[Mason] Week 5

Que Pasa todos?...espero que ustedes esten bien y que sus salud esta bien tambien...Bueno, la semana pasado fue muy divertido, y tambien en el tiempo mismo, nada pasó. Cada dia fue el mismo de el otro, concerniente las cosas que hago con mi distrito. [ What's happening everyone?  I hope you are well and your health is also well.  OK, last week was very fun, and also at the same time, nothing happened.  Each day was the same as the others regarding the things I do with my district. ].

I will speak in English for mom because I know you have to have dad translate...bueno...um, so I'm doing really great, food is starting to turn into a cycle, as in the hot dogs are coming back around again...which really really [stinks]. But its all good because its less than one week until I'm in Boston anyway so it doesn't really matter.

I'm so stoked for the field, and waiting in this giant jail cell is getting so old. Ii want an American cheeseburger so bad right now and so I'm determined to find a McDonalds in Texas at the airport and buy 1, even though I hate that place.

  

Anyway, um Spanish is great...especially temple sessions that are in Spanish...like today. I understood todos and was able to follow along with out missing out on some of the meanings of the words and what not...except at the very end...it was a nightmare... I couldn't understand the guy helping me and so I was just trying to imitate what he was saying. it was so great though. I have more pictures that I  will send.

I don't need anything really, I will get what I need when I get in Boston...and thanks for ordering that bag...I'm so excited to get it. yes my testimony of the Book of Mormon is growing, and I'm in second Nephi  right now and we're not supposed to read side by side, and so the Isaiah chapter stopped me like a bullet. My testimony of everything has grown and I'm so psyched to help people in the states.

I'm jealous of the skiing, it sounds like such good fun...and lobster pasta...sick!!! Anyway, my lessons with my investigators have been great except for one...last Friday...R was so hard. she is literally not receptive to what we are saying and she doesn't want to listen to us on changing, even though she said she wants to change, and she doesn't have motivation. somos frustado con ella pero sabemos que necesitmos mostrar nuestro amor y pacinecia con ella y necesitmos estudiar cómo podemos ayudarle. mi distrito ha dicho muchas tiempos que si este llama a servir un mision fuen en ingles...podriamos estar ROCKSTARS a enseñando. pero, estoy enfocando en esta obra y en esta idioma porque Dios me ha llamado a servir en espanol en Boston, [ We're frustrated with her but we know that we need to demonstrate our love and patience with her and we need to study how we can help her.  My district has said many times that if we were called to server a mission tha twas in English, we'd be ROCKSTARS at teaching.  But we are focusing on this work and in this language because God has called me to server in Spanish in Boston.  ] which is where I desire to serve.

Everything here is coming to an end.. I  have infield orientation on Friday, its all day(16 hours) of sitting and watching...y...a...y........but its almost done here.  My ankle is better and he jugado much futbol con mi distrito y puedo jugar GOALIE otra vez y puedo [ I have played alot of soccer with my district and I can play GOALIE again and I can ] kick the ball super far again....i miss rugby...i can wait until college when i can play again. Weston said he was sick but I didn't notice it much...

No exciting meal stories except that peanut butter and nutella is the best invention ever...and that somebody in the next week is supposed to slap me in the face with a sandwich...one cheek the peanut butter side, and the other cheek is the nutella side. its going to suck.

BTW please send me all of my watches in the next package, minus the all metal one, and my grey pants...the old navy ones that I always wore.  I dont know when I will be able to call you guys...the schedule for departure isn't even made yet. bueno, um no hay algo mas para hablar sobre, entonces, quiero decir Adios por uno mas semana. les amo y no les olviden a HAZ LO JUSTO [ OK, there isn't more to talk about, then I want to say Buy for one more week, I love you and don't forget to choose the right ]

Elder Scott(the cooler one)

Dad: "what is that on your leg?"
Mason: "well it was either the leg or my back... I lost a game against my district and this was the punishment"

[Weston] Week 5

Hola Everybody!

Everything is pretty great here! This past week went by pretty darn fast, it is so weird! Time is flying by! The language is coming along even faster, and it is super exciting! My study skills have increased, which is awesome. Time flies when I am studying hard, weird right? The food here, well I am so done and over that.  I cannot wait for an american cheeseburger! I am not sick any more which is so great! I started working out with some of the guys in my zone here, as in lifting again.  My wrist is holding up okay, but I am lifting the same weight that I was doing in high school again, which is pretty cool, my wrist just gets sore though.  My zone leaders are constantly trying to get me to try new exercises, and when I do them, I show them up almost every time. Haha.  I also taught everyone here to play handball, but I added some extra rules to make it more like water polo, woot woot! I miss that sport, but I am throwing volleyballs a lot now because of that, which is all good. I come in third place now in our ping pong tournaments, I was last place when I got here, and there are 15 people that play.

I started to read the Book of Mormon out loud this week, and it really helps with the accent. I cannot for the life of me role my Rs though, and I am really frustrated about it. I have been trying to hard! I cant really bring to mind any specific spiritual experiences for this week, other then the fact that I study really effectively! My favorite scripture this week is the whole chapter of Alma 32. Its great, and even better in Spanish.

Lets see, We went to the temple this morning, and it was fantastic! It was so good, I understand so well now its crazy! My companions are super crazy, Elder Wharton climbed a tree to get a ball out of it, because I kicked it too hard.... But all is good.

My scriptures are super decked out now, and it is super great! I am excited all the time now! Happiness comes through obedience! I found out this week that I will not be allowed to call home on Tuesday, when I am at the airport, but just in case I happen to have the chance, be ready parental units of mine. Provo missionaries get call cards when they leave the mtc, but president Pratt said that we will be getting no such thing. I was not happy about that. I only have 5 more days in the mtc, and then it is the real deal! I am super excited! AHH! Thanks for everything you all do!

With love,

Elder Weston Scott

[Weston] Week 4!

Hey everyone!

Everything is going great this week! Every day is pretty much the exact same. Which kind of is boring right now, but I cannot wait to get into the field where I can change it up ya know? My spanish is coming along great, I am almost never confused when listening to spanish, and I can speak without much difficulty now.  Its so incredible! My companions are super cool, and both great guys. Thank you so much for the Halloween card guys! I appreciate it! That was the first time I got mail, but I also got cookies and another letter form my mother with it! Thanks! Elder W, one of my comps, gets mail literally every single day of his life. I want to take it all, or as a joke write a DEAR JOHN letter to him from his girlfriend. All is good though. If anyone can figure out how to send Krispy Kremes donuts (how ever you spell that) That would be very much appreciated. Nothing beats good old fashion USA food.

I am so over the food here it is not even funny. AHHH! Plus everyone has been getting sick in the CCM (MTC) and guess who got it. ME. Yay. Not fun, but the doctor here likes to make new companions for everyone that is super sick, he lets them go back to bed! I refused to because I needed to teach my investigator, but I should have because I am not getting any better. I guess when I have symptoms that can eventually turn into bronchitus, then I shouldnt do anything right? I ain't about that life ya know?

I got my new team Mexico jersey that is black with gold and red stipes, my district and I are now the cool kids on the block. Woot Woot! I am having a lot of fun here though and seriously learning a ton. I also never thought that only getting 8 hours of sleep a day and working for 16 would be this hard! Whew! I am always tired!

We had some latino elders that left this past week that were incredibly hilarious because they would make fun of all of our gringo Spanish accents, and then they would try English and it was worse then ours! One elder, Elder O was trying to say something and the only thing that made sense was "I am strong woman Black". We had no idea why he said that but just laughed at him. The natives are so funny! My teachers are still super great! I have learned so many cool demonstrations for teaching different aspects of the gospel! Our "investigators" are both incredilbe, and have both committed to baptism already, and have come to church with us! One thing that is super cool is that the Gift of tongues is real I tell you, but only when we focus on church things, I cant talk to well in spanish about sports or anything besides the church. It is kind of helpful to stay on topic though! My spanish scriptures are now super buff, with color and awesome scriptures marked in them. I also bought these super cool scripture cases for them and a pack of markers for them as well. On sunday I finished the Book of Mormon again! I read it in only 24 days with only 1 hour a day with time to read it! Boo yah! I found so many awesome scriptures this time around too! It was amazing!

Also, every Wednesday night, we have a chance to each real investigators or just volunteers, and it is so cool! This past week we taught a volunteer named A and I made her cry because I shared one of my favorite scriptures with her! Alma 38:5. It applies to everything! We have gotten our rhythm down for teaching, Pretty much I start the lessons, by just talking to them and asking questions, then I start into the doctrine, Elder W then helps a little with the doctrine, Elder M bears testimony and testifies of everything that we teach, and then I make the commitments with the investigator. I do almost all of it, but its all good because they are fine with it, I know the most spanish.

Lets see, I had a wrestling match with a pen on Tuesday like Enos with God. I also got even more boss at ping pong, we went treasure hunting because last Thursday  we found this map under a head stone. I'll attach a picture and it was funny. We ended up finding a history of a district, which was just a flat volleyball with signatures from everyone in the district. But get this, Tyler Wandry's signature was on it! HAHA He just left about a week and a half ago! It was so funny when we found it! I don' really know what else to add! I miss you all so much and cant wait to hear from you! Thanks for everything!

Your Favorite Missionary,

Elder Weston Scott

P.S. Sorry for the typos, Spanish keyboards over here, they are weird.

Fwd: [Mason] Week 4

Good afternoon everybody. I hope everything is so good wherever you are as you are reading this. I'm glad to here that everybody is doing great and I'm glad to hear that Tyler found a job thanks to Dad having friends. I hope he enjoys it and it works out in the end. Everything here is so great...except for the  fact that I want to leave here so bad. I literally do the same thing everyday here and I cant take it no more...I need to get out. I feel like a bear trapped in a cage and can't get out...but seriously. Only 2 more weeks or so and I'm free, sort of.  I want cold weather so bad right now...because it is so hot here. We have had so many good devotionals here lately and they have really made me think about a lot of things. Everything here is getting harder...the schedule, the investigators, the ability to eat the food.

Its all good though. anyway my investigators...R y D.  Elder M and I taught D a few nights ago.., and before we started we had the impression to scratch our lesson and really dig deep to get to know him. Our original commitment was to invite him to go to church with us on Sunday...but we scratched the lesson right? yes we did...however the entire discussion led straight to church and going to church...I know that it was what God wanted and we were being lead by the spirit. it was so freaking awesome...we were so happy because we got him to go to church and we got to know him better and his situation. We walked out of that lesson with smiles on our faces and we were jumping up with joy. R...Tuesday morning. We had no idea what to teach her and we had previously committed her to praying for her purpose in life...the thing she has been struggling with. She hardly ever follows up on commitments and so we slightly planned a lesson towards prayer, faith, and acting on a belief, no matter how small. However, this whole week and last week, we have been learning and working on asking inspired questions, or questions that the spirit guides to help let the investigator open up to us...so again we got the impression that we should scrap that lesson plan. We were scared about what to say in our lesson but when we sat down I felt it wouldbe okay. We started off as usual and then we started the ''lesson''.  She prayed...which was great because she doesn't ever do anything we ask.  We then proceeded to talk about her experience and the whole discussion turned into trusting people and God.   Her whole extended family is LDS, and she sees them all like once a week.  I proceeded to talk to her about something that I cant even recall but it lead up to asking her if she will go to church with her family this week. ....aaghhhh it was so great...and I know it was lead by the spirit the whole time.    

Anyway... my ankle still hurts slightly, and yes I'm stubborn...look at who I'm related too...Dad/Papa.  I have started working out...I'm gaining a lot of my muscle back...except my legs are getting weaker...there is nothing here except a bike..which I ride everyday.  I cant tell if I'm losing weight, but I'm not eating any bread or carbs or juice or any crap like that...fruit and meat and water is the life for me. I found that the probiotics actually make me go to the bathroom much more than not taking it...so I don't take them anymore. its all good though.

I feel like i have hit a  wall in learning Spanish..not because its hard...I've just learned all the lessons already...I'm slowly reading the book of Mormon, its  hard to get time to actually sit and read the BOM and study it, especially in Spanish. I  know I will figure it out...and my testimony is growing of everything and its so awesome to see pieces of the gospel come together like a puzzle.

This is about the extent of my week so I'll send some pictures as well and sorry there isn't much...but its the CCM(mtc)...I will have giant arms though when I come home...in 22 months...it will be sweet...

Love you all so much keep up the good work back home...and I just got the letter today form you and the cookies I got Monday.  Thank you so much...it made me so happy. Scripture of the week is 2 Nephi 2:25..

" 25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."

Ponder it and think about the enabling power of the atonement...We can overcome sin through Christ...which is why we can have joy. Adam fell in order for us to experience life and make mistakes, and the atonement gives man a chance to repent and receive forgiveness...the atonement is pure happiness and part of the pure love of Christ.  Remember how charity is the pure love of Christ...what is charity?  I think that charity is giving everything you can of yourself to help build up one another and to help build up the kingdom...be it a smile on somebody's bad day at work or taking an extra 5 minutes out of your day to help somebody out at the store or whatever.  The atonement of Christ is Christs Charity toward us and it is so important because it not only gives us the ultimate example of being charitable, but also the ability to return to our father in heaven.

Christ built us up that we may come closer to Him and Our Father in Heaven, and because he loves us so much that he performed this ultimate sacrifice.  I am and will always be eternally grateful for Christ and the atonement of Christ. And I know that it is Real and that through it we can return to our Father in Heaven once more and receive our happiness.

Love you all....Elder Scott (the cool one) BE GOOOOD (E.T.)

Fwd: [Weston] Week 3

Hey everybody!

I cannot believe that it is already [starting] week four! Its flying by now! I am having a blast, and learning so much!!! My companions are great attached is a picture of them and I in front of the Mexico City Temple! Today we did our first temple session in Spanish! It was so cool, hard, but I understood most of what was said.

Spanish is coming along so great, I can talk in Spanish all day if I choose to, we call them English fasts, and My teachers are great too! Hermano Rodriguez and Hermano Salazar only speak Spanish, but I understand everything that they say! I have had a million spiritual experiences this week and since I have been here. I have received many answers to prayers though my scripture reading, which I now am in 3rd Nephi Chapter 11. I read so fast now, even though I only have 1 hour a day for personal study! Once scripture is in Alma 38:5. Its a good one.

The teaching is great! I have two investigators both of which we have committed to coming to church with us this Sunday, also we are about to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is my favorite lesson! My Spanish is a lot more advanced than that of my companions, so I end up getting carried away during lessons because they can't speak very much! I am starting to get frustrated when I write in English because I switch some words around on accident, my journal has a lot of bad grammar and Spanglish, but I cant help it! I truly understand what it means to teach with the spirit and it is so incredible!

Dad - that bag will be perfect for me! thanks for sending all that stuff to me at my mission home! My wrist hurts constantly, and I have fell on it a few more times, what can I say, I am my fathers son. Oh well though, everything is okay.

Tyler HAPPY BIRTHDAY sorry people bailed on you! ;) The doctor is not scary, Mason is just a pansy. I have also become a master at Ping Pong since I have been here, which is super important..... ;)I am getting more excited by the day to enter the field.

The weather is strange, it was cold for a while and rained for a long time every day, but now it is just HOT and sunny. No me gusta. It is hard to think of all the things that I want to share with you! Today at the temple, right after I ran over to the Zarahemla store, which is sooooo cool, and bought these sweet scripture cases and also a fat Mexican tie. Now I am at 23 ties! oh yeah! The food here is pretty good, especially the nutella and peanut butter sandwiches when the food is not good. My district makes fun of me because I have to go to the bathroom alot but I am not the worst anymore! Our old district leader has to go more often then me! HAHA! Finally right!? They also make fun of me because I drink about half a gallon of milk every single night. What can I say, its good stuff. I am super good at futsul now and can even juggle the ball a total of 5 times now. New record! haha.

I wish I could just talk in person, emails are hard, especially on this super strange Spanish keyboard. Oh before I forget, that laundry bag you ot me Mom, yeah I am going to need a new one. I picked up the first week for the first time, and I tore the length of the bag. Cool right? I didn't even mean to do it! I have never enjoyed reading the scriptures as much as I do now, which is awesome! My district and I just bought these new authentic Mexico jerseys with our names and a number on the back! They are black with gold and red stripes! Woot Woot!

I am officially the only one in my zone that has not received mail. Elder Wharton one of my companion gets mail almost everyday, so I have forced him to let me open the big boxes. Not cool. please send letters!!! UGH. My testimony is growing everyday, and the hermanas in my district have said that every time I bear my testimony that they almost cry. I guess that is a good thing right? I also have dads gene if you know what I mean. hint hint.

Tell Kalani that I could swim like I can because I am a man.

Spencer, congrats on your reassignment to Roseville, CA thats exciting! Sorry about the Visa problem, everything will work out in the end, besides,  now California will have have the two BEST missionaries right?

Victoria! I hope everything is going great at school! Write me please!

Chuck- everything is amazing, and I bet that it was super weird coming home and it being a ghost town! I only have one hour allotted each week for emailing, so sorry for not splitting up the emails! I am incredibly grateful for all of you and hope to here from you! Please send letters please. I love you all!

With love,

Your Favorite Missionary

Elder Weston Scott

P:S: Please send letters. Thanks.

[I think he wants letters, what do you think?]

[Mason] More pics

Oh and I lost a bet and had to get my head shaved...mistake ha.

[Mason] Re: Week 3

What is up my freaky family dudes! Man this place freakin rocks...tell everyone that if they get the chance to come here they should...cuz it rocks. mi español is muy bueno, yo puedo hablar solamente en español con nativos y puedo enseñar todos las lecciones ie español tambien. quiero ir a Boston, entonces tengo tres más semanas...matame. me gusta hablando soloamente en español porque puedo obtener mucha experiencia cuando uso la idioma que usaré en un mes. [ My Spanish is very good, I can speak only in Spanish with natives and can teach all the lessons in Spanish too.  I want to go to Boston, but I have 3 more weeks.  Kill Me!.  I like speaking solely in Spanish because I can get a lot of experience when I use the language that I will be using in one month. ] 

Anyway I should probably speak English because I know that most of you don't know what I am saying. My investigators are great, they both seem to be engaged in what we are teaching them which is so fantastic...but its tough to move on in the lesson each time because they don't follow through on commitments.

My most spiritual experience this week was when I was teaching R, my morning investigator. We talked acerca de oración [about prayer] because she didn't feel worthy to talk to God...I don't know what the heck is said but she was crying and so was my companion. I generally teach most of the lesson because I know a little more Spanish, and lets face it, I really love talking...who knew? Anyway, we had to pause in the middle of the lesson because people in another room were being irreverent, in a place where it is almost required, and R, our morning teacher, went out and like completely like almost yelled at them..it was awkward. but we continued the lesson and she said the closing prayer. I pretty much told her that God will look past what she has done because He wants her to talk to Him, I then asked her straight up if she would offer the closing prayer...it was so awesome...I wanted to shout for joy. D, my other investigator is bueno tambien [also good]. We have been trying to teach him the importance and role of el libro de Mormon and why its important in our lives. He is a non-active Católico [Catholic], which makes it slightly easier when i can use Ezekiel 37...palo [stick] of Judah \ Ephraim, which is such a great scripture to use...I love teaching the gospel...and I'm not scared.

I went to the temple today, and it was solamente [only] in español, which was so hard, but I understood almost every word...it was so great. I got some sweet new scripture cases for my Spanish copies, because I didn't find one here. I am not losing weight anymore, but I'm like losing size...My shirts are so huge on me. Es bien [It's good] though. My ankle is still hurting but the doctor is scary here, so i will not be going. i can still lift, play b-ball on it, and even play football, or cage soccer. yesterday i was playing against an elder from Norway...he is like 2 feet taller then me. anyway, I stole the ball from him, as i do every time (and he is so good at soccer) and I just kicked it with my left foot. I was just trying to clear the ball form my side (I was on defense) and I kicked it straight into the goal. The goals are only 6 feet wide. It was so cool and now I'm the cool Elder on the block..hehe.

I've decided that I'm going to try to lose 15 pounds by the time I leave, 20 days!!!!, which is going to rock.

That shoulder bag in the picture rocks...please get me that one.

Mail typically takes 11 to 12 days to get here so please send some before its too late. make sure it has my mission on it though, in case it comes late..

Dad, Escuchame ahorita [Listen to me right now] ...this is for Priest Quorum....you must incorporate that in every lesson.  this aint no option. the priests even, the teacher and deacons, must start using that and knowing it. do role plays once a week or so. teach them the lessons and then have 2 priests role play each week for 10 min. if i can teach the restoration, plan of salvation, or doctrines of Christ in 5 min and less for each in Spanish, they sure can do it in English.  This is so important. btw please tell Brother Coleman again how much I love him for everything.

I'm glad Bro Wandry said that about the atonement. it truly is more that the ability to overcome the natural man of being a sinner. The atonement of Christ is a power that we can all have and it truly enables us to make our lives so much better. through it, We receive blessings from God, and we also receive the power and strength of God and Christ to help us not make that bad choice again.

i bear testimony to you that i am here on a mission to help people understand and use the power of the atonement.

Dad, I encourage you to pick up your old Spanish scriptures and work on getting the language back..I know you can and it would be so great if we could talk in Spanish on the phone in two months, and when i get back. i don't use my English any more, except when we are doing an English activity. Its so hard but it is a test of faith, and i believe it was President Monson who said "the best way to learn a language it through reading and studying the book of Mormon in that language." aint nobody got time for English no more.

I hope all continues to go well, thanks for the Pic of my primary class, they are so awesome. i am proud of them. keep up the good work with hockey dad..if it hurts it is good for you.

Scripture of the week...Moroni 10:32...i encourage you all to take this to heart. go to lds.org and watch the come unto him...attributes of Christ video. its under youth messages or something. you will know which one it is when you watch it.

I love you all so much

ELDER [Mason] SCOTT...the cool one!