Guess What? Nov 28, 2011

So this week......I'm still tired!   hehe  We had another great week and continue to see our Heavenly Father bless us.  We are seeing miracles in the Maryland Baltimore Mission.  We are going to achieve a record this mission has never seen before.  It's pretty exciting.  As President Belliston likes to say, we are going to make this christmas a white christmas...also a wet one.  We have beautiful weather again today, warm and clear sunny skies.  What a blessing.  We have another baptism this saturday, Adam Antonelli.  A bright young man, 25, that pretty much walked into the baptism font the day we met him. It's been really cool to see our most recent converts, Patrick and Bintu, prepare to enter into the temple to do work for their family members who have passed, especially their daughter who was killed in Sierra Leone during the civil war there.  Patrick lost his mother to some robbers that broke into her home and took her life.  But they are so happy to know that they can not be a family forever!

Good stuff going on but unfortunately i have to run.  I love you all and will talk to you all next week!  Happy Holidays and Happy Birthdays to all the birthday peeps!

 

Elder Watson

Nov 14, 2011

Hey everyone!!  How is everything going?  So guess what? I said we were going to have a better week last week and sure enough it was better.  We still have a lot of work to be where we need to be at but it's sure getting there.  We got a media referral from a young man at the end of the week before last week but was not able to get in touch with him until early this past week.  He is golden!  He has a very limited knowledge about God and the gospel of Jesus Christ but he has a strong testimony of the divinity of Christ.  He was invited to go to a dance at the stake center across of the temple visitors center.  After  the dance he decided to take a tour of the Visitors center and felt that he needed to learn more.  He asked for a Book of mormon, we got the referral and contacted him.  When we met we taught him about how the church was restored to the earth and invited him to read and pray about the Book of Mormon and also invited him to be baptized!  The spirit was so strong he agreed with no hesitations.  He came to church and absolutely loved it.  He told us he was excited but nervous about the baptism which is set for Dec. 3.  We are so blessed and excited to be teaching him.  The Lord is truly preparing people all over, especially those around us. He places them in our path daily.  I like to ask myself, "Am I always looking to see if those that cross my path are the elect that Heavenly Father has prepared to accept his restored gospel?"  Most times I find that my answer to that questing is no.  So I have to repent and do better the next day.  It's amazing to see all the random people that I come across that the Lord has prepared to meet with us day to day.

 

Other great things are happening.  We've been meeting and teaching this woman who is a relative to our recent convert.  It has been a slow process with her.  But she recently went through a scary experience in which she wasn't able to breath for some odd reason.  She was rushed to the hospital and the nurses fixed her right up but wanted to keep her for a while to monitor her a bit and make sure that whatever happened wouldn't happen again.  She had promised us weeks in advance that she would come to church with us but ended us this sunday, the one she'd promise to save for us, she ends up going into the hospital.  She called us Saturday from the hospital just to let us know she wouldn't be coming.  I had planned to go and visit her that night but circumstances didnt allow us to make it.  So Sunday night we planned to go and see her.  When we walked up to her room she lit up like a christmas tree.  She was so happy to see us.  She said that she told all her family members that she was in the hospital but not one person came to visit her.  We shared a message with her that really seemed to give her comfort.  Then before we left we gave her a blessing of healing.  She was the happiest I had ever seen.  The Spirit was soooo strong in there.  Knowing the spirit was so strong we talked about baptism, a topic she isn't very fond of.  She told us, I'm scared of water so I don't think I can do it!  We taught her about the importance of it and explained how it goes.  She finally said.  Let me prepare myself and pray about it so I can be baptized.  Once again the Lord preparing peoples hearts to accept his gospel. 

 

We have a great pool of solid investigators and we continue to help it grow by asking for referrals.  Everyone we teach have lots of friends who are in need of the blessings of the gospel.  The lessons we teach sparks a name in their mind, someone they feel could use that message.  We ask them if they know anyone who might need the blessings of the message we teach and they refer their friends to us.  They are truly inspired by God to mention them because so far, everyone referral we've met have truly been in need of those messages.  I would encourage and invite you to invite the missionaries over to hear a message.  As you listen pay attention to the spirit.  He could reveal unto you someone you know or will come in contact with that would benefit and be ready to meet with the missionaries.  President Gordon B Hinckley said, "  Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause."  As we take the time to put some effort in this great cause of inviting others to come unto Christ we receive great happiness.

 

So that in a nut shell we are doing great!  oh yeah and it's been nice and warm here.  I think that that means it's going to be a bad winter.  Errrrg.....  We'll see.  Hopefully this is just blessings from the Lord!  I love you and thanks again for the updates.  Talk to you again soon!

 

Elder Watson

Nov 7, 2011

Hi Everybody!!

Dad- Thanks for your email.  You'll have to tell me what was good in the Stake Conference. I'd love to hear what was talked about.  It's great to hear that the Hee's are sending yet another missionary out.  We definitely need him!  I loved Elder Hollands talk in the Priesthood session calling out recruits for the spiritual war we are battling!  These are the last days and we need to help our saviour gather in his children like a hen gathers her chicks.  Anyway, It's good to hear that Amber and Jayren was able to make it to church. Amber and Jay, did you like it?  Learn anything new?  I hope so. Tell me about it as soon as you can. Well thanks for the update Dad.

So this week was a difficult week.  I don't know the area very well and I love my new companion but I think he's a bit frustrated that things are moving as quick as he would like.  He just came from a very productive area and is on fire!  But my lack of knowlege with the area is slowing down the work a bit.  So I'm working extra hard to get things into shape on my end!  Its making me push harder and stress a bit but its good.  I need to be pushed every now and then.  Help me stretch my limits.  This week is going to be much better.  I really feel great about the end of the year.  We are so close to the goal we've set for ourselves and I really hope to achieve it!  With increase faith and diligence the Lord will definitely help us to reach this goal. 

I've started to read the Book of Mormon again and I just love it.  Still finding more and more great insights and being taught a lot.  Finding a lot that pertains to the importance of parents and families....hmmm...I shouldn't be thinking of stuff like that yet but it just keeps coming?  Maybe it's for a future investigator. At least I hope. 

My new companions name is Elder Christensen, From Centerville, Utah.  Interesting fellow for sure but such a great missionary!  He comes from a family of 6 and he is the fourth child.  He has been out in the mission for a little over a year now and came out with the first missionary I trained, Elder Chandia.  Right now we have it good.  We just got a new district leader in our zone. His name is Elder Weeks. I made mention of him before, I'm sure.  He is a spanish missionary and he and his trainee (yep he's training for the second time in his 6 month in the mission and is district leading) live with us.  He's so awesome and I love serving with and around him. He's from California and we click really well.  I think I just get along with most Californians! (ie: Elder McMaster, Elder Cragun, Elder Weeks.)  They are definitely going to be lifelong friends.  Anyway, our zone is filled with great missionaries and our responsibility as zone leaders is to help each missionary achieve their fullest potential!  What a great responsibility.  I don't even think I know how to achieve my full potential!  haha.  It's fun so far as a zone leader.  But there are not so fun times as well, like teaching zone conference!  We are doing that tomorrow.  Luckily I don't have to teach it myself.  Any, it's really not all that bad. I love being able to serve in the capacity that I am.  I want to make the best of it for sure.

Alright, other than that not much happening on my end.  You'll all have to update me on how it's going on your end.  I love you and thank you for the letters I've been getting.  Jevin thanks for your letters and Angie and Ashley.  Amber and Jay, are you mia?  I haven't heard from you in ages!  Write me.  Tara and Cody, I love you and you'll have to update me on halloween and what not!  And mom and dad, keep up the great work.  Be safe and take care of yourselves.  I love you and will hear from you next week......I hope.

Elder Watson

Happy Halloween - Oct 31, 2011

Hey everyone! Happy Halloween!!!  This is going to be an awkward day today but we'll make the best of it.  We had a great week with two baptisms, Patrick and Bintu Mbayoh!  They are just soooo amazing and their love and faith in God is incredible.  Patrick, earlier this week, has been feeling very ill.  He had a headache that just wouldn't go away so last sunday after church he went to the emergency.  The doctors ran tons of test and could find nothing wrong with him.  He decided to go to a friend for help and through the testing that they did his friend felt it might be neurological.  He made an appointment with the neurologist but in the mean time he'd have to endure the pain.  We visited him a couple times and gave him a blessing and then he rested the rest of the week.  We hadn't contacted him up to the day of baptism, this sat, so we weren't sure if he was feeling better or not.  But at 9:30am sharp he arrived with a big smile on his face and ready to jump in the water!  I thought, "Great, he made it!"  Later we found out that that morning had been the worst his headache had ever been.  He felt too sick get up and was a bit dizzy so he jumped back into bed.  But a dream that he had made him feel that he needed to be baptized.  He awoke, looked at the time and decided that if he was indeed going to get baptized today he needed to leave now!  He woke his wife and through headache, dizzyness, and with a determination to follow God he and his wife left without even taking a shower.  He said he didn't feel well but he had to do what the Lord asked him to do so that's why he was there!  They are so awesome and the baptism was beautiful.  There was a handful of people that came to give there support and the talks were perfect. 

 

I just love seeing people make that wonderful commitment. It always helps me to remember the covenants that I've made and gets me all pumped up again.  It feels like being in the temple which is great since we don't get to go there often.  I've also seen a difference in my studies again and my teaching.  The spirit has become even stronger.  I read moroni in the book of mormon today and there is just so many great things in there.  I was highlighting everything and making tons of notes.  I think I may have highlighted every single verse in Moroni! haha.  The Scriputres are just great.  Today is the last day of the month of October and I will be finished with the book of mormon once again, for the third time on the mission.  Tomorrow I will start it all over again and I can't wait.  I encourage each of you to read the Book of Mormon.  The Bible is great too and I sometimes find myself trying to look for a verse in the bible and end up reading a few chapters instead. But I encourage you to read the Book of Mormon because there is great power and knowledge in it.  It was saved to be brought about in our time for a reason.  As Joseph Smith said, we will get nearer to God by abiding by it's precepts than by any other book.  It is sooo true.  It's sole purpose is to bring us to the knowledge of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ and each time I read it and apply the things that I learn as I read it, I truly come to understand my Saviour more and more and feel myself come closer to him.  So read the book of mormon, from the beginning, or continue where you left off.  Make it a habit to do it daily, whether for 1 minute, 5 minutes, or an hour. And when you read it take time to ponder on the things you read.  It is during the pondering that we ask questions for understanding, and then as we listen and pray about the things we learn that the spirit answers our prayers, gives us guidance and direction.  And as you follow the promptings of the spirit your mind will be opened and your view of things will change, becoming more like our heavenly fathers.  Things that would bother you will become small in unimportant.  All this takes time but time that would be well spent. True Happiness and Peace will enter more fully in your life and many other blessing you will experience. 

 

Okay, enough of that. I'm just so excited with all the things I've been able to learn from the scriptures.  We'll I hope all is well. I am doing great.  Freezing my okole off but It's all good.   I love each of you and hope you are doing great.  Let me know how things are and I look forward to that time.  I love you!

 

Elder Watson

Here's a Few Pics For You

My mtc district back together again after more than a year at the Orioles Baseball game
 where they have mormon night and tickets are cheap.  President Belliston allows all the 
missionaries in the mission to attend so that we have an awesome event to invite our 
investigators too.  We use it to reunite with our beloved missionary brethren.

The Berryville zone missionaries after basketball/volleyball on p-day

The annapolis zone missionaries at the ice skating rink for pday

Oct 17, 2011

How's it going??  I loved conference this year.  I really enjoyed the talks and took a lot out of it.  I really loved President Monsons.  It was such a great message and kind of ties in with President Uchtdorf's talk.  "Fear not, I am with thee..." Hit me really hard.  I spend a good amount of time after conference looking up verses in which he tells his disciples that.  I love knowing that when we are doing what the Lord asks he is always with us, through the good and the bad.  

 

I am doing just fine out here.  Struggles here and there but alls good.  It's so weird how you learn so much about your flaws out here. haha.  It's good though. Helps me to repent!!!  Was thinking about my life the other day and evaluating where I am now.  It's so crazy how much I've changed.  I'm still here but there is still many things that have developed, and good habits that I've picked up that I hope will help to shape me into an even better person.  I remember hearing once that I won't be the same person, that the mission would change me.....boy were they right.  I have had so many experiences out here and my mind has been opened so much, I almost don't want to let this great experience end.  But there will be many more wonderful experiences to enjoy after the mission. I just hope I can take everything that I've learned so far and apply it in the "real world".  With such a short time left (I know, seven months isn't short, but it seems to go in a blink of an eye out here) I want to work my butt off.  I want to see miracles happen each day of my life out here and I want to be able to grow twice as much as I have so far!  What a great desire!  Now....to only accomplish it! hehe. 

 

Anyway, if you haven't heard I'm out in Annapolis and loving it.  It's such a pretty city and I'm getting so fit with all the bike riding and motivation to keep in shape by all the Navy midshipmen out here.  Unfortunately I'm not gaining any weight but I feel like I'm a little stronger than the start of my mission!  We'll I'll let you go for now. Please tell everyone....and I mean everyone!....that I love them, miss them and say hello to them for me!  A hui hou a me malama pono.

 

The Bike Accident - October 3, 2011

How is everything?  I'm doing well.  I'm cold but don't worry, I have enough warm clothes and am doing just fine.  Funny thing happened to me this week.  So like I mentioned before I ride bike and it was saturday and our turn to ride bikes.  After the first session of conference we decided to stop by one of our investigators we have on date.  We haven't had the chance to see her all week and were starting to worry about her. Divinely inspired we went at the time we did because she had just gotten dropped off and was about to hope into her car and head off to work.  We got to stop her, talk to her a bit, and set up an appointment to meet with her.  Not knowing what to do with the rest of our time we decided to try by a less-active near by. The destination was on a slight down hill so we just cruised it down......until I squeezed on the brakes in a bit of a panic (for some odd reason I thought a parked car was going to hit me). My leg slipped off my pedal, got caught in the chain, flipped my bike so quickly I wasnt able to brace myself, and landed me on my side.  I skid for a few and then quickly got out from under my bike and sat there. My companion saw me laying with the bike on me and then rushed to my side.  For a good two whole minutes we just laughed,real hard, about the situation.  He help me get back up and I examined myself and found my self unhurt, only a little sore.  I did however find out I got a big cherry on the side of my left knee and my shirt very dirty, my knee swelled as well as my ankle.  My shoulder still bruised but all in all  doing just fine. LoL... Oh my goodness if you had been there you would still be laughing. I am!

This week was absolutely wonderful. I'll save my thoughts for next week but tell me which talk you all liked and why.  I have to review the talks again and get my thoughts together for next week!  Love you all and miss you alot.  Talk to you again soon!!!

Elder Watson