November 12, 2018 -- From Troy to Jewell to Turkey Legs
FRIENDS!!!
There is something incredibly powerful about a changed heart. That is why repentance is so vital- it's not just having your sins taken from you, it is literally becoming a new person through the power and love of the Savior Jesus Christ. We lose all of our unrighteous desires and thoughts, turn our hearts and our minds towards heaven, and start having faith in the fact that we are becoming more than what we used to be. Changed hearts also come with a changed attitude and perspective, and I am more than happy to report that my heart has changed this week! Every PDay, I read back through my general email from the week before, and it never ceases to amaze me how different I feel from the girl that wrote those words only 7 days ago. Sometimes that change is a positive thing, and I have proof that I have become a better person that week through the Savior's grace. This week, I am grateful to say that I have changed for the better.
It started with revelation that I received on Tuesday during our District Council. We were talking about the Restoration, and how that is the unique message that we share with the world. One of the Elders made a comment about that being the most important of all the lessons that we share, but I realized that the Restoration is not just one "lesson", it is the way that we live our lives. As missionaries, we have "lessons" that we teach people, and I have often thought of all of those "lessons" as separate, but that is not the case. The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ includes every single thing that I have ever learned in my study of Jesus Christ. It encompasses everything that we teach as missionaries, and every testimony ever given by a member. The Restoration is still a work in progress because every single one of us is still a work in progress. Everything connects, and everything builds off of everything else. Though this revelation might seem obvious to some, it really hit my heart. Because of this, I challenged myself to think of the Gospel differently, as not just one "lesson", but as every lesson I have ever learned.
Which brings me to the point of this whole story- a woman named Jewel. This week, I have realized that she is the reason that I have been called to Daleville. It is like how I know, for a fact, that I served in Fox Run to meet Autumn. Jewel has an incredible and inspiring story. I mentioned her briefly in my last email- she is the one that has been coming to church for 20 years. For a multitude of reasons, she has chosen not to be baptized until now. Though I won't be able to be here for her actual baptism, she wanted to finish going through all the lessons with me before I leave. I thought that that was just because she wanted to get them done fast (she knows everything already- she has been coming to church for 20 years!!!) but that isn't why. It's because she is one of the greatest people I have ever met, and I needed to learn from her example my last transfer. Honestly, she reminds me so much of my older sister Aubrey. Jewel is teaching us way more than we could ever teach her, and I can't believe how lucky I am to be here in Daleville, learning from her. We have had two lessons with her this week, and we were wondering how we could ever make these lessons meaningful for her. She has met with missionaries more times than I can count, and like I mentioned before, she knows everything. She reads the entire standard works (the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price) twice a year, and the Book of Mormon on it's own an additional two times a year. We want this, the last time she meets with missionaries before her baptism, to be a good experience for her, and so we pondered on that for a rather long time.
THEN IT HIT ME. She has been taught the "lessons" so many times that she knew them by heart. So she didn't need the standard lesson, she needed the one that I had just learned. That everything connects with everything else. Sister Smith and I did some praying and some planning, and eventually figured out how every single point from the first three lessons went together chronologically within the Plan of Salvation. So we taught everything, all together. It was a lot of information all at once, but Jewel could take it and she loved it! We all learned so much, because we were able to make connections that we had never thought of before. After that, I have been so motivated to study! If y'all thought I was passionate with my religious study before, you have no idea what storm is coming to you!!
So that is my big realization- everything relates to everything. Obvious right? Not to me. But now, I have realized how interconnected everything is. I used to think of this time in my life as my "mission" and when I get home I'll get back to my real life. But that isn't the case! This is my real life, and it has been for the last 18 months. When I go home, Sister Scott will still be who I am, even if people will call me Laurel again. I get to take all the people that I have met and doctrine that I have learned with me, and I never have to let them go again. Everything fits into the Plan of Salvation, because that is where we are living.
Two other crazy things that happened this week:
1- I went on my last exchange, and it was back on campus! That was the greatest tender mercy of my whole life. I was with Sister Strong in Troy, and I got to contact and talk to college students again. It made me homesick for TCC, but it felt so good to testify that much again. We found 4 new people to teach within the hour that Sister Strong and I were working there, and I was able to give out 5 copies of the Book of Mormon. There is nothing like missionary work to lighten your spirits! I also had to train Sister Strong and Sister Black on how to do the Book of Mormon Experiment, because they should be doing it on campus sometime next week. No one else in this zone has ever participated in it, so now I have to be the expert and answer all the questions. Which is scary. I think the training went well though.
2-I hit my 18 month mark. My actual 18 month mark. I have been a missionary for that long. I can't believe it! It really feels like no time has past at all. I really am going home soon. I only have two Pdays left after this. I have never been so excruciatingly sad and infinitely excited about something before in my entire life.
This has been a super long email, so I will be brief with a few other highlights.
1- We went to the Peanut Festival to help out again and one of the members I was with said he would get me a turkey leg and give me $5 if I ate the whole thing. He underestimated my love of meat, my competitiveness, and my ability to do things just because someone said I can't. Thanks for the $5 Matthew! ;D
2-We had a fireside in Daleville yesterday that President Smith came to and spoke at. It was great! We wish more people had come, but Jewel was there along with some struggling new converts, so it ended up being worth it.
3-A member of our ward wanted to buy us our groceries because he can't have us over for dinner (he would be the only one home and we can't be alone with males). When we came to him with our shopping cart, he said we didn't get enough and forced us to go get more food. It made us laugh! I am so grateful for members who sacrifice so much for missionaries. That is the kind of member I want to be when I get home.
4-We got free sweatshirts from the animal shelter that we volunteer at. I think they still feel a little bad that their dog attacked me.
Well, that's it for this one folks. Sorry this email was so long! If you made it to this point you deserve a medal. I love you all! I look forward to writing to you again two more times. Get ready for two more long emails. I have a lot to say! Lol! Love you all! Talk to you again soon, and don't forget to read the Book of Mormon!!!
There is something incredibly powerful about a changed heart. That is why repentance is so vital- it's not just having your sins taken from you, it is literally becoming a new person through the power and love of the Savior Jesus Christ. We lose all of our unrighteous desires and thoughts, turn our hearts and our minds towards heaven, and start having faith in the fact that we are becoming more than what we used to be. Changed hearts also come with a changed attitude and perspective, and I am more than happy to report that my heart has changed this week! Every PDay, I read back through my general email from the week before, and it never ceases to amaze me how different I feel from the girl that wrote those words only 7 days ago. Sometimes that change is a positive thing, and I have proof that I have become a better person that week through the Savior's grace. This week, I am grateful to say that I have changed for the better.
It started with revelation that I received on Tuesday during our District Council. We were talking about the Restoration, and how that is the unique message that we share with the world. One of the Elders made a comment about that being the most important of all the lessons that we share, but I realized that the Restoration is not just one "lesson", it is the way that we live our lives. As missionaries, we have "lessons" that we teach people, and I have often thought of all of those "lessons" as separate, but that is not the case. The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ includes every single thing that I have ever learned in my study of Jesus Christ. It encompasses everything that we teach as missionaries, and every testimony ever given by a member. The Restoration is still a work in progress because every single one of us is still a work in progress. Everything connects, and everything builds off of everything else. Though this revelation might seem obvious to some, it really hit my heart. Because of this, I challenged myself to think of the Gospel differently, as not just one "lesson", but as every lesson I have ever learned.
Which brings me to the point of this whole story- a woman named Jewel. This week, I have realized that she is the reason that I have been called to Daleville. It is like how I know, for a fact, that I served in Fox Run to meet Autumn. Jewel has an incredible and inspiring story. I mentioned her briefly in my last email- she is the one that has been coming to church for 20 years. For a multitude of reasons, she has chosen not to be baptized until now. Though I won't be able to be here for her actual baptism, she wanted to finish going through all the lessons with me before I leave. I thought that that was just because she wanted to get them done fast (she knows everything already- she has been coming to church for 20 years!!!) but that isn't why. It's because she is one of the greatest people I have ever met, and I needed to learn from her example my last transfer. Honestly, she reminds me so much of my older sister Aubrey. Jewel is teaching us way more than we could ever teach her, and I can't believe how lucky I am to be here in Daleville, learning from her. We have had two lessons with her this week, and we were wondering how we could ever make these lessons meaningful for her. She has met with missionaries more times than I can count, and like I mentioned before, she knows everything. She reads the entire standard works (the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price) twice a year, and the Book of Mormon on it's own an additional two times a year. We want this, the last time she meets with missionaries before her baptism, to be a good experience for her, and so we pondered on that for a rather long time.
THEN IT HIT ME. She has been taught the "lessons" so many times that she knew them by heart. So she didn't need the standard lesson, she needed the one that I had just learned. That everything connects with everything else. Sister Smith and I did some praying and some planning, and eventually figured out how every single point from the first three lessons went together chronologically within the Plan of Salvation. So we taught everything, all together. It was a lot of information all at once, but Jewel could take it and she loved it! We all learned so much, because we were able to make connections that we had never thought of before. After that, I have been so motivated to study! If y'all thought I was passionate with my religious study before, you have no idea what storm is coming to you!!
So that is my big realization- everything relates to everything. Obvious right? Not to me. But now, I have realized how interconnected everything is. I used to think of this time in my life as my "mission" and when I get home I'll get back to my real life. But that isn't the case! This is my real life, and it has been for the last 18 months. When I go home, Sister Scott will still be who I am, even if people will call me Laurel again. I get to take all the people that I have met and doctrine that I have learned with me, and I never have to let them go again. Everything fits into the Plan of Salvation, because that is where we are living.
Two other crazy things that happened this week:
1- I went on my last exchange, and it was back on campus! That was the greatest tender mercy of my whole life. I was with Sister Strong in Troy, and I got to contact and talk to college students again. It made me homesick for TCC, but it felt so good to testify that much again. We found 4 new people to teach within the hour that Sister Strong and I were working there, and I was able to give out 5 copies of the Book of Mormon. There is nothing like missionary work to lighten your spirits! I also had to train Sister Strong and Sister Black on how to do the Book of Mormon Experiment, because they should be doing it on campus sometime next week. No one else in this zone has ever participated in it, so now I have to be the expert and answer all the questions. Which is scary. I think the training went well though.
2-I hit my 18 month mark. My actual 18 month mark. I have been a missionary for that long. I can't believe it! It really feels like no time has past at all. I really am going home soon. I only have two Pdays left after this. I have never been so excruciatingly sad and infinitely excited about something before in my entire life.
This has been a super long email, so I will be brief with a few other highlights.
1- We went to the Peanut Festival to help out again and one of the members I was with said he would get me a turkey leg and give me $5 if I ate the whole thing. He underestimated my love of meat, my competitiveness, and my ability to do things just because someone said I can't. Thanks for the $5 Matthew! ;D
2-We had a fireside in Daleville yesterday that President Smith came to and spoke at. It was great! We wish more people had come, but Jewel was there along with some struggling new converts, so it ended up being worth it.
3-A member of our ward wanted to buy us our groceries because he can't have us over for dinner (he would be the only one home and we can't be alone with males). When we came to him with our shopping cart, he said we didn't get enough and forced us to go get more food. It made us laugh! I am so grateful for members who sacrifice so much for missionaries. That is the kind of member I want to be when I get home.
4-We got free sweatshirts from the animal shelter that we volunteer at. I think they still feel a little bad that their dog attacked me.
Well, that's it for this one folks. Sorry this email was so long! If you made it to this point you deserve a medal. I love you all! I look forward to writing to you again two more times. Get ready for two more long emails. I have a lot to say! Lol! Love you all! Talk to you again soon, and don't forget to read the Book of Mormon!!!
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