Duel with a car

Hello Mom and Family,

So I'll answer your questions first.

I"m not sure were the DS is.  It is probably in the white side table.
It will have the tri-force symbol on it, so ask Annie and Aaron what
that looks like.

We haven't moved yet.  We'll be
moving to the south east corner of Date and 6th St on the corner
house.  The room will be very small, but we're excited to go.

My wrist is very sore.  I was hit by a car last night, and took a
pretty big fall.  I guess I should say it more accurately.  I was hit
by a car, but the car was parked on the side of the road, and I just
didn't see it :).  This morning I started working on repairing all the
damage to the bike. I have grown quite attached to my noble steed.  It
is still going strong, and yesterday when I hit the car the front rim
got a little bent.  I almost felt some pain for it as I biked the rest
of the way home.  Our district leader is coming over to
help.

So Personal Highlight.
Elder L from Bountiful Utah.  For the past 12 weeks I have been
able to interact heavily with Elder L.  When we met was the day
that I sprained my ankle most recently.  Through the last couple
months he has built me up in ways that no one else could.  He is very
direct in correction and always willing to have a good time, yet
remain dignified and hard working.  I've gotten to go on exchanges
with him for two days and they both have been humbling and motivating.
 Sadly by the beginning of April Elder L will be returning home.
 He is one elder that I intend to keep in touch with.

This past Saturday we had a baptism.  He name is N and he is what
we would call a sweet spirit.  Over 8 missionaries have helped teach
him over the years.  So when he wanted to be baptized this past
Saturday we weren't sure if it was going to happen.  Needless to say
we had been praying for a baptism for the month of February, so we set
a date and began a long process of interviews and council with him and
the Mission President.  Ultimately he was approved to be baptized this
past week and because of Stake conference, was confirmed right after.
It was such a blessing to perform the ordinance of baptism.  I've
learned a lot this week about doing your best with what you got.

Elder C is really trying hard.  He has reached a point in his
mission, where we all had to make the realization, that it's not
always fun and exciting.  There are days where you just have to work,
work, work.  You can see as he changes his mind set from just doing
missionary things to actually being a missionary.  Not that his
actions have dramatically changed, but he puts more spirit into the
work.  I distinctly remember moments like that in my mission, when it
became a real ?decision? if I was doing this for my self, or if I was
doing it for the people around me.  Ultimately it's for the people
around me.  When that principle is internalized, everything becomes
easier and the purpose of why we are here is easier to see.

We have a new investigator who came to Stake Conference the other day,
and actually said that the messages were something he needed to hear.
It is always wonderful to see how the Lord orchestrates things to
bless all of us.


It is looking to be an exciting week as we continue to work.  Our
mission is still working on using Mormon.org.  To those at home in
Seattle keep it up.  We've been told that It has had a tremendous
impact on converts in that area.  Please keep making profiles and
telling your friends to check it out.

Love you all hope it'll be a good week for all,

Elder Davidson

Just fine

Hello Family,

You can't believe how great this week has been.  It seems to me that it has been only a few days, but that's what happens when you're on a mission.

So I had told you about an all mission meeting on the 14th and it was quite a party.  President and Sister Ellsworth addressed us briefly and just told us some of the things we are doing in the mission.  Then we watched 17 miracles, a film based on the martin handcart company.  It was an amazing film.  You could tell it was a lower budget film, but all in all it was well put together.  What really hit me the most was when they told the stories of the people in the company.  One of the people was Thomas E. Ricks.  When I read that I started crying.  I never realized the kind of event one of my ancestors was involved in.  It really got the week started off right.  After the meeting we had to wait for our ride to come get us so I put a couple of bottle caps in a can of rootbeer, that came in a package.  I didn't know it was going to fizz all over my hand and pants.  The good news is I got it washed out before my pants got too sticky.

This week we had an amazing turn around in our area.  Elder Conaway and I are doing so much together.  This week we nearly doubled the number of people we are teaching, and we're working on keeping it that way.  We've met alot of interesting people who come form all different sort of back grounds.  One guys has an IQ of "insanely intelligent".  Then there is another person that we started teaching who has never learned about the church, but her mom is Mormon, so we get to teach her about her family.  Then there's one part member family who are really interesting to talk with.  We are helping them to pray together.  The other day they got me some jelly straws from the local foreign food store.

There are a lot of people coming into the visitor's center, because the library is closed, so I might cut this short.
Elder Conaway and I found a couple of Laser pens so we can play with the stray cats in the street.  It's really fun to get them chasing the laser.

That's about all there is to say about the week.

Love you all,
Elder Davidson,

Oranges in the trees, just waiting....

Dear Family,

My email was just deleted, so I have to start again :(.

Recap of what I wrote.  I hurt my ankle a little bit this morning (I
want to be good by the end of February, so I'm taking it easy).  The

shoes I lost a few weeks ago I think were E.  Elder Conaway and I have

found a good use for out dated pass-along cards.  We throw them at

each other.  We are teaching a couple, one is a member and the other
isn't.  They are both really cool and remind me of my siblings.  We
took them to see the Prophet of the Restoration movie on Saturday, and
they really liked it.  If you want to watch it I think it's online.

One our investigators is from Alabama.  She came to church the other
day, and said that it's "very different" from the church she is used
to.  The good news is she really needed to hear the message that was
given on prayer.  Her son Jordan really liked the song "called to
serve" with the pipe organ.

Story time...

hmm..

I didn't get much mail, and had a small melt down.  The mail system
isn't all that reliable, so if a letter gets sent back, it's not
because I don't like anyone.

In the morning Elder Conaway and I have been going to the Church

building to have a shoot out.  It's a lot of fun, and we really enjoy

it.  He can kick really hard, which gives me a really good challenge.

The citrus trees are coming in which is exciting, because as

you bike down the street, you can stand on your peddles and grab an
orange.  Then you can eat it on the way to your next appointment.

It's the best snack in the world.

I don't know if I said this already, but there's a man in the ward
Bro.Showmaker that has a lot of sound equipment.  It turns out that he
is donating it all to the stake.  I was heart sick.  It was one of

those times that I wish I could just send a large semi truck home full

of the cool things.  After a while I got over it, but it struck home
for a little bit.  There is one piece of equipment that I really like.
 Mom how would you feel if I sent it home?  That is if I remember.

All in all it's been a pretty good week.  On Sunday we had a great day.

Anyway that's about all I can think of to say.  There is a really big

meeting tomorrow for the whole mission.  I've never been to a meeting

when the whole mission is there before.

love you all,
Elder Davidson

Keep reading your scriptures everyday.  That's one of the new things

that we do as missionaries now is carry around a Book of Mormon.

All sorts of useful training

Hello,

This week has been amazing.  All the week, we've been working on studying and planning.  We've made so much progress.  Training is the best experience in the world.  At first I was really scared about correcting my companion because he was so new.  Elder Landsaw talked to me and shared that as his trainer, that is one of my first responsibilities.  It's been really easy to give constructive criticism, because he knows that I only tell him for his best interest.  What's even cooler, is he really helps me to be obedient.  Trying to be an example to a new missionary brings a whole world of challenges.  One is answering questions like: What should I eat for breakfast?, should I wear this tie of this tie?, Where are we going?.  I'm not used to these questions, because normally both my companion and I know where we are going. We're really excited for next week, because there should be lots of opportunity for investigators to be baptized.

The story of the week. This past Saturday I was feeling pretty inadequate because of all the things that we had to do in the companionship.  As we went through the morning things were pretty bland, I wasn't feeling very good, and it felt like I wouldn't be able to be a good example to Elder Conaway.  When we got to the member's home where we live, for lunch, we went into the room, and then I walked into the kitchen.  As I came into the room there is a doorway on the right, near the base was a pool of blood, and a large streak down the door jam.  I turned the corner, and there was a large clot of blood on the ground in front of Sis. E about the size of the back of your hand.  Sis.E looked at me and she had a clot in her hair and blood on her hand and on her dress.  Immediately I called 911 and instructed Elder Conaway to get my pack with the first aid kit.  It was strange as all the training from Search and Rescue just kicked in.  I bent down to her side and supported her.  Within seconds Elder Conaway had pulled out surgical gloves, and I asked for a gauze pad.  Sis. E had suffered a large abrasion to her head.  I applied pressure and had E. Conaway hand me a gauze roll.  After about 5 minutes the EMT's had come and I related all the information that had happened.  Soon after the Fire Department and their medics came.  They moved her to the chair and one of them started to unwrap the bandage, as he did he looked at me and asked "is this your work?" I said "yes".  "This is really good" he replied.  It turns out that Sis.E had a sugar coma which caused her to blank out and fall.  She has recovered, and is only suffering from a bruise on the back of her shoulder.  I am so grateful for that experience.  On the day I wasn't feeling useful is the day that my skills were of most use.  It is something I won't forget.

That is probably the most eventful thing that happened this week.  The worst part was having to clean up with a bleach solution.  I might want to be a doctor, the whole experience seemed pretty natural.

On a happy note my ankle and leg are beginning to mend, which means I should be able to start playing sports again.  Elder Conaway is really excited about that. 

Oh so on Tuesday and Wednesday I was at leadership training meetings for 7 hours.  It's really cool because the President prepares all the training, which means almost all of it is important.  I learned a lot of things in regards to how I can be a better missionary.  Our mission is really trying to take advantage of the Mormon.org campaign.  So far the Mesa area is not doing as good as we hoped, but Seattle is doing really well.  Keep it up at home!

This morning we biked 3 miles to play sports with the Zone only to find out that they were playing basketball instead of soccer.  It was a little disappointing, because I really wanted to play soccer.

So that's what happened here in Mesa and I'm happy to say that all is well.  Elder Conaway and I are probably going to take it really easy.  We're both looking forward to a good sleep.

I love you all a lot,

Elder Davidson