27 January 2014

Hola family!

This last week I started a new journal. Sometimes I don't write very much because I don't have much time, but thus far I've written every day since I was set apart. Eventually that adds up to filling the journal.

On Thursday we had a two-mission conference with Elder Soares from the presidency of the seventy. It was a really good conference, and I learned a little Portuguese.  He's a native of Brazil who has learned both English and Spanish, but every once in a while his Spanish has a little Portuguese. It reminded me of that time at BYU that I went to a Portuguese fireside by Elder Scott and he threw in some Spanish. Hna Soares speaks English and Portuguese so she gave her talk in English and someone translated to  Spanish. (I really hoped she would give it in Portuguese. Why is it that I am still facing limited mastery of Spanish yet I still want to learn other languages. You would think I could focus on just one for 18 months, right?) On a similar note, there isn't an organ in the stake center in San Pedro, but I still had the crazy desire to play one.

Friday was the baptism for Myra and her daughter Angie. I started teaching them with Hna Trujillo. Once I transferred, Hna Trujillo kept teaching them, but obviously I wasn't going to miss the baptism. It has been really fun to watch Myra change. At first she thought the visits were just for Angie, but now she is there teaching her two little boys and quizzing them about things like the five things we don't use--coffee, tea, tobacco, drugs, alcohol. I was really grateful that Myra decided to get baptized with her daughter. They need the mutual support. It also helps that half of their neighbors are members, so they are in good hands.

Saturday one of our most promising investigators told us that she isn't interested anymore. Sigh. We can't have everything.

We are also teaching a really interesting grandma named Silvia. She lives with her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, who are all members. Really getting her to listen was a small miracle. But now she loves to have us come and visit. We think she was maybe going to come to church Sunday, but there wasn't water in her neighborhood yesterday morning, which probably dampened her desire. Saturday we showed a Mormon Message--President Hinckley's lessons I learned as a young boy. She has been watching General conference for years and loves President Hinckley. We try to flatter some of her likes to stay in her good graces. Once we did a lesson based on the principle in the song about the wise man and the foolish man because she likes that song. Tonight we are going to do a family home evening...probably something about temples and eternal families...hope it goes well.

Yep...that's just about everything from this week. I'm sure you've checked the weather here, but we're in the 80´s and it's only January. Just wait until summer! Of course I think you guys have hit the other extreme with all the cold and snow.

I love you all so much. Have a wonderful week!

Hermana Davis