December 27, 2010 - Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I have to tell you my ward here is wonderful. They filled our tiny little christmas tree with tons of gifts for us to open on Christmas. It ranged from candy to mouthwash (are they trying to tell us something?) from clothes to gift cards.  It was great.  I love this ward sooo much.  They have been wonderful to us. I hope you are enjoying this wonderful Christmas season.  I wish you all the best and thank you all for all that you do for me.  You all are awesome and the Lord is blessing you greatly for everything you do!  Keep it up and Merry Christmas! Have a prosperous, blessed new year and may God protect you in all things.  Love you all very much.

A hui hou,

Elder Watson

December 6, 2010 - Beautiful Baptism

Hey everybody!!!!

How are you all doing?  I hope your holiday seasons are going wonderfully!  The holidays are sooooooooo different in the mission!  Still good but different!  So this weekend was a great weekend as we were able to watch another of our investigators get baptized!  His name is Ryan Bubakar and his mom, who is also investigating the church was able to make it. For a while it looked like she wouldn't be able to come but she made it!  She was sooo touched by how many members had come to watch and support Ryan get baptized.  We had a wonderful short program for him and Elder Chandia and I provided the "entertainment".  OMGoodness you should have been there. So we found out recently that we sing very well together.  We decided to sing Be Still My Soul and In Humility Our Saviour.  We practiced and practiced and it sounded GREAT!!!  But when the time came we bombed.  I don't know what happened but we just couldn't get it on the right note.  It was too high, too low, we were on the wrong keys!  I don't know.  All I know it that I was laughing so hard and decided to bear my testimony instead.  Poor Elder Chandia was sooo embarrased he walked out of the room and didn't want to come back in!  I have been with this ward soo long I feel they are family and know that they are very forgiving so I wasn't embarrased at all.  Anyways, back on to the Bubakar's, the mom felt the spirit so strongly that baptism day and was able to meet many of the members and make some good friends.  Yesterday Ryan was confirmed and Sis. Bubakar decided to stay for the full three hours this time, (this being her second time to church).  She loved it!  She was welcomed into the ward as though she had been a member all her life and learned so much.  We asked if she was ready for her baptism on the 18th and she laughed and asked us, "Do you think I'm ready?"  We were like "Yeah!"  She goes, "Yeah, I'm ready!"  We were soooo elated. Anyway, we are excited to be ending the year with two maybe three baptisms.  We haven't been so good at finding lately so I think the next couple of months are going to be hard!  Teaching pool is small.  But we have great faith, elder chandia and I.  I know the Lord will bless us with the righteous desires of my heart.  Let me know how you all are doing.  Thank you for all your letters, love, and support!  Thank you for being so patient with my slow responses!  I love you all and hope all is well! Happy Holidays.  May God be with you!

Elder Watson!!!

November 29, 2010 - Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello Hello!

There is sooooo much to tell you. I'll start off first by telling you about my thanksgiving.  We had no set appointments the day of thanksgiving except for dinner which was at the Bishop family's house.  If you don't remember they are the new converts, the first family Elder McMaster and I baptized on My mission.  Actually he did the baptizing but you know what I mean.  So because we had no set appointments Elder Chandia and i decided to do some work!  We went OYMing (OYM stands for open your mouth)  in the parking lot of the Food Lion which is like a foodland for an hour.  No luck there.  Then we went knocking for another hour and boy were the people not happy to have us interrupt their wonderful thanksgiving get togethers!  They weren't mean but they weren't happy. hehe  And then we OYMed again at another Food Lion close to where our dinner appointment was.  Finally it was time for our dinner appointment which took a while to put together, so we spent a lot of time just smelling all the deliciousness and dying of hunger! lol....But then we ate and it was sooooooooo delicious.  What did we eat you ask?  I have no idea but it was good.  I took some pictures and will send you some in the mail.  She had more dishes than I could remember and each was satisfying. We had planned to leave straight after dinner so we could find some people to teach but ended up staying the rest of the night with them.  They were struggling as new converts and we had many great conversations on problems they had come in contact with since being baptized.  It's sad sometime to see small things get in the way of someones growing testimony, but when a testimony in only in its beginning stages it can be easily destroyed.  So all in all our thanksgiving was wonderful.  But even with a wonderful thanksgiving I couldn't help imagine what it was that you all were eating!  I bet you guys had a wonderful thanksgiving feast as well!

These past few days were quite exhausting.  We have been helping people move in and out of the ward and have been doing service for less active members for the past three days.  To top it off we, ourselves, moved today.  We are still not finished moving and cleaning three years of left overs from elders past but we just had to take a break and write to you, our families.  Plus Elder Chandia was pouting all day cuz he hates moving (I think cleaning for that matter ;) ) and all he wanted to do was leave and email.  So finally, after watching him mope for hours I decided to give in!  LoL...I'm only kidding.  We have been working hard on leaving the Lewis' home as clean as possible.  We love them so much.  For the last 6 months they have been so awesome to us.  They have been housing missionaries for three years going on four and were sad to hear that we had to leave.  In fact, we asked sister Lewis to come down and help us figure out which is missionary stuff and which might be her stuff.  She kept saying she would come down and never did.  Finally she came down today and just broke down crying.  She felt like she was losing her son's.  She couldn't go through each thing without telling us the story behind it.  I'm really going to miss living in their house.  I dont think there will be any place better on the mission. And I am going to miss Brother and Sister Lewis.  It won't be the same just seeing them once a week as church.  hmmmmm.....sad.

On another, hopefully lighter note, I found out today that I'm staying in Mt. Airy for one more transfer which is another 6 weeks.  I've been pestering Elder Chandia soooo much he cried when he heard I was staying! LoL....only kidding again.  We work very very well together and I can't wait to baptized more and more people.  This transfer is going to be great!  I'm pretty sure that this will be my last transfer here with I wont mind at all.  Mt. Airy has become my home away from home, and if I can't spend the Holidays at home with my Family and friends then I'd rather spend it here with my ward family!  

Well that is all for now.  If you get a chance send some to me from the holidays or of anything.  I miss you all and love you with all my heart.  May God be with you till we meet again!

A hui hou,

Elder Watson!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

November 15, 2010 - I love My Mission!

Aloha family!!! 

So Heavenly Father is greatly blessing us in Mt Airy Maryland and I hope he is blessing you wherever you may be!!! Last night we had a simple but great experience.  We have been teaching Ryan Bubakar for a while now and really have been wanting to get his single mom involved as well.  We asked him to share what we have taught him to his mom and when he would attend church to share what he felt and learned at church.  Everytime we'd meet he would say that he didn't get a chance to talk to her.   Then we put him on date and told him he really really needed to talk to her about getting baptized because she has to give her permission in order for him to be baptized.  (note: She is a hard woman to get a hold of because she works two jobs as a nurse and whenever we catch her at home she's always asleep!)  So a week after setting a date he still hadn't told her, we were admonished by our Zone leaders to talk to her or else he can't be counted as "on date".  So we set an appointment with Ryan to meet with him and his mom on Sunday, last night, at his house.  We were running a bit late so we called to let them know and Ryan tried to reschedule.  We ask to talk to his mom and found out that he forgot to tell her and she was getting ready for bed.  But she's so sweet and nice that she told us to hold on for a few minutes, she would get changed and we could come in.  Long story short, we asked if she had questions; she wanted to know what exactly was being taught; we taught the first lesson; she thought it to make sense and wanted to learn more.  We told her that we set a date for Ryan to be baptized the 27th of this month and asked for her permission.  She looked at him and said, "Is that what you want?"  He said yep.  She said "Okay! If he wants to then that's fine."  She told us she'd seen missionaries before and noticed how young we were.  She saw the great work we did and how it kept young boys out of trouble.  She expressed how what she sees in us is what she wants for her son so she is totally fine with us teaching him and him getting baptized.  It was a wonderful, spirit filled lesson with the Bubakar family and I fully believe that as we continue to meet with them they will want to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God and then work toward being a forever family!

I'm doing very well here and I can't wait to go back out and bring more of our brothers and sisters to the knowledge of the blessing the restored gospel can bring to each person's life!  This is a wonderful work and I encourage you to take part.  But in order to do so you have to know what it is you are taking part in so continue, if you haven't already, to search the scriptures and build your knowledge and testimony of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Visit and invite other to visit mormon.org.  I miss you all and hope you are doing well.  I'll talke to you all soon.  Aloha nui loa!

Elder Watson

November 8, 2010

Hello Everybody!

I am doing just fine.  Nothing too exciting from last week but the work is going very well.   We have been working really really hard and seeing things pick up which I'm excited about.  We are constantly finding new ways to keep the work progressing.  We currently have two people on date, on for the 24th of November, Ryan Bubaker, and another for the 4th of December, Danielle Cohen.  We are very excited and are hoping we can keep them going strong.  Already the adversary is working hard to keep them from keeping their commitments but our faith is strong and we will not let him win.  I hope all is well with you all. I miss you all and talk to you again soon!!!!

Elder Watson

November 1, 2010

Hey !!!

 How are you!! Just to let you know, I have been doing very well.  Extremely busy and just a bit stressed.  You know how I do.  But you know, I think I'm doing alot better at handling the stressful things. It doesn't get me down or discouraged.  Just makes me try to figure out how I can make things a lot easier and definitely helps me to rely more on the Lord!  I feel like I never have time to rest anymore.  Im constantly thinking on how I can help, improve, better, myself, my trainee, and my district.  But it's fun.  I love the opportunities I have been given and am learning alot.  I do have time to miss you all.   I love you all.  Talk to you laters!

Elder Watson

Meeting Elder Chandia

Monday, October 25, 2010

Hi everybody!!

I'm doing well and so is Elder Chandia. He is a great missionary and I feel I have to do little training with him. He's good with teaching and following the spirit and has a very likable personality so he gets along well with the members of the church and our investigators that we currently are teaching. It makes it a whole lot easier as a district leader as well. We just now need to make our area the example for the rest of our district to follow. Currently we are a pretty bad example. But I feel good things coming up in the future for us.

We are working really hard with this investigator, Jose Deleon, and feel that he will progress quickly towards baptism. We meet with him more than once a week and he keeps all the commitments we give him. He's such a wonderful kid, I just hope his parents allow him to get baptized. They don't have too much of a like for us. They aren't mean but they've had bad experiences with Mormon missionaries in the past. We are also working with another young boy who is very interested in religion. Only 14 and very good at recognizing the spirit. He and his sister, who's only 7, have been meeting with us. Their mother is a single parent and works all day but is fine and comfortable with us teaching them. We hope to get the mom involved soon. That would help so much in their conversion.

We are desperately trying to get the members involved once again but because of the holidays coming up things are so hectic. Surprisingly I haven't been too stressed as I anticipated I would be. I feel strongly that the Lord is preparing ways for us to accomplish the goals we have set for ourselves and as a mission. I so very much love being a missionary and feel that I have grown so much in the past 5 months. I can't wait to see what else is in store for me and the people of Maryland. I hope you are all doing great! I love you all and miss you but I know that the Lord is watching over each of you. Please be alert to his promptings and guidance. I know that God loves each of us and wants us to be happy but we can't achieve that happiness if we aren't listening what he's trying to tell us. Once again I love you all. Take great care and God bless.

Elder Watson

A New Companion & New Responsibility!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Hey everybody!!! So for the news you have all been waiting for.....I did not get transferred but my companion, Elder Paine, did. It was a bit dissapointing. Elder Paine and I did not get along very well in the beginning. We had to work really hard to understand each other and gain respect for one another. After much hard work we became really good friends. We found a way to work and teach extremely well. And just after we finally figured all these things out he gets transferred. But that's okay the Lord needed him to step it up a little and lead a district in the Eldersburg area in Maryland. He is a great guy with lots of leadership qualities. He will definitely go far. So I'm still here in Mt. Airy....but this time with more responsibilities or stress I should say...or blessings, depending on how you look at it! LoL....I've been called to serve as district leader as well and I am also training a wonderful Elder from Las Vegas. He already seems like a great guy, with a wonderful testimony, and very easy to get along with. His name is Elder Chandia, 19 yrs old, and ready to serve serve serve! I'm excited about this transfer but I will need all the support I can get from heavenly father. Elder McMaster, my trainer is training again and our lineage just got bigger. So this is how it goes:

Elder Hurst (Currently home) trained Elder Forbush

Elder Forbush trained Elder Wong and Elder McMaster

Elder Wong is training Elder Nickels

Elder McMaster trained Me and is training Elder Barlow

And I'm training Elder Chandia

Great grandfather Hurst

Grandfather Forbush

Uncle Wong

Daddy McMaster

Cousin Nickels

Brother Barlow

Son Chandia

that is my lineage!!!! So much fun!

Keeping the Faith

Monday, October 18, 2010

I am doing just fine and healthy as can be. I've had a bad headache the past few days but contribute it to the changing of the seasons and weather! It's getting really cold out here but I've been staying pretty warm. I do need to obtain a weather coat soon. I believe I have enough money in my personal account. I'm not too sure. The ward is feeding me well. I'm still skinny but slowing gaining pounds. We've been riding bike a lot as well so I'm gaining leg muscles for sure.

So I had a pretty cool experience last night. A family in our ward, the Pallays, called us last night because Laura had a bad migraine and felt she needed a blessing. Whenever we have the opportunity to give blessings I am willing to assist but always so nervous that I would be asked to give the blessing. Most times I feel that I won't be able to say the right things and stuff like that. Well, sure enough I was asked to seal the anointing and give the blessing. I started the prayer then went totally blank. I was upset for a little while and told myself to get over it and pay attention to the thoughts that will come into my mind. I relaxed and listened and then i started to talk. To my suprise I began to know what to say, what to bless her with, and when i stopped receiving thoughts I ended the prayer. After I ended I just thought, oh boy, what did I just do. I hoped everything I said would come true. I realized that the blessing would work if they had enough faith which I'm sure they did. But I wanted a guarantee that it would work so I decided to add my faith as well. A few minutes after the prayer her migrains started to get worse. She grabbed her head and started to moan but I knew that she would be fine. A few minutes after that, she looked up and said, "It's gone!" We turned the lights back on and you could see that she was no longer bothered by her migraine. I was so happy that the Lord allowed her to be healed right then and there. She said, she knew that it would go away because it always works. I know that it was because of her and her mother's faith. I had to really try hard to keep up my faith but this experience has strengthen my faith and testimony in priesthood blessings.

Thats pretty much all for the week. I'll write to you again soon with more stories and experieces. I love you all and hope you continue to be blessed. Take care and tell everyone I love them. Talk to you again soon!

Aloha, Elder Watson

Small and Simple Things

Monday, September 20, 2010

I've been have small but great experiences here. Here is a simple yet small one I'd like to share.

So we decided to knock on this street called Yeagerstown Rd. I had once had a prompting to knock this road, but after driving through it became unsure and decided not to. Not too long ago Elder McMaster called and said he "received revelation" that we should knock on Yeagerstown Rd. He said he had many prompting to knock there when he used to be in our area but never followed them and that we should go. So we made the decision to do so and did get much success.....in the beginning. Towards the end of knocking that street we went to this house where there were three kids playing outside. We talked with the kids for a bit, a boy about 4 years and a girl about 6 years, and the boy decided to go in and "summon" his parents. He eventually came back out and mumbled something we couldn't understand. So his older sister left to go see if she could get her parents to come out. She came out and said, "they want to know what your selling?". Then soon after their father came storming out the door saying," We don't want what your selling, I'll take a pamphlet, but other than that we don't want anything. You can leave!" Then walked right back into the house. Surprisingly enough, I wasn't angry. I just accepted it and went on to the next house. As we were leaving I waved to the kids and said "Goodbye!". The girl, Deanna was her name, said bye and watched us go. Then all the sudden she yells, "Wait!". She runs back up to us and says, "Give me a book." I was soo confused at what she was asking but I felt the spirit prompt me to just give her a copy of the Book of Mormon. Now, normally I wouldn't have given it to her because I knew she couldn't read and i didn't want her to waste a perfectly good copy of the book of Mormon. But the prompting to give her the book was soooo strong I acted with no hesitation. She said thank you and walked under a shady tree and started to look through it, upside down might I add. hehe. I slowly walked away thinking, "Why did I give her the book? Why did she ask me for it? What should I do now?" I quickly said a prayer in my heart seeking for guidance on what I should do next: If I should go back and try again? If I should teach those little kids? But the revelation I came away with was that that was sufficient enough for the Lord to work on their hearts. How long will it be until they are ready to receive the gospel? I have no idea. But those kids were the cutest things and I can't wait until they are baptized, whenever that will be. I know the Lord has something good in store for them and I have a feeling I wont find out until I leave this life but I am positive that the Lord was there that day watching over that family, prompting that little girl to ask for something she knew nothing about.

I love the Lord and the small and simple things he used to lift our spirits up and strengthen our faith in him. He is soooooo Awesome. I love his gospel, I love his work. I love his people and his gospel. I love you all! Please continue to stay strong and close to the gospel. And thank you all in advance for your letters. Take care and keep in touch. I will touch base again next week.

A hui hou,

Elder watson

Come what may

Monday, October 4, 2010
Wasn't general conference just awesome. I did stand when they asked all the missionaries to stand and it felt so weird. For a moment I forgot that I was even a missionary. I do have somewhat exciting news. Somewhat only because I don't like what I think they might have in mind for me next transfer. Anyway, I was invited to attend the leadership training starting tomorrow for the following three days. I'm hoping it was just a nice invite just so I can see how the meetings are. LoL...I can wish can't I. Everyone is saying that president is planning on making me a district leader or a trainer but I don't think I'm ready for that responsibility just yet. I'm still trying to figure out how to take care of the responsibilities I currently have! But whatever the case may be I know that the Lord with be my strength and that If I put my full faith and trust in him I will be able to fulfill all the responsibilities given me. Anyway, the work is doing great out here. Lots of success being seen. Many many people are receptive but no where close to baptisms yet. It takes time and patience, diligence and lots of faith and study. I'm ready for it.

Elder Watson

Bringing More Sheep into the Fold

Monday, August 30, 2010

Hey everyone!!!! So...... These past two weeks have been absolutely wonderful as you may know because six people, two families, have made the decision to join the fold of God by being baptized. Both services were absolutely beautiful and spiritual. I had the opportunity to baptize Bryan Mauerman and Lauren Porter (Dawn Mauermans two kids) and do the confirmation for Lauren. It was such a great blessing to be able to do both ordinances. The sad part was that Elder McMaster, who originally was supposed to baptize all three, was not able to make it to the baptism. He was definitely bummed as were the rest of us but saddness could not last. The Mauermans were baptized and it was a joyous occassion.

It's hard for me to express the great joy that I felt at the two baptisms and just being part of their conversion. Each family is doing really well, the ward is doing a great job at taking them under their wings and fellow-shipping them. They have become very involved in the church and the whole ward has a new spirit about them. Something about new converts that bring the joy and life back into a ward. I'm soooo happy to be doing this wonderful work. I'm grateful to be able to be an instrument in Gods hands to help those on their journey to find their way back to God. I have to say that I'm am extremely exhausted but the Lord is sustaining me day by day.

The work out here seems to be at a halt for now but I have lots of faith that things wont stay like this for long. We are currently trying to think of new ways to find people and motiviate our wonderful ward to participate as well.

I hope all of you are doing well. Thank you for all your love, support, and especially your prayers. I miss all of you and as you to continue to look out for spiritual moments daily. As we search the scriptures, fervently pray, and diligently keep the commandments the Lord will bless us. Try to Recognize them each day and give thanks to Him. He loves us, He lives, and he has provided us a way for us to know how to return to live with Him again. It is through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ only found in His Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know this to be true with all my heart. These things I say in the name of our Lord and Saviour, our elder brother, our friend, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Jesse James Watson

The First Baptism!

Monday, August 23, 2010

I had my first baptism as a missionary this past saturday! It was one of the most spiritual experiences on the mish. There was sooo much support given to the Bishops family. They were sooo happy they cried practically throughout the who ceremony and meeting. I was given the chance to bear my testimony with was absolutely awesome! The opportunity that is, not my testimony. Anywho, I am sooo excited for this family. They have their goal set on the temple already. We are going to meet with them tonight to teach them about the temple, eternal families, and go over with them the priesthood one more time. This family is sooo wonderful. Another family to add to my extended families list. Our love for one another has grown soooooo much in such a small amount of time it's crazy.

On a sadder note, I lost my daddy/trainer! He left yesterday right after sacrament and everyone was crying, including me. He is such a wonderful person loved by everyone! I feel like I'll never see him again but i know that's not the case. In fact, I'll be seeing him this coming saturday for the Mauermans baptism. Guys, this area is on fire. the Lord is blessing us abundantly right now and I hope it keep going for a while. It looks to be that we might exceed our baptismal goal for year. There is a fire burning within and I don't ever want it to go out. I have to thank you all for helping me to go on a mission. For your support and encouragement. Serving a mission has been a blessing to my life and everyone I love. I'm growing so much in the gospel and learning to love even more than I thought I could. I am so greatful to have this opportunity. I hope all is well with everyone. Please tell everyone thank you and that I love them with all my heart! A hui hou, malama pono.

Elder Jesse-James Watson

A Bit of Good News

Monday, August 2, 2010

So a bit of good news. Elder McMaster got an extension on his mission here in the Mt airy area. He will be with us for a couple more weeks which I'm so excited about. I wish i could keep him as my companion for the whole mission. We get along so well and do great as companions teaching and spreading the gospel. We are currently in a threesome. The person taking Elder McMasters place is our third companion. His name is Elder Paine, from Nashville, TN. He's a good elder but nothing like Elder McMaster. I'm interested in how things will work out when Elder McMaster leaves the area.


Our investigators, The Bishops, are still solid and working toward their baptismal date on the 21st of August. I'm really excited to teach them again. We haven't been able to meet with them this whole week because they were out vacationing. We are seeing them tonight though and I can't wait. We also have another family, The Mauermans, another family of three that are very close to being baptised. Dawn's daughter exclaimed in the last lesson we had that she feels so good and wants to get baptised. We were so excited for her but we know that it won't happen if her mother doesn't feel the same. We have to wait a bit on the mother but we know she will be coming around soon.


Other than that I have been doing very well. Adjusting to all the changes and continuing to learn the area and grow spritually. I'm working on trying to work really hard and have been coming home wonderfully exhausted. Unfortunately too exhausted to write letters. So I'll write again next week and will look forward to more great news then!!! Aloha

Elder Jesse James Watson!

Progress and Change

Monday, July 26, 2010

So here is some good news. We have a family that have been taking lessons from the missionaries for about two months now and they have agreed to get baptized as a family. I am sooo excited and happy for them. They have shared with us how the book of mormon and the church has changed their lives. Their names are Jack, Denise and Jake Bishop. A wonderful family I wish you could meet. You can see the change in their lives and in their countenance. It's such a wonderful thing to experience and see. They are hoping to be baptized by the 21st of August so please keep them in your prayers. Pray that they continue to progress and that they may have the strength to overcome any challenges they may face within the month ahead.

Now for a little bad news! My trainer and companion Elder McMaster is being transferred! I am extremely saddened by this but I know that it is the Lords will. I may not agree or like the fact that he is leaving but I trust my Mission President and know that he receives revelation from God. I don't think that I am ready to continue in this area without him but I guess that's where I need to rely heavily on the Lord. He has trained me well and has become a very close friend of mine. I am going to hate to see him leave. But these past few weeks have given me experiences that I believe are very critical in helping me to overcome this period of time. I know that things will be fine but its so very scary and undaunting if you know what I mean. I was never good with change. LoL...

That is the status with me as of now.

Elder Jesse-James Watson

Trials & Blessings in the Mission Field

June 19th Letter from Elder Watson:

Hey everybody!
So I just have to tell you what's been going on here. So far, I've been meeting many of the investigators and members of the ward and area. We have some great investigators establised and the members of the ward are all so awesome, so sweet, funny, full of faith and life. We never go a day w/o being fed so we save a lot of money. Plus, we don't need to cook. We then get to spend most of our much needed time doing missionary work. So my Companion Elder McMaster is just the best. He works so hard and is just the greatest example of a missionary. I'm so blessed to have him as my companion and to be in such a fruitful area..
So from the time I got here to now, only bad things seemed to be happening. Things like a a less active member breaking into tears while I was teaching her (her mom is ill and is frustrated over this), an investigator with a baptsimal date cancelled and totally dropped us, and to top it off a member was killed. None of these were directly my fault but still, they're all happening within the first three days of my being here. But today! Today we taught six people ( almost unheard of in this mission)and even though we lost one investigator we gained one today. It was awesome. Elder McMaster said that whenever we lose or drop an investigator that isn't or no longer wants to progress the Lord will bless us with another and sure enough, He did!

Missionary work is so hard and sometimes discouraging, but I know that as I am exactly obedient to the Lords commandments and as I try my hardest the Lord will bless us. I have already begun to see that for myself. There are many, many more things that I can do better and know that as I improve the Lord will bless us even more . I hope I can 'reap' as many blessing as are ready.

I want you to know that missionary work isn't only for full time missionaries. "(We are) disciples of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (We) have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life!" We are so blessed to know that there is a way to return to our Father in Heaven and live with him, as a family together forever in a state of never-ending happiness. It is our dutry to share it with those who don't have it and might be looking for it. More importantly, it is a blessing to share it with others. How great shall be your joy save you bring one soul unto Christ. I pray you will all have the opportuny to share the gospel w/ someone ..everyone and receive all the blessings that come with it. I love you all and encourage each of you to 'open you mouth' and share the gospel. 3 Nephi 5:13 "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." I hope you are doing well. I miss each and everyone of you so much. Malama pono & God be with you!
Aloha Nui- Elder Watson

July 19th 2010

Monday, July 19, 2010

Alrighty so, this week went alot better than last week. We did my first exchanges with the district leader. It was pretty cool. He taught me a few things that my trainer had a hard time doing but in doing so really helped me to gain more confidence and see more results. I'm still trying to get the hang of things in the mission but it's coming along. My trainer is getting quite mad at me cuz I'm so hard on myself. I just want to be perfect. But he's a great support and an awesome example and leader.

My ward is great but I could use some ideas on what I can do to increase the missionary thinking in the ward. Well, the work in the Lord's vineyard is slowly moving along and I predict many ripe fruits in the future to be collected! I can't wait. I'll be looking forward to your letters and emails. Take care until then and I give you this challenge - At least one letter a week share a spiritual experience you have had. I love to see how the Lord is blessing each of us. I will try to do the same. Alrightly then, I love you guys, take care and God bless!

Elder Jesse James Watson

Hau'oli la Hanau Elder Watson!

July 12, 2010 Letter from Elder Watson:

Hey everybody!!!

So my birthday was awesome for sure for sure. I sent you a letter explaining how my birthday went but I'll tell you right now as well. So first of all, my companion, Elder McMaster, cooked me a birthday breakfast! It was sooooo ono. It was an egg sufflet that containted bacon and mushrooms as well. It was a big pan and we just finished it off today. He's going to give me the recipe so I can make it for you guys when I get back. Then we went out and knocked on houses and visited our scheduled appointments. That part of the day didn't go over so well. We've had lots of people cancel our appointments and through all our knocking we didn't find any new investigators. Most would say it was an unsuccessful day, but I did get to talk to a few people and they accepted the Book of Mormon and read it. We didn't get a return appointment with them but it plants the seeds.

Elder McMaster feels that he might be leaving this coming transfer so he's giving me many opportunities to do things all by myself which I must say I have mixed feelings about! hehe. It's very intimidating doing things on your own but it helps me to learn and gain confidence in my self and in God. He is such a good trainer and if he does get transferred I will miss him terribly. Later that night we went to dinner at our bishops house. They were so funny. They coordinated with Elder McMaster what types of food I liked and dessert I would eat. So they made ono homemade pizza and we ate strawberry shortcake for dessert. You don't even know it was soooooooo good. I left full and satisfied. The shortcake was sooo delicious too. They were so awesome! I love my bishop and his family. they even decorated my chair with streamers. lol too funny. Anyway they took pictures and I'll send them as soon as I get a copy.

As for the over all of this week? It was kind of a bad week. We lost a lot of potential investigators and everyday somebody cancelled an appointment. When stuff like that happens its so frustrating and dissappointing. But my faith is not shaken. I know that I've worked really hard this week. I just have to start working smarter. Couple things we decided we would focus on to try to better our results is working more with setting up appointments ahead so we can get members to come with us to the appointments. We want to work on extending baptismal commitments on the first lesson so that they know what we expect of them and that no time is wasted if they don't want to be baptized. This week is going to be a better week I just know it.

Thank you sooo much for the box of goodies. I've already dived into them and it's effects are working as I type. LoL... Please thank all the young women for their letters of encouragement. They are sooo awesome for it! And no worries on the card. I thought it might be in the box so I was looking all over for it. Funny huh, I bypassed all the gooding and went straight for the letters. I was like, "Where is the birthday card?" LoL...Thank you for all the birthday wishes and keep a look out for my letters. More than one should be on it's way. I love you guys and talk to you again soon. Love you! Talk to you laters.