Hermana Scott's Last Week in Las Tablas and Her First Week in Colon, Panama!

(This was her letter from last week)

Hey family!

Well...guess what?! I have changes this week! I am leaving my mission birthplace. I don´t know where I am going or who my next companion is, but I am anxious! I am really sad to leave Las Tablas...it’s such a beautiful part of the world, and thinking about leaving it rips my heart...I hope I can come back someday. I have learned so much here. I am so grateful for each experience that I have had here. I have learned about a different way of life. I have gained experience with people around me who truly are happy, and most people here live with very little. I have come to prefer a hammock over a bed. To 98 percent of the time, not wanting air conditioning. To learning to just relax. These people are beautiful, but I think that I am simply learning to see the beauty in others...I am learning to truly see the good in every person I meet...and through this, my capacity to love is growing by the day!

How is the scripture challenge going by the way? ;) Reading The Book of Mormon at this pace is actually really exciting...I am loving learning more and more about the lives of those within the pages...in reality, it’s a book of adventure, peace, love, revelation, obedience, and a number of other things-basically, there is something for everyone!

Also, can you believe it? In a few weeks, I will have hit six months. One third of my mission. It just doesn´t make sense. I wish I could lose track, but our six week agendas unfortunately keep me pretty up to date. By this time next year, I will be almost done. YIKES. Anyway, enough about that. For now, I am enjoying a spiritual journey in a Panamanian summer. It’s definitely hilarious at times too. For example, I have a nickname among us here in Las Tablas. You know that Scott toilet paper exists right? Well, my nickname here is Hermana Papel-del-baño...Hermana Paper-of-the-bathroom. It’s got a ring to it, huh?

Well, I should get going...I sadly have some goodbyes to deliver! Next time you hear from me, I will be in a different part of Panama. I am nervous, but ready for the challenge!

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.

Alma 26:12

Love you all!!

Hna. Scott

A running joke about a house with four Hermana's always running out of toilet paper!

  She looks sooo happy in this picture!  One of my favorites!

Part of her branch family.

 Having a little fun on P-day!

(This week.  Some Spanglish going on here! I also have to clean up her English which is hilarious!  She's never had a problem with it!)

Hey guys! Super quick email today!

I am in Colon! I am about an hour from the city! It’s really different here, but I am LOVING IT! First of all, we are in a stake, and our WARD meets in the stake center which is super close for us! I am in Puerto Pilon, and my companion´s name is Hna. Gonzales. She has 13 months in the mission, so she is almost done, how crazy is that? I am almost a third done, and that scares me! Elder Frias, who is my dad in the mission, is my zone leader again! This is his last change...and Hna. HOLLAND is in my zone again, I am thrilled. It’s such a weird thing, leaving your first area. I feel like I have grown up a lot in the past week. I have realized that I am comfortable with Spanish. WHAT?! Yeah, I can comfortably communicate. I don´t know everything of course, but I can get around a conversation pretty well.

Oh, I guess mom was talking about a picture of me or something on the mission president´s wife´s blog. I was called (on the phone, not called as in a calling, jaja) to choose and direct the music at the meeting of changes last week. Crazy nerve wracking, but it was super fun.

Also, quick thing. I was studying about the...uh...estandarte de libertad in Alma? I can´t remember how to say that in English...but I heard someone talking about it in Sacrament Meeting yesterday, and we ended up putting together a cool noche de hogar with it. It’s in Alma 46. Look it up and read about it! We talked about making your own estandarte para su familia. Pretty great right?

Oh, another noticia. I get to go to the temple on the 11th, and possibly this Saturday!!! Its been 4 and a half months. I cannot wait. There is something to be said about going to the temple. Whether you are within the walls, or walking on the grounds, there is such a sense of peace. You can feel the Spirit of the Lord so strongly, you can feel His presence, and the eternal perspective is much clearer when you can literally see in the shape of a beautiful house of God goals for having eternal life. Take every opportunity you can to go, and if you aren´t a member, ask about it! Visit the grounds, take a breather in a sanctuary of pure peace and clarity. Some of my best life changing moments have just been walking around the grounds of the temple with my journal in hand.

I am sure I will have more specific things to shout at ya in the following week...but until then. Stay warm!! ;)

Hna. Scott

During changes, with Elder Wright and Hna. Maldonado! These guys used to be with me in Chitre. Gotta love ém.

This is my cousin, Elder Scott. (Not really...although they could be because they actually look alike haha!)  His sister´s name is my first name, and we have the name middle initial. Guess what state he is from? NOT Arkansas. Jehjehjeh. 

                                                                        

Pday! This is what I am currrently wearing. I´m stylin´...not sure what´s going on with the hair. Panama. Tsk. My companion is sitting behind me. Oh yeah, she is from Guatemala too. I think I am headed to that beautiful country at some point in my life. Hna. Holland is sitting next to me!!!