We had a good time, 2010. But I've outgrown you. Hello 2011!!

Hello all,

Thanks a bunch to everyone that sent a card my way, it was wonderful to hear from many of my friends. Christmas was a good one. My zone went caroling both Christmas Eve and Christmas day to a rehabilitation center and the VA hospital. Both nights the dinners were good, both families were happy to have us and it meant a lot to have a nice Christmas dinner. Christmas day was one to remember. My companion had to call international to the Bahamas to talk to his father, and we had to do that at the mission home. We get there and our president's entire family is there. Children, grandchildren, it was packed. We were the only Elders there. It was in the morning, and we got there when they were getting ready to open presents. As my companion called home Sister Winn invited me downstairs with the family. I hesitated but thought, "why not?" So down we went. Seeing President Winn in normal clothes and being called Grandpa threw me for a loop, it was weird. As they started opening presents I had to keep it together. Seeing the grandkids reminded me of my niece and two nephews, and knowing all my family was together made me very, very sad. I excused myself and went back upstairs to call my family. My mother asked me if I had a cold, my throat had a frog in it. I told her it was from yelling at the zone activity the night before, but really I was choking back, trying not to cry. (You win mom, I DO miss my family! Haha I thought I would never be home sick, I was going great, nearly 7 months, but that morning I was very homesick!)

The rest of the day was chill, we just went around and say hello to people. That night all the missionaries in the valley met up at the mission office for treats. Elders Carter, Orr, Calderwood, and myself (again, my district 14E brothers) were talking in a group. President Winn came up to us and said he was glad he had the four of us together. He told us to all prepare ourselves in the next few months, because we were all going to be stepping up in leadership, and that we would be the ones leading the mission....come again! We were floored when he said that. So who knows, come conference time I could be a district leader or something, and once we are around that year mark, I bet a few of us will be zone leaders. I guess we have been out a long time, we really aren't greenies anymore, even though people in Utah consider you a greenie until your year mark, and almost going home right after you pass that milestone! Go figure, Utah, I'll never understand this place.

The Nepali people are, interesting. They are very nice, but Christianity is something totally new to most of them. Even the ones that are already Christian, they don't see the need to meet with missionaries, or be baptized again. Most say, when we bring up baptism, is, "We wait for rest of family to come from Nepal." I am told that's a nice way of saying, "Not a fat chance." Most already have 20+ members of their family here, but apparently second cousins and their dogs are considered family members in Nepal. I am definitely racking my brain trying to figure out how to help the Nepali people. We cover all Nepalis and just the one ward the Nepali people come to because they have translation available. The ward is a small one, typical Utah size, so if we are not teaching Nepali, our numbers our small. We have a handful of English speaking investigators, but we will need to constantly be finding new investigators. I love the Nepali people already. the other day I had my first Nepali meal. It was rice, curry, and fried eggs, all in a pan. You eat with your hands, a first for me. I struggled trying to get the food into my mouth, with the curry is was all very slippery! The family laughed at my techniques and showed me the proper way to eat with your hands. I never knew there was such a thing! I am picking up on phrases and words, and hopefully as I continue to try and think of different ways to get through to them, I will be able to have a simple conversation in Nepali.

I am excited for the 2011, I know that many great experiences await me this upcoming year, as long as I work hard and do my best. The Lord will bless me in the development of my talents, and strengthen my weaknesses.

Elder Scotty

Transfers...how Glorious!

SOOOOOO big news! Elder Warczak has finally left West Valley and the
Granger Stake....HUZZAH! Six months, whew, what a long time. I am glad
to be leaving too. This week at around eight in the morning, during
our study, a man was stabbed right outside of our apartment building
in the grassy area. Ten cop cars, a firetruck, ambulance, blood all
around, it was a splendid sight to see. Officers came up and talked to
us about what we heard and saw, but sadly we couldn't tell them
anything. We heard sirens and looked out out window and all the
vehicles were there. I guess we were carried away in the spirit during
our studying :)

But now the question on everyone's lips. "Where is Scotty at?!?" Get
ready for this...I am now serving with Elder Clerveu
in....the Nepal program! Yup, I will be working with refugees from the
country of Nepal! My area is the entire valley. Where
ever there are Nepal people, we're there! AWESOME! I'm so stoked right
now, my new companion seems amazing. Everyone who knows him says he is
a really good missionary. He came out the transfer or two after I got
here in the mission, so we are both fairly fresh missionaries. I'll
find out more info on him for next week, like where he's from, how
have I not figured that out yet?!? Our apartment is closer to SLC, we
live on 1905 S. The rest of our zone is around the avenues,
university, and other parts of the city! My guess is that I will be
here for a few transfers, they don't put you in a program only to take
you out of it six weeks later. We have translators available to us,
but I get to start learning Nepali during language study in the
morning. Hopefully I can get to the point where I can have a basic
conversation in Nepali. So yeah, that's the news. I miss Granger,
wonderful people there, but I was ready for change. I will send
pictures next week for sure as well. Until next time.

Elder Scotty

Done With My First Area...I think?!

**out of order, sorry**

Pics: (These were at the Bangerter's dinner)

1) There were three different glasses at Thanksgiving. I never knew one could have so many at once before!

2) Name tags too?!? Fancy fancy

3 & 4) In tribute to my little sister Courtney, the master of taking pictures of herself.

5) The beautiful snow that made walking even more enjoyable for me...NOT!

My family and friends,

Indeed the past week has been one full of miracles, after all it is the Christmas season, so of course I am not surprised by this. It is true, the ankle of my companion has slowed things down at times, but we continue to push forward. Yesterday we received two stellar referrals. We also met a man named Marco in a parking lot two days ago, who has been searching for the truth and Christ. He has been to other churches, but his search was in vain. He feels that only our church can offer him that, and he wants to join!

H-A-L-L-E-L-U-J-A-H!!! Am I sad I may not be here to see these baptisms go through if they do? Not terribly, no. I will carry this momentum on to wherever I may go. On that note, I have been hearing rumors about me staying another transfer. President Winn wants to keep missionaries in areas longer and there have been a few cases of some Elders staying in one area for over 6 months. For some crazy reason, if I did stay, I know the Lord would have a reason for doing so.

Our steady investigators our doing well. "M" is striving to do what is right. It is hard right now for him. He still has no job and it is bringing a load of stress on him. Being a parent and having Christmas on the way, I'd be terrified too if I didn't have work! He knows it's true and has that desire to be baptized. His last real hurdle is smoking. He is doing well on it and I pray that he will be able to kick the habit. If I leave I am for sure coming back to see him baptized, I wouldn't miss that for anything! His family has become some of my favorite people here in West Valley.

Tonight we are taking "S" and her daughters to temple square, I hope the lights and the spirit there will spark interest in the daughters. We are going again to temple square tomorrow night with the "K" family, a single mom with three children. They are a wonderful family. The mom has had a troubled past involving crime and jail time. She has changed her life around and what's to start over. Her children see the life that she has had and they don't want to do those same things as she did. The mom may be on parole, we do not know yet, but if she is I hope we can baptize her children and have her follow suit after her parole is up. They seem prepared for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This Sunday we are having a special stake conference. It's rather intriguing to think about. Our stake president is saying Elder Franco, the area seventy is speaking. The West Valley Stake, who is having their special stake conference right after ours, is telling us otherwise. The stake president there told the missionaries that an apostle was speaking, and so we better make sure we are there. The suspense is killing me. Haha not really, a general authority is a general authority, I don't need to meet the top dogs of the church, doesn't change my testimony one bit. A cool experience it would be, yes, but I don't need it. I will make sure to tell you all about it next week.

That's what's going on in the SLC mission this week for Elder Warczak. Sister Winn has a blog she keeps, mamawinnsplace.blogspot.com She takes a lot of pictures of mission gatherings and conferences. If you want to see what the entire mission is up to, I'd check her blog out. Who knows, you might see a picture of yours truly every now and then! I love all of you, my family and friends. I know prayers are coming my way everyday, and I make sure to return the favor to all of you in my prayers too!

Elder Scotty

So this is Christmas!

It is finally December, oh Hallelujah! This past week has been a doozy. Let us start off with Thanksgiving. The meals were wonderful, all three of them. I took pictures but don't have my camera with me. Today my zone had breakfast at the mission home with President and Sister Winn. Our zone won the competition Thanksgiving night to contact as many people as possible, so we were rewarded with a hot meal! So yeah, kind of a rush out the door today and forgot to grab the camera, maybe I will get a member to send some pictures home later this week.

Before our meals, we played in the turkey bowl, it was a blast. The snow was a foot deep, but we all persevered through it. Not to brag, but I caught a touchdown pass and had two interceptions, so pat on the back for me! Hahaha but that's not the most exciting part of the day. Afterward the eight of us missionaries who played football wanted to do some more, we all still had a few hours until our dinners started. So we went to a chapel in the West Valley Stake to play basketball. You know how well missionaries and basketball go together. Elder Burkard went up for a rebound and came down hard. He was injured...injured bad. He tore multiple ligaments in his ankle. He has a nice cast on his leg, and gets around on crutches these days. But alas, they gave us a car to drive around in. Great, I hate driving already, now I have to do it in the snow and ice! I don't mind too much, it gives me a chance to listen to my Christmas music! Needless to say things have been slow due to the injury. We went to the doctor's the next day and that's where he got his cast, so our day and part of our evening was gone. The doctors also told him to rest his foot and keep it elevated for 2-3 days. Well, we had our baptism Saturday and then church Sunday, so he didn't rest, and so Monday, Tuesday, and part of Wednesday became rest days. I was bummed, there was nothing we could do about it, but still, I hated staying inside. Oh well.

Our baptism was solid. The lady we baptized will make a great member. The bishop of the ward baptized her, and Elder Burkard and I gave the talks. Other missionaries were there with investigators, and she had many family members there. We are now targeting our favorite investigator, who we got married, and are now trying to get him off of cigarettes. We've known him for months, and he is really making progress. We also are striving hard to get this family of four to progress. They are really nice and kind to us, I have good feelings about them.

Right now I am trying my best to stay focused and finish strong here in the Granger Stake. I don't think I will have a better area. The members here are amazing. It will be hard, with Elder Burkard's ankle and all, but I know I can have multiple baptisms lined up for the month of December. Even if I am not here when the baptisms occur, I know it will be a great experience for whoever comes and takes my place. People get caught up in numbers around here. The Salt Lake mission is one of the highest baptizing missions in the world, so yeah, if you are not baptizing, your leaders are going to be on you. For me, I know I have worked hard, and I haven't had as many baptisms as I would like, but oh well, I have learned a ton and am happy with where I am at right now.

These first six months have flown by. A mission really does do that, and I am realizing that now. So what have I learned this first quarter as my time as a missionary? I have always had pride issues, comparing myself to the success of others and wishing I could do the same. I worry a lot about things I can't control or get caught up in thinking about the future and what I will do with life, which stresses me out, even though I try not to show it. I try and be chill and easy-going, but inside I struggle and worry. I think these things have been the biggest change in me. I don't have to do things on my own, and I'm alright with that. I can ask for help, and often seek it from those who are having success. For a while I was worried about school and what my career should be. I thought about transferring to Utah, and leaving BYU. I thought a great deal about what I wanted to do for a career and I stressed myself out over it. Now, I don't care anymore. I'll stick with BYU, and when I get back, whatever happens happens. I have no idea what I want to be in life, but for now, that's ok. I'm a smart kid, I know Heavenly Father will point me in the right direction and everything will work out.

I can't begin to imagine what it will be like in another six months, but that's in the future, and I won't worry about that right now :)

Elder Scotty

My First Thanksgiving!

Wow, Thanksgiving, my first one on the mission. We have three dinners lined up. (When you've been in the same small stake for 6 months, you make friends with a lot of people! We're like celebrities here in the Granger Stake.) We are eating with the Smith, Mackay, and Bangerter families. The first dinner is at noon, then one, and finally five. We also are playing in the turkey bowl games in our stake and the West Valley stake in the morning. It's gonna be COLD! But people have been talking trash to all the missionaries, especially the punk high school kids. I'm not a very competitive person by nature, I like to keep things fun, but tomorrow....it's on! Don't worry mom, I'm not gonna superman dive into the snow to catch a ball and break my leg... although that would look awesome! I'll be safe.

The storm was intense last night. Of course the only thing our mission leaders said last night was, "There's a storm coming, be careful." So Elder Burkard and I walked around last night, in a BLIZZARD! I kept a smile on my face, but really, "be careful" that's it? Crazy, we should have been inside.

We have a baptism this weekend. A woman we have been teaching for a while. She has two younger daughters that have been coming to lessons with her. They're not as interested as the mom, but they are kids, I wasn't very interested in religion when I was their age. Our plan is to take them all to temple square next week with the lights, and hopefully that will get the girls excited.

I'm happy to be getting into December, I feel like the month will just whiz on by! Transfers on the 15th will be nice, as long as it's not to Wyoming, I'll freeze there. Thanks for all the support and love coming my way. Take care and hope all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Elder Scotty

Trials of the Mission

Wow. That's all I can say about this week. My mission president's wife called me on Sunday and told me to call my mother. That's never a good thing. My mother informed me that a dear friend of ours had past away unexpectedly. I was lost for words. I was at a member's home at the time, and so I was not going to allow myself to cry with them there. I have too much pride, I know that's not a good thing to have, but I'm glad I did in this instance. I had to change the subject and talk about something else with her to get my mind away from my friend. By far the hardest thing I have dealt with on my mission thus far. This man was my parent's age, and he was family to me.

We have many investigators right now, but few came to church on Sunday. We did everything we could to make sure they could go, to feel the spirit there and have a wonderful experience. Things were already a struggle, now with the death of my friend, the days have been longer and harder. I know where my friend is at and what he is doing, and that gives me comfort. I try really hard to not show the sorrow my heart feels at this time, and I think everyone is buying my cover-up. Again, I'm a prideful person, I'm working on it.

I really have nothing else to report on, life as a missionary goes on. I am just trying to keep a smile on my face and focus on the work the Lord has for me to do, I won't let this tragedy get me down. I'll take it and run! I will make my friend proud, I will become the man, husband, and father that he and my loved ones want me to become. I know that I am nothing, but with the Savior I can become everything and more.

Elder Scotty



**Here are the words Scotty sent to be read at the funeral of Cliff Aalona:

It's never a good thing when the mission president's wife calls you and tells you to call your mother. When my mother told me that everyone in the family was fine, my heart was lifted somewhat. When she said Cliff had passed away, to be completely honest, it felt as if a member of my family had died. Being at a church member's house at the time, it took everything in me to control my tears. Cliff is one of my dearest friends. I always enjoyed talking with the adults at church and at parties more than I did people my age, and Cliff was at the top of that list. Him and I would always go to the Lakes football games together. When I was going through chemotherapy, some of the happiest times of that ordeal for me was when Cliff would call me and say, "Hey! Wanna go to the game tonight?" I had actually been thinking this past week of the high school games, and knowing it was playoff time, thought, "That would be fun to go with my Dad and Cliff to the game and then go to some buffet afterward!" How we loved our buffets!

I do not want to repeat anything that has been or will be said. When I was pondering that night of what my mother had told me and the tears were rolling down my face, my mind turned to my Savior Jesus Christ. In the Book of Mormon, we read in Alma chapter 7 verses 11 and 12, "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."

I am mourning the lost of my friend, but because of my Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, I will see him again. Because of my Savior I have a brightness of hope that someday I will be able to hug Cliff and tell him what an impact he had on my life. I wish I had more time with him, I wish I could have said goodbye to him, but I know Cliff will be with me the rest of my life helping me and my family. I love you Cliff. I will not let you down, I will become the man that I know you would want me to become. Aloha my dear friend. Until we meet again, aloha.

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful...

pic #1 - the temple a few weeks back on p-day, so pretty! Salt Lake City, heck of a town

pic #2 - I, Elder Warczak, was awarded this for being the cleanest missionary in the month of October. No one cleans better than me, no one!

pic #3 - One morning a few of us Elders went and pressed apples for our wonderful friends, Brother and Sister Smith. A sweet old couple that does a lot for us. This contraption is a good 100 years old

pic #4 - I was in the kitchen with Sister Smith straining and canning all the juice (I would stay in the kitchen wouldn't I, I'm such a girl!) I totally know how to can things now, so when I get home, if any moms need some assistance...I'm your guy.

Dear family and friends,

I have to be honest, I thought this transfer was going to be a long one. Same area, same companion, it all just sounded so blah to me. Well, this past week blew UP with blessings. We have two people on date for baptism this month, and by the end of the week we should have another 2, 3, maybe even 4 people! I won't tell all of the stories yet, I'd hate to type all these wonderful things about these people we have met, and then next week write saying, "Yeah, about that....false alarm." So I will contain my excitement and unleash it next time, if that's the case.

The snow is here, and it has been pretty cold walking around at night. I could bundle up with all my sweet missionary gear, but I hate walking into a home and having to take it all off and then putting all back on. The jacket and some gloves will do it for me. And when it gets colder I'll rock the scarf, cause that's the kind of missionary I am.

Utah losing last week really put a damper on the work for a day or two. Everyone we talked to was uninterested, and each person we asked what was a trial in their life right now, the answer was always to this effect; "My (beep) Utes blew it, that's what!" Yay for BYU though, too bad NO cougars live here in West Valley. Either you're a Ute, or a Mexican!

My companion is turning around. He is trying a lot more and together we are seeing the results of being obedient and diligent missionaries.

My zone leaders gave me the calling of "the voice" of the zone. When a companionship puts someone on date for baptism, they call me and then I send out a mass voice message to the zone, informing them of another investigator set for baptism. But of course I don't just "call" everyone, no no no, I'm Scotty Warczak, I do everything big. I rewrite songs and scenes from movies and they are AWESOME! So far I have done songs to the theme song from beauty and the beast, N'SYNC "dirty pop", Backstreetboys "I want it that way", and my movie scenes have included Talladegga Nights and Hot Rod. Our zone is doing well, our zone leaders called the rest of the zone leaders in the mission out, and promised that no one would beat Granger zone this month. Our goal is 37 baptisms, I think we will be able to do it. My district is on fire, everyone has people on date for baptism. The other district is struggling, but I pray that they will get their acts together. We shall see.

That is the update for this week, I hope in the next week or two I will be able to tell you of more people solid for baptism. I'm pumped, this is what it's all about. President Winn told our companionship to "destroy it" this transfer, and that's exactly what we're doing. I love this work, I love the people around me, and I love the Lord.

Love,

Elder Scotty

Elder Warczak is Alive

My deepest apologies for not writing last week. Indeed I was unable to get to the local computer lab to do so, not having a car is becoming a burden. Well, today is transfer day, and guess what!?!?! Elder Warczak is now serving in...the granger stake. Yup, I'm STAYING here in West Valley with Elder Burkard another transfer! A six month area, whoah. I thought I would be upset to be here another six weeks, but when I found out I thought, "Well, I love the members here. Thanksgiving will be amazing because I will know which houses to go to and which to avoid (some people's idea of food is...interesting, to say the least). I don't have to make nice with a new companion. And we have some new investigators that I believe will be getting baptized, so now I won't miss out on those." So all in all, I am happy. I know the Lord wants me here another six weeks for a reason. Perhaps He needs me to step up or learn something here before I can move on. Whatever it is, I am making sure to do everything I can. I love this stake, and I want to go out with a bang. Next transfer I am 99% sure I will be leaving, I don't believe President Winn would keep me in one area longer than six months, unless I was in a leadership position or in a program like the Tongan or Swahili programs that covers the entire valley.

The past two weeks have been incredible. The Salt Lake Valley had their regional conference two Sundays ago. It was held in the conference center, and all 71 stakes in the valley were able to watch. Granger stake was one of eleven invited to attend it live, so Elder Burkard and I sat down in front, the seventh row! Elder Evans of the presidency of the seventy spoke, along with the church primary president, Elder Nelson of the twelve apostles, and President Uchtdorf. I was so close to them I didn't have to watch the giant screens to see them. Amazing. They talked on missionary work, how we need more missionaries, and better quality of missionaries! It made me happy to know that I was on a mission doing my best to serve.

Later that week, we had a mission tour, where a general authority of the church comes and speaks to all the missionaries in the Salt Lake mission. Elder Evans, the same one that spoke at regional conference, was assigned to speak to us. We were trained by him for six hours! We all got to meet him and shake his hand. I learned so much, I have seven pages of notes!

I feel like winter will fly by. With Thanksgiving coming up and then on to Christmas, these months will flash right before my eyes, and then onto Spring! I am pumped to listen to Christmas music, it's the greatest. The music rule is we can listen to any song that is in the church hymn book, so I'll be getting all kinds of Christmas music by various artist. Hey, N'SYNC has a Christmas album, they sing hymns on there, right!?!? Hahaha I know, I'm a funny guy! I look forward most to the lights at Temple Square. What a wonderful spirit at the temple during Christmas. I hope we can take many investigators there to experience it.

Thanks to everyone that sends me cards and letters updating me on home life and what's going on. It really means a lot to me to receive a letter of encouragement from my friends. Keep 'em coming!

Love,

Elder Scotty

Blessings for the Warczaks

Well well well, it seems that my missionary service is paying off for the rest of the family:

Steph wins 10,000 big ones (I feel like a should get a share of that, after all me being a missionary helped you win that! Haha) Mom gets her wallet and check book back, Dad gets this new position at work, my goodness! I guess Todd and Court have their blessings coming soon, can't wait to hear about them**. The days are getting beautiful here, the sky is blue yet it's still chilly outside, love it! The work is going well, we have two people on date for baptism on November 6th. Both are pretty solid, so I have faith both will go through with baptism, they both know the message we share is true.

My companion and I still get along, but it's getting a little tough to fully get a long with him. For instance, we taught this lesson, and it didn't go all too well. My companion would explain a principle and our investigator would be confused on it. I would then go over what my companion said and make sure the investigator understood it. I had to do this twice. Walking out we both agreed that lesson could have gone better, my companion then stated that I shouldn't go backwards in the lesson and say the same thing he just said, it confuses the investigator even more. Now inside I thought, "Don't put this on me, I had to do that because you did a terrible job explaining the principles of the lesson you taught and our investigator was confused!" But, remaining calm I simply said I felt things were not completely understood, and so before moving on I just wanted to make sure our investigator understood fully what was being said to him. Golly, it was a frustrating afternoon, I've only been out almost 5 months, but I already know the lessons and material sooo much better than he does. It's ok, I still love my companion, great kid, very nice, he'll get it together.

Transfers are in two weeks, I am hoping I get transferred. I am ready for a change, but will do my best if I am to stay here in West Valley. This past week a lot of people have called us seeking help. More often than not, it's help with financial things. A few occasions it was things like, "I need a pillow and blanket for the night, I have nothing. I need a blessing, can you come give one to me?" "I just need someone to talk to, I'm really lonely." At times I allowed myself to be frustrated by these things, saying to myself, "We're the missionaries, this is not our job..." but it dawned on me, this is EXACTLY my job! So often missionaries, including myself, get wrapped up in the idea that we are only to teach, that is our duty. Our duty is to build up the church, strengthen the members, bring others the true gospel, and remind those who already know of the restored gospel how wonderful it is and the blessings that come from being active in the church. We are to be like Christ, who, "went about doing good." It really humbled me to know that people, in time of need, think to call the missionaries. No matter how far off the path they have gone, when they hit rock bottom and need someone to turn to, they call the missionaries. We usually can't help them out too much, but we can point them in the right direction and get them in contact with the right people. I love serving people, I love the feeling I get when someone says "thank you" to me. That's the thing I want most out of my mission, charity for my fellow man. Christ-like love for everyone I meet in life, regardless of who they are, what they look like, or what they have done. So I guess staying another transfer in West Valley wouldn't be the end of the world, that would just mean the Lord still has people here that I need to help, and I guess I'll be nicer to my companion, even if I want to strangle him sometimes :)

Take care,

Elder Scotty

**Editor's note - Stephanie won 10K in Bravo's Top Chef Sweepstakes. Mama Warczak had her wallet stolen at church, but the entire contents were later found at a nearby park (minus $15), and Papa John is now a Community Liaison Officer. Woot.

**Did you notice he said "golly"?? haha, Elder Scotty is so funny to me.

Hey Hey

Hello to my family and friends,

As far as the work goes, things are picking up. We have a new investigator this week, and we are meeting with a few potentials today and tomorrow. Nothing too to exciting, but with President Packer's conference talk we have had a ton of run ins with the anti-mormon and gay communities. Those conversations always bring a smile to my face as we walk away from those people :) And of course a lot of drive-by yells out the window at us like "YOU "BEEP"ing MORMONS!, I"M GAY YAAAAYYY!, STOP HATING US!" It's entertaining.

Yesterday was zone conference, it was wonderful. We were trained on how to use the Book of Mormon more effectively, and how to get our investigators to read from it. The Book of Mormon combined with the spirit is our most powerful conversion tool. If our investigators gain a testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, then they will know that Jesus is the Christ or if they already believe in him their faith in him will grow tremendously, they will know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and they will know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. Many people have tried to prove to me why Joseph Smith is a fraud, they have no idea. (Steph, if you could include a link to Hugh B. Brown's talk "Profile of a Prophet" right here, that would be excellent!) **Sure thing, little brother. HERE it is.** Utah is still a struggle, it doesn't get any easier, but at least the weather is getting cooler!

Right now both of the zone leaders do not have driving privileges. We have in each car in the mission this thing called "tiwi". It's a small white box that's hooked up to the car engine, and when you speed or drive too aggressively it beeps at you and records that violation. The mission office has those records and if you have too many violations, it's no more car for you, at least for 45 days, after that if you lose privileges again, you never drive again on the mission. So right now the rest of us in the zone are going on exchanges with them a lot so that someone can always drive one of them around in their area, which is very large. So right now I kind of have a car...but not really! Hahaha.

The transfer ends November 3rd. I'm secretly hoping I get transferred. If I stay that's fine, I won't be that bummed, but this area I am in is very small, and with the the end of this transfer I will have been here 4 1/2 months, I'm ready for a change. I am hoping we will have some people on date for baptism by next week, it's been a while since we have had a baptism, that needs to change. Health-wise I am doing great, Elder Burkard and I continue to work out every morning and I am trying my best to eat healthy. Time is still flying by, October is already half way over, winter will be here before I know it! It's exciting to be a missionary, and I feel my testimony of the restored gospel and my Savior Jesus Christ growing everyday.

Elder Scotty

Handsome Elder Scotty

Photos from Todd & Jocelyn. Lucky ducks got to see Elder Scotty at conference. They've also been able to take him to a couple doctor appointments. This sister is jealous!

We're all still waiting for his luscious locks to grow back. Hopefully they get here in time for him to start dating 1 years and 8 months from now. (1/6th of the way home!)

Conference Weekend, Baby!

The picture is of some service we did for a member this past week. Elder Burkard and I stacked ALL of that hay, the other two elders came at the very end and helped out. My body was destroyed by it!

So I imagine you all want to hear about conference and how that was. Being a missionary here in Salt Lake, conference seemed to have much more meaning to me. We attended Saturday afternoon, but gave our tickets away for Sunday morning. We watched all the other sessions in the Joseph Smith building in the varsity theater. Comfy chairs, leg room, less crowded, and a big screen to watch...it's the best place to watch! I saw many friends from BYU. During one of the sessions in the theater I sat in front of a few boys from my ward last year and their "girlfriends?" and that was quite a surprise. Other people here and there, but the best surprise was seeing my friend Corey Wozniak from freshmen year! I saw my old scoutmaster, Rick Hjelm, who's now in the stake presidency back home in Lakewood, I truly love seeing and hearing from my Lakewood people! I also saw my younger sister Courtney and my brother Todd with his wife Jocelyn and their son. How nice it is to have family all around me!

My two favorite talks were from Saturday morning. Elder Holland and Christofferson really impressed me. With Elder Holland's talk, I was reminded that many people are sacrificing for me to be on a mission, and that many prayers are coming my way. I shouldn't waste any time that I am given to serve, and I need to be grateful for all the blessings and opportunities I have while serving my mission. From Elder Christofferson's address, I took away the steps I need to take to really devote my life to serving the Lord, and consecrate my life to him. I will be working on his 5 points the remainder of my mission and life.

Conference was much needed. I feel re-motivated and excited about missionary work. Our week is going to be a good one! Last night we had our marriage for Marcus and Annie, the couple that got their marriage license a while back with that service missionary we brought from the office. It was a small gathering of friends and family at the church with the bishop, it was wonderful. Marcus is set on getting baptized too, he wants to have an eternal family and be sealed to his family in the temple! Tonight we are meeting with a woman who has come to church the past 4 weeks in one of our wards. She wants to meet with us now and has said she has thought about baptism alot and feels she is ready to learn more and take that step. Elder Burkard and I received an email this week. Our mission president wants every companionship to achieve the "standard of excellence" for their key indicator goals every week. 1-3-5-8-3 (1 baptism and confirmation, 3 people on date for baptism, 5 investigators to church, 8 lessons taught with a member of the church present, and 3 new investigators) Crazy intense to achieve, but if President Winn says it's possible, I'll do it! President Winn told us in the email that we are two of the best missionaries, and we need to be hitting those numbers. I definitely do not want to let my president down, not after I promised him I would be the best missionary in the mission, no no no, not gonna do it! Hopefully I will be able to report in the next week or so that we have met the mark and our on track to keep those numbers weekly!

Today is a very gloomy day. Grey, cloudy, rain....and I am loving it! Perfect Washington fall weather and I couldn't be happier! Keep the faith everyone, much love.

Elder Scotty

Drugs, Shoe Fetish, and Witchcraft

It's been an interesting week, to say the least. I'm still trucking along here in West Valley, I'm glad I stayed because I love the members so much, but a little disappointed that I didn't leave, I'm getting a little tired of the Granger Stake, it's just so tiny, there's not a lot of work to do! We have had a few more referrals this week, so hopefully things start picking up. Conference weekend, what a time to be a missionary in the Salt Lake City mission! I have tickets to the Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning sessions. We have an investigator we are trying to get to conference. He's a black Muslim man from Africa. He wants to know about prophets and is very curious. He is very sincere when he asks us a question. Anyways, we have two tickets for him for Saturday afternoon, and he is trying to get out of some plans he already made for the weekend. Our mission president promised us that if we get our investigators to conference, and they see the prophet with their own eyes, they WILL get baptized! Getting him to conference for us is a TOP PRIORITY! Hopefully all works out and he will be able to come! The companion and I are still getting along, he is getting better about wanting to work hard and focusing on the work. My new leaders are interesting. Our new zone leader goes home after this transfer, and so being as trunky as he is, being a leader is not too important to him right now. And my new district leader is a short kid from Peru, who carries around a toy light saber with him...yup. It's a very interesting zone right now, to say the least! They are both nice though, I'm sure we will get along.

The highlight of the week would have to be our random phone call from Adam. Adam calls us out of the blue, asking if we are the missionaries, we say we are. (We met this Adam the following Sunday at church, he is not all there if ya know what I mean) He then begins to confess all of his sins and desires to know from us what he should do. "I'm really into drugs, which I know is a sin. I also have a pornography problem, but I also have a fetish with women's shoes and I wanted to know if that is like witchcraft or what, cause that's like devil stuff, and I'm ready to throw my shoe collection away, but I wanted to know first how bad it is." "Well, Adam, first off ALL of those things are very bad, you are right, witchcraft IS like devil stuff, don't do it anymore. Secondly, you need to talk to your Bishop about these things, you don't need to tell us all the bad stuff you do, ok?" "Oh, really? Oh ok, I will do that, but do I really need to give up the shoes?" "....(giggle giggle) yes Adam, you need to throw them away (shhhhhh stop laughing Elder!) will you do that?" "Yeah I will, thanks Elders, see you at church!" (Click). "Elder Burkard? Yes Elder Warczak? ...I am NOT shaking his hand on Sunday!!!"

We didn't stop laughing for minutes! With all the drama of a missionary life, there are moments like this one that make it into your journal that you will tell time and time again for the rest of your life! Wherever you are Adam, thank you for providing my week with a little humor. I'm typing this in the Family History Center, across from Temple Square. I am truly grateful to be here in Salt Lake. I think I'm over the weirdness of being so close to family and friends. I'm sure I will see some friends at conference this weekend, but I'm not focused on that. I get to hear the prophet and twelve apostles speak, I get to hear what my Heavenly Father wants me to do right now! I cannot wait! I know the weeks after conference I will be all jacked up and pumped to do missionary work, I just hope I will be able to keep that excitement alive and not lose it.

After this weekend it's a suit jacket everyday for me until next conference...I really hope the sun goes away, if not I will surely die! It's still so hot, it's been 90 this week! I can't walk around in a jacket! So I need everyone to pray that the sun stays down, maybe I will give Chanticleer the rooster a call from "Rock-A-Doodle" and tell him not to crow, that should do it right? Haha I'll survive, there are missionaries in the jungles everyday, I can handle wearing a jacket. I look forward to writing next week and telling you any fun conference stories I experience. All who read this better watch it, even if you're not a member of the church, just do it! Take care and be safe, until next time!

Elder Scotty

*editor's note - we watched "Rock-A-Doodle" all. the. time. as kids. So sorry if that doesn't make sense to any of you, but the Warczak kids all got it!

Transfers Time!

So this is the last week of the transfer, has it already been 5 weeks??? My guess is that Elder Burkard and I are staying together here in West Valley. President Winn I think is trying to keep missionaries in one area longer so that they get to know the area and members better. Who knows, I could be somewhere new in the valley come next week, but my gut is that Granger and I have a few things left to discover together. A little history about my area. We have the Bangerter clan here, the same that Governor Bangerter comes from, and whom Bangerter Highway is named after. Granger is also the home area to Pres. Eyring's father, Julie Beck (who's childhood home I walk past all the time) and another sister general authority...a Sister Thompson?? I don't know the women too very well, sorry all my sisters out there!

We're getting more investigators now, new move-ins and things like that. The weather has been great, walking is not such a workout anymore! Funny story for you all from this pass week: We go to knock on a man's door that one of the wards had asked us to check on, an in-active man who has not been assigned a home teacher. This man is heavily overweight, and tells us that he's not interested in home teachers, and coming back to church either, because his feet are all messed up and he can't get to the church building (Which is RIGHT across from the street from his apartment mind you!). He goes on telling us how he is depressed and he has medical bills to pay and life is so hard and woe is me! I tell him that I too have had my share of medical bills, and am a cancer survivor. He doesn't give it a second thought, he goes on talking about how bad life is and that nothing will fix it. We promise him that coming back to church will lift him of these burdens, but he says he tried that once before and that it didn't work, and with a winner attitude like his I am shocked that it didn't! Haha so any who, as we're walking away I am fed up, he talks about his med bills one last time and I turn around and tell him, "Oh really? You have a $1000 ambulance bill and a $700 hospital bill? I had $10,000 x-rays and pet scans, and $30,000 chemotherapy bills for each round of chemo I had...and I had 14 rounds!" Needless to say he was speechless. I felt good saying it, did it help him out in any way, probably not, but oh well :)

Well, I gotta get running, take care everyone and talk to you next week!

Elder Scotty

Today is a Good Day

First and formally, I would like to apologies to the cougar nation, especially my older sister who kindly corrected my attitude regarding BYU. I thought I was sad when BYU beat UW, but when I thought about it later that evening, I was actually happy. I do love BYU, since I'll be going back there I need to represent it well, even amongst the utah red all around me. So again, I am sorry, I will speak no more evil!

We had Daisy's baptism this past week. I would send pictures of that but the guy that took them doesn't really know how to hold a camera steady, so I don't have a good picture of it. So I thought I would send you pictures of my apartment (and I think my mother would like to see how I'm living these days) It's not a bad apartment, we keep it pretty clean. My desk is the one that has the pictures on the wall in front and around the desk. The big wooden one has been there since the apartment was donated to the church for missionary use...back in 1990! The thing is covered with signatures and drawings from missionaries all the way back to that time. So where did Elder Warczak sign? I didn't want my name to be lost amongst all the others, so I went where no one else had! I think it's a pretty fine little drawing. It's definitely the biggest one of them all, so for another 10 years missionaries will see that and say, "Hey, that Elder Warczak must have been a pretty cool guy" or they'll draw horns on my turtle and write their name over mine and Elder Warczak will be lost to the ages! Hahaha oh well, I had some free time one evening when missionaries had to be inside by 6pm (for some holiday I think, Pioneer Day maybe?)

Today instead of going to the temple Elder Burkard and I met with a couple with this senior missionary named Elder Dehyle. He does marriages, and couples that aren't, he gets them married! So we met with this couple this morning that have been together for 10 years and have 2 kids, but never married. The wife is a member, not active but wants to come back. The husband really likes us and is warming up quickly to the idea of joining the church, he's already been to church twice. Elder Dehyle got in there and said it to them straight, "God can't bless you right now because you're living in sin. When you get married, blessings will pour out upon you." They had talked about getting married before, and the girlfriend said all she needed was a ring! After that Elder Dehyle took them to get their marriage license! Within 2 hours, a couple decided to get married after 10 years and this weekend the Bishop will marry them! YAY FOR MARRIAGE!!!! Once that's out of the way, we will begin teaching the lessons to the husband and preparing him for baptism. It was a really cool thing to sit in on as Elder Dehyle talked to them, the spirit was really strong. This is definitely one of my favorite experiences so far on the mission.

Conference tickets went out today, we're going to be calling all the bishops and stake leaders trying to get tickets to each session. Since we have to stay on temple square all day I might as well see each session live rather than in another building! I am very excited for conference, being a missionary, I feel like I will appreciate it more. The transfer is almost done, only 2 more weeks to go! The first transfer seemed to last forever, this one has just whizzed by me! We found out about some move-ins coming soon, all non-member people moving in with active members. The work will be picking up again this week! After a slow couple of weeks, we're being blessed with more investigators. I know blessings come our way as we do things the Lord's way, and are obedient, no other way will work. I really like a quote by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "If in the end you have not chosen Jesus Christ, it will not matter what you have chosen." It's true, if we don't do things His way, no other way will work for us. We may think it will, or for the time being things may be alright, but in the long run if we have not chosen the way Christ has told us to go, faith in Him, repentance, baptism by someone who holds the priesthood authority of God, receiving the gift of the holy ghost by that same authority, and enduring to the end and keeping his commandments, nothing else will get bring us true joy and everlasting happiness, and allow us to return and live with our Heavenly Father for all time and eternity.

AHHH what a good day, I'm so happy right now. Things are looking up! Keep the faith everyone, and if you're not a member of the LDS church, talk to the LDS missionaries. Locate them through an LDS friend of yours or online at lds.org, and have missionaries come to your home. They're doing the exact same thing I am, inviting others to come unto Christ, helping them receive the blessings of baptism, and joining the one and only true church of Jesus Christ. What can it hurt? Invite the missionaries over, and find out what it is that people like your friend Scotty Warczak are doing. You'll be surprised with how good you feel when you meet with them and they talk with you about Christ. Ask them about that feeling, and they'll explain to you what it is.

I love you all, thank you for everything! Until next week, and remember...the church is true!

Elder Scotty

Summer is OVER!

The summer is coming to an end, and you couldn't find a happier person than me about that! My forehead and the top of my head have been red for the past month! Come on hair, I NEED you back! This past weekend we had another baptism, Shelly. It went well, I performed her baptism and confirmation the next day at church. Sorry I have no picture of it, I forgot my camera! BUT we have a baptism Friday evening for Daisy, and she's part of a big Samoan family, so you know I'll take plenty of pictures. We had interviews with President Winn this week. A new thing he's doing is interviews and zone conferences every quarter, rather than every transfer, so getting to sit with him one on one is definitely a rarity. He's such a great man, we talked about my performance and what I want to work on to continue to improve. He told me to read "The Infinite Atonement" by Brother Callister, so I just picked that up yesterday and am excited to read it. Elder Burkard and I are still getting along great, he's a lot of fun. Our biggest thing right now is quoting funny movies, but our zone leaders asked us to pick something "worldly" that we are to give up. Elder Burkard and I both picked movies, so we've been trying to get better at that. We still do it all the time, we can't help it, but we're getting better at it. All of our new investigators are all kind of shaky, no one is really solid. After this weekend it will probably be a couple of weeks before we baptize again. It's tough in West Valley, especially the Granger Stake. The stake is either apartments, where people come in and out all the time (Many who come to the church for financial help, and so aren't very interested in religion) or it's all older homes, with retired people and very few people to teach. It's tough right now finding. Especially in Utah! Knocking on doors and talking to people on the street is ineffective everywhere else, but here in Utah, NOTHING comes from it. Every one is either already and active member, an in-active member who has hundreds of excuses not to come back, or they are not a member and have absolutely no desire to meet with us, and if they were interested the church building is right across the street from them or they see us walking every day and so they would come find us if they really wanted to. Needless to say, finding activities are tough to plan. We depend heavily on the members for referrals. Utah is still the greatest place to be, wait, Utah, SALT LAKE CITY is still the best place to be! Where else do the missionaries get to go to the temple once a week? Where else do missionaries have access to a place like temple square to take their investigators and see films about the gospel? Where else do you have the church leaders all around you 24/7? Yeah, I have no problem saying it, this mission is simply the best. All the anti-mormons we run into everyday don't have any affect on all the wonderful things we have here as missionaries. I'm even turning into a Ute. YES, I said it! For every BYU fan here there are at least five Ute fans. Red flags fly everywhere here, stickers on every bumper, and red shirts on every person in the street we talk to. And with that said, I'm totally cheering for UW this week against BYU (GO JAKE LOCKER!), I'll be sporting off my purple tie! With what BYU athletics is doing right now, I am somewhat upset with my cougars, I feel so bad for the rest of the athletic programs who have to, in my opinion, downgrade, because the football program wants to try and keep up with Utah and the rest of the country.

Next week I promise pictures and more spiritual things to write on, this week has just been tough with trying to find new people to teach and with other things going on. I received more mail from family friends this week. It is honestly such a burden lifter every time I get mail from a friend. After a long week, when I get a letter of encouragement, telling me to keep up the good work and that prayers are coming my way, it instantly takes away any bad feelings I'm having, and anything that's bothering me doesn't bug me so much afterward. Thank you to everyone for helping me become the person I am, I won't let any of you down and I promise to continue to be the best missionary I can be.

Elder Scotty

When is Summer over again!?!?

This past weekend I was suppose to have three baptisms, and three confirmations; Ben, Sam, and Pamela. Sam decided to take a trip back to Cali to tell his dad face to face he was joining the church. He was suppose to be back Friday morning for his baptismal interview...but he never showed. We called and called, nothing. His fellowshippers, the Pututau's, had not heard from him either. DAYS go by, and I'm thinking, "Great, Sam's dad killed him and now he's buried in some open field." Or, "He's locked up in a basement and his crazy dad won't let him out!" Finally we get word this week that Sam is fine, has NOT told his dad about him joining the church, and will be back this week for the start of school. He's driving me nuts! Well, at least he's alive, so we should be able to have his baptism in the next week or two.

Ben's baptism was amazing. If anyone was ready for the Gospel, is was Ben! He's the one holding the little girl, his daughter Penelope. His twin brother Nick is next to him, he baptized Ben. I confirmed Ben a member of the church the next day at church, that was a great experience I'll never forget. He called me later in the day to thank me and say that he picked the right person to confirm him. He loved the blessing and said it made him cry. Gosh I love this guy, I know I'll see him at the temple in a year when he gets married, he's a stud and will have no problem finding a wife AND preparing for the temple, he wants it more than anything!

Pamela's baptism was equally as memorable as Ben's. She's also ready to live the Gospel. Loves it, has met many of the women at church, and already has a group of friends. She's only 21, it blows my mind that she's my age! As you can tell from the picture, I was the one that baptized her. My first times this weekend both baptizing and confirming....you better believe my journal entries that night were LONG!

This weekend we have a baptism for a woman named Shelly. She wants to be baptized so badly. Her family is not receptive to us, so I'm afraid they'll drag her down and she'll become in-active. She loves to meet with us though and loves the church, and is meeting people at church, so hopefully that won't happen! We then have another baptism for the 4th of September, Daisy, so I'm pretty pumped for the next couple of weekends. We already have new investigators that look promising, my favorite so far is a black Muslim man name Raouf. Our first time meeting him he straight up asked, "How can I find out for myself that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God?" .........duhhhh WHAT!?! We're planning on taking him to see the Joseph Smith movie this week, man I love being in Salt Lake. The weather is still hot, walking doesn't get easier. We did have a crazy weather storm this past week. The pictures of Elder Burkard and I with the pink Victoria Secret umbrella come with a funny story. We were walking and it just started POURING down! We were at a members apartment talking and had to get going to a lesson. We didn't have an umbrella, the day started off fairly nice. She offered us her umbrella and we accepted, little did we know it would be this pink sexy looking thing! I said, "Ya know what, I'm from Washington, I LOVE the rain, this isn't too bad." As I finished that sentence thunder cracked the skies and it came down even harder. So to my reluctance I gave in. We walked all day under that thing, which I'm sure brought many smiles to people passing by, we received many honks and waves that day!

Everything else is going great! It's crazy thinking school is starting back up. I'm excited to hear how the Washington/BYU game turns out. I'm not sure who I'll be cheering for? Football season will be tough to have to miss, but I think I can focus on the work. Come the Utah and BYU game though, I don't think I'll be able to escape it, I think I'll even cheer for the Utes. GASP! I know I know, shame on me, but I'm surrounded by Utes everyday, I don't want to be ran out of town!

Best regards and much love,
Elder Scotty

It's Been a Long Week

So! With transfers this past week, not a whole lot happened. We're at the point where all of our investigators are getting baptized, and we need to find new ones. The first couple of days were slow, not much to do. We're getting more referrals now and appointments with new people, so things should be picking up. This Saturday we have three baptisms!!!! I'm so pumped! Sam is getting baptized at 10AM, Ben at 1pm, and Pamela at 5pm, a full day of baptisms! I'll for sure be sending tons of pictures next week. Then next Saturday, the 28th, we have two baptisms for sure. A woman named Shelly, and a girl named Daisy.

This week my zone had the opportunity to do service in the temple. We were down in the basements cleaning out storage and putting old furniture and things like that away. Afterwards we got a little tour with the guy we were helping. He took us to see the foundation of the temple, the original stones, that was way sweet. He then took us to the 5th floor, the solemn assembly room! This is the room that has the round and rectangle windows you see from the outside. Solemn assembly is where the general authorities of the church meet and hold special meetings. This room is enormous! We all sat where the apostles sat, some Elders sat where President Monson does, I didn't dare do that, I felt like lightning would strike me or something :) We also got to see the desk where James Talmage wrote "Jesus the Christ", it was exhilarating, (Ok, so it was just a really old looking desk, but still cool!)

This Friday night Elder Burkard and I are going to the Joseph Smith movie with Ben and his brother and sister-in-law. I absolutely love ending my night seeing that film at temple square! We always see the 7:30 showing, and it works out perfectly. Our investigators usually come out crying, saying that it was such a spiritual experience that they loved. I expect Ben to be the same, he's so solid. He knows the church is true, he reads non-stop from the Book of Mormon, he's doing a complete 180! He use to smoke and drink heavily, and he's done with both of those. He even said, "I've never been more sure about anything" in regards to his decision to be baptized and become a member of the church. It's still blows my mind that I'm in Utah, being so close to a lot of family and friends, but I know this is the place where I'm suppose to be. There's so much opposition here in SLC, Satan is trying so much harder here than anywhere else, but there are so many good people here ready to find the truth, which is why we continue to be the highest baptizing mission in the world. I'm truly humbled to be able to be here where the church headquarters and leaders are, I still feel somewhat inadequate when I stop and think about it. I got many letters from friends this week, even though I try to act like I don't miss people, I do. I still have a long ways to go, but when I remind myself that after this transfer I'll have four months under my belt, it blows my mind. The mission is going so fast, I need it to slow down!

I wish I had some good stories from this week to share, along with some pictures. I'm sorry to disappoint everyone. But NEXT week, that will be one very long email! So stay with me, I promise things will get better!

Take care, I love you all

Elder Scotty

Pictures

At temple square with Pamela, along with her fellowshippers, the Joyces!

Sister Turner and I. She's my Tongan Sista!

The Granger Zone! I'll miss this group, we have 6 new Elders this transfer, a whole new make-up of missionaries

Guava juice and watermelon oti, the elixirs of the gods!

My new companion!!! Elder Burkard from central California! He's been out about 7 months, this is his first transfer as senior companion, he's awesome! He plays football, hence his ginormous size! He's getting me in shape, 6 weeks from now I'll be looking good!

Elder Dodge and I (The Elder with the shaved looking head with me standing on the left) He's my favorite from the MTC, him and me will be good friends for life!

Transfers, 180 missionaries all in a church parking lot, waiting to see where we'll all end up.

First Transfer DONE...Only 16 More to Go!

This week was much better! I pretty much lived at temple square this week. I went and saw the Joseph Smith movie twice, and then we get to go to the temple on P-days. We put other people on date for baptism, WOOP WOOP!!!

Right Now we have the following people:

Ben O: August 21st

Pamela A: August 21st

Sam M: August 21st

Lori B: August 28th

Daisy O: August 28th

We have a few more investigators I think we can put on date for baptism this month, if not for sure in the early weeks of September. I'm sad Elder Barnett is gone, but change is good. I'm excited for the next 6 weeks. Elder Burkard is a stud, he wants to work hard, he's super pumped, all in all he'll be one of my favorite companions I think! We're back to just being in the Granger Zone, so no more bikes!!!!!!! Words cannot describe the excitement I feel every time I say that, NO MORE BIKES!!! The weather is still hot, I'm looking forward to Fall, but as long as I keep getting some color here and there it's all good. That's the jist of this past week, with transfers things have been kind of low key. I got letters from Jill Beeler and Geneva Smith this week, that was awesome! Keep them coming friends, I love getting mail! There are days when I think about friends and everything back home and what's going on in the world, and I get a little sad. But for the most part I have the right attitude, and I know that I'm out here for the right reasons, and I've learned that days when I'm "GO GO GO" the time just flies by. So my new goal is to forget myself and go to work! Before I know it I'll be on a plane back to good old Washington. Life is too good to be distracted by all the garbage in the world. People that are depressed and unmotivated, get up and do something! The best times I've had out here so far have been when I'm serving others and I put myself second. Until next week, God bless and get out and do some service for someone. I love you all

Elder Scotty

Some Pictures

Scotty didn't send any captions for these, sorry. But I bet he thought this sunset was "flippin amazing. Holy crap, the coolest sunset I've ever seen in my LIFE. Hands down!" ;)

I'm sure this is Rico.

Competition in SLC during the Pioneer Day celebrations/parade

My First Transfer Comes to an End

The picture is of me and Sister Hardy, she's the bomb. She does anything and everything for the Elders, she even does our laundry for us! She'd for sure be part of the Mormon BBQ crew :) the other is of me and the two Canadians, Elder Lybbert is the tall one with Elder Barnett in the middle.

Dear Family and Friends,

I'm down to my last week of the transfer, huzzah!!! It's flown by, the Summer is already coming to an end, what the?!? I've done a ton of growing up I feel. The biggest thing I've worked on so far is my pride. I HATE asking people for help, and I hate getting freebies and hand-outs from people. I'd much rather do things on my own and hold it all in, rather than asking for help. My teaching I felt was lacking, I didn't think I was doing a good job, and I was extremely frustrated with myself. I finally got so tired of it I talked to my companion and district leader about it. I'm glad I did, at the time I didn't like and I felt dumb. But I realize a mission is hard, and you're not gonna know what to do exactly your first couple of weeks out. I think I'm a pretty patient person, with all the cancer stuff I went through I have no problem waiting on others and keeping my cool. But I need to have more patience with myself, and I'm finally starting to get some.

Tough week this one was with everything else. Still rocking the bike, my butt is killing me! Haha but it's getting easier, I'm more comfortable with it. A few people that were on date for baptism are going through hard times, financially speaking. It's frustrating not being able to do anything about it. Other than that the week was just blah, a few new investigators, gray skies, just nothing really exciting. BUT there's always tomorrow, and August is going to be amazing, West Valley is the best, I love this area. Yes, it's flippin ghetto, but I'm from Lakewood, I love ghetto! I'm excited to be here another transfer, the work is gonna continue to go!

the highlight of the week, however, is definitely one of my favorite memories of the mission so far. Sunday was Fast Sunday of course, and so people were able to get up and share their testimonies at the pulpit. Brother Grace, this black convert from Brooklyn who just got sealed in the temple to his wife last week, got up to give his testimony. He gave us a brief bio of his life at the beginning: "My momma was on the rock, and addicted to crack. I'm a crack baby...." Yes, he said crack baby! Oh geesh, I never thought I'd hear those words in church, and then it reminded me of the movie Mean Girls, "Say crack again. Crack"! Oh how I wanted to laugh. Brother Grace is the man, he helps us out a lot, he was even Rico's fellow-shipper.

I've developed a couple of addictions here on the mission. For starters, I buy and drink guava juice likes it's water. I can't help it, it's so good. Music has taken a new meaning. I am in love with Paul Cardell's version of"What do you do in the summertime", and then you throw in EFY music, game over. 2004 stand in the light is the favorite right now, track 4, the violin one...oh yeah. I heard a hip hop song today. The car next to us on the road was blasting "Hotel Romm Service" by Pitbull. It's a song I danced a lot to back at school, but when I heard it I thought, "Oh gosh, it's that dang rap music". I completely surprised myself with that. Listening to Mo-Tab music and EFY, saying flippin, I'm turning in to a Utard!!!

Elder Lybbert went home yesterday. Side note for miss Sarah Porter. Elder Lybbert was taught by Jayce in the MTC, he had pictures and I freaked out when I saw "Brother Porter" in some of them. I would think Jayce would remember him, and others like Elder Watt and Stevens! But back to the story, it was sad seeing him leave, and it'll be even sadder saying bye to Elder Barnett.

We should be having some baptisms in the next couple of weeks, hopefully I can send some pictures. I didn't think I would write long emails on the mission, but looking at this one...I guess I do have a lot to say! Haha, I guess I really do miss my family and friends, not so bad that I'm not focused, but I thought it would be easy to be away from everyone for two years. Being smack dab in Utah doesn't help that though! I want everyone to know that I love you all, I love hearing about what's going on in the outside world, and I'm so grateful for all the prayers coming my way!

Thanks for everything,

Elder Scotty

Another Amazing Week

This past week was the best of the mission. So much happened, I'll try to cover everything:

Pioneer day was a blast, we had a competition, each zone in Salt Lake was given a street assignment to cover during the parade, and we had to pass out as many things as possible, like pass along cards, DVDs, Books of Mormon, etc. We also had to teach lessons and get referrals. Giving stuff out and teaching got you points, and man, my zone dominated! We won dinner at the mission home that night. The parade itself was good, we were at the beginning of the parade, and we were right on the side of the street when President Uchtdorf and his wife rode by to start the parade. We got a good look at us, and he gave The three Elders I was with and I a big thumbs up! It...was....AWESOME!

The biggest news of the week, was Rico's baptism!!! It was definitely the best part of my mission so far. The baptism was beautiful, he had a lot of family and friend support there, as well as support from the ward. He was so happy, I couldn't stop looking at him. So to answer your questions Dad, the best part of the mission, is for sure baptizing, but not just baptizing, but seeing the joy in a person's face when they are baptized and become the newest member of the church. I'll never forget it, I made Rico promise that I'll see him at the temple in a year, so hopefully I'll get to write about that next Summer when he's sealed to his soon to be wife.

The weather is still really hot, and the bike thing....I still hate bikes with a passion. Hahaha, my first day on the bike i BIFFED it, riding up from the street onto the sidewalk, there was a bump and I didn't take a sharp enough angle, so my tire rode up against the bump and got caught, and I went tumbling down! I did a pretty sweet flip, I'm sure it looked cool. I didn't get hurt either, I just laughed as I cursed the contraption that caused the fall!

Take care,

Elder Scotty

Here's a Picture!

To answer some questions:

1) No, we do not have a car. We now have two stakes, the Granger and the West Valley Stakes because that one Elder did go home due to health problems. We just got bikes, and let me tell you...I hate it. I haven't ridden a bike since I was ten, and now we're going down main road, not on the sidewalk mind you, but straight up on the side of the car lane, with cars zooming past us (It's Utah, drivers suck here) so I'm definitely a little concerned...ok, A LOT concerned. Hahaha I'll have to talk to my companions about it, I'm really terrible at riding, and I'm afraid I'll lose control or a car will fly by or honk and I'll lose control and eat it big time!

2) No, we do not cook at all. We have dinners pretty much every day, and for breakfast and lunch it's just cereal, yogurt, fruit, stuff like that.

3) Every month we get $110 on our card

So it's still really hot. We should be having Rico's baptism this Sunday, and then two more next weekend. Sam, our big Tongan, wants to get baptized. He told his Catholic family on Sunday that he's been coming to church and wants to join...his family is now flying out here to Utah...oh boy. This will be pretty interesting, I'm not sure what will go down.

This Saturday, Pioneer Day, all the missionaries are going downtown in the morning to do extreme street contacting, just a competition to see who passes out the most stuff and things like that. Then we get to watch the parade, so if you see a big group of Elders, chances are I'm nearby somewhere!

We're getting a lot of new investigators every week. With the addition of the West Valley Stake, things are blowing up for us. Nothing else, well, I did buy me a Nerf gun. I know, I thought it was dumb at first, but the whole zone does it and I'm tired of getting stuck with a lame-o gun! Haha, so if I'm doing this I'm going to win!

The work is still amazing, other than the sun and the bikes all is well in Zion :) And yes mother I think I'm losing weight. We run in the morning, I don't eat a ton or anything unhealthy, and now with bikes..oh yeah, no way I'm getting fat anytime soon. Elders who get fat are just lazy, it's not that hard to stay or get into good shape.

Take care,

Elder Scotty

The picture is of Elder Barnett and I, with Sam (In the orange shirt) and a kid named Lenny, the nephew of the fellowship family for Sam!