Hello all:
So I'm still alive and well. Still serving in Willow Creek and loving the work. We work hard, too. Last week, we found out that we put in almost 50 hours in lessons and tracting, not to mention the many meetings and transfers prep that went on last week. Surprisingly, my old companion Elder Baker stayed close by-- serving only a few miles away in Cherry Creek.
Attached is a picture of my new companion-- Elder Andersen from Rexburg, Idaho. He definitely has that admirable greenie fire, and is super obedient to every mission rule. It'd nice not having a companion with a disobedience issue to deal with. He is that caliber of missionary that is bound to be a Zone Leader someday.
So we had an interesting experience yesterday: we got yelled out of a neighborhood by a very irate lady that is convinced that what we are doing is illegal and that we ought to just be shot for sharing our message, so we changed plans and went tracting on Magnolia Court North of Costilla (not that I expect you to know where in the world that is). We were out for all of two minutes there when a Golden Retriever came running up and started frolicking all over the cul-d-sac. We got him to hold still long enough to read his tags (his name was Chase) and call his owner to leave a message informing them of their dog's whereabouts. They weren't home, so we had to get Animal Control involved, but until they could come, we used my belt as a makeshift leash and walked around with him for a while. What a playful little thing! No teaching appointment came of it, sadly, but it was neat to be able to help out a little.
Now news in investigators. Our primary investigators are doing wonderfully. They have made huge turnarounds this week, and it seems that with the oncoming of Spring, that they are starting to take this missionary thing a bit more seriously. It was wonderful to see them finally feel the Spirit that the message brings and to recognize that it is testifying that the principles we teach are true. They are finally realizing that the source of our message and a testimony of it is the Holy Ghost. To quote from D&C Section 6: "...what greater witness can you have than from God?" That's really why our message is so powerful. We literally call God as our witness to testify of the truth of this wonderful message. Whether opponent or amigo, every person will freely admit that our message-- that God speaks today through a living prophet, that the Heavens are not closed, that families can be together through all eternity, and that God has a plan for His children, made possible through our eldest brother Jesus Christ-- if true, is the most wonderful message the world has ever heard. Those who despise us call our message too good to be true, in fact.
Well, that's about all I have to report on (or vent about) for now. Have a great week!
--
Elder Watkins
Colorado Denver South Mission
Hello all-- I have big news
Well, I'm pregnant! If you are familiar with mission slang/lingo, you will know that far from the literal and altogether disturbing implications of such a statement, it is simply a way of saying that I have been called to train a brand-spanking new missionary from the MTC. Continuing my mission slang, my "first-born in the days of my tribulation" will be born tomorrow (at transfer meeting) from the pre-mortal spirit world (the MTC). So.... I'm a daddy! =)
So that's the good news-- the bad news is that Elder Baker will be heading out. We hoped to stay together and work hard this next transfer, but at the same time we were both praying individually that if one of us had to leave, that it would be the other one. This area is just such a great area and a fantastic ward that we didn't want to leave. Well, my prayers were answered, so I get to stay. I guess the Lord just likes me better =)
The work has gone very well while he and I worked here. We even achieved 20 lessons last week! Also, we have a new investigator. He's a young man that is friends with several current missionaries from his high school. He wants to know why they're doing what he's doing, and what this whole religion and Mormon thing is all about. He's a very bright intellectual agnostic (at the moment, anyway). We're helping him to learn to recognize when the Holy Ghost prompts him. He's interested and honest. He also has a sense of humor and is as much a music theory geek as I am. Great kid.
We also received a request for a visit from a Catholic Priest. We were a little hesitant about that one-- whether or not he would be open or friendly. We are proud to report that he was and we had a wonderful discussion and answered many questions about our theology, our doctrine, our practices, and even our organization-- how the Church is run and how meetings are conducted. It was awesome to sit down with such a good man and have such a great conversation.
Well, it looks like it will be an interesting transfer-- lots of work to do, and we're glad to do it. A personal note to Dad: You were right-- it is possible to work hard, give all your energies, and love the work. I enjoyed my jobs at the school cafeteria, and even more at Tekelec, but although those jobs were fun and fulfilling, they can't quite compare to the wonderful feeling of coming home after 9 or 10 hours of missionary work with no energy left, but that sweet feeling of knowing you gave it your all.
Well, I guess I can report back next week on my new baby companion. I saw the list of new elders coming in (there are 9), and my official prediction is Elder Mullenhall, but we will see. Until next week, bye! Stay warm!
Well, I'm pregnant! If you are familiar with mission slang/lingo, you will know that far from the literal and altogether disturbing implications of such a statement, it is simply a way of saying that I have been called to train a brand-spanking new missionary from the MTC. Continuing my mission slang, my "first-born in the days of my tribulation" will be born tomorrow (at transfer meeting) from the pre-mortal spirit world (the MTC). So.... I'm a daddy! =)
So that's the good news-- the bad news is that Elder Baker will be heading out. We hoped to stay together and work hard this next transfer, but at the same time we were both praying individually that if one of us had to leave, that it would be the other one. This area is just such a great area and a fantastic ward that we didn't want to leave. Well, my prayers were answered, so I get to stay. I guess the Lord just likes me better =)
The work has gone very well while he and I worked here. We even achieved 20 lessons last week! Also, we have a new investigator. He's a young man that is friends with several current missionaries from his high school. He wants to know why they're doing what he's doing, and what this whole religion and Mormon thing is all about. He's a very bright intellectual agnostic (at the moment, anyway). We're helping him to learn to recognize when the Holy Ghost prompts him. He's interested and honest. He also has a sense of humor and is as much a music theory geek as I am. Great kid.
We also received a request for a visit from a Catholic Priest. We were a little hesitant about that one-- whether or not he would be open or friendly. We are proud to report that he was and we had a wonderful discussion and answered many questions about our theology, our doctrine, our practices, and even our organization-- how the Church is run and how meetings are conducted. It was awesome to sit down with such a good man and have such a great conversation.
Well, it looks like it will be an interesting transfer-- lots of work to do, and we're glad to do it. A personal note to Dad: You were right-- it is possible to work hard, give all your energies, and love the work. I enjoyed my jobs at the school cafeteria, and even more at Tekelec, but although those jobs were fun and fulfilling, they can't quite compare to the wonderful feeling of coming home after 9 or 10 hours of missionary work with no energy left, but that sweet feeling of knowing you gave it your all.
Well, I guess I can report back next week on my new baby companion. I saw the list of new elders coming in (there are 9), and my official prediction is Elder Mullenhall, but we will see. Until next week, bye! Stay warm!
Hello all!
Hope everything's going well for everyone! Being a missionary, I don't get to watch, read, or listen to news (distracting-- go figure), but I have heard something about earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, and other "diverse places," some killer whale incident, and snow covering the east coast. Hope everything's OK back home anyway.
This week has been pretty good. The work here is really picking up-- we are so close to getting our requisite 20 lessons per week that I'm sure we can achieve it this next week. Also, we are now up to 5 solid investigators! This is fantastic-- the members are finding people, and the Lord is blessing us in helping us to know where to tract to find people receptive to our message. We expect that at least one will respond to our invitation to be baptized by the end of March or mid-April, and hopefully more soon to follow. Gah-- this transfer is ending too soon. On March 11th, it's possible that I will have a new companion (and possibly a new area). I sincerely hope that I get to stay here and help out the work in this wonderful Willow Creek Ward, but "qué será, será, y no murmuraré ni quejaré, porque sé que el Señor guía a este misió, entonces, confiaré en él siempre."
Sorry-- I don't get much of an opportunity to practice my Spanish very often in this area.
Well, keep up the good work on the home front. I know this work is true, and that Jesus Christ guides this Church. I'm glad for the opportunity to share the message in Colorado and all over the world. I just wish more people would listen, even just to one 20-minute lesson. Or even let us do some yard work-- when they see the white shirt and ties, they never let us help out in any service whatsoever. =( Oh well, we'll keep up the good work.
Thanks, and love you all!
Hope everything's going well for everyone! Being a missionary, I don't get to watch, read, or listen to news (distracting-- go figure), but I have heard something about earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, and other "diverse places," some killer whale incident, and snow covering the east coast. Hope everything's OK back home anyway.
This week has been pretty good. The work here is really picking up-- we are so close to getting our requisite 20 lessons per week that I'm sure we can achieve it this next week. Also, we are now up to 5 solid investigators! This is fantastic-- the members are finding people, and the Lord is blessing us in helping us to know where to tract to find people receptive to our message. We expect that at least one will respond to our invitation to be baptized by the end of March or mid-April, and hopefully more soon to follow. Gah-- this transfer is ending too soon. On March 11th, it's possible that I will have a new companion (and possibly a new area). I sincerely hope that I get to stay here and help out the work in this wonderful Willow Creek Ward, but "qué será, será, y no murmuraré ni quejaré, porque sé que el Señor guía a este misió, entonces, confiaré en él siempre."
Sorry-- I don't get much of an opportunity to practice my Spanish very often in this area.
Well, keep up the good work on the home front. I know this work is true, and that Jesus Christ guides this Church. I'm glad for the opportunity to share the message in Colorado and all over the world. I just wish more people would listen, even just to one 20-minute lesson. Or even let us do some yard work-- when they see the white shirt and ties, they never let us help out in any service whatsoever. =( Oh well, we'll keep up the good work.
Thanks, and love you all!
Hello all!
Wow, has it really been 6 months!!?? I've heard that this is the point at which a mission really begins to speed up-- that's unfortunate, because it's already gone by as if it were only one month! I guess when you're involved in a good work, time starts acting really funky.
First, I'm still VERY pleased with our new Gmail system.
Second, we've been working really hard on getting the ward to help us in Elder L Tom Perry's 20 lesson program, which was instituted throughout the Church. Missionaries across the world are instructed to get 20 lessons per week, minimum, which is a pretty high goal in most areas. We are instructed that if we cannot reach that goal by teaching investigators, part-member families, and less-actives, then we need to make up the difference (for us, about 16 lessons) in teaching the ward members. It's a tough endeavor, but we're making good progress and improving our teaching. We've been working on learning to create lessons that aren't the standard 4 Preach my Gospel lessons and involving and enthusing kids, especially. We've that if the kids are actively learning and growing from our lessons, that gets us on the parents' good side, and they love to have us over to teach their family, and hopefully eventually, their friends.
On a pensive note, I've been evaluating missionaries' motivation. Some come out because their entire family's served missions. Some come out because they want to grow spiritually. Some come out because their parents are paying for it, or for college or a truck. Some come out because they want to convert people. Some people come out just to get everyone off their backs about it. But some actually come out because of a sincere love for the work. Perhaps there may be few of them, but they do the work of 10 missionaries every week and the people all around us recognize the light in their eyes. They are missionaries 24/7-- not juts during proselyting hours or while tracting. Those are the ones that truly love the name on their badge, and are really on "the Lord's errand."
They are also the ones known as "sticks on the mud" or any of a myriad of other nicknames, but they're the ones whose examples of love service, charity, and sincerity inspire the rest of us. I'm trying to be more like them and follow in the steps of Jesus Christ in my own short work in His ministry, and I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to serve Him, and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
--
Elder Watkins
Colorado Denver South Mission
Wow, has it really been 6 months!!?? I've heard that this is the point at which a mission really begins to speed up-- that's unfortunate, because it's already gone by as if it were only one month! I guess when you're involved in a good work, time starts acting really funky.
First, I'm still VERY pleased with our new Gmail system.
Second, we've been working really hard on getting the ward to help us in Elder L Tom Perry's 20 lesson program, which was instituted throughout the Church. Missionaries across the world are instructed to get 20 lessons per week, minimum, which is a pretty high goal in most areas. We are instructed that if we cannot reach that goal by teaching investigators, part-member families, and less-actives, then we need to make up the difference (for us, about 16 lessons) in teaching the ward members. It's a tough endeavor, but we're making good progress and improving our teaching. We've been working on learning to create lessons that aren't the standard 4 Preach my Gospel lessons and involving and enthusing kids, especially. We've that if the kids are actively learning and growing from our lessons, that gets us on the parents' good side, and they love to have us over to teach their family, and hopefully eventually, their friends.
On a pensive note, I've been evaluating missionaries' motivation. Some come out because their entire family's served missions. Some come out because they want to grow spiritually. Some come out because their parents are paying for it, or for college or a truck. Some come out because they want to convert people. Some people come out just to get everyone off their backs about it. But some actually come out because of a sincere love for the work. Perhaps there may be few of them, but they do the work of 10 missionaries every week and the people all around us recognize the light in their eyes. They are missionaries 24/7-- not juts during proselyting hours or while tracting. Those are the ones that truly love the name on their badge, and are really on "the Lord's errand."
They are also the ones known as "sticks on the mud" or any of a myriad of other nicknames, but they're the ones whose examples of love service, charity, and sincerity inspire the rest of us. I'm trying to be more like them and follow in the steps of Jesus Christ in my own short work in His ministry, and I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to serve Him, and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
--
Elder Watkins
Colorado Denver South Mission
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