[Weston] Anaheim Weekly December 22, 2014

Merry (Early ) Christmas to all!

This week was so fantastic! :) I freaking love my companion so much! Elder Bickmore is a stud! We work so well together, it's so incredible how relaxed he is about everything! He is so patient! I am literally the happiest missionary to be found upon the Earth now. I love being a missionary! 

Some sad news this week, our most progressing investigator Erik dropped us. For some reason I already had prepared myself for it. I knew it was coming. He was not trying as hard as he was the past two weeks as he was previously. So, of course I was sad, still am, but it didn't get me down, because he is not ready to truly make a change.

However, we found five new investigators this week. 4 of which are super solid! We have set up so many appointments! Yes we don't have any progressing right now, but what we do have is a teaching pool now. Finally! We have been working hard! I finally feel that now I am truly creating a model area for my district. 

We had the award Christmas party this past Thursday, in which we ended up doing all of the heavy lifting, for it haha. We seriously make this ward run. No joke, because nobody follows through on any assignments. But whatever, it's part of my calling! :) While at the party, I was asked to go and sit in the car with Elder Quito because he wanted to tell me some things. Elder Quito is one of my best friends, and we sat and talked for over and hour. He had been struggling with the desire to go home due to some personal circumstances. All I could say was to listen to the spirit. I gave him some advice and counsel. I saw my patriarchal blessing come to pass during this chat as well. It was very spiritual. I encouraged him to endure, and be patient. I put my arm around him and told him that everything would be alright. He told me that I am the reason that would keep him from drowning out here. We made some goals, and I have the privilege of talking to him every day to keep him motivated. 

I am incredibly excited for Christmas. I hope to be able to see a lot of you that day via Skype. Thank you for all of the support.

I know with all my heart Jesus is the Christ. He is the gift. I love Him and represent Him. My words are His words, my thoughts are His thoughts, and my actions are His actions. Merry Christmas to all, and to all......... You know the rest!

Your favorite Missionary in So. Cal.!

Elder Weston Scott

[Mason]Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all(though it is a few days early),

And I hope that this email finds you all enjoying the true spirit of Christmas. Today, though its been a week, I don't have too much to say.  I have shared my testimony almost every week about the divinity of our Savior Jesus Christ, and just to add to it,

In Spanish, we say He is the Gift, but as follows, the Spanish meaning to the word gift has a much higher meaning.

decimos que el es la Dadiva, diciendo que El es un Regalo o cosa que se da voluntariamente en señal de agradecimiento, afecto, o amor

we say that He is the Gift, saying that He is a present or thing that is given voluntarily as a sign of gratitude, affection, or love.

Jesus Christ is a gift that wasn't just given to us for nothing. He was given by the father, as a "bribe" for us to come back to him. He is our Bribe against the eternal Law. God loves us so much, that He wants us back. this is the Way. HE is the way. Jesus Christ was born close to 2013 years ago. on the special and sacred day, our Savior, entered the world, not to condemn us for our shortcomings and our faults, but instead to bring us back with Him. Please remember what the Savior has done for you in your lives this Christmas Season!

Ok so this week, we had our Christmas party in Belmont, MA, where we went to the Temple.had some devotionals and had some good ole fashion skits. even President Packard and Sister Packard performed. President Packard did some Handbo...where you slap yourself to make drums...and Sister Packard rapped for us...it was tight.

So...we are just trucking along here in Hartford trying to get things started again, but its hard.

It will all work out, I know it.

We went on exchanges this week, and I went to Bloomfield with Elder Williams, and it was by far the best exchange I have ever had.  We had some Baptismal interviews, they both lasted 1.5 hours...they were exhausting, but really great.

Elder Scott

[Mason] Buenos Dias Mis familiares

Ok so I am only wanting to speak/ talk/ write/ think/ and do everything in Spanish...I swear it is the Language of heaven....everybody needs to learn it.

I feel like I'm bleeding Spanish now.  I'm really soaking it up. its great, God is really blessing be a lot. I'm grateful for the strength He gives me in so many ways. seriously, Without God, I am nothing, as to my strength, I am weak, and nothing.

So this week, we didn't get too much done, and a lot of that was my companion and I learning how to work together and figure things out. we had to break down a few barriers and then I was sick.....I'm pretty sure it was something like the stomach flu....or food poisoning.,...I died Friday night....and then all day on Saturday, I had to drive and it was so hard to do anything, and we came home for dinner at 6, so Elder Pope could eat, and I had a small bite of food, and I was like "yo elder, I dont feel so good right now, I'm going to lay here on the ground for a second, and I fell asleep for 2 and a half hours later, and I was just ILL...it was terrible.

Friday, we had zone meeting, and it was terrible....because it was a lot of technical things, and then Pope and I had to leave to go to service, right as the spiritual training was starting....ugh...but we helped set up for a party at a hockey rink. Then we were supposed to teach everyone there how to ice skate. We told the member who was in charge of the event, that we can't get on the ice. and she said "ok." supposedly there was going to be people who were teaching ice skating...but they never showed...and the worst part was that the event was focused on every kid and adult with whom these social workers work, was going to learn how to ice skate for free/fun.

So Elder Paulson, Elder Wright, and I decided, that we would do it and we saved the night....and everyone thanked us, and so it was all great.....I don't have any pictures...sorry.

Thursday...District Meeting....good times...

Wednesday...no me recuerdo [I don't remember]

Tuesday.....MLC  [?] ....including all DL's and it was a nightmare.....driving 88 miles and back is terrible.....for somebody to do......anytime....and ugh...I had to do it again.

Sunday. We confirmed Julio, and it was sweet, and so we now have a member that wants to come with us all day every day, and he is solid. we had a christmas concert is Bloomfield, and the Branch was singing a number, and we had to/ got to participate...it was fun.

That brings us to now...today we are making a movie for our Christmas concert with the mission this Wednesday...it will be sweet.....

um so I finished the Book of Mormon again, in Spanish, because it just makes sense in that language

message: upon reading D&C 10, I found how awesome God is, and how wise He is and how much He must laugh at Satan, for thinking he can win, or he can "outsmart" Him, if you will,...God is all wise, and because of that, The Book of Mormon, with a wise purpose, doesn't have, nor need those first 116 pages, because God prepared a way for us to get what we need. in section 10, it says basically that, the small plates of Nephi have a more direct message of the gospel, and overall, it will be of more use, than that portion that was lost. I am so grateful for the wisdom of my Father in Heaven.

Anyways...we will talk soon.

Elder Scott

***

In the mission we sent to the mission office, pictures of us in ways our mission has changed us, and why they are successful....so these are mine...

[My Mission has changed me because now I am a witness of my Lord Jesus Christ and His mission is mine ]

[My mission is successful because my family has grown by thousands of people ]

[Weston] Anaheim Weekly December 8, 2014

Hello everybody!

This week was fantastic! I got to play in the rain! It was so fun! It all started when I went on exchanges with Elder Quito. I was driving, and the day before we were all told that that the weather was going to be absolutely terrible the Next day. Well, it was haha. It rained so hard for about two days straight. :) Tuesday like I said I was in a car driving, so it wasn't too bad, except for when we had a lesson at the door with a girl named Martha. Elder Quito and I were standing out in the rain the whole time, for what ended up bei a half hour lesson. Now let me tell you the extra details you want. I was wearing a cotton sweater the whole day because I forgot to bring a waterproof jacket. Elder Quito had a trench coat, which kept him dry. It was s funny. I was sopping wet, which actually came up at the end of that lesson, woot woot! It was so Fun! 

Wednesday night was the same deal, except I was on my bike instead. It was unbelievable how wet it was out side. I honestly can say I now swam on my mission! :) So Erik our investigator is doing well! He has such a strong testimony! It's incredible! He is totally getting baptized on the 21st this month! White Christmas! :) The only problem and trial Erik is truly facing right now, not including the word of wisdom(smoking), is his family. Everybody in his family that lives in his apartment are members, but extremely less active. He gets no support, and everyone doubts him! It frustrates me so much. He is literally going to be the person that reactivates his family. It is so hard for him. Especially between his wife and him. Major contention right now, because she won't change. It's so hard, definitely a pride issue. But we are going to get through it! Erik is still going to get baptized! :)

We began a little initiative of our own here in the Anaheim Mission, being the [Christ]mas means Facebook posts. I hope you all saw mine! To me, I posted true love. Why? Because I have been thinking so much this season about the love my Heavenly Father has for me. I encourage you all to make one as well! It's fun! Focus on tHe reason for the season! :)

Well, I love you all so much! Thank you for the support! :)

Elder Weston Scott

Pictures?

Elder Quito and I!

Early Christmas present from Erik! 

I uploaded the wrong picture to facebook. This was the real one.

[Mason] Greetings from CT

Hello everyone, its been and interesting turn of events these last few days...but I don't really want to explain all of it because it will take a long time.

but to start,

I basically live in a hotel now, and it has a full size gym....with everything it seems. its legit. there is basically no safe place here in Hartford, people literally break into cars and buildings...and so everything is on lock down it seems, even during church, we have the elders quorum patrolling the parking lots and there are security cameras and what not...its intense.

The Branch seems to love me already, which is sweet and the first comment was, "are you from Spain or Argentina?", um neither,,,I'm from Colorado,...."so, you speak Spanish in your home?", ...no....."How do you know Spanish?".....um I didn't know I did....

All of a sudden, I'm fluent out here, and its crazy....sometimes there is a difficulty in understanding the Puerto Ricans or the Domincans but all in all, its sweet. I owe everything to the Lord though.

" 11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
 12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."
Im so gratefull that God, my Eternal Father, has given me this chance to learn Spanish and for having been blessed time and time again with Help from on High to Speak the language.
So Back to the point here of the email, I'm still District Leader down here, and I'm finding that the the missionaries down here are all very different, and I'm going to have to work really hard to be the best example I can be. also, I have learned that there are 7 [baptismal] dates here in my area, and total in the district there are 14. we have a goal this month to baptize 7. and its going to happen....we can do it.
For the foreseeable future, I'm going to read all of the Bible and PMG and Jesus el Cristo. and perfect my Spanish and study Portuguese. Now that I'm in a 2 elder apartment, I can actually focus on what I'm doing. it is sweet.
This Christmas season is going to be fantastic. and as we enter this sacred time of year, i hope we can all think back to our Savior Jesus Christ, of whom this Grand Holiday is about. Let us Recall all that he did for us, and is doing for us now. let us remember the covenants we have made, and stay true to them. let us,This Christmas season, make it more special than it has ever been to us. let us try not to focus on worldly things. Christ did come to be of the World, but instead came to conquer it. His purpose wasn't to be a part of the world, but to help us to change and be as he is, a king, a son of God. let us remember that Christ is the Ultimate gift. He is our Present, from God.
John3:16 - "For God so loved the world , that he gave his only begotten Son , that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"
Because he is our Gift, let us increase our Faith in him, and do all we can to believe in him more. I know that He is our Savior, and I know that He is the only Gift i truly need and truly want, because in him and trough him, I can have eternal life and salvation and Be with my Father in Heaven AGAIN.!.!.!


I love you all, and have a good week.
Elder Scott
2 Park PL Tower A 19J Hartford, CT, 06106

[Weston] Anaheim Weekly December 1, 2014

Hello Everyone!

This week was very great! I think I will give a play by play.

Monday we started out by playing kickball. We played zone versus zone, and my zone unfortunately lost. Dang. We'll get them next time! But we went and visited a ton of people but nadie was home! It was so annoying! Tuesday we did not have much time until about 6pm, and so we went ham trying to talk to, and see as many people as possible. It was worth it! We taught as less active family. The Trejo's. They are so funny! We shared the new Christmas video made by the church "He is the Gift". They really enjoyed it.

Wednesday we had District Meeting. I prepared so much for it! I was so excited! I taught and trained about praying with Faith. To share one detail, it would be from the last part I shared. That when we pray, we must love according to what we pray for. We must fulfill that which we we ask for. Joseph Fielding Smith said, "All we do should be in harmony with the expressions of our prayers. We should not pray merely with our lips; but in every act, in our conversation, in all that we undertake to do, we should try to carry out the expressions of our prayers, and be in harmony with the thoughts that we declare to the Lord in our daily supplications. Are we in possession of the spirit of prayer? Have we made it a part of our very being? Are we in touch with our Heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit, or are we not?" This impacted me a lot.  Mostly to make sure that all I do is in accordance with what I need and should be doing at all times. It was a great training meeting, I prayed long and hard to know what exactly the district needed.  We also taught Erik that night about praying with faith. It went nicely with what I had studied so much lately. Anyways, Erik loved it, he loves everything we share with him. He asked about music and what kind of music we should be listening to. He also mentioned that his number one goal is to be sealed in the temple with his wife! 

Thanksgiving was fun haha. We did some studies in the morning, then we went and ate some Peruvian food for lunch with the Sanches family. They are so nice, just like having another mom out here haha. Afterwards we went and helped with a service project. We cleaned up this judge event center parking lot, in which they cooked s bunch of turkeys. It was really gross what I had to do, but it was all good, got a free shirt (however it was too small). We then went and ate dinner with President Tucker.  He is a counselor to our mission president. He is so nice! He feeds any missionary that doesn't have dinner on thanksgiving.  And our whole district was without dinner, so we went and spent time with them, and we completed a puzzle while there, it was great!  On the way home, it was about 8pm, we were invited to another member's home, in which we ate some more (which was impossible to do) and we shared a message.  I was asked to share my testimony while there.  It was fun! 

Friday we didn't do a whole lot, we ate thanksgiving leftovers for breakfast with a member, that was fun! Saturday we exchanged, and Elder Maughan my zone leader came with me. It was great. We saw a lot of people!

I was asked to speak again on Sunday, and so I spoke about the Christmas Season and what has been on my mind all week. I have been asking everyone basically the same question this week. "What are you willing to give to your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ this year?" I have been reflecting on this thought so much lately. Especially because our Heavenly Father has given us a Savior. Jesus Christ has given us the Atonement. Now it is our turn. Jus think, the one thing that our Heavenly Father wants but does not demand is obedience. He has given us Agency. We can choose for ourselves. But the supreme expression of love we can and ought to show our Father in Heaven is that of giving back that Agency. And choosing to be obedient to His word. This Christmas season I choose to exactly that, to give them by agency by being obedient. Because I love my Father in Heaven, I love my Savior. What will you give?

Thanks for everything!

Your favorite missionary in So. Cal.!

Elder Weston Scott

[Mason] New Area means New Life....

So I'm moving to Hartford, CT now in the Spanish Branch down there, and so I'm officially leaving Lynn behind now and moving to the next part of my mission.  Wednesday I leave, and so that will be interesting....but I'm overall excited.  My new companion's name is Elder Pope, the missionary that replaced me when I left Springfield....so He is a pretty cool guy.  I'm stoked beyond belief.

** New address**

** 2 Park Pl. 19J, Hartford, CT 06106 **

This week we made true history in Lynn, baptizing the 4th person this year, breaking last years record, and the year before that I believe.  Santos Hernandez is the newest member of the Church down here in Lynn, and he is so sweet, I Love the guy so much....I am coming back this time next year, I don't care ......I'm going to be here for his temple wedding with Jesenia. woohoo!! 

As we all know, December has started, and so my sacrifice is overwith.... and so to finish, I had a Dr. Pepper,  chocolate bar, a box of Captain Crunch.....and a whole box of cinnamon toast crunch....man did my stomach hurt.....I planned to eat that much....but I couldn't finish the chocolate bar.....sugar stinks...

So as a mission, we set a goal to baptize 70 people, and by Saturday, we had baptized 77....and so we entered Sunday with enough dates to bring us to 97 baptisms for the month....and as of right now, December, 1, 2014, looking back at the month of November, we found exactly 100 miracles.....and that means that we baptized 100 people in the month...surpassing our goal of 70 by 30....The whole mission presidency was out with missionaries every second yesterday, and we had some baptisms that happened in a day....it was amazing.,....

Thank you for all of your support to our mission here in New England.  It has been a blessing to see the miracles happen here.

I have some fantastic news, and that is that my new apartment in CT has a gym...woohoo....haha, I'm excited....

Turkey day was so fun...we played football in the snow....and it was the best. I scored just a few touchdowns.....and swatted a few hail mary's but no biggie.....

We ate good, for certain, due to the 2 dinners we had, and I felt like I was going to puke.....whew........last year I had 4 dinners....and I was fine....what the heck is going on with me, eh?

Well, I love you all, I will talk to you next week, and I will plan on having  a message prepared as well, sorry for the short email.

Elder Mason Scott,

1)Santos y yo y Pennington

2)nosotros en un selfie

3)la familia Rivera Melo