Things in the mission have been busy as ever, but super great! Last week we received a group of 18 resigned missionaries from the states, the last wave 😁. All of us in the office breathed a collective sigh of relief from finally ending 3 months of nonstop missionary arrivals and constant change and adaption.
As we transition from mission "survival mode" to a more normal mission cycle, we've shifted our focus to exchanges and training the new missionaries in the Uruguay Montevideo Mission. This last week Elder Merrill and I did 3 exchanges in Melo (Woo!) and this next week Elder Molina and I will do 5 more exchanges here in Montevideo. Our companions will be doing the same, for a total of 10 exchanges and 20 missionaries just this next week. Pretty soon, we will have done exchanges with every missionary that has recently arrived in the mission. I'm so excited, and I'm looking forward to working all week in the field doing missionary work 💪.
Recently in my personal study I've been reading the Book of Mormon cover to cover marking every single reference to Jesus Christ and his attributes. Reading from this perspective, the following verse took on a new meaning:
Mosiah 7:33
But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.
President Nelson has taught that the Lord loves effort. When we put our trust in God and turn to him with full purpose of heart, he recognizes our effort and delivers us from the trials we find ourselves in. I invite you all to give your all to the Lord with full purpose of heart. I promise that he will lift you up and heal you!
Hope you all feel of God's love this week 💛.
-Elder Joseph Watts
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| Missionaries of the Montevideo East Stake |
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| Assistants with President and Sister Escobar |
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| Picture with Julio (A friend we've been teaching with a baptismal date for next week) |
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| Exchange in Gianola with Elder Permann |
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| Exchange in Rio Branco with Elder Noorda |
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| Exchange in Camino Carrasco with Elder Morrill |
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| Seeing Elder Garcen leave for his mission at the airport (He was in my second area, now he's going to Chile) |
