🚫 SOLICITING.

So, apparently we are halfway through May?? Excuse me? That is the most bizarre thing I have ever heard. I swear just yesterday was Easter.  

ANYWAY, holy cow..this past week has been so great :) my new companion is Sister Brown and my goodness, she is already my best friend! She is from Ririe, Idaho and I have never gotten along with a companion so well before, especially this early in the transfer. We haven't even been with each other for a full week yet and we already are so stinkin' close. We are basically the same person with the same likes/dislikes/personality/sense of humor just in different bodies. We are having so much fun together!! I love her to death! Man, Heavenly Father is truly blessing me. 

Our investigators cancelled on us again because of crazy work schedules but we were able to see and teach a lot of the members. I LOVE THE MEMBERS. I know I say that in every email but I mean it...there is such a sweet, strong spirit about the people in this area and it is so wonderful. They're so supportive and helpful and loving and my gosh I just love them to pieces. I experienced my second time in this area getting the cops called (and almost called) on us this past week! Two weeks ago Sister Castleton and I went to try and contact a member of our ward in a little neighborhood but he wasn't home. On our way out of the private neighborhood, Sister Castleton saw a couple sitting out in their driveway and she suggested we go and ask them if they wanted to learn about the gospel. So, we walked over to them and this is how the conversation went. 

Me- "Beautiful day out here, don't you think?" 

Sister Castleton- "Have you two been enjoying it?" 

Grumpy man in an angry voice- "What do you want."

Me (now scared to death)- "Oh, we are the missionaries in the area....blah blah blah would you like to---"

Grumpy man- "You need to leave right now. There is no soliciting, get out right now. Go. Leave." 

Me- "Okay we will, have a great day!" 

**Walks away** 

When we approached the main road again to leave the neighborhood, Sister Castleton felt uneasy about the whole thing and wanted to go back and explain that we aren't soliciting, but simply offering a message. Sigh... So we turn around and go back to approach this angry man and woman. 

Sister Castleton- "Sir, can I say something?"
Angry man- "No, you need to leave! I'm calling the cops."
Me- "Wait! We just wanted to clear up the fact that we aren't soliciting, we are just sharing a message for anyone that wants to listen."
*Pulls out phone to dial 911*
*We turn and walk away immediately* 

Hahaha it was insane! Then this past week Sister Brown and I went to contact a different member in a different town and after parking at a nearby gas station, we proceeded to walk through a neighborhood to find this lady's house. On our way we pass 2 nice looking old women and we greeted them with a "hello" as we passed them. They turned to us and said, "you need to get out of here. This is a no soliciting area." 

We told her that we weren't soliciting and continued walking down the street. After a few minutes we got lost but thankfully a kind man noticed our confusion and approached us to help us. When he noticed our tags, he said the same thing! My gosh! We explained ourselves and calmed him down and he happily showed us where the lady we were looking for lived. She wasn't home, so we started walking back to our car when a police car pulled in front of the neighborhood and parked. We thought for sure he was there for us. He was starting at us as we walked back to our car and once we got in, he drove off. These people are great :')

If there is something that I learned this week, it is that THIS IS THE LORD'S WORK. I am here at His command and as long as I am willing to act, He will place me in positions to best help His children that need it most. He has prepared the people around me and I have been called to serve here so that I may bring them the gospel and the burning light of Christ that they are seeking. I love being a missionary, I love it more than I can even explain. Nothing has ever brought so much joy, excitement, humor, embarrassing moments, awkward encounters, nights that bring me to my knees, or opportunities to strengthen my testimony of this restored gospel. I wish everybody could have this chance to serve the Lord and witness the blessings of service and spiritual growth! 

I love you all, have a great week!!! :)

Us with Sister Kuffel, a wonderful lady in the ward that is moving to Idaho this week. She will be missed!!!

We met the cookie monster at the grocery store. Yes, I'm that awkward companion that needs a picture with everything!

We realized we haven't taken any normal selfies together this week so we just barely took this a couple seconds ago.....enjoy.

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Momma 's Day💕

Aaaaaand we're in a new transfer!!! Transfer calls came and I will be STAYING IN GEORGETOWN!❤️ I couldn't be more excited about this! This has been the most incredible area I've been to yet. Sister Castleton is leaving tomorrow and I am receiving Sister Brown. I've never met her but apparently she came out with Sister Castleton 5 months ago! I am very excited :)

Wanna know something awesome about where I'm serving? The places I talk about the most, Gloucester and Rockport, are in several movies!! The movie 'The Proposal' was filmed in those two towns. Same thing with Grown Ups 1 and 2! Adam Sandler is from the New England area so he loves visiting/filming here...don't be alarmed if I end up meeting him in his favorite clam house in Rockport.. ;) so cool!! 

This past week was geared a lot toward service since our investigators weren't able to meet. We volunteered at two different thrift stores and at a cute toy store called Green Elephant. We also heart attacked all of the members around us to thank them for everything they do for us. Then we offered service at a nursing home, two dog daycares, and a place called Partners in Development. I think it's important for us to get our names and faces out there so that people see us in a better light and not just people that force religion upon you. Not many people here are very fond of missionaries so I think it'll be good to focus on service more :) plus it's a great way to find people to teach!

We were able to attend a Women's Conference that the Exeter stake put on this past weekend and it was so amazing! The theme was Come, Take Your Place and the decorations were beautiful and there was a great turn out and it was so spiritually uplifting. I thought it was so neat to be surrounded by so many wonderful and strong women of the church all at one time. There was such a sweet spirit about the conference and I wish it never would've ended...i learned a lot about finding joy and overcoming grief and enduring trial which is something every single one of us faces at some point. It is so important to see the end from the beginning and trust in the Lord to get us through those difficult times! I know, I know, it's much easier said than done. But when trials come, that's because the Lord is trying to strengthen you. He's trying to shape you and mold you a little further into the man or woman you were sent here to become. It was never easy for Him, so why should it be easy for us?

Oh yes, and happy (late) Mother's Day to all the wonderful mother figures out there!!!! You're all so appreciated whether you notice it or not. It was SOO great to Skype my family and talk with them and laugh with them. I sure miss them like crazy but I know they're being taken care of :) We ate lunch at a members home yesterday after church and we talked about women in the scriptures and church history. I brought up Alma 56:47-48 which talks about the 2,000 stripling warriors. It says, "Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it." 

These are the only two scriptures these mothers are brought up in but WOW, what an impact they had on their sons! Because of their faith and example, their sons drew from that and it helped them immensely in their time of battle. These sons were strengthened and saved and protected because of that truth and because of the advice from their mothers that they spent their lives listening to. The coolest part is that these mothers had no idea that their sons would eventually grow up and be pulled into war. They didn't know that their son's lives would soon revolve around their faith and example. But through their own testimonies and desire to teach their sons what they knew to be right while raising them, their sons were saved. 

I can relate whole-heartedly to this story. My mom is my best friend and my greatest example of a follower of Christ. She doesn't know it, but it is through HER faith and example that I'm still out here serving the Lord. My own testimony has grown and I've learned a lot myself, but it's been her faith and encouragement and spiritual strength that I have drawn from to keep me growing and serving. I have been so blessed to be raised by parents who trust in the Lord in everything they do. Because of that, I know that I can trust the Lord as well and that is an amazing thing :) 

I'm not sure what else to talk about, so here are some pictures. Have a wonderful week!!!!!

The young women had a "Zombie Apocalypse" preparation night and we had to get a picture with one of the leaders. It was so awesome! They did such a great job with it.

Oh yeah, and these are from exchanges last week!! I forgot to send it in last week's email. But here we are together serving in Portsmouth together for the day! (During lunch hour)

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10-Month-Terror

Yep, yesterday was my 10 month mark. 10 months ago today I was internally screaming in the MTC with no hope of ever seeing my family again as 18 months stretched eternally before me. There I was-so green, so new, and so terrified at what lied ahead! Now here I am over halfway through this incredible journey with time slipping away like its no big deal. It is amazing to look back the past 10 months and remember all of the miracles, the companions, the areas, the members, and the solid support from y'all at home that I've been so blessed with :)

MOTHER'S DAY THIS SUNDAY. I GET TO SKYPE MY FAMILY! I am so excited!! ❤️ This past week has been great!! One of the highlights happened on Friday when we spent the day in Rockport and Gloucester, Massachusetts. If you really want to feel jealous, go google those towns and see what I was able to enjoy. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. The ocean lined both cities and we were able to climb up on the rocks and eat lunch right on the ocean shore. What! I was in heaven! 

That same day we went and visited with Sister Makalou who, if you remember, I absolutely love :) she ordered us pizza and accidentally ordered 4 pizzas for us in the process hahaha! That same night, we set up a temple plan with her to get her back to being temple worthy. She committed to do the things necessary to get her there and we are so excited for her. She wants me to wait for her to get her recommend so that we can go to the temple together :) i can't wait!!! 

This week was full of lots of walking again which was so difficult due to all the blisters on my feet. The pain is real. On Saturday one of my blisters decided to open and bleed everywhere in the middle of one of our walks which caused us to stop at the Ipswich library and ask for a band-aid. Super embarrassing. As one of the librarians was digging through the first aid drawer, I got the prompting to ask her about her interest in family history....so I did. She was very interested in it and took a family history card and told us she would call us if she had any questions or needed any help! Woo! So because of my bloody blister, the Lord led us to somebody who was ready to feel the spirit through family history :)

Last Monday we had exchanges with our sister training leaders in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and that was so much fun! We do it differently now where both sets of missionaries stay and work in the sister training leader's area for the 24 hour period. We all sleep in the same apartment and work in the same area but we exchange companions for the day. I was with Sister Pierce who served in Bath, Maine after me so we were able to talk about that. We also both served with Sister Black so we talked about that as well! I'm learning to love exchanges which is huge for me because I despised them at the beginning of my mission. 

We taught the word of wisdom to our investigator Idania and she happily committed to live it! Her friend, Sister Coa, was there with us in the lesson and she was able to testify and share her conversion experience and how since she felt converted to the gospel, she didn't feel like living the word of wisdom was a difficult change in her life. She said it was simple to stop having the things that were against the word of wisdom because she knew that the commandment was from God and that there was a reason for that commandment. That's how I feel about everything Heavenly Father commands us to do. If we have full faith and trust in Him, then obeying Him shouldn't be difficult. We should be doing it with joy and a willing heart and the comfort of knowing that we have these commandment for a reason. 

I am so thankful to have a Father in Heaven who knows us and knows what we need in this life to truly be happy. We may have to make big sacrifices and humble ourselves significantly in order to please Him and do what is right, but we are promised so many blessings if we do these things. Elder Jeffrey R Holland said, “You can have what you want, or you can have something better.” Strive to reach that "something better" by making those small sacrifices today! 

I love this gospel and I love serving the Lord. I love being His tool in bringing others to the beautiful knowledge of His plan of happiness. I love seeing the light in faces of those that accept the messages we share as missionaries. I love feeling the spirit testify through me to the people that are ready to make their next step to returning to live with their Heavenly Father again. I love you all and I'm so grateful for the support and prayers in my behalf. Have a good week!

Love, Sister Watson

Mural in downtown Ipswich. Every picture signifies a part of its history!

One of the many, many, many cat stickers I see on the cars here in New England....

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Sister....Katy Perry?

Hello again!! This past week was crazy busy and I couldn't even tell you what happened on what day because it's all just one giant blur. But I promise it was all great! We had so many lessons and so many miracles...#BLISS We also walked A LOT. Many, many, many miles of walking. Ow. The blisters are coming back and giving me war flashbacks of all the walking I did in my first area in Bath, Maine. 😁

On Tuesday we were supposed to have a lesson with our investigator Paul but he ended up not answering his door. We even had a member with us so that was super disappointing! Instead of the member dropping us back off at our apartment, she took a detour and took us to the
grocery store because she had a feeling we were low on money/food. She was absolutely correct!! She bought us so many groceries and made sure we got whatever we wanted...it was such a blessing and I am so so so grateful for her. We would have starved the rest of the month if it wasn't for her! She said, "I take care of the missionaries in hopes that the Lord will return that favor to my son on his mission." But then I remembered that her son was already home and he came home over
a month ago...yet she still takes care of the missionaries!! Again, I LOVE THESE PEOPLE.

Another miracle: while we were teaching our investigator Idania, her sister Gabby, and her mom Mary for the third or fourth time since I've been here, Idania told us that her husband texted her and asked her if he could sit in on the lesson!! He hadn't shown any interest until then! So of course we waited for him to get home from work to teach them and it ended up being a great lesson. We read about Abinadi and the 10 Commandments but the best part is hearing them all talk about the scriptures and the things they learn from reading them. They are just soaking in the gospel and it brings me so much joy to see it strengthen them and bring them closer to Christ. 

Sister Castleton and I have been having a difficult time opening our mouths and talking to people/inviting people to learn while we are street contacting. We say "hi" to them and ask how they're doing, but it's always so hard to find the nerve to ask them if they want to hear a message about Jesus Christ. It sounds easy, but it's so hard and so awkward at times. SO we brought up our struggle with the ward mission leader (he's the best) and he gave us a challenge to talk to 10 people

each and invite them to learn every day for the next week. 

Throughout the week he's sent us scriptures that talk about "opening our mouths" and "not being afraid" and he's been following up with our ITL (invite to learn) count every night. First couple of days we really didn't have much time to walk around contacting people until Thursday came along. It actually might have been Friday....or Saturday...heck, I don't know! But I got a total of 13 contacts that day and got another 7 the next day!! I gave out 2 restoration pamphlets and set up a return appointment for next week with someone that was actually interested :) holla!! Sister Castleton is still working on opening her mouth but she's doing great. Moral of the story: The Lord truly does put words into our mouths when we need them :)

At church yesterday I was sitting in Relief Society and Sister Miller was sitting across the aisle from me. When I looked up, she blurted out "Wow, you have Katy Perry eyes! They're so big!" Hahaha I've never heard that one before! I've been accused for fake eyelashes and I've had several compliments but none of them have related to Katy Perry. The missionary veil actually made me forget that she even existed AHH how horrible😭 #sorryKP

This week we've been sharing a part out of a general conference talk from April 2011 given by Henry B Eyring called "A Living Testimony" with members. The part that we read with them says: "You will be a light to the world as you share your testimony with others. You will reflect to others the Light of Christ in your life. The Lord will find ways for that light to touch those you love. And through the combined faith and testimony of His daughters (or children), God will touch the lives of millions in His kingdom and across the world with His light." 

When I first read this, it reminded me of when my family and I were on a cruise (go figure) and while we were standing in an elevator one day, a lady that was standing in there with us looked at us and immediately asked if we were Mormon. We obviously told her that we were and then we asked her how she knew. She told us that we just looked happy and there was a "glow" around us. It was such a neat experience! It's not like we were wearing Utah shirts. It's not like we made sure our entire bodies were covered from head to toe...it's not like we were taking turns bearing testimony to this woman..it was the light of Christ in us that she was noticing. 

As long as we are living worthily and feasting upon the word of God and living a righteous life, people WILL notice that light and that countenance within us. Another man in Mexico that was running his little booth in the flea market asked us the same thing! He asked us if we were from Utah because we look like happy people. Yes sir, we are living the gospel..therefore, we are happy. 

I hope everyone had a marvelous week!!!! Love you!

Why do I live in the wilderness??

Proselyting on the beach :)

#mylife

this is the year the apartment I'm living in was built......Oh.

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