Week #21

Hi Everyone! 

Wow this week was interesting. The reason that it was a little odd was because we didn't teach as many people as I would have liked which would typically make me sad and disappointed. However, I have been so happy this week which is amazing and for sure a great miracle! We only have 2 investigators right now but they are both so unbelievably solid! It is Stacey and John. Stacey has been to church 3 weeks in a row which was her only thing she had to do before baptism so she will be baptized the first week in January and John has been to church 3 consecutive weeks as well. He still has to be taught a few things and also needs to change some things in his life. He has such a strong desire to be baptized and is really working towards it. 

Yesterday we ate dinner at Bishop Taylor's house! They have some crazy little kids that I love! As we sat and talked, Sister Taylor said that she knew some Scoresby's and that they had a little girl named Haliey. I said back to her, "No way you know Rob and Annie?!" HAHAH she said "Yeah how do you know them?!" And so I told her that they were my aunt and Uncle! It's such a small mormon world. So next time you talk to Rob and Annie, ask if they remember Robin and Eric Taylor. They went to college together. 

I have a funny story to tell you. Well it's actually not that funny but here you go. So me and Elder Lau (My Chinese companion) were riding our bikes at night to a less active members house in a super sketch neighborhood. The whole time we were riding people would yell "I worship the devil!" I would just smile and wave. Anyway, so after we had all these people say a bunch of garbage to us, we arrived at our destination. As I came to a complete stop and touched down with my left foot, I swung my right foot over the bike (like I always do when getting out of the saddle). However, I failed to notice or remember that the sidewalks are complete crap here! I came down hard on my right foot, right on an uneven surface. Now you should know that I have weak ankles to begin with, so when you throw these uneven sidewalks into the mix, it's a recipe for disaster. I brought my right foot down quick and rolled my ankle about as hard as I did when I broke it Sophomore year. I crumbled to the ground with my bike landing on top of me. Elder Lau, he being chinese, of course found this hilarious and laughed harder than I have ever heard him laugh before. I got up and quickly looked around to make sure that no one saw my complete uncoordination. Now my ankle is pretty well swollen and hurts but I am a boy so I will just tough it out. Hahah looking back it was funny but in the moment I was ticked. I am probably going to get a brace and wear it all this week. 

The weather has been incredible here! It's the middle of December and I have worn short sleeve shirts for the last 3 days! I'm pretty sure that it's warmer here than it is in Arizona! 

I love you all.

Love, 

Elder Jackson Scoresby

Week #20

Hi Everyone!

So this week wasn't a great one. We had a ton of our investigators cancel on us and tell us that they can't meet until the new year which is frustrating. Kathy and Wyatt were one of the few that did that. Then Issac won't text us back or call us back for whatever reason. He is so ready but really struggles in social situations. He won't be making his baptismal date as far as I can tell. Rob (the hunter guy) is so busy so we haven't been able to see him since our initial contact with him. He does however text us back which is so nice. He seems truly interested. Then there is another lady that seems pretty excited about learning more too. She asked for a bible and then wanted a book of mormon too when we told her what it was which was cool to see. 

Now for the investigators that I am really excited about! Stacey and Ernie!!! Ernie is John but he wants us to start calling him Ernie because he has literally become a different person since learning about the gospel. He keeps talking about baptism and how much he wants to be baptized! We are trying to see him 3 times a week and he will hopefully be baptized in January! Stacey is also totally on track to be baptized! Her and Ernie have been to church the last 2 Sundays! She will definitely be baptized the first week in January! I am loving watching these two progress! 

I truly love being a missionary! 

Love,

Elder Jackson Scoresby

Week #19

Jackson didn't send a friends and family email this week, but here's a portion of the letter he sent me.

Hi Everyone! 

This Thanksgiving was good but would've been a ton better if I got to spend it with people that I love. I mean I really do love the people here but it isn't that kind of love that I have for my family and close friends. We had a great time with the Kerstetters and ate some delicious food! They have 13 kids which is insane! Almost all of them are grown and don't live with them anymore but there were about 27 people in one small house! The house size is probably like the Willis's but has a basement. It was pretty packed. They were all so nice! We spent about 3 hours there haha. It was a blast. Then that night we went bowling with the Elders from New Philadelphia which was awesome! I got the highest score! Just to give you an idea of how lucky I got in bowling, I was getting about 120ish points on average, sometimes higher sometimes lower, but then randomly one game I got 225!! That was 6 strikes in a row and a couple of spares! I worked those chumps out there! As far as missionary work goes, investigators were all pretty busy but we did get to see a lot of less active members which was great! 

I am getting so excited for Christmas! We are going to borrow a christmas tree from these members that have an extra which rocks! I thought we were going to go without one this year. I freaking miss you guys especially during the holiday season. I can't wait to Skype you in 25 days! That is going to be SWEET! 

Love you,

Jacky Boy

Week #18

Hello Friends and Family,

So this last week was a little slow. We had a ton of people cancel on us because they were sick. We spent a lot of time contacting this week. During our time contacting, we found an awesome potential investigator! He was out in his front yard shooting his compact bow at a target. He was obviously a big hunter so I started talking to him about hunting. He went off about all the deer that he has shot and about the deer he is planning on shooting. Anyway we then got on the topic of religion and he said that he would love to learn more about Christ. He said that his little 18 month old son was really sick this last week and how it was an eye opener that he needs to come closer to Christ. We will be seeing him later today and I can't wait to meet his family. 

Issac, another one of our investigators seems to be progressing much quicker now than he was before. We set a baptismal date for him for the 9th of January. He's getting excited to for baptism and knows it is the path that he needs to take.

We had another FANTASTIC lesson with Kathy and Wyatt! This past week they read the first 10 chapters of the Book of Mormon and they loved it! They had a bunch of great questions about Lehi's dream. We asked Kathy to pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true and she said that she doesn't want to pray to know if it is true before she has read the whole thing. Wyatt says to her, "Mom just pray to know if what you've already read is true." Kathy responded, "I already believe that what I have read is true." That was the response that I was waiting for! They are doing so great and are loving what we are teaching them. 

We are going to the Kerrsetter Family's home for Thanksgiving which will be so fun! I love them and can't wait to spend time with them. I would really prefer to spend time with my own family on Thanksgiving but that's okay.  Have a great week.

Love,

Elder Scoresby

Week #17

Dear Family and Friends,

I am having a killer time being a missionary! I am loving every aspect of the work. My favorite part is for sure teaching. I love being able to feel the spirit work as I open my mouth and follow the promptings of the spirit. The happiness that comes to my heart after teaching a spirit filled lesson is indescribable! I feel like I could run the whole way home but by the time I go from the front door to the car I'm out of breath...

Me and Elder Lau have spent a lot of time this last week walking around talking to anyone that we see. This is always an interesting experience. Yesterday we met a guy who thought that he was going to marry Katy Perry and then have his face printed on the 50,000 dollar bill. Only in Ohio. We do occasionally find people that are sane which is nice. We have many opportunities to testify about the Book of Mormon and about the Savior. 

This last Saturday we were able to teach a lesson to an older couple that we talked to on the street. We found out that the husband is a less active member of the church. He was baptized when he lived in Mexico but hasn't attended in many years. His wife is really interested in finding out if the Book of Mormon is in fact true. She had so many great questions and is thirsting and hungering to learn more. This was one of those lessons that made me want to run a marathon! The spirit was so strong! I could see the wheels turning in both of their heads and hearts. 

I have seen the spirit work with and change others for the better, however, it has worked the hardest on me. I am now more in tune with the spirit than I ever have been before and I know that this change has come from searching the scriptures and through sincere prayer to my heavenly father. As I continue to feel the spirit I continue to grow. 

I'm extremely grateful for the change that I have seen in myself that has come from the spirit. I know that each of us can have this same experience. I love and cherish each of you. Thank you for your prayers and for your love. Hope you all have a great week.

Love,

Elder Scoresby

Week #16

Dear Family and Friends,

This past week I felt like I changed from just a simple little caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly! (bugs life reference). I'm finding it so much easier to just talk to people about nothing and then turn our conversation to our savior. I am really enjoying the Lord's work and talking to everyone about what I love and know to be true.

Me and Elder Lau had an awesome experience this week! We picked up a new investigator named Rodger who is awesome! We taught him about the restoration and he told us that he knew everything we were teaching him was true. I could literally feel the spirit working through me as I testified about each of the truths in this lesson. It was the coolest thing I have ever felt. At the end of the lesson, Rodger asked me a question I have never been asked before. He said, "what do I have to do to get one of these Book of Mormons? Do I have to come to church first or something?" Me and Elder Lau just looked at each other and smiled. As Elder Lau handed him a copy, he treated it with such care and love. It looked almost like he was holding a new born baby. After that experience, I realized the sacredness of the Book of Mormon and the wonderful truth that it carries. I am so grateful for this gospel and for the joy that it brings me in this life. I know that the Book of Mormon will change the life of anyone who reads it. If you haven't read the Book of Mormon I would strongly recommend doing so. Thank you all so much for your love and prayers.

Love, Elder Scoresby

                                                Elder Scoresby at the Kirtland Temple

                                                     Elder Lau and Elder Scoresby

Week #15

Dear Friends and Family,

Training is going so great! My new companion's name is Elder Lau (sounds like loud without the D). He is a great kid. He came from Hong Kong, China. Before he came on his mission he was going to school at UVU and said that he really liked it in Utah. He Is adjusting really well to missionary life. Me and him are having a really good time together. He is a really funny kid and loves working hard. He doesn't really like a lot of american food so we go across the street to a chinese take out place that he really likes. We went there two days in a row because he liked it so much haha. He is doing really good though. I have found this week that I am more than ready to take over this area as the senior companion and to train a new missionary. In the lessons, Elder Lau is pretty quiet which is fine, I was the exact same way. He gives a little bit of input here and there but the majority of the talking is me. I didn't think that I could teach as well as I have this last week. We have had some amazing lessons! We have so many solid investigators right now that I am excited about. 

One of our best investigators is Wyatt. I can't remember if I told you about him or not but he and his family are great. They are loving the gospel and have so many great questions. Wyatt has an older brother that is on a mission in Argentina which has played a huge role in helping him to have a desire to come to church. Here is his family situation. Wyatt's parents are divorced and his dad married a member of the church and was baptized. Then, I guess Wyatt's bother was baptized and is now serving a mission. Wyatt has been to church with his dad a few times in Maryland and came to our ward for the first time last week. We have taught him and his family twice now and they are doing so great! So Wyatt told us yesterday that he is going to be baptized when his brother comes back from his mission, which is in a year. He is such a good kid and has such a strong desire to come to church and do what is right. Kathy, wyatt's mom, is also super interested in learning about the church. She keeps asking us so many deep questions that are hard to answer in a way that she can understand now. She is concerned with being sealed to her family so that they can be together forever. We gave her a pamphlet on the restoration and she said that she would read it. She is also reading the Book of Mormon which is so awesome! I am so excited to be teaching this awesome family! 

Love,

Elder Scoresby