Week 29

FAMILY!!!!

We have been answered!!!! The Lord blessed a family with a baptismal date for Saturday, 7 March 2009! They are the Bustamante Family with Jacquie(mom), Brandy(13), and Andrew(11). We were just speaking last night about this and it is amazing to see what just a little bit of the Spirit thrown in the face is able to do to a person. We have been teaching them for about 4 weeks and it is amazing to see the joy and light of Christ appear in their eyes. Sometimes it's harder with Andrew because he has high functioning autism and he is hilarious. But you can see it in him when he listens and responds. Brandy has some worries because she believes that she has not received an answer from the Spirit about the Book of Mormon. No worries, we are going to hit with a bunch of Spirit tonight with some members that are their friends, who are converts and amazing and the Father is in the Stake Presidency so , pretty much it will be awesome.

My lungs are still crappy, I am coughing up a whole mess of fun stuff everyday and sounding like I have smoked a pack a day for my whole life.

I am in Isaiah right now in the Bible and I think I have never understood that book ever like I am now. If you want to understand it, I suggest going on a mission or just becoming an Apostle or Prophet. But it is amazing to read about our day and what is still to come from a book that was written so long ago. Anyways love all of you. I live alone in a big dreary apartment with a Canadian so it has been interesting. (IM going insane) but we re having success.

Elder Jimmie G. Watkins

Week 28

Hola de California!!!!!

This past week has been raining like crazy and has not been fun because I have this crappy infection in my lungs. SO I am doing my best to stay healthy. Ok so no baptism dates this week yet but we are sure that we might have some today or later this week. So please pray for us. Elder Seitz and I are living alone in a big apartment. It is not as fun because it's big and quiet and it's just us in it not saying anything.

There is a man that is in this ward that works in Mesa on Val Vista and the freeway every Tuesday to Friday. He stays at the Best Western right next to Superstition mall so that was funny to talk about at their house.

We had an amazing lesson on the Plan of Salvation on Sunday night with a family that will be baptized in the near future, not right away but soon. They always test us with all of these questions about deep stuff that they just wonder about and so far we are the people to have answered their questions. I just saw their faces glow as they heard the universal plan for mankind be explained to them. We have another family that has come to church for 3 weeks in a row and they are the ones that we hope to set a baptismal date very soon. The son, Andrew, has high functioning autism which is very funny sometimes because he just says what is on his mind that very second and doesn't have that ability to differentiate what is rude and what is not. I think it is hilarious. Life is good.

Love you all and miss ya.

What is going on with all of you???

Elder Jimmie G. Watkins

Week 27

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This transfer has been amazing! The Lord has blessed us with 12 investigators (a 1200% increase) and 4 more coming on Thursday. We have had people that have been prepared just come out of no where around here. We have also had some great lessons with people. Last night we had the Bustamante Family over at one of the counselors in the Stake Presidency's house to teach the Restoration. It was awesome, we taught clearly and they all left with smiles on their faces. It was funny, the son has autism and in the middle of the lesson he said "I'm tired," so he fell asleep right on the couch in the middle of the lesson in about 2 seconds. It was hilarious but also a blessing so the mom did not have to worry about him behaving. They have been to church twice and love it, they are going to have baptismal dates very soon.

Then this week we have a lesson planned with a man that is super excited to learn and cannot wait for himself to find out if this is true. The Lord is blessing us a whole bunch, this area has had nothing going on in it and it has turned around completely. I am creeping one day closer to completing the Old Testament and i am in Proverbs right now which is pretty good I guess. I just got done with chapter five so the Spirit was definately testifying to me. (its a joke, go read it)

Well Happy Valentine's Day!!!!
Te amo vos!
Elder Jimmie G. Watkins

Here are some pictures of neighborhoods Jimmie is in. He sent them with no comments except on the one that says "Rossmoor" he makes a very classic Jimmie statement, "This is the neighborhood that I call "Stepfordville".

Week 26

Hello Everyone!!!!

How are all of you doing this week? I am sad to hear but not suprised,.....the Cardinals did lose. But I HEARD that they played well and it was one of the best games people have seen in awhile.

Anyways this week has been a great one. We have all of a sudden found a whole mess of people to teach when I get a good companion at my side. Nothing against my last companion, but nothing happened when he was here. We are soon to be having some dates set for baptisms and get people going to church. I haven't felt to well for about 2 weeks or so now but I am doing ok. I really think the wonderful air quality here is helping me out oh so much.

I am going to shortly finish the WHOLE OLD TESTAMENT!!!! Cannot wait to start the New Testament and feel the Spirit again, Just Kidding.

But love all of you and the email i sent with all of my numbers and stuff is for my president

Love, Elder Jimmie G. Watkins