Leaving Nicaragua

Saturday, June 2nd, began like any normal day, I remember that Elder Gomez and I were having a really hard time finding people to teach that day. It was particularly hot, and no one seemed to want to hear us out. We went to lunch a little bit early, because we had some appointments to fill in the early afternoon. I remember that I could sense that something was not right. I told my companion that I thought they were probably going to pull us out of the country. It was the first time I admitted it, though he'd been mentioning it to me about every day. The call came about 20 minutes later. Our President informed us that we were to go home, pack up, and be at the airport before 5:00. He said that we couldn't say anything to anyone. He said that every missionary had been reassigned to a mission in their home country, and that there was no knowing if we would see the return to Nicaragua.

I did not want to pack. I remember Elder Gomez and I went home with intentions of packing, but we were unable to make ourselves start. Subsequently, we decided to go out and visit with our beloved investigators and converts. We couldn't tell them what was happening, but it was good to hang out with them and grab some pictures. Finally, it had to happen. Elder Gomez and I were the last companionship to arrive at the airport, about 2 hours late. It didn't matter though, all of the flights were for the following morning.

I didn't know to where I had been reassigned to until I arrived at the airport. I think knowing that calmed me down a little bit, but I still wept for my people and the horrors that I knew they would still have to face. My mission President explained to us that God was preparing His people to receive their temple that had been announced just 1 month prior. He also explained that nothing can thwart God's plans. God knew from the beginning that I'd be serving in the Dallas Texas Mission, and He has uniquely prepared me to preach His gospel to these people. I will not cease to dedicate all of my might and strength to this most important work.

Love,
Elder Stephen Watts

Texas Dallas Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released the following statement about the transfer of all of its missionaries out of Nicaragua:

In light of continued violence and deteriorating conditions in Nicaragua, the Church has decided to transfer the remaining 158 missionaries out of that country. Those missionaries are being moved to temporary assignments in North America, South America, the Caribbean and New Zealand. Most of these missionaries have already left the country. All others awaiting travel are in a safe location and will arrive in their new assignments in the next several days.

As part of this move, the Nicaragua Managua South Mission president and his young family have left the country and returned home. The Nicaragua Managua North Mission president and his companion will remain in Nicaragua for the time being to take care of some ecclesiastical responsibilities over local Church members.

The Church will continue to monitor developments in Nicaragua and make a decision in the future regarding the eventual return of missionaries. In the meantime, we pray for peace and stability for all who live there during this uncertain time.

Elder Watts has been reassigned to the Texas Dallas Mission.  He was able to call us on Sunday after arriving in Texas.  He sounded good.  He is kind of in limbo right now while the mission awaits the arrival of 11 missionaries from the Nicaragua Managua North mission.  They will temporarily be placed in threesomes until the mission has their scheduled transfers next week.  Here are a few of his comments from today:

One of the victims of the Mother's day Massacre was a member of our ward. We would've gone to his funeral if we didn't have to pack and get to the airport. (A little background if you haven't already read about this: Wednesday, May 30th, was Mother's Day in Nicaragua. There was a peaceful march to honor the mothers of the victims who have died in the recent violence. The police (or other government supporters) open-fired on the marchers, killing 16 and injuring 88 others). 

I'm super excited to be in Dallas. It should be great! The mission culture here seems to be just as different from my last mission culture, as the general cultures are different. It's like starting all over at zero, but it should be alright. This mission will soon loose 2 stakes on the Fort Worth side, and pick up a massive stake that was once part of the Jacksonville Mississippi mission, and will receive over 20 new missionaries and send off only 12. With the 12 Nicaraguans, the mission will be receiving close to 40 new missionaries. It's great.

For now, I'm hanging out with the AP's in a town called Frisco. They just had to put me in the wealthiest area in the mission, which has just shocked me with the difference from Nicaragua. Today and tomorrow should be when the North missionaries should be arriving. I have to speak English which is killing me, but I might be moved again before changes next week, but no one really knows.

A kind member in Texas texted this picture to me :)

The Work Continues

Despite the great missionary reduction, my companion and I have continued to work with all our heart, might, mind and strength this past week, so that the work of the Lord may continue to come forth. We spent last week covering 5 wards, what was once 8 areas, but now that things have settled down and the missionaries here have all been assigned and transferred, our assignment includes 3 wards, what was once the area of 5 companionships. However, most of our effort has been concentrated in our old area and with the investigators that we personally had been teaching. We have, however, begun making plans to work with the members in the other wards. Last night we met with, and trained 20 members, who will be sustained ward missionaries this Sunday in the Linda Vista ward. Our Bishop has promised to call more ward missionaries to support us as well, and tomorrow, we will meet with the bishop and ward mission leader in Monte Fresco to create a plan of action in their ward. We will be rotating days of the week, to split our time between the three wards. For now, we will still keep more of a focus on the people that we've been teaching in our area, but we will probably work toward an even three-way split of our time and efforts.

Last Saturday, Jaquelin was baptized. She is probably one of my best converts. She courageously shared her experience with discovering the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon with her family and all of the young women. In fact, her experience inspired many of the young women to dedicate more time to reading and praying about the Book of Mormon so that they, too, could have a testimony as strong as Jaquelin's that the book is true, and that Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration. I know that all of God's children can and will receive a testimony from the Holy Ghost regarding the truthfulness of the restoration of the gospel if they diligently and faithfully seek it.

With love,
Elder Stephen Watts

Ashly and family

Steven and Ashly's baptism

Steven and family

Elder Gomez with Steven and Ashly

Proselyting with Elder Ochoa and Elder Camey

Jaquelin's Baptism

Jaquelin's Baptism

Jaquelin's Baptism

Many are called, but few are chosen

It was 8:00 Saturday night, and Elder Gomez, Elder Henriquez, Elder Guerrero, our Bishop and I were busy cleaning the church before Sunday hit. About an hour earlier, the last of six people entered the waters of baptism. Of the six baptisms, there were two of the people that I had taught alongside Elder Gomez, two eight-year-old children in the ward, and two converts of the other missionaries. It was a very blessed day for the ward, and many members were able to make it to that special meeting. However, the night turned very sour very quickly for missionary work in the country.

We received a call from the President's assistants saying that Elder Guerrero and Elder Henriquez were to pack their bags and be at a Hotel called the Mercedes before 9:00. This hotel happened to be located in front of the airport. What we did not realize at the time, was that those two poor Elders were two of 130 missionaries from our mission that were evacuated. Only 30 missionaries were given the privilege of staying in Nicaragua. The political tension of this country has continued to be on the rise. The President of Nicaragua made a public statement that the police were no longer permitted to fire at the protesting people, yet some members of the police shot and killed four more protesters the following day. This, along with divine guidance, led to the decision to withdraw so many of the missionaries.

The good news is, I am very safe in my area. I am not afraid of the alleged civil war that is brewing here, because I understand my calling as a representative of the Lord, Jesus Christ. I am saddened by the loss of so many missionaries, but am unable to describe how grateful I am to remain here. We still haven't received any updates as to how the mission will be re-organized, but for now, we've split the zone that was once 10 areas, between just 2 companionships. We're looking forward to seeing just how the Lord will use so few missionaries to bring the ordinances of the restored gospel to so many people. I expect the number of converts I will teach to double until more missionaries can be imported. I do not know how long we will have to wait for new missionaries (or the return of our lost comrades), but I do expect to finish out my mission in Nicaragua.

Today, I had the privilege of preaching the gospel alongside Elder Camey and Elder Ochoa, of the area presidency in Central America, during the morning. It was a pretty sweet experience. Elder Gomez and I went with Elder Camey, and his powerful testimony helped one of our investigators make the decision to quit smoking and be baptized. It was pretty incredible. He also accompanied us to visit an investigator named Jaquelin, who decided yesterday that she would be baptized this Saturday. She explained to us, that as she prayed to know if the Book of Mormon was true, she reached out her hands, and touched the book, and felt an incredible warmth extend from the book, to her hands, and from her hands to her heart, until the warmth and power filled her whole soul. She is so very excited to be baptized; it's nothing short of miraculous.

With love,
Elder Stephen Watts

Protests Continue

So, the Nicaraguan rise against their communist leaders has begun to heat up again. Yesterday's transfers were cancelled, and they have re-assigned all new missionaries that were planning on coming here to other missions. While the transfers were cancelled, many missionaries were evacuated from more dangerous areas. Elder Gomez and I are housing two of these missionaries: Elder Henriquez (my old companion from La Concha) and Elder Guerrero (who was trained by Elder Gomez, and was in my district when I was in La Concha). Elder Henriquez is from El Salvador, and Elder Guerrero from La Republica Dominicana. We are very grateful that despite everything, we are able to preach the gospel unrestricted on this side of the city. We are also grateful for the knowledge that God protects His missionaries. We are not afraid in the least.

Our beloved investigators have made great progress this week. Luis's wife gave birth on Saturday to a precious baby girl, and they are still deciding on a name for her. Luis plans on attending church for the first time this week, but has already showed a desire to be baptized. We are very excited for a potential party of four baptisms this Saturday (an 8-year-old in the ward, two of our converts, and a convert from the other missionaries in the ward). Our converts are the 11 year-old-brother of a recent convert, Steven, and the 9 year-old daughter of a formerly less-active family, Ashly. Steven's mother, Jenny is preparing for her baptism the 29th of this month. I love being a missionary!

Love,
Elder Stephen Watts

Progress

Hi all!

We had an awesome week last week. We have rejoiced in the progression of many of our investigators, one of which is Jenny, the mother of the boy who was baptized last week. Everybody would tell us that it was "difícil que se bautiza," but she came to church for the second time to support her son who received the priesthood and was ordained a deacon. She said that she loved the gospel principles class and began wondering if she wouldn't like to "make this church her church." She still didn't accept a date, but she said she would read the Book of Mormon and pray. Her other son should be baptized soon, too!  He is eleven years old and his name is Steven. :)

Another sweet investigator to work with is a member reference named Luis. His wife has been pregnant for 9 months and one week, and we are very anxiously awaiting the arrival. It will be their first child. The pregnancy has made it difficult for them to make it to church, but Luis has read a fair share of the Book of Mormon and accepted our invitation to be baptized before the end of the month. 

The country passed another full week completely peacefully, but last night, and today, tensions have begun to rise again. The buses are not running today, and there are many people who did not show up to work either. President Brown mandated that no one leave their areas for P-day, but we have been permitted to leave the house. He also mandated that everyone create an emergency kit, and make an emergency plan to get to the airport, which startled many missionaries, but I feel like we will not be near needing to use those plans. 

Love,
Elder Stephen Watts

Calm week

For those of you that were a little bit startled after last weeks email, this week has passed perfectly calmly. There are those that are still on edge, but it will continue to cool down with time.

We saw a lot of miracles in our area. We only worked Tuesday, Wednesday night, half-day Friday, and Saturday, and were able to bring 6 investigators to church (double our previous best in this area). I also witnessed my first baptism in the area! A 13 year-old named Carlos was baptized. He is really good friends with the deacons quorum here, and they referred him to us. We have also been teaching his 11 year old brother, who will be baptized shortly, and his mom, who also has accepted the invitation to be baptized too, but will probably need a little more time to work through some habits that aren't OK in the eyes of God. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Elder Stephen Watts