Bathing Emus

Hi!

Quick update: Two weeks ago Elder Larsen left for his original assignment in Panama and I was placed into a trio with Elders Arnell and Egbert, and we've been double-covering over our two areas. This past week Elder Arnell left for Guatemala, so our trio's down to two. Double-covering over two progressing areas has been challenging, and we've been super busy ever since, but it's great to have things to do!

Embarrassing story: Earlier this week we were in a zone call and the zone leaders asked who had completed their goals for the day. Due to shifting areas we had forgotten to set a goal that day, so me and Elder Arnell turned to each other and high fived for completion of our goal by default. Well, the zone leaders noticed our celebration and asked us to share our experience. We then had to awkwardly explain that we had in fact not actually accomplished a goal. Oops.

Spiritual Experience: I had a really cool experience recently with following the spirit. We were meeting with a less active member. He didn't have a lot of time to talk, but he agreed to listen to a short spiritual message. As we began sharing a message, I felt prompted to ask when the last time he had prayed was. I asked the question, and I was surprised when he admitted that it had been many years since the last time he had prayed, and that he felt like he really needed it right now. Our message immediately shifted gears and we were able to share a brief testimony of the power of prayer. The spirit helped us to identify the man's needs and help him to come unto Christ. The Holy Ghost is real! He will work through us to help others!

I hope you all have a blessed week!

Love Elder Watts

Elder Larsen and I with Dan

Final Picture with Elder Larsen

These two people were baptized yesterday!
Elder Egbert baptized both and I confirmed them.

Giant Spider

Photos from Bathing Emus!

Turning 21 + Bikes

(written June 14, 2021) 

Hey y'all!

These past couple of weeks have been really great!  Elder Larsen and I have been working hard and we're teaching a lot of really cool people!

The mission decided to take our car and move us into a car share with the other elders in our apartment.  We were given a pair of bikes to compensate for the loss of a car.  Biking under the Texas sun is brutal and exhausting, but we've also found some cool people while riding.  After almost a year in San Antonio, Elder Larsen is flying out to Panama this week for the rest of his mission.  I will be put in a trio with the other two elders in my apartment and we will be double-covering our two areas, which is super exciting!

I had a really great birthday yesterday!  We had dinner with a part Brazilian family, and they went all out.  We had this crazy soup with octopus, fish, scallops, squid, and crab.  It tasted super good!  They also baked me a fudge caramel cake and sang happy birthday to me in both English and Portuguese.

We've been teaching this awesome guy named Dan.  He has been making a lot of changes in his life and it's super cool to see!  Just over a week ago we invited him to be baptized, and he set a goal for July 4th.  The next week when we saw him he told us that he had told all his friends about his baptism so that he couldn't back out.  He said "One friend told me I was losing it.  I told him I was gaining it."  His testimony is awesome!  Dan keeps telling us that he is all in, and we are super excited for him.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Lots of Love!

-Elder Watts

Hand Feeding a Cow with the Stake President

A scorpion we found at a service project.

Me with Elder Egbert on Exchanges

Texas Scenery

 Rack of ribs generously given by a nonmember friend

The sister missionaries decorated our door to wish me a happy birthday

Seafood Soup

Birthday Cake