Monday, January 25, 2016

Teach Repentence and Baptize Converts

Well, I'm finally getting all settled in here in Connell. It feels really good being able to pretty much start over with everything. New area, new companion, and even a new teaching pool. It seems like when I got here a lot of the investigators weren't really progressing. So we focused a lot on finding this week. I love finding! That's when I feel the most lead by the Lord is when we're finding. And we were so blessed this week. We were blessed with a new investigator almost every single day, sometimes two. Especially with part-member families. The Connell Spanish Branch is packed up the wah-zoo with part-member families. So we've been making an effort to contact all of them. The Lord has great things in mind for this area. 

One of the new investigators that we were blessed with is Humberto. He's pretty much the miracle of the week. Hermano Chavez in the branch told us of his friend who super ready to receive the gospel. So we went by on Saturday, taught him and his wife and Humberto is now on date for the 13th of February! And he is so solid. He so humble and willing to learn. His wife, Marta, may need a little bit more time. But Humberto came to church the next day too! That's what was really great about it. Because there are a lot of people who I've met that are willing to say they will do things but then they never actually do them. But the fact that Humberto actually showed his faith and came to church shows a lot of sincere desire. And he was even participating in the classes and he really felt the Spirit which was really great. So we're very excited for him.  

And speaking of church, I was asked to give a talk in sacrament meeting yesterday. I've overcome my fear a lot of public speaking, but when it's in a language I barely know, I still get pretty nervous. But it went really well! I was asked to speak on receiving strength through the Atonement. Probably my favorite subject of the gospel. Because it's the one that I've seen the most in my life! Especially in the mission field. I have to rely on the Atonement every single day to overcome my weaknesses. But I find so much comfort in knowing that there is someone else who has not only felt the same as you do, but has also experienced even worse. That's one of the essential truths that I've come to know the most on my mission. 

We were able to watch the world-wide missionary broadcast this last week! I was just blown away the entire time. I was able to learn so much from everything that was taught. I loved how simple everything was. And everything that was taught was already in Preach My Gospel. That's something that I was able to learn. That I needed to simplify my approach to missionary work. The name of the broadcast was "Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts." You can't get any simpler than that. It was such a blessing to be trained directly from general authorities on exactly what we need to know. 

Here's my scripture for this week: Mosiah 5:2 

"And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."

Thanks for all that you do for this great work! I love you all! Have a great week!
Elder Scott

Monday, January 18, 2016

Elder Schaefermeyer!


Fourth and Last Day with Elder Stevens


I am back in Washington

This has, by far, been the weirdest week of the mission so far. And last Saturday was definitely the weirdest day. So, where do I begin?

We got our transfer calls on Monday night as expected. And Elder West was getting transferred to Pendleton getting doubled in with another Elder in the district! So that was pretty crazy. But I was told that I was staying. Pretty bitter-sweet having to say good-bye to Elder West but I was very excited to be able to stay in Boardman... Or so I thought. My new companion who got transferred in was Elder Stevens. And he is super great, REALLY quiet but a super great missionary. And he's from Alabama! So he had a really cool southerrrrn diup own his wards. I love him! And he was Elder Freestones companion in the MTC too. So things were going great for the next couple of days. Elder Stevens was getting to know the area and everyone. 

But then, Saturday morning. I just barely started my personal study when we got a call from President Ware. I had no idea what to expect. I answered and he told me about how he had been pondering and praying about what he should do about a certain situation in the mission and he told me there was a missionary in Connell who needed to finish being trained. Then he asked me if "it would be okay" to pack up my stuff and leave that afternoon to Connell. Well, I can't say no! So I accepted and hung up and started packing. The assistants came by at our house at 1:45 to drop off the new Elder and take me to Connell. 

I still can't believe that it all happened so fast. That was probably the hardest part. The members and all of our investigators in Boardman were such amazing people. And I grew to love them so much. 

But Connell here is great! It feels good to be back in Washington and pay sales tax and pump our own gas. My new trainee is Elder Schaefermeyer! And he is from West Valley City Utah. He's already been out for a transfer and he's already a pro. He's such a cool guy. We're already best buds. It's going to be a lot of fun training again. But this time around is going to be pretty unique. But Connell is a really great area too. It's another all Spanish area which is...fun. And once again, I'm in the northern most part of the mission! Before the mission split, it was Omak and Oroville but now it's Connell. So here I am up north!    

Another pretty big change is that I no longer have the assignment of a district leader. That was also kind of bitter sweet. But it's also a huge blessing because now I get to just focus on training and my own area.

We already have a lot of great investigators here in Connell. The Lord is preparing the hearts of many people and I feel so blessed to be apart of this work. 

D&C 10:5
"Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work."

Boy is the mission a roller coaster! You never know what each day is going to be like. I really came to understand that this week. But it also really helped me to understand how much the Lord knows us and knows exactly the things that we need to keep on progressing and learning what we need to.

Thanks for all of your love, prayers and support!

Have a great week!
Elder Scott

Monday, January 11, 2016

Laura's Baptism


Transfers. And a baptism.

What a crazy week it was. It was full of a bunch of meetings, exchanges and a baptism! I remember thinking when we were planning for this last week thinking how hectic it will be. It was stressful just thinking about it. Very exhausting. But it felt really good. So it's a pretty big relief that this week is over and another one has begun.  

Laura was baptized! It was a great service. Everything seemed really last-minute planning and added to a lot of the stress of the week but it turned out to be an amazing baptismal service. The Spirit was so strong and Laura's mom and sister came and a lot of her other family which was really cool to see. And at the end of the service Laura got up in front of everyone to bear her testimony. It was so powerful to hear that. She shared Alma 32:21, "And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." She told everyone that she didn't understand everything about the gospel, but she understands enough to know that it's true and that it has helped her in her life. That was a really amazing experience to witness that. 

I forgot to mention last week, but we have transfers this week. And we heard about some pretty big changes throughout the mission about transfers. Usually we will find out the Saturday before if we're being transferred. But now we don't find out until Monday night. So I still don't even know if I'm being transferred! Another big change is usually have a big transfer meeting in Kennewick on transfer day. But now we just go straight to our new area and get to work on transfer day. Pretty big changes but it's really all for the better. Lots of exciting stuff!   

I don't want to jinx anything, but I would love to stay here in Boardman. It's such an amazing area and I've loved it so much here. So I'm really hoping that I'll be able to stay! I guess you all will just have to find out next week!

Here's my scripture, one of my absolute favorites from the Book of Mormon: Alma 41:10

"Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness."

I know that this gospel is true! I really saw the Lord's hand in my life a lot this week to help me overcome my weaknesses. I'm so grateful for the Atonement in my life to enable me and strengthen me. 

I love you all! Have a great week!
Elder Scott

Monday, January 4, 2016

The Ol' Ship Zion

We had a pretty great New Years Eve. Well, sorta. Not really. Elder West got SUPER sick. Like really bad. And so we really couldn't do much that day because he was either in the bathroom or passed out on his bed. It was the first time I've had to stay in on a proselyting day on my mission. I didn't know what to do with myself! But thankfully it was just a 24 hour thing and he was perfectly fine the next day. And also on the bright side, after that day, the area book was VERY up to date:) It didn't slow us down at all though. We still had an amazing week though and we were able to see a lot of miracles.

Laura is looking good to be baptized this Saturday. She was at church yesterday, thankfully, and it was a great experience for her. So I'm super excited but also super stressed!  Because this week really is the final stretch and we have to make sure everything is going to run smoothly. We're having a fast with her tomorrow which will be really awesome for her to experience. So please keep her in your prayers!

This week we went on exchanges and I got to be with Elder Wilson! We were in the same district in the MTC. It was so cool to be with him again. We got along really well in the MTC and so it felt like being companions from one of my friends from home. It was weird looking back at the MTC and thinking about everything that has happened since then and ho much I've learned. At times the MTC feels like yesterday, and other times it feels like a few years ago! But we had an amazing day and I learned a lot from him.

It snowed again this week. And it was in the 20's all week. Now it's really starting to feel like winter. Although, I would rather take winter over summer as a missionary. The heat is just miserable.
A lot of really great things are happening in this area. We're teaching so many people that there's not enough time in the week to go teach them all! We're still doing a lot of finding though and the Lord is blessing us every single day with new people to teach.

Here's my scripture for the week: D&C 4:2

"Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day."
I love this work so much! I know that this church is true and that Christ truly is at the helm of the Ol' Ship Zion. I love being able to help others to know that too and to "hold tight and sail on!"
Love you all! Have a great week!
Elder Scott