June 24, 2013

Good Morning family or as I like to say, “Talofa!”

Thanks Mom! Haha, I remember you would always come into my room and start singing that song, “Good morning to you, Good morning to you…” haha it always woke me up and most of the time made me a little bit happier that day.

This week has been great for missionary work! We have been working with a lot of our recent converts and keeping them involved in the church as much as possible. It is so exciting to see them have family home evening together. We have has the chance to conduct a lot of them and teaching them that it is very important to hold those every week at a set time as well, they can see the blessings coming through their faithfulness. We have also been working with a recent convert family that has issues with paying tithing and we explained how we couldn’t afford not to pay our tithing because of how it blesses our lives and our families’ lives. We have also been teaching them about keeping the Sabbath day holy by not going fishing and not going to basketball games. We have the opportunity to teach their teenage girls and the mother about modesty and how we should not wear revealing clothing because our body is a temple and we should treat it that way! Other than that we have been working with all of the new investigators we found last week and they are learning a lot and starting to believe in what we are teaching them. It is the best time of your mission when your investigator gets his or her own answer and knows that it is true. I love this work!! It is moving forward so get on the freight train and join our army!

HOLY CRAP that is so great to hear about all the new mission calls! They will have so much fun on their missions. I can’t believe they are all going out of the country. I’m a little jealous, but I know that they have people over there that have been prepared for them to teach them the gospel with their own teaching style, just like the people in Independence had been preparing for me and they will all be blessed according to their faithfulness. Zane is going to Poland? That is crazy! I had a pretty good idea that he would be going out of the country. They each have to wait a while before they get to go to the MTC! Well, Hunter will be so great down there in Africa, haha just like Dillon Hales teaching the Lamanites. Emily will be great in New Zealand. She is going to work out a lot, because the members there are going to treat her well and feed her even better! Trust me, I know!

The missionary training was great! I loved every second of it. It was so true that it is up to the members to find us people to teach because only about 10% of tracting brings a baptism, so I am so happy they announced that change. That it will greatly affect missionary work as we know it. Did you hear at the beginning how he said that electronic media will be used to further the work? Facebook will be a vital resource as well as mormon.org and lds.org. They will greatly help us missionaries in this cause.

I love you and pray for your safety every day! Love you – more to come next week!

Love

Elder Davies

June 3, 2013

WELL HOWDY!

Well it’s ok that your email was short today, I don’t have much either from last time we talked.  I love it out here, even with the stupid tornados and the stupid humidity.  It has been a busy week finding a bunch of new people to teach and now we have 4 people on date to get baptized this month.  I really dread the day when I have to leave here because I love these people!  I love my investigators and my ward!  I love my new companion! He is a great elder.

 Tell dad we need a GPS!  If he doesn’t think so I will just go and buy one myself out here, we ain’t in the stone-age anymore and I hate maps!  That’s what I have already and it doesn’t tell me street numbers. The streets down here suck, just so you know!  There are like five Ponca streets, Lexington, and Arrowhead, haha, that’s why it would be nice so I can find the specific houses.

 Mom, it sounds like you had fun teaching about being an instrument in the Lords hands. I love how he explains it in Alma.  I have a firm testimony on what it explains. I am really in love with Alma chapter 26 right now. It talks a lot about missionary work!

 Well, tell Cheyenne to pack the jumbo marshmallows for girl’s camp for me and eat a bunch, haha, or dad will eat all the burnt ones.  It is a great opportunity to serve up there at girl’s camp as a priesthood holder.  Dad has the chance to bless all of the girls that need it. And good I can never get replaced, haha, jk. Nathan is a great kid I hope he knows that he is loved and we love having him around.

 This week has been fun like I said.  We have a couple people on date to get baptized this month.  It is very exciting to see their progress on how their testimony is growing as we teach them by the spirit.  My testimony grows every time I bear witness that what I’m teaching them is true.  I can only teach them so much, and then I have to say to them “It’s time for you to find out for yourself!”  So they pray and ask God with real intent, with a real desire to find the truth, and they get their answer by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 The high of the week is that I have a truck that I drive out here 3 weeks out of the month then I walk one week of the month, haha!  I actually get to drive the truck because my new companion doesn't have a license.  That’s how we do it out here!

 Dad, the baby deer from last week hopefully was old enough to survive on its own.  After I stepped on it, we found the momma dead like 100 yards away.  It looked like a car had hit it and then  it had walked a little bit and laid down and died.  Also, you asked what taro is.  Taro is a root vegetable like a potato and it is VERY good.

 Have a great week and I love you,

 Elder Davies

May 27, 2013

Well howdy y'all, it sounds like you’re having SO much fun with getting to visit with grandpa and cheybug getting to hang out with Nate.sounds like he is replacing me, at least that's what I heard from dad, haha, but that's OK.  He can replace me for 20 months then I get my spot back.  So is my room the grandbaby nursery yet? jk. It sounds like it was a very trying time for your friend Mary. I hope she is blessed and her family is blessed according to their faith, I know it would have been emotionally hard for me if it happened to us! I hope and know that Heavenly Father knows what they are going through and puts trials in our path to strengthen us and our faithfulness to him. I know without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ suffered that same pain that her parents did and he knows what we go through. I am so grateful to know that even through trials there is always our Heavenly father looking out for us. I have experienced that this week.

This week has been a fun and eventful week. We have been teaching a bunch of new investigators that want to know more about what we believe. We helped move a family into the ward, an investigator family. We are getting to know them very well.  We have taught them a couple of times now.   Their name is the Mulinazzi family.  They are golden and I love them with all my heart.  They have strong desire to know the truth. They have lots of questions for us that I usually call President Keyes for because I don't know all the answers, but I learn so much from them every time we teach them. They have a family of 7.  Four out of the seven are old enough to take the lessons and they are very interested. I know that as long as I teach by the spirit they will have a testimony of what I am teaching them is true and will be baptized by someone holding that priesthood authority.

Cool things that happened this week…Let’s see,  we have 10 new investigators, I have a new companion. At the ward camp out, that had missionary theme, you bring an investigator with you and every quorum had a skit or testimony's to share.  It was a big Luci with a big roasted pig and taro which is very good food- my favorite so far. We were walking through the tall grass and I stepped on a baby deer. It got up and started licking my leg. We took it back to camp and got it milk and petted it! Fun times!

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BATHROOM! Ha ha, well it got chickified! Wow, well it’s the girls bathroom now but it looks great! I love what you did with it and tall shower head so me and dad won’t hit our heads anymore! I need you to send out the car GPS with the charger or invest in one for me.  I need one!  It’s so hard finding addresses out here! I do not need garments yet probably in August- send me out some.  I'm good other than that just working hard. Missionary work is a full time thing- no resting time. I  love it! Money is just fine.  I haven't used my card ever yet so it’s all good.  Transfers were today.   We went and said goodbye to those going home.   We didn't get transferred and I'm glad.  I love my new companion. He is a Samoan elder from western Samoa, but he moved to Utah when he was 17.  His uncle and aunt live in Spanish fork by our stake center which is cool we are from the same place. He loves the culture out here and the ward loves him!   We get fed soooooooooooooooooo much it’s horrible- good thing we workout and play hard out here.

LOVE

Elder Davies

May 20, 2013

Well hello family!  This week has been full of ups and the downs.  To start out with I have four investigators with baptism dates and that’s pretty exciting!  Then we had a way loud, windy, and rainy storm yesterday.  It included some very large hail stones.  They thought there was going to be a tornado where we are at, but luckily the storm did not turn into a tornado in Independence. The clouds looked like it was going to happen, but thanks to the prayers of many, it didn’t happen. The humidity out here still is awful. I walk outside and am already instantly wet, but it is a good way to lose weight. I finally got my bike fixed enough to ride a little bit, but I prefer to walk because it is easier to breathe and there are some way bad hills out here.

There is some more news.  Elder Moody got a call this last Thursday morning by President Keyes and got called as a zone leader in the Platte City zone in St. Joseph, MO. It’s a little crazy because it is right before transfers. They aren’t for another two weeks, but I love him and I will miss seeing my best bud and “father”. I’m going to be done with training this month and I have passed off all of my lessons as of last Friday, so I can officially drive and train other new missionaries. I am SOOOO excited!

 In other news my new companion is coming from Olatha, Kansas.  His name is Elder Manalausua. He is Samoan.  I get to exchange and get to meet him tonight, so hopefully he is great and we can further the work here in the Blue Mills ward. I think we will have better success because he is Samoan, so he can relate better and he knows the culture a lot better than I do, so I’m excited!  I think I'm going to be safe at transfers.  I will probably stay here in Blue Mills at least till July maybe August, who knows, but I love it here. It looks like I will stay in the Independence Mission and not be moved to the Kansas City Mission when we split in July. I guess that could always change, but I don’t think so.

 Remember Sister Te’o?  My first investigator that got baptized?  Well, she recently got called as a activity leader for the young women.  It is a great calling for her.  She really has a very strong and powerful testimony!

 I loved talking to each of you on Mother’s Day.  It was good to hear all of your voices and not just have to read about what is going on.  I am glad everyone is well. Mom. thank you!  You and dad have been two of the most influential people in my life. You really made me who I am today. Thank you!   I know you have always said you were proud of me, but I took it for granted and did not really listen.  But, I know that what I’m doing out here is blessing our family and all those that I come in contact with. The gospel of Jesus Christ blesses all those who will listen to the message and take it into their lives!

 I love you all and I want more than anything to set an example.  I want those around me to hear and feel the gospel message and the blessing it can be in their lives.

  From the sounds of your letter it seems that you’re being productive, mother! Getting the weeds out of the garden is great.  But, tell BJ he needs to make you some garden boxes.  I don’t want you bending over and hurting yours or dads back.  You know you are both getting older an’ all , hahah, jk!  Sounds like Shannon is being herself getting the garden in.  It sounds like she is growing a salsa garden.  You will have to eat some fresh tomatoes for me after they grow. 

 The bathroom sounds like it’s really coming along with everything falling into place. The color it sounds like it will be a very nice bathroom! Keep me posted on how its progressing and need some pictures!

 Sounds like Alanna is going to have a bunch of fun in her mission in Philadelphia.  I know she will do great as long as she stays obedient to the rules of the mission and loves what she is able to teach to all those who don’t understand the gospel or have never heard about it.

 Cheybug, good job for sticking out another school year.  I always hated school other than my FFA buddies and seminary! I am glad you made it through another year and good luck on the 5k you will do great!  Put in your all and you will be rewarded!

May 6, 2013

Hey mom/family... Great week this week!   We love teaching out here but, it's just finding the new investigators is kinda hard cause they really hate the Mormons. We got some new golden investigators and they are doing great!   We have a baptism this week on my birthday.  Aaron our investigator that had the date for my birthday is still getting baptized.  He is golden!  He is the best example to everyone around him!  Oh, it's going to be a great day that day!   What better present on my birthday then another one of God's children entering the water of baptism!  It snowed all day on May 2nd,  it sucked!... like I said I"m in bipolar misery, haha, but its starting to warm up.  I am passing off my last two preach my gospel lessons this month so hopefully I can be senior comp and drive next transfer,  maybe even train!!!!!

Sounds like all ya'll had too much fun at Sonnett's graduation listening to the boring speakers except for that one.  You know, he is right.  Everyone has a purpose!  Each missionary will have that one investigator that will change that his/her life and the one that they are teaching will have their life changed forever as well.  That person for me is my recent convert Mavis.  She had a long hard road to get where she is today and I had the great opportunity to teach her. She reminded me why I was here,  to find those people that I would be able to connect with better and she was one of those. I told her my background and she was touched by it for some reason.  I don't know what I said but, she immediately started crying.  She opened my hardened, calloused over heart to a whole new world.  I love her and I know she will be a great member of the church as I leave this area.

Dad, go shoot me a turkey in the face! I  have seen a LOT of turkeys HUGE toms beards touching the ground.

Wow,  Drew and Alex are engaged?!  That was surprising, NOT, haha, and great to hear about Hunter!  Tell him to study preach my gospel hard and memorize the lessons in the back of each lesson!

Love you all and know that though hard work anything is possible!

 

Love,

Elder Davies

April 29, 2013

Hello mom and family! It's been a great week with lots of exciting stuff happening.  This week we found some new investigators that we are going to teach.  This next week we have appointments. Next is one of our investigators that has been investigating for 6 years is getting baptized on my birthday.  It's his wife's also, but I'm so excited for him to have the blessings and priesthood power to bless his own family. He is a 37 year old Samoan. He is the best!  His name is Aaron Voaca. He is a great inspiration to all that he comes in contact with.

 

Mom, you're not slacking on the email writing for sure -  trust me, mom.  It's just nice to hear from home with what's happening and how y'all are doin' without trouble maker me, but dad should be getting a card from me in the mail today for his birthday, so it should be pretty great, haha.  How old is he now?  Can I officially call him old? Cheyenne has been slacking! I have only gotten two emails ever from her and like I said its really nice taking to someone other myself or my companion.

I am very happy out here. It's hard to get up some days when you know your going to have certain people judge you even before you talk to them and all they want to do is bash with you but I don't because I think it's dumb because in the bible says "thou man that judgest another his soul is condemned" so I think I'm good at not judging people. Other than that I love teaching and visiting all the people that we get to come in contact with. I love to teach them about how much their Heavenly Father loves them and all He wants is to see you again and have you live in His presence. He wants us to have eternal families and learn from our mistakes here on earth. You can only progress so much before you wanted to come to earth. That's why we're here!

 

Sounds like grandma and grandpa have been slacking.  Tell them to write and send leather!

 

 

Well for mother's day I am going to be able to Skype you all to the home computer.  I will call you the day before or the day of to make sure everything is working.  Make sure when I do Skype you, everyone is around.  I only get 40 minutes, so use it wisely haha.

 

Sounds like you are going to have fun this weekend going to Cedar City. Here its 80 degrees and pretty humid, but at the end of the week they say that it's going to snow. You have got to love redoing the bathroom with the toilet in the living room.   I would take it out of the box and sit on it when I was to watch TV haha, but I know you would roll your eyes at me and smack me behind the head.

 

I love my Savior and Heavenly Father and what they do for me.  What they continue to do for me is unimaginable. I'm grateful for my support from you at home and my ward family here even though I get home sick sometimes I always remember that Heavenly Father feels the same way about all of us!  Keep your heads up and let'r buck!

Elder Davies

April 22, 2013

Well howdy family! I have had a great week this week.  There have been a lot of exciting things happen this week. We found a lot of lost sheep, which means very less active members, but now they are going to church. We had another baptism yesterday.  He is a nine year old named Cooper Kelly. His mom is a member and he couldn't decide if he wanted to get baptized until he turned nine then it was turned over to us. I found out Wednesday,  taught him Thursday and Friday, had his baptism interview Saturday, helped move his family out of theire house that same day, then had the baptism yesterday. It all happened in a super fast pace I know,  but he was glowing when he got out of the water.  It was amazing!

 

Transfers were this week and I was kind of scared what was going to happen, but it's all good!  I stayed with Elder Moody in the Blue Mills Ward for another transfer which is exciting!  The great thing about missionary work is you learn to talk to people even if you're scared too.  I just walk up and start talking about how Heavenly Father has a plan for us and it's called the plan of salvation and they look at me like either I'm stupid and crazy or I am answering their prayers.  It is soo much fun!

 

You started demo on the bathroom?  That's always fun and you better control dad so he doesn't tear the whole wall down and build a deck too while he is at it haha, but sounds like it was a bunch of work. I'm sorry the  supporting beams to the wall were desecrated. That is a bad thing, but it's a good thing I didn't fall through again haha. Sounds like y'all having fun redoin the bathroom with the grandma toilet which is perfect for you.  Don't want you both to break a hip hahahaha, might as well make a walk in bath tub so you don't slip as well. Dad would love that!

 

(Jonathan sent some picture home-this is his explanation of some of them.)

 Well the old guy is Richard.  He has bipolar disorder.  He is a member that calls us three times a day making sure we are going to visit him. He is a great guy, just doesn't have all the screws tightened up stairs.  The MTC photos that I took the most of the pictures of are the guys that are in Minnesota. They are who I hung out with the most.  The Samoan priests are in my ward that we take on splits. They are great guys too.

 

Well everything is great out here its just same missionary work just making each day a blast trying to keep it lively, haha but I love you all have a great week!

 

Love

Elder Davies