Week 2 in Uruguay

2 weeks down...

At first I thought that time had decided to catch up with me as the first week crawled by. I guess being lost and not being able to understand anyone makes everything slow down. But this week flew. I feel like I just wrote to Wes. I'll forward you what I wrote him. It's got all my info in it. This week was pretty excellent. I was able to take part in my first baptism. A 16yr girl was baptized by her boyfriend. Unfortunately, I had med stuff today and it's complicated so I can't send pics until next week, but it is on the way. I didn't feel too attached to this one since she has been ready for a while now but...it was still a good experience. 

Another experience I had, my first accepted baptism. We met a man by the name of Raul, well, he found us on the street and asked us to come over. We visited him that night and he shared experiences he has had about a lot of things around the church. He has some family memebers that are members, but was so ready to hear more. We gave him a Book of Mormon and asked him to read it and he accepted to and also acepted our invitation to baptism. He will be baptized after this change is over but I hope I will be around. He mentioned to us during the lesson that he just enjoyed that we have a purpose and are living for something more...I appreciated that a lot. 

I've learned from watching most of my first two weeks. I don't have a lot of experience, obviously, but I've got eyes and ears and I want to help people in any way I can. I can't communicate all that well but I've figured out that what I have is the best thing in this world that there is to give to people and that thing is pure happiness. It is a purpose that so much of this world lacks. So many young people spend a lifetime searching for a place, a purpose, a future. I've realized that above converted, that isn't why I am here. I'm here to give people something that they can hold on to through everything else they will experience and suffer through. It's something that will never fail them. For my peers, my age, my generation...there is nothing we need more. Anyways, that was a bit of a tangent but I love you all. Miss every last one of you. And...thank you for everything; the guidance, the support, the memories. At the end of every stressful day I've got you all back home to look to for smiles. Thank you.

Elder Davies

First Letter from Uruguay

I made  it to Uruguay! After what seemed like a ten minute flight from Argentina, I landed safely. We were taken straight to Temple Square/the mission home. It's beautiful. Just like the pictures. But we are going into Spring so it's blooming sweetly. I met my new/first companion thus far. His name is Steven Thorderson. He is from SLC and only has 3 months left. I can tell from the short trip to our area that he has a lot to show me (almost as much as I have to learn.) I'm seeing a lot of the other elders and the impact they have had in the country and...i have some very significant shoes to fill. He informed me that we actually have a family of 4 to baptize already, as well as a young lady by the name of Soledad. Amazing. He's going to help me grow. I know already. We are going to meet the family now so I don't have much time but...I'll send more next week. Promise. I hope the visit with Wes went well. Congratulations again, bro. Take it easy. Love you all. 

 

Elder Davies  

Dear Davies Family

5 October 2010

Dear Davies Family,

Today we went to the airport in Montevideo, Uruguay, to pick up Elder Davies and welcome him into our mission. He arrived a little tired, but full of excitement and enthusiasm to get to work.

We have spent the day with him getting to know him, and we have recognized that he will be an asset to us here in the mission. With this time that we have had with him he has shown many talents that will be put to use in blessing the lives of many wonderful people.

Today was the day of transfers; he met his trainer and then headed off for his first area so that he could start ¨[bringing] to pass the immortality and eternal life of man¨.

We are now sending you a photo that we took with him this afternoon. As you can see, he is extremely excited and ready to start. We are so excited to have your son with us and hope that you receive this photo with excitement and pride in all that your son has done to prepare himself for the opportunity that he now has to serve the Lord for the next two years.

Love, 

The Da Silva´s

LAS FOTOS

Seventh Letter from the Argentina MTC

 I'm so ready to be out working and so tired of being here, constrained haha. I just want to WORK. I'm learning patience. The language is coming swimmingly. I couldn't ask for better teachers. Time seems to move on a different schedule here. Like it is on fast-forward but I guess when you have such a wholesome intent...you can never have enough time. The unfortunate thing about proselyting here in Argentina is that the people know us almost as well as the people in the US do. "No Gracias" is my least favorite phrase. I could honestly go the rest of my life without those two words in one breath. 

 

Let's see...I have found a delightful little morsel of consumption here. It is the ALFAJOR. Find it. Eat it. Love it. I would say I have so many more experiences but the greatest discovery or experience I have had has honestly been that first taste of an alfajor. 

 

...Not really actually, today I had a really good experience. We had the opportunity to teach the Latino Elders about "obedience." As we spoke, for the first time the words flowed. I think I was overly excited because I was smiling at them and they kept asking why I was smiling but...I knew. I was so proud of myself. 

I'll send the definite address when I get [to Uruguay.] I don't want to give you the wrong one.

Love back,

Elder Davies

Last Few Weeks in the MTC

I'm almost done in the MTC. I just received an excellent lift in my motivation from the primary kids! Tell them all thank you a thousand times. I love them. They are hanging in my room upstairs. I'm ready to do the work. Bored with the draftness of the classes but realizing how little I know and how much I need to just rely on the guidance by my Heavenly Father. It's difficult to focus when the teachers are all babbling in a language that makes little to no sense, but I'm not exposed to the world even a little...and the greater part of me loves it. Not much to say. But I miss you all.

Fifth Letter from the Argentina MTC

A lot has happened that I have been excited to write about but it's been busy.  The weeks have been drawing on.  The days are slow, but the weeks fly by. Maybe that contradicted the previous sentence, but it's true.  Saturdays are the diamond in the rough.  Every time we go out, I grow.  I step a little farther, grow a little taller, see a little deeper into the desires of our Heavenly Father.  I wanted to share one experience and then address written concerns.

First, as I said, Saturdays are excellent.  My companion and I had rough beginnings, but have improved as my reliance on him has grown.  He's a nervous person, but we go together perfectly.  We met a young man who spoke English and we placed our first Book of Mormon.  It was so spectacular.  I felt a sliver of the love we read about.  It wasn't until our "accountability" that I felt it send shivers throughout my body.  The love is there. 

Two elders in our district shared an experience that changed my perspective on the work.  They met a man. His name was Rodolfo and they described him as "humbled to the dirt."  He was full of questions.  The previous week, he had accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon and they had taught him for 45 min.  This last Saturday, they met him again.  He had read the entire book. He only had one question and that was how families could be together forever if he is divorced.  They taught him more.  He was hungry for their words.  They said the spirit led them.  That, as promised, as they opened their mouths, the words were there.  The spirit was truly their guide in so much that they challenged him to be baptized.  He agreed.  Rodolpho has 5 sons.  His baptism date is September 18th. 

When they said that, I felt an embrace. The embrace of invisible arms and I knew every one else felt the same.  My heart is full.  Through the elders in my district, I have felt a reaction of the love of the Lord.  It surrounds his children.  Reach out and he will meet you with it.  I am here to give that love to every person I see and I will.  Or I will come home having tried my best.  One other testament of my work is found in D&C 68:4-6.  Read it and act as his servant.  His love is there. 


Other news.... Argentina.  It's dirty in Buenos Aires.  Scary places, people and experiences.  Every friendly person we talk to warns us of guns, dogs, and thieves.  But we walk with the spirit so there is no room to fear. 

Fourth Letter from the Argentina MTC

Hey, I would like to apologize to everyone about my redundancy. I didn't realize that my email shared the same experience as the one earlier. The days literally run together. I remember it was yesterday I was sitting on this same computer typing with the same glazed thoughts. It's hard to distinguish between when I woke up in the middle of the night to a strategically placed alarm clock and when I fell asleep, face in the book soakin' it in. Life rolls on I suppose. Once again, I don't have exceptional moments to share but i am one week closer to the moment when the stories will overwhelm. It happens here, but they aren't stories of interest to anyone outside our little CCM. I love you all and will send more your way next week.

Third Letter from the Argentina MTC

Hey everyone,

In D&C 64 is a scripture that says something about if we speak with the spirit our words will be scripture. It´s amazing and I would love that as my scripture...

Stories: I have a letter on the way that shares the greatest experience i've had thus far. They don't give us long to email so it's more effective for me to print off the emails and reply through letter but... our activities here are pretty simplistic anyway. We are just typically a bunch of 19 year old guys living under one roof with the expectation of keeping it clean/functional but it's amazing how the spirit changes the attitudes of a group of young men. 

Our only real time of "being boys" is during our physical activity time with our newly created sport "smashball." In Latin America, soccer is a little more prominent. Therefore, on our cement pad with basketball hoops they have put mini soccer goals for the Latinos. We "true men" have found the true reason they were placed directly under the hoops. WE play a regular game of basketball, but in order to count the points you have to "smash" the ball as it falls out of the basket net directly into the soccer net. It adds effect if you scream like a barbarian, you know? Other than that the days roll on. Spanish is coming along fine. I can read almost all pretty fluently as well as understand it. Speaking is a little sketchy but understanding a Latino speaking, is still nearly impossible. 

The guys in my district are absolutely amazing. We get along so well...

My time is up so I have to go but,

please send me Carl, Baxter, and Ray.....and Lindy's...and anyone else who may need a letter, send me their addresses. Probably Julie's. Thanks, love you.