6 Months

I am writing this as a kind of update/reflection/request (if that makes any sense).

Anyways,

Update:
I have been home for almost 6 months. WHAT THE! To me, it has flown by and 6 months just sounds like so much time for what it feels like, but every time I talk to a returned missionary up at school, they still say that I am fresh off of the mission. Since being home, I have been attending Brigham Young University Idaho. I am still undeclared for my major but I am thinking about going into Finance! We'll see! I've gone on some fun vacations with the family. I think that I am just so happy to be with my family! I wish I could be with them every day. The sister that I trained, came home from her mission last week... that was weird. I was so so so happy to see her though! I cried... SEVERAL times. I even cried to some random lady at school collecting text books. It was just such a bad day and I could not wait to see her. Right now it is winter break and I will be going back for winter semester and I couldn't be more excited! Next week, I have an interview to be an EFY counselor. We'll see what happens!

Reflection:
These last months have been DIFFICULT but so rewarding. If ANYONE reads this and has recently returned from a mission, I know what it's like. It's hard.
I still get mixed up with the language. Today, I couldn't think of the word for foreign.
One thing that is really hard is feeling as though I am slipping out of those good missionary habits. Stuff like cleaning, planning, and NO SOCIAL MEDIA!! its tough.
Although it is hard, I still have learned so so many principles that have shaped me to be who I am. I just need to NEVER forget those principles. Love and Obedience have been so important to me ever since I have served. I love love love the #lighttheworld initiative by the church on mormon.org. It inspired me to spread my love for the Savior and others through service.
Coming home from a mission is a constant effort to continue in the light of Christ. Something that I have learned is that it is so hard to be home and I feel as though I have so much to learn but the mission was also hard. I wasn't perfect there either! We are learning everyday no matter where we are and what are circumstances.
As long as we are following Christ and applying the doctrine that he taught, we are on the correct path!

Request:
This blog shows me where the most views come from and I can see that most of the views come from preparetoserve.com. If anyone is reading this who has their call to Cusco, I'd love to read your emails! I miss Cusco so so much and if anyone wants to add me to their weekly emails, my email is emilywattles@gmail.com. Thank you thank you thank you!

If anyone has any questions, I'd love to answer them!!

Love,
Hermana Emily Wattles

Mi HIJA. Hna Morris is home!

Ran into the mission president and his wife at General Conference.

Im Home!!!

with my whole family

So I have been meaning to post one more entry just to tell about my arrival to THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. It was pretty great. The last few days in the mission were somewhat stressful but great all at the same time. We had our last interviews with President and I got to buy my last souvenirs (lots of them).

We left Wednesday at 6pm, the time we had to be at the airport. We took lots of goodbye pictures and went off. We arrived in Lima at about 9pm and sat around in the airport until 2am AND I was the only Hermana with a whole bunch of Elders. It was fun! Then at about 8am, we arrived in Los Angeles. It was super confusing because I was with all of the Elders through customs and at the end, the lady checked my ticket and told me to go to a whole different line to get checked through security! What the heck!? Then, I was all alone. I didn't like that. But, after about an hour or so of going through more security, finding the gate, and meeting random guys from Chile who only spoke Spanish and wanted to hold my bags for me, I found the group. And, at 11:05 I boarded the plane to Las Vegas with Elder Webb (who is also from Las Vegas). We thought that it was going to be the longest plane ride of our lives but before we knew it, we were right over Las Vegas and I was kinda freaking out. I bet Elder Webb got annoyed of me but I was overly excited to see my family! We landed and we walked so fast. I could not sit still. After getting off the plane we booked it. Even ran to get on the tram. (I was not going to wait any longer than I had to to see my family). We got to the escalator that went down to baggage claim and I saw my dad. I just lost it then. I started crying and hugged all of them. It was a crazy rush of emotions. We took pictures, got my bags, and went to Cafe Rio!!  It was a crazy two days.

Since I have been home, I have been so happy to be in the company of my family! I  love them so much. We have been able to go to the temple, take a trip to Utah and just do all kinds of family stuff. I even got a job working with my dad and sister! I am so happy. The mission has made me recognize how important family is. I love them so much and I feel so blessed to have them in my lives again. I am so happy that I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where I know who I am and I know God's plan. I know that I can find happiness in the simplicity of life. I am so happy. I am thankful for the faith that I have been able to grow in this time. I am thankful for my mission and the time that I spent coming unto Christ. I want to share this with everyone.

I will be giving my final homecoming talk this Sunday, July 10th at 9am in the Red Rock Stake Center on Alta and Town Center. All are welcome to come. and then at 6:30 those who would like to come over and see meeee :) are welcome to come! Text me for details 7026068559.

I love you all and thanks for reading my blog for so long!
-Emily Wattles

Dad 

Mom 

temple for the first

Petting zoo in Utah

My Last Pictures

I haven't had a lot of time lately so I thought I'd just get on and send my last pictures before I come home. I love you all and see you in 3 days.



Hermana M... and I waiting in the airport for an Hermana at 4 in the morning. Our faces were a little rough

My last moment with her in the mission. Bye

HERMANA C.....

The cutest little kid eating an apple

Elizibeth and Kris. Last photo

My favorite child. His faces crack me up

 

Cusco is Good for Rocks

 The cool Inca bridge that we got to cross. (made out of straw)

So, this week was really great! We got to visit lots of new people that are excited to hear about the gospel. This week was my last concilio (lider conference). It was also the last one of presidents too. So, we went to Qeswachaka, an Inca bridge that is made out of straw that they rebuild ever year. It was amazing. President taught us so many things. He talked about going back home and what things we need to learn. Everyone says that returned missionaries are weird and awkward when they get home and I'm starting to understand why. We are here for SO MUCH TIME and the mission is all we know. So bear with me when I get back, ahah. 

 

This week we were able to visit so many people but I think something amazing that I learned this week was the worth of all of these people. Everyone is a child of God. Everyone is searching for some form of happiness and as missionaries, as leaders and members of the church, it is our responsibility to help all of them have an opportunity to receive the gospel. You never know who will accept it. 

 

This week we decided to contact a woman that we had talked to several times and had always spoken to us in a very grumpy tone. Well.. this time she looked at us and goes, "share something with me right now. I have time" So we sat down on the curb of the road and we shared a message with her. We had to explain why we don't worship saints and why we don't say the same prayer over and over again because she is super catholic but at the end of it all, she understood and she thanked us for teaching her things that she had not heard before. It was really great to see that hearts do change in the littlest ways.

 

In the mission, we see miracles everyday but as I think about it, I think that we see miracles everyday in our ordinary lives. We just have to have the spiritual eyes to see them.

 

I know that the gospel is true. I love it. 

-Hermana Wattles

I told you Cusco is good for rocks




Last night, we were out a little too late because the Hermana
who was going to Machu Picchu got here late.
Then we had to wait outside for someone to open the door and
as we're waiting, some drunk is trying to get at me and touching me,
so my companion pushes him and we walk to the corner.
Then I tried on the Hermanas cool glasses. It was a weird night.

 

 

Crazy Week

Okay, this week was crazy. Every week just goes by faster and faster. So does that mean that these last weeks will feel like days? I think so. I think this week, I am learning to love what comes at me. BECAUSE everything has come at me. This week we got to visit many different people and wow their spirits just lift me up. I love being a missionary. I think that I learn more and more about why I'm here every day. Isn't that amazing? Life is just great. We are all here to learn and grow and really... if we are doing what is right, we will learn and grow. It's not always easy but it is 100% possible. I really do believe that. I feel so thankful that my Heavenly Father has sent me here to serve where I am and who I am with. The Gospel is so beautiful and we can only recognize the beauty of the gospel when we take one step at a time, doing what is right and just enjoying everyday. I think that is my current goal, to really enjoy every moment. I think I am.

So this week, we visited a less active family that has always told us that going to church would be impossible for them. We decided to share a scripture about the love of God and ended up talking about our priorities as members of the church. Soon, the mood changed and they started sharing their testimonies on why it is important to be faithful and complete with the commandments. It was so amazing. They even gave us bread and hot chocolate after! AND you know what? Two of them came to church yesterday. Wow, I was so happy.

It is amazing how the progress of others can really affect us if we love. Love is so important and I think that is one of the biggest lessons that I am learning and continuing to learn. I love the gospel. I love our Father in Heaven and his son Jesus Christ. I love this work. I love who I am. I love my companion. I love my mission and all of the things that I am learning. I feel so thankful for my trials because they have shaped me to be who I am.

I know that the Gospel is true.

- Hermana Wattles
 

We made brownies last night... lots of brownies and I ate almost all of them



Cusco is great for taking pictures in front of rocks

 

3 generations

QUILLABAMBA so beautiful

This week was fantastic. I feel so blessed to be where I am and know the missionaries that I know and to teach the people I teach. All have such tender spirits and I am truly learning SO much. This week my Hermana M... left and is now at home, and now I have my new companion, Hermana R.... I feel so blessed to be with her and I know that I am going to learn so much. 

 

This week we picked up all of the new missionaries and the whole routine. After all of the missionaries came, met their new companions and went home, it was Thursday and we got to work! We met lots of really cool people. One day we were walking down the street and Hermana R... contacted two women and we started talking and shared a message with them. One of the ladies was pregnant and at the end of it all, I asked her what she was going to name her baby and she had no idea. I told her I could give her American names and she was like, "YEAH" so I sat for like 15 minutes thinking of white baby boy names, ahaha, at the end of it all she chose Jordan. Her due date was yesterday so we'll see.

 

We also taught another lady in the street (well right outside of her house). We taught her about the reunions in the church and at the end, we taught her how to pray and she offered the closing prayer. In her prayer she asked God to help her come to church. She asked that when Sunday came that she wouldn't have any obstacles that kept her from coming. WOW, that was such a faith builder for me.

Last night, we taught Hermana R.... and the Elders came. We talked about faith. Hna R... nephew told us that he had never seen a miracle because of his faith and then we started talking about how when we truly show our faith, the Lord opens our eyes. I think that is so true. The more we exercise our faith, the more it grows and we are able to see the little tender mercies in our lives. I know that the Lord lives. I know that His love is real. I know that He has so much for us to learn, we just have to open the door and let Him teach us. I know that the Gospel is true and I love it with all of my heart. 

 

I hope that you all have a fantastic week.

-Hermana Wattles



Me, my daughter (the missionary I trained), and her daughter (the missionary that she is going to train) 3 GENERATIONS. wow now I have 2 grand daughters.



My new companion and I in the plaza our first night



Hna A.... my favorite girl from payta!!! she's going to do great in Juliaca. I miss that place.

 

FASTEST WEEK EVER

This week has gone by faster than any other week BUT, I'm starting to think that maybe this week will go by even faster. We traveled almost everyday this week. We went to Quillabamba (the most beautiful place I think I have seen) and we were with the hermanas there doing work visits. I got bit by lots of mosquitos there! It was so fun. Then we went to Abancay (maybe the second most beautiful). That day we didn't get to go out a lot because the hermana that I was with got sick. So, we talked all day about the blessings of the gospel. Sounds boring, BUT it was so great! I learned so much and realized how amazing the Gospel of Jesus Christ really is. I feel so blessed to be apart of His gospel. Then we came back and it was Saturday already! LOOK how fast that week went by! crazy! 

 

We did have a lesson with ONE investigator and it was really great. She was a contact off of the street and it didn't really seem like she wanted anything but we came back and she let us in!!! She accepted what we said to her and she told us that she would come to church!!! I was so happy! This work really is the best and i feel so blessed to be here. I know that the Lord Jesus Christ is at the head of all of this work. I know that we are blessed when we do the right things. I think that the greatest lesson that I learned this week was about really being happy. Sometimes I think we make ourselves sad for no reason. NO ONE can really control our happiness.. Only we can! If we want to be happy, we choose to be. I like being happy. I know that the Lord wants us to be happy. It's like it says in the Book of Mormon that men were created to have joy! I love that. We can not control what other people do, so the best thing is to just have a great attitude.

 

I know that this Gospel is true. I know that Heavenly Father loves me and that I am where I am for a reason. I trust him 100%. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior OF THE WORLD. I am so thankful for the experiences that I have had in my life. They have shaped me to be the person that I am today. I'm not perfect but that's what we're all working for right?

 

I hope that you all have an amazing week!

-Hermana Wattles

 

Funny experience? Everyday of my life

This week we rode a bus that goes to Lima so there were lots of white people on the bus. Sitting next to us was a guy with really long blonde hair and it was super shiny and just really good hair, and in Peru there's not a lot of guys with long hair... like no one ahah, so my companion was cracking up so hard and telling me that his hair was better and way prettier than my hair. Haha my companion was comparing my hair with a guy...

Today was a crazy day. I picked up, dropped off, helped and just everything and without my companion. So, they were my companions for two hours, then I got new one every other companion.



I think this might be my last picture with Hermana M... (my best friend) I love her so much!

Another Fabulous Week



In Concilio, we took a jumping picture
and Elder Yorgeson perfectly got in on it

Man, I really can not complain. I have the greatest mission in the world. I have so many amazing experiences everyday and I Just feel so blessed to be here as a representative of Jesus Christ. I love him and I know he loves me.  This week has been amazing and has passed by way too quickly. My companion goes home in a week and it makes me realize how precious time is. This week we were super busy with all kinds of activities and fun stuff. On tuesday, we had concilio (the leader meeting) and we talked about all kinds of good stuff, and ate lasangna. Then, the next day, we had a huge zone conference with president in the mountains and it was really pretty! I learned all kinds of life lessons there ahha... Then, on friday, we did divisions with the other sister leaders and visited lots of people. I was with Hermana .... We visited lots of amazing people and contacted too. One person we visited was a reference from a reference from a contact and we didn't really have much success every time we went to their house.. But, his time, their daughter let us in and we helped her to cut and open chili peppers. We started talking and sharing our purpose and message. She told us that she wanted to be like us and teach people! Then, her mom walks in and just starts laughing. Then she goes "but the chili will burn your hands!!!" She was really impressed ahha. So she invited us to bread and herbal tea and as we sat down, her husband walks in. So we decided to share a message with the whole family. At the end, the dad gave the prayer and he even started choking up. It was such a great experience and he was showing a good example to his children! It was truly touching. 

Conference in the mountains

 

I love this work so much. It makes me so happy and I know that the Lord is blessing me and my family and those around me for this and I feel so thankful.

 

Now for the creepy story ahahha.

So YESTERDAY, we were heading to an appointment and we got on a bus. Lots of people got on the bus so my companion got shoved to the back of the bus. When we got to the bus stop where we had to get off, my companion yelled to me that I needed to pay because she didn't have any money so I frantically got off the bus and payed for her but when I turned around, she wasn't there... I was all alone... and it was dark... and she had the cell phone. Honestly... I was really scared. So I thought for a second on what I should do and I looked at the girl next to me and asked her if I could use her phone after I explained my situation and she goes, "I don't have minutes"  then I looked at the other lady and NO ONE WANTED TO LET ME USE THEIR PHONE. Then finally a man let me use his phone and i talked to my companion and I found out that she got off two bus stops later and we walked to meet up. I felt so strongly that I needed to contact that man and share something with him but I didn't get the chance... because I was alone. So, we sent him a message and an hour later he writes back saying.... dont worry pretty. Who wouldnt help someone as angelical as you.... 

maybe the elders can teach him... ahahha

 

-Hermana Wattles

 



My favorite kids liked the stickers I gave them

 

Fight

This week was great! I can't remember much! We got to go on divisions with San Jeronimo! That meant Hermana H...! I love her so much! I feel so thankful to be here in Cusco. I love it so much and I am learning so much everyday.

 

This week we did Family History two times with the Poulsens. It was super fun! They are really great and I look up to them for the time that they are spending away from their family and the money that they are spending to be serving the Lord! The ONE and only COOL/WEIRD/SCARY/INTENSE LESSON WE HAD THIS WEEK: So I don't know if anyone can remember the story I told like a month ago about the guy who pulled over in his taxi because he wanted us to help him find his wife so that he could make things right?? Well, he calls us the other day and asks us when we can meet with him and his wife. We happened to have an hour where we didn't have any plans so we planned to meet with them at that hour in the chapel. We got there and waited for a couple minutes and they showed up. They sat down and talked for a while about their lives and stories. H.... spoke a little english to me that I didn't understand. He told my companion in english that his brother was going to meet her in the airport with a sign that says "marry me" (at first I didn't understand what he said and my companion didn't either so it was super awkward). Then he tells us that he wants his wife to change because she is catholic and in her past life, liked to drink, dance, and sleep around... so we said we'd share the messages and see. Towards the end of the hour, we shared a scripture and talked about prayer and then asked M....(his wife) to say the closing prayer. AND just like all new investigators tell us, she told us that she didn't want to because she didn't know how. So my companion goes, let's kneel and pray. SO we're sitting there on our knees and H... looks at his wife and goes, Honey pray. and she keeps whispering to him that she doesn't want to because she doesn't know how and that she's catholic and it's against her religion and he looks at her very angrily and goes PRAY NOW. She still doesn't want to pray.... Then he stands up and starts ranting angrily about how she wants to change but isn't acting like it and she just wants to live her life like it used to be and... I think he almost hit her... or maybe he almost hit us.. I'm not sure. (OH ps and this whole time we are still on our knees scared to death) so we get up and sit down and my companion offers the prayer. Then he looks at her and just goes, we'll talk in private... I was scared for her. Good thing we were in the church. 

 

Our happy story has turned into a scary one. That's okay, I have hope that one day they will come to church! But anyway, it was a good week and I am really happy to be here! I love you all!

 

-Hermana Wattles

picture- the other day we had our blankets washed and I carried a billion of them. They were heavy, it was hard and my companion decided to take a picture.....

 

Happy Mothers Day

WOW this week was crazy! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY mom and allll of the other people who have treated me like their daughter! <3 love you all!!!



 Me jumping in front of a lagoon in the mountains of Cusco

This week was super fun! I got to do divisions with Hermana A... (my last companion) and I love her so much! She has taught me so much and it was great to work with her for a day! Over all, the work was a bit slow this week but I'm starting to learn that that's okay. Sometimes in life, we won't always have success but if we are working, that is what counts.. especially in this marvelous work, the work of the Lord. I know that we will be blessed.

We taught, this week, Y... (an investigator). She is so cute and she wants to get baptized with all of her heart. She just had a baby two weeks ago and she never got baptized before because she wasn't married to the dad but now he's gone and she just wants to be apart of the Lords church! We went and visited her this week and she told us that she was going to move to S.... because it was hard to take care of her baby here and there isn't much support. We were really sad but it helped me to understand that the Lord knows best. Sometimes things seem unfair and we don't understand why but the Lord does. Also,.... there are missionaries all over the world so I know that she will be fine! We'll just miss her lots!

Last friday, the YSA put on a talent show for there mommies! It was so amazing! It made me want to get up there and dance for my mom!!

I have had so much fun these past few months and I feel so so so thankful to be here in Cusco! Especially with my companion! I know that the Lord loves me and that I am here in my area for a reason! I know that the Lord is preparing people to hear this gospel message of truth! I know it. I love it.

PS lots of pictures because we had a blast this week and did all kinds of super fun things!

-Hermana Wattles

Funny- my pensions son is about 5 years old and he is crazy. This whole week he has been trying to kiss me. hmmmmm... also, one of our recent converts sons is so funny. We are sharing a lesson and he comes in the middle of it and just starts chanting, KISS HER KISS HER KISS HER. we were so confused so we asked why he was saying that and he starts to tell us a long story about all of his girlfriends! ahahha  I love kids!


Our day with hermana A.... and P....! It was fun



Mothers day with my Peruvian mom

I was with hermana M... today!!! I love her so much!!! We took a trip on a 360 degree panorama bus today.

promised picture of me with a lady and her llamas. your welcome mommy

 

the old man who did a pachamama ritual with cocaine leaves mmmmhhh

 

this week my companion took her shoes to some lady on the side of the street to get them fixed and she decided to do someone else's shoes first so I told her that I would do it and I grabbed her tools and started fixing my companions shoes. I think I did a pretty good job!

This week was crazy! I always have so much to say and then once I get on the internet, I forget it all... maybe it's the time limit that still stresses me out and I can't remember anything, ahah. That's okay. 

 

This week our sister leaders came so we weren't together for a day. I was with Hermana B.... During the day, we were walking around and the office elders call me and say that we have to pick up an hermana. So we go to get her. She didn't eat all day so we're wandering around trying to find her food and we hardly got to work. The next day, she went to Lima and when she got back, she felt sick from the altitude change and had to sleep so we didn't work to much that day either. That's okay. Sometimes those things happen.

 

We had a lesson with a guy named ....... a couple of days ago. His cousins are all members of the church and he accepted to meet with us. At first he wasn't listening very well. He was on his phone, looking in every direction and even smacking himself with a measuring tape. After a while of talking to him, he started listening. My companion asked him what he thought about baptism. He told us that it would be a serious decision but that it would bring blessings. So then my companion asks him if he would be baptized. He thought for a little while and then he accepted. It was amazing. I love this work so much! I know that God loves all of his children. I know that he wants each and every one of us to make it back to him and I know that the Gospel is the way! I love it so much. The gospel has shaped me in so many ways and I feel so thankful that Heavenly Father has permitted me to come here and be one of his servants for a short time. I know that this is the truth. 

-Hermana Wattles

Funny- so we go to one of the recent converts house and before we even get to the door, we notice her two boys sliding down a giant hill in cardboard boxes. It was so funny. A... (the youngest) is sitting on the smallest piece.. about the size of his own tush and he is scooting down the hill not making any progress while his older brother M..... is perfectly sliding. We took a video, it was so funny!

 

1st picture - Some ruins in our backyard

2nd picture - A...., the cutest little kid who feels the need to hug our legs every time we come over

 

 

Covered in Mud

This week was really great! It was changes this week so we were running around helping missionaries get to their new areas and we hardly got to work but that's okay because I like it! Tuesday night, we were in the hotel with all of the new missionaries! They are all so cute! One of the Hermana's name is Hermana Clark and it made me think so much of Sister Abby Clark in temple square! (love you) The Elders are so funny and they want all of us to feel okay so they kept asking us if we needed anything. So we told them all of our food needs. I ended up eating a good piece of chicken with french fries. It was good. The next day, we helped all the newbies and at night we went contacting with them and then went to eat salchipapas.(french fries and chopped up hot dogs). 

 

The rest of the week we had a little time to visit some people! My favorite lesson was with a reference. The day before, we visited a member and asked her for a reference. At first, she didn't want to give us one and after insisting a couple of times she gave us the name of her friend (who lives way up on the top of a mountain). She agreed to go with us and the next day, we passed by her house. after 30 minutes of hiking up Mount Everest, we go to her house. She lived in a humble home with her two children. There were even rats living in her house... but besides that, it was amazing. We talked to her and just expressed the love that our Heavenly Father has for her and tears filled her eyes. You could just see how happy she was to have company and feel loved. We gave her a baptism date and she accepted. This work isn't easy but if you really put your heart and soul into it, lives will be changed. It is amazing. It is a miracle. I love being here. I love seeing the blessings of the Lord. I know that he loves us all and he only desires the very best for everyone! Hope you all have an amazing week! I will.

-Hermana Wattles 

FUNNY-

On Friday, the elders sent us a message saying that we were going to have a reunion at 7:26, so we rushed our lesson to get there right on time. I was speed walking and it was raining and as I got to the sidewalk, I slipped... in mud. so I went to the meeting with my dress, jacket, boots, tights and everything covered in mud. WOO

1.this week for a service project we painted the church.

2. Me and Hmna A...! She is so cute! She was a mini missionary and on the 10th she goes out to serve a mission in Bolivia!

3.we had a ward activity this week based on the movie jumanji and they asigned me to draw a complex game board the looks like the one from jumanji. It turned out okay! ahahhaa

 

 

 

ANOTHER good week

Wow, I don't even know where to start! This week we went to concilio (a big counsel that we have every month for the leaders of the mission to talk about how we can improve) and it was the best! I love it so much! I always feel the spirit so strong!

This week we left the house early to go and teach an old couple. They were so cute and they made me so happy. The first time that we met the lady, she seemed so angry as if she didn't want to see us. BUT she's a less active and we don't give up on the less actives! So we made an appointment with her and her husband (who didn't want to meet with us). We walked in and sat down. We start out asking them when they got baptized and why and the sister just starts crying and pouring out her heart about how she wants so badly to go to the temple with her family so that they can be together forever. She expressed it so strongly. We talked to her and her husband and we assured them that we, as missionaries, are here to help her have an eternal family! Her face lit up and you could just tell that she felt so comforted! I love the spirit. We ended with a prayer and went to say bye. When I went to hug her, she gave me the tightest hug ever and I just felt the warmth of the spirit. Wow, it was just one of those super tender moments.

One day, we were walking up and down a street trying to find people to teach and contact and after about 30 minutes of that, we decided to walk to our next appointment when a man in a taxi with his little two year old boy drive towards us. The man looked at us, with tears in his eyes, and goes, "HERMANAS! help me I'm a member! Please help me!!" So my companion goes up to him and asks him what was wrong. He explains that his wife had cheated and ran away. He wanted to talk to her and make things better but didn't know where she was. So my companion called her and explained that we were missionaries and that we had found her number and wanted to share something with her. She accepted and told us to meet her in the nearest gas station. We looked at the man and told him to go and call us later. So, the next day we try calling them but no one answers and then we got caught up doing other things. Night comes and after we finish planning, I have the phone and we get a phone call... from her. I answer and hear his voice. I asked him how he was and how the other day went. He said that he got there and she was waiting for us but they ended up talking and left as a family again. And now he wants to meet with us! Wow, it was so amazing. We also found out that he is a returned missionary! I felt like it was a miracle!

Funny stories:

We went and visited a less active and we are sitting in her kitchen with her granddaughter and we just start laughing about all of our inside jokes and this little girl is laughing with us even though she doesn't get it and after about 15 minutes, she goes, you guys are so funny. You should be jokes on tv. Then I was laughing so hard and moving my body around and the chair squeaks and she looks at me and goes ahh Hermana Wattles, I think you just farted. hahah it was so funny. She was so cute!

I love the mission so much and I feel like I am learning new things everyday! It is amazing how the Lord makes us grow, especially when we are willing. I love it so much. I love the mission so much! I know that my Savior lives and loves me too. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me and that he loves me unconditionally. I hope that you all have an amazing week! I love you so much.

 

 -Hermana Emily Wattles

pictures:

me with Hermana M... and Hermana E...! Hermana E... is dying tomorrow (going home) good thing I have lots more time :)

me with a painting of NPC nuestro padre celestial (our Heavenly Father)

and a few more...

I Love Cusco

Wow, I have so much to say but I waited until the last second and now I only have like 5 minutes so I will write super duper fast! This week we had so many appointments and we contacted so much! I love it! This work is all about finding others and bringing them unto Christ! We also got to work with lots of other sisters and like I have said before, I learn so so much from them! Yesterday was Sunday but there wasn't church, in all of Peru. I was really sad. It's because yesterday was their elections and they have a law that they can't have reunions and big group gatherings. So, the area seventy sent out a letter saying that no one in Peru could have Sunday meetings. It was super weird because it was a normal day, we just  couldn't buy things. It was weird. We also taught a reference from the church program, referral manager, and we found someone who looks super excited! 

 

I am so thankful to be a missionary and I know that this is where I am supposed to be. I love the Lord and I love my family! 

 

PS I heard about all of the proposals. I have a good sister who tells me everything.

 

Funny moments:

So the other day Hermana H... and her companion came to do visits with us and it was 10:30 and we were in our room so Hermana H... left to go to bed and pulled the door shut and the door knob just pops right off!!! She goes.. "Hermana Wattles, I think you need to open the door right now" So I go over and open the door and she's just standing there with the door handle! It was so funny! Next kind of sad funny story is that first of all.. I drink lots of water. Like 5-6 bottles a day and if I don't have water, I don't know what to do. So we were walking down the street and I swear I had my water bottle but when we got to the house it wasn't in my bag. I was so sad that I lost it so I decided to buy another one. Three days later I walk into the mission offices and I'm talking to Elder F... and I look straight ahead and see my water bottle just sitting there... with my name on it. Everyone goes, what? and I just point at my water bottle. Elder F... goes "You bought a new one didn't you?" ahah we were all laughing so hard. Sometimes I don't think too much. I think I just left it in the offices that day. oops!

 

ahahha it has been such a good week! I am so happy that I'm here and I love it so much! I love all of you and hope that your week is amazing!

 

Love, Hermana Wattles!

 

 

Soy Hermana Huares

Wow what a week! I would first like to apologize for not putting on a picture last week. This week, I have like a  million pictures and it is very difficult to choose one soooo....more than one! 

 

This week, so much happened. I got to be with Hermana K... on Wednesday! She's super fun. I feel so thankful that the Lord trusts me enough to visit other Hermanas and help them. They are so amazing and I learn SO MUCH from them! This week I feel like we didn't get to teach too much because we were busy picking up, taking, helping, ahhhh everything BUT we did have a pretty amazing lesson last night. I was really happy. We went to visit an investigator (a reference from a recent convert). This investigator doesn't know many people and she is really sick. She had four children and one died as a baby. Her ex husband lives far away and she doesn't really care to ever see him again. We went in to teach her for the second time. We talked for a while to get to know her and then we started teaching the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We got up to prophets and then I felt prompted to talk about prayer which lead to answers to prayers and then lead to baptism and how she can know if it is true. She seemed so happy the whole time and I felt so happy that we had mentioned baptism, and then my companion holds up a picture of Jesus and looks at her and starts explaining the joys of baptism and asked her to be baptized the 21st of April and she accepted! I was so so so happy! I know that she really looks to her friend as an example and wants to be like her! I am so happy. I know that this is the Lord's work! I know that I am here for a reason and that it is to be an instrument in the Lord's hands, to help his children get back home. I love this work so much! It makes me so happy! I know that it is true with all of my heart!

 

Conference was so amazing and I hope that you could all watch it. It truly helped me and inspired me. The conference talk on Saturday about the lost keys... and later he finds them on the top of the mountain reminded me of the time Abby W.... and I climbed a mountain and I left my keys at the top... so I hiked back up to get them.. and I did it in like 20 minutes! anyway, conference is amazing and you always learn new things I love it so much! I  love the gospel and the Lord and ah everything. I am so incredibly happy! It's incredible!

 

Funny story? yeah, so this friday.. I think it was... was april fool's right? and President's secretary, Elder T... calls us on Thursday and asks me if we can pick up an Hermana whose coming home from her mission. I looked at my agenda and go, "Elder T...,,,, this isn't a joke right?" "NO Hermana Wattles he tells me" hahah, so we think about it all day. We even called him to stump him in facts about her. I asked him where she was from and he goes, "uh uh uh we're praying " and hung up.. so we were sure that it was a joke. Needless to say, we went anyway... but when we got to the airport, we looked for the arrivals and her plane wasn't  there. So we really thought that it was a joke. We went and asked the front desk if there was any Hermana M... and the lady tells us that there is an Oswald and Jaki M.... We thought it was a couple so we called Elder T... and asked what her name was... He says her name is Jaki. SHOOT, so we run back into the airport and it turned out that her flight got delayed, ahhah. We were so worried that it was a joke and it just looks like Elder T... isn't the joking type!

Photos:

1. a picture with me and wattle bread, ahha, it's called pan huaro but it sounds like wattle so whenever people here my name Hermana huares, they all go, ohh like pan huaro! haha the accents make my name sound a little different.

2. it reads "soups of head, stomach and feet" my companion keeps making fun of me when we see signs like that because she knows we don't eat that in the US

3. a cute llama tree with pachacutec behind .. I think.... he's an inca

4. I ate Guinea pig today for the first time. They took pictures of me eating it and Fernando goes, "KISS IT"  haha I think that was the first and last time I will eat it <3

 

les quiero, con amor, besitos

<3, Hermana Emily Wattles