Elder Watkins Japan Nagoya Mission: From 19 to 20

Me and Elder Moretti who's going home to Brazil soon. He was my Zone Leader for most of my mission.

Year Mark! I can't believe how fast this is all going. It has been a crazy ride. So as y'all know I like to take a look back at things and see what we've learned. There is a lot this time. Perhaps more than I can cover in one email. But I will, as I always say, share the highlights.

   Dec. 9, 2013, I left my family at the Charlotte Airport bound for Salt Lake. I had no clue what I was in for. I took a grand tour of Salt Lake City with my friends, The Belcher Family. John Belcher dropped me off at the MTC Dec. 11th and I was thrown into a room with 12 of the strangest dudes ever for 9 weeks. Boy the MTC was long, but full of characters that kept things interesting and moments of Spiritual confirmation that I've never felt anywhere else. I knew that the gospel was true.

   Then on Feb 11 we took a long plane trip and landed in Nagoya Japan with bean-chan Japanese and a fire in our hearts. There I met President and Sister Yamashita and my trainer and hero Elder Tu'Akoi.

   I got off the train in Nagano and spent the first week of my mission shoveling snow off the church parking lot. I was in Nagano for 4 transfers with 3 companions. Elder Tu'akoi taught me how to dendo, but he also helped me find out who I was as a missionary. We had many great times then with Sisters Nielson and Avarell and that crazy man Ezaki Kyoudai. They were some of the greatest friends I've ever had.

Elder Chiba was my first and so far only Japanese companion. He taught me patience, haha, and I learned some Japanese along the way, we had fun together. And Elder Yamada taught me perhaps too many things! But most of all he taught me that the most important thing for anyone to know before you leave is that you love them. And every person is there for a reason that only God knows. It was hard especially saying goodbye to my favorite place and Sister Nielson as she went home to the states. But I felt that I had done something to help my friends there. And they truly changed me.

Then these past 3 transfers I partied in Seto, in the heat of August. I lived with Elders Wheeler and bean Laumatia. It was hard, but after awhile things began to change. I worked with Elder Jackson and we found 5 investigators together. He taught me the importance of having fun while working. Then old friends came back as my old buddy from Nagano, Elder Beck came to help "Spread that Gospel!" He helped to prepare me to finally be a Sempai. We thought I might train, but he trained instead and I got Elder Laumatia who was already with me when I got there! We taught many lessons and strengthened the members dendo fire. Seto is were I learned about being a Christ-like leader and teacher and also how to seek and find revelation.

   And now after one crazy year I find myself white washing in Nonami, I still don't know why I am here or who we need to find, but I know that the Lord will guide us. To be honest it is hard to keep going when you don't see success. But on my year mark, when we went to the Mission tour with Elder Ringwood of the 70, I realized, as if I'd forgotten recently, that I am not alone.

   I saw most of my past companions and many of my good friends, some I'd seen recently, some I hadn't seen since the very beginning. And they spoke to me and gave me words of encouragement, they told me they believed in me and that they pray for me. As we sang together I felt that warm feeling in my heart and I knew that God is indeed mindful of us "wanderers in a strange land" as Ammon said, and that we are an Army of God prepared in the pre-exsistence. I felt as though I was surrounded by angels. And all of us are united for the cause of Christ, in the Japan Nagoya Mission, we are one.

Elder Ringwood talked of many things, but when he spoke of miracles he told us that there are many, seen and unseen, and of the fact that we chose to give our hearts and serve God for 2 years, he said "You are the miracle." Over all else I have a testimony that miracles still happen and they are all around us. Some are so big that we don't even notice them. Some we don't even know about. And I may not know who I've helped and I have yet to see a baptism, but God knows who needs me and who I need. And for 1 year he has placed me with a set of people who I never would've met if it hadn't been for Him working through a wise and inspired Mission President.

   I miss my family and friends, but they too, even far away, have seen miracles this year. And in 1 year from now I we will be together again and see each other differently than before. I am thankful for this opportunity to serve and look forward to another year of miracles.

Until then my friends, thanks for the memories!

Love,
Elder Cullen E. Watkins
ワトキンズ長老

Happy Birthday to my buddy Graham Cook and Uncle David!