Week #14

Dear Family and Friends,

This last week has been so crazy and amazing! I had the wonderful opportunity to baptize Verdella this last Saturday and that was so cool! She has had so many baptismal dates prior to this one. Verdella got up after her baptism and said that she wanted to make sure that she knew what she was getting into and that she knew everything she needed to before she was baptized. Fortunately, this time she was ready. She has received an answer to her prayers and knew that this is Christ's church here on the earth. I love Verdella and am so glad that she made the decision to follow our saviors example.

The most intense event of the week was riding my bike home in the rain! It was so much fun! We had about a 6 mile bike ride back home and we started back a few minutes before 9 pm and didn't get home until 9:28. We were at our ward mission leader's house and he offered to give us a ride home. I told him that we had to ride our bikes home because it's part of the missionary experience. As we rode, the rain came down and the floods came up! Water was running on the street and I was completely soaked. I seriously had so much fun!

 

Saturday night we had a huge miracle. We had just gotten home from riding our bikes in the rain. I had gotten in the shower to try and warm up a little bit before bed. When I got out of the shower and walked into the living room, I heard Elder Allen talking to someone on the phone. After he hung up, he told me that we had just gotten the best referral ever from a member in maryland. He called to inform us that a 16 year old boy named Wyatt was coming to church tomorrow. He is a non-member but has an older brother who is serving a mission right now in Argentina. 

So the next day we went to church so excited to meet this young man. 20 minutes before the meeting even started, a fairly large man comes walking in in some jeans, cowboy boots, and a button up flannel shirt. Just judging by looks, I would have guessed that he was about 22 or 23 years old, but to our surprise, this was Wyatt. He is only 16 years old and didn't know a soul in that entire church building. He hadn't even met the missionaries before and he was attending church! We talked to him for 10 minutes and learned that his biological dad is a member and that he has been to church before in Maryland. We then walked into the chapel and took our seats.  We had the primary program which he really enjoyed! I could hear him cracking up the entire time. After sacrament meeting, we introduced one of the priests in our ward to Wyatt and he took control from there. After church, we talked to Wyatt and asked if we could come by and teach him later that night. He gladly accepted.

When we got to there beautiful home, we got inside and were introduced to his mom, Kathy, and step dad, Rick, both of whom are beyond kind. We started talking all about our missions and what we do as missionaries. Kathy was so interested because her son is out doing the same thing we are. We eventually made our way to the topic of the Book of Mormon. We left 2 copies with them and invited them to start reading it. They had so many good questions that I can't wait to answer next week. They invited us back next sunday and told us they will be feeding us ribs and potatoes!!!!!! How can I say no to that?! I am really so excited to teach them more. They are a great family and seem to be so prepared.

I am loving this area and am so excited to train a new missionary. Transfers are tomorrow which is exciting! I finally get to be on the other side of the trainer, trainee relationship! 

I love you all so much and hope you have a great week! 

Love, Elder Scoresby

Week #13- part 2

Dear family and friends,

This last week was a great one! This area is really picking up and I am loving the work! We have been working really hard to find new investigators and help those we are currently teaching to progress in the gospel. Not only am I trying to help my investigators progress but I am also trying to progress in the gospel myself! It is a constant effort to grow my faith and better my relationship with my savior Jesus Christ. 

I want to share a something that I learned this week from a couple of the sister missionaries in my district. They taught about finding lost sheep. This is a parable that the savior taught. In the parable, I realized how much Christ wants each of us to follow him. He wants each of us to help others to come back to the fold and to follow his will. I can see the savior trying his hardest to help those that are lost come back to the fold. As a missionary, I have a unique opportunity to focus all of my efforts on the work of the Lord and bringing lost sheep back to the fold. I love seeing the change that this gospel brings into the lives of families. 

Thank you all so much for your good work and your support. 

Love, Elder Scoresby

Week #13

Here are the questions for this week:

When you get together with the missionaries on Pday, is it usually with the sisters also, or just the elders?  Any fun plans for today?

How's it going with your investigators?

Are transfers next week? and does that mean your letter will come on a different day?

What is the funniest thing that has happened with Elder Allen?

Does your mission ever make temple trips to the Columbus Temple?

Hey mom! 

Not going to lie, I laughed when I heard you got a ticket for going 92. Speed runs in the family I guess haha. I am so glad to hear that the family is doing good! I miss going on family vacations with you guys, those were the best. I am so happy that little Noah is okay and pretty healthy. I have prayed for him quite a few times in the last few months. 

I have some very exciting news for you! I have been called to train a new missionary! I am a little worried for it but also can't wait to try and take over the area and train a new missionary. I am sure that I will be able to accomplish anything I am asked to do as long as I do what the Lord asks me to do. I will be with Elder Allen for one more week and then he will be transferred to a new area. So to answer your question, yes, my letter will come on Tuesday. Typically on p-day we get together with elders and sisters but it really depends on what everyone is doing. Today we are just going bowling one last time before people get transferred. I am going to be pretty sad when my district is split up. I will be okay though.

Our investigators are doing pretty good! Stacey is staying pretty stagnant right now which is fairly frustrating. We have picked up a bunch of new investigators which is great! I can't wait to start teaching all of them more and see them progress. One that I am particularly excited about is John. John is a 41 year old man that has some major heart problems. He is recovering from a heart attack he had a couple of months ago but he is loving everything that we are teaching him. We have only taught him once but he is so solid. I will keep informing you on investigators as time goes on and as I get to know all the new investigators we met this week. Great things are happening here in the massillon ward! 

Hmmmm... funniest experience.... Oh I know!!! So we are talking to this new investigator named donnie on his porch when this random guy comes up to us and says "aren't you guys mormons?" Me and elder Allen are both like "ya we are would you like a book of mormon?!" (not really that forward but that was the end goal). He didn't want to hear anything we had to say. He said to us, "I don't want to go to heaven because I love worldly things. If I can have and endless supply of blunts and marijuana in heaven then I want to go there. Otherwise I don't." We tried to give him a card after he said that but he just walked away. Donnie turns to us and say "Just ignore him, he makes meth" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA it was so funny! Me and Elder Allen both died laughing because it was such a funny experience. That was for sure the moment that made me laugh the hardest this week. 

As for temple trips, we were going to go on Friday but now that I am training I have to go to a training meeting. We don't ever go as an entire mission but we can go with a member every 6 months I think. I really want to get back to the temple but it might not happen for a while.

I am having such a great time talking to people out here on my mission and helping them to come closer to Christ. I love you a ton mom. Have a good week.

Love, your missionary, Jackson Scoresby

Week #12

                                                                                                                                                    October 12, 2015

So here are the questions we asked Jackson this week:

How are Stacy and Britney doing?

How did you catch the bunny?

What are your favorite things to do during the week?

What do you like to do on your P-day?

Dear Friends and Family,

So Stacey is doing good. She didn't come to church yesterday which is so sad! Her baptism is set for the 20th of this month so if she comes to church this coming sunday she will be able to make that date. She has a strong testimony and loves the church, she just struggles with church attendance a little bit. But she is doing great for the most part.

Brittine.... She was doing SO GOOD at the beginning of this week. She was already considering herself a member of our church which was great. She was understanding everything that we taught her and she was feeling the spirit super strongly when we were there. However, on thrusday this last week she sent us a text that broke my heart. She told us that she didn't want to continue learning from us. She wants to find another path that fits her needs better. I was devastated when I heard this. We have tried to contact her but no response on the phone and no answer at the door. We are going to give her a few months and then go and see her again. Hopefully she will change her mind and be able to experience the joy that comes from being a member of this church.

The way we caught the bunny was actually really funny. Me and Elder Allen found this little hole in the ground with 4 or 5 baby rabbits in it. We went over and looked in and they all ran out so I chased them all over and caught a couple of them. It was a lot of fun.

My favorite thing to do during the week is for sure teach lessons where the spirit is strong. That makes the week so much fun. I love finding new people that are excited to learn about this gospel. Me and Elder Allen have tried our best to find new investigators this week through contacting. Contacting is where you walk around and talk to anyone and everyone you see. It can be really fun sometimes. We met a guy that we are going to teach this week named John. He told us that he died 8 times in the last month. He has had some major heart problems which is pretty scary. He knew some mormons before and said he would really like to learn about the Book of Mormon. I am excited to get to know him.

Pdays are always fun. I really like to go bowling on or do anything with the other elders and sisters in our zone. We played sand volleyball last week which rocked! I need to send you a letter with a picture of me and the majority of my zone. I will do that today. 

Love Jackson Tyler Scoresby

                  The elders from my zone at sand volleyball.  We have so much fun together.

Week #11

Hi friends and family,

(Jackson didn't send a friends and family letter this week (he always seems to be short on time), so I'm posting most of the letter he sent to me.  Enjoy!)

Holy CRAP! (Frank Barone) I loved conference weekend so much! As a missionary it is more exciting than christmas eve! We had a hard time getting lessons set this weekend and couldn't get any of our investigators to watch it with us or respond to our texts. I am really worried about Stacey right now. She said she is having a hard time in a text,

 but won't respond to us when we ask to meet. Her baptism was supposed to be this weekend but it isn't looking like she is going to make it which breaks my heart. I really love her and want her to be baptized soon. 

There were so many good talks that I loved! The Saturday afternoon session was my very favorite. Elder Holland did an amazing job as always. His talk was by far my favorite. He talked about mothers and how awesome they are. I became so grateful for you and all that you have done for me. I know that without you Mom, I would not be out on my mission. I also wouldn't be the person I am today. Thank you so much for raising me in the gospel and for planting that seed within my heart. 

I totally thought that Hannah was going to have her baby this week! I was so sad when I read that she still hasn't had it. I hope she can make it through this next week and can have a cute little baby in her arms soon. 

Now answering your questions...

Our investigators are doing okay. Like I said, I am worried about stacey. She hasn't been responding to our texts or answering our calls. I truly hope that she is okay and hasn't run into any big problems or road blocks. Brittine is doing good. She didn't end up watching conference but this week when we taught her she felt the spirit so strong. She totally understood the priesthood and the need for authority to baptize. She later said that she doesn't want to be baptized by just anyone. She seems to be on a role right now and hopefully she will stay that way. 

The two weirdest things I have eaten were both at a Chinese buffet that members took us to. The first thing I had was frog legs that were deep fried and those were actually pretty good! The only problem I found with them was that after I ate them my hands felt like I had just touched a sticky, slimy frog. I would totally eat those again though. I also ate some muscle thing there which didn't taste too bad at all. It had cheese melted over the top but the texture and consistency of it was uncomfortably close to that of a snot rocket. Elder Allen ate one too and he looked like he was going to puke when he took a bite! It wasn't that bad he is just a drama queen.

The best thing that happened this week was for sure conference. I loved the Saturday afternoon session. If I remember correctly I think about half of those talks made me tear up. I teared up a little when President Monson spoke as well, the reason being that I thought he wasn't going to make it through his entire message. Towards the end he sped up his speech so that he could finish and get back to his seat. He also appeared to be falling over as he stood before us. I hope that his health improves. He is a great prophet and I know that he is a man called of God.

We spend a lot of time over at the Mullins' home. They have been members for just under a year and are struggling to stay in the church. Since we have been visiting them, our relationship with them has grown strong. They are slowly but surely strengthening their testimonies. I have come to love their slightly crazy family so much. I will try and get a picture with them this week and send it next P-day. Speaking of pictures, I have a few to send you!

I love you all so much! Hope you have a great week.

Love, 

Elder Jackson Scoresby

PS the weather is changing. Saturday the high was like 51 degrees and rainy!!! I am going to die this winter.

                                                                   One of our investigators.

                                                                I caught a baby rabbit!!!!!!!!!!!!