May 18, 2015

Hey mom! 

This week was awesome! It included a bit of everything. 

I’m in a trio now! Elder Ruz from Spain will be joining Elder Bennion and I this week, and maybe the next until his companions feet get better.  His companion was operated on both feet. Poor guy, shouldn’t be walking but he’s trying his best to mask the pain. So President Arrington told him to take a week off and work in the office to recuperate. Please keep Elder Letelier in your prayers that he might get better.

One of the people we taught in Conce, Brahyan, was baptized yesterday! He is dating a girl in our ward, so he came to all the activities, lessons and stuff we had in the chapel.  When he told us he wanted to be baptized, he revealed that he lived in THNO (Talcahuano) and then I got sent to THNO!!!! I was super excited cuz I thought it was fate when his street name appeared on our map... but he lives in our neighboring ward. So I passed the reference, and two months later He got baptized. A LOT of people from Lorenzo came also, aaaaaaaah que recuerdo. It was great to see all of them again. 

This week has been ups and downs though.  The hills have become a bit muddy and Elder Bennion’s shoes don’t have the best traction.  We met with a ton of people this week. One of our goals was to expand the work load to more than just the typical few. When  we got to Sunday, our investigator Catherine had to work to cover for her uncle, and the rest of our people didn’t show. 

We strive to have the Spirit always to really help the people feel what we’re saying.  We always feel we can do better.  We pray that the investigators keep their commitments we're extending so they can really see the difference the Gospel can make in their lives. I have to say that I’ve seen how good it feels, the kind of person I’m becoming because I’m doing these 3 little things that are so simple:  read, pray, and go to church.  Alma 37:6 explains it perfectly and we can apply this to any situation.  When you focus on the little things, Great things come to pass.  But that’s if we do the little things! 

This week in the trio we’ll continue to strive for the company of the Spirit.

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Watts

May 11, 2015

Hey mom!

It was fantastic seeing you yesterday, I hope mother’s day was amazing and that whatever food ben made wasn’t absolutely terrible :P 

Grant is better huge! BROCK’S TALKING!!!!!! What is happening!?

This week we had trouble finding the people we already found. We have been focusing on finding future leaders, and we believe the Lord is answering our prayers, because we've found young energetic people who could help put the spark back into our elderly ward here :) We just have to take care of them. 

I’m currently studying the Savior’s ministry amongst the native Americans in 3 Nephi. I like how He makes a specific point to say to them "Pray in your families, that your houses, and family might be blessed. The family prayer is so important and we see a lot of people who start to stop believing because they haven’t kept that open line of communication with the Lord.

We met a fisherman from California named Rocky (Rupert) who is here getting dental work done....  Don’t ask me why but he came to our noche de capilla and shared about how one of his buddies, had lost his boat and how he had always been an active member of the Church and how the Church helped get him back on his feet to provide for his family. He was impressed by the unity the Church displayed! It was a cool experience to see how God prepares people to be receptive. Hopefully we can meet up with him again!!! 

Okay, have a great week!!!

Elder Watt

May 3 2015

May 3rd

Hey mom! This week was kind of hard. We worked really well! Had a ton of appointments and went out with a bunch of different members, but when it came down to Sunday we fell short of what we had hoped for.

This week we got to go check out a Chilean historic site, the RH Huascar, a moniter style ironclad that the Chilean navy captured from the Peruvians in 1870s. We took lots of fotos.  It was a really good experience.  Now we know why half the streets here are named the way they are! It was weird being escorted on a military naval base though. Felt out of place, like I should be the one escorting.  You will recognize that Elder Kenmner made an appearance also. (the blonde from Lorenzo arenas) 

This week our ward had the ward temple trip, so they took the 8 hour bus ride up to Santiago to help out their ancestors and also themselves! We were left to feed ourselves for lunch.  Remember how the returned missionaries from our Ward who served in Chile always talked about the Chilean hotdog, well they’re called Completos.   We made a LOT of them in the house cuz they’re super cheap. I would have never thought to put tomato or guacamole on a hotdog.  It’s really good! Elder Bennion shoveled down like 9 preparing for his fast.  He regretted that decision later. The dude just eats and eats and can’t gain a pound, while my guata (gut) has seemingly begun to appear more and more like I’ve been eating too much bread. Well, time to start dieting again. 

Marioli and Belén had the "pleasure" of being invited to go the country side this weekend... so they couldn’t come to church or meet with us much. We think that Marioli is looking for some HUGE sign as an answer .   Belén seems more calm about it, keep them in your prayers that they can receive an answer and recognize it when it comes. 

Sergio and Andrea are slowly learning the commandments. He likes coffee, and she likes tea, but hopefully they can find the need to change. She seems more open to that than he does. We will be visiting them this week with our ward mission leader Hno Efrain Puchi. He's sweet, 30 year old father of two, reminds me a lot of Ben in that he's got his head screwed on pretty straight,  We’re working very well with him! 

HUGE SUCCESS in family history! Got everything as far back as like 7 generations.  Please send me more about Grandma Katie.  Could you update her info in family search and maybe put a photo? if not send me the info and this Saturday I’ll upload it all!

Oh, Elder Bennion became a district leader. He is responsible for 2 other sectors besides us. I’ll be sure to try to help him out as much as possible as he tackles haha get it, he plays d line, this new challenging assignment from president! 

Love you!!!

Elder Watts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 27, 2015

Hey Mom, 

This week was really good! We had stake conference too.  So again we didn’t have church services in our chapel!  So, lots of notifying people this week to NOT go to our church building.  The stake conference was really good. President Arrington made an appearance and gave a very good message about reaping what we sow. He shared that at home he had a garden.  In his garden he planted "corn," but after several weeks out came the plant from the earth…tomato plants. He went on to explain how none of us thought that somehow a tomato came out of a corn plant. We all thought he messed up or we did not understand him…but he was right.  

We reap what we sow, So, we must be careful to sow what we want to sow.  

There were other good messages about the overuse of technology, filling up our spiritual tank more than just once a week on Sundays.  

Overall we found  2 investigators this week, a mother and daughter Marioli and Belen.  They accepted our invitation to come to conference and absolutely loved the meeting. They were just walking home one day and met them.  They shared how the elders before us had talked to them and set an appointment but had to cancel.  Unfortunately no called them back to reschedule. Probably mishap occurred during transfers.  They read the whole booklet and even filled out the questions at the end!!!! They’re awesome! We are going to be taking good care of them and involving the members a bunch! If all goes well they should be getting baptized on the 16th of May.  

Andrea and Sergio were out of town this week for a family gathering but they seem to be moving towards finding their answer.  Please keep them in your prayers and pray that they find the truth. 

Dixon and Fanni are great. Their oldest child however is a bit under the weather.  They recently discovered the poor guy has asthma.  He’s getting treatment now, but they had a pretty big scare. We shared with Dixon about the benefits of marriage, temporally, and spiritually.  We shared the Mormon message about expression of love https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-08-014-expressions-of-love?lang= .  He mentioned to us how they always had marriage as a goal but over the 9 years they have been together, they’ve never had a enough $$$ for the big celebration for the wedding they would like to have.  They’re going to talk about it as a family and pray. Dixon is eager to pray now! He definitely has felt the spirit.  

We've seen in the last week that when we teach simply who God is, who Christ is, and who the Holy Ghost is, the spirit is super strong and the people progress. Elder Oaks was right. TEACH THE BASICS. This also ties into the "reap what you sow" from President Arrington us. 

It's starting to turn into a brisk autumn here, especially right with the water! We’re both rather polar bearish.  However, our water heater was broken for a week and a half so showers were shorter than they were at the academy!!! The fastest in and out of the shower in the house is always the Chilean elder, Elder Letelier, who averaged under 45 seconds. BUT nobody got sick so it was a success!!!  

Okay, That was the week! Hope you have a great one too! 

Garrett

 

April 21, 2015

Hey Mom, 

Had a great week. We’re super focused on gracias a que Él vive!  Really focusing on the Atonement and converting people to Christ and not the Church. We had a special conference with Elder Dallin H. Oaks this week.  He really stressed that point exactly. Teach people to follow Christ, not just the social aspect that comes with the church activities.  It was a super spiritual experience.  Especially, when you go into a conference like that with questions about how to be a better teacher. He guided our focus on to ASSUME NOTHING. Start from the basics, because not everyone believes there is a God.  If they do, they may not understand our relationship to Him, His Son, or the Holy Ghost.  The true teacher and converter of people is the Holy Ghost.  We should strive 100% to have his help.  He is the one who confirms what we are saying comes from God.  

President Arrington has really been encouraging us to FIND FIND FIND!  He knows that’s how the Gospel gets spread. We had a zone conference this last week.  He sent 2 elders out to the street and said., "Alright, you have 15 minutes to bring someone back here to the church and teach them."  Well, 20 minutes later, a joven named Max stepped into the Chapel and another companionship taught him and showed him the “Because He Lives” video. We all got the point of the exercise. We have to be in a hurry to find, these are the latter days!   

We have also taken to heart and have our vessels prepared to receive the Holy Ghost.  We are also working with our ward to do the same. When the ward is good, the Lord will bless us with prepared people. 

Glad to see you got to check out a ball game with the Mariners! Elder Miller (the army cadet) will be super jealous.  

We had a really powerful lesson with Dixon, the father in one of the couples we’re teaching.  We taught him about our relationship with God, His son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. They are chosen, I can just feel it.  We need to make sure we take care of them because they are very special people.  

Okay/  Have a fantastic week and take care! 

Send everyone my love! 

Garrett

April 13, 2015

Buenos Dias! 

This week was awesome! We started our ward family evenings in the church with a scavenger hunt for clues throughout the church.  They all eventually led to the baptismal font. But, the doors were locked, AKA you need the proper authority. It was a descent turnout, about 20 people came.  Everyone said they’d be coming back and bring their friends the coming weeks. 

Remember Angy? She got baptized last Saturday! I’m really excited for her and glad to see her start on her journey!  

This week we also had a bit of a wrench in the system. We didn’t meet in our chapel but the one onthe top of the "hill".  Elder Bennion and I were like those guys on the runways with the giant glow sticks, directing traffic up to the other chapel.  Less people came to church because of money to get up there by bus.  Still a surprising amount of the viejitos made it up there.  

The other snag this week was that we’re finding great people to teach who really seem like they are going to progress... the only downside is not a single one of them is married and all cohabitate.  We plan to have the discussion on the Plan of Salvation and how families can be together forever through Temple marriage. 

This week in studies I’m in the war chapters of Alma, Moroni and Helaman.  They are real tacticians and were successful with the guidance of the Lord. Also, I was quite impressed by the humility of the Chief Judge, Pahoran who received a reprimanding letter from Moroni. He didn’t take it personally and knew it was written in the right spirit. I’d like to develop that kind of humility.  

10th of May is the big day.  Just making sure we’re all good for the Skype call.  

Okay, I love you bunches. I can’t think of anything else except this (crazy story)  

Last night we’re on the top of a "hill" the size of one of the Appalachians that we visit people on, we hiked the valley to get to the other "hill" to go to another lesson. But the only problem was 1. we're dressed like missionaries (shirt and tie) and 2. Its’ like pitch black.  We manage to get down the valley and at the bottom there is the creepiest little house just chillin at the bottom of this valley. We are going to cross and climb the other side and as we’re climbing my companion almost falls into blackberry bushes (which have very large points).  Miraculously he doesn’t fall.... we came to the conclusion that the creepy old house had a creepy man or something that saved him, that or an angel. One of the two.  

Also I almost got run over by a bus and this week we chopped down trees off the side of one of those hills. 

LOVE YOU  

Garrett

 

Talcahuano, Chile: Very beautiful.

 

Ok, I can't help but think of the RM movie!!!!

How many strokes does it take with a hatchet?  Where is the buzz saw?

 

 

 

April 6, 2015

Hey Mom, 

Elder Bennion comes from the Sam side.  We already asked hermana bennion last week in my letter :P 

Thanks for the genealogy help. There’s a big push for FH work here. It’s actually pretty fun once you get started.  

This week Andrea and Sergio came to conference.  They are a family with a down syndrome baby named Leon (yes his name is Lion it even beats brock in coolness).  They had a good time but left early because Leon was like most kids that having problems sitting still for so long. But Sergio is a member that inactivated when he was really young.  Now he wants to come back and Andrea his wife is preparing for baptism. They’re awesome and could really help the ward if they keep uniting themselves with it.  

We also had a nocvhe dehogar Thanks to Elder Oso, I love that guy, he’s the best. The night went off great.  The friend the family invited seemed really interested.  Now we've just got to follow up and keep teaching her. The family that Elder Oso stayed with just moved here 4 months ago from Venezuela.  They’re so awesome. Hermano José and hermana Adelina and their two small kids are super excited to help us out! 

OH! After 20 long years and over 50 some odd books. We found Waldo. He is a Chilean fisherman who knows nothing about that fact that everyone is looking for him. He told us not to come back, to stop look ing for him, and to destroy all the books that we mentioned..... But Mission Accomplished. We found Waldo!  

Conference was really good. God answers the questions we offer him. I received a lot of answers to some serious questions like how can I invite the spirit more in lessons, and how can I be a better companion now, and after the mish during marriage. 

But we got a good week coming up.  We start our Ward Home evening in the chapel this week on Friday.  Hopefully it’s as big a success as it was in Lorenzo. Speaking of Lorenzo, I saw Hmo Del Río yesterday at conference, it was really good to see him! 

 

Pictures from the Lorenzo Ward.  Sure love these members.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, I love you !!!