[Mason] l mejor discurso jamas dado y yo lo di [The best talk ever given, and I gave it]

Buenos dias my PEOPLE,

   How are all of you's doing? The reason I ask you this day is because I hope you are all doing well, and being good Children of our Father in Heaven this week, and I guess I should say always...I'm so weird these days guys, I will be honest....I have become the most interesting man in the world, and mission and I believe if you want to have fun, it means you have to be willing to make everything fun.  You have to seek out every aspect of fun midst everything and I don't mean goof off, but to make yourself happy and on the mission it is fun, because usually its fun, but sometimes, I just make myself have the state of mind of being happy, even when all Heck breaks loose, because there is no sense in letting my self feel down....anyways to get out of my rambling,

This last week was so slow but so fast at the same time, we taught our investigators this week, all of them, finally, and was great, they all seem to be doing good, but are wanting to learn more and so they aren't really keeping all of there commitments, but each lesson this week gave us an idea of where they are at and so we are in good standing with them.  William we taught the priesthood to, as well as Elpidio, and they both accepted it well, and we had some really good spiritual experiences which they needed, Teodoro or Teddy, has not been progressing at all so we are about to drop him if he doesn't follow through on the chapter we have given him...he is stuck on a situation that happened to him with another member, and will not forgive...and he says he has but he really hasn't.  Amelia and Raiza are sisters, that have slowly and slowly been coming to a stand still in their learning, and we finally broke a barrier with Amelia last night, but Raiza doesn't want to read the Book of Mormon, just the bible, but they are doing good.

On Saturday morning, I was assigned a talk to give in sacrament meeting, and it was for me and one of the sister missionaries as well. so she decided to give a talk that she created in the mtc, which means it like 5 or 6 minutes right... Well, we were supposed to have 20 minutes for the both of us to talk, and I was fine with more time, because I have a lot to say all the time.  I prepared my talk as best I could and so we get there on Sunday, and Sacrament starts, and she is freaking out because she is scared of everything....but then the first speaker, who was a sister in the branch, spoke for like 3 minutes...ahhh....and then Sister Hansen, the sister missionary, gave hers and it was about 4 or 5 minutes . . . . . . um crap, so Presidente Fuentes asked me before I got up to speak for a little longer than planned....um I dont have Spanish down yet....and so I got up there and gave my talk, and I actually talked for about 17 minutes....in Spanish.....and it was ok, and then a couple who was moving out was asked to come bear their testimonies by President Fuentes after I sat down, just to fill time...but I talked about the usual thing missionaries talk about, but I put it in terms of members so I asked three questions

    1 Why have we been asked to be member missionaries?

     2 How do we fulfill our duties as member missionaries?

      3 What does it mean when the missionaries ask for your help?

These three Qs are something our branch lacks knowledge in, because the help we get is small, and rare, and now that we do not have a car, we have to actually ask for a ton of help.  Our mission leader of the branch is more like another missionary, who doesn't quite understand how to use branch missionaries and we have 8 of them, whom of all, I know not one.

Anyways, everyone said I did fantastic, and that my Spanish was good....and my accent...and they said that they could believe I have only been out for 6 months..but I had most of it written out into and outline...but I don't feel like it was my best job...but oh well.  I had fun though.

Let me see that's about it this week, my leather bag actually decided it was going to break on the strap and so now I have to use the worlds ugliest and crapiest bag until I find a replacement of get it fixed...but its all good

Could you tell phoebe that I got her package, and that the shirt was sweet....and that that is one good looking family they have form those pictures.

Anyways Elder Scott is still the coolest thing on earth since sliced bread, but its whatever.

I am so excited to call in two weeks, and I am not sure about the skype thing  because our branch is really poor and they really don't have anything, but we will see what we can do...maybe go to the lady that dad works with in revere...but who knows

Love you all

Elder Mason Scott

  "Amid the din of war, the rage of pestilence, the commotion of nations, and the dissolution of empires, Truth shall walk forth with mighty power, guided by the arm of Omnipotence, and lay hold of the honest in heart among all nations; Zion shall blossom as a rose, and the nations flock to her standard, and the kingdoms of this world shall soon become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever" and i cant wait for the day when our savior comes in all his glory and for the part i will get to play in his work in that time

1. leaving an appt last night

2. book of mormon musical...we handed out cards/pamphlets/and books of mormon

3. huge mural outside an art studio...about lynn...kind of

[Mason]: como se dice Lynn, lynn the city of.....Him.....?

Ok entonces, este semana was so good, and can I tell you that there are some people that you will never meet or understand in this world until you take the bus on a daily basis. People here are crazy, but its so funny because I get to see a different side to them.

We walk everywhere now, except when we take the bus to and from Lynn and occasionally in Lynn to other appointments or when the bus drivers decide not to stop at the bus stop and flip us off and keep driving...but no worries, we will get him next time. So when we miss the bus...we end up calling our sisters to take us some where...which is weird because they never have anything going on...but thats ok....the other alternative is run five miles to the next appointment in hopes of only being 20 min late rather that 40....which we do that. We try not to call the sister that often, and so we end up walking and then jogging and then sprinting to the finish line so that we arent even later. But I have successfully began my weightloss, and Elder Tuckett is a big help...because he is such a fitness nut....he is jacked....like seriously jacked. But I have trimmed almost five pounds....and its weird....but I still have a long ways to go. but walking definitely helps...I dont want a car back. 

Anywaus...p day was so great...we went to watch the marathon...saw the first guy to finish in 2 hours and like 8 min....and remember this is 26.1 or so miles....crazy....we were planning on going to the [Lexington reenactment ] battle, but it was at 5am...and we like sleep around here....we were going to go to Fenway and watch the red Sox game...but they were like $100 and more for tickets...so didnt happen...played ball for literally 5 hours straight with the elders from multiple zones because they got to go to the temple today....and so I got to see Elder Romero and Trujillo.  I was so psyched to see Romero though...because I do kind of miss him, and we are now great friends. He complimented me on my espanol...so yay. He has like 2 weeks left and then his surgery the first week home....but he is planning on coming back to visit and  what not...I dont know why, but I was so happy and am happy to see him...its weird...because he was hard to serve with but now he is such a great friend......

This past week has been quite difficult in lessons, because we cant get out to some of our investigators with out a ride...and when we finally get a member to take us...they either dont show up to the lesson, or they have to cancel...which makes these members angry at us when its not our fault....but its all part of the fun.  

Wednesday.....we did service at a an older lady's house who is the definition of an "eternigator" and so we are currently helping her literally build and refurbish her home, with hopes of moving in there(I DONT WANT TO GO THERE IT IS SO WEIRD AND SHE IS CRAZY) and we were given two jobs....paint the ceiling and remove the 30 year old laminate floor in the bathroom with a hammer and a paint scraper and an exacto knife.....well lets just say I built unity on wednesday when I said I would do the floor....it took me 3 hours to get out about 3/4 of it and I could not hold a hammer any longer nor the paint scraper....my thumb was purple due to my awful aim...but it was so fun for some reason. I get to finish it this week and take out another floor as well....

Friday was district meeting...and it was good...um thats about it other than service at this retirement home and and dinner at our branch presidents house. which was so good....for some reason....it was like those pork tacos mom makes but Thelma or Hermana Fuentes made this salsa that was off the charts...and she made it just for me....because nobody here likes spicy but me and her. the other week...she had these peppers...aka....toxic death to all of my district.....and so I decided to join in the fun and eat one....and it was so funny.  There were two kinds...a green and a red...not sure of the name, only sure that the red one is about 15x hotter and I didnt know that....so everybody took the green ones before I could get to one....and all there was was a red one. So we chowed down...and Tuckett, Hermana Hansen, and Hermana Miller all began to go red and start crying....and its funny because Thelma likes to eat them like candy...she just pops them in her mouth like its nothing. Ehen I ate my pepper, Thelma, came running in the room with a pitcher of milk and ice cream, because she thought I was joking about eating it. and so I eat the whole peeper in one bite....about 2 inches of hot fiery death to the mouth...and I had no reaction whatsoever, other than a slight sweat..and she and everyone were so amazed and I became the head honcho over here. Thelma cant eat these because she cries when she does....but it was weird...its like I have a new super power or something.

Let me see....everything is so good over here.....and i have a feeling like I will be training in the very next transfer...but I am obviously not sure...I love my companion right now, and we get along like nothing else...literally Zion over here and thats what the mission aims for first in the companionships and then in the wards......so watch out over there, this mission is about to take over the world....kind of.

So in my studies this past week, I felt like I did quite a bit....I am in D&C chapter 11, 1 Nephi 11, preach my Gospel chapter 3, (ALL IN SPANISH) and then I also started Jesus the Christ in English, and i'm in chapter 4 of that, and I also am slowly reading the old and new testaments....kind of...ocassionally when I find time.....and im also growing in my testimony all day ever' day. I try to speak only in spanish, and new learn words each day because I have realized that my vocabulary is not as big as it needs to me and I know that this is what will help me understand. 

JESUS THE CHRIST IS THE BEST BOOK ON THE EARTH AND I ENCOURAGE ALL TO READ IT AND LEARN MORE ABOUT WHO CHRIST WAS, IS, AND WILL ALWAYS BE! HE is our Savior and redeemer, and I know that I am coming to know him. Elder Weston Scott said something profound about the verbs in Spanish of to know, being SABER Y CONOCER, and I know that I am coming to know him and I can say that I agree with him in I will soon be able to say que YO LO CONOZCO, que El VIVIO, EL MURIO, Y EL VIVE TODAVIA, no lo se, y conozco!

Bueno esto es todo para esta semana, enonces tengan un buena semana y recuerden siempre lo que Dios y JesuCristo han Hecho por todos de nosotros....y esto lo comparto en el Sagrado Nombre De JESUCRISTO, AMEN

Con el amor mas sincero

Elder M Scott

"Wherever you are on the path to inherit the gift of eternal life, you have the opportunity to show many people the way to greater happiness." - Henry B. Eyring

[Weston] Anaheim Weekly April 21, 2014

Afternoon My Peep's!

How we all doing this fine warm afternoon? Oh well at least it is warm over here! In fact it is hot. I found out that I do not particularly care for hot/warm weather all year round. I can tell that is going to be a hot year! 

This week was pretty awesome! I got to meet an Apostle, wait what?!

Monday - We had a pretty interesting zone activity, we played some soccer, but then went over to the playground equipment that was at the park we were at, and we played Lava Monster. Very old kid's game, and it was so funny. There was about 14 of us missionaries doing that. Good day.

Tuesday - We had some studies, and I had another doctors appointment for me feet. The doctor performed surgery again, on my feet. Fun stuff! Then bought me lunch. Cool beans! He said that he will be taking us to the hospital he works at next time because apparently they have super good food there. I did not mind! Sounds good to me! He used the word 'food'. I am in! We had a lesson with one of our investigators, who seemed pretty golden when we met her, but she dropped us right then and there. It was awful, the member that was with us, Hermano Castillo tried to fix it, but it pretty just made it worse. But all is well! 

Wednesday -  We had a district meeting, super great! Unfortunately I cannot remember what we talked about exactly, but I know it was good! WE also ate dinner with out investigators named Denisse and Maria, and talked about the Book of Mormon. Frustrating, because they just wont read it! They have not read hardly any of it, and do not know if it is true yet, so do not want to read it until they have that knowledge. Uh, helllo? Osea, Ubicate! That does not even make sense! You have to read it to find out! Quite frustrating! I cut my own hair when we got back to our apartment for the night. I was pretty good.

Thursday - We had a normal day, except I ate a ton of spicy chili's! It was awesome! We had dinner with the Hermana Garcia in our ward, and she made us what is called  'Patches'. They are basically tamales, but instead of Masa, it is Potato. They were bomb diggity! Anyways, the hermana asked me if I can like spicy food. Pica. and I said, I have not eaten anything that I have not been able to handle so far our here on the mission. Her face lit up wit excitement. She got me some Chile ceranos to eat, and I ate like 3 of them at the same time. No problem. She freaked out and called her friend haha. She was like, I have never seen an Elder eat chilis like that! I had 5 total. Can I say, ouch? They were so dang hot by the time I got to number 5! Whew! But it was all good. Just some mild sweat! I love Spicy food! I have gotten so good at eating it!

Friday - We had weekly planning, and then had dinner with the Bishop. Super awesome dinner! We had Lasagna! Yum! And we talked about the Resurrection. It was super great because we talked a lot also about the Apostles, and general conference. We talked a lot about Elder Packer's testimony and how he said at least in Spanish "Lo Conozco" when he was talking about Jesus Christ. "I know him". So powerful. I one day will be able to say that as my own testimony. It was so amazing! 

Saturday - Awesome Day. In the morning I had the privilege of waking up early, and traveling down to the stake center that is across the street form the Newport Temple. I arrived at about 8:15, and waited patiently as did the rest of my entire mission, with the Irvin mission as well. At about 9:30, it just so happens, that Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles walked in. We had a mission conference with him! It was so awesome! He talked about making sure that we are becoming the best that we can be. And also about Honesty, and about the Book of Mormon, how we need to know it, and know the stories, and doctrine that is found within it. It was amazing. Before the whole conference started, I got to be one of the first people to shake his hand! It was so amazing! It was a very powerful moment. I felt the Spirit so strong when I shook his hand. I know for a fact that he is an Apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ. Without a doubt in my heart. Just an awesome day!

Sunday - Easter! It was awesome! Church was just so uplifting. We learned so much about the Resurrection, so amazing! Just such a fantastic week! We taught our investigator Alfredo, and he is definitely set for this upcoming Sunday. Set as in he is going to get Baptized! #GetDunked! I am so excited! I also had the privilege of giving two blessings to a couple members. It was an awesome day!

Funny Story - Well this morning, my district leader and his companion came over because they wanted me to give them each a hair cut, because they liked the way mine looked. So Elder Pace my DL sits down in the chair and says give me a 5 on the top, and a 3 on the sides, and so I grabbed what looked to me like it said 5, and I start going. But I usually start with the top, and it was not a 5. Backwards and upside down, yes it almost read 5, but in truth it was a 2. I buzzed my district leaders hair this morning. I feel/ felt so bad. It was such an accident! Hay! but then I cut his companions hair Elder Yazzie, and it turned out fantastic. I will send some pictures and a a couple videos. They both still want me to cut hair.... even my DL.... awkward... Oh well. He got what he paid for right? haha.

In other words, this week was fantastic! I love it out here! Spanish is coming along great! I understand about 93.694% of the time ;). I know that our Savior Jesus Christ lives! DO YOU?!

Elder Weston Scott

\

p.s. --  So haha, we played on the play ground again, and before we started I was chasing a frisbee and it landed on top of the play ground equipment, and I could reach it if I jumped, but I was standing under this ladder type thing (did not realize it) and jumped up to grab it, but two inches above me were three or four steel bars, well, let's
just say that they were not so kind to my face....I will attach a picture. Any suggestions to get rid of a head ache? Not that I will be able to check my email again anyways.... But yeah thought I would at least tell you. My face is very ugly now, well sort of.... Fun stuff!

That is what happens when Elder Scott plays on a play ground. Remember the time when I slipped in 4th grade and racked myself? I have officially decided that I will not play on play grounds anymore. Danger.

Anyways, my face hurts, my neck hurts, my head hurts haha. Loving it out
here! :) No worries though!

Love you!

[Weston] Anaheim Weekly April 14, 2014

Mis Amigos!

This week was super great! Hard, but great! We hit almost all of the goals we set during our planning, and we taught 16 lesson this week! Basically, I have been trying hard to get Elder Tanner to work with members, and this week it worked.  We got 5 lessons with a member present, and it is so much better when that happens, because they can do small talk!  I can speak Spanish, but I can not do small talk!  All I know currently is how to talk about the Gospel!  And some other things such as cars and so on.  But members are whats up!  I love working with our ward members. Especially here in Santa Ana 10 because the Ward is huge!  We got loads of members that want to go out with us! Awesome Week! :)

Monday - Normal P-day, I played a ton of basketball, and also volleyball. I love sports, it is funny because in the Missionary Handbook, it says that we should do something that can allow us to relieve stress, but with me, I have been trying hard to just not let stress accumulate, so that I can do whatever I want on p-day and feel refreshed! It was a good day though!

Tuesday - We got our normal studies in which was great! Then we found some new investigators, on one of the like 4 Hispanic streets we have in our area.  But we taught this man named Mario, who believes that we are here for a reason, sacrificing our time for him and others.  He knows there is something different about the Mormon church, but with him, he believes that his church is just as true as ours!  I wish that when people committed to read and pray specifically, they would actually do it.  Ya know? It would make my job so much easier!

Wednesday - We had a district meeting in the late morning, and learned more about studying more purposefully for our investigators. It was a great meeting!  President Bowen joined us for a while, and gave great input!  Elder Pace my district leader is awesome!  He graduated with me!  He came out on the mission 3 or 4 days after he graduated, so he has been out almost a year now.  Can you believe it?  I have almost been graduated for a year!  Hit my 6 months already!  Time is flying, and I am not too happy about it because it is going to be over before I know it!  Hay!  I had the opportunity of meeting with one of the senior couple missionaries this day as well, and we were there to translate for a member in their ward.  I ended up just teaching him about temples, and now I have been asked to help him learn English and teach him continuously whenever the senior couple is there, they want me there.  It was really fun though because with the Spirit, I was truly able to be fluent talking to this member.  He is self-conscious about his English because he thinks that he sounds really bad when he speaks, which is true because he just wont speak it much!  I told him to listen to me!  I butcher so many things in Spanish, but I do not care.  I speak, because speaking makes me better.  Practice Makes Perfect.  It was awesome!  I am going to be teaching him on Wednesday, and he is going to make me dinner! Boom! 

Thursday - We had exchanges and I went with Elder Yazzie in his area.  It was fun, because he cooked Kodiac Cakes for me (type of wheat or multigrain pancakes). Not nearly as good as Tracie Cakes. :) But they were good!  I was doing some pull-ups on the pull up bar, and after that, I decided to jump a little bit on to the wrong side of the pull-up bar, and well physics of the door frame worked against me, and I ripped off the trim of the door frame, and fell about 6 feet on to my back (because I jumped on to it). Ouch.  I felt that one all day haha.  Elder Yazzie is a transfer behind me in the mission, and so his Spanish is limited like unto mine. I have been trying to learn different ways to say things, so that I do not always say the same thing, it was helpful on exchanges I will tell you. We ate at a Taqueria here for dinner, and it was awesome! I love them. Authentic to the max. Anywho, we taught a few good lessons, and yeah.

Friday - We had to take our car in for Brakes and an Oil change as well Elder Mason Scott! How funny! But ours only lasted 2.5 hours. We went across the street to the McDonald's, because we were outside of out Zone, and had some work to get done on our I-Pads. It was about 2 hours in to our work, when we decided we were going to leave after I finished up to a certain point updating our Area-book. Outside the McDonald's there was this giant Polynesian woman yelling at this Hispanic guy, something happened and we missed it, but then this woman stormed in to the McDonald's and yells, "I am done with all you Dirty Mexicans!" then walked into the bathroom. I was like, bold move, everyone in here is Mexican lady. This woman sitting across the isle from us was sitting with her family, got up and went to the bathroom, and said, "Got a problem with Mexicans Huh?" What happened next was crazy! The Poly Woman storms out of the bathroom yelling at this Mexican family, full blown, cussing in Tongan, and when they all get outside, well the Poly woman starts getting in the faces of the Mexican family, and the same woman that walked into the bathroom and said ," got a problem" yeah her, she throws her stuff on the ground just ready to beat the crap out of this Poly woman, and her brother takes this huge purse and clubs the woman across the head, down goes the big Poly Woman. Point goes to team Hispanic. It was freaky. I used to only think that Santa Ana was dangerous, now I officially know it is. That Poly Woman yelled at us for a while too because we saw a lot of what happened. She was not a nice person, and kind of got what she had coming, sorry but it is kind of true. Crazy. We left as quickly as we could! She called me a Dirty Mexican, I cannot believe it! HAHAHAHA. We taught one lesson and then set up another for the next day. It was an overall Most Crazy Mission Experience ever so far. Get it.... so far!

Saturday - We had a couple lessons here and there, with our studies intertwined, so that was fun! But it was an overall good day. For dinner we ended up eating with a Member, Jorge Diaz, who fed us............................................<wait for it> ...................................................................  Sardines and Rice........... Guess what I learned? The one food that I cannot physically get myself to swallow is........ Sardines.  I felt so bad but I literally could not get it down. I tried so hard, I got 2 bites down the pipe, but nothing else would go. I gagged to bad, and held in with all my might the Vomit that so desperately wanted to escape!  Yuck. So this week we had no dinner with any member because the members have not liked the missionaries in this area. But this next week is a different story!  Boom.  Dinner every day except for one day, and even then, Bishop Santos said that we could come by. Yes!  The members are starting to trust Me and Elder Tanner.  I am so happy, it is truly helping us so much because our area is catching fire again. Yay! 

Sunday - We had a good couple of meetings in the morning, namely Coordination and Ward Council which are basically the same, but it was good. Church was awesome, Dennise, one of our investigators came, and so I finally was able to meet her. Testimony meeting rocked! Later that night, we were walking back to our car to go home, and this drunk homeless guy shouts, "MORMONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" several times, and we are just like, ugh, not again, but we walked over there and started talking this guy. He was yelling at us for our beliefs and getting very violent with all his stuff.  I was like, oh yeah here we go, come on.  But part way into the conversation (not much of a conversation because he would not let us talk), but a member walked behind us, grabbed my shoulder, and said, "It is about that time elders!" it was 9:15, he was trying to help us get out of that conversation, but it didn't work. We were stuck with a violent guy yelling at us, and finally I just told him off.  We left and went home.  Whew.

This week was just one of those weeks! I tell ya! But my area had its best week that it has ever had in the past year! Yay!  Alfredo accepted a baptismal date for the 27th of April!  We have 7 baptisms in our ward that day! Record! I am so excited!  Our mission is going crazy! I love it out here and have learned so much! I found a scripture this week as I was flipping (scrolling because I have an IPad haha) through Doctrine and Covenants. Section 105 verse 14 says, "For behold, I do not require at their hands to fight the battles of Zion, for, as I said in a former commandment, even so will I fulfill - I will fight your Battles". Our Heavenly Father loves us more that we will understand, he loves us with an infinite love. He will fight our battles! 

Thanks for everything! Have a great week everyone!

Ipad art

Excited about some mexican candy

[Mason] The Series of Unfortunate Events.....

By far the most depressing week of the mission life guys....but hey....no body said it was easy...and guess what, I have decided to take Dori's advice "to Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming swimming swimming!"

 

 The Reasons behind this awful week I will be explaining in the paragraphs to come.

a) We only taught 5 lessons this week

b) Wednesday car issues

c) Thursday all together

d) I'm exhausted from the above reasons.

a) We only taught 5 lessons this week, and I'm talking all together, investigators and members....because everyone was cancelling on us.  We had a packed week of lessons and important time fillers and everything went down the drain.

b) OK so Wednesday, we had to get our brakes changed and an oil change...which took 4 freaking hours, when we were the first people there in the morning.  It was ridiculous. and we were nowhere near our area or around people to talk to. there was this guy in there that we talked to who was a good old JW, and we did kind of a Q&A session with him about their religion.  He couldn't answer us nor explain anything, and it was funny to me because these people have such a conviction of the truth made from nothing, It makes me grateful for the True Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints of which I am a Member.

c) We had the busiest  day planned that I have ever seen...every hour of the day we had something... I'm talking like 7 or 8 appointments with members and non-members a like and every single one of them cancelled with us by lunch time during our WEEKLY PLANNING SESSION. Then the most awful thing happened to us.  Elder Fish, the Mission Vehicle coordinator, called us and we had the longest most dreadful, heart wrenching, gnashing of teeth phone call ever, because they need our car to give to the Framingham Elders que chocaron su coche...or crashed/totaled their car.  He then told us that we were going to meet at 5 to swap cars and then for us to be taken back to our area, and so we had a dinner planned that we had scheduled after everything with a cool member, but then we had to cancel that.  So we cried on the inside for a while.  We then came to the realization that crap! we live 15 to 20 minutes by CAR outside of our area...and now we have to take the dang bus which will take us an hour or more...argghhh... I had to buy a Charlie pass, the monthly bus pass, with my own money because I didn't have enough on my mission funds..,.so I have to wait to be reimbursed now as well.  We went to lunch with Sister's Miller and Hansen after weekly planning to this place called Three Amigos again...which missionaries eat free at...and it is the best place to eat Mexican food at ever....and a member owns it, so we are blessed. its so good.  We then get a call from Elder Fish, saying that we will now exchange cars at 9pm tonight...so that we don't have to "cancel any of our appts"...even though our day went down the drain.

d) We take the bus everywhere now and we have chased it about 3 times now and I freaking love it.  We get to talk to people more so now and I know that heavenly father knows that this area needs more contacting to happen and that there are people that are ready to hear the gospel and they are on the bus and so we are doing just fine... I am definitely going to drop some libras.

Anyways, taking the bus is so fun, because we can just look back and laugh at ourselves...and come home at the end of the night and have countless stories and be completely exhausted and then...DO IT AGAIN!!!=) woot woot.

I bore my testimony on Sunday, because it was Fast and testimony meeting as well, even though most wards and branches here do them before conference, and I was given the gift of tongues I swear.... I said some things that I didn't know I knew how to say in Spanish...IT WAS COOL,  I mean its whatever though.  I'm still getting used to the different types of Spanish we have out here: Puerto Rican, Dominican, Mexican, Guatemalan, Honduran, Salvadorian, Peruvian, my own, Ecuadorian, Nicaraguan, and some more....but they are slightly all different, but I cant understand them all yet....but I'm getting there.  Everyone speaks slow except the first two I listed.

Life is so good out here...and I was just thinking about how much our Father in Heaven truly loves us the other day, and how much he Loves his Son Jesus Christ, to allow him to suffer for all of us, to be raised up on the cross, and then to be resurrected so that they could be with each other again.

Our Father in Heaven knew that it would be painful and knew that it would be hard, but he lets us struggle in life because it enables us to find power with in us and so that we can know that we can do hard things in life.  Our Father in Heaven lets us ride our bike with training wheels until we get it, and he will be there all the way until we figure it out. but when we do figure it out, when we figure out that everything that happens to us is out of the pure love that our Father in Heaven has for us, we are endowed with power from on high to keep us moving forward, to help us at all times.

When we acknowledge that Father in Heaven loves us enough to cut us down and hurt us just so that we can become stronger and tougher, we gain the power to trust. trust is helps us get through the hard times in life. if something bad happens, we don't get mad, curse God and never let it go, we accept it, and thank Him for His Help in changing me to be a better version of myself even though it hurts. there will always be help as long as we do what we must to make the best of whatever is happening.

"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that [trust] is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your [Trust]. Trust that our Father in Heaven knows whats best and you will always be better off!

(sorry if it doesnt make sense...my mind is going 100MPH right now due to the whole last week)

ok so love you all...friends and family

Elder Mason R. Scott

Strength without Courage equals Nothing
        &
Be better not bitter ALWAYS

[Weston] Anaheim Weekly April 7, 2014

Buenas Tardes!

Como andan? Hope all is well in Colorado! I hear more snow is still falling! I can only say that it is getting so incredibly hot for me, not as bad as Elder Lawson in Honduras though! I still have a car with A/C! Boom! This week was pretty good! I am not sure if I have mentioned this yet, but my current area has been struggling for over a year. No success, but even worse, is that there has not been too much trust between the members and the missionaries that occupied this area in the past. (Occupied, not worked, get it?) I went on exchanges this past week with my District Leader, Elder Pace, who is very young but it dong a great job. We talked a lot about what I can do with Elder Tanner to turn the area around. It is going to take some serious effort, which I am willing to put in, but it is possible. 

We already have 3 baptismal dates in this area as of right now, since I have arrived. We have another potential from a man named Alfredo. He has a family of 5, his wife and 3 small kids. His young son saw the movie Spider Man, and now thinks that he is Spider man. It is so funny. He is constantly trying to stick to the walls, and it is so awesome! I joined him one time for about 10 minutes. It was super duper fun! His name is Jordan. Alfredo has been very sick, he is what we would call nicely a work-a holic. That is to gently put it, because of all the strenuous labor he has been doing, and with not resting much, his body pretty much shut down. His blood pressure sky rocketed way over 200, and now is bed ridden. He has been very sad the past couple of weeks, and we stopped by yesterday actually, we had tried almost every day this week, but he seemed a lot different. He was enjoying his time with his family. Last transfer, his major doubt was the fact that he did not want an eternal family. Just to simply state it, we later found out this past week that it is because he was not exactly following the 10 commandments, ie. the one that deals with marriage. His wife and him have been taking classes, and counseling. Now he expressed his most sincere interest in the Eternal Family. It was so cool to see the change in him! He told us that he fully intends on reading the Book of Mormon with a true desire, and to sincerely pray. He wants to know the truth, and believes that Joseph Smith's experience makes sense logically and spiritually within him. I am so excited for this man. Alfredo has moved mountains in a matter of days, he will definitely be baptized this transfer. Yay! Elder Tanner and I have a baptismal goal of this 2 this transfer, we had 7 this past month in our zone, which is the zone's best! Woot Woot. 

This week was pretty good, I am about half way in the New Testament, which is awesome! I will definitely finish that this transfer. I restarted the Book of Mormon in Spanish, and now I am focusing on only studying in Spanish. I understand what I read and write about 90% of the time now so I will be able to do well in studying in Spanish now. 

We had a zone meeting that was very long, but we learned a lot about our studies, and how we need to regain our focus. With the new I-Pads, we have a lot more materials to study from, a lot more. Hello! General Conference talks from 1979 are on Gospel Library! How do I know? Well, we all lost our focus a small bit as a mission, so I possibly am included in that ..... However, we were reminded that Preach My Gospel is our tool, and is our resource. It has everything that we will ever need to study and learn and do as a missionary. It is our focus as missionaries. If anyone has seen the missionary training videos, and specifically the district 1, "this is a Preach my Gospel mission." Preach My Gospel is so amazing! With the I-Pads we can do some pretty sweet stuff with it now. We can use Gospel Library to categorize all of our notes, scriptures, you name it. Oh, I need a scripture that talks about Prophets? Oh well let me see, Bam. Prophets tag. Oh look, I have 10 different ones to use. It is really helpful, in that sense. I still do not very much like planning on them, but it is getting better!

Using Facebook is another tool that we have as missionaries now, only in 30 missions though. Facebook has been prepared for the use of missionaries. Think about it! Where else can I talk to thousands of people at one time, or have the opportunity to have thousands read my testimony as well? I can knock probably 15 doors in an hour and teach some people about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, where some people will see us coming, and close their door, or just not answer it. With Facebook, it is different, for an hour each and every day, we can send messages to people that live in our areas, by using the search people that live nearby feature, or simply post scriptures or quotes or our testimonies. When members share, comment, or like what I post, then their friends can do the same, so it is a continuous line in the water for people everywhere to have the opportunity to feel the Spirit of the Lord touch their lives. When we send out messages on Facebook, it is the same concept as knocking on a door, let them know who we are as missionaries, and also what we are there for, but with online messages, it is a continuous knock that will knock until it is read. Facebook is designed very well for mass contacting. It is awesome! That is why it is so important to share and comment and like the things missionaries post.

General Conference was awesome! It was really powerful this time, for me anyways because I actually focused the whole time! On the mission it is so much better! I have been studying a lot about the Restoration, and about how truly marvelous it is to know for myself that the true Church of Jesus Christ has been restored. With all the same authority and doctrine as there once was. My favorite part about conference would have to be when one of the speakers (I do not remember who it was) said that in all that Christ suffered for us, our lives and bodies are actually his now. We have a divine debt to live up to. We need to do all we can to follow Christ and live as he lived, it is not our choice, because in all honesty, our lives are not our own! I thought about that a lot, why am I truly out here on my mission? Well to do exactly what Christ my Savior would do!

I hope you all have a great week!

From your favorite missionary in CALI!

Elder Weston Scott

]Mason] Lynn is the place to be right now.

Ok, so I do not have to much to share this week, other than the fact that I love this place so much.  The work is super slow and hard but i feel like i am meant to be here right now.  I love our branch so much, and I have been welcomed so well. the people in our branch are so cool, especially our President, Presidente Fuentes, who had only been a member for 7 years, and five of those as the branch president. he is so cool, and I love him so much.

    This week we taught many of our investigators and it was pretty gun.  Monday night we had nothing planned, and the Revere 2nd elders needed a ride to a place, and so we gave them a ride, but on the way, we received a call from the sisters in our branch, and so we went to the church. we were asked to give a blessing and it was in Spanish.  Elder Tuckett annointed and I sealed the the annointing and gave the blessing....let me just say that I was so nervous because that was actually my first one in spanish, but I knew that My Heavenly Father would help me as long as I did what he asked of me, and so as we got there, we said a prayer, and I was actually the one giving it. and i knew that my spanish is still pretty rough, but I asked Heavenly Father in the prayer, to please bless us with the ability to speak with the Gift of tongues and to be guided by the Spirit in the blessing.  I felt an immense peace come over me in the prayer, and I ugh...started to um, ugh tear up...and I knew that my Father in Heaven was there and was going to help me. so we go inside, and I am still having a hard time understanding people, and so we were there for a like 15 min and then she finally was ready to receive the blessing.  They were decorating eggs or something. but i remembered I asked for help inthe blessing, I asked for help in exercising the Priesthood authority that I have been given to help God's children to progress in this life, and so Tuckett annointed and then I went ahead and sealed and blessed. and I knew that God helped me in that blessing, because I had things come to mind in Spanish, and i thought in spanish, and afterwards, she said, "I thought you dont speak Spanish"...I am so grateful for God's AHnd in every part of my life and for the opportunity I have to be a Priesthood bearer and to act in God's name to help his children.

After the blessing, we received a phone call to come and introduce religion in this teenagers life for this organization.  It was English.  So we go there the next day and talk to this kid, and his friend, Richie and Curtis...and richie is struggling with so many things, and its possible that he will go to jail soon, and he is only 15. The whole time, we were trying to introduce who we are and explain our purpose, and they are sitting there blowing watermelon flavored smoke at me and it was so annoying...i wanted to stand up and just tell them whats what, but I am better than that, because I know Christ wouldn't do that. We are meeting with them again this week as well.

Ok so some big news this week that I am so freakin happy about is I finally finished the Book of Mormon in Spanish for the first time, and yes I know it took forever...but it would  have been earlier, but when i got half way in december, the mission started the BOOK OF MORMON challenge to mark every reference to christ, and so I started over....but its all good now.  I'm going to restart and totally own it as well as D&C in Spanish and then after....Old and new testaments....and maybe Jesus the Christ in Spanish...but not quite sure about that one right now.  I am only studying in Spanish right now and i am determined to learn this language because that is What My Father in Heaven has asked me to do.

I loved all of conference, but I didnt get to watch the last session on sunday, because President fuentes asked us to go with him and grab a tire form his house and take it to braintree which is about 40 min from our building. I dont know why, but I absolutely feel a need to watch it right now, and I cant yet...but no worries. I love conference so much.

I dont have a favorite talk, but I will get back to you on that. No aunt Karen and uncle Brian didnt find me....not good if they were to do so....I really dont want to see anyone unless its Sam and Brie because they live here, or you guys in october of 2015...sorry.  Also thanks for the package...and the RUGBY BALL........I was so happy last week, and boy did it feel great to hold one of those...elder Mcjanet, here in this area, also played and so we were having the time of our lives.

Baptismal interviews are done by the district leader, unless it is the district leaders investigator, in which case, the Zone leaders do the interview.  Normally we go over the questions throughout the lessons we teach, just to make sure that they understand everything, and so we can get an idea of whether we need the interview done by a missionary or by president. generally if its soemthing with crime or abortion or soemthing pretty major, we can generally figure that out from what they tell us, and so its rare to have more than one interview...but it does happen....Grandpa will pass...I know it!

Anyways, I love the Gospel so much, I love Spanish so much and I love teaching people about the gospel of Jesus Christ and more importantly i love bearing witness that CHRIST LIVES and THROUGH HIM WE CAN RETURN TO OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

Con mucho amor

Elder Mason R Scott

Be Better, not bitter