How to Teach the Law of Chastity to a 9 Year Old Boy

Hey Everyone! 

 I hope that Gma and Emilee had a good birthday this week! I sent you both a letter so hopefully you got it! 

Well...this week was a little bit more tough. The panic attacks and everything came back full force... it's discouraging because I was doing so well... I wasn't feeling anxiety or depression and all the sudden everything just comes back full force. On Monday, I received a very, very strong impression that it would be okay if I came home. This impression brought on a panic attack and it left me feeling so scared and so confused. I prayed and prayed and prayed and I realized I needed a Blessing. Some Elders came over and gave me one and in the blessing, again, I felt it would be okay if I came home. It was also coupled with it would be okay if you stayed here too. Each time I prayed about this impression, I received the same two answers... it would be okay to stay.. it would be okay to go. And I had a good session with my counselor. She helped me realize...yes it would be okay if I came home. I could do a lot of good at home, I could learn a lot from coming home because it would be really hard and I would be very humbled. But then we talked about staying. I could do a lot of good here... I would be able to help people and other missionaries and learn a lot and be humbled. I'm not sure why Heavenly Father gave me this impression...especially when everything was so good and I felt so good. But... in the Blessing he said that He gave this to me for a reason...there is something to learn here. And I want to be here. I want to serve in Washington, I really do. So that's what I'm doing today. I don't know what will happen tomorrow or next week or next transfer, but today I am here to serve the Lord. 

 This week we taught a lot of lessons to investigators. One is Aidan, he is a nine year old boy and we had to teach....the Law of Chastity. It was really really awkward. Sister Merrill began explaining and you could just see him squirm in his chair and she just couldn't get the words out and luckily his mom jumped in and explained it... phewf... it was bad...but it was pretty funny too :) 

 We also got two new investigators this week! Amanda is a woman in her 30's...she has three kids and she is single. She is super sweet and we gave her a Book of Mormon. Another is Robert. He is in his 40's, he is so so so nice and he is married with two kids and is curious about our faith. He's basically a closet Mormon. 

This week I went on exchanges with Sister Cromar! Sister Cromar is theeee best. I love her. We met each other at trainers training. And we just connected from the beginning. The picture I am attaching to this is me and her at the library today! I literally just barely took this picture :) Anyway, our exchange felt like two old friends just hanging out together.... it was a lot of fun and we saw a lot of miracles too! She and I have similar stories and so we really could confide in each other and talk about our lives and our experiences on missions and before our missions.  I love Sister Cromar! 

 Her area is my old area in good ol' Quil Ceda Creek! So I got to go back to my old area! The members knew I was coming and I came back with a whole pack of diet coke and lots of treats and chocolate (they know me too well) (and they love me too much) But Sister Cromar hasn't been able to get a hold of Audrey. Remember her? We put her on date and she kinda just fell through the cracks. It was really disappointing and so I really wanted to go see her. We go to her door and have an amazing lesson with her! I was able to promise really specific blessings to her for her situation if she were to get baptized. She agreed and she felt the Spirit a lot. She is back on track, thank you Heavenly Father! 

 MIRACLE OF THE WEEK: 

We have an investigator that has been investigating for about 3 months now. She has never been on date and has never come to church. So we decided she needed to get baptized. We went over and taught her a lesson... this was my first lesson with her. The Spirit was SO STRONG. And we invited her to be baptized and she accepted!! On November 23rd! This is huge because she has never even been close to baptism! It was the miracle of the Holy Ghost testifying to her of this truth. 

 I hope that everyone has a wonderful Halloween! I can't go trick or treating. (figures) but we'll probably eat lots of candy and stuff :)

 Love you all! And don't worry about me... I'll be fine :) 

 Sister Scott

Fishy Fish Fish

Hey family!! 

 So basically, I am doing really well :) I've learned a lot of coping skills that I just didn't have before and so I am able to handle stress and anxiety and depression. My companion is awesome! I really love her a lot! I can open up to her and really trust her. We have also had a lot success this week! We were able to teach a lot of lessons and contact a lot of people. 

 So our mission is doing a little competition type thing... we are trying to contact as many people as possible and so every day we report how many contacts we get in that day. And so being on bike, it's really easy to contact people because you just talk to every person you pass. And so on Saturday we were like... we are gonna get 30! Usually we get like 22 on a really good day. And so it was like 3 pm and we only had 3...and so we thought there was no way we could get even 30. So we start tracting and street contacting and then all the sudden we have 20...so we're like sweet we can do 30... then all the sudden we have 30. And Sis Merrill was like let's go for 40...and then she brought up 50 and we thought there would be no way. And then all the sudden we have 40. AND THEN WE GOT 51. It was so awesome. We were exhausted, but we felt very accomplished. Today we found out the highest in the mission is 55... so we'll totally pass that up one day :) It was really cool because we had a lot faith and we got a lot of really cool potentials and mostly everyone was nice to us! We got the occasional grunter or the ignorer, but it was really great. :) 

 So.... I've been really lucky on mission because no one has ever fed me fish. And I've been dreading the day I would eat the wretched animal. I've always been able to avoid it... the people would always make another entree or I would be on exchanges when they were served fish...or they would cancel. So last week we go to this persons home. It is a really sweet old couple and they say "I hope you guys like fish!" The whole world around me seems to disappear as I stare at my fate on the counter. In my head I'm thinking..."Maybe it won't be so fishy..maybe it will taste good..." Then I smell it... I start gagging already and I knew I was going down. We sit down at the table and luckily they had side dishes... I dish some up and I eat most of the side dishes...avoiding the fish. I decided to leave some of the salad and vegetables so that I could get some of the taste out of my mouth in between bites. So then I cut some of the fish and stab it with my fork...then I realized that I didn't have any water...so I got some water and put off the inevitable a little bit longer. I put in my mouth and I barely let it touch my tongue and just hurried and chewed and swallowed. I did this with about half of the fish until I could take no more. Me and fish...we don't get a long... I wonder how long I can avoid it again... hopefully for forever.... 

 We also met a Wicken this week...that was interesting... he was really weird. 

 MIRACLE OF THE WEEK: So this investigator, Beau. He approached Sis Merrill and her last companion last transfer and said that he has been trying to find missionaries so they can teach him and he can be baptized! What the... that is a miracle. So his girlfriend is a member...but she is pretty anti when it comes to the church so it's been a conflict between them. It was getting really hard to meet with him because of his girlfriend so we decided to let him come to us. If he really wants it...he will make an effort. So last week he texted us and told us that he really misses the lessons and that he needs this in his life and he wants to be baptized as soon as possible. The next day we met with him and put him on date for baptism! Everything that he says is so cool. He has so much faith and basically we don't even have to teach him because he just knows everything already... but we still will teach him. It's been so cool to teach someone so prepared. He reminds me of Genevieve in the way that he accepts everything and does everything so willingly. 

 Thank you for your prayers. I miss you all a lot... and that's a struggle but I am trying to give all my pains and all my joys to the Lord. I know that He will take care of everything, as long as I work hard and be obedient. I know that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And this isn't just a church..it's a way of life, a way of living. And sometimes I cannot believe that I was blessed enough to be raised in a Christ centered home where I could partake of His Gospel. But I was given those blessings so I could share it with others. And that's why I am here. 

 Love you all! 

 Sister Scott

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEN!

Helloooo everybody! 

 Happy birthday Jen!!!! I hope that you had a wonderful, wonderful day! I thought about you all day and I sang to you all by myself :) 

 I hope that you all know that I pray for each of you every day and I really hope that you are doing so great and I hope that you will let me know what I can do for you. 

 So.. transfers happened!!! I bet you are all dying to know where I am.... 

 Well, I'm in the Firetrail ward. 

 My companion is named Sister Merrill. I seriously love her! She is so funny and she is very encouraging. I was able to open up to her and tell her my experiences. She has been out for 6 weeks and so I am finishing her training. She is so supportive and it will be good :) 

 Okay so basically Firetrail is STILL IN MARYSVILLE. hahaha so I'm still in Marysville! The boundaries for this ward is literally touching the boundaries for my last ward... hahahaha of course I would get transferred one ward over! I was thinking of all the places I could be... the islands... or way up north...but nope! Marysville all the way hahaha. This ward even covers the other half of the Res! But the Sisters cover the city! So I am in the city and one minor detail I forgot... 

 I'M ON A BIKE! Oh my goodness. it's sooooooo fun. I absolutely looooove it. It's a relief to be outside and to be riding around the town and to breathing fresh air. People are really impressed because they see us girls in skirts riding on a bike when it's cold and then they listen to what we have to say. Street contacting is sooo awesome. We just talk to everyone on the street and it doesn't even matter that I'm wearing a stupid helmet... it's just so much fun. I would totally serve on a bike for the rest of my mission. It makes me feel like the typical missionary, and I just love it :) 

 This week was full of meetings and things so there was not a lot of proselyting time. We had interviews with President Bonham on Thursday..and what a man. I just love him so much. He brings me so much comfort and he always says the right thing. 

 So far, I've met one investigator in this area. His name is Aiden. He is 9. His mom is a less active and he is on date for November 2nd! So that's all the investigator info I got for ya right now. :) 

 So overall this week has been good :) I still have bad moments and bad days, and I'm don't feel perfectly fine again, but that's okay. I am overcoming things slowly but surely. I am trying to really understand myself and what I need to do to fix things and be better. Thank you for your support and love :) 

 MIRACLE OF THE WEEK: I haven't fallen off my bike...haha 

 Love you all! 

 Sister Scott

Week 2 as a Spanish Missionary!

Heyyyy everyone! 

 So, it was so good to talk Mom and Ian on Thursday. I am so sorry that I couldn't talk to everyone, I really wish that I could have, but Christmas is only 3 months away! I am so glad that you can understand the things that I am going through. I miss you all a lot and I am looking forward to talking to you again! 

 I think that most of you will know what happened this week, but I'll just give a quick recap to those who don't. Last Tuesday, my companion, Sister Yeager, decided that she didn't want to be in this companionship anymore and told President that she needed a transfer. So later that day we went on exchanges with Sister Andersen and Sister Hansen and then Wednesday we were both transferred. So my companions are Sister Andersen and Sister Hansen and we live in Lake Stevens now. Sister Yeager lives up north in Ferndale. So yeah, this week has been rough and very emotional but I have hope that things will be better next transfer. President Bonham has involved me with transfers and what I think I would be able to handle. I'm not sure where I will be going, but I will find out tomorrow! 

 I've been able to teach my investigators a little bit this week if I had a set appointment or something, but mostly we've been in the Spanish Branch! So this is my second week being a Spanish missionary! I even learned how to pray in Spanish! 

 Investigator update: Audrey is on date for baptism! October 19th! And Genevieve's baptism got pushed back to next week. 

 Let me tell you how much General Conference was for me. A little bit ago, my counselor diagnosed me, using a test, with depression. I never thought that depression would ever be something I would have to deal with, but it happened. And then Elder Holland's talk. Tears were flowing from my eyes within the first sentence. Heavenly Father knows me and He knows my struggles. He knows what I need to hear and I can't wait to study that talk more and more. I also had another really cool experience. I was looking for an answer to a very specific question. (This question is a very personal thing and I would prefer not to share it at the moment, but maybe later :) ) It was a yes or no answer and so before conference, I was thinking of how Heavenly Father was going to answer this question because it was very specific and so I thought "Hmmm...you know if the choir sang Abide With Me 'Tis Eventide that would answer my question." So after President Monson spoke for the last time, and it was over, I had kind of forgotten about this question and then the choir sang Abide With Me; 'Tis Eventide. Once again, tears just flowing from my eyes because I knew that God cared. I knew that He wanted to answer every one of my questions. It was such a cool experience. 

 What was YOUR favorite part of conference?? In your next letter, you should tell me your favorite talk and why it was your favorite! I can't wait to hear everyone's answers! 

 MIRACLE OF THE WEEK: 

This week, Heavenly Father has blessed me with the ability to stay in the presence. Even with all the happened this week, I am able to put it behind me and move forward. I couldn't do that without the Grace of God. I know that Heavenly Father has so much in store for me. 

 I love you all! Thank you for your prayers! 

 Sister Scott