(Maine)ly a (Mass)acre

I'M GOING TO MASSACHUSETTS!! Transfer calls came and I'm being transferred to Georgetown, Mass. I am so excited! The temple will be 35 minutes away, I'll be in more of a city, and this will be my third state within the first somewhat-half of my mission. There are only two areas that our mission covers in Mass so it's a miracle that I'm getting this opportunity! I will be senior companion to somebody that just barely finished being trained :) 

This week has been great though. We started it out with an epic zone conference all about how we can "keep the sabbath a delight" while on our missions and for when we eventually return home. I was also able to meet up with almost all of my past companions! I saw my MTC companion, one of my MTC roommates, Sister Daughety, and Sister Cox...all at one time! It was a joyous reunion to say the least. It was great to be able to make goals for myself to keep the sabbath day separate from the other days of the week both on and off my mission. It's hard when you're on a mission and it's spent like any other day as we teach and visit people, but I was able to think of small sacrifices I can make to keep the day more holy. 

Sister Black and I were able to go to Brother Blaisdell's shop and do leatherwork with him! It was SO fun..we made leather bracelets that turned out so cute. We've been trying ever since I've arrived in Bethel to find the time and day to meet with him there but it's hard getting another woman to come with us since we can't be alone with a man. BUT we pulled it off the last week! It was a miracle and I truly am going to miss him like crazy. He is such a great guy with the sweetest heart. I have enjoyed every day and every hour spent helping him come closer to Christ. He's come such a long way! :) 

The McLarens surprised me big time on Saturday...They invited us to lunch at Roosters which is my favorite place to eat in Bethel. Little did I know, they also invited BROTHER SYPHER! The member I got very close to in South Royalton was sitting there at one of the tables and oh my gosh, it was the greatest surprise ever :) the McLarens are like my parents away from home and wow...I am going to miss them so much. #ouch 

On Friday we had the ward Easter party which was a huge success! There were so many people that showed up both member and non-member. We were in charge of the games, the food was great, and it was able to bring the Easter spirit. Perfect finale to my service in this ward! Every day spent between all of this was spent cleaning and packing and organizing and preparing for the move. Yaaaayy.. My Easter Sunday was wonderful!! Sister Black's mom sent us Easter baskets that we opened right when we woke up. Then we went to church and sang in the ward choir and said goodbye to everyone...it was very hard and very tearful and it made me realize how close I got to the people in the Oxford ward. 

I was having a difficult time throughout the week with the idea of leaving because I felt like I really hadn't done anything here with my time since we hardly got to teach anyone...but after going to church yesterday and having people tell me how much I'd helped them, how much they'll miss us, etc. I feel so much better. It was an answer to my prayers to know that I was in fact here for the ward members that I have grown such an immense love for. Missions are so hard..You grow nice deep connections with people, and then get sent away to do it again with another ward and have the same
problem. Oh well, I signed up for this right? After church we went to the DeSantis' and had an Easter meal with them and the elders and then dyed some eggs :) it was the perfect way to spend my one and only Easter!

As nervous and stressed as I am to leave and start over in a new area, I know that everything happens for a reason. I know that Heavenly Father has a purpose for me in Georgetown, Massachusetts and I can't way to see what it is. I'm excited to meet new people and have new adventures and new memories. I love being a missionary and I love this gospel and the pure joy that it brings. 

I heard a quote on a recent Face to Face interview where she said "Study the life of the savior long enough to love Him." I have taken that advice and I've been studying about His life and His ministry and my love for the Savior has grown more than I ever could have thought. I challenge you all to take a few moments each day to study the life and the miracles and the grace and the mercy and the unchanging love of our Lord Jesus Christ. I promise you that a light will enter your life and you will be able to cherish a deep love for Him.

LOVE YOU ALL. And if you need me, I'll be in Massachusetts ;) 

Saying goodbye to the Oxford Squad

Brother Stinkin Sypher :)

Leather bracelet I made!

BFFs!!

Us at the ward Easter party!

Goodbyes are the worst....

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🔪❓🔪❓ 🔪❓

Welcome everybody to my LAST WEEK IN BETHEL! We've made it! I can't believe I've been here since November...it feels like I just got here, but yet I feel like I've never been anywhere else in my entire life. Buy-bye Bethel..

For those of you that didn't read my entire email last week, I'm not
really going to be a Spanish speaking missionary. That was all a joke.
Happy early April Fools Day.

This past week has been great! We've been able to stay busy and productive considering the slow work and the small teaching pool we have. Things truly do work out :) "things work out" has become my new motto out here...I feel like I say it 47 times a day just to remind myself.. 

OH MY GOSH you'll never believe this. So on Saturday we planned on going to Norway which is 45 minutes away to work and visit with members. When we got into our car to take off, the dash started saying "tire low" so I stopped and Sister Black got out of the car to check our tires. Lo and behold, two of our tires were completely flat and had big gashes in it. SOMEONE SLASHED OUR TIRES! What!! Sister missionaries are making enemies out here apparently... Nice. 

So we called Bishop Lilly who had JUST enough time to jack up our car and take the tires off. He was on his way to drop off his wife and son at the airport but since he was passing through Norway, he was able to drop the tires off at Brother Young's. Brother Young for some reason didn't have work that day and was able to take the tires to the VIP shop to get us new tires and then drive them down to Bethel to us. He then put the new tires on our car and we were good to head to another VIP shop in Rumford which is 30 minutes away. 

We didn't think they were going to be open since it was then around 5:00 but since we needed safe transportation to church the next day, we trusted the Lord and headed out to Rumford anyway. (Our mission vehicle coordinator wanted the new tires up front and for the tires to be balanced and the air pressure checked). Sure enough, the VIP was open and stayed open for all 3 trips we ended up having to take that night since it kept saying something was wrong on my dash. Moral of the story: we were so watched over and so blessed with all the help and availability of those who helped us :) 

oh yeah, and while we were waiting for our tires earlier that day from Brother Young, we decided to go to visit Sister McLaren. It was perfect timing that we went over there because she was having a hard day and was pretty emotional due to the procedure she had done earlier this week. She hasn't been able to get up and clean her house, and her husband wasn't going to do it, so she felt overwhelmed and frustrated having a dirty house. Sister missionaries to the rescue!!! We deep cleaned that baby until it was sparkling. Sister McLaren has never been so happy :) we are convinced that an angel came to slash the tires in order to make us stay here for sister mclaren and not spend the day in Norway. Things work out. 

It's funny because the night before that crazy day, sister black and I were in terrible moods and we weren't really getting along and I was stressed and annoyed with the area and let's just say I spent quite some time venting to Heavenly Father. Then the next morning, we wake up with slashed tires which we couldn't stop laughing at and we totally weren't expecting it and it really lightened the mood! He works in such mysterious ways!

The weather has been AMAZING this past week! On Wednesday we stopped at our church on the way home from District Meeting to do our studies and we were able to lay out blankets that Vivian made us and lay out in the sun outside...Quick reminder that last year at this time in Maine they were covered in several feet of snow while fighting the negative degree wind chills. #BLESSED. 

Since we are moving next week, we have been mainly focusing on serving those around us and serving the ward the most we can. On Tuesday, we were driving down the road to get to our apartment and we passed the Lilly's long driveway and Sister Lilly was sitting in her car alone at the end of it. We both had a strong feeling to go back and see if she was okay or if she needed anything so we turned around and went to ask her. Apparently she had so much on her plate and such little time to do it all, so again...sister missionaries to the rescue!! We were able to take quite a few tasks and do them all for her. She was SO relieved and it felt so good to be able to help her :) 

I love being a missionary so much. It's been so cool to see all those types of service opportunities pop up once we decided to only focus on that for the last two weeks of living here in Bethel! There has been at least one every single day this week! The Sister Lilly and the Sister McLaren being two of many. The Oxford ward is having an Easter party this weekend and since we live so far away from everyone, we decided to write everyone a letter/invitation to invite them to come. We ended up inviting 21 people!! That is so good for us! Half less-actives, half potential investigators. We really hope there is a good turnout! :) That's about all I have for you all this week..

LOVE YOU ALL.

The sunshine was pure bliss :)

(It's snowing as I type this by the way. Why.)

THERE WAS A RAINBOW. IN MAINE. IN MARCH. okay.

Half of our district eating lunch :)

#WHY

The Bethel Sisters get lonely and they miss the city. Therefore, we draw one on our desks to look at anytime we want

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5 Seasons

Hola me familia y amigos!! I'm going to be a Hermana! President decided there weren't enough Spanish speaking sisters in the mission so he called me to be one. CRAZY!

It's that time again!! The church has released a brand new video and website for Easter called #hallelujah. (Remember the #ASaviorIsBorn?) Well, the video was just released yesterday and WOW I love it!! It talks about finding new life and coming unto Christ and really embracing His life and everything He did for us. This #Hallelujah initiative is truly inspired and the missionaries are strongly encouraged to use it in all finding and teaching efforts. The video can be found on www.mormon.org/easter. PLEASE PLEASE share it on your social media accounts! It has such a good message that everyone needs to be reminded of. 

I had the first lovely opportunity of being sick on my mission this past week and even as I write this email..yayyyy..we had to stay indoors all day on Thursday so that I could rest and try to get over it. It felt so strange just sitting there in the apartment all day when I'm so used to going, going, going, all the time! Sister Black and I didn't even know what to do with ourselves. We thought we were going to go absolutely insane..missions are so weird. What have I even become? I used to be able to sit and relax with no problem whatsoever at home.. 

Oh, shoutout to my wonderful mom for sending me gifts all week in celebration of my half way mark. She's the real MVP :) 

There are actually five seasons here in New England instead of four...the dreaded MUD SEASON. The earth is now pure mud and we are constantly almost getting stuck in it but hey, it's making life exciting! It's all just about 5-6 inches of thick mud everywhere. Nice..

Sister Black and I had a sleepover with the Portland sisters this weekend because of stake conference!! Bethel is 2+ hours from where the conference was going to be held so we drove with a member there for the adult session, stayed in Portland, and drove home with that same member on Sunday after the meeting. I LOVE PORTLAND, MAINE!! Oh my gosh...it is a c i t y! am the biggest city girl you'll ever meet so driving through Portland opened my eyes to the deprivation I have experienced from living in Boonie-Bethel for the past 4 months and I was on cloud nine..we were right on the coast and there were houses everywhere and buildings and lights and cute little shops and civilization. Who would've thought those things existed anymore? :,) don't get me wrong, I love my tiny tourist town of Bethel...but I just really miss the city.

One of the sessions of stake conference was also in TOPSHAM! My birthplace! I loved seeing people from the first stage of my mission. Ahhhhh the bliss :)

I was listening to a song from the Press Forward youth album and one of the songs said, "Everybody's gathered around you, eyes all aglow. You start to read that piece of paper to see where you'll go. You'll wonder if you're ready, but you already know...it's not about you. It's for those who are searching for the truth, it's not about you..." 

It wasn't much, but those lyrics hit me like a brick when I heard them...It brought me back to the night I opened my mission call in my living room with a vast variety of all my friends and family standing around me looking at me with so much love and support and excitement. It reminded me of how excited I was to love and meet and dedicate 18 months to the people of where I'll be serving. Now that I'm here and it's halfway over, I have learned that there is truth in those lyrics. It is NOT ABOUT ME. Too many times I find myself throwing pity parties and putting my own happiness/comfort over others. I am so wrong in doing those things..I am not here for myself. I am here for the few people in Boonie-Bethel that are searching for the truth and know not where to find it (D&C 123:12). I am here for my crazy companions. I am here for the Oxford ward and the past wards and areas I have served so far. I am here for the Lord, this is HIS work! 

Two more weeks and we are moving to Norway...which is next to Paris...and South Paris...and Sweden...not too far from Mexico...and Peru...and Poland...and China...hahaha WHY does Maine do that? it's actually hilarious. I love it. Well, that's about it for this sister missionary. I'm actually not really going to be a Hermana. I totally made that up. Those poor people who don't actually read all the way through these long group emails...just thought y'all needed a scare. Or a laugh. Either one :) I hope you all have a great week and DON'T FORGET TO SHARE THE #Hallelujah VIDEO

We get into our apartment after a long day and this is what happens. Throw on our hoodies over our dresses and make mac&cheese.

PORTLAND!!!

Ocean selfie!

Look...at...all..those...buildings!

This is my life now. Everywhere. #mudseason

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#HUMPDAY

Wudduuuuup!

You wouldn't even BELIEVE the bipolar weather here. You think you have it bad in Utah...The temperature was 12 degrees a couple days ago, and this week it is supposed to be in the 60's! What! Remember when every single Mainer warned me of the death of Maine winters last summer? I think I have worn my winter boots one time. Once. #okaymaine But hey, that just means that spring is on the way which brings me the greatest joy. 

This week was pretty great!! We had an awesome double-lesson with two different member families where we shared a lesson that combined family history and member missionary work, the two things we are working on with them individually. We had a pizza party with the two families called BYOP (bring your own pizza) and then we shared a story of one of Sister Black's ancestors which linked both topics together perfectly. The spirit of Elijah exists and as we study, learn, and share stories of our ancestors, we will feel a deep love for our families both mortal and heavenly. I love it :)

On Wednesday we had dinner with a less-active member named Sister Lowe who told us that we could "guilt her back into coming to church". Hahaha okay, don't mind if we do! She is the first less active I've ever met who actually respects the missionary rules. God bless Sister Lowe! She made the BEST cupcakes in the entire world. She also lives on an island so that was awesome! Driving across the water to the island was a bit sketchy though...the road was so narrow and muddy and slippery. One wrong move and our jeep would be in the water. No big deal. 

We also had a coordination meeting with different ward auxiliaries and the ward activity coordinator and we started making plans for the upcoming ward parties that will now be happening once a month! These ward parties are going to be so good for this ward. They are emphasizing the fact that these parties are missionary tools so everyone is focusing on inviting their friends to come. This ward is just amazing and I love seeing them grow even just over the last couple weeks since the bishopric changed! 

I'll be moving out of Boonie-Bethel on March 28!! I'll finally be in civilization! There are actually people there, and a Wal-Mart, and neighborhoods, and members, and restaurants I'm familiar with, and the church building. I forgot half of those things even existed...16 weeks here has been plenty enough for this city slicker! 

On Saturday TWO LESS ACTIVES LET US INTO THEIR HOME. What! We were in Rumford (which is a ghetto city in our area) and there are tons of less active members there. We try contacting them but none of them are ever interested in hearing what we have to say. Out of some sort of miracle, two of them welcomed us in! I couldn't believe it! Then we went to our Bible Study at the nursing home and taught about the different prophets from the bible. Towards the end, I got the impression to share about modern day prophets and how much of a blessing that it is to have a prophet on the earth today. To my amazement, the residents were so interested and the spirit was so strong and we answered all their questions about it. Some of them even want to watch general conference! Therefore, we taught some of the restoration at a bible study to a group of residents at a nursing home. If that isn't cool missionary work, I don't know what is. 

That about sums up my week. 

Oh, and I am officially halfway done with my mission!! Oh my goodness! I can't even believe that. It makes me sick to even think about it but I love seeing the growth in myself and just how far I have come ever since being out here. Sometimes I feel like I have been serving a mission my whole life. I don't even remember being at home anymore. Then again, I feel like it was just yesterday I was standing at the MTC hugging my incredible family goodbye for the next 18 months. I am so thankful for the support I have been given and the encouraging words of advice that has strengthened me and helped me get to where I am. I have a ways to go still, and I can't wait to see what adventures Heavenly Father has in store for me!
I hope you all have a good week!
Love,
Sister Watson

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"Things work out."

Well hello again! This week has been a pretty dang good week which I am so happy about :) a lot of little miracles happened which brought a lot of joy to this sister missionary. Let me share some with you! We have been SO LOW on miles this week due to many different meetings we've had to attend and the big distances we had to travel to get here.

Since we live in Bethel, we are the furthest missionaries away from everything in the zone so we're left driving hours at a time to get places...the mileage situation was rough. Luckily, our zone leaders gave us 60 extra miles but even with that we were doomed. I have never prayed so much about car mileage before in my life until this week! Because Heavenly Father loves us, we were somehow able to find rides and rearrange our plans all throughout the week successfully with JUST enough miles to spare!!

At the beginning of the week it seemed absolutely impossible, but somehow...not sure how...it worked out and we didn't go over our mileage limit. There were two days this week that we had to drop a lot of plans due to that situation which left us planning a big blank day the night before (which is NEVER fun). One night in particular we were planning for the next day and neither of us could think of anything whatsoever. Usually things and names can pop into my mind to plan for but this time I wasn't getting anything and neither was Sister Black. We sat and stared at our schedule for a good hour without receiving one bit of revelation and it was quite frustrating to say the least..so we took that as a sign that something will pop up the next day so we just went to bed. We both prayed long and hard to have a good and productive day since nothing was planned except for something in the morning and a dinner appointment that night. 

So the next day comes around and we went to our service opportunity which was to clean an elderly lady's house that we found while tracting previous weeks before. (Remember the super vibrant yellow house?) Plus we were fortunate to have Sister Twitchell come with us which saved us miles and she was a great fellowshipper to the lady we were cleaning for. After that we faced our unplanned portion of our day. We parked in front of the Bethel library and ate our lunch, then went into that library to use their bathroom. Sister Black felt the impression to ask the librarian if she was in any need of service and sure enough, she was!! She gave us quite a few projects to work on which ended up taking all the empty time in our schedule. The librarian was SO grateful that we asked her and I know that it was an inspired visit :) that day ended up being stuffed full of service opportunities because that night we also went to the Lilly's and she had me decorate a poster for her young women room because "she loves my handwriting."

Remember how we dropped Vivian last week? Well, the Lord provides. As we were sitting at the Bethel airport doing some planning, a lady I've never seen before came in and talked to us for a good 45 minutes or so. Apparently she's been taught by missionaries before and she loved it and she wants to be taught again once she's done with schooling in the middle of March!! She already planned the Sunday that she's going to come to church as well. How awesome is that?! We drop one, and the Lord places another one right in front of our faces a week later. *jumps for joy* 

OH MY..I went to the best ward party ever on Saturday!! It was the Oxford Beach Party and it was so so so fun. There was a fire walk (walking on legos), coconut bowling, a hotdog/hamburger stand, hula-hoop contests, popcorn, sweet decorations, beach music playing throughout the speakers in the church, beach balls everywhere, and shaved ice! Sister Black and I couldn't even contain ourselves...it was so much fun! The ward was so happy and it was SUCH a good turn out. Everyone was in beach/Hawaiian gear and the atmosphere was just wonderful. Unfortunately the ward volunteered me and even started chanting my name to get me to do the "fire walk" hahaha so that was thrilling. I LOVE THIS WARD AND I NEVER WANT TO LEAVE. They are so excited for us to move closer to them..they're already claiming us for meals! Yay! 

Something I also did a lot this past week was study my Patriarchal blessing. I copied it down in one of my notebooks and went through it color coding and marking different things. I have learned so much and so many things have stuck out to me that haven't before! There is so much peace and comfort that comes through studying it. I suggest you all go find your blessings and read through it if you have one! You will not regret it..you feel the spirit so strong and you feel so close to our Heavenly Father as you understand that every word was said just for you. 

I love this gospel. I love being able to say, without a doubt, that this church is true. I know that President Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet and I sustain him in his efforts to help us and give us guidance. I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God who saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in that grove of trees. I know he was given the power to translate the plates into what we have now as the Book of Mormon. I know and I have felt the power and the change that the Book of Mormon can make in ones life. I know that it is the word of God and I know that it is the most correct book on the face of the earth. I am so thankful for the atonement and for Christ's suffering for me. I know that if I turn to Him, trust him, and obey His commandments, I may be lifted up and comforted in my times of need (which is quite often) :,) 

I am so grateful for the privilege I have every single day to place my name tag on my chest and to stand as a representative of my Savior. I have the opportunity to go around spreading the good word, strengthening wards, inviting people to come unto Christ, and to even watch myself grow. I will never trade this time for anything. Have a great week!! And always remember...THINGS WORK OUT. -President Gordon B. Hinckley

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