Neice news and turkey

Hello Family and a special welcome to Tesla (Tess) my new niece who is the cutest little girl in the whole world.

It was such a wonderful surprise on Friday morning, when I received a phone call informing me of the fact that my sister had her baby.  Now I am anxiously awaiting the third child of my other sister.  It is a wonderful time of year as I can now legally sing Christmas carols with out punishment.

Last week we had a wonderful Thanksgiving at a family in the ward.  I'm pretty sure it was the first time I have ever had a fried turkey and I absolutely loved it.  As my companion explained "it's like eating KFC turkey".  Even better than the normal amount of potatoes, gravy and smoked salmon?! the best treat was that they had a golf hole in their back yard.  I had a good chance to practice my pitching skills, but I can tell you that since I've been golfing with my Grandpa, I don't think I've gotten any better.  It was a really good treat and I really enjoyed the time with a family that really loves each other and works well.  That's one thing as a missionary you don't see on a regular basis.  Most of our time is spent going into homes that are broken for one reason or another.  So to just sit and spend time with a wonderful family was so refreshing.

Nothing new for me except we had a really fun activity this morning.  Our district (8 missionaries) got up at 6 and went hiking up a peak about as high as rattlesnake ridge back at home.  As we hiked there was a little cave that we crawled through and it went back 250-300 feet.  Most of the way it was only 2 feet wide and 2 feet tall.  I didn't even make it to the end of the tunnel, but I'm sure it would have just gotten smaller until I couldn't go any farther.  We also on the way saw huge Longhorns.  It was the coolest thing ever.  I'm pretty sure for the rest of the day I'll be walking slowly and stretching.

All in all a really fun week.  I'm looking forward to this Tuesday, one of the families that we're teaching is getting married!  Then on Saturday three of our investigators are getting baptized.  Yipee such a blessed area.

love you all very much and looking forward to an awesome December.

Love,

Elder Davidson

P.S. The temple here has some wonderful Christmas lights.  We went on black friday and really enjoyed it.  The one really cool thing is that all the lights are put up by volunteers from each ward.  It's not exactly the quality display as the Botanical gardens, but it still is very cool.  I got to put up my Christmas lights around my closet. :)

Oh NEW PACKAGE REGULATIONS:

By request of Elder Davidson, this Christmas season, please refrain from sending massive amounts of food.  We're very well taken care of.  In addition I think I have enough hot cocoa mix. :)

Bike Story

First a Story to show that this work is real.

This past Wednesday Elder Brown and I had a good day planned.  That morning he removed his headlight from his bike so he could put a new one on.  Well we headed out for the morning and on the way to a district meeting both Elder Brown and I had to maneuver around a few cars which wasn't too surprising, but it caused me to make a comment in district meeting "we were almost killed on our bikes".  It was more a joke than anything else, but the weird thing was our district leader responded that he had felt the need to talk about bike safety during that meeting.  It turns out not long ago two missionaries were killed in a Texas mission on their bikes.  I would encourage all to remember the missionary's families in your prayers.  Well the District leader gave a training on safety, with a specific instruction "not to bike without a light".  If it is dark and you don't have a light get off and walk.  We left the meeting and went about the day.  In the evening we realized that Elder Brown forgot his light.  After a warm confrontation about following the direction of the District leader we walked home.  The evening went uneventful, and we locked our bikes behind the house.  It then occurred to me the curious situation that took place.  Since the beginning of my mission I have never been trained on bicycle safety.  Then in one day, the day that Elder Brown forgot his light we had several events that caused us to walk our bikes.  What might have happened is unsure, but I have no doubt that that day we were protected, and kept from physical harm.  That is just one of the several occurrences that take place on a regular basis when we keep the commandments.

It has been a wonderful growing experience this week, as I've learned about some of the goals I have for myself.  I set a goal yesterday to be more outgoing so people will be able to see that the gospel does actually make you happy.

My bike sadly has reached a new decibel level.  It is no longer possible for me to sneak up on anyone walking down the street.  The noise from the chain hitting the spokes creates a nice snare drum racket, and then the crank case of the pedals has a perfect "squeak".

This Christmas should be a very exciting year.  The temple here in Arizona has thousands of lights put around it in celebration, and it is quite the sight.  This Friday will be the first evening that the lights will be showing. 

The week is looking great and should be full of left over turkey.  Love you all and miss you much

-Elder Davidson

Peaceful...

Hello all,

 

How is everyone?...

 

I am doing great!

 

I hope that everyone is doing well and had a good weekend.  My week  has been a wonderful learning experience.  I've learned when to bring my helmet inside so it doesn't get wet when it rains.  I've also learned that my companion knows a lot of Spanish.

 

So my companion is from Sandy Utah and a really spunky kid.  I'm pretty sure we're like fire and ice personality wise.  It's amazing to see how different we can be even when we study the same things, wear the same clothes and go the same places.  He really misses the snow, which I can understand.  On the back of his Preach my Gospel is a picture of the mountains.  He has three older brothers and a sister, and then a younger sister.  They seem very supportive and kind to him.  His favorite movie is Lord of the Rings and he really likes to play the theme song on the piano.  Oh in our new place we have a piano, so we'll probably be playing it today. 

 

The people in this area are wonderful.  I've never felt more at home than in the wards we serve.  There's quite a diversity in demographics.  One part of our area is very well to do, while there is one complex that has a pretty bad reputation for being the worst part of down town Mesa.  That said we forgot to lock our bikes up once in that complex, and they didn't go anywhere.  That probably was a blessing from the Lord for our stupidity.  The good news is most of the youth know who we are, so they don't mess with us.  In fact they talk to us every so often.

 

This week there were 5 people who accepted baptism, which is much more than I've ever had in a week.  Elder Brown and I are doing the best we can, and it really is starting to show.  I remember a few months ago I was talking about how slow it was, but now I know why.  When things were slower I had the time to learn how to be a better teacher and plan better, which is so important when you have almost a dozen people you think of on a regular basis.

 

I've gotten over the bug and am in full operation.  This week has a great outlook, and all should be well.

 

I love you all,

 

Elder Davidson

 

<hmm>

Can't think of anything else to say.  I know most everyone is busy to write, so I just hope that they know I'm doing well.

Heading out West

Dear Friends,

 

Thank you first off for all your prayers.  I'm doing so much better than before which is saying quite a bit.  It's been an interesting few days between a new companion and a new area.  I'm now working in the Maricopa Stake in the Mezona and Beverly ward.  The area covers approx. everything between Country Club and Dobson and Main til University.  This is probably one of those areas that most mothers would not want their son to be in, but so far I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary.  The work is very fast paced here in the area.  A young couple was just baptized this past weekend and they were one of the cutest things I'd ever seen.  All in all I'm looking forward to working in the area.

 

My new companion is Elder Brown.  He is a great hardworking Elder from Sandy Utah.  I'll be his second companion, which is hard, because even though I've been out longer I don't know much about missionary work.  I can see a lot of learning experiences these next few weeks.

 

My new place of residence is still in a members home, and I can tell you that I'm being very spoiled.  They have a space set aside just for the missionaries with a bathroom, bunk bed, and desks.  Breakfasts have been mainly toast with an egg or an apple.  I just thought I might include something new.

 

I've been learning so much and really trying to help others understand how much the gospel can change their lives.  The other day I was walking down the street and stopped a boy named Justin in the street.  He wasn't interested in what we had to say, but I asked if he believed in God and he said he did.  I then asked if he believed enough to pray.  He wasn't to sure about it, but I shared with him that if he sincerely prayed he would feel better and know that he is loved by heavenly father.  It was pretty cool as he left you could tell that regardless of if he would pray or not, he still had more confidence in himself.

 

The weather has been absolutely amazing with temperatures well below 80 and some light rain in the mornings and evenings.  This morning it looked amazingly like I was back in Washington only there were palm trees.

 

Something that I'm struggling with is being a little more loving and caring to my companions.  If anyone has any advice or ideas I could really use it about now.

 

I miss everyone back at home, but amazingly I've met a family in my new ward that knows quite a few of our family friends.  It was really a great treat to know that where ever I am it's only a few people back to home.

 

That's so cool about the ward youth conference.  That is one of my favorite things to do is work with the youth of the wards.  I can see in them lots of the desires and questions I had and now I can do my best in helping them become more than I was.

 

You may have everyone to talk to as a missionary, but no one really knows you as a person, they just know you as a missionary.  That can be one of the greatest sacrifices of all as I sit here and think about it.

Love you all,

Elder Davidson

Short

Hi...

 

I'm really sick.

 

This week was fast.  I'll be getting transferred to a new area this Wednesday.  I ran into a pole on my bike.  Elder Marco and I went to a ward carnival as... missionaries! We made jack-o lanterns.  This morning I came down with the flu and haven't been able to move most of the day.  All in all a strange week.  I have loved serving with Elder Marco and will miss him greatly.

 

Believe me when I say that this work is true, and not even the flu will take away my testimony.

 

I love you all very much,

Elder Davidson

 

 

P.S. Because of my current condition, I probably won't get any written letters out this week. Sorry