December 8, 2014 

Hey mom and friends!! 

Wow. This week we made some major strides with Antonieta. We really have a goal of doing service for people and that has helped us gain the trust of the people in the sector, especially Antonieta. We went and cleaned part of her very large yard this week and she came to church!!!! She is preparing herself to be baptized the 27th of December. What better Christmas gift for Heavenly father!

Speaking of baptisms, last night I had a wonderful experience to be a part of a baptism.  My first baptism!  Hernando Miguel Sandoval was excommunicated, went through the long process of repentance and was found worthy, and with his wife, was baptized again.  He asked me to baptize him.  It was very cool and I’m so grateful that I was able to help him and help the Lord. 

Elder del Rosario and I are good.  We’ve been finding more people to teach this week.  We just need to start encouraging the members we are finding to help them feel welcome. 

One of the people we found this week is a woman named Ana Maria.  Who after a couple of visits has committed to reading the Book of Mormon from cover to cover.  This week we are going to start teaching about the Restoration and the importance of the Book of Mormon being another witness of Jesus Christ.   

Juan and Mari are moving back to Canada soon.  We have become friends.  Mari wants to continue with lessons in Canada.  We will send her contact information to the missionaries in Canada.  We feel that she wants to become a member of the Church. 

Please tell Mel thanks for the piano stuff.  I’m actually remember a lot more than I thought I would.  The Teddy Bear was a huge success.  Mostly because it is soft and cuddly.  It’s fantastic.  Thank you!!! 

That was our week. I hope you guys have an awesome one. 

Elder Garrett Watts

 

 

December 1, 2014

December 1, 2014 

Hey mom! I hope Thanksgiving was fantastic and that you ate enough to make you feel sick.  

Well this week we received word about the new initiative for the church about "He is the Gift" which is an effort we’re putting to help people worldwide  to remember the true meaning of Christmas and that Christ was the first Christmas gift. You can watch the short video and learn how to participate more in this movement by visiting Christmas.mormon.org. I would encourage everybody to take a look.  

This week was pretty cool. This morning we played opur turkey bowl, but the ball I had acquired from an old missionary broke. Like tore apart at the seams but it was still very fun. We had a mini thanksgiving with our investigators from north America Juan y Mari, with the Bishop from our ward and his family. Juan and Mari made some major strides and are reading the BoM now!!!  Juan is still somewhat hesitant but I see the potential there. We actually had a lesson with them and President Arrington and his wife, and the missionaries in charge of the new missionaries.  I think it went very well. We were kind a nervous because it was weird teaching; 1. in English. and,  2. in front of mission president. But it went well.  That’s all we can ask for, right?                                   

In Church, apparently I’m the only one who knows how to read music so I’m officially the organist. I do regret not being more diligent with my piano. We have to organize a choir for a Christmas activity and I can barely play the right hand of most of the songs in the hymn book. AHHHHHHHHHH but all is good.  I just practice prelude music and it works out well.  

Two cool/funny things happened this week. Elder Del Rosario was giving stickers to some kid during a lesson and I looked closer at the packaging. Greenbriar mall Chesapeake Virginia 23320. WHAT!?!?!  The world could not be smaller. Also we were walking down the street and we saw a member family so we stopped to say hi. Then a monk turned around the corner and the son of the family started screaming "RUN ELDERS, A MONK!!!"  Instead of “run there’s a Mormon.”  It was really hilarious. I laughed quite hard.  

Elder Del Rosario and I are okay.  I am trying to find  ways to help him have more hope. He’s been in this ward for 3 months and not seen a lot of results. I understand how that makes a person feel but I feel like if he was more excited and have more faith,  the work would go better too.   It’s an odd situation. 

Well, I received my Christmas packages.  Now comes the long wait to open them in 24 days!!!!!! 

I stress again the Importance to visit Christmas.mormon.org and also use the #sharethegift on any social media to as many people to help them remember the true meaning behind Christmas. And if you’re not a Mormon, and you like what you see, I’m sure there’s 2 guys or girls who’d love to talk with you more about the video.  

Feliz Navidad and enjoy all the Christmas songs on the radio!!!  

Elder Watts

 

 

Juan, Mari and Ella

 

Chile Thanksgiving 2014