Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Week 79: Final Words

This will be the last email home as she will be packing on Monday, traveling to the mission home and flying out on Tuesday for her trip home.  She will be arriving at the St. George Airport at 5:30 pm on Wednesday.  If you can attend, we would be happy to see you there to welcome her home.

My dearest friends and family... and fans (;( just kiddin)

Now, I have never been good at giving "last words" even though throughout my mission I have heard many, some from leaving companions, mission friends, and even a mission president. 

It might just be easier to copy theirs.

But for the sake of honesty, and intergrity, and every other attribute that is expected to be learned in the mission, I will give a shot at my own. 

This past year and a half has been the biggest challenge, yet the biggest blessing in my life. There are not words (in english or in spanish) to describe what a blessing it is to be set apart from the world to serve the Lord. 

In my mission, I have learned many things, mostly through experience, and having to rely solely on the tender mercies of the Lord. 

I learned: (Top 10) 

1. What it really means to have faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ.

2. To have a love for The Book of Mormon, and to really SEARCH the 
scriptures.

3. That obedience brings blessings, but EXACT obedience brings miracles.

4. What it really means to sustain our leaders.

5. Change is a blessing, and it gives us a greater chance to become who
the Lord wants us to be.

6. How to really use and come the appreciate the Atonement of my Savior,
Jesus Christ.

7. To have charity, the pure LOVE of Christ, and what it really means. 

8. To serve with all my HEART, MIGHT, MIND, and STRENGTH.

9. What it feels like to have a personal relationship with God, and the 
power of prayer.

10. A little more of what Jesus Christ really did when he said "Not my will, 
but thine, be done."


One of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon is found in Alma 26
which says: 

9 For if we had not come up out of the land, these our dearly beloved brethren, who have so dearly beloved us, would still have been racked with hatred against us, yea, and they would also have been strangers to God.

10 And it came to pass that when Ammon had said these words, his brother Aaron rebuked him saying:  Ammon, I fear that thy joy doth carry thee away into boasting.

11 But Ammon said unto him:  I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise His name forever.

13 Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has He loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?

14 Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell.

15 Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been the instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work.

16 Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever.  Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord?  Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men?  Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.  And neither can I.  I cannot say even the smallest part of what I feel.

But I DO know, that this is the true church of Jesus Christ.  That the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that it will lead and guide us in this world of uncertainty, that Joseph Smith, sacrificed everything only because he KNEW this was and still is true. I know that my Savior LIVES!

The biggest and greatest lesson I learned from my mission is who I am. Not only who I am, but who we all really are, and the true and grand purpose of this life. 

I know that my mission is never over, in fact, I know that this is only the beginning. I will forever serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

I love you all, and my gratitude for all of your love, and letters, is greater than I can express. 

God be with you til we meet again! 

Love forever, Hermana Watt 


Pictures


This guy is more than 100 years old!





Bruden


The Four Hermanas!

Friday, July 17, 2015

Week 78: No email but tons of pictures!

It's Official!

Delta Flight 146
Jul 28-Confirmation #49QD2J
Santiago SCL
8:45 PM
Atlanta ATL
5:38 AM
Delta 146
SCL to ATL Jul 28, 8:45 PM
Delta 1105
ATL to SLC Jul 29, 8:25 AM
Delta 7395
SLC to SGU Jul 29, 4:50 PM

our misión leader trying to draw an angel...





Making bread










The Hermanas


My misión leader bought me rain boots because it rained and i didn't have any! sweet!






How the gangsters here pose


Making faces!



12 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!

Monday, July 6, 2015

Week 76: Baptism, New Mission President

For starters, I just want to let you all know that I got to see fireworks on the fourth of July too! Didn´t miss a thing! As you may know, we have a new mission president, who happens to love football, and gave all the missionaries permission to see the "Copa America" which is a soccer competition of all South America. The finals were Chile vs. Argentina and WE WON! WAHOO! So maybe I saw the fireworks on TV, but hey, it still counts, right? 

Second, one of our investigators that we have been teaching got baptized! His name is Martin! He is 9, and so full of energy that he can´t even hold still for the picture. He is crazy. But, it was a really sweet baptism, because 2 other little kids got baptized too (:  Martin is so crazy that he dunked himself in the water before his dad was even all the way in the font. It was hilarious! 

We have 3 other investigators that have plans to be baptized this month. We have seen SO many miracles, and I am excited that we see the Lord`s hand SO much in our area. I really know that there are so many people waiting for this truth, and I feel honored to be able to share it. 

It is crazy that there are so many changes happening in the mission. It is different to have a new presdient, and to have all of the rules change, but hey, the Lord calls who he knows needs to be here and at the time they need to be here. 

I LOVE YOU!!!! 

PICTURES


Hermana Leon, Martin, His parents 
and Hermana Watt




Martin and Kamryn


The group of baptisms! 
2 of the other hermanas and 1 of ours

Chile Viña del Mar Mission


New Mission President Raul Antonio Diaz Navarro and his wife Jean Grace Wall de Diaz

Raúl Antonio Díaz Navarro, 54, and Jean Grace Wall de Díaz, five children, Los Plátanos Ward, Santiago Chile Ñuñoa Stake: Chile Viña del Mar Mission, succeeding President Federico M. Kähnlein and Sister Sabrina Kähnlein. Brother Díaz serves as a Sunday School teacher and is a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, bishop, stake Young Men presidency counselor, and ward Young Men president. Coordinator of religion, Seminaries and Institutes. Born in Santiago, Chile, to Luis Alberto Díaz Subiabre and Juana Cecilia Navarro de Díaz.
Sister Díaz serves as a stake Primary president and is a former stake Young Women president, ward Primary president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, and seminary teacher. Born in Antofagasta, Chile, to James Wall and Carmen Julia Juul.
23 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!