[Mason] Exchange Central this week...!

So, to begin this letter, I would like to mention the power I received this week in my studies.

As we read the scriptures, we must make sure that we have a question in mind or that we are looking for something. If not, our reading is in vain. The book of Mormon, combined with the Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and the Bible. is a source or even a fountain of answers where we as children of God can search for the answers to our questions. Our questions are the doors into the scriptures..

So I'm short on time but this week we did many exchanges and it was really fun. It is hard though, seeing as anyone who comes into our area isn't a help at all because nobody speaks Spanish except us. Nevertheless, it was good. 

So, keep up the good work and find some questions. 

Elder Mason Scott

[Weston] Anaheim Weekly March 30, 2015

This week. Whoa.

Elder Montgomery was attacked by a kid with sticky notes

Not too much whoa I guess, except that I now have another Companion.  Number 4. Keep in mind it's only been three weeks. Elder Montgomery is his name. He is pretty cool beans. Let's start out with something I forgot to mention last week. David Archuleta came to our mission last Monday and help a special conference. We listened to him speak and sing. It was pretty cool. I learned something very important. I cannot sing. But that is beside the point.

We got a new car, which is nice. Repin' the Chevy Cruz these days.

We found seven new investigators this week, which is a Christmas Miracle, yes Christmas. Why? I couldn't tell you. No it's not a miracle. It's because the new Easter video is sick! I love that we are capable of sharing it whenever on our "mobile devices". It's great.

So as you may have heard I broke the door of our bathroom last week, this week we attempted to fix it again with more tools. Still mega fail. Tomorrow we are going to have another guy come and see it.

Manuel!

There was a temple tour this week as well! It was super duper fun. We brought a recent convert, who had never been to the temple even to visit before. He loved it.

We helped our investigator Emilio move yesterday,which lasted forever, because only two hermanos came to assist. It was quite frustrating, and it took all of our proselyting time. But, service always rewards.  Emilio is very excited to keep learning from us. We hope he accepts baptism soon.

We are still having trouble getting Maria and Daisy to church. Ugh, they won't come! They want to but just don't take the actions necessary to be there.

I am sitting here writing this email, and cannot focus. I am sorry, I do not have much more to say,

Elder Weston Scott

[Mason] The Weeks layout

So, to start off, Elder Silva and I had a great beginning to the week. we hit it hard on Monday teaching some investigators and it was real great. we then on Wednesday, went on some exchanges and I went to Goshen, CT with Elder Chen, and it was a blast. We ended up eating a bunch of food, which didn't help at all. we worked hard and enjoyed the opportunity to settle in to the English program for once. Elder Chen has only served in the Chinese program, though he is from Taiwan, via Utah, and so it has been hard. but that night he finally became accustomed to it. it was great. Thursday I felt absolutely terrible, but we needed to teach our Investigators, and so we went out and taught and tracked down some LA's and just worked. 

Friday we had Zone Conference, where President Packard taught us all about Repentance....and it is something I cant explain to you in words. it was magnificent. This, however, will be His last zone Conference seeing as he Leaves in 3 months...and we have it every 3 months. its insane. Sad. and unnerving. Saturday we went out and worked again and taught our Investigators and I finally got the hang of things on the digital Mission side, and so that is now cranking away, I should have some Skypes here in a few days with some people in Spain and in the South America region. its so cool. God has prepared so many people and there aren't enough missionaries in the world to find everyone. and everyone is online anyway, so we are going to them. It is so awesome. no lo puedo explicar. [I can't explain ]

Sunday was branch conference, and we had 5 investigators at church, not all of them, but some is good. and we also spoke with the new Stake president, President Ellwell. He is like mid 40's or so, and he is so cool. He is ready to do anything. we have a meeting with him and president Packard on Thursday night where we will present the zones goals and the missions goals...it is exciting. 

Recently in the Hartford zone, we embarked in the service of God, and all of us have some how increased in stature, but not in the way that we would have desired. so we are playing biggest loser with a twist. and the twist is that it is by companionship and if desired you can go for gaining weight instead.  So its more like the biggest Loser or biggest gainer.  I've lost 3 so far, but we have a about 12 work out days left in the transfer....so lets go!!!

anyways, 

Love you all, have a great week and feel free to Read the Book of Mormon. it will change your life. If you don't believe me, ask everyone else who has and they can show you how it has, even as i can show you.

Elder Scott

[Weston] Anaheim Weekly March 23, 2015

Hello!

This week was another hard one! But is well I suppose. I will share the weeks events with you all. On Monday evening, our only lesson canceled, and so Elder Quito my companion refused to go out and work. Nothing new, I understand completely, he has been struggling a ton lately. We ran to the store because he was sick, and bought some cold medicine for him, as we checking out, President Taggart calls us, and we asked him if we could call him back a few minutes later. We finish checking out, we walk outside, and some random member from Arizona waves us down. Him and his family were visiting Disneyland, and he hands us twenty dollars to go and get some dinner, and we were like, "uh....we can't accept money straight, but we could go inside with you if you would like to buy us dinner." We walked inside, we didn't really have a choice, and we met his wife, and his 6 sons. All boys. Whoa. Lots of blessings! Boys rock! Anyways, so we got some food to go. We call President back, and he proceeded to tell us that Elder Quito was to fly out back home in the morning and that we needed to be at the mission office at  6:30am. We were a little shocked, because he was to meet with the psychiatrist Tuesday afternoon. But Missionary Medical sent him home. So we went home and packed everything, and we woke up early and drive to the office. We got there early amd seminary was going on inside the building from my old ward! Santa Ana 10! So I popped my head in to see if my convert Axel was inside. He wasn't, but I made eye contact with the teacher, a good friend I had from the ward, and she starts yelling, "Elder! Elder! Ven! Elder!" So I walked in and she had me bear my testimony and answer some questions. It was fun. 

Elder Quito and I at the Airport. His last day.

President showed up along with some other Visa waiting missionaries, and then we took the Giant Mission van to the Airport, I got to ride with them, which was good, for Elder Quito. We got his ticket and everything ready, and we sent him on his way. It was very hard for President and I to just watch him go. He was such a great missionary. I miss him a lot. 

When we returned, the other two Elders in my district, Elder Bickmore and Elder Encinas, picked me up, and we became a trio at that point. We moved all of their stuff into my apartment, which was not easy got situated. We now cover the biggest Spanish area in the mission. Pretty awesome! We have so many people to follow up with, and not enough time to do it. We already have about twenty lessons planned for this week. The real struggle is that I am training now. This is now my third transfer with Elder Bickmore, and we are both training Elder Encinas. The trainee is very interesting. He seems to complain about everything. The car, the iPad, the apartment, his old area, and don't forget my friend Elder Quito. It has been rough for me be patient and just listen to it. But I understand why he is like that. He has had a very interesting home life.

It has been interesting the past week as a trio. Friday was super interesting, because Elder Encinas some how exploded ketchup all over his shirt, then a Elder Bickmore ripped his shirt pocket. You would never guess what I then did. Elder Encinas was pushing my buttons, and like a 6-year-old stole some stuff off my dresser and ran into the bathroom. I unlocked the door, and slammed the door, with him behind it, against the wall, and ..lol....l broke the door off its hinges. Huge mess. Awkward phone call I made to the Housing Coordinator. I somewhat fixed it. Anyways. Awkward moment. Trios are hard, that's all I can say. My patience is definitely being tested right now.

Mariscos... Yum!

Saturday we ate lunch with our Ward Mission Leader's mother. She made us "Mariscos" I will attach a picture. My good friend Elder Maughan described it one time. I quote, "it's like they take a square foot out of the Ocean, and serve it to you, salt water and everything." It was intense. Elder Encinas is still new, and freaked out, and didn't even touch it, it was so rude! I liked it. Especially the tiny octopuses that were in it! So interesting. Ha!

We were in the ward choir for our Ward Conference, which was super interesting, because we all sounded so terrible! Yikes! I thought my ears were going to start bleeding haha. 

Something that I realized this week, is how close of relationships I have created with a lot of the members here in this ward. I feel that the members trust me a lot here, which I am grateful for. I love my calling, and I never want to give it back. I will forever stay Elder Scott.

Our investigator Emilio is doing awesome! He has been praying a ton! Yesterday shared with us a ton of experiences he has had and seen of our Heavenly Father answering his prayers. He committed to read and pray specifically to know if the Book of Mormon is true.

This morning during my personal study, I found a scripture that I had been looking for. It is 3 Nephi 12:6, "And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost." It's an action. Simply put, we must act on our testimonies to feel the Holy Ghost. Have a great week!

Your favorite missionary in Anaheim!

Elder Weston Scott

[Weston] Anaheim Weekly March 9, 2015

What an eventful Week?

We had a lot of stuff happen this week! Wow! I have a new companion! Basically with a major situation going on in the life of Elder Quito, I met with President and had Elder Quito as well, and after a weekend of some very spiritually exhausting counseling, President Taggart made transfers. My new companion is Elder Quito, and my companion will finish training Elder Encinas.  We swapped companions in my district. I am super excited about it. There is not much time to write today, as well as, I am not feeling well at all. But, the exciting news is that I have a brand new iPad, and we are being trained extensively on how to stay safe on technology! I am so excited! ;)

Elder Weston Scott

Sister Larimer was in my district for the past four transfers now.

District photo

[Mason] WHAT A WEEK

Monday...I don't remember

Tuesday...I don't remember

Wedensday...MLC and Temple session...woot woot

Thursday...District Meeting w/ 5 hours of zone meeting planning which wasnt enough at all. then splits with our Elders Quorum presidency!!!

Friday...Doctor at 8am...Zone meeting with breakfast for the zone...that exchanges

saturday...baptismal interview with Elder Jones my district leader...

Sunday...CHURCH!!! and Baptism of Harold Banegas

So as you can tell I just can't remember everything that happens. Elder Silva and I are working as hard as we can.  We have some really good candidates for baptism who we are meeting with tonight and tomorrow and hopefully our family of 5 will be ready by the 29th and also Juan Diaz and maybe even our Man Domingo Rivera.  We are aiming for the baptismal service of the year....aka Waters of Mormon...because the Bloomfield elders and the Hartford elders also have about 9 lined up for that day as well!! we can do this.

So with the zone, we didn't come back from MLC with anything with regards to a zone meeting, but we felt like the zone needed it it.  So upon planning we all were stumped with what we were going to do....we had this giant plan, but it felt like something was missing...but we didn't have time to keep planning  so we went on our splits....and upon being on splits, Kelvin, our EQP gave us some divine inspiration.  He told us of our divine nature as set apart servants of the Lord...and how we are able to bring the Miracles down from Heaven and then he asked us the Question....Elders, how do you go to Heaven to bring those miracles down? it probably doesn't make sense to any of you.  But it was what we needed.

anyways.

Elder [Mason] Scott

[Weston] Anaheim Weekly March 2, 2015

To those who read,

How goes life in the other realm? I hope it is swell! This week was pretty good. I am going to start with a joke. ¿Por qué la ballena no come? Porqué ballena. (Va llena). [ Ok I don't get it. ]   For those that understand Spanish explain it! It's super funny. Hahaha. Anyways, to the good stuff then.

So, in my apartment building live the men's and women's U.S.A. Olympic Volleyball teams. On the men's team is a man named Ben Patch. He returned from his mission a month ago. Anyways, he invited us over to his apartment to eat dinner with him and his volleyball teammates. So that was pretty fun! They are some very tall creatures. I feel like I am on my knees when "standing' next to them. Ya dang tall humans. Haha.

Physical therapy is moving along, I feel some improvements, and the therapist says I have come a long way over the past month and a half. I just wish it would improve faster.... But whatevs.

I taught District Meeting again this week, it was super good again! I feel that I am getting better at it every week. I can definitely see the improvement in my preparation, and how I teach! I love being district leader, because I love having that chance to teach and inspire other missionaries. This week we discussed the phrase, "Begin with the end in mind." Specifically we talked about How to Begin teaching as mentioned in Preach My Gospel. But his concept is really cool. Just look as the scriptures. They for sure begin with the end in mind. Look at Moses 1:39, "For behold, this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." What is the end? Immortality and eternal life. This concept and principle has helped me plan more effectively for my investigators and the less-actives we teach. One of the last actions we always take before we end a teaching visit is to extend a commitment. Commitments help others to repent and come unto Christ. This is our purpose. 

When I plan lessons now, I first start with the end. What will I commit the person I am teaching to do so that they can grow and progress in the Gospel and build their faith? Then I plan what to teach according to that. It works. It is more effective. I use it for my district meetings. I will use this for the rest of my life now! I am learning so much about how to teach effectively. I am so grateful to be a missionary.

As I may have mentioned a few weeks ago, I and some other missionaries have been training and now we are certified Red Cross volunteers. Elder Bickmore and I had the opportunity to volunteer this week for it. It was fun! We get to talk to a ton of people, not about the gospel, but we are setting a first impression which is great!

We had a ward activity this week. It was a disaster. Nobody came. I repeat, nobody came. We tried so hard. We were supposed to start at 7pm. And Hermano Lima our Ward mission leader was supposed to be there early to set up his projector and everything,mp and he showed up at 7pm. He fidgeted with his crap for an hour so we ended up starting at 8pm. Which pushed back what we had planned to teach about the Book of Mormon to the point the point where we didn't get to teach anything. The whole thing just turned into a movie night with like ten members present. Our Ward Mission Leader is giving me a serious Headache. Yikes. I am done with him haha. He just does not understand missionary work, yet he served a mission. I am not going to start on this actually, because I don't have time to write about it.

I gave myself another haircut this week, so that was super fun. It looks interesting. I kept the sides short and blended it to the best of my ability and didn't even touch the top of my head. New look I guess. Weird. Elder Encinas is begging me to cut his hair now. It's so funny how there are so many missionaries that ask me to cut their hair.

There was a funny 10 minute period Elder Bickmore and I had this week. We were meeting the Gaytán family for dinner at Subway, and we walk up to subway, and there is this gentleman that stops us and asks if we know these two missionaries, and we were like yeah! And we though he was going to start asking questions, and talk to us about the Gospel, but he just started ranting about life then about how he hates everything and does not believe in God. Then member walked up and was like whoa....... And awkwardly walked out of the conversation. We bore our testimonies then walked off and as we were walking, he said and I quote, "Burn in Hell!!!!" So that was interesting, during this chat with this guy, another lady walked by U.S. and was like "hello how are you?" And we were thinking yes a normal person. Then she walked farther off and said, "My, you are looking handsome today." It was so flipping funny! We were like what?!?! Then immediately after a homeless lady asked us for money. (This was a span of 5 minutes). We ate, then when we walked out we saw another lady we had seen a two months earlier. She started the conversation responding to my question of how are you with, "I am pregnant! Two months now!" (Now started the second span of 5 minutes making it ten super strange minutes of funny missionary life). 

We have been working with Daisy a lot and her mom just returned from Mexico so now we can continue working with her. They still have not come to church, so it is getting hard to continue with them! I don't know how much more emphasis we can put on going. 

Church was so funny. Actually all of Sunday was hilarious. Ward council was funny because the elders quorum president was trying to rip on Bishop and get after him about something, which there was nothing that caused such a reason to do so. The whole ward council exploded, it seemed, defending the bishop. We the missionaries felt awkward being in there. During gospel principles our WML taught false doctrine about prayer. So that was fun, and so I sat there finding scriptures to back up the real doctrine. During Elder's quorum we learned how to give a blessing and how to anoint. Actually, sorry, we learned how to do it the wrong way. I wish that the leaders and the members would read the manuals. I couldn't believe what I was hearing during that hour. I talked with one of the high councilors and now will be talking with the bishop about it. Fun!

However! We had success with getting people to church! The Herrera family which we have been working with lately has come to church two weeks in a row now! They are coming back! Woot! Woot! Maria another investigator came, and than Zeltzin a less active member came as well. That was the biggest success. For 6 months, since I have been in this area I have tired with my companions to get her to church. Finally she came yesterday. It was great! 

Anyways! This week was great! Slow, but great! Never forget to begin with the end in mind. Apply it to everything! 

Your favorite Elder from So. Cal.!

Elder Weston Scott

in Anaheim Hills

[Mason] What a fantastic way to start off the new transfer!!!

Alright, this week has been so great. Sad because my companion Elder Anderson left to Lynn, MA, but fantastic because now I'm serving with Elder Silva and we are killing it out here in Hartford.

As many of you know, this last Month in the Hartford zone we made a goal to find 100 investigators in a month, and that is something that has never been done here, the most was like 90 something, but I am proud to say that this zone stayed faithful and true to her goal and we found 100.  But let me just tell you something, we found more than that, we accomplished the goal with 2 days to spare, and so we actually found 115 investigators in February. It is insane. Elder Silva and I are super happy about it and super stoked to report it to the mission at MLC on Wednesday. 

Elder Silva and I set some Monthly goals this week that are requiring us to go the extra mile and even much more so. we plan to baptize 6 people this month,  including: Harold ,Juan , and Juan V. and his Family...Ginet, Elvia, Elvis, Kelvin....and so we are super excited and really focused on this. We know that there are so many more people who are ready for this big step and are ready also to make this covenant with Our Beloved Heavenly Father.  Please keep them and this Mission in your Prayers, as we are still striving to fulfill our Goal of 420 baptisms by July.

Elder Silva

The mission has seen some trials and challenges recently with the Snowfall and the church services being cancelled, and its been hard, because it has set us back on our goal. But I, a Disciple of Jesus Christ, know that God will work many mighty Miracles here if we only do what he asks of us. We must put or Shoulder to the Wheel and give our everything to him.

Elder Silva and I know that by ourselves we can complete any goal we have set. for this reason we have decided to lay some sacrifices of things that hold us back from reaching our potential on the alter. Its going to be hard and at times I will struggle, but it will be so worth it, because I know that it will not be in vain. 

Our Sacrifices are to enable us to show God that we have Faith and a desire to do his will. I know that we will Baptize at least 6 individuals.  It is more than possible. its all just a matter of us. everything always falls on us.

Getting ready for the day

My invitation to anyone who may find himself or herself reading this email, is to find what is holding you back to become a better disciple of Jesus Christ, or a better member Missionary, or whatever the case may be, because it is all related in some way, but let us find that one thing and give it up as a sacrifice to our Heavenly Father to show him that we want to help Him in His work here on earth in preparing His Children to live with Him. I am serious about this. Sacrifice is something that at times is over looked as something that i personally can do to make my plea with Heavenly Father stronger. We just had our Fast Sunday here in Hartford and my companion and i enjoyed the time we had to give up physical nourishment so that we could help our God in His important work. 

I have a testimony of this. That Sacrifice brings for the blessings of Heaven.  its not just lyrics written on a page that we often find ourselves singing or humming, it is a promise.

I love you all,

Elder Mason Scott,