Monday, June 27, 2011

June 26, 2011


I am doing great here in Cali the weather is getting hotter but so far i am fine. I am sorry you are sick I wish I could email you a blessing, but that is kinda sacrilegious haha. Bummer about the Honda, that is kinda funny though, did the wheel completely fall off?!? is dad alright? Congrats to Eric, wish him my best. and tell Meghan i said hi as well. give her my address so she can write me por fa please. Oh yeah that allergic thing. well I don't know what it was, it was in this guys apartment we were teaching and I am pretty sure it was not anything I ate because I have had all that food again already. But I think it could possibly have been his cat, I am not sure yet, I am still trying to find that out. I will keep you posted. The mission president has not yet [discussed the doctor visit] and we will be getting a new one next week so it will probably be a while before they get control of the reigns so I will see. if you could send some Clarinex that would be nice but so far I am fine. Yes my pants are still fitting no special requests in the care package except cereal and you know what I like. ;D I receive money once a month so i am still learning how to budget it. Yes we are fed every night, sometimes twice... hence the reason i am getting fat because i can eat a lot more than my comp and out of courtesy, someone has to take the second helping. Usually me, and usually 3rd and 4th ones to keep them happy. The ranch is owned by a less active church member who is old and really needs help so all of the elders in my district go down and hep her out on Wednesdays.
Anyway nothing new to report this week. oh but we did an awesome service project this week. We carried this 20 ft flag pole that was in 2 pieces up to the top of this mountain, each piece took like 3 people to lift. it was like a 3 mile hike and we mounted it up there for all to see, we also hiked a bunch of concrete, rebar, and water. it was really hard but it was kinda like that iwo jima sculpture haha. We had a group of like 20 people working on it.   
On Sun, Jun 26, 2011 at 9:25 PM, Tracie Scott <tlsw3boys@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello Elder Scott,
How are you?  Are you enjoying the mild climate?  It is getting hot here.  We are hitting the 90's now and wow it feels hot!
So, here is the latest in our lives.  I have been fighting bronchitis this week.  I caught a cold in UT and came home with a terrible cough.  It turned into bronchitis and I started antibiotics on Thursday.  I missed a couple days of work.  I have coughed so hard it has given me headaches!  I am starting to feel better, but I still have the stupid cough.  Dad was out of town this last week and returned home on Thursday--so he missed most of the bad night of coughing--which is good, he wouldn't have slept.  He was driving home in the Honda and the front wheel came off.  I am sure he will tell you all about it.  We had to have it towed.  He and your brothers fixed it though.  However, now the garage smells like solvent!  It stinks BAD! 
The Rothey's bought a very huge, very nice house just past Chatfield Estates.  It was Champ Bailey's home.  So, they moved this last week.  So I helped when I could.  Also, Eric Smith got married and the reception was Saturday.  So Saturday morning we had a Relief Society meeting that I attended.  We learned how to get temple family names.  I left with 7 names.  I came home and found another 7.  I am excited to have family names to do in the temple!!!!  I can seal my grandparents!  Then I spent the day helping Sister Smith.  The reception was nice, in their backyard.  Megan says hi!
I think the Hatch's are going to try to find you this week and take you and your companion out to dinner! 
Dad spoke in church today.  He did a great job--it was on the promised blessings in the Book of Mormon regarding America as the promised land.  He still got choked up but it was very good. 
We have about 3 new families moving in.  That will be nice since we have had some move out. The Rothey's are keeping their old home, so they will still come to our ward. 
Chris Chambers leaves the MTC tomorrow.  Quin Capener arrives at the MTC Wednesday. 
So, about your allergic episode...I need some more information.  What had you had to eat?  Had you been out around any plants?  Did you get stung by a bee possibly?
Has the mission president talked to you about seeing a doctor next month for meds?  That needs to happen so that we have plenty of time to get  them.  Also, how are you seasonal allergies---you know your nasal stuffiness?
Are your pants fitting?  You said you are gaining weight.  Are you allowed to chew gum?  Or should I send Tic Tacs? Any certain requests for things in your care package?  How is the money thing?  Do you get a certain amount each week or month?  Do you eat lunch out?  Do the members feed you dinner every night?
Tell me more about the sister you are baptizing in July.  Do you have any other families you are teaching?
Is the ranch you go to a church ranch?  What days do you go there? 
So today we discussed in RS and Priesthood the conference talk "As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten"  by Elder D. Todd Christofferson.
It is a great talk.  I highly recommend you read it.  He tells a story of President Hugh M. Brown as the gardener.  He tells how Pres. Brown purchases a run down farm.  He finds a currant bush that is over 6 feet tall and is not producing currants.  He cuts it down to mere stubs.  He says drops like tears appear on the stubs and he hears a voice that says "  How could you do this to me?  I was making such wonderful growth.  And now you have cut me down.  Every plant in the garden will look down on me.  How could you do this to me?  I thought you were the gardener here?"  He then replies "Look little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be.  I didn't intend you to be a fruit tree or shade tree.  I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say "Thank you Mr. Gardener for loving me enough to cut me down."  Years later P. Brown was in line to be promoted to general, but was denied because he was a mormon.  He left feeling bitter and angry.  He clinched his fists and said "How could you do this to me?"  He heard  "I am the gardener here, I know what I want you to do."  The bitterness left, he repented.  His course was redirected to prepare him for apostleship.  He later would say "Thank you Mr. Gardener for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me."  I think this is such a beautiful story of how our Heavenly Father REALLY knows us and loves us--even when we need our course altered.  Even when it hurts, he knows the outcome.  He knows what we are to become.  He knows we sometimes need to be cut down to mere stumps to become what we are truly to become. 
Tonight we went to the Taylors for dinner.  We played a new game with them  It is called Sequence.  You would love it.  We will have to add it to our games.
Well, I need to get ready for bed.  I work the next 3 days--early.  So 4:30 am get up time.  Argh!  Dad and the boys are preparing for the Moab bike trip.
I love you and am so proud of you.  I know you can do it.  Don't give up---you can do anything.  Elder Christofferson ends his talk with this quote---All of us can meet God's high expectations, however great or small our capacity and talent may be.
Dig deep, trust in the Lord, turn to the Lord and don't be afraid. 
Oh, and I LOVE the pictures.  I will send it back in the care package this week.
I love you dearly,
Mom

Fwd: June 27


thanks dad, I love you all too and yes I got your dear elder on Wednesday I think, anyway I cant believe the wheel fell off! you goof haha. but I am glad you are okay, how is papa doing? is he alright? I am going mountain biking later today with a member that's like in his 60s and way more hardcore than you! I am scared I am probably going to die so wish me luck haha oh and i have gotten really good at juggling I can do tricks now and some other kinds of patterns. I practice every day at lunch and before bed if you are wondering haha.

On Sun, Jun 26, 2011 at 9:30 PM, Bret Scott <bnscott2@gmail.com> wrote:
Greetings Elder Scott from Sunny Colorado --

I hope you got my DearElder.com snail mail last week, I sent it on Monday, I expect you received it Wednesday or Thursday via usps.  All is well this week.  I was in New York again Monday - Thursday last week -- came home mid-day Thursday in an eventful trip home from the airport.

Remember in my note I said that the civic was making a funny noise after I changed the CV axle?  Well, I drove all the way to the airport, and 3/4 the way home before I realized what the noise was.  I forgot to tighten the lugnuts on the wheel, well, the noise got progressively worse on the way home on Thursday, I turned off of I-25 onto Arapahoe road slowly making my way home, suspecting that it was the new axle making the noise -- nope.  The lugnuts finally gave way and the wheel fell off the car!  Luckliy I was only going about 25mph so I sort of skidded slowly to the curb -- no harm done -- I had to have the car towed home, and on Saturday had to go thru the pain of replacing the now damaged wheel studs and ruined lugnuts.  I didn't see any other damage to the car.  Sheesh, and to think i was going 80mph on the E470 on the way to the airport -- I'm glad it waited til I was going slowly to finally break.  I'm counting my blessings this week.

Well I hope this note finds you happy and working hard.  I had to speak in church today -- about promises and blessings in the book of mormon about the United States of America -- needless to say, I waited til the last minute to prepare ( this morning ) and so my delivery was considerably less polished than I'd hoped -- but I think I made people think about the blessed land in which we live.

We're heading to Moab on Wednesday -- and so the next time I write I'll either send pictures or something to let you know how it went, it should be an adventure -- the temperature will be in the 90s and it's a long hot grind thru the white rim trail.

Well son, we're proud of you.  I'm so thankful you are the worthy young man you are.  I'm pleased to see your letters each week and hear of your service and hard work.  Mom is preparing a care package, we'll send you another SD card with your USB stick back.  Those light painting pictures were pretty cool!  You did a great job.

Well, it's 10:30p and I'm sleepy, Love you.

dad

Monday, June 20, 2011

June 20, 2011



Thank you Mason, I am glad to be able to set that example for you and Weston. Mom--> I am doing great, the work is progressing better here with us than in a while, it got kinda stale for a while but we are reviving it. we have found a new family of 3 to teach, they have 18 year old twins. we also are trying to get another family (the Mann's) who was the first referral we received on day 1 in the area. we have about 10 other referrals and are still working on contacting all them. so far they have all told us we can come back and teach. Madeline our 1 investigator with a date is doing great. she will be baptized on July 9 so that's exciting. we also went to our zone leaders baptism of this 22year old girl in the YSA ward (young single adults) which was wonderful. teaching is going great as well, i am still learning a lot though. My area is awesome it is so beautiful, and the people here are so nice and generous, but the food is killing me. It is SO good and i am 220lbs now! yikes!  My companion is awesome, he is teaching me so much and i am learning a lot about my self and how i can learn and grow better. I have learned how to juggle! i got the garments, still no word on the CD player yet though but oh well haha. love you all hope you get my pictures soon. Happy FATHERS DAY DAD. i also sent a card with some stuff in it, has it made it yet? it has all the thank yous as well. Love, Elder Scott

Monday, June 6, 2011

First week in Cal


All is well here in thousand oaks california, i love my trainer elder tingey from colorado springs. we already have an investigator that we set a baptismal date with. the weather here is great. im was 220 my first day and i am drinking lots of wate and have dropped back down to 215. anyway MP3 player is a no go. when i get transferred i will let you know about the bike situation. i have learned how to do a rubiks cube now haha. hope to recieve letters soon. love yall - elder scott