My comp fell into a volcano

Sporting another Hermana's glasses

The blue tunic

The colonial dress

Sweet Hermana Cardenas at the Dr.

So, do you remember last week when we went to the Laguna Azul? Well, my comp fell on the way down into the volcano. She landed on top of her foot and injured it pretty bad. Elder Papke had to carry her out on his back #suchabeast #wemadehimbrownies

Then we went to the hospital and waited for a few hours. They did x-rays and the doctor said that it`s a really bad sprain. Before we left, the doctor gave us his business card and said, "call me if you need anything. I`m not just  here to be a doctor and I didn`t just study medicine." Then he left the room with a smile. (Did he study math too??? #nevercomingback)

So, We`ve kept it pretty chill this week. My comp has been hopped up on pain pills and I taught myself to make tortas fritas. I also deep cleaned the pension. I found this colonial style dress and a blue towel tunic. I`ll attach the pics :)

We talked to pres Rogers this morning and he said that we could try and leave the pension this week if we take it slow. We are excited to start pounding it again! We are both super stir-crazy. I`m not sure if Rìo Gallegos is ready for our desires to work. We are going to baptize everyone in the next two weeks!

We've both learned a lot about the plan of God in relation to our personal plans. If it were up to me, we would have left every day this week and passed by our investigators. The Lord knows better and had us take a week break. 

Our life is like a house blue print. Maybe I want to build a humble little English cottage. Then God starts knocking down walls and moving borders. Sometimes it hurts and I don`t understand why He isn't following my plans. Then I catch a glimpse of God`s plans for me. He`s not building a cottage, He`s making a skyscraper. God knows our potential, our limits, and just how much we can accomplish. Don`t doubt the Architect.

I love you guys so much,

Hermana Davis 

"It was the best of times!"

Hermana Davis hiking down to Laguna Azul

Hermana Cardenas and Hermana Davis
hiking to Laguna Azul

Name tag at Laguna Azul

Dear Friends and Family:

We just got back from the Laguna Azul. You should google it. I basically climbed down into a volcano, ate empanadas, and climbed back up the side. #Argentina 

Panorama of Laguna Azul

Laguna Azul

Laguna Azul

Here`s what went down this week:

1. Familia Barria: they are inactive, but we have seen a ton of progress in just the last week. When we first came into the house the hermana was sitting in a dark empty room looking at Facebook. We tried to talk to her without success. Then I asked, "Can we wash your dishes?"  Everything changed.  She got up and turned the lights on and began to clean with us. Each time we passed by this week she had more light in her eyes. She is an artist and showed us all of her original paintings :)

2. Claudio: He read 2 chapters of the bible and now believes that he is cured from his addiction to marijuana and cocaine. cool. Please pray for him. That family is going through some really really tough times.

3. Super Day: We had one day where we gave 200%. My comp and I put a fecha (baptismal date) and did a whopping 52 contactos!!!!!!! It is amazing how the Lord multiplies our efforts

4. Rene Muñoz: Our sweet little Chilean grandpa. We put a fecha with him on Super day. He wasn't much of a religious person growing up, but he saw a movie on Jesus Christ and it really touched him. He is 84 years old and sharp as a tack.

5. I got sunburned...really really bad... I think my freckled will blend together and I will have somewhat of a tan. I`ll let you know. 

6. Interview with Pres: We learned about contactos de fuego, (contacts on fire) where we invite people to be baptized in the contact. Pres said that I am doing well and that I am a whole new woman. It`s true. I can feel the changes in myself since I started my mission. Now I have truly learned to LOVE every single moment. This is the BEST!!!!! #I'mnotcominghome

7. Training is just the bomb. My comp is a boss and we are pounding it out like crazy here! We push each other in the best way :)

8. We did a contact where this man was talking about all the bad things that had happened in his life. He is convinced that the way to find happiness is through working. He is separated from his family, he sleeps in his truck, and works all day every day. I asked him, "well, are you happy?"

He was silent for two minutes. Then he said, "You killed me with that question."

He couldn't respond.  We testified to him about the love of God and how we can be happy in every moment even if we have trials. He rejected our offer to teach him, but he has the card with the address of the church.

9. Patricia: Best miracle of this transfer!!! It`s a long story, but basically she is a reference from another contact who gave us a false address. We found her and showered her with the love of God. She accepted a baptismal fecha!!!! Such a capa :)

10. Did I mention that this whole mission thing is the BEST THING EVER?!? I wouldn't say it if it weren't so true :)   I love this and it is by far the best thing I have ever done and will ever do. Such a life-changing experience.

Love you all to the edges of the Patagonian campo and back!

Hermana Davis

I should have brought a helmet!

"A coconut!"  She's looking like she's got some sun!

Dear Family and Friends:

Can I just express how awesome the whole mission thing is? Yeah, this week we worked hard and didn´t see a lot of fruits, but I don´t think I´ve ever been happier. I have to remind myself to stop smiling so much because the wind blows dirt in my teeth :) 

Here´s what happened this week:

- I taught a lesson in English. I met this tourist in the terminal and she was from Colorado. She asked me what I was doing here, so I talked about the gospel and missions. It was super weird to explain the gospel in English, but at the same time it felt incredibly natural.

- Alina´s mom is reading a manual that talks about mothers in the gospel. She loves the concept of eternal marriage. We would start teaching her if she didn´t work so much! She´s only home during our lunch time. Pray for her!

- Now to explain the title. We were playing a really intense searching game in a zone meeting. We had to run around the capilla looking for items. I was running down a hall to enter the sacrament hall. I tried to stop but my feet slid and the side of my head rammed into the door. My whole zone came running to my rescue. The rest of the zone meeting is a little blurry. Don´t worry mom, it wasn´t a concussion. I do have a nice goose egg though!

- Rocco loves to chase cars. This last week he caused an accident. He´s not my dog...

- We knocked a TON of doors.

- I love all my fellow missionaries. I know I came here at this time so I could meet my new life-long friends :)

Challenge: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Just do it. (aka Don´t slack on your new years resolutions. My comp and I are going to do insanity this week.)

Besitos,

Hermana Davis

Hermana Davis with her
 "life-long friends" in Rio Gallegos

Another year has passed

Our happy Hermana Davis in Rio Gallegos!

This week we welcomed in the New Year with more fireworks and empanadas. We watched Johnny Lingo in the capilla and had a ping-pong tournament. On New years day we had a p-day. We ate pancakes, lemon pie, and played ninja destruction. 

As for our investigators, 

Violeta: she is still set on getting baptized. She now has 7 asistencias and almost all of the lessons. We are just waiting for some paperwork so she can get divorced and married.

Juan: He drank over Christmas and New Years. He is embarassed to talk to us and so he hides in the back room drinking mate. The next time we go over we are going to teach the Word of Wisdom and the atonement.

Claudio: He started to listen to us again. He is super stubborn, but so am I when it comes to the gospel. He said, "Wow, you sure are insistant. It must mean that you really think this is important."

We gave him the Book of Mormon. Although he has many doubts, I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that he will receive his answer.

Roxana: She`s a new investigator. She is super golden and loved the lesson about the restoration. We have a cita with her tonight and we are going to put a fecha :)

Juan Silva: our chilean grandpa...We aren`t sure how much he is actually understanding. I`ll keep you updated on his progression.

There are a few more, but we haven`t seen them this week due to vacations.

Alina is doing awesome! She is still coming to church and making new friends in the branch. We are reading the illustrated scriptures with her.

Challenge: Set some small goals to keep your resolutions.

Love you guys a ton!

Hermana Davis