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