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

Sep 26, 2011

Hey everybody!!  So currently I'm serving in Annapolis, MD.  It's soooo beautiful here.  My companion is one of my good friends in the mission, Elder Smith.  We served together early on in my mission. I was in Mt. Airy and Elder Smith was my second district leader.  It's really cool to be companions with him and to have someone I know and like to train me as a zone leader.  Annapolis has been doin very well.  This month they hit kind of a speed bump and the rainy fall weather and cloudy skies don't seem to be helping motivate the missionaries in this area.  So I guess that's where we come in.  The ward I am attending is quite small but they are just awesome.  The few people that I've met so far have made such a great impression on me.  They are devoted to the work and ready and willing to be of service anytime and anyday! I love to work with members like that.  I feel a great unity with them and know that Heavenly Father will bless us.  For as He has said, "If ye are not one, ye are not mine."  Member missionaries and full-time missionaries must work together in order to fulfill the vision Gordon B Hinckley saw. (http://lds.org/general-conference/1999/04/find-the-lambs-feed-the-sheep?lang=eng&query=Gordon+concerted+effort). 

I am living in my first four man house. It's pretty interesting.  I was a bit concerned of how this was going to work.  Almost every four man house that I had in my district ended up being a headache for me.  The missionaries tend to waste time "hanging out" with each other rather than being obedient and going to work.  But this house is just awesome.  We share an apartment with the spanish missionaries, Elder Weeks and Elder Johnsen.  Elder Johnsen is new and is turning out to be quite the missionary.  He is just so awesome and I think they are going to be able to turn this spanish branch into a ward!  Elder Week, only two transfers into his mission is training Elder Johnsen and doing a great job at it!  Both impeccable missionaries. Just was this mission needs.

I am doing very well.  This area is a half bike, half car area meaning that we share a car between companionships. So this is the schedule:  Monday is Pday so we both have the car. Tues-Annap Car/Spanish Bike; Wed- Spanish Car/Annap Bike; Thurs- Spanish Car/Annap Bike; Fri- Annap Car/Spanish Bike; Sat and Sun it switches every other week.  So at least three days we are on bike.  I thought I was going to die!  But it turns out its nice excercise and I'm really starting to like biking.  I'm hopin to get big legs and hopefully some kinda butt!  We'll see.  But that's that.  Elder Cragun seems to be doing well. He and his companion get along great. He's happy to have a companion that can actually play basket ball. haha

I don't know my current address right now but if you can just send letter and packages to the mission office that would be awesome.  I'll get the address as soon as I can! I love you all. Thank you for your letters of support and love. It's great to hear the updates going on with each of you!

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Elder Jesse-James K. F. Watson

Zone Leader! Sep 19, 2011

Oh my goodness! Can you believe its another transfer come and gone. I can never seem to keep track of time.  So great new and exciting adventures are ahead of us!  Elder Cragun is going to be training this next transfer after just two transfers. He is a great missionary and will do just awesome.  But that means that I must leave Berryville! :(  I am very sad about this fact but I will go will the Lord wants me to go!  I don't know where I'll be going but I do know that it will be with a Zone Leader....yep! I'm going to be a zone leader.  More responsibility and more stress. Also more chances to serve which will be the most favored part.  I hope and pray that I can develop the attributes needed to accomplish such a grand responsibility!  President is really working hard to get this mission into shape so that we can be the best that we can be.  There is a lot of work to be done but we are determined to do it with the Spirit of the Lord. 

We had a baptism this past friday and it went well.  Ron Frazier Jr got baptized and confirmed a member and received the holy ghost on sunday!  We are sooo excited for him. I'm sad that I have to baptize and leave but I know that he is in good hands now.  This past week has been a solemn week.  There have been many deaths and a few funerals we have attended.  Lots of teaching the Plan of Salvation.  Our bishop was number one in helping to console members and non-members, even those that we have been working with.  But friday, after leading a graveside service he finds out that his dad passes as well.  He is such a wonderful bishop with a heart of gold.  I've never seen a bishop give so much of himself to those who are in need. I was hoping to be able to stick around a little longer to be able to give the same service back but Elder Cragun will have to do it for me now.

So it's getting cold again!  I'm getting bad headaches from the changing of weather but all is well.  With the new season comes a new chapter in my mission life and I look forward to it.  I'm going to miss everyone here as I always end up doing but I pray that they will be in the Lords hands.  I've got to get a move on and pack up bags so I'll leave for now. Love you and see you next week!

Elder Jesse James Watson

Aug 29, 2011

Hey, how are you guys?!  Things are going well here.  Finding some bumps along the way...probably more than I'd hope for.  There have been challenges for sure.  Not giving up.  We had a pretty exciting week with all that has happened.  I experienced my first earthquake!!  It was pretty cool even though it felt more like a shimmi.  I was hoping to feel more.  Everyone said to be careful because more quakes would be on the way but nope!  Nothing.  Then there was the excitement of the coming hurricane. I was wondering if it was going to be another Hurricane Ike!  But nope, thhe day it was supposed to arrive it went down to a level 1 and we, in Berryville, had sunshine and blue skies.  Pretty uneventful :)  Other than that nothing too exciting.  We are breaking records in the mission which is great!  Please tell everyone I said hello and that I love them and miss them...whoever they are.

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Elder Jesse-James K. F. Watson

Miracles are Happening - Aug 8, 2011

Hey everyone!!!  Its a great day.  We just found out that I am staying once again in Berryville!!  I'm excited for that.  I just love Berryvile and we have a lot of things going on right now.  We are teaching two people who are one date for Aug. 27th and we are teaching a family of soon to be 10!  They are so awesome!!  We hope to get them to baptism as well!  We'll miracles are happening in the Maryland Baltimore Mission!  The Lord is continually pouring out his blessing upon us.  We are hoping to be able to bring 400 of our brothers and sisters on the the road back to our heavenly father this year!  By the looks of it we are going to make it.  Elder Cragun and I are excited and really just trying to improve ourselves in every way that we can so we can be more fully prepared to do the Lords work in this area!  I love you all and miss you very much. I hope all is well.  I'm well and happy and thank you for all your love, prayers, support, and letters.  Sorry I haven't been writing back as much.  I always mean to but end up planning for our investigators or getting into the book of mormon again or preach my gospel. I've never loved the gospel of Jesus Christ more than I do now!  I'll talk to you all next pday!!

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Elder Jesse-James K. F. Watson