I get so many inquiries as to how Jimmie is doing so I thought I would start a blog and let you know by posting pictures he sends as well as some of his e-mails so that you can keep up with him that way.

It should be noted he was just transferred to this area, so there is not much to say. He was in a poorer area and I think he is adjusting to his new area. Here is a portion of a personal e-mail he sent me today that shows he is growing...

Hi mom!

I am doing GREAT!!! I am loving everyday and really and truly growing each day. I have rough days but all in all everything is great. It was great to talk to you.I have started a foundation for the rest of my life that really and truly been set for the rest of my life. I had a good christmas adn only got one more left......

Here is his e-mail for Week 21

Happy New Year!!!!

How was Christmas for everyone? I hope everyone got to see their family because I didn't!!! Just playing. I had a great Christmas at a member's house and great dinner. Katie got me the perfect push up thing from the infomercials, and they work amazing. I am now getting ripped on the "get ripped work out" it comes with. Grandma sent me cookies which everyone loved, and I got a mando amount of food from the members here. California is great, the mountains are covered in snow which is funny because we can actually see them now. The air is usually brown here. My area is a tough one we dont have anyone we are working with, they are mostly all old jewish people or calvary chapel people that say they are going to pray for us so that God will have mercy on us. I was happy I got to speak Spanish to a guy and he wants us to go back to his house. He is the only guy that has told us to do that so I have high hopes. My new companion is good, he is kind of girly and a goober but I am doing my best to be nice. We knocked into Steve Howard's brother and brother in law the other night and they hooked us up with some soda. Pretty much I have concluded that the Howard Family all look alike, and talk alike, and pretty much everything. I am loving the mission and learning a lot.

Love and miss you all

Elder Watkins
Jimmie is the Great Great Great Grandson to Jacob Hamblin. This is him at the MTC Jacob Hamblin Building.

I was contantly concerned as mothers are, if Jimmie was doing okay at the MTC. When I got this disk with this picture on it, we were no longer concerned......

Many of you may wonder what they teach in the MTC to help these boys find the spirit and help them fight off evil forces.....well there you have it.....

Where our son is learning to be humble, love all God's children and building His Kingdom.

Jimmie challenged and baptised this man the first week he was in the mission field. Sorry....I can't find his name in my

correspondence!

Ouch! I guess the perils of working hard!

Yes on 8.....looks like some missionaries help in the efforts there on Long Beach Blvd.

Jimmie just can't get away from the boats....

I will no longer worry about whether he is eating or not.....give me a break that is the largest burrito I have ever seen!

Jimmie and Elder Pearce taught this family and they accepted baptism. However; they backed out until after Christmas as they had to go back to Mexico and are returning soon. Jimmie was really sad because he loved this family so much and wanted to do the baptisms when they get back but he was then transferred.