In new mission ponchos, with Gema, Farewell Birthday Pancake

Feb. 2, 2014

Our investigator Gema is progressing wonderfully. One night, we couldn't pass by her house, so we called her and asked how she was doing. And of course, our golden investigator, was reading the Book of Mormon. We have been teaching Gema for two weeks now, and its amazing to see the differences she has made. She doesn't drink water or milk, only coffee. When we taught the Word of Wisdom to her, she was genuinely confused when we explained that she couldn't drink coffee. But as we testified to her that it was a commandment of God and that He knows better than we do, she humbly accepted and hasn't drunk her coffee. I've seen her change from timid and unsure, to more outgoing and confident. And that's what the gospel of Jesus Christ does.

The gospel gives us confidence.

The gospel gives us happiness.

The gospel gives us hope and purpose.

And I've watched the gospel give and give and give, not only in my service as a missionary, but I've experienced that change myself.

Walking in the hot, blistering sun (I know I mention the hot, blistering sun about ten times every email, but seriously, you should come experience this heat. Even the Ecuatorians complain. Thats when you know it's bad), missionaries create fun games to keep themselves positive and full of energy. Hermana Muñoz and I play slug bug, or in Chilean Spanish, ¨poncho¨. Vintage Volkswagon beatle: 1 punch, 1 point. Vintage Volkswagon Van: 2 punches, 2 points. So far, Hermana Muñoz is winning by about...49 points, due to my tendency of singing and occasional treasure picking upping (I have found some niiiiice treasures in the streets of Ecuador, including a nasty Barbie head and a Hulk leg)

I had another I-cant-handle-how-much-i-love-this-person experience. While teachimg Gema, I watched her eyes shine and her face light up. When we left the lesson, she full on kissed my cheek and then told us, ¨Les quiero mucho¨, o sea, I love you two so much. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Hermana Muñoz and I raved about our lesson with her all the way home. With a smile on her face, Hermana Muñoz looked out at the road and said, ¨Es tan bonito amar¨. I agree, Hermana. To love really is beautiful.

This morning, my zone leaders called her at 6:27 in the morning.

Cambios. You have to be in the terminal at 12:00.

No. No. NO. YOU CANT MAKE ME.

That's what I told them.

Actually, I thanked them for the call and slowly walked into the other room speechless. The hermanas huddle around me and hugged me, telling me that all transfers are inspired and that I am needed somewhere else.

I packed my bags while the hermanas made pancakes (because they are the best and I adore them) and I headed to the terminal with Hermana Muñoz, Blanquito, Melanie and Marco. And I experienced the craziest transfer ever. 

I am now in Samanes 2. I go to the same chapel, and will see my old ward, and I live about a 15 minute walk from my old house. And I am surprisingly calm. I feel so at peace! I received a loving affirmation from Heavenly Father that I need to be here in Samanes 2. My companion is Hermana Wright from....drum roll please....LANCASTER, OHIO. I have a companion from Ohio!!! I never would have thought!

The Lord answers prayers. He truly does.

And I know that ¨there is a level of faith that causes things to happen that would otherwise not happen.¨ D Todd Christofferson. Our faith really can demand miracles from Heaven. 

Love,

Hermana Scott

Iquana behind us; dropped his tail and ran.

January 27, 2014

January 20, 2014

So something bit my face. And in a few hours, my entire face swelled up. My mouth was actually lop-sided and I looked like a chubby baby who couldn´t open their mouth fully when I tried to eat. It was really attractive.

We headed over to the doctor, picked up some medicine and those pills and creams kissed that boo boo away!

I have this friend in my ward named Helio. His mom and sisters are members--one sister is actually on a mission in Peru--and his dad is not a member. He has seen probably over 15 sets of missionaries walk in and out of his house and attended church a bajillion times, but he did not want anything to do with the church. 

We taught him about the Restoration of the church, answered all his questions and left the lesson feeling great! But then, he disappeared. We could not find him.  We passed by his house every day and he was never there. Until one Friday afternoon, we found him sleeping on the couch. But we yelled his name and woke him up. Ha. Busted. We walked with him to a park and taught him more about the Plan of Salvation. Then in a moment of silence, I asked him, "Helio, how have you felt the Spirit in your life?" He sat there for a moment and began to tell us about some spiritual moments he had experienced. And we sat there and listened. We didn't say a word. We let the Spirit testify of his own words while we sat there, our eyes locked in on his. Then, the Spirit nudged me to ask him about baptism. He pondered and sighed, then pondered again. And then tears streamed down his face as the Spirit testified to him that it was time. He couldn't wait any longer. The time to change is now. And that change starts with a repentant heart and baptism.

I walked away from that lesson on a spiritual high. With Hermana Munoz, we reviewed what happened in that lesson. We learned the importance of inspired questions. When we take time to listen, the Spirit talks to us. And not only to just us missionaries, but to all people who have been baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. God talks to us. But we have to take the time to listen.

I read this awesome quote by Richard G Scott (everyone here is still convinced he is my grandpa...the whole stake thinks so): "By losing yourself in the service of God's children, Satan's temptations will not have power over you."

Ooooh.

Go out and serve.

And Satan will be withheld.

This week, I encourage you to take five minutes to meditate every day, Monday to Sunday. Read the Book of Mormon or a talk from a general authority or your patriarchal blessing. And then sit there in silence. With a pen in your hand. And write.

God will speak to you.

But you must listen.

You will feel the presence of your Father in Heaven more strongly this week as you take the time to let Him speak to you.

I love you all so very much!

Hermana Scott

Structures to burn for New Years and Hma Munoz

January 6, 2014

My world was completely turned around when the assistants called at 11:30pm Sunday night and told us that Hermana Smuin had transfers. The next morning, a meloncholy cloud seemed to loom in the air of our house. I couldn't believe it. My entire mission thus far had been in that house, in that ward with Hermana Smuin. Melanie and Blanquito picked us up and drove us to the terminal. We found the group of missionaries awaiting their fate and Hermana Smuin and I contacted a group of three ladies to end our companionship with a bang. We learned where Hermana Smuin was headed and she took my shoulders in her hands, looked me in the eyes and cried as she gave me a little pep talk. We hugged and then I looked at my new companion: the beautiful Hermana Muñoz!  A 22 year old Chilean with six months on the mission. She is happy and funny and a super hard worker and I am super, super blessed to have her as my companion!

We have been working from ground zero in our sector, searching through the area book for old investigators and begging for referrals. We spent all week finding these people and teaching lessons.

We took a break Tuesday night when we came home early for New Years. In Ecuador, they make these paper mache (no idea how to spell that?) dolls full of fireworks, and burn them when 12:00 strikes. These muñecos can be from 1 foot tall to three stories high, and they are all over the place! Monster characters, Disney characters, creepy characters that I choose not to look at. They are all over and people will spend months on these things, just to burn them. We made our own litle muñeco, a rebellious sister missionary made out of paper towel and string. We sat outside on the balcony watching the fireworks, breathing in the smoke filled air and burnt out little Misionera Chueca. All day Wednesday, we wrote letters and listened to hymns and studied scriptures, just a relaxing day as four missionaries in one house.

Then Hermana Muñoz and I went back to work. While walking through the streets, I looked up to see a man on the roof trying to catch mangos from the large mango tree. I stopped and stared with a smile. He saw me staring in awe and then gestured for me to come over. I dropped my agenda and ran over to the mango tree, where he launched a fat, green mango from the roof. Caught it and walked away happily. The world is full of good people who want to do what's right. They have the light of Christ and seek the truth but don't know where to find it. I really do feel so blessed to be a missionary in Ecuador. I have power and authority to promise blessings and watch miracles happen. It really is an incredible thing.

Also, I studied hope during one of my personal studies and I found in Preach My Gospel that hope is manifested in a few ways. We know that we have hope if we are tranquil, optimistic, and show enthusiasm and patient perseverance. What a pleasant combo, right? I want to be a more hopeful person, and I want to display that hope in the way I view my sector. Although we started out with zero investigators this week, we have hope and faith that we will find many more. And we already have. It really is amazing what the Lord does to make up for our weaknesses as His servants. We just need to work hard in faith, and He makes up for the rest.

I love this gospel with all of my heart.

And I know that by living the gospel, we find real happiness in this life.

Hermana Scott