I got a new Comp. New motivation. New sense of urgency. New sense of Purpose. A lot of work to do. I don't have much else to say. If you want a letter, I have a strict policy of only sending to addresses that I have on an envelope from. I try very hard to keep up with letters received and my replies and I promise if I get one, you will receive one. I just need a reason ;)

Love you all.

Merry Christmas 3 Days late!

Happy New YEAR!!

Life seems to have its own agenda for us all I guess.  I think our battle will always be with patience throughout life.  The Lord blesses us when we least expect it in ways that we never expected when we are faithful.  I wanted to share a story today, so…I think I’m going to go a little overtime.

This week I had some experiences that have made me think and pray and ponder things I never have before.  I think one of the most important abilities we have is our ability to think, reason, and discover.  At the same time it can be our greatest enemy.  Anyway, the week was kind of just falling into sequence.  Not many plans had been made, no baptisms were set and we were just praying to find someone.  I wanted to clarify one thing in this email as well because I realize this week how many other people read these emails and I want it to be understandable for everyone.  Baptism is such a wired word for people to think about.  It’s a big step and our purpose as missionaries is to baptize.  I’m afraid, though, that the true reason behind the urgency of baptism is unknown to people who aren’t Christian.  So, I want to make sure that everyone knows that we don’t stress baptism to broaden our influence in the world, to expand our church to be the biggest, or to gain the income that comes from faithful members.  We baptize because it was taught by Christ that unless you are born of water, you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.  We stress it because it is the first covenant we make with our Father in Heaven and after making this covenant God blesses us with opportunities in life we would not have otherwise received.  Baptism is a door to eternal life, to other covenants such as those that seal us as a family forever.  It allows us to become clean, pure, perfect from all our previous sins as well as gives us the opportunity to renew this covenant every Sunday with the Sacrament which Christ taught at the Last Supper.  That is why we stress baptism so much and set the goals that we do to baptize.  We want everyone to have the opportunity to have the happiness we have found in it.

That being said, this week my companion and I were worried because we didn’t have anyone to baptize this entire month. It hurts to see so many people who could use a divine purpose or any purpose and to know that we carry a message that will help them.  Well, we did the only thing we knew how to do.  We prayed.  The next day we went to visit the Balbi family, of whom 3 had been baptized and the daughter had decided she didn’t want to.  As we visited with them, the daughter, Agustina, said, “I would like to be baptized.”  We couldn’t believe it because she had denied our invitations so many times.  We had the opportunity to baptize her this Saturday and the most touching part came when her father stood in front of the congregation and said, “I feel so at peace.  We are now protected.”  As a family they took a step and showed their faith and now are on their way, a year from now to be sealed as a family in the temple, to be protected by God in all things if they remain faithful.. My thoughts were lifted Saturday night to the possibilities that we have as the children of God to feel a little part of heaven here on Earth in our families….

I want to thank everyone for the words they have sent of comfort and encouragement.  I have been blessed to know all of you.  I want to wish you all holiday seasons that are happy, protected and embraced with the love of Christ, as we remember him.

Elder Davies Three

Stuff was a mixed up this week, haha. ¡Tranquila Mama Gonzo!

I don't have much time to write again because we have an FHE tonight with the Balbi family but, I think I told you last week that I was invited to go to the Leaders' Conference this Monday. I have been kind of stressing that a little bit because I'm still learning a lot. I don't feel like I am sufficient in a lot of ways, to fulfill more than I have right now but, one thing that I have learned through all this is that despite what we think we can or can`t do, we've got all the support we need...in a power greater than the world. Philippians 4:13.

We had a pretty unreal week though. A lot of miracles, answers to prayers, progression, growth and just little things that show the power of the Lord in his unique way.

We found a young girl...13 years old, who is progressing rapidly. She has a date to get baptized, has attended mutual and a youth dance, church... the works, really. The story behind us finding her is pretty unique. Her mother came to us worried sick for her. Before I had even seen her I kind of stereotyped her after talking to her mom. She told us her daughter needed help in a way that made me not want to meet her at all haha, but as we went to help this mother out, we found a girl who is very intelligent and open. The "problem" is that her mom believes she is negative. She's 13, if negativity is her only problem...? Nevertheless, she has been more of a blessing to us than I think we have to her, even though she glows now. The young women love her and everything fits. Her name is Lucia.

Also, I have been studying a lot in the Book of Mormon, lately. I feel so blessed to have a choice between the Bible and the Book of Mormon because, it is all the same teachings in a way that is much more...understandable. It seems a lot more applicable at times and I find that things fit so perfectly with what I have read in the Bible. Anyways, little tangent, I was reading in Jacob 2-5...and nothing has caught my attention like these Chapters. They talk about the importance of loving your wives and how the Lamanites (Ancestors of South Americans) will be blessed above their brethren the Nephites (the opposing Ancestors who were destroyed because of iniquity) because of the love they have shown in families. 

Chiara, in a spectacular way, expressed the importance of parents in a letter she sent. These chapters also cover this importance, as well as the necessity to record our works for the benefit of our children. Chiara wrote in her own special way that because of the influence parents have on their children, they are wholly responsible for the success that their children have. I believe, along with this that the example they show in their love for one another is essential as well, in guiding them. It was just interesting for me to see that my studies were guiding to things so pertinent to the people we were helping as well. Because we are also teaching the mother of a 19 yr old member who is preparing to serve a mission, and I can see the love and respect that he has for everyone, and I can see the decisions he is making compared to some of his buddies, and after meeting his mom, I know where his path in a better life started. 

With that, I have to go but I want to let my mom and dad know how much I love them.

Til next week.

Stay classy Oregon,

GO DUCKS #1! but I don't know that.

About the pictures:

1) Painting- we painted our house the day Raul got baptized, Raul is the one that has the same hair-doo? as dad :) Daniel is a convert of 1 year who did the deed and baptized Raul.

2) Thanksgiving- I hope someone was grateful for their turkey dinner because we had pancakes with the Plata fam.

3) Raul- the beautiful, bald brother got baptized