[Weston] Anaheim Weekly August 31, 2015

Hello!

This week was great! Incredibly busy, but great! We took the departing missionaries to the airport  Tuesday morning early, then picked up 26 new elders and sisters afterwards. We spent all day with them, literally all day, we didn't do any missionary work that day, but it was great to meet the new missionaries! They are all fantastic!

Wednesday we had trainings for all of the leaders in the mission, it went well. Elder Dougherty and I trained everyone on attributes that leaders should have, we had a lot of participation, which always makes for a better training! We got to work for a few hours that evening in our area. That night we met with President Taggart from 9:30pm to late.... (Not going to say when) to discuss the training we would be giving the following Friday for Mission Leadership Council. We got to bed very late.

Thursday we had district meeting, afterwards President Taggart held a meeting for the four departing missionaries at the end of this transfer (myself included in those four) and we received training
about what to expect upon returning. It made me think a lot about who I want to be when I return. I am not so much scared about going home, but more nervous, just because I don't know what to expect entirely.

Friday we had Mission Leadership Council. Elder Doughery and I trained all of the Zone Leaders and the Sister-Training-Leaders about following the spirit, and teaching for understanding. Not simply teaching to get lessons, but so that our investigators truly understand. It went super well!

Saturday I got to attend the baptism of Desiree! She did it! It was incredible! She bore her testimony at the end, and she shared that it
was the most important thing that she has ever done in her life. I know that to be true for myself as well.

Sunday was church, my first time I have attended an English ward in about two years. It was very strange, but still the first two hours of church I was actually attending a the service of a small group of Spanish Speakers that are in the ward. They hold separate services, so I attended there to help out. I passed the sacrament, and spoke. It
was interesting.

I am grateful. My heart is full. My Heavenly Father has been so good to me in my life. I pray that we may all recognize His hand in all things.

Elder Weston Scott

1) Desiree is the coolest! I cannot wait for next year when I will go to her temple sealing in Guadalajara!
2) Departing Missionary Selfie - Sister Taggart likes selfies apparently.

[Mason] #NyquilSavesLives

This week has been a great one, except for that one day when I got sick!!!

So Monday.....Our Investigator flaked out on us, we got hair cuts, we Played some ultimate frisbee...Pday stuff....then we went and talked to some potentials we have...it was really fun!

Tuesday.....We had a baptismal interview to counduct, so Elder Heflin went ahead and did it this time. We then had to drive to Boston for a medical check up for my companion, and while we were there, I caught something. Byt the Time we made it home at 7pm, I had a Fever, sore throat, intense body pain, head Ache...etc.....it was horrible.......#Bottom'sup #Nyquil

skip to friday....i dont remember

Saturday.....Portable Visitors center tour in Central Falls.....for a few hours I got to speak Spanish and teach people all of the lessons practically in a summarized wayl It was great....and it was powerful!

Sunday....church!

So, time's up gotta go!

--

Elder Mason Scott

Massachusetts Boston Mission

[Mason] Another week here in Paradise

I love my mission so much. I can't even begin to describe it to you. this week has made me feel so blessed to be able to serve as well as have the opportunity to be here in this particular area. 

Amidst all of the service and contacting and everything else we do as missionaries, we had the opportunity to invite people to come unto Christ. We have an investigator who has not been progressing due to a recent trial and has not been able nor willing to move forward. With the help of the Savior's Atonement, He has been able to make a few steps in the right direction. A miracle has happened in his life. He has come to the knowledge that the Gospel of Christ will help him and he can overcome this predicament. 

This was one of the best parts of my week. although we did so much more, I felt the Spirit witness to me that this is why I am here and that I am fulfilling my commission of representing Christ. 

We did some moving this week and man did we sweat a lot. It has been pretty humid here lately, and it feels so sticky all of the time! Gotta love Rhode island, right?!!!!  I certainly love it here!

This week we were blessed with finding 4 new investigators: Beth , Suzanne , Kerri and Diahndra! they are all super cool and interested! The idea of the book of Mormon is really cool to them and we are excited to help them learn more. 

Retno, our investigator who had a date to be baptized, faced some opposition this past week and therefore felt overwhelmed. We are anxious to get to see her and help her understand all that is occurring!

Here in the Scituate Ward, the members and other 3 missionaries (Elder Helfin, Sister's Asay and Hung) all enjoy laughing at me due to the increased proportions at meals that I consume. lately I have just been starving all day, every day. that being said, I challenged, jokingly, the other missionaries (all skin and bones) to a weight loss competition...and they took it seriously.....ahhh. I was kidding.....

so now, its the 3 of them against me, survival of the "fittest" for one month.....starting today! its going to be so fun!!! 

Referring back to Adam's lesson, We had a very spiritual moment where things clicked into place for him. We described how Christ is our Healer and that his Gospel is the Remedy and the Church is the Hospital! we of course elaborated on it more fully, but the Point stressed as we taught was that We all in this world are in need of being made whole and that comes through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We access the Atonement through the principles and ordinances of the Gospel. I know that this is true! We are redeemed as we repent and change and partake of the sacrament or get baptized/ receive the holy ghost. We are enabled through our faith which is the source of spiritual repair as well as through the other ordinances that provide us the means of other blessings God has in store for us. our faithfulness determines the enabling power of the atonement. if I don't believe that I can be made whole and be made free from the bondage of sin, then it will never be so! if I do not believe I can change and be better, then I will not!  Faith determines what the atonement can do for us. if we are faithFULL, then the atonement will enable us to become who God desires. Adam understands this principle now, and he is willing to develop such faith. His seed has begun to swell and it is growing, is yours?

I love the Atonement of Christ. It has made me whole and continues to do so as I exercise my Faith and nourish my Faith! I hope we can all continue to grow our faith as Adam is doing.

"[His] grace is sufficient for all man that humble themselves before [him]" -Ether12:27

"we are made alive in Christ because of our faith" 2Nephi 25:25

I love you all!

Elder Mason Scott

Massachusetts Boston Mission

[Weston] Anaheim Weekly August 24th, 2015

Hello!

I have no time today.  You may be thinking that it is because I want to play sports or what not, but I have a valid reason this time.

Here is why;

Today is the first day of the new transfer, my last transfer. Thursday nights before transfers, we receive leadership calls from the assistants and the President. Thursday night came, and President called our phone, and asked to speak with me. He told me that he had both bad and good news. The bad news was that I had been released as a zone leader, and I sighed on the phone because I have loved my time as a zone leader. Then President Taggart said, "Elder Scott, the good news is that I have called you to be my new assistant, even though it is just for a short season."

I have six weeks, and I have been called as the new Assistant to the President. I am excited, overwhelmed, and grateful for this new calling. My companion is Elder Dougherty again, he was  called to be an assistant when we were zone leaders together. Crazy.

I am sad to leave the Spanish program for my last transfer, and my area. Desiree is getting baptized this next Saturday, and Maria and Eduardo are thinking about getting married! They came to a baptism this week to watch another, and they also took us out to eat lunch Saturday afternoon (I had a mint in my mouth so I could not smile, ugh). I will miss them all, but I know that they will get baptized soon!

We also helped teach an Hermano in our ward how to read this week. It was fun. He is doing well. We also got new phones in the mission this past Thursday. They are basically the same, but they work better.

I hope my reason for why I cannot write too much today is good enough for you all! Have a great week!

Elder Weston Scott

My last district

[Mason] The Scituate Ward is on Fire

#let'sgo

I dont need to add much to that, but I will. 

This week in Scituate, we had some miracles happen, the first is that we set 2 more baptismal dates, both for September, the weekend right before i leave. 

We were able to visit a ton of members and get referrals from them, and they are all golden! We also were able to visit about 400 people(not really) and we have set up several appointments to begin teaching. We were so excited right now. 

AND WE GOT SISTERS IN OUR WARD, which is sick! 2x the amount of work and 2x the pace

#let'sgo

Let me see here, I am doing really great, Nothing else is new around here that is worth expressing through an email except that Scituate rocks! I love my area!

I love my mission, I love serving the Lord. Honestly, I love everything im doing right now, nothing else matters or even can compare to the level of importance to what im doing right now. I 

Why does it have to come to an end? i suppose that the Lord needs me for the next phase of His work. right? 

1 transfer = 6 weeks of pure devotion to the Lord's work and I am all in!

But is this the end? Of course not, when i get home, the work continues! Just as it does for all of us. The work of the Lord is always afoot and we must participate and help him. We promised we would, and he has called us to do so! Let's go share the gospel in the way that Christ would every second of our lives. It is is the best thing we could ever do. It doesn't matter where we are, what we are doing, or when. there will always be a moment to share it, because is will never cease to exist. the gospel is eternal, therefore, lets get going!

My mom inspired me this morning as I read her email. she said that she was able to take 3 name to the temple this week. That is sharing the Gospel. anything that would relate to the Lord and building up his kingdom and saving the souls of man, is sharing the gospel. find your way each day of how you will do it and ask the lord to use you! God will bless you. He has already told us he would! so Let's Go

Elder Mason Scott

Massachusetts Boston Mission

[Weston] Anaheim Weekly August 17th, 2015

This week was another good one. Today it "sufficeth" me to write a small email.

Desiree is progressing well. She is getting baptized in two weeks. Sweet! Michelle is slowly progressing, her situation is a difficult one. Eduardo and Maria are doing so fantastic, we are hoping to have a family night with them.

Some returned missionaries from our mission also visited the mission this week. They came to the stake president's home when we were eating, and we took a picture. All of them left about a year ago. It is strange being the oldest missionary now. They had some good advice.

We had zone conference this past Wednesday, and I was asked to direct the conference, it was fun. We learned about the Book of Mormon, and it impacted me a lot. We have been challenged to read the Book of Mormon as a mission by Christmas as a Christmas present for Christ. We are together mark not specifically any reference to Christ, the words Christ speaks, Christ's attributes, and any doctrine contained in the missionary purpose. I am attempting to read it all with highlights in my last transfer.

I spoke in church yesterday, our sacrament meeting was in a bind, and the first councilor of the bishopric asked me to speak. It went well.
I spoke on prayer. Spanish is pretty good now. Sweet.

That is my week in a nutshell.


Elder Weston Scott

- Elder Silvester, Formerly Sister Moran, Me, Formerly Elder Fuentes.

[Weston] Anaheim Weekly August 10, 2015

Anaheim Weekly August 10, 2015

This past week went by quick, and this next one will as well! Wow.

I will mention just a few highlights from the week. To start off we now now have 4 baptismal dates. Michelle, Eduardo, Maria, and Desiree. We are very excited for them. Yesterday there was a baptismal service in our zone going on, and we were able to get Maria, Eduardo, and Eddie (the son) to it to watch. They liked it a lot. This week we taught them Eternal Marriage and the Law of Chastity, and they seemed to be okay with it, they said they would talk about getting married. We hope they do soon.

We had Mission Leadership Council this week and then we taught our zone about what we were trained on. All do the training was focused on recognizing the Spirit. It was fantastic. I learned so much, and I am grateful for President Taggart and all that he has taught me on my mission. We also had a meeting with the stake president to discuss the progress of the wards. We were invited to commit people to be baptized as soon a possible, rather than scheduling out a long period of time for them, we were invited to kept the time short. A ver lo que pasa.

We had exchanges this week, this time I went with my district leader Elder Cahoon to his area. It was a pretty good exchange. We performed some service in the morning at a food bank, and we were given some food as well. Our assignment was to hand our the potatoes. We had to divide them all between a lot of people. There were about 70 50lb. boxes of potatoes. We got a major work out done in our proselytizing clothes. It was fun. We were so sweaty! Later that day, we went to the Apple Store to replace my IPad because there was a problem with the screen, and warranty covered it. We taught a great lesson that night. We asked so many questions, it was incredible for me to recognize the spirit guiding our lesson.

Last night, we went and visited Emiliano our recent convert. He has this puppy named Simba, who loves to escape and just run away. I got his attention and he came running, he is a small dog, but got through the door way and then I took off running after him. It was hilarious. I totally saw that coming. Running every morning has helped out a lot. I caught him about 5 minutes later. It was so fun.

President Taggart has made a few comments to me this week, I believe that I may be training my last transfer, in the English program. We shall see here in a couple weeks.

I am grateful for my mission. I can see for myself that I have changed, and President Taggart told me yesterday that he was speaking with someone I met at the beginning of my mission, (I do not know who...) and the person commented that I have changed a great deal for the better. I love it out here. 

Elder Weston Scott

The new suit I will be buying in 6 weeks. I need to slim down some more.

[mason] Hey Family!

We had a very long week this week! mixed with Transfers, Interviews, MLC, and Zone Meeting, and all of the Trainings that we gave in between!

Coolest thing from the week! We set a Baptismal Date with A golden Investigator named Retno! She is so Cool and will be Baptized on August 22! We are stoked!

We are getting sisters again in our Area, so that will be exciting, a little hectic at first because i still feel like im training a new missionary, and now i will have 2 more, but We will be all set!

Interviews with President Miller were great! I went last out of the whole zone, so after 8 hours of interviews and trainings provided by my companion and I and the STL's, I was interviewed. We talked for more than 30 minutes and it was great! He wanted to talk only about me going home, And I had Questions about the Work. I suppose that its about time I start preparing for that transition. He gave me some homework and also talked to me about leadership and we talked about transfers and about going back to the spanish program. We literally talked about every detail about it and He came to the conclusion that He needed me as a Zone Leader still. Though I wanted to return to the Spanish, I gladly accept what president Miller wants me to do. He seems to trust me a whole lot, and he asked me many things regarding mission policies and other Missionary things. He asked for my opinion on certain rules of the mission that had been overlooked such as instruments and other things, and We talked about that, President seems to want me for another transfer here in Scituate, To make sure that His vision is carried to all, including my companion. 

I have been pondering and praying what it is I am supposed to do here. I have a very distinct answer given to me by president. I know what my job as I finish my Mission as a ZL. 

...

Mission's are not easy. I know that, the world knows that, God knows that. Nothing is Easy. we all at some point develop the above-mentioned feelings. We can not let them sink in. We can not let them harm the Joy we receive from the gospel and the happiness we attain as we live it! I have had too many of these feelings enter my life and i have dwelt on them, and they have caused me great pain. Too many days and weeks and months have I dwelt on feelings of anger, sadness and pain caused by others. but were they really caused by others? know these feelings come and came from the Son of the morning, yea the fallen one even Lucifer. Satan causes us to be offended. He tempts us to dwell on everything that happens. everything I described earlier can be resolved through the atonement of Christ. When we can choose this day and every day to not be offended, we are enabled through the atonement to change and be better. I'm sorry for dwelling on these kinds of things, and I'm sure many of us are. Today, let us give it up. Let us just change.

My message is simple. The atonement of Jesus Christ covers all of our shortcomings. I have many of them, but I know that Christ can free me of them as I let him in and I change. sorry if it doesn't make sense or if it was very blunt, I just wanted to share what was on my mind. 

um so I'm dying in Scituate, I found out in my interview. 

Um well I'm doing great. Next week I will talk about plans for when I come home. President has asked me to make plans and get things rolling, so I suppose I will.

have a great week!

--

Elder Mason Scott

Massachusetts Boston Mission

[Weston] Anaheim Weekly August 3, 2015

I feel that we skipped July? 

This week was packed! and it was so fantastic. The greatest thing that happened was that we had seven (yes, 7) of our investigators at church this Sunday. It was so stressful haha, because it was the first time for 6 of them, so they had no idea where to go or what to do. In the end, all went well. 

Two of the investigators that came are named Eduardo and his son, also named Eduardo. The wife could not come, but she wanted to very badly. It seems that she was upset that she could not go, and so we are working to help her with that. Early this week we re-taught the restoration, then we taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ on Friday evening, with the help of the relief society president. Eduardo and Maria accepted a baptismal date for the 6th of September. It's a little far out, but they need to get married first. Tonight we will be visiting them, and teaching Eternal Marriage, and the Law of Chastity. We are excited, a member of the bishopric is to be coming with us. They are a fantastic family!

This week we had made plans to drop an investigator named Ivan, and as we went and visited him for out appointment, we talked with him, and asked him if he really wanted to know if the things we are teaching are true, and he responded that he did. Elder Silvester and I both felt that we could not drop him yet, but that we must be more patient with him. Then on Sunday he came to church! It was great.

A member named Christian that used to live here in La Habra but who now lives in Arizona called us a few weeks ago, and asked us to visit his parents who are both not members. This week he asked us to visit them again (even though they have been dodging us) and so we tried to do so with no luck. This weekend, Christian surprised his family by coming home, and took his family to church. Next weekend he said he will do the same, so that his parents get comfortable attending our church. We have high hopes for them.

Desiree is doing great as well. I love teaching her so much, because she understands everything we say! She is excited for her baptism at the end of his month. She is progressing well. It was funny, she asked us if tomorrow we can teach he for two hours, because she has time for it, and thought it would be a good idea. We love her.

Saturday we did exchanges, and I got to go back and visit Buena Park again, my last area, and we visited Bertha, Elder Dougherty's and my recent convert. They are doing well.

Some good news this week is that we finally found Patty! She is a recent convert in our area, and recently has a new boyfriend, and she went missing for three weeks (literally her family had no idea where she was) but it turned out that she just spent three weeks at her boyfriends home. Dang. The Ward is worried about her, we hope to be able to help her to come back to church.

Now. I have saved the most exciting news for last. One year ago yesterday, a very good friend of mine, actually one of my best friends came to church for his first time. His name is Axel Castro. Tomorrow he is to be having an interview with the Stake President to submit his mission papers. Is that not the most exciting thing ever? Elder Silvester and I have been so Excited! This week was great, and then Sunday night we read an email from Axel that told us about this, ahhhh! I am so grateful for my mission!

No effort is wasted. I have come to know for myself through the Holy Ghost, that missionary work is the most important work to be done in this life. I know that this life is as Amulek states "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors." We prepare by making and keeping covenants, and helping others to do the same. 

Elder Weston Scott

I called Dibs on the purple ears. Wouldn't you?

*** Fun Fact: Today is Elder Messer's birthday, he is in the picture. He and His companion decided to celebrate Christmas for his birthday. This morning we opened his presents under a tree, and are calling today "[Mess]mas." ***

[Mason] Live from Boston!!! or Rhode Island I suppose!

This last week was so Amazing because of the Results after all of our work! 

We started off the week with a goal in Mind, the goal being to get our Recent converts (Wendy, Patricia, Frank) to the Temple in August 1st.....this being 1 week after their baptisms........or 2 for Frank. There was so much to get done, and it seemed as if during the week, there would just not enough time to get everything done, to make sure that they were ready, with Family Names! and everything else, including recommends, etc. Every day this week we embarked on this task while teaching our other investigators and members and finding new people to teach as well, and with the clock counting down every second, we managed to get it done! Frank was unable to attend due to the reason of Vacation, but Patricia and Wendy went, along with Charles Newton, another RC, 2 Less Actives, and 4 other Active Members. 

August 1st was an amazing day for me, not just due to the fact that we managed, with God's help, to get everyone there, but I was given the opportunity to work in the temple for almost 4 hours, as we rushed in the baptistry to manage the Boston Mission's Recent Convert Temple trip! I was asked to do the Spanish side of the work along with helping as a witness and Font-side confirmations. It was a blessing to me to be able to feel the spirit so strong as we were there. I also brought the name of one of my great(x3) grandmothers, and Patricia was Baptized for Her. I was unable to witness it because I was needed for the Help in Spanish at that time, but Im so Grateful that the work was able to commence for her. 

The Temple truly is The House of God and Im grateful for the ordinances available there. I hope that all of us can remember How great a blessing it is to have these Sacred buildings on the Earth.

Sunday, my best part of the week, We were able to help out in administering the Sacrament, and I didnt have to lead the music this week, as I normally do each week, so it was a nice relief! but then the testimonies born were inspiring and I certainly felt the Spirit, and then, my companion and I were put on the spot to go and do singing time in Primary...ughh...sure ok, we replied. That was a blast as we sang for a half hour or so with the Kids that are amazing! We then after that headed to Elders Quorum, but then Sister Vieth, the Primary 1st Counselor, hunted us down and asked if we could teach the Valiants class, as we do almost every week as well! it felt like 2013 again, being in primary for so long! I loved it!!! We have become the Permanent Substitute Primary Teachers! it is super fun!

We then went and had lunch with the Smalls Family who just moved into this house that is sitting on 5 acres that I cant even describe to you it is so amazing. then we went and taught Retno Hariat-Mojo who wants to be baptized! We are going to set a date with her on the following Sunday!!!! it was sick!

Every week the Lord gives us many Tender mercies that I am just beginning to recognize and I am grateful beyond measure. I hope we can all continue recognizing them and giving thanks to God, and as we do, the Lord will open our eyes to so much more!

 

--

Elder Mason Scott

Massachusetts Boston Mission