Short message: Sept 27

Buenas!

I don’t have much time this week so I will just be quick.

I love the scriptures. They have so much meaning in our lives. We can learn from almost every verse and apply it to our lives. This is one of the ways God answers our prayers and how he helps us to know His will for us. This life isn’t ours, but a gift from Him to help us show our love and loyalty to Him. As we learn how to show our love for God and obey his commandments, we will have so much more freedom in life and the life to come… John said that the truth will make us free. This truth is the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation. When we conform to God’s will, this is when we will find true happiness, peace and joy. He wants us to be happy and knows the best way of how we can get there. We just have to be willing to sacrifice a couple of things and do what He wants in His ways.

I love you all and hope everyone is good. Stay safe!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Watson

Monkey in the Middle?

Buenas!

Wow... Esta semana voló! It really did fly. It felt like I was just writing you yesterday. I hope this doesn’t become a running theme in my life or this next year and a bit (I can’t even say year and half... :( ) is not going to last very long.

Let’s see what happened. We had zone conference this week which was really great. We really focused on asking heaven-inspired questions and having love for the people we teach. Something that requires a lot of patience (something I don’t have). We have been really trying to find someone to teach on a regular basis but things just keep on happening. Just gotta keep chugging... That’s what the Lord wants us to do; never give up in trying to what the Lord has asked. He will provide a way to help us complete with the work He has given us. Oh! I found a scripture I really liked in Alma 29:9-10. Really missionaries are on the Lord’s errand and seeing people change because of the influence of the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest joys I have had in the mission.

So with Zone Conference comes MAIL. And with my mail came a package from PARAGUAY! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D I think I was the most excited to get a letter from David. I have been smiling for days on end. He sent me a plaque in Guarani and a Paraguayan tie. It was the best! :D I also got a couple other letters from Michelle, Joanna, Josh Jelaty, Jessica Jelaty and our cousin Crystal Yokom. It was a good haul. Lol. :D

We are working with some inactive families right now who have children who are not baptized but we are still searching for a family of investigators to teach. I know there are TONS of people prepared here in Villa Adelina, we just got to find them. And I won’t stop until I do!

We went to a park by the Rio de Plata today and hung out with our district. Those who had guitars played them, we played monkey in the middle with my soccer ball, Frisbee and just relaxed. It was a lot of fun. But the down part is that we had to find a way back that took longer than we would have liked so I don’t have too much time. I love you all and hope all is well. Be safe and stay good. Les quiero!

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Michael Watson

Ya Septiembre??? Peruvian Food - YUM!

Buenas tardes a todos! :D

Well, this week was really good! The best part was Sunday so I will get to that last.

In the beginning of the week we really couldn’t find anyone and it was really hard to teach. But we started passing by lots of less actives to invite them to the Stake Conference with President Arnold this weekend. Many said they would think about it, but we found an part-member family of the Mom who is member and her 3 daughters, Celeste, Barabara y Valentina and all of them can be baptized. They all came to church and are really excited. :D We are now working with 3 less active families to reactivate them and help them to come back to church. It is so awesome!

I don’t remember if I told you about the member and her boyfriend who stopped us in the street to ask where the Chapel was... Anyways, it was about 3 months ago and many things have happened since then. But finally, her and her two daughter came to church!!!!!!! I am soooooooo excited. I was about ready to give up going by. But that is twice where I have found people when I felt like it wasn’t worth the effort. It was awesome when they walked into the chapel. And now she has an interview with the Bishop in two Sundays so she can arrange everything. It’s just way awesome.

On Sunday we went to a member who has been struggling with health problems and discouragement. He is the only one in his family that is a member and it is really hard for him. We were able to have a good lesson with him and his wife (she came in at the end). We shared how our examples can help build up other people. We shared how Alma was really worried about his son and tried to help him. We then shared how in the Alma the Younger’s most difficult moments he remembered the testimony of his father. This member is a good missionary. He has written out his testimony and put it in the copies of the Book of Mormon of his oldest daughter and a present for his friend. He worries and works with his family so much to get them to go to church and to realize the blessings of the gospel. Even though right now they are going to church or reading, we shared with him that they would remember the testimony of their father (and husband) in their darkest moments and help them to realize the truth of the Gospel and its importance in our lives.  It was just a great lesson.

Today we went over to the Zone Leaders’ area to eat food from Peru (It’s really spicy) and to hang out. It was a lot of fun. If I ever go to Peru (which I would like) I will have to bring a lot of milk…

Well, that’s the big stuff that happened. We have Zone Conference this Wednesday.  Rumors are that President Arnold is going to be there which brings us great fear but (at least to me) excitement.  We will receive a lot of good advice and teachings and MAIL!!!! All three are VERY important. LOL. Anyways, it’s a lot of fun the Missionary Work. There are lots of times where it is way difficult, but it definitely has its rewards.

Here is a scripture to keep kids in line (Elder Southern found it) Deuteronomy 21:18-21. I was going to send some thoughts but they left... Oh well. I hope all is well and that everyone is being good! Stay safe!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Michael Watson

Soccer & Pizza... Fun P-Day

Elders Watson & Southern

Hey all!

This week was alright. We had splits so I was with Elder Cortés from Chile for a day. That was fun. Splits are always interesting.

Today, Hermano Cano, my first zone leader, came to visit us. He finished the mission and played Soccer with us at the Stake Center. No one had a ball so I bought one... for 56 pesos... so it was like 14 dollars. But it’s from Boca so it’s pretty cool.  The ball doesn’t look as nearly as good as it did new but what can you expect playing on concrete.  I took a lot of pictures with it BEFORE we played so I would have good memories! :D  Afterwards, we went to an all you can eat pizza place with our district. That was pretty fun.

The Patriarch for the Stake is in our ward (Its way cool to say that we are a ward) and we went to his house the other day. As we were talking he asked about Dad and what position he held. When I told him that he was a bishop, Patriarch Leotta told me that being a Bishop is one of the hardest callings of the Church. (He was called 3 times). But it is always interesting talking to him. He is like 80 years old and acts and looks like he is in his 60s or 70s.

I met an Elder Johnson (in our zone) who knows me from Baseball camp and BYU. Truthfully I didn’t recognize him at first but after thinking for a bit I did remember him. He knows Dave too. I think I have a really bad memory... Oh well.  I will get to talk to him more.  He just barely got to the field but he is way excited.

Well, that’s about all that happened. We are working hard to find people that we can teach. It’s hard work being a missionary. But it is so worth it. Every time I testify I can feel the Spirit testify to me. I know that as we, the members, work to bring the Gospel to our friends and family, that we be given the words to speak. (D&C 84:85)  This is the work of the Lord and when we work and try to take a part in it, we will be blessed abundantly with the Spirit.

I hope all is well and that everyone is being good. I am way excited that Josh is set apart. I will definitely write him. Hopefully sooner than later, but I will. Oh, speaking of letters... I forgot them in the apartment today so they will have to wait until next week to be sent. Sorry! Anyways, may the Lord be with you in all you do. Love you all.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Michael Watson