Semana 7 My First Week in the Field
HELLO MY AMAZING FRIENDS AND FAMILY!! Wow! I have so much to tell you! I apologize for not writing a weekly email last Monday I was really busy getting settled into my my new place and I just didn't have any time. But I'm back! How has everyone's week been? There is so much I have to say so I am just going to start from the beginning.
A little over a week ago, I said goodbye to the most amazing district ever and my at home MTC teachers, Hermano Gallegos and Hermana Mejia. I am going to miss them so much. All of them exemplified Christlike love and compassion. We had so much fun together and they have truly impacted my life! To everyone in my district: I hope you have a great time wherever you are serving and I love you all so much! The at home MTC experience has been suprisingly life changing and my Spanish has improved so much because of it.
The Last Pic with my amazing CCM District
I also said goodbye to my MTC companion, Elder Johnston, on Saturday night. He and his family came over to our house and we had some bomb tacos. It was a bittersweet last reunion before going out to the field. He was an awesome companion and even a better friend and I already know he is going to do amazing things out in the field. He definitely made the MTC experience a lot more enjoyable with all of our inside jokes and pickleball/tennis games. I'm definitely going to miss that man.
Last night with Elder Johnston
The Sunday before I left was a pretty chill day, we went to Elder Whiting's farewell talk and he absolutely killed it. I said goodbye to some of the boys and after I spent most of the day packing and mentally preparing for no going out haha! I had a zoom meeting with President Vest again and he went over some of the mission rules and told us our areas where we will be serving for about half of a transfer, since we came in during the middle of a transfer.
Elder Whiting’s Farewell
MONDAY MORNING. Today was such a bittersweet but exciting day! My flight was at 6:00am so I had to wake up at around 2:30 in the morning. I was so exhausted, I don't think I got any sleep the night before. I went to the airport with my family and my cousin Kennedi and said goodbye to them for two whole years. I was definitely sad and I'm going to miss them but I know that what I am doing is a good thing and I'll be back in no time at all. I love my family and I'm so grateful for everything they have done for me. They have definitely prepared me for this (maybe a little overprepared after lifting my suitcases) but I am so blessed to have them in my life. My first flight was from Phoenix to Detroit and I just slept the entire time. When Ianded I met up with the rest of the Elder's and Sister's in my group who were reassigned to Syracuse as well! I love all of them they are so friendly and just as eager as me to get to work! I finally met one of the Elder's in my district, Elder Olson! He is such a cool guy and it was so nice to finally meet him in person. I am so grateful for him and the example he was to me in the at home MTC. Our next flight was from Detroit to Syracuse where we were greeted my our loving mission president and wife. The first thing President Vest said to me was "wow okay I did not expect you to be this tall this is amazing". What's new hahah! President and Sister Vest are the most loving and genuine people I have ever met! Sister Vest and I talked for a little bit walking through the airport and she just has that amazing motherly love for all of her missionaries. She treats us like her own kids. They are so beyond blessed to be here. They are really young and they have five kids all living at home and their oldest is in the at home MTC.
When I walked out of the airport I was greeted by my companions, Elder Wilson and Elder Culebro. They are so awesome. We have developed such a brotherly love for each other just during this week and we have a lot of laughs together. Elder Wilson is my trainer and he's actually from Mesa, AZ and went to Mountain View High School. Hes been out for 19 months and he's so funny and very focused on the work. Elder Culebro has been out for two transfers now and he is still being trained with me. He is from Colorado and went to BYU for a year before going out. He is so brilliant and he loves music. I can say one line of a song and he will finish the rest of the song and it's so funny ahahaha. One thing President Vest is strict on is slang and using formal English to talk to people. That has easily been the hardest thing for me hahaha I have been working on not saying "lit", "dope" and "bruh" and I slip so much. But it's getting better.
My companions Elder Culebro and Elder Wilson
My area is Norwich, New York and its a really small town of only 6,000 people or so. It is definitely way different from Arizona and the town looks like it was built in the 1700's. It probably was honestly. The houses are so old and there's definitely a lot of poverty in this town. The area was just opened up and the apartment we are in is new but it's pretty nice. "nice". We are under a strict two week quarantine and we can't leave our apartment complex for two weeks which is a bummer. We go out into the courtyard twice a day for about 30 minutes and throw a frisbee. We are over a branch with 41 active members and they are so loving and welcoming. They have definitely made the transition easier.
It is SO BEAUTIFUL here!! The leaves are so colorful and it is so green here. The hills are are so pretty and it's so amazing to look at. The weather is cooling down for sure it gets into the 30's at nights and the 50's during the days. But I don't seem to mind. It's probably because I am inside all day haha!
Another picture outside our apartment
Since this is a new area that has opened up, the first few days were really slow but it started to pick up towards the end of the week. We have taught several lessons and we have seen so many miracles. There is this one random number we called and we were looking for this girl who had been taught in the past and this man answered, he was going through some family issues and he was forced to kick his daughter out of the house and he was left with his little granddaughter to care for. He asked us to pray with him and we did and we talk him a short lesson about how God is in every detail of his life and that He loves him. He was really touched and he wanted to meet with us more so we taught him one more lesson this week and we are planning on putting him on date for baptism! Such an amazing miracle! The work is truly progressing and we have had so many amazing experiences.
In the apartment planning lessons! Elder Culebro tried to photo bomb
General Conference is a holiday for missionaries. It was so nice to be able to relax and listen to the words of our prophets, apostles, and leaders. I took so many notes and the main theme of this conference was hope and to have faith in knowing that God and Jesus Christ is with us to help us through our trials. That's what I was expecting with the current world situation. I loved how they talked about racial prejudice and how as members of the church, we do not condone any sort of racism and we must do everything we can to support and stand alongside everyone as brothers and sisters. If you have any other insights from general conference, I would love to hear from you!
There are no off days in the mission field! We are so incredibly busy 24/7despite being in quarantine and my studying has been through the roof! I am learning so much and I am starting over reading the Book of Mormon again. My testimony has strengthened so much and I am excited for what these next two years will bring! I love this church and I am so blessed to be out here. I know this is where God wants me to be.
Sorry this email is so long! If you want to hear some really funny stories that I didn't share on this email, feel free to email me back! I love you all and I am so grateful for your examples!
Also my address is:
30 Midland Dr M19
If any of you want to send letters or whatever! Thank you so much for the love and support!
-Elder Scown
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