Hey

Hey everyone,

Sorry for not writing lately, but these past few weeks have all kind of blurred together. I don't understand how time can move so quickly yet at times so slowly. I guess that's just part of losing yourself in the work.

Random facts I learned this week: Per capita, the uruguayos drink more mate than any other country. Take that South America! Also despite having just 3 million people, Uruguay has won 2 world cups and 2 olimpia cups (Which -according to the uruguayos- is basically the same as 4 world cups).

This past Thursday we had a really cool experience. It was a hot, humid day when the only people crazy enough to be outside are the missionaries and the numerous dogs living in the street. Despite numerous charlas planned for the day, by lunch all of them had fallen through, and to make matters worse we had blocked the afternoon to work with a ward missionary preparing to serve a mission in Ecuador and we wanted him to have a good experience in preparation for the field. After exhausting all of our back up plans and our back up back up plans with no success we decided to pass by the house of a less active member. Surprisingly, she was there and invited us in. We felt strongly impressed to share lesson three about the doctrine of Christ, and as we finished she started crying and really opening up about her hard times and the difference she had seen in her life since she stopped attending church. The charla ended up being super powerful and we felt the spirit really strong. As we left the woman said that we had come at the perfect time, and she thanked us greatly.

I love you guys lots. Hope you have a really great week!

Elder Watts

Really awesome lunch of chorizos and potatoes

Selfie

Shopping Center

Balcony view of church from Las Piedras Shopping Center

Snake

New Companion

Elder Watts's new companion, Elder Christianson, is 6'8"!  Joseph is 6'2".  He sent these pictures yesterday.

Scripture Covers

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Hello,

These past few weeks have been crazy. Between the holidays and the heat waves, we have been running around, and with changes tomorrow, it looks like the grind don't stop. Speaking of, changes came around. After four changes here in Lezica (3 of which were with me), Elder Musick is leaving me behind and will be replaced by Elder Christianson. I don't know much about him except that he's huge. Like I'm a pretty big guy but even I have to tilt my head back to look him in the eye. He played football in high school and wow is he big. I'll try to send a picture next week for scale.

Cool miracle: So this last week we had a baptism in our ward for a man the other missionaries have been teaching. Short aside, he professionally works as a magician, rock star, and therapist and if that's not cool I don't know what is. Anyways a week before his baptism this man was feeling a little unsure if he really wanted to go through with this and said a short prayer asking God to know if this really was the right decision. Not 10 minutes later we called asking if we could come by and carol to him (It was Christmas night and we were caroling to all our members and felt that we should pass by). It was something small, but for him it was a sign and now he is the newest member of our ward. He had a great baptismal service and bore a powerful testimony at the end.

Spiritual thought: this probably isn't going to be groundbreaking but lately I've been really touched by some verses in Mosiah 14 (Isaiah 53):

4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

I love the use of the word "our" here. Jesus suffered for our transgressions, but he was blameless. If he wanted to, he could have saved himself and left the rest of us hopeless, but instead he chose to suffer for us in the ultimate act of love. Because he chose to help us, he paid the price and there is hope and we can be healed.

I love you all and I hope you have a great week!

Elder Watts

Elder Musick, Elder Watts, Hermano y Hermana Ticino, Elder Doyle, Elder Solis
(The Ticinos are neighbors to these missionaries and share their wifi and look out for them).

Final Zone Photo

Zone Volleyball and Zone T-shirts

Zone T-shirt with Hogwarts Houses