New Area

 

Well I have been in this new area for about 5 days and absolutely love it.  Per instruction from my mother I need to answer several questions.

 

My new area covers three wards: Edgewood, Greenfield Park, and Winsor Ward.  We serve in the Kimball East stake and luckily I don't cover a spanish ward. (since I don't speak Spanish)  I'm still on a bike which won't be as bad once the temperature cools down.  The area is pretty amazing it's shaped like a upside down "L" it covers several retirement communities and some very posh areas.  Elder Marco and I live in a members home with plush carpet.  I love the carpet because when we pray my knees don't hurt as much. The only local land mark in the area is probably the Honeycomb apartments that are just east of Greenfield and south of Main.  When you look on a satellite picture of the trailers the streets look like a honey comb.  Other than that there aren't really any landmarks (except perhaps Walmart as the Elders suggested).  I don't have any photos of the area yet.  I'm still working on unpacking, because we've been so busy there hasn't been time to find everything.  My new companion is from Ohio and he is a really good Elder.  He's been out a little over a year and his birthday is in 4 days.  In the field I've been with all my companions during their birthday, so Elder Marco said I'm President Ellsworth's birthday present.  He helped me today eat healthier and get more exercise in the morning, which can be really hard, but it helps me be more ready for the day.

 

You should watch the mormon message "look not behind thee".

 

So my first Sunday in the area was amazing.  In Greenfield Park ward Elder Marco and I were both asked to give a talk on missionary work and the Mormon.org initiative (which will start next Monday).  That was pretty fun because we got to talk, and there was a farewell from a sister missionary going to the Midwest (I don't remember what mission).  Then in the next ward they had a combined meeting for the adults with the training for Mormon.org.  Then in Windsor ward Elder Marco and I split and I got to give a 40 minute training to the youth in the ward on one of the flat screen TV's focused on Mormon.org which was really fun.  When the youth started role playing the adults weren't participating.  I asked one of the leaders a question to see how she would answer it, and it was funny to see how she struggled just like the youth.  That's something I've learned is everyone needs to practice teaching no matter how old or young you are.  That was more or less the whole Sunday.

 

As for General Conference this weekend, I'm so excited to be watching it as a missionary.  There are so many questions that I need help answering, and I know that I'll get some answers while watching conference.

 

All in all there haven't been too many exciting things happen.  Elder Marco did say something really funny the other day.  After a dinner appointment we were unlocking our bikes outside when a 2 year old boy came out carrying his diaper.  Elder Marco just looked at him and asked, "is that for us".  It was really funny.

 

I love the people in my new area.  The members are all really excited about the Mormon.org initiative.  I hope you all get a chance to watch some of the portraits, because they're all really cool.

 

I love you all back at home, or where ever you are,

Elder Davidson

Moving

This week is the week.

 

Saturday night I received the news that I am being transferred this Wednesday to the Kimball Zone.  My new companion will be Elder Marco who I believe trained my MTC companion Elder Halling.  Elder Paetznick will be getting an Elder who came out with me Elder Ellsworth who is a good friend of mine.

 

In the world of missionary work you could say that these past three weeks have been a hard week, a harder week, and the hardest week of my life.   This means that this past week was the best week of my life.  We had struggles that we didn't know how to deal with.  We were kicked out of a house, several people just stopped talking to us.  All in all we had only one thing to do and that is to put our feet on the ground and lift.  Even with no one to see we still were able to see so many miracles, that I may not have noticed if it hadn't been for the trials that we had.

 

On Friday we had Elder Choi of the first quorum of the seventy tour the mission.  He gave all the missionaries excellent guidance on how to be better friends with those around us.  This is a subject that has been on my mind.  As I leave this area and the people that I've met and taught, the memories will stay with me.  Even better than that is the knowledge that I will see these people again in this life or the next.  I love the wards and members that I have come to know.  They will always stay with me.

 

By the way I've been reading the Isaiah chapters along with the epistle of Paul to the Corinthians and it helps to understand the way Isaiah talks.  Lots of the writing I don't understand the words, but I can understand the intent.  For example in 2 Nephi 16 Isaiah gives an account of him seeing the Lord, I don't understand it all, but when I read the story of Enos it makes more sense.

 

FYI I'm probably not going to be taking the table runner with me to my new area. :)

 

Besides that all is well in Arizona.

 

Something I just found out about my new area.  I'll be covering a spanish ward...Ahhhhhh!

Cool (er) and rainy!

Hello Again

Great news! The temperature is lower than 100 degrees!

In fact this past Saturday we had a wonderful torrential rain storm.  I had no problem with getting wet.

My Family and Friends there is a need of every member.  On October 3rd there will be a Missionary Media Initiative that will go from October till April.  As a missionary the most important thing you can do and should do is make a mormon.org profile.  We are blessed to be able to share our testimony with hundreds of others looking for something more in their life.

On a personal note our area has seen some struggles.  My companion and I have been putting everything we have in looking for people who are willing to listen, and it has been one of the slowest weeks that the District has seen.  Whatever the reason I know that Heavenly Father is preparing others to hear what we have to say.  There is great potential to raise our personal titles of liberty.  I know that we have something to share with everyone we meet that will strengthen their faith.  It may be a smile, hug, or warm conversation with a stranger.  No matter the day or where we are, there is opportunity to lift and encourage someone around us.

Truth be told life is hard, but we can always make someone else's day easy.  Sooner or later you'll see that no matter who you are there is always a friend trying to lift you up.  Even if they are miles away.

I love you all very much and miss you,

Elder Davidson

By the way I don't know if we're getting iPads, but I wouldn't doubt it.  There have been a few rumors regarding that so it might come while I'm here.  It means there will be a lot of need for technical minded missionaries.

Fyi I woke up this morning and there were thousands of ants in a line on the floor that made their way up the fridge to a loaf of bread that a local street vendor gave to us.  It was full blown warfare as we got the vacuum, windex and other chemicals to take them out.

Mom I got the package with all the goodies, and I loved the jelly straws.  Elder Paetznick and I played with them for almost twenty minutes and they were gone in two days. :)

we're no good dead

Good Morning

 

All is well here in Arizona.

 

Well... I should probably explain a few things that happened this week.  My companion Elder Paetznick came down with a pretty serious case of heat stroke.  On Wednesday we got to one appointment and he turned straight green.  Within minutes he looked like he was about to pass out, so we put him on the floor over a vent and got him some cool cloths.  With a quick blessing he regained his color which was a relief.  Honestly I wasn't sure if he'd make it for the rest of the week.  After that day we've restricted ourselves to only doing work inside in the afternoons.  As my companion says "we're no good dead." It's been a slower week than what we had last week.  Part of that could be the fact that we spent quite a bit of time in doors resting from the ill effects of the sun.  The good news is we are having more effective lessons than we've ever had.  The single most important thing to do as a missionary is study in the morning.  Our studies used to consist of just reading and discussing what we read in the scriptures.  Now we spend every minute talking about how to best help the people we're teaching.  This type of study takes a lot  concentration.  It's like a teacher who custom makes a lesson plan for every single student in the class every single day.  Problem is we are not very good at it, but we are getting better.
So as the Church has let the word out I guess I can share with you what is happening here in Arizona.  Come October there will be a "I'm a Mormon" advertising campaign.  There will be billboards, bus signs, radio spots, video commercials, internet ads through out the Phoenix area.  This week the missionaries will be getting a training on how to best work with the members.  As a missionary there is one thing that all of us as members can do, and that is to become well acquainted with mormon.org.  It is a strong possibility that as a member of the church, you will be asked about the Mormon ads.  Just remember to show love and understanding as you share with others your testimony.  I've seen that the only way to teach is through understanding of one another.
I love being here, even when we're dying of the heat.  There is no greater feeling than sharing the gospel.  Have a wonderful week!
Love your good friend,
Elder Davidson