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