that's right, I'm the new ward pianist

You know I sometimes wonder when I will finally start acting like a "grown-up". The other day we found this humungous cockroach in our house, meaning I totally used it to play a little prank on the Elders! (yes, it was dead) And then I hear you saying how you were going to go out and have a prank night yourselvs and I just laugh and say "well that's where I get from!" You're awesome mom, keep it up! Love ya :)

Dyker is wonderful. Yesterday morning we had a meeting with the bishopric because they just decided that they wanted to start getting more involved on the missionary front. They hardly work with them. I've pretty much only ever talked to the bishop to say hi and then we had a 2-sentence-each conversation this week because he asked if I could play the piano for sacrament meeting. (That's right, I'm the new ward pianist. It's scary!) But they want to get the whole ward involved and working together. Some of the things we are doing include: a ward fast next month for missionary work, we are going to try to get our mission president to come speak to our ward, and each week from now on we are going to have either a missionary speak or a member speak (just like 5 mins at the very end) to share an experience and bear their testimony on missionary work. I'm so excited that everyone is started to get involved! I know it's going to make a huge difference so I'm excited :)

One of the best things about this change is we had a member tell us this week that she has a lot of friends she wants us to go visit. When we asked her why she hasn't told us before she said she's waiting for the ward to shape up before she gives them to us as referrals. Yeah. Isn't that just sad? So hopefully we can do just that and fix up the ward a tad bit. I think it's awesome, but apparently there is drama and gossip (mainly via Facebook) that happens all the time. Sad, right?

Q: How was it this Sunday?
A: This Sunday we had 4 investigators to church! We were oh so totally not expecting that (the Caballeros are iffy church goers but the 2 oldest girls came yesterday. woo-whoo!). Best news of the week, Griselda, the lady who knows gospel stuff oh so well since she grew up in the FLDS church, just left her husband.  We will meet with her later this week to see how we can help her now. Pray for her!!!

This week, the funny/gross story is that my comp and I nearly got peed on. We had our lemonade stand all set up (I feel like a little girl when I say that but it's true. We go out once a week to the park to pass out free lemonade and advertise for english class) when all of a sudden my comp felt something, looked around, and this kid who was like 6-years-old just had his pants down and was peeing right in front of us. Luckily she caught my attention before he could get me too. Oh NY. The weird things that happen…

Oooh! Another fun thing that happened this week was I got to be part of a surprise baby shower for a less active we've been working with! It was so cool and she was definitely surprised. And this upcoming Saturday guess what? It's wedding time! As Anna says "Mexicans sure know how to party" so I'm excited. First wedding in the mish so far and more to come I hope.

Q: So how are you spending your days currently?
A: We have a "finding" activity at least once a day meaning we go to the park and talk to people, inviting them to a bunch of different events, or we go to 5th Ave. where all the Hispanic stores are located, meaning Hispanic people are in that area, and we do the same thing. We visit with quite a few less active people and besides that, well, just trying to look up people in our ward we don't know, and stuff.

Q: How are dinner appointments going?
A: They rarely happen, but when they do they are often with a less active family we don't know so it's the perfect time to get to know them and share a message. It has its ups and downs. I'll sacrifice some food to get to know those in need though. It's so worth it.

Q: Have they made any changes in your mission since the fireside?  Do you have a mission FB now?  Are you doing tours of the meetinghouses?
A: No big changes yet due to that conference but you just wait and see...big things are bound to happen soon! I hear we will get FB soon since we are one of the missions with the most media referrals but we will just have to wait and see.

Q: Anything we can send from home?  Any needs??
A: I don't need anything except keep up the prayers for my investigators.  But luckily the Jews and all their modest stores are close. I might try their sale stores soon. I don't know why I wear-through clothing so fast. What’s wrong with me?? :(

Well, my district decided to have a nice district breakfast this morning. We made baleadas and since Elder Martinez used to work at Jamba Juice we had Jamba as well. Man, it was ssoooooo gooood! We have zone activity today so I better get going.

I hope all is well! I love you lots!

-- Hermana Watts

P.S. --  I think the doc is being silly.  I don't know why I would have to have surgery if I can walk but I'm sending the CD of my MRI to Utah so they can take a look at it and then we will go from there.