9/24/18 - Crazy Hot Crazy Week!

Hermana Davis and Gomez

This week okay 

So new life (motto?) Don't leave for tomorrow what you can eat today!! 

Definitely felt that this week. Ill explain. So before I start with Monday, on Tuesday we had kinda a fat day. So much crazy stuff happened. But we were fed soo much food. So we actually had lunch in the house. But for our consejo de distrito I was suppose to make the treat for after and I made brown sugar bars and we ate those then we came home and ate. Well it was super hot and when we were walking down the street a police officer stopped us. I was worried at first, but he was like hey its super hot lets get ice cream. I was like okay! So he bought us ice cream and we talked and he had shared with missionaries a long time ago. He was super nice and we are gonna try and find him again. Then later we went to visit Wilma y Alberto. They gave us popsicles and we bought these crackers they have here called coquitos. Oh and we went to use the bathroom at a restaurant called Quiero Fruta and they had these Mexican Popsicles called Paletas and Hermana Gomez wanted to try it so we bought those. Then the popsicles and coquitos. Then the elders called us in the night and asked who had the better accent out of the two and as payment bought us ice cream as well jaja and we bought empanada's because the members told us they were the best empanada's they had eaten and we need to try it. So basically I am fat jaja but it was super good. Don't leave for tomorrow what you can eat today!!

Okay okay so this week was super great. On Monday we taught Jose again. When we got there he asked us why were called Mormons and how we were to know that Jose Smith was a profeta. It was so perfect because we wanted to teach him what the Book of Mormon was and it lead right into our lesson. He is super great and he wants to come to church. Spoiler something happened and he didn't come but we are gonna pass for him again because he is awesome. 

On Tuesday, we had a super weird day. Not only did I eat more than I should have, we also had weird lessons. So first we met this guy named Helmut. He was weird around us, trying to be funnier than he really is, but he is nice and he wanted to read. His sister was married to one of the members here. So he already knew about the church. We also met this guy named Joel. When we got there he was excited to let us in and teach. He had shared with missionaries a lot in the past and had even gone to church a few times. But as we started to share we realized he wasn't there to listen he was there to argue. So we were trying to tell him that we weren't there to argue we were there to share with him and he told us it wasn't arguing because he was right and we were wrong. 

Then he kept trying to argue with us and we were trying to leave and he had such a prideful look on his face trying to prove us wrong. But we stayed patient and that made him more mad. But at the end of him talking at us I cut him off and then I told him that we were not there to argue and that our time was limited. That we knew what was right. I thanked him for his time and invited him to pray and come to church and when the next missionaries came to let them in and listen to them because the message will be the same but HE will be different and he should listen so that he can receive the blessings that got has for him. We thanked him and left. He was so angry and he thought he bested us but to be honest the things he wanted to argue about were little details in the Bible that if he studied and prayed he would come to realize that is why we have the Book of Mormon, to understand the bible and to have the fullness of the gospel. 

Also we passed Joaquina's house and she was chasing us down and told us her boss wasn't home and she asked us if we could share with her because she could feel the difference when we weren't sharing with her. So we did. It was super cute. She knows it is all true but and she is already in Alma 58. Also her and the two little girls cute their hair and have bangs to be like me. It was so cute. They told me they missed seeing me everyday so they cut their hair like me. It broke my heart.  Also Alberto isn't keeping his compromises and so when we asked him to say a prayer he could tell I was a little sad so he prayed that I wouldn't be mad and stop visiting them. 

Man so much stuff happened Tuesday. A guy drove past us and was like who are you guys. WHO ARE YOU! And I was like missionaries! A guy also drove by and told us we were pretty and then stopped to talk to us. Guys are kinda crazy here. But all in all Tuesday was a good day. Wednesday, we found these two guys who are studying in the college. They were super cool and they were really willing to listen to us. But then we went to visit some members who live super super far away in our area. So we went off on the adventure to find them. It was good. We walked forever but she was so grateful because no one visits them because they live so far. But then we did and she gave us great references. We worked there for a while and then decided to come back and it was a long walk. We saw these two trucks in a crash and they were delivery trucks so there was a ton of smashed bottles and treats on the floor. Sad because it was probably super expensive. 

Probably my favorite part about Thursday is that we were walking to a cita and we heard Baby Shark playing. Now for those who are not aware, baby shark is a girls camp song. When we heard it we looked at each other and I stopped in my tracks and turned around to talk to the family. We started talking and we were teaching the mom and her niece. It was super great and when we left Hermana Gomez told me she had talked to that same lady 2 weeks ago and she was super super mean to them. But now she was really nice. She was so confused. It was meant to be though. 

On Friday we had intercambios and I went to Piribebuy with Hermana Facer. She is really sweet and a great missionary. They are kinda in a rut in their area but we were able to find lots of great people and invited everyone to baptized. It was a great day. Saturday we ran into a man who for almost an hour told us how wrong we were and how we weren't going to be saved and he had the true church and a lot of stuff. It was very sad. 

Sunday God blessed us with a miracle. We have been working really hard and I know that God has been helping us because we had Nelson and Miriam a young couple we have been working with come to church. It was really amazing to see. I am grateful for the Lords hand in the mission work. I know this church is true and I am sorry I am our of time. Thanks all folks until next week!!

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To Heaven and Back!

Hermana Davis

9/17/18 - Spirit of Love

Hey everyone. 

So sorry this week I don't have a ton of time but here is what happened this week.

 

We were able to finally teach Ariel again on Monday. We went and were sharing with him but he asked us a question. He was sharing the gospel with some of his friends and they had a question he didn't know how to respond. It was super amazing because we were able to help him so he could answer the question. The thing that was the best was that he is sharing the gospel. It was so amazing to see how excited he was to tell us the experience he has had sharing what he has learned with his friends and family. Also he made fun of me for wearing my glasses jaja so that was super fun to see him opening up a little bit. He is a super serious kid and it was great to see him goof off even if it was for 1 minute. 

On Tuesday I went really hard on my exercises and was super excited to shower and cool off and we didn't have water jaja. So that was kinda well super sad. But then I got a huge bloody nose and couldn't wash off my face so I had to go to our meeting of missionaries and go out to lunch with blood all over my face and not having showered that morning. How embarrassing jaja. But it was all good after that. We had intercambios and I was in Caaguazu so no one knew me anyways. And yes I finally washed the blood off my face. The Hermana's in Caaguazu were struggling a bit with motivation to talk to people and do the missionary work. But I was able to listen to the Hermana I was with and help her realize the importance of why we are here and she was more excited to get out to work. After that we had a great day. We talked to a ton of people and we were able to find nuevos muy buenos. 

On Wednesday we traveled to return to Oviedo and normally its like 45 minutes but the colectivo we took was super slow and we were on the colectivo for 1.5 hours. Super fun jaja. But we finally got back to our area and Hermana Gomez and I got back to work. We worked really hard and found great people and had awesome lessons. One of them that stood out to me is with a girl named Raquel. She is really searching for peace right now and we taught her about the plan of salvacion. She is super great. She always pays a lot of attention and she has a true desire to learn. She told us how better her life has been since she has shared with us. How she is always happier and that she can feel more peace. We told her it was the spirit and that God wants her to find the truth and have the peace in her life. 

On Thursday we found a family. It was really great because we thought they were gonna be super awesome but as we started to teach we realized the dad just wanted to argue with us. He was just telling us we are liars and that we are sent from the devil. The saddest part is that his two daughters really could feel the Spirit and wanted to read and pray but he wouldn't let them. So I thanked him for his time and invited him to listen to the missionaries the next time they came because the message will be the same but he will be different. He then proceeded to kick us out of his house. 

My invitation for everyone reading this email is to not fight about religion. Everyone of us is a child of God and he wants us to be happy. If someone wants to fight with us about what we know to be true, the contention will drive out the spirit and we will not leave edified, but we will leave with anger and hate which is not from our loving Heavenly Father. 

On Friday we had to wake up super early so that we could travel to San Lorenzo and have conferencia de zona. Elder Bragg from the 70 came to talk to us. He is also in the Presidencia of the area South America south. And he was my mission presidents old companion. It was super awesome to hear from him. He is so entuned with the spirit. We had a little conference before with just the lideres and then everyone all together. 

They asked me to sing in the choir and to translate for Hermana Hansen. It was a very large honor to be able to translate for her. We talked about how we can be better missionaries and work more effective to help others come unto Cristo and understand the doctrine of Cristo. It was so amazing and the spirit in the conference was very strong. We travelled home and we got home around 7. We went to another meeting with our branch mission leader and then we taught ingles and piano. But by the end we weren't able to get out and work. 

Saturday we found a guy named Jose. He is an old grandpa who is super sweet. We had a very spiritual lesson. He asked us who was the prophet today and how we can know he is a profeta. When we asked him to be baptized he told us he would try but he cant be perfect like Cristo. But he would do everything in his power. He is super nice and I have a good feeling about him. But we were at lunch and I asked if we could serve Nancy, our member who always helps us and gives us lunch. So she said yes and we started cleaning the plates. I grabbed all the cups and went to put the down so we could wash them. But I dropped one and it shattered. Hermana Gomez made fun of me and was like what kind of service is that. So then I went to clean it up and Nancy was like don't cut yourself. I told her not to worry I am a professional. But well then I cut myself on accidente. So basically I'm the reason we cant have nice things jaja. 

And I got a ton of friends in Oviedo. It happens with you are in an area for 4 months. A guy drove passed on a moto and he was like Hermana Davis!!! And waved. I waved back but had no idea who it was jaja. The fans :) 

Sunday it rained really hard so no one came to church. Kinda sad really. But I saved 2 frogs that day. SO not only a pig hero but a frog hero as well. 

I'm sure there is more that happened but I am out of time. I am so amazed everyday by how perfect God really is. He is a God of order and He is always there to help us if we are willing to trust in Him and keep His commandments. I know this to be true. I love you all. I am so grateful for all 

--

To Heaven and Back!

Hermana Davis

9/3/18 - Pig Hero! ( sorry thought I'd posted last weeks email so Its out of sequence date wise)

Wow this week there was 4 of us in our house...first week of the new cambio...it was crazy. We had an awesome week. Monday was a bit crazy because we didn't get our p-day. We had to prepare everything for the other Hermana's and then we finally got to write and do everything and then the Hermana's got here around 6. So we helped them. It was so cute. Hermana Guaman and Hermana Carter are our new roommates. Hermana Guaman is from Ecuador and Hermana Carter is from Utah and she is brand new. Hermana Carter was so cute. She was just so surprised and loving everything. She was looking around the whole house and it was so cute. That night we got out to work and we had a family home evening with Familia Aguilera. We took the other Hermana's so that they could start to get to know differente familias. It was super fun. 

We had a great lesson by Analia, the daughter who just got home from her mission, and we played games and ate pizza. It was super great. Tuesday we had a full day of work. We had great lessons too. We taught Guadalupe. She is super great. She has been struggling to find her answer on whether our church is true. So we have been trying to help her recognize what the spirit is and why it is important we come to church. Satan has been working really hard to not let her come to church because every time she has tried something bad has happened to her. So now she is scared to try. But we told her its because Satan knows that this is the true church and so we told her we were going to visit her everyday until she comes to church to make sure she can go. We asked her to give us this time to visit her, 10 minutes everyday. She agreed. So everyday we passed and she wasn't home. Everyday. But Sunday we passed in the morning to get her! And she...

But yeah also on Tuesday we found this cute little family. So a mom was sitting outside with her baby and we had just left a lesson and starting to talk to her. She let us sit down and we offered a prayer. So we taught her and she told us that she had just moved to Oviedo with her husband and that she was looking for a church to join. But that she never ever leaves the house. But that day she decided to leave and we happened to walk by. I know it was the spirit because we had other plans but we felt we needed to visit this one less active members on that street and only shared with her for 10 minutes but then left and found Mirium, the lady to whom we were talking. We told her it wasn't a coincidence and that Heavenly Father wants her to have these blessings in her life. 

On Wednesday it was fun because we got to leave with Analia. She just got home from her mission but she decided to move to Brazil so we told her she had to leave with us before she goes to Brazil and she agreed. So we went to visit people. We had great lessons. We found a girl named Tania. She doesn't have a religion and she has all the right questions. It is super great. But she is a tad bit closed because her mom is super religious. But she doesn't like the religion of her mom. So we taught her and she agreed to pray and ask if it is true. On thursday our day was not what we planned. We were in our studies when all of a sudden we got a call that Elder Rasband, a member of the 12 apostles, was in Paraguay and was going to be giving a broadcast on the radio at 11. So we needed to leave and to invite everyone to listen and then we got to listen. It was a question and answer where a whole bunch of different religious leaders got together and asked him a ton of questions about the church. It was super cool because you could tell he had to spirit with him. People where asking really confrontational questions but he answered everything so great because it was what God wanted. It was awesome. 

Okay so then do you remember Mirium? So we had plans to pass and teach her again but because we were listening to the broadcast we couldn't. So we had to pass later for her. It was super funny because her husband was outside. We started talking to him and they invited us to sit down and teach. But what was super great was that they never leave the house, like she had told us, but they were sitting outside and were about to go in and lock up for the night when they felt the need to stay out just a little bit longer. And that's when we came. We told them it was the spirit because Heavenly Father wants them to hear our message. So we taught the husband too and it was so great. They are vasos escogidos. They are the first people I have met in Paraguay that hasn't said oh yeah I'm gonna try to come to church, yeah maybe, yeah if God wants me to, yeah but I'm not promising because I don't want to lie. They said yes we promise to come. It was super awesome! However, spoiler they didn't come because it rained super hard on Sunday and they don't have a car or moto and they have a 4 year old and a 1 month year old. So that was unfortunate. But I know that they were going to.

 On Friday we had intercambios with las Hermana's in Caaguazu Rama 3. Hermana Ostvig and her trainee Hermana McDougal. It was super great. Hermana Ostvig used to be my companion so it was awesome to be able to see her again. I stayed in Oviedo with Hermana McDougal. She is brand new and it reminded me of my training. It was awesome to see how she was trying really hard to speak in the lessons and learn and it was awesome to see her power to work even though she wasn't comfortable with her Spanish. We had a lesson with a lady named Evelin. We had found her a while ago but hadn't been able to find her again. I felt the impression to go and teach her so we walked over to her house. She let us in right away. She had a lot of questions about the Book of Mormon. So we started teaching her. It was a spiritual lesson. She had lots of questions about what is the Book and why we have it. I felt bad for Hermana McDougal because she was so lost. She had no idea what was going on, reminded me of my training. You can ask my trainer about the Key story with Juan. I might have even told it in my past emails. But Hermana McDougal was pretty lost but when it was her turn to talk she explained what the Book of Mormon was and then testified and it was very powerful. You could feel the spirit very strong. It was super fun. 

On Saturday we had a lesson very very powerful with Wilma y Alberto. They aren't completing their little commitments and so we had to tell them the importance of why. It is sad because I love them so much. They are super great and we get along really well. It turns out they don't even like each other. They are only together because they are bored and don't want to be alone but they have no feelings whatsoever. They actually drive each other insane. So we also had to talk about that a little bit. 

Now Sunday. This is where my subject line comes in. 

We had lunch and when we were sharing a scripture after Hermana Gomez was flipping through her scriptures and almost shared one in Moroni but right before she started sharing changed to Helaman 5:12. We shared and at the end the Hermana was crying. She said she was praying that we would share her favorite scripture and we did. It was a small moment but a big testimony builder that God hears and answers even our littlest prayers. But after that we had a lesson on the other side of our area. Super super far away. So then we had to walk all the way over their. We had a lesson with a lady named Blanca. She is super great. She has really good questions and wants to know the truth. We taught the Book of Mormon and she was super interested. She said her ancestors always talked about how a white God came to visit but the Bible never talked about it. So it was a really great lesson. It was special to me because I felt the spirit guiding me in exactly what I needed to say to answer all her questions. 

But when we were leaving, this lady lives by a forest and in the forest was a little piglet who was tied to a tree but was caught in a bush and was squealing really bad. So I was like we got to save it! So I ran over and the pig started freaking out. But I was trying to free its leash. It was trying to attack me and it was screaming bloody murder. But at last I got it free and that is all in a days work for a pig hero jaja. But seriously I know that this church is true. I know the work I have been called to do is the Lords work and that I am here to represent Him. I love my Savior and His perfect plan. Keep the chin up! This week is gonna be even better.

I love you all!!!

--

To Heaven and Back!

Hermana Davis

9/10/18 - One more week to serve the Lord

Where did this week go?

Goodnight this week was crazy. I mean I feel like I was just emailing you guys. But here we are again...Monday. Wow crazy. So this is what happened. 

Actually I'm not even gonna lie I don't really remember what happened. But Monday was p-day. We had a super deep doctrinal discussion the 4 of us in our house. I cooked Hamburgers and Fries and we had watermelon and I made chocolate covered strawberries and crackers and it was so good. It was like in n out mixed with zupas and all American. It was super good! We got out to work after and it was a goodnight. 

On Tuesday we had intercambios and I went to Rama 2 (the other side of Oviedo) with Hermana Jensen. It was super fun. She has grown so much in just this little time outside her training. She speaks more Spanish and she has more confidence in herself. It was really good to see how she took the reigns that day and we had a great lesson with a lady they have that is preparing to be baptized. It was a great lesson where you could feel the spirit but still laugh and joke around and it was really great. 

On Wednesday it was really hot and I don't actually know what happened but it was a bit rough. We weren't able to find a lot of people and I don't actually know what it was that made it a slow day but it was. But we got to teach a bit of piano so that was fun. 

Oh so Thursday.Okay so there is this parasite they have here called Pike. Now I have never had it (knock on wood) but it is this little bug that lives in the sand and it bites you and climbs into your foot. It looks just like a little black dot but it is annoying and itches. When you get it you have to dig it out of your foot or else it will grow back. So guess who had Pike? Hermana Gomez! 

So on Thursday before we left to travel to Asuncion, we had to go to a members house and she got it removed from her foot. It was super fun to watch jaja. But then we had to travel to Asuncion for consejo de lideres on Friday. It was super awesome. 

I translated for la Hermana Hansen her talk. It was super spiritual in how we can be better leaders. On how we can be leaders semejante a Cristo. It was cool to learn on how we should just love everyone. On how we need to show this love and use it to be able to help others better. It was really awesome. We traveled back to Oviedo and on the colectivo we were all spread out because we got to the last seats on the bus.

 So Hermana Gomez was sitting down next to this guy and she felt the need to talk to him but didn't do it. Finally he started talking to her and he had all these questions about the church. He had cousins who were all members and he was super curious. It is a strong testimony builder to me that God knows who is ready to listen to our message and He puts us in the right path. Its just the matter whether we are willing to listen and if we do what the Spirit tells us to do. We got back to Oviedo with just enough time for one lesson. So we ran to Alberto. It was really great that every time we have a lesson with him I really know he can feel our love. But he told us he found a job. He told us he knew he found it because we have been sharing with him and praying for him but that he was gonna have to leave and travel for this work and we weren't gonna be able to share as often. But whenever he would be in town he would tell us. We told him he needed to come to church before he left so that he could see for himself it was the true church. He promised us he would. So then Saturday we were gonna pass for him again. 

We had intercambios with the Hermana's we share a house with. So I stayed with our people with Hermana Carter. We had a really great day. We visited a lot of people. It was fun because we found good new people and were able to work with the people we already had. It was cute to see Hermana Carter talking and trying to follow in the lesson. It made me remember my training. Except her Spanish is way better than mine was jaja. We also went to see Alberto again. He made a bracelet for me it was super sweet. We read the book of Mormon together and we could explain things to him. In the night Hermana Carter and I were talking and we are so similar. It was super cool to see that we have the same interests and everything.

 It was fun. But we stayed up way too late talking and Sunday we were both super tired. It is kinda funny how before my mission I would stay up until like 3 in the morning and wake up at 5 and be totally fine the whole day but now...nope jaja. On Sunday we left early in the morning to pass for Alberto and HE WASNT THERE! He left in the night before and didn't come back. We tried calling him but his phone was off. It was so sad. We tried to pass for a few other investigators but they weren't home either. So we went to church no mas. But it was good. 

It was really hot yesterday. 104! Summers coming back for sure.

 Our lessons fell through yesterday but we were still able to talk to everyone and find new people. We were had la familia cubas house, an older couple. We were sharing with the Hermana when Hermano Cubas walks in. So he went into the other room and started watching tv. The volume was really loud and Hermana Cubas started yelling at him in Guarani to tell him to turn it down or off because we are sharing. He turns it down and she yells Respeto!! Or respect jaja. It was super funny. 

Anyways this week was full! I just want to end with how much I love this gospel. I see it everyday, the blessings that the restored gospel of Jesus Cristo brings to everyone. Especially the family. Everyday when we leave its a new day to be able to find those who want to have more love and happiness in their families and in their lives. It is a blessing for me to be able to see the Lords hand in every moment of my life. Every detail. It is a huge blessing that I have to be able to serve the people of Paraguay. I am eternally grateful for this moment. I hope everyone everyday looks for the Lords hands in your day to day activities and then writes them in your journal so that you never forget truly how blessed we are. I love you all. Till next week!!!

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To Heaven and Back!

Hermana Davis