Actual First Letter Sent from Marysville. Handwritten and Sent in the Mail

Dear family,

I’m here in Everett! I cannot believe that I’m already here! My President and his wife are so awesome! They really love us here J. I’ve been awake since 3:30 am so I’m a bit loopy right now. It feels like it should be 8 o’clock, but it’s only 3…today we basically got here and ate and then we’ve been doing orientation stuff. And we’ve been meeting with President Bonham too. I’m just ready to be here! It’s just incredible weather here! And it’s beautiful.  It’s my paradise. 

President doesn’t know which trainer is mine yet or what area, so we’ll see. I’ll write you tomorrow maybe and let you know quickly. I can’t spell right how. Haha. We are the first group of missionaries to come while President Bonham has been here (since July 1^st). Sister Bonham is so cute! I love her already and since we’re the only 3 sisters in this group, she is just talking to us and paying attention to us a lot. 

We just went outside in the parking lot of the mission office and even the parking lot is beautiful! Geez J. And the whiteboard looks like a chalkboard…Washington is AWESOME!  I’m just sitting in a meeting right now and writing thoughts as I go J.  Oh I do know that I’ll be with my trainer for 12 weeks, so 2 transfers. 

My arm is tired from carrying my suitcases around the Seattle airport. We created quite the scene there with a huge group of us in nice clothes. 2 Elders even placed a Book of Mormon! The next transfer there is 25 sisters coming! Woohoo! There are like 140 Elders here and it’s growing! We also have 70 cars in our mission, which is a ton obviously.  

We watched a talk by Elder Bednar called “Character of Christ”. It was a Christmas Day devotional at the MTC, if you can watch it! It changed what kind of missionary and person I want to be. It is really amazing. Right now I definitely just want to meet my companion. And go to my beautiful area. So I want to hear about things going on in the world, because I have no idea. Maybe once I get out of the this really long meeting. Anyway, I just realized that waking up at 3:30 in Utah is like waking up at 2:30 here…did I mention I’m tired? Hahaha.  Alright, I think I’m going to find out who my companion is pretty soon. 

Trainer: Sister Lundell

Area: Quilceda Creek,Marysville

Love ,

Heidi

First Photos from Marysville

Sister Lundell protecting us with her mad squirt gun skills

Sharing the gospel as missionaries do

Me and Sister Lundell with our sweet new car.  It's awesome. We named him Nino. (no accent)

I live here. What? The reservation is right on the coast.

We found this sweet keyboard in our closet.  It plays My Heart Will Go On...hahaha

Mom, I loved this house, I thought you would like it too :)

Marysville

July 22, 2013

 HI FAMILY! 

 I assume you have not received my letter I sent last Wednesday....maybe? I dunno. Anyway, I am in MARYSVILLE. What a city. And my companion is Sister Lundell. My area is including an Indian Reservation called Tulalip (Too Lay Lip). In my ward, named Quil Ceda Creek, we have two sets of missionaries! Us and some Elders. So we split up the area and me and Sis Lundell are on the Res... ohhh yeah :) The Elders get the city. 

 We are white washing this area! Which means two new missionaries come in and take over. This week has been A LOT of organizing and getting our heads on straight. 

 So the Res.... haha it's a bit....sketchy sometimes. Don't worry Mom, we're fine. But there is definitely a lot of drugs and drinking. There is a lot of work to be done! We both felt like the Res is where we should work and we are certainly trying! 

 My ward is the Celestial ward... but for real. The Ward Mission Leader is like 26 or something and he is on the ball with this work. And our Bishop is amazing! He is so helpful and we get a text from him like everyday tell us people to go visit. It really just makes our job so easy :) And our WML gets us a lot of dinners... sometimes too many :) We have been SUPER busy! I haven't even gone tracking yet! We have just gone from person to person and there is still so many people to see! It's been crazy fun and tiring... I thought I was tired in the MTC...yeah right. 

 So I'm sure you're all dying to hear if I like my companion. Well guess what.... we are basically soul mates haha :) Seriously, I looooove her! We are so very similar and we just love each other. We have the same sense of humor, we have the same style, but it's great because even though we're similar, we are different too.. like we both like singing (she has a beautiful voice) but she's a Soprano and I'm an Alto. And she likes the green squirt gun, I like the blue one (thanks Morgan and Kaytlin for the guns, they've helped us out) And she likes Jelly and I like Peanut butter....well we both like both of those things...but it just sounded good. hahaha. I REALLY lucked out with her being my trainer. She pushes me but then she also lets me takes naps. :) We have been having so much fun and it's just so awesome. I am really wondering why Heavenly Father has blessed me so much on this mission, it just kind of blows my mind how much I have been blessed.  

So some adventures this week that I would like to share: 

1. We got chased by a dog... Welcome to the Res. 

2. As we pulled up to a man's house, he darted inside and ignored us...thanks man. 

3. We went to Teriyaki! They are EVERYWHERE here...it's a little weird... 

4. We protected ourselves with squirt guns when there was some cops and stuff around...sketch. 

5. So many people think we are nuns... no thank you. 

6. A Jehovah Witness asked us if we were Witnesses and then ran away when she found out we were LDS. 

7. We approached some people sitting on a truck that had written on it "PORNOS 4 PYROS" and asked them for some people and they told us to go to the back where they were drinking and getting high... welcome to the Res... 

 MIRACLE OF THE WEEK: Everyone has cats here... and there is cat hair EVERYWHERE and so I was worried with my allergies and all, and we were teaching a family and during a prayer a little boy PUT A CAT ON MY LAP. uhhhh thanks? Anyway the miracle is that I haven't had any allergies and that is just quite amazing. 

 Okay. I love you sooo much! :) 

 Miss you!! 

Heidi

I'm Leavin' on a Jet Plane

with Sister Jones and Sister Boaz at the airport

On the plane (I had a window seat)

Sister Scott has arrived.

This is just a short email to let you know that your daughter arrived in the Washington Everett Mission yesterday. It was a busy and rather long day but all of the new missionaries are now with their trainers and out working in their areas. You should hear from her on Monday. Thanks for sharing her with the Lord and us. President and Sister Bonham Washington Everett Mission The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsThis is just a short email to let you know that your daughter arrived in the Washington Everett Mission yesterday. It was a busy and rather long day but all of the new missionaries are now with their trainers and out working in their areas. You should hear from her on Monday. Thanks for sharing her with the Lord and us. 

 President and Sister Bonham 

Washington Everett Mission 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

First Handwritten Letter on the First Day at the MTC

July 3, 2013

I'm at the MTC!! So, I love it here! It has such a cool spirit. Usually the Spirit makes me emotional, but here it makes me feel strong. It's incredible and I wish you could all feel it! So, I'm sure you're dying to here about my companion. Her name is Sister Boaz! So Victoria, you were right! She has Spanish back ground. Her dad is Puerto Rican, but she doesn't speak Spanish and it's her first day! She's going to

 Everett, too! She's from San Diego and she played on a soccer team at San Diego State. When  she decided to serve a mission, the coaches didn't understand why she was leaving so they aren't letting her come back! What a sacrifice! But BYU picked her right up and so she'll be going there after her mission. 

SURPRISE I have 2 comps. My other comp is named Sister Jones! She's from Gilbert! She went to  BYUI and she was almost engaged and felt she needed to go on a mission. Another huge sacrifice. Sister Jones is 20 and Sis Boaz is 21. And Sis Jones' companion was supposed to come today too but she isn't coming anymore. So we are a trio! Sis Jones is also going to Everett. I really love them already. They are so smart and spiritual. I have so much to learn from them! They are always willing to share thoughts and they are quick to act on promptings. They are both really easy going too and we are all committed to teaching by the Spirit. My district is 4 elders and us 3 sisters. All the elders are 18 and just graduated. We are all going to Everett,which is crazy! That's pretty rare, I guess.There aren't any weirdos, I like all the elders, they seem like hard workers. My teachers are Brother.....I can't remember his name but he is awesome! I really like him! My other teacher is Sister Lamplugh, pronounced Lamploo. She's awesome too :). I know two people in my zone, both from BYU. So it was fun to see familiar faces. :) And our zone is basically our branch. I have met my branch presidency,except for my Branch President. He got in a biking accident and had to get a hip replacement so he's recovering from that. I'll meet him on Sunday though :).Also! I got assigned as the sister training leader,which is basically the sister zone leader. So that's cool :). I'll be helping the new missionaries next week giving them tours training, devotionals, etc.  And I'll be alone with two elders..ha ha. One elder is the elder at the restaurant! I'll be working with him and his companion!

Don't be too sad, things are amazing here! I barely even have time to be homesick! The Church is true! I'll email on Saturday, my P-Day. Love you and miss you!

Go with love!

Sister Scott

A Picture Tells All

The new badge.

Can never escape those cheeseballs.... me and Elder Thompsen and Elder Buchanan. 

Me and my companions last P day!

Look! I have a tag! :)

My district! (the best one of course)

Me and Wade Farr! He was in my BYU ward and also in my Zone!

Me and Elder Jasperson! I LOVE ELDER JASPERSON! He is so sweet and dear and ahhhhhhhh I just love him and yeah.

Elder Payne and I! He is so funny and he is so sweet and I just love him too.... he's pretty much the best companion in the entire world...like I wish he was my companion.

Me and my teacher Brother Crandall! heeeeee issss mmyyyyy ffaaavvvoorritiite

Me and Elder Thompson! Me and Elder Thompson have this really funny relationship... I just love hanging out with him and he is SOOOO funny. 

Me and Elder Buchanan! Me and this Elder just hit it off from the beginning and we've been best friends ever since.  What a champ.

What we do during gym time hahaha

My other teacher, Sister Lamplugh! She is the funniest person you will ever meet.  Seriously, like I just can't stop laughing at her...and she's an AMAZING teacher. I wish she could just follow me around all the day long and make me laugh.

Me and Kate Wilkins, a friend from High School! :)

Me and the Zone Leaders! The one with dark hair is Elder Kendall, the one from Brick Oven! And the short one is Elder Young and he went to high school with our cousin Lindsey! Awesome, right?

Not one of my teachers, but a zone teacher. His name is Brother Mahrt. (he's standing next to me) and then my district too :) Brother Mahrt has really impacted all of us and he's one heck of a teacher.

Me and Cat McQueen!  She was in my zone! We went to High school together!

Miracles

     July 13, 2013

Dear Family and friends!

I love you all so much! Thank you SO SO SO much for all the packages and letters.  It's like Christmas everyday.  It's awesome. :)  Letters are being sent your way, so do not fret!  Okay I leave the MTC on TUESDAY! Can you believe that it's already time to go? I just got here!  My flight is at 820 and I expect I will call you around 7 or 730. I will just call Mom's phone. I'm just going to get a calling card at the bookstore.  So you can send Dear Elders on Monday and packages on Monday if you want too :)   And I'm sure I have many spelling errors and stuff, just fix those please :) Richie and Victoria, I haven't heard anything from you guys yet! Waiting and waiting! :)

My goodness I still love the MTC.  The first week was sooooo slow, but this week has just FLOWN BY!  It's crazy that it's already Saturday and that it's already time to go!  But, I definitely feel more prepared and ready than before. I'm just excited to meet my Mission President and my new companion!  And see the beautiful state of Washington! :) I love the people already there and pray that their hearts will be softened so they can partake of this glorious gospel!

Okay, I'll tell you about my investigators! I have 3! One is Lawanna, she's black and she's such a strong woman.  She is about 30's and she has Breast Cancer.  She's gone through so much and we just love her dearly. Next is Barbara, she's about 60 and she is one smart cookie.  She knows her stuff but she has really grown to love us and she loves the fact that our Heavenly Father is a person! She just couldn't get over that!  It was cool to teach her about that!  Next we have Buford.  He's an old man in his 70's.  Lemme tell you how much I love Buford.  Actually I can't tell you, because I love him TOO MUCH.  He's just so sweet and he's so willing to learn and hear the gospel.  He's patient and he has a southern accent.  Bless him. We've been guided by the Spirit to teach and plan for these investigators.  Unfortunately we won't get to finish teaching them though, because we're leaving. :)   Keep in mind, all these investigators are actors... haha they are all great. :)

Okay things I've learned at the MTC:

1. The Doctrine of Christ is the way to Eternal Salvation. (read 2 Nephi 31 it's the best)

2. Missionary work is TOUGH. 

3. Missionary work is also the BEST.

4. Waking up at 630 isn't that hard.

5. Gladys Knight makes for some sweet dance parties.

6. The Lord cares about the details.

7. The West Campus is where it's at.

8. English speaking is the greatest thing.

9. 12 days is plenty of time here at the MTC.

10. The way to spend gym time is by playing on the play ground.

Those are just some things I've learned here.

I'm going to start saying the MIRACLE OF THE WEEK!

So this week.... one night I set my alarm for 6:00 (we have to wake up at 6 because we need time to get ready for breakfast at 645) and then went to bed.  The next morning, I woke up, which was weird because I usually just sleep straight to the alarm, but I woke up and looked at the clock at it was 620! Ahhhhh I jump up and get the other Sisters up and we rush to get ready.  I definitely know Heavenly Father woke me up that morning so we wouldn't be late!  Hurray for miracles!  :) :)

I love you all so much and the next time I will email you, I'll be out in the field! YYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAYYYY! I'm so excited!  The great thing about Missionary Work is that God is on OUR side!  We can do anything, because we have our dear Heavenly Father there with us, strengthening us and he wants us to suceed.  There is nothing more empowering than knowing that Heavenly Father wants you to succeed. I'm so grateful that I can focus my whole heart on the gospel and on helping people.  There is nothing holding me back and I can't wait to start teaching people! (keep in mind, I know it's not all going to be fun and games) Talk to you soon!

If you send handwritten letters from now on, just send them to my actual mission address. It's in my booklet, which I left in the red bin in my room.  Post my address on Facebook, please!  LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. I'm going to send you some pictures! I have to send them one by one cause it's dumb... sorry mom for the billion emails.

Go with love!

Sister Scott

Just kidding, I Have More Time!

July 6, 2013

Just kidding! I have more time! Yahooo!

 Okay, so I'm going to tell you about my day! So we wake up and then get ready and go to breakfast!  Then after we go to class for like three hours.  Then we'll have personal study for an hour and then go to lunch!  Then we have more study and then more class and then dinner and then we have more class and Zone teaching, which is class with our whole Zone instead of just my district. Basically just in class and studying all day :)

Okay, I have to go now! But, I love you all! And I miss you! And I'm doing sooo well, no worries here! I'm happy as a clam :)

First letter from the MTC

July 6,2012

FAMILY!!!!

I'm seriously sooo excited to right to you today!!! I've been thinking of all the things that I'm going to tell you :)  So, I sent a handwritten letter and I am guessing that you haven't received it yet... so, sorry if you already know what I'm telling you and I guess that letter won't be too exciting haha.. so I have TWO companions! One is Sister Boaz, she is half Puerto Rican, so Victoria, you were right! She is hispanic.  But.  She doesn't speak spanish and she's going to Everett, Washington too! She is 21 years old and she's from San Diego.  My other companion is Sister Jones.  She is from Arizona and she is twenty.  Her companion didn't show up on the first day so that's why we are a trio! I love them both dearly! They are so inspired and I have so much to learn from them :)  I really lucked out when it comes to the companion department!  It's kinda funny cause I feel like I'm usually the last one to be ready, but I'm always the first one now, a little different!  But it's good! I feel much more productive here!

So far, I AM IN LOVE WITH THE MTC.  Seriously.  I am learning SO SO MUCH.  I feel like I've been here at least a week, when it's only been a couple days! 12 days will definitely be more than enough for me to learn a ton of things!  The west campus is awesome!  We have suuper nice apartments and it's a lot more chill here.  It's also a lot smaller which is nice!  But, the food is like a lesser version of the main campus food, haha or so I've heard.  I think we're going to go each lunch right after this to eat at the main campus.  And Jen, my apartment is right above the one you lived at! Way cool, right?

My teachers are sooooooooooooooo great. I lllooooove them.  One is Brother Crandall and one is Sister Lamplugh.  They bring the Spirit and they are just so knowledgable.  Ahhh there is so little time to write you.

Okay, so a couple of things. I forgot a towel.  hahah. yup, if I could that asap that would be great. Maybe today? And also, I seemed to have left all of the socks I own at home, so if you happen to find any nude no show socks, could you send those too? I got your package Mom! Thank you!  I had a show and tell to all the Elders, they certainly loved looking at my clothes. hahaha.

So my district!  I loooove my district. We have Elder Buchanan, Elder Thompsen, Elder Payne, and Elder Jasperson and then us three Sisters.  We are already super close and we sure love each other. Elder Thompsen got a big bucket of cheese balls.  Can't escape those cheese balls haha.  I love the Elders, they are all 18, but they treat us so well and it's just super great.  They are also going to Everett!  And there's another district of Elders going to Everett too! 15 missionaries total!  That's insane! But real cool too.  Our Zone consists of 6 districts and they are all awesome!  4 districts will be leaving us on Monday to go to the field and then we'll get a whole bunch of new missionaries! 

And I got my first assignment! I've been asked to be the Sister Training Leader and it's basically the Zone Leader for the Sisters!  I don't start until tomorrow, but I'm super excited to welcome the new Sisters and help them along :) 

I"m out of time! I wish I could write more! I'll talk to you next week! LOve you all!!! I'm so happy here! :)

Love,

Sister Scott

Welcome, One and All!

Welcome to Heidi.... er, um, Sister Scott's missionary blog!

Heidi just left on Wednesday, and already we are missing her like crazy, but at the same time, are so excited for her.  I will be posting letters, pictures, and who knows what on this blog, so make sure to come by and check it every so often.

I'll also have her updated address so make sure to drop her a line.  She'd appreciated it.

Thanks everyone!