She made it to Comodoro Rivadavia!

Aubrey with President and Sister Rogers

Hola Familia!

I am now sitting in a chapel in Comodoro Rivadavia Argentina. My journey started with a flight from Salt Lake City to Houston, Texas. From Texas I took a 10 hour overnight flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina. When I stepped off the plane in Argentina I felt a wall of warm humid air. It was as if I had entered a different world! Everything was in Spanish. I can´t wait to pick up the accent. Oh, and Argentine people are so beautiful! I love them already.

From Buenos Aires we took a bus through the city to another airport. The city is so colorful! I took a few pictures which I will send on p-day.

After the bus ride we took a plane all the way down to Comodoro Rivadavia. The city is beautiful in a very unique way. There are lots of brown mountains and colorful houses. There are tons of stray dogs! Also, I can see the ocean. We took a picture from the highest mountain.

I´m really excited to get to work. My mission president is great and the people are prepared. I love my mission!

Love,

Hermana Davis

Last day of class...I cried!

This post is a little late....it's Aubrey's email from Saturday, January 24th.  She flew out for Argentina on Monday, January 26th.  We were able to talk to her at the airport.  She is very happy and LOVES her mission!  We can't wait to hear from her and her adventures!

Aubrey and her teacher Hermana Ferrell

District 11A - Aubrey's new BFF's!

Aubrey, her companion Hermana Booth,
 and her MTC "investigator" Hely from Guatemala

We had the most amazing day today! Hermana Ferrell and Hermano Thompson taught us for the last time. First, we had class with Hermana Ferrell. She had each companionship teach her a 10 minute lesson. Hermana Booth y yo shared some scriptures. We ended up talking in english (whoops!) about how wonderful missions are. There are not words to express how I feel about my mission. It is the best thing I have ever done! I feel eternally grateful for my sweet teachers and my outstanding district! Then we read the story of when Alma and the sons of Mosiah left for their missions. They served in extremely hostile areas, but were able to perform miracles. Hermana Ferrell's scripture insights are so enlightening. I want to be just like her when I grow up :) We took pictures with Hermana Ferrell and cried a lot. She is so amazing! My teachers are the answers to my fervent pre-mission prayers.

Our class with Hermano Thompson was very spiritual. He showed us pictures from his mission and told us stories. Then he gave us all Spanish hymnbooks. They each have a special message written in the front and "comfort" scriptures written in the back. We went through each comfort scripture as a class. For each one he told a story of how it affected his life. He has had a really hard life. We all cried as he testified to us from experience that we are never too broken to be healed by Christ. I will forever remember his powerful testimony. Then we took pictures (right after bawling our eyes out!) and bid farewell to Hermano Thompson. I have never felt as close to a group as I do to my district. They are my best friends. We have heard each other's testimonies and seen each other's ugliest selfies. I will never forget district 11A in the MTC!

My mission is already starting to change my heart. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the atonement and love of Christ. The gospel is true! We are the only ones who can separate ourselves from the love of Christ. Please let his love fill your heart. Turn to him in earnest prayer and let him change your life. Christ can multiply our meager efforts far beyond anything we could imagine. This life is good and on the other side we have something even better. Share this glad message with someone this week.

On Monday I set off to the place that will change my life forever. My mission will be hard, but the Lord will be my companion.

Yo sé que la iglesia es verdadera! Sé que el libro de Mormón es la palabra de Dios. José Smith es un profeta de Dios. 

En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amén.

Les amo!

Hermana Davis

Last week in the MTC!

Aubrey pointing to her mission in Comodoro Rivadavia Argentina

Aubrey and her sweet Hermana Baird

Aubrey and Hermana Tulia from Samoa

How fast time flies! This will be my final week at the MTC. I have LOVED my experience here! It helps that I have a freaking awesome district and super amazing teachers!

On Monday I had the opportunity to call my family for 3 minutes to get some information for my visa. It was so nice to hear their happy voices. I miss them, but I know they are in God's hands.

On Tuesday Hna.Booth and I taught Hely and her husband José how to keep the Sabbath day holy. I love teaching the commandments! They are what help us stay on the straight and narrow as come closer to Christ. We also welcomed a new international Hermana from Australia. She is going to the Dominican Republic. The work is hastening all over the world! Then we had the best devotional ever! Elder Nelson and his angelic wife spoke to us. I really enjoyed Sister Nelson´s talk. She spoke about how desperation + Christ = Solutions. When I am desperate to meet goals on my mission I will do everything it takes. My Dad often says, "There is always a solution for every problem." This week I challenge everyone to find a solution to a problem you have been having in your life. Currently I´m searching for a solution on how to fit everything in my suitcase :) 

On Wednesday we watched a powerful talk by Elder Holland titled "Miracle of a mission." It changed my perspective about my mission and filled my heart with el Espíritu Santo. I am not here for myself. I am here to give every ounce of my strength and ability to serving the Lord. I will not waste one minute of his time. I will leave my mission with no regrets! After the talk we had a unique opportunity. We had a skype lesson with someone from Argentina named Victor. The connection was bad because he is currently in Spain. We ended up using the chat feature to teach. Technology is so cool sometimes! (I'm such a nerd.)

On Thursday I saw Hermana Engbersen!! (She's a friend from Bountiful) She is happy and glowing - even more than usual. She will be an outstanding missionary in Argentina. I also went off campus to get fingerprints for my mission. I rode in the front seat of a police car. Hopefully that was a one-time experience. We also taught sweet Hely about the Word of Wisdom. She is showing such faith in keeping her commitments. I really do love that little Guatemalan lady :) We also made an appointment to meet with Mercedes, an investigator we met on campus. On the same day we gave Daniel a baptismal invitation and he accepted! He has such a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon. It is a joy to teach him. 

On Friday we received our travel plans. This whole Argentina thing is becoming quite real. I have huge butterflies of excitement and nervousness. For some reason they put me as the flight leader. I have little Spanish experience, I've never been out of the country, and I am in charge of two fluent Hermanas. It should be exciting. I will catch a plane from SLC to Houston, then fly straight through the night to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Then I'll take a SUPER long bus ride to Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina. This is going to be better than The Secret Life of Walter Mitty :)

On Saturday everyone in our district shared a spiritual experience in Spanish without using notes. I can testify that el don de lenguas (gift of tongues) is real!

Sunday was uplifting as always. We watched an amazing talk by Elder Bednar titled "Becoming a missionary." I have come to relish hearing from General Authorities. They know what they are talking about and it would be wise for us to heed their council.

There are sometimes when my heart is so full of gratitude that I made the choice to come on a mission. There are not words to describe how much I love my mission! My heart is happy. I am filled with so much love for my savior. I marvel at the perfectness of Heavenly Father's plan for us. I know without a doubt that God lives. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of the living God. The gospel changes lives. It is changing my life every day. Stay strong in the faith and don't forget what you know to be true. 

I love you all so much!

Con Amor,

Hermana Davis

P.S. Next time you hear from me I will be in ARGENTINA!!!!!!!! (I'm a little excited...)

MTC week cuatro! "The Widow's Mite"

The "Widows Mite" necklace from Elder Mellor -"to remind
 us to give everything we have."

Hermana Baird from Rexburg Idaho and Aubrey.

"She is the friend that I've been praying for all of my life."

I am past the half-way point in the MTC!!! 

Time is flying by in the MTC!  On Monday, we had a doctor's appointment for Hermana Booth. On Tuesday, we visited a gerontologist for a CT scan. We think it is ulcers. Hermana Booth is sticking to a bland "BRAT" diet and it seems to be helping her stomach pain. Keep her in your prayers! 

On Tuesday, Elder Mellor surprised the Hermanas with widow's mite necklaces. The necklace is to remind us to give everything we have. 

We have such amazing elders in our district! The advanced Spanish elders are so much fun! Elder Contrerras (from Guatemala) always laughs when he hears my Spanish. I told him that I would speak better than him when I returned from my mission. That made him laugh even harder.  :)

Thursday was awesome! We taught Hely in TRC and invited her to be baptized...and she said YES! Now we just need to teach her the commandments :) 

Here is the funny story of the week: We were learning the difference between Me encanta and Me gusta. If you say, "Me gusta (insert name here)" it is like saying that you have a crush on them. Elder Rogers used "Me gusta Stephanie" as an example. Then he realized that Hna. Norton's first name is Stephanie. We were all dying of laughter! Elder Rogers was mortified. We still tease him relentlessly! 

Also on Thursday President Rogers asked me to be the Sister Training Leader for the zone! I am really excited because I love all of our Hermanas! 

Friday and Saturday were rough for our district. Elder Mellor sprained his ankle, Elder Camp had was condemned to isolation because he had influenza A, Sister Booth stayed in bed with stomach pain, and Hno. Thompson was sick. Despite the health difficulties, we still kept a good attitude and looked for opportunities to serve one another. 

Sunday was much better. We took lots of pictures on our temple walk. The Spanish elders performed their special musical number "God be with you 'til we meet again." It was out of tune and Elder Cruz belted the whole thing. It was really sweet and we could still feel the spirit. We also re-watched the "Character of Christ" by Elder Bednar. He mentions how Christ always turns outwards in love, compassion, and service when the natural man would turn inwards. He also talks about making sure we are converted. He said, "The Church is true, but are you true to the church?" Also, He touched on how the atonement infinitely increases our capacity to do good. 

This week I challenge everyone to find an opportunity to turn outwards in love and service when you would rather turn inwards. I promise that as you strive to know of Christ you will become truly converted.

I love this Church and I love Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to have 18 months to be his servant. This is hard, but there is nothing that brings me more joy than feeling the spirit testify that Jesus is my savior. I love being a missionary!

Con amor,

Hermana Davis

Hermanas in Aubrey's zone

Some Missionaries from Aubrey's Zone

 Hermana Baird and Aubrey at the Provo Temple

Happy Nuevo Year!

Aubrey and her companion Hermana Booth

Aubrey's MTC District - she LOVES them!!

I can't believe I'm almost halfway done with my MTC stay! This week got off to a great start with my district cleaning the Provo temple! It was such a neat experience to sit in the quiet Celestial room and look at the giant Chandelier. The temple is the happiest place on earth. (Sorry Disneyland...)

On Tuesday we taught Hely Meza from Guatemala in TRC. It is a miracle that she can understand my Spanish. I always pray that the spirit speaks louder than I do in lessons. During the lesson with Hely I felt God's strong love for her and her family. With tears in my eyes I testified to her that God loves her and her paralyzed daughter. It was a very special experience. 

We also received a new shipment of advanced Spanish elders. They are the cutest little things! None of them can carry a tune to save their lives. It is very difficult to keep a straight face when we hear them belting out hymns in the next classroom over. The branch president wants them to do a musical number in church next week. I'll keep you updated. 

My New Years Eve was the best! We taught Daniel, an investigator played by Hmo. Thompson, and then I went to bed at 10:30. My resolution this year is to give my heart to Christ. He has given me EVERYTHING. It is the very least I can do to devote 18 months completely to being a servant of my savior. I can't express how much I love Jesus Christ. I challenge everyone to spend this year learning more about Christ. Read his teachings, study his life and his attributes. In doing so your love will grow and you will want to follow his commandments. It's fool proof!

On New Year's day we taught Hely again! We changed out lesson according to what the spirit directed and ended up talking about the plan of Salvation. Best part is...She said the closing prayer! I wish everyone could feel what I felt when Hely prayed. She pleaded with her Father in Heaven to take away her sins. She prayed with sincere desire and I know the Lord was listening to every word. It made me think, "Do I treat prayer as a sacred conversation with God?" It is so amazing that we can communicate with our creator! 

Friday and Saturday we taught lots of mini-lessons. We practiced Spanish 6+ hours each day. I should be fluent any day now :) However, I'm not at the MTC to learn Spanish. I'm here to learn the language of the spirit. A heart touched by the spirit is a heart that can be changed.

Sunday was the best day of the week!! We had a mission conference. The MTC presidency should be changing very soon. (Hopefully that wasn't confidential...) We also went on a temple walk as a district. The mountains here in Provo are gorgeous. I can't wait to fall in love with the Patagonian mountains! We had a wonderful testimony meeting in both Spanish and English. As each person, me included, bore their testimony I felt the spirit burn in my heart. I know this is the only true church. I have a very strong testimony of our Savior and of the power of the atonement. The gospel of Jesus Christ brings a joy that nothing else can. What is the gospel of Christ? Read 2 Nephi 31 and 3 Nephi 11. They are some of my favorite chapters in the whole Libro de Mormon.

After sacrament meeting we had a wonderful presentation by the director of missionary media. He is the guy that worked on the #Heisthegift campaign. The work is hastening through social media! There will be a new mormon.org site coming out some time soon. I invite all of you to "like" the mormon.org facebook page and to share a gospel message as your status. You never know who you will touch. 

I love being a missionary! I love my Savior and I know he loves you. Keep pressing forward with faith and you will be blessed.

Con amor,

Hermana Davis