Spring

Hola todos,

This past week has gone really well. With spring starting, the weather has been highly sporatic, with some days really hot and others I've gone out in a coat. The warm days are really great though because it seems like the streets and parks are filled with people to talk to. We've had a number of excellent contacts recently and I'm excited for the opportunity to share eternal truths with them.

We had a really great lesson with a 17 year old named Michael. He has been reading in the Book of Mormon and he asked a lot of really great questions like "how can I know if there is a prophet today?" I think this point is crucial, and at the heart of our message as missionaries, that we can find truth not just by guessing but through a direct and personal relationship with a loving Heavenly Father. Michael is way cool and teaching him is really great.

We've been teaching a mother named Claudia who is going through a tough time. Not knowing what to say to comfort her, we mostly just sat and listened. At the end, we bore a simple testimony of the gospel and the Book of Mormon and left. We didn't say anything particularly profound or deeply thought-provoking, and I left wishing I could have done more. As it turned out, our message was enough. Claudia messaged us a week later and told us that ever since we passed by, everything has started working out. She said she had been reading the Book of Mormon every day and while the pain still remains, somehow she received the strength to move forward in her life. The Book of Mormon is powerful.

I've learned a lot this week, and I know that this work we do is true. I love you all, and I hope you can find strength in the Book of Mormon.

Elder Watts

Stake service project for Day of Service

My Zone

Stick Pull

Elder Musick and I with a member from the Dominican Republic

Pics

Storage Container Houses

Elder Musick & Elder Watts

Incredible Cheesecake from a Member

Yum!

Lezica Part 2

Hola todos,

Side note: This email may be a little long, the first four paragraphs are descriptions of my new area, after is a spiritual thought. Read what you like.

I never knew how much I missed the color green until I got here. This area is Seriously beautiful. I have been doing morning runs with Elder Musick and the sun rising over the treetops takes my breath away every time. The streets are lined with white oaks and tall palms. The whole atmosphere is significantly more relaxing than the busy streets of Barrio 14. There is much less trash in the streets and everything is a little more peaceful.

The ward here is small, but strong, having recently split. There are a ton of young families and 19 returned missionaries, nearly double the amount in barrio 14. We live right in front of the church which is super convenient right behind one of the ward missionaries, which is even more convenient. She (the ward missionary) is incredible, and a powerful example of magnifying a calling. We give her names and phone numbers of investigators and she messages them and sends them an inspirational message. When investigators come to church she talks to them and invites them to sit with her. She loves talking about the gospel and does so with everyone, and more than once we have come home to her sharing the gospel with a neighbor in the front yard. If wards had more people like this faithful missionary, there would be no problem with finding or retention. She's awesome.

Elder Musick is my new companion. He hails from the faraway land of Olympia Washington and is an uber scout. He loves to dance and has a real love for the gospel and the work. He was also companion to Elder Haiden Hucks in the CCM which gives us a lot to talk about. He´s really funny and it´s been fun working with him.

We live in a house with our district leader, Elder Nicoli from Brazil. He speaks perfect English and if he told me he was from Utah I would have believed him. He learned English from Nintendo and YouTube. Who says video games are a waste of time? The other person is Elder Solis, a super chill Ecuadoran with one less change in the mission than I have.

For a spiritual thought, I'd like to share a brief thought on faith. Missionary work is hard and takes a lot but through all the hardships I have had the blessing of exercising my faith, and like a seed my faith has grown and been fortified. Faith builds as we cultivate it, growing line upon line until we are able to partake of eternal life. As we build our faith it grows and we begin to taste of the fruits, fruits of joy and the presence of the Holy Ghost in our life. If you're struggling in your life, I encourage you to fan the flames of your faith. Feed your faith and you will begin to see God's blessings in your life. I know that through faith we can grow and better understand our mission in life.

I love you all,

Elder Watts 

Service Project for our Neighbors

Lezica

Hola Todos,

Changes rolled around this week and I'm leaving Barrio 14 and going to the Lezica ward. It's pretty close to where I am now and I'll be staying in Montevideo, just in a different stake and area. My new companion will be Elder Musick, a gringo whose been out in the mission for about twice as long as I have. I wish I could say more, but as of right now that's all I know. I'm super excited to be able to learn and grow and adapt to a new area.

In the mission there's a word, eternigator, a portmanteau of the two words "Eternal" and "Investigator". It's used to refer to those investigators who have been investigating for many years but for one reason or another have not yet been baptized nor will they be baptized in the foreseeable future. The reason I bring this up is because three weeks ago an eternigator named Susana came to church. We were happy to see her, but figured she only came to see her granddaughter speak. The following week she came again, but once again we didn't think much of it. Then this last week she was standing in her porch and beckoned us over. She announced that she's made some decisions and is ready to get baptized. Further, she announced that after over 40 years of smoking she has decided to quit, cold turkey. As of this moment, she's been clean for almost an entire week. We were just like what? and then made plans to teach her and help her be baptized. The Lord prepares his people and though at times it feels so hard helping people that struggle to progress the Lord has a plan for each of us and will help us in our due time.

Anyways I've probably bored you all with grammar and a story but I love you all and I love my Savior. I pray you all may have an excellent week,

Elder Watts

Chicken

My companion has this habit of taking random pictures of me

Piggy back ride

My brother

My comp playing the piano at a speaking contest in the church.

Pictures

At the temple with recent converts

At the temple three days later with the zone.