Winter WONDERland

Winter WONDERland

February 7, 2018

Excerpts of Sister Scherzinger's letters:

•  Oh my, how time flies! It seems just like yesterday I was trying to figure out how to not be awkward in everything I do... Oh wait... Not much has changed.

• Bingo got feisty this week for #LightTheWorld.  Our elderly friends shouted,  "SHUT UP AND PLAY THE GAME GIRLS!"  Sometimes we need to just stop!   We are missing out when we talk it, but don't WALK IT!

• The Baptism was amazing! Angelina was grinning from ear to ear. I just absolutely love her. She is going to change lives.

• I truly know that BEING IN THE SERVICE OF YOUR FELLOW MEN, YOU ARE  SERVING YOUR GOD. You don't have to be a missionary to do it!

 

• Oh how I love Christmas! As the first snow fall of the year has made its way to Maine,  I couldn’t help but smile as we drove through a Winter WONDERland. Why is it that no matter who or what you believe in, EVERYONE seems to catch the Spirit of Christmas? 

•  I am just excited that this next week we will have a few days of 20* weather. THAT'S A WHOLE 20* ABOVE 0* !!!!!!! For those of you don't know that is a big thing! I'll be able to feel my toes!!! 

• We are only restricted when it is like -10 all day. Even then, we just duck into our apartment and then head back out. WE can only be outside for 30 minutes at a time.

• This week we received a new Prophet and a new First Presidency. What a blessing that is for us to witness. I can't help but think of how literal we should take the scripture "I am the same today, tomorrow,and forever."  We can all draw such great comfort from that!
•  I know it is true. 

12 Days of Christmas from my Home Ward Young Women :)

•  Sister McArthur turned around to see me slip and fall into the SPLITS...Only to have a whole bunch of people gawk. I got up, we laughed, and went on our merry way.
• This got me thinking, You can slip and fall in front of a lot of people ( in life/gospel sense, you can make a big mistake that everyone can see ) but none of the slipping and falling matters. It is how YOU GET BACK UP. 

• HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!  Lets not make New Years resolutions out of obligation, but do it out of a pure desire to change something, to become better, and closer to the Savior!

• I have been pondering a lot about how each time someone is told to flee into the wilderness, they are given a tool by the Lord. We all have our own wildernesses, so what tool has Christ given you?

My final talk to fellow missionaries at Zone Conference 2018

• I know that I want Jesus Christ at the center of my life. I know that without a shadow of a doubt. He is my Savior. My Brother. And my Best friend. He brings the sweetness and joy that Alma the Younger explains in Alma 36. 
• I now know that EVERY “souls is great in the sight of God;” That we are literally his children, and that this is HIS work. If this work was easy, HE wouldn’t be apart of it. So keep going. Even when it’s hard. Because that’s when we allow him most to help, and that’s when our true growth happens. 
• And lastly, I know that I want everything that the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ has to offer. I have seen it change lives, and it has just begun to change mine. Don’t waist a minuet of the Lords time. It is SO precious. And you will wish for every moment back. Let him work merely through you to help “ Bring to pass the immortality and eternal life” of HIS CHILDREN. 
• Elders and Sisters, shall you “not go on in so great a cause?” I pray you do. 

November 13, 2017
Choose to be Glad

This last week I was reading a talk given in this last General Womens Conference by Elder Uchtdorf. (Click here to read the talk) And the Spirit taught me a very important lesson. "CHOOSE TO BE GLAD". I am a generally happy person, but in those moments when SO many "things" go wrong, how do I choose to feel?  If you are human, most of the time you get frustrated, sad, or mad. Right? But why not choose to be Glad? Yes, bad things happen, but I think the world today has it backwards.  Just because bad things happen in our lives we don't have to be mad or sad. It is a choice.  Being happy is a choice. SO choose who you want to be today. Mad, Sad or Glad?!

ITS GETTING COLD!!!

Light the World is making us wicked busy!! WE are now partnering with Walmart, Local hospitals, Retirement centers and homeless shelters. We have a lot of events to plan for and I have no clue where to start!!! But all will go well. I truly am going to lose myself this Christmas in the work because there simply isn't enough time to get all of it done.

Light the World

With Thanksgiving right around the corner I will ask, "What are you thankful for?"

I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for my Savior and Redeemer.  I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and spread the gospel of good news.  I am grateful for my family and friends.  I love you all!! 

Sister Scherzinger

November 6, 2017
No Power November

With the craziness of the storm, we spent the majority of the week helping people dig out.  We spent Monday - Wednesday with Sisters an hour away who had power.  While the power was out it shocked me at how many people were assuming it was the end of the world because they couldn’t charge their phones, or that their laptop died and couldn’t plug it in.  In Bangor, the power was out from Monday morning to Wednesday afternoon. It was interesting to see how not having power brought out the worst in some people.  Who would you be? The people fighting at the gas station because you need the gas to fill up your generator, the person about to maul the lady for the 10 packages of AA batteries, or the person who just uses the time to spend with family because they are prepared? Although the first two were quite amusing to see, I hope and pray that you end up being the last. If not, start on the path to do so. As Elder Bednar has said over and over again, “WE ARE TO ACT. NOT BE ACTED UPON.”

This week we spent our time serving or working on partnerships with hospitals,  homeless shelters, and Walmart.  We are also focused on preparing for Light the World!!  

I love you all!  Stay warm (it's getting cold here)!!

Sister Scherzinger

October 31, 2017
New England STORM

I feel like I always say “ What a week! “ but seriously I think it’s the only way that I can really honestly describe what happens in missionary work. Especially here in the New England area. 

This last week there was a wicked bad storm which has caused 500,000 people here in the New England area to lose power. No lights, No water. Trees uprooted and smashed houses, stop lights were down  IN the intersections, power lines snapped in half. It has been absolutely crazy!  It has definitely made me that much more grateful for LIGHT. 

In the Bible we read and learn in Matthew that Christ is “the light and life of the world” and as we are of the same royal descent, we are too. We are light. How can we be the light to others?  Over and over in the Book of Mormon we see prophets serving. King Benjamin worked alongside those whom he taught. He used his hands to serve and bless those around him.

I have seen this over and over again especially the last few days as we have helped those whose homes have been destroyed, and those who were fortunate enough just to have a few larger branches fall into their yard. We, ALL OF US, truly are the light in a never ending state of darkness. Don’t be afraid to bless the lives of others. Don’t ask if you can help. Just do it. 

I hope you all have a Happy Halloween and really take some time to think about how you can help those around you. I love you all! Stay safe, dry, and warm! 

Sister Scherzinger 

October 2, 2017

Our ReACTions

This past week the leaves were BEAUTIFUL here in Maine. 

As I sat enjoying the brilliant red, orange and yellow leaves, It got me thinking about how at one point in time all the leaves were green. Eventually something hard happens (like a frost) and the leaves begin to change in response to the harsh elements. The change brings joy to all those around. And in the Spring, the green leaves return.... Refreshed and renewed. Are we not much different than the leaves. We experience harsh trials, yet do we allow our response to bring JOY to all those around?  And when the trial ends, are we new again? 

As I was listening closely to the talks of General Conference, this quote just stuck out to me. Stanley G. Ellis said, "we all have challenges, the variable is our reaction to the challenges."   Now, I am not perfect.  But I do know that my purpose in life is to grow. To LEARN, and to IMPROVE. I have control and can change my reaction to be positive to all those around me. 

I was transferred to Bangor, Maine! I love it here, and I absolutely love my Companion! Her name is Sister McArthur and she reminds me of Tiffany. We are serving as STLs and all I can say is It feels like home when I'm with her. 

I love you all. 

Sister Scherzinger

Chasing Darkness From Among Us

September 24, 2017

This last week I was privileged to sit at the feet of an Apostle and
learn from him. Instead of a traditional talk, Elder Bednar  hosted a 
Question & Answer forum for 3 hours.  It was truly a once in a lifetime
experience to be taught by an Apostle of the Lord.

Manchester New Hampshire Mission with Elder Bednar Sept 2017

It was the most amazing thing I have ever been apart of. I must say that one

of the things that struck me the most was when we were talking about
chasing darkness from among us. He told us he believes that the darkness in which most of the world is held in our hand-held devices. It made me stop and think...

Here in the next few weeks the MNHM will be adding Social Media as a teaching platform, and I'll be back on Facebook,  Instagram,  and Twitter.  With a renewed vision of how social media can be used to invite others to come to Christ and spread God's message,  I am excited to shine some light in one of the darkest places in the world. I invite you to keep shining your lights and together we can chase out darkness.

John Bytheway likens the war strategies in Alma 55 to the strategies that Satan uses with the media in today's world. He says:

Alma 55: Be Cautious That No Poison Is Administered Among You

When the offers for a prisoner exchange fail, Moroni devises another way to win the release of the Nephite prisoners of war.  He delivers wine to the Lamanties in charge of guarding the prisoners, who eventually become drunk and fall asleep.  Moroni could have killed all the guards at this point, but instead, he arms the Nephite prisoners of war, and when the hungover guards awaken, they quickly surrender.

Later, the Lamanites tried the same trick on the Nephites, delivering not only wine, but wine laced with poison.  However, the Nephites "were not slow to remember the Lord their God" and they were "cautious that no poison should be administered among them." (v 31, 32)

Again, Satan wants to poison us "by degrees."  Much of the modern media is exactly that kind of poison.  But if we are not slow to remember God, we will be cautious that no poison is administered among us, whether it comes in bottles, or through the airwaves, the cable, or the modem.

It is easy to be poisoned by degrees, and my challenge to you this week is to identify how you use social media.  Is it to build others up, to brag, to complain or to testify?

Sister Gremillion is seriously so great. We have been able to just go out and work, and work hard. I am so grateful for her!

Our car is going in the shop for 4 days: I'm so sad

Yep, I'm HOLDING A SQUIRREL

Sister Magoon & Sister Gremillion

Sister Magoon & I 

Elder Glenn

Sister Training Leaders

Exchanges

I hope you all know I love you and miss you all!

Sister Scherzinger

You Can't Fix Everything

The theme for my week was " You cant fix everything." Just like I cant stop time from going so fast, I cant fix problem-ed companionships, I cant fix that its a 2 hour and 45 min drive to their apartment. I cant fix peoples struggling testimonies.  I can't fix their attitudes.  I've learned that those things are never to be " FIXED" by me,  but to be refined through our Saviors hands, and OUR attitudes.

Several times this week I found myself having this conversation in my head (pardon the repeat from a previous blog post):   “Then Sister Scherzinger, why are you here? Why are we back on this same habit, by these same questions , having this same conversation? Wasn’t it obvious then and isn’t it obvious now that if I want to fix it, I can? What I need, Sister Scherzinger, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, Sister Scherzinger, for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me.”

I have my habits that are being broken. I am being refined. And I am learning to live the First great commandment. But that takes time. Psalms 159:165  "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." So, roll with the punches. Become that person you're destined to be.  Love God.  Truly love Him, and no word out of someone else's mouth will offend you, because Salvation isn't provided by a congregation, but by our own personal relationship with the Creator.

Not sure what this is...but we were given it to eat.....I got two bites down.

Take a minute to watch this beautiful video about Coming Unto Christ.

I love you all, and hope you have a great week.  Remember that if we are feeling frustrated with someone, all we can do is let the Savior refine us.  We are not mean to "fix" other people.

Much love,

Sister Scherzinger