I Feel My Savior's Love

At church today I felt a quiet confidence that the Lord knows me and TRULY loves me; my imperfections, my weaknesses, my 3rd-place-self, but also my passions, my "good news minutes," my dreams. He has been softening my heart, like Nephi prayed for as well, so that I can be more sensitive to the Spirit and feel these whisperings. 

"I feel my Savior's love, it's gentleness enfolds me. And when I kneel to pray, my heart is filled with peace."

I know that as I prayed today, I felt peace and guidance. I know that He heard me. He will answer me. He cares. He lives. 

Dream. Big.

Although I love teaching, I chose the English teaching major knowing all along that it would open doors which would lead me further into other avenues. This summer, I found one of those as I volunteered at the Aldea Infantil Victor Raul orphanage on the outskirts of Trujilo. 

...Ok... I'll confess the truth = volunteering just meant being loved unbelievably 24/7 and becoming a human jungle gym. 

But, the program was slightly unorganized...so Lacey and I stepped up and offered to help out. After collaborating several times, which only raised our excitement level exponentially each time, we met with Alberto Puertas, the intern coordinator and proposed our ideas. And he said...

"This is your program. Develop it! Take control! Run with it!"

Lacey and I literally skipped out of his office and did a victory dance. 

Aldea beware. We are going to step up a tutoring program, a academic rewards system, Saturday motivational classes, and apprenticeship programs for the 4 girls who just watch telenovelas all day.

Also, we are going to help the interns be more prepared so they bring a life-time supply of bug spray to avoid the scars l have one month later, so they don't eat cow intestines unknowingly, so they don't offend Carlos to the point that his wife has to lecture them like we did, so they the best bakery in town, so they know going to the beach in Huanchacho is a must, so they appreciate that they will be loved unconditionally by 60 children. 

Southern Cross, here we go!

Adoption Options

I am single, only 24-years-old, and have no reliable source of income because I stopped working to get a Masters degree, yet I am dying to adopt all the children at the Aldea Infantil Victor Raul, in Trujillo, Peru. Wise decision?


So what can I do about that? 
Convince my parents to adopt!


Although the international adoption process is often a bear to deal with, don't worry -- Granite Peaks Learning Center, the community adult education program, has come to the rescue with it's "Adoption Options" class. Even better, there are no age or marital status restrictions so guess who might shortly be signing up?!


Actually, instead of taking that more obvious route, I've been sending Carlos friendly email reminders that I want to use his connections in Trujillo to bring "our sisters who are waiting for us" home. In the meantime, I keep reminding my mom that "part of our family" is in Peru still. Don't you think we should be reunited soon? 


Then, I met with Alberto, who said he can pull strings for us too. Please, anything, as long as you get Sofia y Fanny into my arms here in the U.S.

Britney "Benedict Arnold" Davis

August 24, 2010 I became a traitor.      
Let me describe my traitorous move in Ohioan lingo: 
Imagine graduating from THE Ohio State University only to move to Michigan and attend the U of M. 


That's what I have done, only in Utah. 
August 24, 2010; A BYU alumni became a Ute.

As I was walking to my 9:10 a.m. Spanish phonetics and pronunciation class, in the middle of campus were three men waving gigantic bright yellow hand-painted signs proclaiming that I did not Christ and needed to be saved, while the men tried to shove a piece of paper in my hand. Smiling, I avoided eye contact and walked more purposefully away, while thinking "Welcome to the University of Utah, Britney. You are definitely not at BYU anymore," while asking myself, "What experiences will I have this next year if this is how my first day begins?" 
But let's count the great discoveries I've made about the University of Utah: 


1 girl who walked lost me to the bookstore 
1 classmate who led me to the "OSH" - which I had no clue how to pronounce, let alone any guess of where it was located
4 entertaining, understanding, friendly professors who don't believe in much homework
4 captivating classes that daily reveal to me how little I know about my own language
Trees! I've seen more trees on the U's campus than anywhere else in Utah (thanks for helping welcome an Ohioan!)


Counting resumes Tuesday after Labor Day!

Wait, HIGHEST score wins right?

After calling a 30 by 40-foot space in Mapleton Junior High School crammed with 200 plus 14-year-olds my home for the past year, I jump at the opportunity to be outside and to see friends MY AGE.

...So when Korfel, Kate and I were thinking about what to do, I only had two requirements:

1. Be outside

2. Be cheap

Of course, Korfel and I whipped out our entertainment books, (Kate would have brought hers but thought being cheap or let’s save a wise-money-user would look uncool), and found buy one, get one free for Magic Mountain.

Bad idea: I scored 59, after putting the ball and having it roll right back to me multiple times. Casey said Tiger scores lower than that on an 18-hole course that requires more than mere putting. Apparently, I don’t have a future in the PGA.

Just two days later my mom, Anita and I decided to play miniature golf. Little did they know that I had been recently. Being a good sportsman, I steered us to the other course than the one I had gone on Saturday. MISTAKE. Why did I sacrifice a win for honesty? Instead of 59, I earned a 63. HIGHEST score wins right? To save my reputation, I’m inverting the scores –

don't tell Casey!

Peru Prep Step #3: Immunizations a.k.a. Monstrous Needle Stabs Innocent Arm

Today I walked into a clinic where the average age was 9 years old and there I, a soon-to-be 24-year-old , sat amongst the line of elementary school kids. Thankfully, the clinic had cleared out when I asked for my double immunization, Hepatitis A and B twisted together and served in one nice, neat package.

But there was one wide-eyed third grader staring as I ostensibly bravely sat down in the chair, anticipating my shot. He was watching, still watching so I determined I would be brave for him. I kept throwing out any small talk I could brainstorm to distract me and mask my mounting nervousness, which I actually didn’t think I would feel. Mid-sentence, the shot was done and I hadn’t even winced! My mom would be so proud!

An exciting bonus was that they were out of “adult” Band-Aids so I got to have a yellow crayon Band-Aid.

One round down, two more rounds to go.