It is amazing to see the progress in peoples lives. Mateo is a super good kid. His mom is inactive and he is fulfilling his calling and more without her hah. I love him.

I can't wait to take part in these occurrences again (family reunion). It sounds like it was an experience that was very special for everyone. Make sure they know I love them.

I have been super blessed over here. I don't know who is praying over there, but it is making my life a lot easier over here. We are seeing miracles...even with the mass I am seeing in the lives in others, I am seeing more in my own life. The gospel is fascinating. The more I learn the more I grow and understand and the easier it is to see my purpose. Study it. Love it. Live it.

Thank you for the money...I will use it wisely. I think.

About the tie. Yeah, I got it. I love it. I wear it with my suit in all my interviews. The name on the package rang a bell but unfortunately in my excitement when I received the tie, I threw away the package and the address. If you could get that to me I would love to send them a letter or something. Who are they??

Gotta go...but I love you guys.

Elder Davies

What a great week. Great notifications from the fam, great spirit in General Conference, and 2 baptisms planned every week of April. I am being blessed more than I can express. I don't want to admit that maybe I have worked with a little more zeal because I wanted to give myself a good birthday gift but...stuff happens. ;) I have come across some great people in the last few weeks who have blessed me in more ways that I can wish to have blessed them.

I was a little down during the conference, it was very family based. I'm not with mine, but as I thought back on you, I was more excited than ever with the thoughts of all the blessings and love in my own family. I have been extremely touched in the last few weeks about the importance of the family in the church. IT IS EVERYTHING. I know now, without any doubt that if everything is being done in the home that should be done to strengthen, guide, cultivate love and security in the family, life will be a complete blessing and the suffering will be but a blink in time.

I love the gospel. I love you all. I pray for you always and send my wishes and blessings.

Elder Davies.

Thanks dad and mom, I'm doing my best. Nice to hear you could share in the true spirit of the sabbath day and serve. I hope everything works out ok though. I don't have much time now. I got a new comp that is Chileno, Elder Avalos. He is great and we are changing the work a lot around here. A lot based on your advice Dad. Thank you. Here are some of the converts...and my zone leaders...and some Uruguayan cuisine.

Elder Davies

YAY

Alright,

I got a package from Sarah Powell and family. Thank you. The chocolate was all melted but I freaking ran a train on it anyways. Thanks for all the love you send every week. Every one is always jealous of me, but it is holy envy.

This week was pretty outstanding. We had 3 baptisms. One was a guy named Martin who actually got married the morning before his baptism in the evening. I know...a little rushed but marriage here isn't much of an issue. They go, sign a paper, kiss if they feel like it and thats that. The other two are a son and daughter of a lady the other Elders found who is inactive. Hopefully her husband is next. This ward is struggling but I feel like it is going to get better. We've been talking a lot with the Bishop and he tells us that a lot in the leadership is going to be changing.  No calling was meant to be easy. That is why we get them, to get better. Nobody got stronger paddling downstream.. Mom and Dad, You are both the best examples I have in this life. Don't let me down. ;)  Tell those brothers hello from me and I love them.

Love you guys,

Elder Davies

Not a lot...

Perfect,

Alright, well I arrived in San Carlos this last week and it is pretty rad. We came in following the coastline the whole way...It's amazing out here. Not the same level as Hawaii just yet but they are trying haha. It is beautiful though. This little city I am in now is pretty nice. About 10 minutes from the beach so there are ranches all around but it is still in the civilization. My new comp. Elder Nuñez is also my district leader. He has been out around 9 months and is a machine. We have a baptism this week for 3. A guy by the name of Martín that has been taking the lessons for a pretty long time...years I think. A 13 year old girl named Victoria and a 10 year old kid named Washington. As of now I am going to baptize Washington but we'll see. I think he only chose me because he will be the first boy I baptize haha. I haven't had any exceptionally special experiences thus far. My ward is significantly less active and smaller, but they are really good people and my comp and I have plans to help them grow. 

Hmmm...It's all pretty new still. I'll have more to write later.

About you all, it makes this all that much easier to hear how well everyone is doing. Erik sounds like he has found a niche.  I am excited. Dad, I brag about all the time. I am so proud (in the most un-proud way) to call him my Dad. Mom, You may never know how much I appreciate everything you do.  

Not much else. 

Love you guys, 

Elder Davies

Transfer

First Zone- I'm leaving El Pinar...tear. JK. It has been an area to grow and find my way, feel success and witness true miracles of the gospel. I have to say goodbye to everyone today.

 

First try- The girl we baptized this week is next to her dad. The family is huge. 9 kids. I said first try because some were missing. She is a really good girl named, Micaela. Maybe I'll just have to search Uruguay for all named Micaela to have the success. 

➞ Most of them. One of the boys isn't family, I can't see the pic now but there are two...who are white and he is between them. Just a friend. The only one that is missing is a daughter of 16. The oldest. They are 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 9, 7, 4, 2. wow. Never complain again mom.

The victim- Micaela Lorena Rivero. Yes, I know my hair is a little long. You don't understand how hard it is to get a haircut around here. We have P-Days on monday and all the barbers are closed, on what day??? monday.

Anyways, we got our change calls. I'm going to a city called San Carlos in Maldonado. Maldonado is where all the tourists go from all over the world...so, it's going to be a trial I think. Elder Mangelson isn't sure but he is going to be staying in my kingdom. We are both going to have Latino companions. I am a little nervous/excited/anxious. The work is always the same but the circumstances are always changing. I hope and pray I can fulfill this call. I pray for you always. Dad, I want you to know how much I appreciate your example. I was talking yesterday with Elder Mangelson about his father and you. I know I can speak for both of us when I say we are blessed. The Lord knew. .

Love you guys.

Elder Davies

Mom,

Weeks are flying by. I am having a hard time distinguishing between this week and the last so I don't know for sure what I have and have not told you about. Everything is getting along golden like. 

We had a pretty cool experience this last week. I can't remember exactly if I have told you about it but I guess I will share it again anyway.

I know our Father in Heaven loves us. We were knocking doors, same as every other day and found an older lady by the name of Edith. She invited us in and immediately started to share with us all her problems. This happens a lot here. I am afraid of growing accustomed to it and then returning to the US where everyone tries to suffer through them alone. Anyway, she relayed to us how she had studied with many other religions, ours being one she never has and she wanted to know out of the gate what we believed. We read with her the "Articles of Faith". Upon reading she would point out every belief she was not in accordance with. 

"I don't believe in the spirit..." "No, we don't receive revelation..." etc.

I began to look at her outer being. It is such a peace to me that God looks at the heart. As we continued to share with this lady our beliefs and testimonies, she softened. To this day, she remembers me saying something that I didn't know I even said. As I told her that at this very moment her savior was with her, arms outstretched to catch her in every difficult moment of her life and in that moment I could feel him there, she began to cry...and said she, herself, could feel him and she knew it was true. After all this she told us that right before we knocked on her door she was writing a prayer asking the Lord to help her find the truth...she showed me the prayer she was writing the moment we knocked on her door. It was a humble prayer, a prayer from a broken heart. A prayer of submission to her father...he had answered. I know that he hears us...and I know he will answer. It may not be with two strapping Mormon missionaries haha, but he will answer, because he loves us. 

Love you guys. 

Elder Davies

PICTURES

Abuelo's House: They are our dueños.

He loves his garden and we live in a beautiful essence 

as a result...yess. With grapes.  

Micaela y Romina: My greatest accomplishment thus far. 

I wanted their brother to do the honors of baptizing them, but he insisted. 

Micaela is now the sister I never had. 

 

Neighbor Ramon: He lives in this. Yeah. Uruguay. 

Our House: And our guard dog, Cona's, house.

Scenes from The Guay: I was bored and they have cool flowers here. Don't judge.

 

I didn't get a chance to read all of what you sent...who do you think I am? jk. I have a more strict companion now, so I really only get 30 minutes. It has been...a blessing. ;) I love you guys, Til next week.

I really only have one good story to share this week. I PLACED MY FIRST BAPTISMAL DATE!! It was a big deal for me. The spirit is amazing in the way it works. It really does guide your mouth when you are giving all you can. I testify of that. More will come next week. OH, and I had my first baptism. I failed haha, I had to dunk the poor girl 4 times. I had the amazing experience of being able to console her after though. She thought it was all her fault. It was fun to get to be the big brother. Oh, you have a daughter now... haha. I'll send Pics next week. Forgot my camera. 

Love you all

Elder Davies