Guys.. I am moving to Panama in just a few days. We don`t get our flight information until Saturday...but I think I am leaving Tuesday. We shall see! Its been six weeks...where in the world did the time go? Its a beautiful yet terrifying fact that time goes by so quickly. The wonderful best friends that I have made here...I have to say goodbye. People have said leaving areas in your mission is harder than leaving home...and I am starting to believe that. I am going to ball when I have to say goodbye. But most of you guys already know that I cry about everything...my family here understands that now too. Its completely warranted though! I have been spending nearly every waking moment with the same 11 people for six weeks...they truly are my family. We have all been here together, supporting one another through the very beginning of our missionary adventures...we have all been through some amazing times together, laughed a lot, had some tense moments, exchanged some very "missionary-esque" smack-talk during our nearly daily volleyball games...and now we have to go our many separate ways throughout the world. Literally, throughout the world. How fantastically intense is it that our Heavenly Father trusts us, 18 to 20-something year olds to go throughout the world and share His love? Every day, I am still taken aback by what I am actually doing. I am not completely clear of that path that got me hear...but I am glad that this is where I am right now. My posts may begin to seem redundant, I say many of the same things, but they just prove to become more and more true each and every day!
By the way...two amazing things (among mucho mas) paso este past semana...
Numero Uno: I found my bag! I think Saturday was the day. I had such a hard time being patient and having faith that I would find it. But, pretty much within hours of me finally letting go, and having faith in Heavenly Father and my Savior...I discovered someone had put it in a safe place in the back of el Comodor. Heavenly Father wanted to help me learn a lesson of having faith and being patient in recieving answers to prayers. I am going to say it again, I am grateful for trials. I am able to learn more and more every time that a new stumbling block in placed in my path. I may be really frustrated in the moment...but in retrospect, I truly do know that things happen to help us grow. This is really one of the firsts times in my life however when I truly did feel at peace before my prayers were answered.
So. Remember how I said there better be an incredible blessing for someone due to my trial?
Numero Dos: We met Marco otra vez. Yep. Our incredible friend that we met two weeks ago? He came back!! Hna. Johnson and I were super later for breakfast Tuesday morning, and we ended up sitting at a completely different table than usual, facing a different way. We were just eating cereal, and then I saw a familiar face at the window...it was Marco. I jumped up, and we ran out the door to talk to him, leaving our bags, food, and everything behind. (Some lesson that I learned right? Jaja) He was so happy to see us...and said that no missionaries had contacted him yet, which made me really sad. He said that he read what we asked him to. We asked him if he has been feeling any difference in his life since talking with us...and he said he noticed a huge change. When we told him that we were about to move to Panama, he began to cry, and said that he wanted us to teach him more. He then said that he would be back in the afternoon, and would love to talk with us again. We said a prayer with him, and said our goodbyes. Neither one of us could believe it! When we got back to the classroom, everyone was on fire with questions, because they saw us run out the door, and gathered what happened. They were all telling us to run and tell the President, jaja. Elder Stone sat in the windowsill starting at like 2, looking for Marco`s bus.
An Hermana maestro, Hna. Bear, ended up going with us to help translate some of what he said. When we were looking for our teachers, we found her. She was so excited, and instantly offered our help. When we asked her what the best thing to teach him would be, she said, "I am simply going to be there with you guys to lend support..but as far as the lesson goes, you two are set apart to recieve revelation for investigators...I am no longer a full-time missionary." That hit me so hard... We said a quick prayer, and went out to talk with him. He was amazing. We went to go get chairs for us to just sit in the beautiful Mexico City weather, and he wouldnt let us get them...he carried them for us. I wish I had time to talk about everything that happened...but the important thing is, we spoke with him for an hour and 15 minutes...and I could tell you that I KNOW it was only maybe 30. The Spirit was so strong...there were moments when none of us could speak because we were so overwhelmed. He is going to go to church with the wonderful Hna. Bear on Sunday...I can`t wait to find out what he thought about it. Apparently, he said this within the conversation, after I told him that other missionaries will have the same beautiful message that we have...he said that he knew that we all taught the same things, but he felt such a connection with us, he felt he could tell us anything, that he didn`t want us to leave. He jokingly asked if we could just serve in Mexico, jaja. I would love to stay and teach him too...but I know there are specfic people I am supposed to meet in Panama.
At the end of our lesson, he prayed in front of other people for the first time. It was probably the most beautiful prayer I have ever heard.
He may stop by again on Sunday...I would love to see him one more time! Apparently, the first time that he came aqui, he switched with another bus driver...he wasnt actually supposed to drive here. He said he felt that God knew he needed to meet us. Its just...such an amazing thing to be a blessing in someone`s life...that we were the ones to introduce him the knowledge that he has a purpose in his life.
Another thing...that teacher was supposed to be going on a date right around the time we came in and found her...but it was cancelled. She ended up being able to come, strengthen the lesson, establish church, and invite him to go to church with her. Heavenly Father just prompted small things to happen to bring forth great things.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to have my eyes open, to see Heavenly Father`s hand so prevalent in my life. I am nervous to leave here...but I know that I am ready. I know that if I rely on the Spirit, and maintain and strengten my relationship with my Heavenly Father, I can truly do anything.
I love you all. Next time I talk to you, I will be in Panama!!
God Bless. Hna. Jessica Scott
Jessica's friends in her district.
Beautiful daughters of God.
I love this picture! Jessica's District.
Jessica at the Mexico City Temple
Jessica's District in front of the temple.
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