I'm Going to Oregon!

It's been quite the eventful week! It was really good though. Never a dull moment in the mission field.

Well, I'm getting transferred. We're getting doubled out actually. It's pretty crazy and VERY unexpected. This is the third time in a row that I've been doubled out of an area. I'm being sent to Boardman, Oregon in the Hermiston Zone! I'm pretty excited. If there was one place that I could choose to go this would be the place! It's another "Zebra Area". So it will be both English and Spanish. I've heard a lot of great things about the area and I'm really looking forward to it. And Elder Freestone is getting transferred to College Place! My favorite place in the world! So I'm really excited for him too. It was pretty sad yesterday at church though. I've come to love the members here so much and it was pretty heartbreaking to say good-bye to so many. The mission really is so full of bitter-sweets. 

We had a great Thanksgiving. WAY too much food. We had two full dinners practically one after the other. I don't think I had ever been so full in my entire life than I was by the end of that day. Really great though.

We got a new Branch Mission Leader here, Hermano William. Probably one of the biggest bummers about leaving. Because he is just one of my favorite people in the world. He's a convert of only about a year and a half. But has one of the strongest testimonies that I've ever heard. Pretty crazy story with him that happened. Last weekend he got jumped! Outside of a restaurant, these guys stole his phone and wallet and busted up his nose and hurt his foot. And yet even in his condition we still had our correlation meeting. At the meeting he bore testimony to all of us that God gives us trials for a reason. And all he could think about was how sorry he felt for those people who hurt him. And that the experience he had made him want to share the gospel even more to those who need it. He's such an inspiration and an amazing missionary. 

We're doing something pretty cool as a mission. From now until Christmas, we're all reading the four gospels. It's about six pages a day. But I love it! I've been learning a lot and if I keep it up I'll be finished on Christmas day!

Here's my scripture for this week. Romans 8:35,37

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

Love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Scott

Ready in the time of need

Hello Family!

Once again, lots of ups and downs this week. I feel like I should get used to this stuff by now! But I guess there's some things I guess I'll never get used to on the mission. Just kind of like life!

The Valencia family was able to make it to church yesterday! They're a part member family that we've been meeting with for a while and they have kept telling us that they're always too busy to come to church on Sundays. But then they came! So it was really good to have them there. So we're really going to try to seem them a lot this week so that we can really start teaching them. Their kids are all baptized, but the parents aren't because they're not married! It's kind of a complicated situation. The mom isn't legally divorced from someone in Mexico. And so they can't get legally married here. It's pretty crazy. But they're super great and we're really excited for them.

We went on exchanges twice this week! Once with the Elders in the district and once with the Zone Leaders. Exchanges are great. I always learn so much just from being with another missionary. And our Zone Leaders are so amazing. I've been so blessed on my mission to have such inspired leaders to help me.

I can't believe it's already Thanksgiving this week! I feel like Halloween was just yesterday! And it feels like the 4th of July was just a few weeks ago! 

Boy is it getting COLD. It hasn't gotten Omak cold yet. But it's getting there. Elder Freestone loaded up last Monday with a bunch of winter stuff so he's all good to go!

Well we're getting transfer calls this Saturday! Pretty insane. So we'll find out if we're going or staying. I've been here in the branch for four transfers. That's a pretty long time. But there's also a chance that I could be staying! So I really have no idea what's going to happen.

Something pretty cool just happened today. Before we got here to the library, we had to make a stop at the post office. And as we walked up to the doors, we noticed in the parking lot that there was a woman on the ground and two people trying to help her up. We ran over to see if she needed any help, but by the time we got over there she was on her feet, but she was in tears wincing in pain at her arm that she fell on. We asked her if there was anything we could do. She looked at us and she said, "Can you give me a blessing?" Then we realized that she was a member and that we have had dinner with her before! And we said, "Of course we can!" . So she sat down in her car seat and we gave her a blessing of healing. It made me so grateful that we were there to be able to be there for her in a time of need.

This is my scripture for this week: Alma 26:12

"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."

Love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Scott

Us with Presidente Hancock at the activity!

Me and Elder Freestone at the Temple

"I want to be baptized in a river!"

Super great week this week! We were able to teach quite a few lessons and see a lot of our investigators, so it was pretty great!

Last Saturday, we had another activity in the branch for Thanksgiving. And lots of people came! So that was really good. And they asked the missionaries to put on a little 15 minute program so that was a lot of fun too. One of the Hermanas shared the history of Thanksgiving and then the other played a song on the piano. And then we all led everyone in a song, "If you're THANKFUL and you know it". And I got to play the guitar too! So we had a really good time with all of the members and investigators who came. The members here are just so amazing. And I've come to love them so much! 

We were able to find a very prepared investigator this week. Her name is Malissa and she is just incredible. She was investigating the church a few years ago with her mom and younger sister. They were baptized but she wasn't. When we knocked on her door she looked so happy to see us! And now she wants to be baptized along with her family. So now she's on date for December 5th. She wasn't able to make it to church yesterday because she unexpectedly had to go to the hospital to be with her mom. But we have an appointment with her tonight! So we're really excited for it.

Emma is finally progressing! We were seriously, just about to drop her. But then she started actually keeping her commitments. And she has all of a sudden got serious about getting baptized. So now we're working towards the 5th of December for her as well! It was pretty funny. We showed her the painting of Jesus being baptized and she asked, "Jesus was baptized in a river?" And we responded that he was, then she exclaimed, "Well then I want to be baptized in a river!" We told her that if that's what she really wants, then we get arrange that... So we might be baptizing someone in the Colombia River! 

It's been pretty cold these last few days. Well, not SUPER cold, but it's definitely been getting colder. Elder Freestone, being from Arizona, feels like he's going to die. It's pretty funny. But he's keeping warm though!

Here's my ponderizing scripture for this week: 2 Nephi 4:19-21

"And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.

My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

 He hath filled me with his love..."

To know that even Nephi experienced sorrow and pain because of the mistakes he made really puts things into perspective. But what made him such a great man and prophet is that he put his trust in the Lord. He knew that with the strength of the Lord, he could overcome is trials.

Love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Scott

Saving Your Life

Well we went on our temple trip today! That's why our preparation day is Tuesday and not Monday. So we were able to do an endowment session this morning! Always the best way to start the day.

And what made it even better was that I saw the video that I'd never seen before! Sooooo good. definitely my favorite one. Satan was really good in it and I was able to learn a lot this time around. One part that I really loved was the very last shot when Adam and Eve reunite with Peter, James and John and they begin to teach Adam and Eve the gospel--so cool!    

We had a pretty up and down week with Emma. We were actually able to see and teach her quite a few times but she STILL hasn't come to church. So, that means we'll have to move her date again. Pretty frustrating. We just hope that she can start picking up the pace! Because she's keeping all of her other commitments of reading, praying and living the commandments--except for coming to church! So hopefully we kind know what we can do to help her.

All of the district leaders were invited to MLC this last week. The meeting they have once a month with the mission president and all the zone leaders. Super intimidating. But I learned SO much. It seems like my entire perspective of missionary work has changed for the better. That's something that I love about the mission. Just how much we learn little by little. And we receive more direction and guidance just when we need it.  

Alright my "ponderizing" scripture for this week. Luke 9:24

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."

I chose this one this week because Elder Freestone and I listened to a talk last week called "Saving Your Life" by Elder Christofferson. It's an amazing talk that's all centered around this verse. He talks about how in order to truly discover who we really are and find ourselves, we have to give ourselves to the Lord in His service. I love that idea!

Thanks for all that you do! Love you all!

Elder Scott

FORGIVENESS

Nov 2 at 12:54 PM

It was a pretty interesting week. Lots of ups and downs! But overall some really good things happened.  

Probably the biggest bummer was that we weren't able to teach Emma, at all. Usually in weeks past we're able to see her and teach her almost every day! But nope, not this week. Whenever we set an appointment, something would come up in her life! Satan really is working hard on her. But, we do have an appointment with her tonight at 6. So we're just praying that we'll be able to teach her!

Halloween was pretty fun. We just had to come back to our place at 6 and do some weekly planning! Fun fun! This mission really has changed so much since I've come to the field. Because last year they just let us hang out that night! But things are changing and I'm actually really enjoying that. The mission is undergoing a lot of changes but it's all for the better. Because it's all just to help us become more consecrated and more hard working disciples of Christ. 

Elder Freestone and I have been listening to a lot of talks lately when we're driving in the car. Last week we listened to this talk by President Hinckley from the 2005 October Conference. It's called "Forgiveness". And it was one of the most powerful talks that I've ever heard. President Hinckley spoke of the power that can come from forgiving others. And never letting the small things that someone did grieve you or cause you pain. Amazing message! It has really helped me in so many ways that I never thought it could. I know that Heavenly Father is always aware of our needs and He always provides a way for us to receive His direction. 

My ponderizing verse for this week is: John 15:12-13

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

I hope that you all have a great week! And happy November!

Elder Scott