Feliz Pascua

Hola, que tal?  (Hello, how are you?) 

Today is transfer day! My comp, Hna Chinchillas, was transferred to Comodoro. I really thought that she would finish her mission here in Ushuaia. She was a good friend and a great missionary and I`m going to miss her. My new comp is Hna Littlefield from Utah. She is comps with hermana Sureda (my old comp) right now. Hna Chinchillas is taking Hna Littlefield`s spot in Comodoro as Hna Sureda`s comp. The mission world is so small :)

Hna Càrdenas is coming to Rìo Grande (on the island north of Ushuaia) with Hermana Rodgriguez from Mexico to open an area. I am so proud of her! Also, I am her sister training leader so we get to do divisions!!!

I can`t believe how fast the time is going! (do I say that every week?) I am now entering the last 12 weeks of my mission. I love the mission so much! I love the people and the special interaction that we have with them as missionaries. Also, I don`t know  if I've mentioned it, but Ushuaia is so so beautiful! The weather has been amazing and I just love waking up everyday to the mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. :) 

As for this week,

1.  We re-put the fecha of Josè (the kiosco man). It turns out that he actually did come to church last week because he knew what the speakers talked about and where we were sitting :) I asked him if he had said a prayer to ask if this is the true church. He replied, "Um, I think so, but I can`t really remember."  He has the desires to learn, but the commitments are a little hard for him :) I`ll keep you updated on his progress as we get closer to the 23 of April (his fecha). Maria Elena was sick this week. We passed by to show her the restoration video. She loved it! Also, she worked in a panaderia, (bread store) so she always makes us super rico desserts :) She sent us a text yesterday saying that she didn't come to church because she was embarrassed. She fought with her boyfriend and he hit her and she was covered in bruises. Please pray for her!
2.  Juan didn't come to church, and he drank...again. The hard thing is that he doesn't have the support of his family. If you have any advice or suggestions let me know! We are trying so hard to get them to have family night together every week. The family is such an important unit designed by God to help us to become more like Him.
3.  Francisco is the menos activo (less-active member) that we contacted. We taught him and his non-member wife the restoration of the gospel. The spirit was so so powerful! Francisco said, "si o si (yes oh yes!)I am going to church!" He completed with his promise and came to church by himself. I can tell that he felt the spirit and he wants to change his life. He has been such a miracle :)

Spiritual thought: Happiness shouldn't be the focus of our life. Happiness is a by-product of a life focused on Christ.

Love you,

Hermana Davis

Octopus and Snow

Hermana Davis and Hermana Chinchillas

Paella with octopus!

So, it snowed this week. Also, you know you are at the end of the world when Antartica is part of your weekly weather report. :)

- Abel and Susana returned from vacations! Abel still remembers his fecha and is so prepared. He was telling us what he learned in Gospel Principles class and he is so capo! #Proudmissionary

- We still teach José in his little kiosco. We gave him a Book of Mormon and read 1 Nephi 1. He said that he came to church, but we didn´t see him.

- We got out of lunch super early one day and so we sat in the forest and read the scriptures. #Ushuaia

- I did divisions with Hna Lourenco-Haws. We found two new investigators. They are the wife and daughter of a menos activo that we found while contacting. We taught them the plan of Salvation. The daughter asked if we believed in reincarnation. I told her the story of when my brother wanted to be reincarnated into a shamu the whale. Then we explained that it doesn´t work like that :)

- Lately we have been singing lots of hymns with the members and investigators. They bring such a special spirit. 

- Javier is the son of Maria Elena. He lives in our area, but has been meeting with the elders. He is 14 years old and used to drink, smoke, etc. He came to church yesterday and I could see the changes. Now all of his buddies want to talk to the missionaries!

- We did a Noche de Hogar with Juan and his family. It was kind of interesting because everyone began to fight and blame each other. We talked about the proclamation to the family. I am determined to help this family be united and help them to go to the temple.

- Huayra from Puerto Madryn came down here to live with her mom! I saw her in church yesterday :)

- Juan made paella with octopus. I ate octopus. And I liked it :)

This week I had moments where I felt like I just wasn´t good enough. I felt overwhelmed by my weaknesses. I knelt down and poured out my heart in prayer. the comfort didn't come immediately, but throughout the day I received little tender mercies that let me know that I am doing the right thing. I also read "His Grace is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox. There is a part where he explains that we don´t just have two options in life: to do it perfect or to not do it at all. He said that God knows we will make mistakes. He even planned for it. 

I know that God knows me, Hermana Davis. I know that He knows you. I know that His plan is that we have every opportunity to succeed. God´s plans never fail.

Love,

sister Davis

Consejo and the Atonement

Hermana Davis and Hermana Johnson (from Bountiful)

On their way to leadership conference

Leadership conference

Juan after Hermana Chinchilla's hair cutting skills!

Dear friends and family:

Ok, here´s the details on what happened during consejo: (leadership council)

First we left for the terminal at 5am Monday morning. We caught a bus to Río Grande, which is one of the 3 cities on the island (Ushuaia, Tolhuin, Río Grande). My comp couldn't find her DNI (Argentine ID) and so she wouldn't be able to pass the borders of Chile. We were about to return to Ushuaia and forgo the trip when my comp had the feeling to open her wallet. She had already thoroughly searched ever pocket in her wallet. When she opened it her DNI was sitting on top of everything in plain sight. #miracles

Then we crossed the border of Chile. Now I have at least four stamps from Chile in my passport :) I bought some Chilean chocolate called Sahne-nuss and some Watt´s juice. In the collectivo  (bus) we taught the restoration to someone from France. Luckily she spoke Spanish.

We passed through my beloved Río Gallegos. Rocco still follows the Hermanas and Hercules is huge! I saw Hna Cardenas. Such a capa! We ate lunch in Subway and then caught a train to Comodoro. 

We also passed through Caleta Olivia, my first area. The wind was so strong that the little window thing at the top of the collectivo blew off. The bus had to turn around and take a pit stop in a collectivo repair place. 

We finally arrived at Consejo at 9am Tuesday morning. They talked about our mission goals, how we can be examples, what we can do to help our investigators arrive at baptism, and lots of other good stuff. 

It was so good to see my friends from all over the mission. I love those guys :)

Later in the evening we ate empanadas with the pres and the assistants. Then we caught a bus back to Río Gallegos. From Río Gallegos we passed through Chile, caught a boat, and then drove back down to Ushuaia. The drive through Tolhuin and Ushuaia is stunning! I would've taken photos, but it was a bit dark. Ushuaia is like a mix of Europe, Oregon, and Utah. It´s green with mountains and European style architecture.

As for the rest of the week:

We taught Juan, our recent convert, about the word of Wisdom. He has been having some drinking problems recently. We invited him to church and even had a lesson with two members to give him support. On Saturday we passed by and my comp gave him a haircut to prepare for Church. He seemed to be doing so well and we really believed that he would come to church on Sunday. Well, Sunday arrived 

and Juan didn't show up. His daughter told us that he arrived drunk in the morning to the house. We passed by in the evening, but Juan wasn't there. We talked with his family for a bit until we heard a gate open outside. In came Juan. drunk.

My heart broke as I saw how he could barely stand up straight as greeted his kids. He shook our hands and leaned against the wall. Then he began to cry.

"I want to change. I have so many sins and I just want to change."  We let him cry for a moment. Lots of things happened in the lesson that we had with Juan. He told us that no matter what he does he just keeps messing up. I remember testifying to him of the atonement. We lovingly "dropped cane" (as they say down here). I testified to him of the atonement. I told him to imagine Jesus suffering in the garden. I told Juan to imagine the blood leaving His pores and the agony He felt. Then I said, "He did it for you Juan, because He loves you. The gift is on the table and you've left it there. Apply the gift Juan! Take the sacrament, read the scriptures, say your prayers, and keep the commandments! He wants to heal you, but He can´t if you don´t act." It was one of the most heart-breaking and yet, powerful moments of my mission. I don´t know if Juan will change. I hope he will because I know that this gospel is the only way to feel true joy and peace. I do know that Christ suffered for Juan and that change is possible. Everyone can change. God is all-powerful and there is not one person on this earth that is exempt from the healing and comforting power of the atonement. 

As for our other investigators:

Maria Elena has some serious family problems right now. She wants to separate from her emotionally abusive boyfriend. Please pray for her. 

We are still teaching José in his little kiosco. (shop) He finally agreed to say the closing prayer! 

Oscár is a contact that we did this week. We gave him a Book of Mormon and invited him to read. I´ll keep you updated.

Rene got baptized!

Hermana Davis in Ushuaia, Argentina ("train station at the end of the world")

Hermana Chinchillas and Hermana Davis

Hermana Chinchillas and Hermana Davis inside train station

Ushuaia, Argentina

This last week my investigator from Río Gallegos, Rene Muñoz, got baptized! Even though I am here in Ushuaia, I felt so so happy. 

Rene's baptism in Rio Gallegos

The email this week is going to be kinda short, because I´ll be writing again on Monday :)

- I met some tourists from England. They said that with my coloring I looked like I´m from Wales #ancestors #proudestmomentofmylife #prideandprejudice

- While in divisions I bought lemonade from some little kids on the side of the street. They gave it to me in a plastic cup, which I returned when I was done. I couldn't help but think, "How many people bought lemonade before me?" Sometimes it´s just better not to ask :) #immunesystemofiron #naturalvaccinations

- I did divisions with Hna Quieruga from Spain. Talk about a capa! She is new, but already is such a beast when teaching and testifying. Plus, her accent is something else. We had such a great time!

- At one point we had someone from The states, mexico, Canada, and Spain in our apartment. And we all understood each other. It´s a small world :)

- Maria Elena came to church with her 2 teenage sons!

On Monday I´ll share the details on Consejo. (Leadership training meeting)  It was such a blast!   I learned that I am an example for the other missionaries, that I have power to make a change. I am going to teach in the zone meeting about Charisma. I really want our zone to be obedient and unified. I'm learning so much about being a leader.

Love,

Hermana Davis