[Weston] Anaheim Weekly January 26, 2015

Hello!

 Ward mission leader and the district

This wee was super great! My companion and I had a ton of success! To start off, we had a great district meeting in which we created a vision and goal for our ward. At the same time, our bishop has asked me to more or less create the Ward Mission Plan. Kind of ridiculous but all is well. I will simply just do the best I can do, that's all anyone can ever ask for right? 

I went to a meeting this week with President Taggart. I was invited along with a few other leaders throughout the whole mission, where we had two brethren from the Proselyting Department in Salt Lake come and speak to us (more like destroy us spiritually) about the old methods we use in our mission that can be improve upon. It was incredible!

I honestly don't have much more to say this week. Physical therapy is doing super well,min feel kind of disconnected, almost as if I need to go and pick up parts of me all over the place. Kind of a fun feeling haha.

 district selfie. Nailed it.

Let's see, I bought the next best laundry detergent out there that isn't tide. It's Gain, and it's so wonderful! I love it. I smell super boss! Haha :) 

There is a scripture I found in the Book of Mormon is week that refers to the attributes we must have when we pray and do any thing at all. It's incredible! Alma 7:23-24. Check it out! Apply the attributes! :)

I love you all so much! Sorry for such a short one this week!

Elder Weston Scott

[Mason] Estan Preparados?

Are you all prepared?

For what?, well I guess for some it could be for some giant event, a ig change in life, or even a storm perhaps. 

Well, for me, today, I am preparing myself for a storm.  Not this storm, riddled with snow and wind that will cause me to be trapped inside with a bunch of the other missionaries here on the East coast, but a storm, where it never ends, where the only refuge is in Jesus Christ who will take these pains and burdens and struggles and whatever it may be that makes us fall....he will take them away. but only if we are prepared.  A while ago, I was told by member here, a member who has long since passed on, that I need to buckle up and get ready because Satan is bring in the storm hard against me and the missionaries here in the mission, and that he just jumped on his horse and is coming.  Satan's storm will consist of many weapons and tools he will used against us, ie...lies, discouragement, pride or selfishness, or even temptations.  He will come with some things that will most likely tear us down, if we are not ready. How do we prepare ourselves? well there are many tips and tricks I suppose, but to  share my opinion, I would say that we have a great tool that is called prayer. Prayer, though it sounds so simple, is much greater that we think. Prayer is a direct link, direct communication to our Father in Heaven. That means that, if we ask in faith, nothing doubting, and we ask sincerely, with a real desire, Our Father will help us to bear up our burdens. The day that Satan comes riding in on his horse, will be just another day, because we will already know what to do, and I know that that is truth. I exhort you all to prepare yourselves, because he will come in our lives at different times, and so we must be prepared.

so i dont have a lot of time, but some highlights this week:

An unprepared talk pulled from I don't know where......I forgot about it.....and then didn't have time to get to it before church started, but it seemed to go ok

We set a baptismal date with Juan Diaz, a new Investigator.....he is sick...and he only seems to be able to remember me....every time we call or text or talk....hes like, ?Escott, como estas? in his Colombian accent. Its awesome...I love this guy...its for March 8

Snow day...with worlds largest snow man.....we couldn't go anywhere or do anything....and so we made a snowman with our room mates....it was so hard...the base had to weigh like 400lbs.....it was ridiculous...

um so other things too, but I cant remember...

Elder Scott

[Mason]at Buffalo Wild WIngs

Bdubs Scott did the blazin challenge

[Weston] Anaheim Weekly January 19, 2015

Dear all of you,

We had a baptism yesterday! Her name is Ana, she is ten years old. She is so awesome! Super shy, but awesome! Her uncle, Tío Gio, flew in Saturday Night, and we baptized Ana and Diane, her younger sister, yesterday! Woot woot it was so Awesome! There were so many funny things that happened with preparation, also some sad and unfortunate things happen as well. But in the end, all is well. But if there is one word to describe baptisms that I can use, it's Stressful!

Haha. We got to dance with some spiders this week when we were doing some yard work. I swear, there are so many sliders everywhere these days. I can't stand it anymore! Haha. They are everywhere! So some other news this week, Elder Bickmore and I got a car, so that's pretty nice. This week really there is not much to say! I am trying so hard to write about things. Nothing really happened! 

Actually, I am not sure if I already had mentioned a few weeks ago, but Erik had dropped us before Christmas. Last weekend he had an episode from his PTSD and depression, and tried to take his own life. His Mother-in-law talked to us at church last Sunday, and told us everything that went down. Erik called us this week, and said he needs the Gospel in his life. I hope that he can progress again, and finally enter the waters of baptism.

I know that the Gospel is true. These past week few weeks I have been trying to create a vision and motto for the rest of my mission. Something that will keep me motivated to finish strong. I am coming close to finishing it soon, but I definitely have a testimony of goal setting. Elder Ballard said, "I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don't set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life." Create a vision by which you can live by that will allow you to reach your full potential in this life.

Elder Weston Scott

Ana, Diane, Hermana Corona, Me, Tío Gio in the back (in the white)

[Mason] My dearest people

So this last week, Elder Pope departed from the great city of Hartford to go serve in Cambridge, and The new guy, Elder Anderson, entered. its been real interesting. in the car on the way home from Transfer meeting, i basically said, in this area, we strive for 100% obedience, and he is like, perfect, lets do this.

W have found over the past few weeks, as we have been absolutely striving to get 100%, blessings have been entering. Yesterday, we met with this guy named Juan. he is from Columbia, and he is all in for learning everything there is to know, and his wife is a member, but inactive from when she moved from Columbia many years ago, but she has kept the faith...its so cool.

we are doing pretty good here in Hartford, just trying to help the branch understand our purpose better.

anyways...

Elder Scott...sorry its so short this week, I want to go play some Basketball and soccer....and so does everyone else...

cuidense eh? [Take care of yourselves]

[Weston] Anaheim Weekly January 13, 2015

 Hello!

This week was another fantastic one! We have more baptism candidates! Haha. We are working with a newer family that accepted the baptismal challenge! I am so excited! We are also baptizing a little 10 year old girl this Sunday! Woot woot! I love missionary work! It's so fun and so humbling, to see the spirit working on people as we teach and testify, there is just nothing better.

Anyways, this week was pretty great because we received some hard core training on how to plan more efficient and be more diligent as a missionary. Soooooooooo amazing! Elder Bickmore and I are doing so great! We have been so busy, and therefore more focuses on the work! It's such a blessing! We taught a recored high number of lessons in our specific area of about 25 I think! It was so fun! We also helped with service this week by moving a fridge for an Hermana that was
moving, and we also helped a few other people move some furniture. I like being helpful to people. But doesn't everyone? I mean yeah!

We had interviews with our Mission President this past week as well, it was a great experience. I love my mission president, because he just cares so much about who we are and who we are to become as we follow Christ and consecrate ourselves more fully. He invited me to think about the covenants I have made, especially as I went to the temple the next week. Well there is the reason why we didn't have P-Day yesterday, because we went to visit the Newport Beach Temple today! It was lovely! I know and bear testimony that the temple is The House of the Lord. And that it is the holiest place that man can stand while here on the Earth.

I went on exchanges with my zone leaders this past Thursday, which was pretty great, we talked a lot about goal setting and about having a vision on the mission, and how it will carry us to be better. That is definitely something I am working on right now, to make a vision and a mission statement for myself.

I began Physical Therapy this week to begin a program to strengthen my shoulders. Just another problem that a #Scott always has to have right? Haha. But in all seriousness it was a great week.

Funny Story of the week: Elder Bickmore and I gave a blessing to a less active member. Nobody was home so we could not enter her apartment. So she asked if we could pull a chair to the door and do it there, so we did. So. It enough space for us both to place our hands on her head, so I gave the actual blessing after my Comp had anointed. She has this dog, an English Terrier. Weird looking dog haha, but so excited to see us. It was trapped behind the sofa in the living room, and somehow it moved the sofa enough to come charging at us, during the blessing mind you, and so we all end up fighting off this dog during it, coolest blessing moment in my life! Haha

 :) anyways. Have a great week! D&C 68:6 "Be of Good cheer and do not fear."

Your favorite missionary,

Elder Weston Scott

[Mason] Transfers to start off the year...

Ok so we found out what is happening for transfer. I am staying here in Hartford and Elder Pope is heading up to Cambridge to serve with Elder Wharton (Weston's old Comp). and to add into this, I am training a brand new missionary again. so lots of change here, and we are even moving down 9 floors in our complex so that another set of missionaries can live with us...#cleanapartment....

um this week was interesting. I have been trying to gather a list of things that have to be done here in the next few weeks, to put the Hartford area back in order...its tough though.

This week we had zone conference put together in 2 days notice and President Packard and the other leaders in the mission addressed our goal of 420 baptisms by June 30. Its a stretch....(70 a month)...but I know we can do this. I was actually given a chance to speak during it as well, and in the following zone meeting, and i shared thoughts about how the Lord needs us, not just working hard, but he needs all of us. this is a goal that he has set with us. it was a revelation given to President Packard, and so He is already planning on making it happen. we have to give all of our heart, might, mind, and strength, and even more than that.

We then spoke on sacrifices for the mission. and things we will sacrifice this month or in the following months, and I'm still pondering mine, but I have officially decided to do all I can for the Lord.  I have been doing missionary work here, but I know there is another level of dedication, of consecration, one of where my Heavenly Father would be well pleased in stead of just pleased. It all depends on me though. I stand in the way. I am my biggest enemy, but God has given me the tools to change that. so I will change it.

When I think of what I could have done, or who I could have been, or how much more or harder I could have worked, or when anyone thinks of these types of questions, we put this mind set that I wasn't good enough then, which leads to the thought process of I am not good enough now.  In reality, things have happened that we wish had gone better; ie relationships, missions, jobs, school, exercise,  or whatever.  honestly we cant change the past. so why does it matter. what we can do is change now. we must change our thoughts, our actions, our whatever.  We cant dwell on what happened. its like the same as saying what does crying do....? there is no point. let us all learn from our past flaws and see them as what they really are, imperfection. and let us make sure that our past is not what defines us, it is what we choose to do and who we choose to be now that does.

have a good week,

Elder Mason R. Scott

[Mason] One year older and wiser too, Happy Birthday, to [THE EARTH]

Well, everyone, its a new year here. what can we do to make it the best year ever. well, I can think of a few things, but that's not my job, that is yours.  We all have the capability to ask our Heavenly Father what it is he wants us to do this year to be better.  We don't have to ask each other. We just have to ask our supreme creator. After all, he does know what is best for us.

Anyways. This week was great, Elder Pope and I finally figured out that we cant make a difference here in the Hartford Zone, in terms of Missionary work, obedience, sea lo que sea, everything really, but we know that we Can Be The Difference. We have really learned that we cant be selfish or prideful anymore, because God needs our Hearts and minds and Might and Strength geared towards Him 100% or else we cant do everything he needs us to so. 

It's exciting here. We are also walking for the moment, until the our car gets fixed.  My companion crashed it before I got here, and the mission gave us another for the transfer until it was fixed, but we had to give it back already, so we lie in wait, walking in the cold up and down Park St....it's legit...haha

Um. Congratulations and Shout Out to Tyler and Anne Scott, or better written, Brother and Sister Scott, as it is now, I am happy and excited for you, and I love you both, and I look forward to seeing you guys later on. I hope you got my package before you left back to Idaho....it should have arrived by noon on Saturday...

um no pictures this week, sorry. i havent had any time. Transfer Texts come in this week,

Last week in DM, I had to face the district and be up against 3 Elders who don't care too much for certain things we have to do as missionaries, and it was hard. 

Anyways, Have a great week, and Stay Classy.

Elder Scott

[Mason] I cut my hair with some assistance of pope..