going down there again tonight. We have a specialized training and interviews with the mission president tomorrow morning. 

It's getting colder and colder and colder. Since I've gotten here, it's only either been cold or rained. Never both at the same time. But this last week, it was both. Cold and rain. We've heard from several people that it's going to dip down into the 10's and 20's this week. Fun fun fun!! 

It's hard to believe this transfer is almost over. It's also hard to believe how much I've grown and how much I've learned. My testimony is tried and tested every day. And because of that, it continues to strengthen. I know that this is the Lord's work. I know that our Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. Through prayer, I receive the strength and comfort I need. I love this gospel so much. And I'm so happy to be a missionary! 

I love you and miss you all! 

Elder Scott 

Halloween

Hello everyone!

Well, once again, it's pretty hard to remember everything that's gone on this week! Haha but it was still a good one. 

Halloween was lots of fun! I was actually able to go to TWO ward parties because we went on exchanges again this week and I was able to go to the one in Coulee Dam as well as the one in Omak. Let's just say I ate a lot of food this week. 

Lots of stuff happened yesterday. Our investigators Tom and Rosemary came to sacrament meeting! It was really good to see them there. Hopefully we'll be able to meet with them tomorrow. Another thing that happened was we had gotten a referral from the church website from someone named Elizabeth. She had requested the missionaries and a bible. So we went to the address and she wasn't there. But her husband was. He told us he went to the Lutheran church. At first we were having a nice, simple conversation about religion. But then it turned into a few blown argument. It was pretty hard to be involved with. We ended up staying there for over an hour trying to get our point across. But obviously in those situations you can't really do anything when the Spirit isn't there. We knew we had to leave so we both bore a simple testimony of the Book of Mormon. That guy may not have been able to feel the Spirit then, but I know that I did. That experience has definitely strengthened my testimony of the Book of Mormon. It's made me realize that the Book of Mormon truly is the keystone of our religion. And that's what it all falls back on. 

Another thing that happened yesterday was we were able to meet with Dorothy and Steve. There was a sister in the ward who had written a letter to them and she wanted us to deliver it to them. So that kinda gave us an excuse to go over there haha. I was very surprised by how welcoming they were towards us. We chatted for a bit just to see how they were doing. And then we immediately started talking about what was holding them back from baptism. At times it was hard to hear some of the things they were saying. But what they really wanted to tell us was that there are too many doctrinal differences with what they personally believe and what the church believes. And not once was their daughter being gay ever brought up. They told us that we would be more than welcome to come back anytime and they also told us that if they gained one thing from all of this is that they know that Mormons are true Christians and they felt the Saviors love for them when they were meeting with us and the members. Elder Pullman and I left with the same feeling of peace and acceptance. We know that this is completely in our Heavenly Father's hands now. And I personally know that they will one day accept the gospel--whether in this life or in the next!

We got two new investigators this week, Eli and Peter. Eli is a single dad who we've been trying to sit down and talk ever since I got here! But we've never been able to. And we finally did this week. And I'm very hopeful for Peter. We tracted into him, he's a senior in high school and he's living with his grandma and his brother. His dad passed away last May and he has no religious background. We were able to sit down with him and teach a little about the plan of salvation. He's a very humble person and we're really looking forward to meeting with him! 

That's pretty much everything that happened this week. It's getting colder and colder by the day. And it's raining--a lot. 

I love you and miss you all! 

Elder Scott