Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Dear Family,

That's pretty awesome that Fillmore had a baptism! :D

So, here is the last letter of the mission. What a crazy week to end the mission. All in all we had 10 baptisms in the zone and 7 of them were confirmed. The missing 3, we looked for high and low before sacrament meeting and couldn't find them. A bit frustrating if you ask me.

We had a Christmas activity on Thursday. We all went out to Pilar (well, all the missionaries up north... the ones down south missed out) and had a blast. We sung hymns, played the White Elephant game, had a scripture chase and then listened to President. Every time we talk to him it is so inspiring.

We spent a lot of the week in other areas, trying to help them out and teach them through divisions. Honestly, being a zone leader makes you really tired with all the stuff you have to do, but there are great rewards for the work, especially the feeling of satisfaction as other missionaries learn, grow and have success.

Well, today is my last pday so I am going to try to buy a couple things and then we are going to play soccer. What else would I do in Argentina my last pday? Haha. Well, thank you for all the support you have given me. That Skype call was fun yesterday, especially that I could see you this time. Lol.

Well, see you Thursday!

Love,
Elder Watson

Navidad Blanca

HEY! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

So this week is going to be super exciting! We have 12 baptisms set in the Zone in our building for the 24th. If we can help our investigators and a couple of possible people to be baptized in our area we can have 16 or 17 baptisms in the Zone. Not to mention all the possibilities in the other areas. This is going to be a great Christmas!

This week was pretty hard. We found a couple of new investigators that accepted baptismal dates (I don't know them because I was on divisions with Lima that day) and we couldn't get a hold of them afterwards so they didn't come Sunday. Also the three girls we have baptismal dates for Christmas Eve didn´t come to church because there was a wedding in their family until the morning so they didn't come either. But they know the church is true and the only thing we really have to do is work with the parents.

On Thursday we have a mission activity in a church campsite so that's going to be fun. Other than that, things are going and we've got a lot to work on and get better. There's never things to stop getting better at. That's for sure. Well, the place is closing for the siesta.

Love you!
Elder Michael C. Watson
Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Norte

White Christmas... During the Summer!

Hi!

I am doing wonderful! The zone is really exploding! We are expecting 17 baptisms or so (maybe more) for Christmas Eve. Our Stake President told us about a tradition they do is that they bring all the investigators from the stake by bus to the stake center to be baptized on the 24th and they will be confirmed the 25th. We talked to President and he's fine with that. We already have 7 baptisms and 15 confirmations this month - that means we would have at least 24 baptisms in the month of December (we are hoping for a lot more!). What a White Christmas! :D :D :D

Zárate is doing fine. We are really focusing on the Zone so we don't have insane numbers, but we are doing fine. Obviously we can do better, so we are working on that. But we are really happy with the energy and excitement the Zone has is really amazing!

Last night we were visiting some members and they happen to have a cousin that is serving in the Ogden mission. When I said that I had family there, they asked if I could take a Christmas gift to him. I said yes. That family called their uncle and I talked to him (he lives in Buenos Aires South) and told me that there was an Elder from Santa Paula there in that mission as Assistant, Elder Castro. So I would be Alex Castro who's coming home, no? We are still rivals even though I don't know him. That's just taken for granted ... being from Santa Paula :)

Well, that's about it for now. TTFN! Love you!
--
Elder Michael C. Watson
Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Norte

Short again

Dear Dad y Mom,

So I am in downtown again finishing up my DNI. We took the opportunity to go to the Calle Florida (Florida Street) where there are TONS of shops and stuff to buy. Well, you know me, I am not all for shopping but I did end up getting stuff. I just think when I come back I can buy  souvenirs. Right now I just want to help people to come unto Christ.

So we are probably going to get to Zarate late so I gotta go. It's always unpredictable our route and how much time it takes, but it's the only one we've got. Unless President wants  to give us a car. That would be cool. :p Anyways, Thanks for all that you do! I LOVE you so much!

--
Elder Michael C. Watson
Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Norte

Short and Sweet

Hi Family,

Well, today was fun! We went down to the mission offices in a big van with the zone for transfers - it is less expensive and more enjoyable than just taking a remis (taxi type thing). So we went down, got some mail, talked with some friends, got to meet the Hermana Sperry and Dunn who are friends of Michelle´s that say Hi, and then we came back. That's all we've done today so far.

This week was good. We had a baptism, Julia Knulst, the godmother of Hugo our recent convert. That was cool. We really didn't organize it too well so I ended up baptizing her instead of a member, but hey, it's a baptism! This week was super hectic. As a zone we had 11 baptisms. We spent all week verifying and helping missionaries with the investigators. We even sent Elder Lane to San Pedro for a couple days to help them get their 8 baptisms. Super tight. Just a long week with lots of calling and going to bed late from calling the zone and planning for our area.

Well, that's all the time I have to email today. Love you all and hope you are great! See ya!

Elder Michael C. Watson
Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Norte

Hey There

Hi Family,

Well, I don't have that much time today. I feel like I say that every week.... Today we played soccer with our district so that was fun. I played barefoot on the concrete so we'll see how my feet come out! haha

This week was good. I went to Baradero again to help them out. We found a guy that's going through a tough time but was like a perfect investigator for the restoration. Wednesday we had Training with President and this Wednesday we'll have training again. Fun stuff! I also went to Campana on divisions as well. It was a good day. Both days I learned a lot... from the other elders and the situations we were in. Nothing bad, just different.

Well, I still have to write President. I'll try to write more next week. I am learning and growing every day. It's amazing! I hope all is well with you!
Love,

Elder Michael C. Watson
Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Norte

GREEN ALERT? NUCLEAR POWER PLANT? IN LIMA?

Attn: READ ALL BEFORE DOING ANYTHING

On Thursday morning we received a call from a couple Elders in an area called Lima telling us a man from the Army came to their house, gave them a note saying that they should lock all their doors and windows because the nuclear power plant was on green alert and if anything happened they should take the pills in the paper bag they received. So they ask me what they should do. I say, well, let me call President.  The Elders in San Pedro almost went to the Rosario mission! So I call and relate what had happened and we start an emergency evacuation of the whole zone.  So we put the whole zone on a conference call and tell them to get to the offices of the mission a.s.a.p. Five minutes later we get a call from the Elders in Lima - saying, "Hey... ummm................ so guys. This was a simulation..... I didn't know what the word simulacro meant and yea. It's something they do every year." So we start calling the whole zone so that no one leaves on a bus... because they would be disastrous and take 3-4 hours to get them back to their area... if not more. We call President and say that its a false alarm and everything is all good. Everyone stays and all is well. BTW - The pills in the plastic bag? Candy. Well, that was a good experience. Good maybe isn't the right word. Interesting, breaking the routine. Something like that. Anyways. So. Yea. That was fun.

Well, I am in downtown today. Elder Lane had to do some stuff for a visa and so we woke up at 4:30 this morning to come down to the area offices. So let's just say I am tired. But the people at the office are nice and as they pass they say Hi Elders and that makes me feel good. :D The receptionist is a lady who worked at the mission home for 11 years, cooking and stuff. Let's just say AMAZING cooking. :D Now she doesn't work there... :( as much I guess. She is pretty cool.

Well this week FLEW by. INSANE. But we had some miracles! The sisters in Campana had four baptisms this weekend so we went out one afternoon to go try to help the father of one of the girls be baptized. We got to the point where he was going to pray to find out if he should be baptized. I don't like pressuring people anyway, but that answer sufficed.

So yea. Todo bien. Not much going on. We are working with Hugo's Godmother and she has a date for the 26th. We are also working with a less active and his girlfriend to get them married so that she can get baptized.  Other than that we are kinda dry on investigators at the moment. We've left the ones we have because they aren't progressing and we have to get back in touch with a few. But we have LOTS and LOTS of appointments this week. Like Bastante. Going by members and less actives and investigators. We got our plates full. We need four missionaries again!

Well. That's about it. Thanks for the news - it's always good to hear about stuff.  I am going to see if I can buy some jerseys today because downtown is the place to get them. If not, oh well. I still need to eat... I haven't eaten breakfast or lunch yet. That could be a problem. Well. Love you all! I am doing my best and we are seeing good fruits. We had 91 people in church yesterday, that is up 20. So that was good. Hope all is well with you!

Love,

Elder M. Watson