This Week from Elder Davis

Chugin Along,

This week has been a bit tough because  almost all of our positive investigators had some sort of excuse or difficult circumstances to keep them from getting to church this Sunday. We even went to bring several that had committed to come to church and they weren't in their homes... We walk so much here! 

Friday, we found a really positive family that understood incredibly well the restoration... that is rare here... They all said that they would pray and that they would be willing to baptized AGAIN if they receive their answer. They have an evangelical background, however, I have complete faith that the Lord will provide.

The other family is really difficult to get to church because Sunday is the only day they don't work and therefore being the only day to work on a house they are building. Yet we aren't giving up and always looking for new people.

We have got transfers coming up this Wednesday that will be giving us a new Mission President and might take my comp away. I am honestly looking forward to the new president and the changes he may make.

Trust the Lords timing and NEVER procrastinate, every moment we waste is one lost forever. Love your circumstances however they may be. - Elder Davis

PS. I am deeply saddened for the death of our beloved Devin Shaum and will be praying for his family.

Lovin the Cold

Here in the mountains I am feeling great not being covered in sweat all of the time, and I thought that I would be free of annoying insects... but I am not. All furniture is infested... The thing I miss the most from the coast right now are the mangos... I am now limited to only a few a week.

Elder Villegas and I have found two very positive families that are progressing; Namely the Hernandez family. Unfortunately they weren't able to make it Sunday but they committed to show up this coming Sunday. The wife is unsurprisingly the most positive of them all, reading The Book of Mormon and diligently seeking answers. On the other hand the husband works a lot and can barely read, although I see a sincere desire to change in him. Our Branch Mission Leader is incredibly devoted and helps us out a lot. His calling is very difficult for him sinc he doesn't have much education and much less leadership experience but he really puts his heart into the work. There is another Ward Missionary that is also very humble and poor, but he has got unstoppable enthusiasm. His wife is inactive and always tells him not to leave and visit, but he does it anyway and brought a really positive investigator to church this Sunday. I just named two but there are several very supportive members in the branch that help us out a lot. We also found a young single mom That doesn't attend any church, doesn't work sundays, and best of all has family in the church. Her name is Norma and she committed herself to come to church this sunday, I am excited to see her progress.

My comp is typically disobedient and convinced that its ok, but we get along very well. I am trying to put a good example and give suggestions, but its pretty tough to change something so overwhelmingly popular.

Well, all in all I am loving the mission and trying to be a descent missionary. I see lots of success in the future but I know its not possible unless I do all that I can to have the spirit with me. Be humble and follow the prophet! -Elder Davis

New Area for Elder Davis

Hey Gang,

So I was right after all, I am now in a small town called Palo Gordo (Fat Tree) in the department San Marcos; THE MOUNTAINS! The mountains feels like a completely different mission, so I'm getting a kind of fresh start. 

I am loving the weather here. It feels just like Rexburg in the fall just with freezing cold rain... The people here are a much less receptive than those of the coast however I am doing as Og Mandino said and making LOVE my unbeatable weapon. My new comp Is Elder Villegas from Bolivia, he only has 4 months in the mission and has a lot of potential. 

Thus far what I am liking most about the area are the members; the members here are super "pilas" and are willing to give referencias and work with us. Their humble dedication to the Lord is astounding. It really puts meaning to the scripture in D&C that says that the lord will us the simple and weak to do his work. Two days ago with one of such members we found a really positive family that is really prepared, it's just up to us to bring the spirit into their home.

Lately in the mission I have been learning a lot about simply persevering and not allowing failure and disappointment hold you back and the limitless power of loving others, your circumstances, and yourself. I am loving the mission and Guatemala and being able represent my Savior in such a way.  #tortillasRlife

-Elder Davis

This Week from Elder Davis

Family and friends,

The baptism of Lester was a success and his family is progressing a lot, yet it is difficult to work well with them because they are working a lot in the cornfields. We have also found many new investigators that are very positive, so we will see what happens there. 

I am really hoping not to leave the area. I have come to love the members here and we are working with some truly beautiful pèople... Keep me in your prayers and know that I am praying for you. The Church is true. 

-Elder Davis

This week from Elder Davis and Finally Some Pics!

To The Gang,

This week was a tiring one in which we had lots of discussions and good member-missionary correlation. From all of that we will end up having one baptism to show for it. The investigator is the 9 year old Lester, son of an inactive family, however the real victory that we are seeing in this circumstance is the reactivation and overall faith of the family. We have have some really good experiences with them and how we found them was especially cool. We have found many other positive investigator that we feel will progress but unfortunately we couldn't get them to come to church this Sunday. That is quite honestly one of the hardest things here... simply getting people into the chapel. I have also been focusing lately in working with the members effectively and building productive relationships with them. From the start of my mission I was always taught that the way to obtain such relationships you need to simply be their bros and make them laugh a lot. Yet as fun as that is it is not very fruitful. I have been studying a lot and getting good advice from successful missionaries in attempt of improving this aspect and I have been putting it into practice. We will see how it goes.

My companion and I are getting along very well and working hard. Obedience is not one of his priorities by any means but he is pretty good for a Honduranio. We are even having comp study, and that is a rare thing in the mission Retalhuleu. We are also having some good fun too.

Today we had a really fun P-day and went to some beautiful waterfalls. The trip was really rushed and uncomfortable (see photos) thus I wasn't able to get very good photos, but... it was a lot of fun and I'll send some of the photos that I managed to get.

I love you all, Guatamalas is amazing, and the Church is true! -Elder Davis

The latest from Elder Davis

Emergency Changes!

To my surprise this Tuesday my comp; Elder Raymundo had changes. It was an answer to my prayers especially because my new comp is Elder Argueta, a Honduran who was a friend of mine in the ccm. He is also a big boy, but I have been in the same district as him and know that he is a good worker. Right now we are trying to motivate the members to be more dedicated to their callings and help us progress the branch. We are also working hard to find new investigators due to the lack of such with my last comp. 

I have noticed a lack of energy lately and have been trying to drink more as well as maintain a more healthy diet. To do so I have been going to the market and cooking with fresh produce... Thanks mom for teaching me a little bit in the kitchen.

Well thats my bit for this week, the church is true! -Elder Davis

A Short Note from Elder Davis

Hey Gang!

I had a very complicated p-day today for a myriad of reasons... so I don't have much time at all... But today we went to the funeral of a member that had died. It was a very different experience due to tradition and the the course of the funeral something that really hit me; we are very blessed to have a complete understanding of God's after-death plan for us.... Alegrate mucho! 

The church is true and God has a plan for every one of us! Keep me in your prayers. -Elder Davis