Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
4/18/11 (Excerpts)
Dear Family,
This week we started off with Zone Conference. That was SO GOOD. I was spiritually re-energized. It was so sweet. President and Sister Reeves trained, and so did the AP's.
The Reeve's did something awesome. They took all the missionaries and blindfolded them, and put them in a line with their left arm on the person in front of them's shoulder. They led us to a room, and started playing a talk by David O. Mckay (I think) called the purifying power of Gethsemane. They played it over a soundtrack of the savior. When it talked about the people spitting in the face of Christ, they sprinkled water in our face (While we were blindfolded). When they talked about the rope around Christ's neck, they handed us each a rope for us to feel. When they went over the crown of thorns we were each handed a crown of thorns. When they went on about the nails of iron, they handed us each an iron nail for us to hold. Because we can't see, all of our other senses are stronger therefore it was just crazy. Everyone was crying. We took off our blindfolds and looked at a picture of Christ while listening to This is the Christ by the MoTab. We looked like a classroom full of 7th grade girls watching the Notebook, but no one regretted it. We were trained for a while, then had lunch and then watched a mission slideshow.
This week we went on an exchange. There's a guy in our zone named Elder McNew who I love. He's just the man, he's been out about 4 months. We exchanged and immediately I saw the fruits of two obedient Elders doing hard work. We as missionaries are supposed to talk to everyone we see. A mission is about making people change, and no big change is comfortable. With Elder McNew, we spoke to everyone we saw and got some referrals. We work so well together and I hope that we'll someday be comps. That would be prime.
So the 27th this month we will be having a joint Mission Conference with the San Bernadino mission, so that'll be about 450 missionaries in one area. Elder Packer of the 12 will be there to address us. I'm so excited, it'll be awesome.
I want to THANK you guys so much for your package. It was so nice to get that big thing and be able to restock my cabinet, and especially for your letters Mom and Dad. Words are just as prized as is food..haha. But seriously, I loved them. Thank you for taking care of me. I'm so spoiled. I got another package the same day from the Kaluhiokalani family, it was just a festivus! So i'm stocked on food and candy.
Elders in different countries don't really have to deal with this, but anti tends to be a big problem in California. My bike has been serving me well, but i've had to take it in a couple times. The guy who had it last had duck tape handle bars, which soon melted and got my hands all disgusting, and I guess he was a big boy and broke some spokes. It's all cheap stuff though, so it's no problem.
Dinner with the ward has been..interesting. It's where me and Elder Peterson really get into friendly arguments. I need to work on that. But on the other hand, I've told members that English is my second language, and down in Hawaii we communicate by grunts. Most people get the joke, but it's sad to see how much people don't know Hawaii. It's much more built up than Yucaipa will ever be, and i've been asked if I wear shoes to church, and the whole grass shack shabang. I've learned to shrug it off and try to educate them rather than get frustrated.
Anyways, my sleep talking is ever present, and Elder Peterson doesn't hesitate to tell the families we eat with all about them. I made a new hole in my belt because it was getting to big, and it's working out.
I want to thank you guys for your prayers. I love you, I'm praying for you too. Thanks for your kind words. Take care, be safe and know that I love you guys.
Love, Elder Watson
This week we started off with Zone Conference. That was SO GOOD. I was spiritually re-energized. It was so sweet. President and Sister Reeves trained, and so did the AP's.
The Reeve's did something awesome. They took all the missionaries and blindfolded them, and put them in a line with their left arm on the person in front of them's shoulder. They led us to a room, and started playing a talk by David O. Mckay (I think) called the purifying power of Gethsemane. They played it over a soundtrack of the savior. When it talked about the people spitting in the face of Christ, they sprinkled water in our face (While we were blindfolded). When they talked about the rope around Christ's neck, they handed us each a rope for us to feel. When they went over the crown of thorns we were each handed a crown of thorns. When they went on about the nails of iron, they handed us each an iron nail for us to hold. Because we can't see, all of our other senses are stronger therefore it was just crazy. Everyone was crying. We took off our blindfolds and looked at a picture of Christ while listening to This is the Christ by the MoTab. We looked like a classroom full of 7th grade girls watching the Notebook, but no one regretted it. We were trained for a while, then had lunch and then watched a mission slideshow.
This week we went on an exchange. There's a guy in our zone named Elder McNew who I love. He's just the man, he's been out about 4 months. We exchanged and immediately I saw the fruits of two obedient Elders doing hard work. We as missionaries are supposed to talk to everyone we see. A mission is about making people change, and no big change is comfortable. With Elder McNew, we spoke to everyone we saw and got some referrals. We work so well together and I hope that we'll someday be comps. That would be prime.
So the 27th this month we will be having a joint Mission Conference with the San Bernadino mission, so that'll be about 450 missionaries in one area. Elder Packer of the 12 will be there to address us. I'm so excited, it'll be awesome.
I want to THANK you guys so much for your package. It was so nice to get that big thing and be able to restock my cabinet, and especially for your letters Mom and Dad. Words are just as prized as is food..haha. But seriously, I loved them. Thank you for taking care of me. I'm so spoiled. I got another package the same day from the Kaluhiokalani family, it was just a festivus! So i'm stocked on food and candy.
Elders in different countries don't really have to deal with this, but anti tends to be a big problem in California. My bike has been serving me well, but i've had to take it in a couple times. The guy who had it last had duck tape handle bars, which soon melted and got my hands all disgusting, and I guess he was a big boy and broke some spokes. It's all cheap stuff though, so it's no problem.
Dinner with the ward has been..interesting. It's where me and Elder Peterson really get into friendly arguments. I need to work on that. But on the other hand, I've told members that English is my second language, and down in Hawaii we communicate by grunts. Most people get the joke, but it's sad to see how much people don't know Hawaii. It's much more built up than Yucaipa will ever be, and i've been asked if I wear shoes to church, and the whole grass shack shabang. I've learned to shrug it off and try to educate them rather than get frustrated.
Anyways, my sleep talking is ever present, and Elder Peterson doesn't hesitate to tell the families we eat with all about them. I made a new hole in my belt because it was getting to big, and it's working out.
I want to thank you guys for your prayers. I love you, I'm praying for you too. Thanks for your kind words. Take care, be safe and know that I love you guys.
Love, Elder Watson
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
4/11/11 Letter (Excerpts)
Dear Family,
This week has actually been really good concerning persecution. I don't think we had any swear words or middle fingers the whole week, it's been a nice change.
This week we had exchanges, and I was with a guy whose been out 22 months, named Elder Gordon. He is the nicest Elder i've ever met. He is quiet and exactly obedient. He knows how to do the work, and does it. He's from Moab Utah. We got work done when I was with him, and felt the spirit strongly.
Oh, and 2 days ago it SNOWED. That was not what I expected coming to SoCal, but it was sweet. We looked out the window and we had about 2 inches. I'll send some photos. It disappeared, but the temperature right now ranges from about 30 on some days to 100 on others. Its been a wild ride, and somedays we come home and cant feel our hands with sore knuckles.
We're teaching a girl named Cassie, and I hope she's still interested. We went and visited with her and she knew nothing about anything religious, and Elder Peterson basically gave her the first discussion.
What was cool was that at one of our dinner's, we were with an older couple in a trailer park, and she told us after the message that she could feel our priesthood. That was cool, I'd never heard it in that way before. I know that as I continue to do the work, i'll be blessed with the spirit ...
A story I want to share with you is something that means a lot to me. It comes from some random village, but it talks about the master of the field taking his worker to a huge boulder, and telling him to push it. He leaves and comes back at the end of the day, and the worker looks at him in sorrow and says, i'm sorry, I just couldn't move it. It was too big. The master of the field tells him, I didn't ask you to move the boulder, I asked you to push it. In that same sense I know that as long as i'm doing what i'm supposed to, I will be blessed even if it doesn't immediately result in a baptism.
Thank you SO much for all of your words of encouragement. It means the world that you are all there for me. I know some Elders who aren't as lucky, so for that I am grateful. Give my love to the family and Tutu. I love you guys, take care. My prayers are with you,
Elder Watson
This week has actually been really good concerning persecution. I don't think we had any swear words or middle fingers the whole week, it's been a nice change.
This week we had exchanges, and I was with a guy whose been out 22 months, named Elder Gordon. He is the nicest Elder i've ever met. He is quiet and exactly obedient. He knows how to do the work, and does it. He's from Moab Utah. We got work done when I was with him, and felt the spirit strongly.
Oh, and 2 days ago it SNOWED. That was not what I expected coming to SoCal, but it was sweet. We looked out the window and we had about 2 inches. I'll send some photos. It disappeared, but the temperature right now ranges from about 30 on some days to 100 on others. Its been a wild ride, and somedays we come home and cant feel our hands with sore knuckles.
We're teaching a girl named Cassie, and I hope she's still interested. We went and visited with her and she knew nothing about anything religious, and Elder Peterson basically gave her the first discussion.
What was cool was that at one of our dinner's, we were with an older couple in a trailer park, and she told us after the message that she could feel our priesthood. That was cool, I'd never heard it in that way before. I know that as I continue to do the work, i'll be blessed with the spirit ...
A story I want to share with you is something that means a lot to me. It comes from some random village, but it talks about the master of the field taking his worker to a huge boulder, and telling him to push it. He leaves and comes back at the end of the day, and the worker looks at him in sorrow and says, i'm sorry, I just couldn't move it. It was too big. The master of the field tells him, I didn't ask you to move the boulder, I asked you to push it. In that same sense I know that as long as i'm doing what i'm supposed to, I will be blessed even if it doesn't immediately result in a baptism.
Thank you SO much for all of your words of encouragement. It means the world that you are all there for me. I know some Elders who aren't as lucky, so for that I am grateful. Give my love to the family and Tutu. I love you guys, take care. My prayers are with you,
Elder Watson
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