BITTER SWEET

2/16/2015

*18 months later*….

 

 Isn’t it amazing how you can sit at the computer and not figure out what words to say? I don’t think I have words to possibly express the way that I am feeling right now…

So first I just want to apologize for my lack of communication for these past weeks. I can't say that I have been busy because that would be the understatement of the year. From mission tours to sick companions things have been pretty crazy and hectic. I have had  some great weeks though. Full of excitement and hard work; So that pretty much sums up that. This week however was a bit on the down side as well. My companion wasn’t well for a few days and it seems as though the time has just come and gone. Our investigators were being troublesome or stubborn haha but overall we had a great end to the week since we planned a YSA activity for our branch and it turned out to be a huge success. Valentine’s Day was a BLAST. We planned a dance for the YSA (the first dance ever!!!) so of course it was the cutest thing ever but also so great. I have lots of pics so I will be sending.

So today is my last official p-day and it’s my final letter home before I’m back on that side. Can you believe it? So many things have happened and so much has changed. Yesterday I had the opportunity to share my testimony in the branch and it really made me think. For a final hoorah I would just like to share a few thoughts that I have had and that have impressed me as I prepare to return home. I have no doubt in my mind that our Heavenly Father has a plan for us. When I was called to serve in the Botswana Namibia mission I was so excited and ready for a great experience. While I was there serving I had no doubt in my mind that I was exactly where the Lord wanted me to be. When I first came here to the Zambia Lusaka Mission I was so hurt and confused and I didn’t understand. Slowly things began to unfold in a way that I knew God had a plan for me. Now I look back over the last 18 months and I realize that He had a plan all along for me. Even though there were many times that I struggled with my faith and with my hope. There were so many times that I pleaded with Heavenly Father to just take me out situations and trials that I had. I thought that I knew what was best, and now I know that he did. I have met some of the most amazing people in my life that have changed my life forever. I have learned more things than I ever would have before. My relationship with God has changed and I have as well.

 

There is a scripture in Jacob 4:10 that says, ‘’Seek not to counsel the Lord but to take counsel from his hand.’’ This verse I feel like is the biggest lesson that I have learned overtime. Too many times I have relied on my own wisdom and strength and every time I have fallen down and Heavenly Father has picked me back up again and I have learned to rely on him and not to bargain or beg for what I want but to trust and rely on him.  I truly don’t have words to really express how sad I am to be leaving here. Africa has become a part of me, and it has my heart. I know that I won’t be gone too long because home is where the heart is. I feel like I’m really leaving my family this time. I know that this truly is the work of salvation and nothing else can really compare to it. I know that mission is only preparing me for my real mission which is life. I pray that the things that I have learned will stay with me forever and that I can continue to stand strong and steadfast in this gospel. I not only believe that this gospel is true but I know it.

 

   love Sister Scott

Elections # Time Far Spent

This week. One way to describe it. Elections. Yes mission has taught me a slight dislike for elections because they always tend to disturb our work. So for those who can remember the whole Malawi escapade can understand why we dont really enjoy elections. So this week was a joy since there were elections due to the death of the late President. So elections here are definitely different than at home. People here get excited. Too excited. So we actually had to stay inside for about three days while everyone got loud and rowdy. So it was good to rest but of curse after the first day you don't need anymore rest and you just get a lil stir crazy! So when we did go out we actually got to teach some sweet lessons. One of which was to a sweet lady named Ruth who sells veggies near our home. She asked us to come and visit her so we did and it was such a sweet and powerful lesson. We asked her why she wanted us to come and she said because she goes to church but she doesn't know anything. So we asked her about God and she said she just knew that he was Jesus Christ. So we knew that we would have to start from the basics. So we had a great lesson about God and who he is and what he expects. It was so sweet. I honestly felt the spirit so much and we have high hopes for her. Afterwards she told us that she actually would be moving in two days so of course we were super sad but then we passed by two days later and she said that she changed her mind and decided she would stay. I know that it was an answer to our prayers. These week we also had the chance to visit many less actives and it was really sweet. I realize how much I love the people here especially in the branch. I honestly dont know how I will be when I have to leave. I guess the most powerful thing that happened this week was the opportunity that I had to give my final talk here in Zambia. So this week we have been focusing alot on a talk by Elder Bednar ''Converted Unto the Lord.'' It was a talk assigned to us from Elder Cook of the Seventy in preparation for our mission tour this week. As I pondered on what I should speak on the idea of conversion was pretty solid in my mind. So Sunday I had the opportunity to share my talk and to really bear my testimony that I have about conversion. I realized that there is a huge difference between having a testimony and being truly converted. it all comes down to the difference between saying and doing. Its so easy to get up and to share our testimony. To say that I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet. That is a testimony. Conversion means that you not only know that the Book of Mormon is true but you read it, you study it, and you apply it. You not only know that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet but you followed his counsels and his advice that he gives. Conversion is acting. CONVERSION is truly being and living the gospel. As I shared my talk I felt the spirit testify to me not only of the need of the branch members to be converted but what I myself need to do to become more converted to the gospel. As I prepare to go home I need to make sure that I have become truly converted and not that I just have a testimony. In the talk by Elder Bednar he shares the story of the Anti Nephi Lehi's who were so converted that they buried their weapons of war. They never wanted to kill or do wicked things again. They never fell away. They were truly converted. They not only turn from the world but they stayed turned towards the Lord. How easy it is for each of us to turn to the Lord but the true test is if we look back towards where we came from. That is not conversion. These people buried their weapons or things that kept them from being converted. What do we need to bury? What do we need to let go of so that we can experience true heart felt conversion? I know that is a question I ask myself each day. I pray that we can all be converted. That we can align our wills with God. That we can have this mighty change in heart. I love you all and hope you have a great week. His arm is forever stretched out. His mercy is forever there. Love Sister Scott

17 MONTHS

1+7 = Here! Well its official. The time has flown by! This week I hit 17 months and I realized that I never actually expected to make it this far. So the majority of my week was spent in shock. Haha. But the time has flown right? This week was a great week. I feel like I had a fresh start since I have a new companion and we just spent the week working very hard. So this week we spent alot of time finding new people and doing lots of contacting. We found some super sweet people that we hope we can go back and see soon! One of the coolest would probably be a young girl Mwaba whos family are already members but they are all less active but she just turned 8 and now we are helping prepare her for baptism. She is so great. One thing I have realized is that I love children and I love teaching them the gospel because they have the coolest answers for everything. We were teaching her about God and she pretty much knew it all. Another sweet miracle we had this week was during our time in the area we decided that we would go and check on one of our former investigators Pride Mwansa. So Pride we taught way back in October and he had major Word of Wisdom problems that held him back and we ended up just dropping him and giving him a break. So we stopped by his house and he tells us that we can teach him and so we sit and wait for him. So everytime we go ,his wife never talks to us and even though we try she has always been so quiet and never really opens up but something told me to go and talk to her. So I walk over to her and I ask her If I can help with anything. She tells me that the only thing I can help with is if I help Pride. So I ask her what she wants help with and man, she just opened up. She told me everything that was wrong and how badly she wants him to change and to stop drinking. It had gotten so bad that now her family had kicked him out so he no longer lives with her and their three kids. I could see her pain and her hurt and I didnt know what to say so some thing just told me to ask her if she loved him. So I did. She just looked at me and smiled. I knew she was probably thinking how can such a young girl ask me a thing like that but then she said yes. She did love him. So I told her thats where it starts. We can't help him without her help. So I started asking a few questions and then I gave her a Plan of Salvation book and asked her if we could come and see her and she agreed.Honestly my heart was beating so fast. haha I was so nervous but I knew that Heavenly Father had carried me through that and opened a window for us. So when Pride came over we sat and has a short lesson with him and I kind of grilled but I wanted him to take responsibility. So I could see the pain and sadness in his eyes that he now realized that he was about to lose his family and so I told him that he needed to make a decision right now. So he did. He said he was ready and so now we are going to try to help their family receive the restored gospel. I dont know what Heavenly Father wants to teach me sometimes but I can say that I won't ever forget the way that I felt that day and I can't wait for their family to be sealed in the temple some day. Thats the goal. I know that its possible. With God it always is. I love you guys so much and I pray that your weeks are well. Dont think you are ever alone! He knows everything! Love Sister Scott

Happy Belated New Year

So Happy Belated NEW YEAR J I hope that everyone had a great new year and that everyone has started the year off right! As for me my new year was filled with lots of new changes and news which we will get to later. So our week started off very well we worked a lot with our recent converts the Nasilele’s and the Shonga family of course. The Nasilele family has been getting their field ready for the rains and planting lots of maize and vegetables so we actually got to go and do service at her house this week. We went and we were able to go and put fertilizer in the fields. Man being in Africa has definitely taught me how to work in the field! Seriously we thought we were young until our knees were giving out. Haha. Yes it was very fun! Its great to be able to help others as well. So this week we actually had the opportunity to go on exchanges!!! Yes, exchanges. So this time I was in my area with Sister Rakotonindriana. She is from Madagascar and she has been on mission for about 14 months now. So we worked in my area together and we had a nice time. We were able to meet the Shonga family and a great lesson. We are actually trying to help their children read so we have reading lessons with them every week. And they are improving so well. At the beginning they didn’t even know how to spell I and Me. Now they are reading the Book of Mormon. Its so amazing and it shows the power that our great God has. So unfortunately the saddest thing happened this week! While we were on exchanges the Zone Leaders actually called and came and told us that there were transfers! So of course I was in shock because I wasn’t expecting them. So they told us that Sister Makunye (my companion) was being transferred on Saturday morning and that my new companion would be coming on Friday. And guess who it is? Sister Komiha (the sister I served with in Blantyre.) So I was very surprised and we didn’t expect it! So the rest of our week was spent with trying to get everything together for Sister Makunye and her packing since she just had two days. It was very sad. I honestly miss her so much already. But I know that it’s part of missionary life. So Saturday was a kind of hard day. I am trying to get used to my new companion and things changing but It’s a little sad. So Saturday me and Sister Komiha headed out into our area and we met with a lot of people. We actually went and visited a less active family the Kabeshi family. They were baptized a long time ago when the family was very young but now the only active one is the father Brother Kabeshi. So we visited with them and we actually had a My Family lesson. It was very great. It’s always nice to do My Family with people as they research their genealogy and their families. So after the lesson we committed them all to complete their books and even to come to church so my hopes are that they will one day come back. So this week was probably not the best week but it was full of ups and downs and there is so much more to look forward too. So I would just like to share a little bit of knowledge that I received this week from my study of the Book of Mormon. As I studied from Alma 31 I learned of the group in the Book of Mormon better known as the famous ‘’Rameumpton Prayers’’ who got on tall towers and recited prayers once a week. It was surprising how this group of people once had the gospel but now they had lost everything they had once learned. A quote by Elder Boyd K. Packer states that, ‘’ True doctrine understood changes attitudes and behaviors.’’ It goes on to say that, ‘’ The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.’’ So I just want to leave that with you to think about and to ponder. As we study the gospel and live it that is how we change. I will be hitting 17 months this week and I have realized that I have changed a lot more than I realize. I think the changes they come gradual and slowly but they come as we are consistent in our goals. I hope that everyone will continue to let the gospel change them. That it will change your attitude and your behavior. I love you all and I hope that you have a great week! Love you and miss you! See you soon! Sister Scott

Christmas Blues ( 12/29/14)

Well I guess you can call this the after Christmas blues email. I have of course very saddened by the passing of this beloved holiday but of course I look forward to the next BIG one ) So how was your Christmas??? I hope that everyone one had wonderful holidays and Im so grateful for my wonderful family that I was able to talk with as well. Well we had a pretty great week. Of course it was not the most productive week as for as lessons go because people here go to their families and other places but of course we still had a nice time. Christmas day we had the opportunity to go to the Shonga family and to be able to spend the Christmas morning with them. We were able to watch the video ''Joy To The World'', and then we had a small lunch with them. After the video I asked everyone to go around and share what they were grateful for this Christmas. It was a wonderful moment that made my heart very happy. I realized at that moment how great it was to be here in Africa in my home away from home with people that love me just like m own family. It was so great. I will never forget this Christmas. My last one on mission. So after that we went to celebrate the birthday of the one of the sisters. It was a very nice time. We had PIZZA HUT! Yes I forgot to make the biggest announcement ever that the first PIZZA HUT ever opened here last week! I cried. I was so happy. I cant even believe it. Its so good. And it made me super home sick. But that's okay because it was 100% worth it. So then on Friday the 26th the missionaries in all of Zambia came together for a Christmas shindig. We had a dinner, white elephant gift exchange, dessert, and a movie. It was so super fun! Not to mention it was my first time seeing my love Sister Mbele (my daughter) and Sister Lyon again! It was so great. I love them so much. We are like sisters honestly. I totally feel like mission made me believe in Pre Earth life more than ever because I know that I knew them in the life before this. Haha. So it was super great. On Saturday we were able to have a short morning fireside with President and Sister Erickson. It was very nice. We discussed the sacrament and how we can better prepare ourselves and get more out of it. We learned how the sacrament gives us the opportunity to see where we were, where we are, and where we want to be spiritually. The sacrament allows us with the power to overcome those weakness that we have. We have to refine ourselves and help ourselves so that we can then be a better instrument in his hands. It was a really spiritual time and I enjoyed very much. So this week was good not very exciting but a great time that I got to spend here in Africa in Zambia. I know the gospel is true. I know that if it wasn't for the gospel I wouldn't be here and so that is the greatest blessing that has happened in my life. I love you all and I hope that you continue to stay strong and steadfast in all that you do! Love Sister Scott

It's Beginning To Look Like Christmas (12/22/14)

Hello my family and friends how is everyone doing this week! I hope that all is well and everyone is getting into the Christmas season the right way! Man things this week have been pretty great! I mean when its Christmas time things always have to be great right? So this past was filled with answered prayers. Me and my companion have been really striving to find new investigators while continuing to take care of our recent converts. So this week we received lots of referrals from our Zone Leaders and we got the chance to visit with many of them. Also Sister Shonga the mother of all of the kids we have baptized told us about friends that she has that lived near her that were interested in the gospel. So we actually found 8 new people to teach and that was definitely a miracle. All of them will be great but there were four of them that im pretty excited for! Two of them are brothers that we contacted Mwenda and also Robby his brother. They are super sweet! We visited with them and they are so great. Robby said that its exactly what he’s been wanting and that he was looking forward to. He said that he is facing some obstacles but he wants to be back close to God and overcome these weaknesses. We were able to share a little about Christ and the power of the Atonement and it really touched him. I am super excited to see what happens. Two of the other ones that we are excited for are Mumbi and Boyd. They are two friends that we visited with on Saturday and we had the opportunity to just sit with them and talk and discuss. The one that really seemed excited was Mumbi. He is 20 years old and he grew up in the village until he was about 18 years old and that’s when he came to the city here to study at the University. He told us that in the village education isn’t really the biggest priority and since he is the first born in his family he knew that it was up to him to make it. He knew that he needed to graduate high school and then go to school. He said that he wants to study Economics and then he wants to own his own business that deals with the imports and the exports here in Zambia. He said that he loves reading and so the excitement in his eyes was so great when we shared with tem both the Book of Mormon. He is so sweet and great. I just am so excited! Honestly Heavenly Father answers our prayers in little ways that sometimes we don’t even see or understand. So other than that our week was great. We had lots of investigators at church and we were able to see many of our people and teach them. Overall it was succccch a great week! I guess I can share two of the more spiritual things that impacted me this week above all else. One of which was our lesson with our investigator Emmanuel Shonga (the older brother to our 4 recent converts.) So I know that I have mentioned him a few times before so we are pretty excited for him. Just a recap Emmanuel is 19 (turning 20) on Christmas and he is a very smart educated young guy. He is a Catholic with his father and the rest of their family are members. Emmanuel we have taught about 5 times now and we really haven’t made a lot of progress but the last two times have been pretty great. He said that he knows everything about the church and the Restoration and he has prayed but he hasn’t been able to receive an answer. We shared with him Ether 12:6 and also Moroni 7:13-14. We had a powerful lesson yesterday about the Restoration. He told us that he understands that we are Christians and if we are Christians that means we follow Christ and do what he does. We explained more of the priesthood and also the apostasy. The spirit was there and I could see that he got it. He said that he has been praying to know if it’s true and he said he always feels good when he prays but he has a lot of doubts and questions and son we told him he needs to have faith. Then as we ended the lesson I invited him to pray for us and to also pray specifically in the prayer to know if the church is true and if the Book of Mormon was true. I can’t really express the way that I felt during that prayer. All I can say is that I had tears in my eyes and I felt It in my heart. God definitely works in mysterious ways. I pray that Emmanuel will not let fear and doubts cloud the truth because I know that blessings await him and I know that it strengthened my testimony too.

The second thing that touched my week was my study from the Book of Mormon. This week I have been reading in chapters Alma 19-26. One thing that touched me was the story of Aaron teaching King Lamoni’s father and how when Aaron taught him he only had the desire to give up all that he had. He said ’’What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken,’’ and then goes on to say ‘’Behold I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom that I may receive this great joy.’’ As I read this my mind was impressed with how willing and eager he was to forsake everything that he had for the gospel. As I read on I came upon the story of the Anti Nephi Lehi’s. This was a group of people that were very wicked and full of iniquity for many years but once they heard the gospel and believed that changed. They wanted to never sin again. They even buried all of their weapons of war and when the Lamanites came to kill them, they gave up their lives freely just to keep their covenants with God. These stories really touched my heart of their sacrifices. It was once quoted that ‘’ A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce faith necessary unto life and salvation….the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without sacrifice of all earthly things.’’ As I read I just asked myself what am I willing to sacrifice for the gospel. Our minds don’t have to go far as we can all ask ourselves this question. What will I give up that may stand in between me and my Heavenly Father. Friends? Music? Tv? Or the occasional drink? This is something that we all need to ask ourselves. Will we give all that we have? Will we sacrifice for God? I love the Book of Mormon. It is a guide to my life and a guide into my future. It helps me and leads me so much and I learn more than I ever have just from its simple but true words. My prayer is that we all take the time to ask ourselves what we are willing to sacrifice and what do we need to do to change or sacrifice for God. I can promise that he knows. He knows our weaknesses and our struggles, but he is more than willing to be at our aid. During this Christmas season my mind reflects on our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that I am away from home for the last time and that this will be the last Christmas that I will get to spend laboring in Heavenly Fathers vineyard and my prayer is that I can make my Father proud by showing him what I am willing to sacrifice for him. I love you all and I pray that you have a Holly Jolly Christmas this year J See you soon! Sister Scott

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas (12/15/14)

Muli bwanji!! Ahhhhh another week has come. Another week has gone. And its almost CHRISTMAS! This week. Mmm what can I say? It definitely was one of those weeks! So this week was a little slow for us since my companion has that official FLU. Ha ha. So we weren't really able to do as much as we both wanted but we still worked as hard as we could. But the rainy season has officially started here. That whole saying of "raining cats and dogs" is the story of life here in Zambia. I was definitely rocking the rain boots this week. When it rains it pours. So yeah it was nice for everyone that has been waiting for their farming but for us in the field of missionary work. Success is definitely halted. But we wont stop! So this week we were able to see some of our people. Our recent converts and even to have our zone meeting which i really enjoyed. We learned about the importance of families and even learned about the importance of extending commitments and inviting people to do things. It was really nice and we even got to do role plays! Yes. Every missionaries favorite part of meetings. Haha. Usually I am definitely anti role plays but we got the chance to teach the elders and they pretended to be our investigators. It was so sweet. It was the first time I really enjoyed doing a role play. It wasn't like it was fake it honestly felt real and I felt the spirit even teaching all of us. It was very powerful. I enjoyed it a lot. So this week was good.. Full of smiles and laughs and everything good! I guess the highlight was this Sunday at church! It was raining so hard and I had my full rain gear thing going on and we headed to church and of course we had to cross a huge ditch and of course I go for it and boom! The most embarrassing thing ever. My entire skirt just ripped up the back. So there I am on Sunday soaking wet with my skirt ripped open. Yup. Moment of humor so I had to go home and change. And there was a total winning number of 15 people at church. There was one relief society woman so we had to combine with young women. But it was really great! I enjoyed it a lot. So my week was good. Transfers came and are gone and i'm still in the same area for the sixth month with the same companion. I guess I am never moving haha so I don't have my hopes up. So i hope that everyone has a happy and blessed week. I'm sorry that I didn't have a very eventful week buttttt next week I will have lots to share I promise. Alma 5:33 Love Sister Scott

Sweet Sixteen ( 12/8/2014)

Hello my dear family and friends once again!! How are you all? I hope that all is well and that you are all getting into the wonderful Christmas spirit. So something that I have realized on mission is that Christmas is my favorite holiday so hands down! I love it so much! I literally listen to Christmas music every single day and it just puts me into the best mood so I definitely offer that to anyone that has a bad day. Well this week has come and gone and now as I look towards a new one I have to admit that things have been a little difficult for me but I am trying my best to stay positive and upbeat. So this week kind of was a blur for me. Tuesday Sister Erickson called and took me and my companion to the doctor for a blood test to try to see what may be wrong with her. She has been having a few problems with her legs and feet and we haven’t really found a source yet. So we went to the doctor and of course the test came back negative so that means we don’t know what’s wrong. But they did give her new medicine to try so hopefully it proves helpful. So Wednesday for us what a little busier than usual! We went and saw the wonderful Shonga family, the family of the children we baptized and taught their family and the kids. I love them to death. Sister Shonga has definitely become my mom away from home. She takes care of us every day. So we have really been working hard on helping the girls we baptized, the two daughters, Christine and Emma, on their personal progress. They are doing so great. It’s only been like a month and we are almost done with the first value already. So it definitely makes me happy. I guess this week was hard on another note because of our two investigators that were baptized last week. They are struggling financially and it seems that Satan is really testing a lot of people in our branch. They have been taking care of chickens and trying to raise them but they didn’t have money for feed so the chickens started dying. It really discouraged Sister Meriam a lot and her family. We went and visited them and we taught them about testimonies and even about the importance of families. It was really great and Sister Miriam shared a powerful testimony. How it took her over 10 years to finally join the church and now she knows that it’s true. It was so sweet and powerful. So Saturday we got the opportunity to go as a district, 9 missionaries to help one of the members get her yard ready for planting. We had to clear the ground and then start digging! It was my first time using a hoe and I totally have bruises and sore muscles to prove it! But it was quite nice and I enjoyed it a lot. It’s always nice to help other people and to serve others. So after that we went with, Ustyne, the branch missionary that works with us to his house for lunch. His grandma is the Relief Society teacher and she invited us over for a wonderful lunch. She made nice nice food! Fried chicken of course and it was so great! She is the sweetest lady ever and then she even bought me and Sister M Chitenge’s. They were super nice and she is the sweetest lady I have ever met! So Saturday was also my daughter’s birthday! Sister Mbele finally hit nine months so shout out to her even though I already told her! I love her so much! It’s crazy to think that she has been here 9 months already, it makes me feel old J Yesterday as well was the last testimony Sunday for this year and the end of our wonderful week! Honestly I don’t think that my week was super spiritual and something specially stood out that happened but I can share that I had a testimony builder on repentance and also forgiveness this week. I don’t want to give specifics but this week I was definitely tried on those two things and I realize that forgiveness is just as much a big part of repentance as actually committing a sin and asking for forgiveness. I realize that sometimes people they hurt us and they do things to us maybe even on purpose to hurt us in some way. Sometimes it’s so hard to overcome that and to forgive them but at the end of the day we can’t withhold mercy and expect mercy. We can’t without forgiveness and expect God to forgive us. I definitely learned that this week and so I challenge everyone to work on those two things for this new upcoming year. Forgiving any who have wronged you and also repenting and drawing closer to Christ. He is our Master and our Creator. The Ruler of all. He forgives us every single time and he is the one person we are trying to be like. So I love you all lots and lots and lots! I hope you have a great week!

Countdown to Christmas

Service Project

Happy December

Machoma bwanji!

My oh my another week has come and gone so I can officially say Happy December! J I hope that everyone had a grrreat week and lots of exciting things happened! Our week was filled with lots of ups and downs but overall it ended on a great note!

So for everyone who didn’t know before I can officially announce that I am THE most forgetful person on the planet earth. Okay maybe we can narrow it down to missionaries but I am unnecessarily forgetful in a different way. So our week started off just fantastic when I lost the phone for the 3^rd time in the past two months; I don’t know why I just can’t remember it anytime and so Monday after we finished emailing we left and came back and it was gone. Luckily we have great couple missionaries who have kind and forgiving hearts and they got us another one but this was the third time so I vowed to never carry the phone again. Other than that our week went by fairly well. We went by our recent converts on Wednesday to teach them about baptism and to help the young girls with their personal progress. It was a wonderful day with wonderful lessons. Wednesday was however a little bad since my companion began feeling unwell. She was experiencing very shocking pains and burning in her legs and it got progressively worst throughout the day and so we ended up staying in Thursday to allow her body to rest. Friday she was still having some pain but it was better than before.

So of course I have to say HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Honestly, that had to be the highlight of my entire week! For the first time ever; The mission had a Thanksgiving dinner with everyone in Lusaka. All of the couples cooked American food for us and we ate and ate and ate. You will see from the pictures just how excited I was J Pumpkin Pie. Enough said. It was great and I enjoyed it very much. Even though it made me a little homesick, it was a super great experience and I enjoyed it very much so. So we were suppose to have a baptism a few weeks ago if you can remember and we weren’t able to so we decided to start filling up the font on Friday with water so that it could be ready by Sunday. So we went and set everything up and got that prepared so we were able to have a baptism yesterday of our two investigators the magnificent Nasilele’s. It was so great. Man, have you ever had that feeling of relief after something you waited so long for happened? Yes. I had that feeling yesterday. It was so nice to see them get baptized. As soon as Sister Meriam came out of the water she was smiling so brightly and she just said, ‘‘Finally, I’m born again. I’m clean.’’ It was so sweet.

So I think the best moment of the entire week was actually a miracle moment that we had! So The Shonga family is the family of the 4 kids we baptized back in October this year. So in their family there are 5 members and three non members. So the three who are not members are the son, father, and one daughter; So recently we have been teaching all three but it has been really really difficult for us to really get them. So Saturday we had the opportunity to sit down with the son Emmanuel Shonga and share with him the My Family books that the church has put together to help with family history. It was a neat experience. We were able to help him begin and it was nice. So after the lesson we headed home and he escorted us with his family and I had time to chat with him. He opened up a lot and told me a lot of his background and how the missionaries already taught him everything and he knows it all. So I asked him if he has prayed and he was quiet for a moment and then he said he prays all of the time but he doesn’t know if something is wrong with him because he hasn’t gotten an answer yet. So As I listened to him Ether 12:6 came into my mind and I was inspired to share it with him. I told him to go home and read it so I hope that this week when we go he will have some thoughts and we will be able to share more. I can see he has desire but he loves researching online and it gets to him, but I hope that Heavenly Father will help us with this one.

So this week was definitely a good one for us. My companion Is feeling better and our area is doing great. Personally I am doing well. The countdown to Christmas has begun! But everything is okay. This week I actually had the time to study Alma 12-14 during my personal studies and there was something that I studied that gave me inspiration this week. So I was reading about Alma and Amulek and their journeys throughout the lands preaching to the people. As you read you realize that they encountered so many things and so many trials. It made me realize the importance of faith also adversity. I know that if there were no trials then there would be no faith. Adversity is something that is necessary and even the faithful and obedient at times must suffer because of the precious gift of agency that we have. But when we choose to be obedient and faithful then that is when the Lord can help us and give is the strength that we need!

Well I love you all. Words can’t really express. I pray that the Christmas spirit and season will be within all of your hearts and that you take this time to draw closer to Christ. I love you! Have a great week! 

Love

Sister Scott

Having Our Faith Strengthened

Greetings my fellow family and friends! Another week down and another to go! I hope that all is

 well and that everyone is doing grrreat! This week was a roller coaster one for us, somewhat

 slow but overall it went well! So this week was full of meetings and excitement! So the sad news 

was that the President of the country, Michael Sata, actually passed away the previous week 

and this week was the funeral for him on Tuesday. So for us we already had meetings planned

 Tuesday and Wednesday so it definitely slowed us down a bit. I have never seen such

 silence and lack of commotion anywhere in my life like I witnessed this week.

The streets were silent and we could barely even find buses to catch to get around because everyone was inside of their homes. It was very inspiring to see how much respect that everyone had for their former President and it was declared a holiday. So Tuesday was super special as well because Sister Rawlins my former companion also went home! So she came from Malawi on Monday night and stayed the night with us and stayed with us until she caught her flight on Tuesday! It was so super duper great! She was one of my favorite companions in the world! We had so much fun and we got to catch up and it was so nice! I love her, so we got to go to our meeting Tuesday with her and that was pretty much all we did.

Wednesday on the other hand was another meeting, our zone conference. It was all of the missionaries in the city so quite a few and we were instructed on different things and lessons. One of them was probably my favorite that touched me the most by Sister Erickson when she spoke of having our strength ‘’faithened.’’ She reminded us that in this past conference one of the men who gave a prayer actually made a mistake in his prayer, which im sure was due to nervousness or other factors that contribute to stress. In his prayer he prayed that we would have our strength ‘’faithened’’ when in reality he meant to say have our faith strengthened. So she actually knew the man who gave the prayer and told us that a lot of time we do focus on strengthening our faith but, it’s not often that we focus on faithening our strength. She said that we need to add faith to our strength. We shouldn’t just depend on what WE can do alone but what WE can do WITH the Lord. We should be like Nephi in 2 Nephi 4:34. He says that he trusts on the Lord and will not trust in the arm of flesh. Us as human beings we cant do anything compared to what we can do with the Lord. It says that, ‘’.. for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.’’ Our Heavenly Father always expects us to use our own strength but he never expects us to do it alone. We need to rely on the Lord.

So the rest of the week was a little slow since we just focused on our two investigators Meriam and Elizabeth. I have really enjoyed teaching both of them so much. They are both very dedicated and determined people and they are growing so much every day. Sister Meriam has actually been quite sick with high BP and things of that nature so she was down this week a lot but we continued to go and encourage her and prepare her. But since there must be opposition in all things, of course we faced trials yesterday on her baptism day. The water wasn’t working and so we weren’t able to fill up the font. So sadly she wasn’t able to get baptized but it was her birthday so we did go to her home and celebrate with her and her family! It was really nice. So now we have moved her date to the same with her daughter in law so they will both be baptized the 30^th of November.

So overall things have been going well for me. Of course it never is easy and I can't say that there aren’t some days that I ready to go home, but overall it has been such a blessing to me to be here and to serve. Even though I can't see the changes always but so many others tell me that I have changed and matured a lot and sometimes I feel it. Not in a physical sense but spiritually. I feel like I regret not taking the gospel as serious before I came. I just feel like I wasted a lot of time and I didn’t realize that there was so much that I didn’t know at all. But now I see. I see things I didn’t see before. This week in my personal study I focused a lot of Alma 5 which I call the ‘’Self Accountability Checklist.’’ There are about 22 questions in this chapter that each of us and sit down and one by one ask ourselves to see how we are doing spiritually. As I studied I really focused and it made me think. Am I converted? Am I changed. One verse really stands out to me each time I read and it says, Alma 5:19, ‘’I say unto you can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands?’’ I say unto you can ye look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenance. The phrase ‘’’look up’’ is very interesting isn’t it? Through further study I realized that it doesn’t mean that God is some kind of giant and we will have to look up to be able to see him but more of our image of ourselves. Will we be able to look up to God? To hold our heads high and say to God that we did all that we were supposed to do? That we gave it our all? That we are clean enough to live with him? Or will we hold our heads down in shame? Embarrassed for ourselves? Yeah. That’s deep right? But it’s true and Alma said it best. Each of us needs this mighty change of heart so that we are all clean and pure.

I know that the Atonement is real. That Jesus Christ really died for us all. If you didn’t know now you do. If anyone doesn’t know, let him show you that he is real and that he is there. I know that we have a God, a Heavenly Father who gave his only Son that he could be a ransom for us all. I know that salvation can be each and every one of ours. One day we all have the hope of living again with our God and our brother. But what would Heaven be like alone? If you are there with no one but yourself do you think that would be happiness? I'm so sure that it isn’t. I know that I won’t be able unless I am there with every person that I know and every person that I love. So I pray that everyone, my family, my friends, and everyone that I know and even those that I don’t know will test it. Try God. I know that he will show you that he is there and that he is real. He will show you the path that will lead back to him. I love you all. Like Elder Bednar said in this past conference. Come and see.

I love you all and I hope that you have a great week! I pray for you and wish you the best!

 

Love

   Sister Scott

Me and Sister Rawlins and Me headed to Zone Conference

ICE CREAM ,PICS AND NEW HAIR

The Chronicles of Zambia

Good morning and Greetings to my family and friends of all nations!
It’s such a beautiful day wouldn’t you say? This week has been one of
the busiest and craziest weeks we have had in this area. Somewhat slow
but full of action!
So this week we had a lot of activities that took up our time so we
weren’t able to really teach many people but the people that we were
able to see made it worth the while! So this week on Tuesday we had to
opportunity to go and visit with Andrew, the young disabled guy that
we have started teaching. We actually went to see him and something
quite off putting happened. I think it is well known among many of the
missionaries that the view of the church here in Zambia is sometimes
the opposite of what it should be. Many people have distorted views of
the church and there are so many rumors! Some say that we are
Satanists and that we drink blood. So when we went to see Andrew we
actually met his sister Venice and she greeted us and so of course I
was trying to be friendly and I think I opened up the floodgates. She
was asking us questions and so we started to introduce ourselves and
where we were from and she told us that she knew the church and she
hated the church. I asked her why and she said that many people told
her we were Satanists and she didn’t want to visit the church so we
shouldn’t invite her. It was very surprising and I think I was caught
off guard but it made me think of Elder Holland’s talk in the last
conference about the cost of discipleship. That is a living testimony
of our work here in Zambia. We are here to stand as disciples and oft
times we will face persecutions and we will have to stand strong and
firm in our beliefs. I think it is way easier to do it as a missionary
but I think it takes true courage to do it just in our everyday lives
as members of the church. That is something that I want to work on and
be prepared for when I go home.
So visiting with Andrew that day was such a joy. We were able to teach
him the Restoration and it was so great. He even opened up a lot and
we were able to extend to him a baptismal date for December 21 which
he accepted. He looked very happy and joyful. It’s like when we come
he finds relief. He looks very peaceful and I hope that we can find a
wheelchair for him soon so that we can bring him to church. So also
this week we had the chance to teach both Sister Meriam Nasilele and
her daughter in law Eliza. So both are on date to be baptized for the
16th and the 30th; So Sister Nasilele is doing so great! We visited
with her and taught her everything and then she had her interview and
passed so she will be getting baptized next Sunday. Her daughter in
law Eliza is also doing so great! She is such a joy to teach! She
understands everything that we teach and she always has questions
about everything and she asks the best questions! We finished teaching
her the Restoration this week and it was so powerful. She said that
she knew that it was true and that she had prayed about it and to know
if it was true as well. It was a really great feeling. She even told
us that she had a dream after we left and in the dream she was in a
garden full of animals and trees. She said that in the dream she was
collecting eggs and putting them in a basket in this garden and when
she looked she saw three people in the distance all dressed in white.
She said that they were coming towards her and she became afraid so
she turned around to go the other direction and when she went she saw
them again this time on the other side. Then she said she heard a
voice that told her that she was making the right decision. That she
was doing the right thing and then she woke up. So she said that was
her answer. I love her so much. She is so prepared and she is even due
in February to have a baby which is so exciting and great! I know that
we met her for a reason and that God was preparing her.
So the week continued in a great way until Thursday when we had to
opportunity to do a service project. Sister Nasilele was married and
her husband had begun building a house and since her husband passed
she received an eviction notice saying that she has until January to
move out. She doesn’t work and she doesn’t have a way to provide and
so we decided to help them in building the house somewhere near so
Thursday we went to this plot of land and we started to clean and
prepare for the building. It was very nice! We spent about 5 hours
doing that and we accomplished a lot and I’m hoping that we can
continue to get it done before January! And finally the highlight of
the whole week was we finally got to watch General Conference!!! Man
it was so great! So amazing and inspiring! I had many questions that
were answered and I felt very enlightened after it. I think overall I
got three themes from many of the talks. 1. Spiritual preparation 2.
Temples and preparation 3. Family History.  I felt like the prophets
are secretly telling us that Jesus is coming soon so be PREPARED. It
made me really realize that I need to work on becoming spiritually in
shape not just now but also for when I go home. Sometimes it worries
me when I think of going home so that is one thing I really want to
work on! I hope that everyone was just as inspired from Conference and
all that are LUCKY enough to receive ensigns and Liahonas  ; STUDY the
talks. Don’t take it for granted.
So overall I have been feeling mixed emotions as my mission is winding
down. I’ve been studying and all and its been very refreshing and
quite liberating. I have also been studying my patriarchal blessing a
lot too and trying to plan out my life. As I have been studying I have
had quite a lot of thoughts. In my personal study I have been reading
in Mosiah 21-24 and a lot of things came to mind as I studied about
the captivation of both King Limhi and Amla’s people. In this a part
of the Book of Mormon we learn of two groups of people who are in
bondage and how the Lord helped both of them in different ways. In the
cases of King Limhi his people were not following the Lord and due to
their past wickedness the Lord saw fit to chasten them. They were in
bondage so long that they were compelled to repent so that they could
be free. It took them a while but eventually they were freed. On the
other hand we have the people of Alma who were righteous and followed
God but as it says in Mosiah 23:21-22, ‘’Nevertheless  the Lord seeth
fit to chasten his people; yea he trieth their patience and their
faith. Nevertheless-whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall
be lifted up at the last day. Yea and thus it was with this people.’’
When I read over these stories it really made me think about God and
the way that he works. I learned that often times we are in bondage or
difficulties. But God delivers us in different ways; Sometimes he
frees us and sometimes he just gives us the strength to make it
through. Sometimes we suffer because of our own decisions and
sometimes we suffer because he Lord sees that we are ready to grow.
Without trials we never progress and grow. There is a quote that I
read that I loved that also showed that the way that we react to our
situations is important. It says that ’’Some people are like rocks
thrown into a sea of problems. They are drowned by them. BE A CORK.
When submerged in a problem fight to be free and serve God again with
happiness.’’

I know that the trials  that we face in life are necessary for
progress. I know that my mission has been full of ups and downs, and
so it is true with life. But we must trust in God and have faith and
know with surety that he one day will rescue us and we will rest in
the kingdom with our father. I am so grateful for my family and
friends. I am so grateful that I was able to reach my 15 month mark on
mission this week. I have learned so much and grown so much as well. I
look forward to these next 3 months of continued growth. I love you
all and I hope that all of you have a great week! ALSO CONGRATS TO MY
SISTER ON THE BABY :)))

LOVE YOU
Sister Scott