Happy! Happy! Happy! Week of 10/28/13

So. I have way too many things to say. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and a ridiculous amount of joy. I am just so happy. 

First of all. I AM STAYING HERE. Changes are this Wednesday, and our Zone Leader called us last night, to inform my Hna. Rodas and I that we are staying here in Las Tablas! I thought we would, but I was terrified that I wasn´t going to be able to. I feel like we have so much more work to do here. 

Second of all. My first baptism was Saturday!!! She is a wonderful, super spiritual nine year old whose dad was inactive until a few weeks ago. They came to church last week, and at the end of the meetings, she and dad came up to us, and she said she wanted to be baptized. So, we taught her a lesson right then and there. Her dad is an incredible human being. He was basically an unofficial missionary here in Las Tablas. Back before there was a branch here, he talked with friends, preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, and even baptized many of them. But they were all traveling really far to get to church in Chitre. So. this hermano wrote a letter to the mission president at the time, asking about opening a branch here in Las Tablas, where there has been one for about ten years. In the past week, he has helped us so much, and we have been really productive in working with him. He has a beautiful testimony. When he shared it with us at his daughter´s baptism, there was not a single dry eye. One of the things he said was that he was grateful for the opportunity to return to the church. He was grateful for the process of repentance and forgiveness from our Savior and Heavenly Father. I too am gaining a testimony of that very principle and so many others. Heavenly Father and our Savior truly do love us, and only want the best for us. I am so happy to be learning more about their role in our lives every day. 

Also. We have started Visiting Teaching and Home Teaching in the branch! We talked with our branch missionary leader last week, pouring over the names of the members, organizing who could work with who (because very few people have cars) and who they needed to go visit. When it was announced in church yesterday, everyone was excited, and jumped up to get the paper with the list of names. Its so important to visit with people, our church family, and our friends and family in general...I think this is going to make a huge difference here. We are so close to an attendance of 50! Soo close. 

The unity here is beautiful. For example, when we called our branch president Friday to confirm the baptism for Saturday, we were worried about how many people who would be there to support our awesome nine year old friend. There was an activity for the members in Chitre that afternoon, and the baptism was scheduled to start two hours after the end of the activity. However, by car, by bus, by bike, by foot...these members came. Most of our branch was there, smiling and happy...I nearly cried when I saw everyone come in. These people truly do have such a strong testimony of the role of Jesus Christ in their lives. The baptism was beautiful. I gave my first talk completely in Spanish! I am finally starting to feel more comfortable with the language. Often, I think of a word in Spanish before I think of it in English. Its such a cool process. Frustrating sometimes, but cool. 

Also, about unity. We have a young couple here who have a beautiful little girl who is sick. Her mom came up to us at the end of one of the classes yesterday, explained a little bit of what was happening, and then simply asked us to keep her in our prayers. Instantly, someone said, ¨Why don´t we fast as a branch?¨ Another, "Why not tomorrow?¨ And within a minute, it was decided as a ward we would have a special fast for this precious daughter of God. Some people decided to start right in that moment. Every moment I spend with these people is a treasure. I love what I am learning. 

I am so happy to be learning more about our Savior, Jesus Christ, each and every day. I know that the power of repentance and forgiveness is real. I know that He and our Heavenly Father truly love us. I know that He listens to each and every prayer, and that He will help us if only we ask. I know that all things are possible through our Savior, Jesus Christ. I may have hard days, but He is always walking beside me, helping my companion and I find those who need to hear comforting words about their Savior and Heavenly Father. I am so incredibly blessed. 

 

I have so many more things to say...but the most important thing to say is that I know that our Savior lives. I know that through acting in faith, we will recieve blessings, blessings that our Heavenly Father is more than willing to give us. I know that He knows each and every one of us. I am so blessed. I am so grateful for my family, and for the example that they have been for me. I am learning so much about how to conduct the rest of my life...life is such a beautiful process. 

See you next week!

Con amor,  Hma. Scott

Picture with their Zone Leader & his companion.

 Their second baptism. 

Dancing, Singing, Music and Blessings.... Week of 10-21-13

I am sitting here, having the desire to just get up and dance, because I am simply just that excited to be here. I have already been here in Las Tablas for a month. Changes are next week (I REFUSE to leave!) and I can´t believe it has gone by that fast. Hna. Rodas and I were on the bus the other night, and I looked to her and said, ¨What am I going to do when I go home?¨ Life before my mission seems so fuzzy right now...and life after...well I don´t want to think about it. I have awhile before I have to worry about it, jaja. Life here is so many things. Its full of laughter, wringing out soaked skirts due to the rain, falling asleep during morning prayers, getting locked out of our house, getting stuck on a bus, eating a RIDICULOUS amount of rice...but then its full of other moments. Singing with an investigor, seeing them cry and thank us for the words of ¨Yo Se Que Vive Mi Señor¨, teaching a piano class and seeing our students´eyes light up with the play something right, having someone tell us that that we are teaching them things they have been searching for, hearing the testimonies of the members here. So many precious moments...its a beautiful experience. Not all moments are the best, but the good definitely outweighs the bad. I wouldn´t trade it for anything. Sometimes its hard, when I start to think about events I am missing, people I love that I haven´t seen for awhile...but I know that its okay. I was sent here to Panama specifically to share the plan of happiness and the gospel of Jesus Christ with people who may have never heard of it otherwise. I have the opportunity to see my family and friends in such a short while...I feel like I have so much work to do before then. Work that I am more than excited to go and do. 

So. Cool experience! Our Distrito (group of missionaries in areas around Chitre...there are 12 of us, I think) made a goal to look for escogidos (chosen) every week with the specific goal to invite them to baptized the following weekend. Its really great, because it gives us such a motivation to work and seek for those who are prepared. The meeting in which we discussed this idea was Tuesday. On the bus back to Las Tablas, Hna. Holland (yeah, they are two of us ¨General Authority¨ Hermanas here, haha) handed me a reference, and I stuck in my agenda. Later after lunch, Hna. Rodas and I were looking for exactly where we wanted to go. We had appoinments a little later in the afternoon, and had some time to make visits, or simply contact. We were walking down the road, and I remembered the reference from Hna. Holland. We made the phone call, and it ended up being this 21 year enthusiastic girl from the bus! She told us she wanted to learn more, and gave us her address...which happened to be in the same road we were already on. Of course. We found her, and she said she had actually seen us before. We had sat on the same bus before, only she had had headphones on...so we didn´t get around to talk to her. We had talked to a guy on the other side of us, telling him who we were, a little about the church, and that was it. Just a simple contact that didn´t go any further than just that. Or so we thought. She remembered what we had talked to man about, because she was listening, and was interested. We taught her three lessons last week, and she seems to be retaining everything, and likes what we have to share with her. Sometimes guys, life is just so wonderfully fantastic. (I am losing expressive words in English...lo siento, jaja) 

Another thing! Yesterday in church, my back started to spasm really bad, and I started crying without being able to control it. The branch president´s wife asked if I wanted a blessing, and I couldn´t even really answer. Less than 10 seconds later, President was at my side, gesturing me to follow. He and a member in the presidency gave me a blessing, and my back pains subsided. For the rest of the day, in every prayer that I was given, I heard the words of asking for the health of ¨Hermanita Scott¨. All day, members were coming up to me and asking me how I was doing. They are so loving, and truly care about us. Many of them have started to say tiny phrases in English, como, ¨Good Morning!¨ or ¨See you Thursday!¨ Its so awesome. I love them all so much. Hna. Rodas and I started the first Las Tablas choir ever last week, and both times, we have had about 20 people stay and work hard the entire practice. They are such a wonderful, supportive group of people...Hna. Rodas and I bore our testimonies at the end of the practice yesterday, and there wasn´t a dry eye in the room. Their belief is so strong, and they strengthen me each and every day. They are such examples for me...I couldn´t ask for a better first area. It doesn´t matter that our church is a house. It doesn´t matter that our attendance was 35 yesterday. The Spirit of the Lord dwells wherever His people gather. I truly believe that. I have a testimony of this gospel. I feel the love that the Lord has for His children. I love everyone here. I have such a desire to tell everyone that He knows everyone, that He loves everyone, and that He and our Heavenly Father are always there, always listening. 

I love you all. I hope this week has been going well. Keep it up! I will write again in another week! 

Con amor,

Hna. Scott 

My Life This Week! ~ 10/14/13 ~

Each day I settle more into the life of a missionary...every day has something new to learn, but I am getting a better grasp on just realizing that, and continuing on.

Something cool this week...we were eating lunch at a member´s home. At the end of every meal with members, we share a brief message with them. I was put in charge of that, jaja. For some reason, I was having a hard time getting started. I read the scripture I had chosen (1 Nefi 17:12, I think) and then my companion looked at me, waiting for me to share how I felt. I was silent. Hna. Dianna, looked at me and said, Hna. Scott, how do you feel about this scripture? I looked at her, and slowly began to share my testimony. I talked for awhile. When I finished, she smiled and said, ¨I love when you guys speak (people from the US) because when you talk, you are talking through the Spirit. Those words come from your heart. I know you don´t know much Español...but I understood and felt every word.¨ That was so encouraging for me, because it is hard a lot of the time. I have so much I want to share...but I have to be patient with myself. I can´t learn every word in Español in one day...it takes effort, diligence, and a desire to work hard. When I step back, I know that I have learned a lot already.

One day last week, Hna. Escobar y yo had to go to Panama for paper work reasons. I wasn´t in trouble, jaja...its a routine thing in the mission. The bus ride from Las Tablas to Panama is about 4 hours. Hna. Escobar doesn´t speak or understand English. But...somehow...we talked most of the way. We are better friends now after that day. Its amazing how much I really can communicate with others if only I open my mouth. Life is fast here, but its beautiful. I am learning so much.

Sorry that the letter again this week is on the short side. Just now that I am loving the work...and I am growing closer to our Heavenly Father every single minute. I have such a testimony of prayer. I know that it works. 

Ask and ye shall find. Knock, and the door will be opened unto you.  

Con amor, Hermana Scott

Our Investigator, Lasko jaja!  He is very patient with me and my Espanol.  He always listens, and cools me off when I am a little heated.  ;)

Making dinner at a member's home!  They bought papas (potatoes) specifically because I said I love them!  The Frias' are great!

On one of those days we got lost (Hint...that was almost every day this week, jaja!) So we took an opportunity to take a picture.  I feel like a superhero with my pose in this picture, jaja.  Your poses for the camera change so much as a missionary!

Holey Umbrella and General Conference in English From Panama - Week of: 10-7-13 -

This week´s post is going to be kind of short...I apologize in advance. So. General Conference. I have never been so inspired and eager to hear more before. The Sunday morning session was absolutely beautiful. I am so grateful for the incredible blessing we have of a latter day prophet, apostles, and general authority who seek counsel of the Lord to share with us precious words of wisdom and comfort. I got to watch it in English, which was a blessing in and of itself. I also become ridiculously excited when there was footage of my home away from home, el Mexico CCM! Wasn´t it beautiful? I encourage you to watch parts of General Conference when it shows up on lds.org...one of more talks will undoubtedly apply to you, whether you are a member of the church or not. The general authorities recieve counsel that applies to every single living person, not just those who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Just the same as Heavenly Father truly loves all of His children, not just those who are going to church on Sunday. As each day comes to a close, I am filled with more and more love for God´s children, por mi hermanos. I am becoming more humbled through each new situation, become less and less embarrassed as the role of a missionary truly settles in, and feel the love of my Savior more and more as I turn to Him, the Holy Ghost, and our Heavenly Father for guidance. I am filled with hope, charity, and love as I go through my day. Not every moment is perfect...I used an umbrella with holes in it last week. But each piece of every day calculates into what is truly a life changing experience. I am learning so much about myself, how much I am capable of, how much power I have through the Savior. I am learning more about people, families, the simple pleasures in life, and the joys of meeting new people and sharing the message of Jesus Christ. I am so blessed. There are so many things I want to say to back up these things that I am saying...but I truly am blessed. I know that the message we share every day is true. I know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us. I am so happy to have this knowledge to share with others. As of last night, my companion and I have 19 people who have a desire to be baptized...and I know its not because of us. Its because of the Spirit manifesting the truth of our Savior´s love, and our Heavenly Father´s love and watchful eye.

Guys, 18 months just isn´t long enough.

 

Con amor, Hna. Scott

 Hermana Rodas and Hermana Scott

 Cute!  Not sure who he is, but I love the                                             accordian!

Hermana Scott watching General Conference in English!  ;)