Week 85 - Raul's Baptism, Basilica, New Mission President & Martyrdom Thoughts

Raul's Baptism!

Hey Friends and Family!!

Wow, has this been a FULL week! First of all my day got a lot brighter on Wednesday when I got the package Kenadee sent me!! WAHOO!! It FINALLY made it! I´m still waiting for my Christmas packages from 2014 from my family...but I think I may have lost hope on that one...Love you Kenadee!

Raul's Baptism

Raul was baptized yesterday! It was a really cool baptism! We had to do it at 7PM because his step dad had to work until then. That´s the latest I think I've ever had a baptismal service! Raul was really excited but didn't want a lot of people to come to his baptism...but we invited a lot of people! There were about 30 people there and most of them were youth and children! He also got to go to the stake camp out in another state of Mexico (Tlaxcala) and he said it was SUPER fun! He´s really happy! There is only one active young man right now so we are going to work with him and the Young Men´s President to get a lot of youth going.

Trip to the Basilica

Today we went with Elder Todd and Elder Boyle to the Basilica. For those of you who aren't familiar with the Catholic Church in Mexico, the Basilica is like the Vatican of Mexico. Let me give you a little bit of history. In the early 1530´s they believe the Virgin Mary came and visited a native man named Juan Diego and because of that vision they have created the Basilica. It is a really HUGE place. There are more than 10 churches there and a few of them are HUGE! One of the really old ones is leaning over and looks like it´s about an earthquake away of falling (I took a picture of it!). There is a really cool garden place on the hill where Juan Diego saw "the little virgin" as they say here (la virgencita) that was actually REALLY green and really pretty. The church is still true though. Don´t worry.

Tomorrow is the big day! President Anaya is going home and President Naumann is arriving! They will only have a few hours together and the mission will be under President Naumann´s direction. I´m really happy with all the work President Anaya and his wife have done and I´m excited to see how the new President and his wife will build off of what they have built here.

Joseph & Hyrum statues in Carthage, IL

One hundred and seventy-two years ago today Joseph and his brother Hyrum were martyred in Carthage Jail. I am so grateful for the sacrifice that these men made, consecrating their very lives to this work and sealing that with their blood. It is my pleasure to teach every day of how this Prophet, called and directed by God restored the church that Jesus Christ established nearly 2000 years ago. I know that Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration. If there is any one of you who doubt that he saw God the Eternal Father and His Son, I invite you to kneel and ask God if it was true. I know that he will tell you that it is true because HE WAS THERE! I know that with all my heart!

I love you all so much! Have a GREAT week!

Love,
Elder Davies

Week 84 - Missionary Dolls? Yep. Dolls :)

A recent convert lady made missionary dolls for
Kelson and his companion. How cool is that?

Hello Friends and Family!

How are you all? Thanks for all the fun emails and pictures! Glad to see your happy faces!

This week was really busy but I´ll try to get you some of the highlights!

Yesterday Adriana was confirmed! We are really excited for her. Her daughter Arely already had her baptismal interview and passed, she just needs a little push from heaven to make the right choice and head to the water. Please pray for Arely and that she can make the right decision soon!

On Thursday the Relief Society did an activity for all of the Fathers in the ward and it was so much fun! We helped giving the message with a return missionary in the ward. They had a lot of fun minute to win it games for the fathers and some fun little things they gave to them. Right as we were ready to head home it started raining SUPER hard and we had to wait another 15 minutes. As we were waiting they started to dance and it looked so fun! My companion and I were just in the hall kinda watching and waiting for the rain to let up. They were dancing Salsa and it just looked like a blast! I had no idea how cool Salsa dancing is. Definitely gonna learn how to dance that when I get home!

On Friday morning we had a devotional with President as he is in his last days here in the mission. The devotional was really simple but beautiful. We all got to bear or testimonies and at the end President Anaya and his wife shared theirs and brief message. We will miss them a lot!

Okay, cool thing! We went to visit a sister in our ward named Janet who was baptized in December and guess what she had made us! DOLLS OF US!! I have no idea how she did it, I´ll attach a picture though because they are SO cool/funny! Also we showed them to a sister and she said, "Oh! Let me give you something too!" And she gave us knitted ties!! They are soooo cool! We wore them to church yesterday and we will also send pictures!

On Sunday we got to do divisions with some members to visit some families. I went with a return missionary named Martin and my companion got to go with our convert Faustino. My companion said Faustino was just so excited to talk to everyone and he told a few people to repent to be happy like he was! Haha! He also shared a really cool story in Elders´ Quorum about the day we had our first appointment with him. He told how on the way to the church on his bike he felt really sick and dizzy and tired so he just thought he´d go home but as he was turning around in his bike he shared how he thought it was a decision to either put his life in order or just keep running. He said he did a full circle and just kept on going to the church! When he got there he threw up a few times in the bathroom but after we gave him a blessing he said, "I have enjoyed wonderful health since!" He is such a great guy!

Well, that´s all for this week folks! I love you all and I hope you keep on working hard and keep those smiles on your faces!

Love,

Elder Davies

Week 83 - Adriana's Baptism & Sister Judkins... wait...what?

Elder Davies runs into Janessa Judkins at the Temple Visitors Center!
Janessa is from Kelson's home ward in St George, Utah and is currently
at the Mexico City Missionary Training Center

Hello friends and family!

This week was WONDERFUL! Yesterday Adriana was baptized! She has been progressing wonderfully and was so excited to be baptized. After her interview on Friday she told us she was really looking forward to receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Bishop baptized her and when she came out of the water she said, "Wow, that was so WONDERFUL!" Her daughter (Areli) and husband (Ruben) should be getting in the water soon! Pray for Ruben to be able to reach his goals with the Word of Wisdom.

Writing down things that need to change - then burning them :)

On Thursday I was in the Temple Visitors Center with an Elder on divisions when the missionaries from the MTC pulled up and flooded into the Visitors Center. Whenever that happens, I look through the American missionaries to find someone I know (which I ALWAYS do! or someone who knows me!). Guess who I found this time...JANESSA JUDKINS! She is heading to Los Angeles and is down here in the Mexico MTC! And guess what her companions name is? HERMANA DAVIES! That´s crazy, right?! Got to see Janessa and a distant cousin! It's a pretty small world when you're a Mormon, isn't it?

On Wednesday we had a zone class that was pretty great. We talked about the importance of following the Spirit in our teaching and a few other little topics along the way. At the end of the class we all made goals of things we wanted to do better as missionaries and then we burned them! I still love fire.

Today we went to the Centro with some other elders and we found these really cool wolf necklaces made of bone so we bought them! You always find the coolest stuff in Mexico!
From the web - Something like this?

Have a wonderful week and keep working hard everyone!!

Love,

Elder Davies

Week 82 - Sabbath Day Obervance, A Blessing and Two Jobs

Quierdos Amigos y Familiares,

Happy Monday! It has been a wonderful week with some wonderful experiences! I'll share one with you.

Aaron was baptized on the 15th of May and the day after he lost his job. He was looking and looking and looking, traveling large distances and many times on foot. One day we saw him after he had walked back from the other side of the city (3 hours) and hadn't found anything. I gave him a blessing about a week and a half after his baptism and felt I should promise him that he would have two jobs presented to him and that one would require him to work on Sunday. I also promised him that if he rejected the Sunday job he would be blessed with the other job. He called us the day after because he had found a job and it was only from Monday to Friday! We were all very excited, even though I found it strange remembering the promise made in the blessing.

Two days later when we went to see him he told us he felt very confused because his job was from Monday to Friday but his boss had asked him to work Saturday and Sunday JUST that weekend. That was the last weekend of May, Stake Conference with Elder Valenzuela. We talked to him about the importance of the day of rest and he made it clear he wasn't expecting to work. He had already told his boss he wasn´t going to work on Sunday and his boss said to really think about it because if he wasn't willing to work he might as well keep on looking for another job. On Saturday he texted us and said just finished work, the job search continues. 

On Sunday morning we went with him to the Stake conference and it was a wonderful experience. Throughout this whole situation he kept a sure faith that everything was going to be okay. During this process he had no money to pay child support to his children which had created even MORE problems. Well, just as promised, this week Aaron found work! He was walking just a few blocks from his home and someone asked him where he was going. He said to look for work and the man told him to "look no more!" Turns out he knew the man and he hired him and has been working during the week! After searching all around the city, the Lord had a job prepared for him just a couple minutes from his house.

I know that the Lord is able to fulfill His promises. I know that if we keep the commandments, even (or better said, ESPECIALLY) when the outcome looks tough, the blessings are wonderful.

Some of you may have seen a post I made on FaceBook today about marriage and family. The Mexican legislators are considering changes to the constitution which would allow homosexual marriage nation-wide. This implies future difficulty and persecution for those who stand for marriage between a man and a woman. I know that marriage is ordained of God. The laws of man can and will change, but God will not. I invite you all to help us by adding your voice to a petition to protect our rights and have our views heard here in Mexico (and throughout the world). You can join here. 

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! God bless you!

Love,

Elder Davies

Week 81 - "Oh my COOKIES!" and "Wow, that makes me wants to get baptized!"

Hola Friends and Family!

Today was transfer day and I wasn't transferred! I'm so excited! I have never stayed in one area for 4 transfers so this is going to be very exciting! I am excited to get to have another 6 weeks with my companion Elder Cux.

So, big news!! I'm an UNCLE!! Congratulations Spencer and Sierra on your cute little baby Adelaide!! I'll am so excited to get to hold her in a few months, make sure to start teaching her right away who her best uncle is going to be! Dad, you're officially an old man now!

So let me just share a wonderful moment that just happened right now in the internet cafe. I'm sitting right next to the desk where the owner sits and there was a lady trying to take some copies or do something but he explained something to her and she gasped really loud and said in a really funny accent "Oh my COOKIES!!" and then kept talking and I about fell off my chair. HAHA! I mean I guess that's a pretty good substitute, I have just never heard that and wouldn't have expected to hear it for the first time in Mexico. #MexicanMoment I'm grateful that lady just made my day!

This weekend was absolutely spectacular. We had our Stake Conference and Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela of the Seventy presided and Elder Pedro Larreal (an area Seventy who was called last conference) came with him on the assignment. On Saturday night we had the opportunity to hear from both Elders twice in the Priesthood Session and then another time in the general Adult Session. I want to share briefly one of the stories that was really neat that Elder Valenzuela shared.

When the church was making final preparations to build the Tijuana Temple, they took the blueprints to government and community officials to have them approved. Someone asked if the Temple was going to be like the temple on the other side of the border (the San Diego Temple), and they explained the function was the same but the style was to be something very specific to the culture of that part of Mexico. Without even revising the prints they asked, "Where do we sign?". All of them were in agreement except one man, the Archbishop of Tijuana. He said the designs looked similar to his church and thought that may create problems. Elder Holland in one of his visits took the opportunity to speak with the Archbishop and within minutes they had developed a great friendship. (You all know how Elder Holland is!) President Benjamin De Hoyos who was with Elder Holland on his visit to the Archbishop invited the Archbishop to get to know the temple inside and out and he accepted with two conditions. One, he didn't want photos taken, and two, he wanted it to be a day when they would be the only ones in the temple. They accepted both sides of the offer and President De Hoyos asked if he wanted to bring anyone else and he thought about it and said he wanted to bring some 30 others with him. (Photos with Elder Holland below)

(Note:  The stories are from October & December 2015 - Kelson is telling some details from people that were there and came and talked to the missionaries recently)

http://www.saladeprensamormona.org.mx/articulo/arzobispo-de-tijuana-recibe-en-sus-oficinas-a-ap%C3%B3stol-morm%C3%B3n

(Here is a rough translation of the link above since I couldn't find the article in English online: "In order to establish bonds of friendship, Archbishop Rafael Romo Muñoz of the Archdiocese of Tijuana, received in his office Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. This meeting took place in an atmosphere of respect, cooperation and brotherhood. Various issues, among which highlighted the common interest in promoting the figure of the family in society, working with youth, as well as religious freedom and the practice of this in Mexico were treated; priority issues for both institutions. "The challenges we have in common and the work required to address those challenges in a better way, requires the Unity of the Churches" said Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.  During a fluid and pleasant conversation, the Archbishop shared wisdom from his career and spoke of his religious service over the last twenty years serving in the Archdiocese of Tijuana.  He also spoke of the outstanding work and leadership of Pope Francis I in the theme of the family, recalling the international symposium was held in the Vatican on the subject of marriage, in which Mormon leaders participated.")

And so he did! They began the tour, as all open houses do, in the Baptismal Font. President De Hoyos gave the tour and explained that temple's baptismal font was based off of the Salomon's in the Old Testament, resting over 12 oxen. He explained the doctrine of the spirit prison using the words from the first book of Peter in the New Testament and later explaining baptisms for the dead and the resurrection using Corinthians. All who were there were much moved and felt the sweet spirit of the temple. One of the 30 religious invites of the Archbishop asked the Archbishop if he had ever heard of this doctrine before. He said he had not, but that he would like to hear more. The Archbishop asked if there was any other literature about this doctrine and they asked him how much he wanted! He said he wanted all they had, so I'm sure he has a lot to be reading right now. One of the religious invites asked if the font's water was warm and they invited him to kneel down and touch it. After touching it he said, "Wow, that makes me wants to get baptized!"

After finishing the tour, he asked to come back but next time he wanted to take pictures. And he did get to come back (December 2015) and here are some pictures with President Uchtdorf. (Photos in the link below)

http://www.saladeprensamormona.org.mx/articulo/arzobispo-de-tijuana-se-reune-con-lider-mormon

Sorry those links are in Spanish, but I thought that story was wonderful. It's amazing how strong and beautiful the spirit of the Temple is. EVERYONE can feel it. Even an Archbishop and 30 other religious leaders could recognize the sweet spirit in the temple, even as it was still not a dedicated temple.

I know this church is true and I know the Temple is the House of the Lord. I invite you all to do all you can to attend the temple this week and enjoy the sweet spirit that is there. Let me know how your experience is next week, I'll be waiting for some emails!

With Love,(Uncle) Elder Davies