down to two

It has been one whirl wind of a week.  I won't try to explain all the details because that would be boring, and not very important.

 

Elder Witherell as you know has been with us for 6 weeks.  While he was in the MTC he had a surgery on his meniscus which made him stay there for an extra few weeks.  As it turns out his other knee was hurting him, and after X-rays and MRI's we were told the news.  Friday morning we got a call around 9:00am that he would be returning home to have surgery on his knee in Texas.  That is where his mother has moved since he came on his mission.  By 3:00pm that afternoon Sister Ellsworth called to inform him that he would be leaving at 7:00am Saturday morning.  I can't tell you how painful it was to watch him go.  This is the second companion that has returned home before me.  Elder Ellsworth, Elder Witherell and I had such a good time together, and we would really miss him once he got his Visa, but we never thought that he would be going home.  Saturday morning was a pretty quiet day.  We met President Ellsworth at the Mission office, and took one last picture before departing.  As we departed Elder Ellsworth and I were crushed.  As a friend explains it is like losing a little brother.  The whole day got even worse as we were verbally assaulted, by a former member of the church over the phone, then shortly after we got lectured by the high councilor over missionary work.  It was not a very encouraging day.

 

Elder Ellsworth an I never realized how unified we were as a trio.  Just before we went to bed we realized that our sorrow was really because we could feel how Elder WItherell was feeling.  I can't really explain how that works, but we were sad simply because he was our brother, and his pains were our pains.

 

That really has been the event of the week.  On Sunday we had an amazing lesson in Elders quorum on giving blessings.  The interesting thing was that day we were involved in 3 blessings.  It was really special to have the opportunity to have a blessing from Elder Ellsworth.

 

We are about to start the month of July and our work is really struggling.  Every thing imaginable we are trying to do.  Call people, visit members, talk to people on the street, everything seems to lead to fewer people found.  Elder Ellsworth and I are putting ourselves in first gear and we are going to just work until we can't work anymore.

 

Hope all is doing well with everyone else.

 

Love,

Elder Will Davidson

gold and dust

This week has been slow.  Our mission is really really suffering.  We have a goal to double baptisms by the end of July, and as of now we've only gotten back up to average.  Early in the year it was really slow, and during the summer months it gets really slow.  That said we have never been happier or worked harder.  Yesterday Elder Ellsworth and Witherell have helped me be better at proposing ideas.  I suggested a way we could improve, and it didn't come across very well.

 

I really love how much we have learned as a companionship.  Our relationship will certainly continue beyond our mission.

 

The weather has gotten really hot.  The other day we had grilled pizza at a really cool family in the ward.  While eating, a dust storm blew in, so we got to watch traffic cones float down the street like a hockey puck.

 

In other news Bro.W found a 14k gold tooth pick in a jacket he got from GoodWill.  Apparently it made him think of me for some strange reason, so now I have a gold tooth pick.

 

Well not much else to report.  The family we've been working with got evicted this past week.  That was a really hard blow, because we couldn't do anything to help them.  I believe they have already found a new place that they can stay at.  Definitely an answer to their prayers.

Hope all goes well this week,

Elder Will Davidson

Sooper Dooper

One super dooper week.

 

This week has been crazy full of lessons and crazy experiences.

 

I'll number them so you can read in the order that you prefer.

 

1. A sad note from my old companion.

2. A crazy fiasco with the police.

3. A really special lesson we had with a young woman.

 

 

1.  As you know I was asked to train Elder Conaway two transfers ago.  Wow it doesn't seem like it has been that long.  Well it was a fun experience and not without a few bumps or bruises.  During our time together he suffered from very severe knee pains.  In fact there were times, when we weren't sure how long he would be on his mission.  A little while ago I got a call from him, while I was with Elder Thomas and Witherell.  He told me he was flying home the next morning.  I couldn't believe my ears.  His knees apparently need a lot of work.  In 6 months or so I should see him come back into the mission field.  I will look forward to when that happens. 

 

2.  Saturday morning.  As usual we started our day without anything too exciting happening.  We got up, exercised, got ready for the day, and began to study.  About half way through our personal study an elderly lady from the ward gave us a call asking for help moving a dresser.  We agreed to do so which put our schedule behind by about 40 minutes.  After starting companionship study we got another call, this time from a very distraught college age girl we used to teach.  Over the phone you could over hear deep inhales and sobbing.  I knew from teaching her before that there was an abusive boyfriend who she wouldn't leave.  Well from the phone call all we could hear was that she had been locked in a room and needed to call the police.  She knew that we lived in the same complex, so called us first so she wouldn't be alone.  At this point all three of us jumped up strapping our backpacks on and went to the rescue.  We soon found her sobbing on the phone to her sister and brother in-law.  Once we arrived she said "I'm safe the Elders are here".  That was kind of a cool feeling knowing that she trusted us.  Once she hung up the police were called and we escorted her to the Apartment Office.  Soon enough the police arrived and asked if we knew what happened?  After a response in the negative he said "you're free to go".  All in all we didn't really have any time to study that morning.  Maybe this week will be better.

 

3.  The lesson of a life time.  We have began teaching a very kind 18 year-old who is living with a family in the ward.  She just came out of a very abusive home where her father had no respect for his family.  Needless to say, she has been through alot.  Last night we taught a wonderful lesson on the atonement of Jesus Christ.  As the three of us bore testimony of how the gospel could help to comfort her, you could feel how much she had been looking for this.  We invited her to be baptized, and she accepted without hesitation.  It was incredible.  The most amazing part was at the beginning of the lesson. When we first came to the house she went into the back room with her "friend" that is a boy.  We were disappointed that she didn't join us, but we would still read and pray with the rest of the family.  A short time later, she came out with her scriptures in hand ready to hear what we had to say.  She came by her own choice and we all felt peace as we taught concerning the Savior.

 

This has been such a wonderful week as we are trying to improve our abilities.  I can't tell you how fun it is to work and learn with such wonderful companions.  We have our disagreements, but ultimately we get along very well.

 

My foot is getting pretty tired from driving every day.  We've already had many a conversation on how to improve personal transportation.  Elder Ellsworth suggested some kind of bumper car course.  I think that would be a lot of fun.

 

Well Love you all,

Elder Will Davidson

 

Amazing week

I should probably share a story of why I had a tie around my head.  Bro.Williams our beloved ward mission leader couldn't tie this one tie that he had, so I offered to help.  As soon as I got it tied I realized that it wouldn't fit over my head.  At that point the cameras had already come out so I struck a pose.

 

It has been one amazing week.  Last Monday I had said that Elder Thomas, Witherell and I were all staying together.  That actually changed shortly after I emailed home.  The Zone Leaders called and told us that Elder Thomas was getting transferred to Paradise Valley and there had been a mix up in the transfer news the night before.  Elder Thomas was very sad to leave his first area.  It was hard to see him go, because he was so attached to everyone in the area and wanted to spend more time here.  He was such a key part of our companionship and he is truly missed.  On the other hand I found out that my New companion is Elder Ellsworth!  The one who was in the MTC with me.  We have had so much fun together, and I have never been happier my entire mission.  We have each served in the same area (Lehi) and with the same companions, Elder Marco and Elder Paetznick.  Elder Witherell and Elder Ellsworth are some of the best missionaries I've ever been with.  We work hard and we play.  We've taught better together than I have with any other companion.  It is really fun to serve with Elder Ellsworth, because we think the same and we are just as focused on our efforts.  It is not difficult at all when we teach, to transition, because we both are very familiar with the lessons and also with how each other teaches.  We still struggle in different areas, but overall we are doing very well.

 

Some of the fun highlights:

 

-Sword fighting.  Elder Ellsworth brought from his first area two duct tape foam swords.  After we finish planning and studying we get to fight each other during lunch and as we are getting ready for bed.  It has been a good way for us to stay focused during the day, and have a little fun on the side.

 

-Bottle cap shooting.  Another game we discovered last night was the use of Gatorade bottle caps as throwing discs.  They fly really well and you can use them for target practice, or to take out a fellow missionary.

 

That is what we do when we have time.

 

On a serious note.  We've been teaching a wonderful lady who has wanted to get baptized for a while now.  Yesterday she didn't come to church which is abnormal, so we went to see if she was ok.  On arrival we discovered that her rent money had been stolen again.  It was heart wrenching to see how distraught she was.  As missionaries there is nothing we can do.  She asked if we would say a prayer with her so we did.  I was comforted to see her calm down as we left her home.  She may not be staying in her apartment any longer, but her faith is stronger than anything.  No matter what, she wants to keep coming to church and finding strength in prayer.

 

Another cool experience is of a young man.  He was baptized in another area and has yet to come to church here in Phoenix.  His sister and parents aren't members of the church, but they allowed us to visit him the other day.  He has had a little trouble in school with detentions, and being expelled, so you can imagine how strict his mom is on him.  As we got to know them they could see how he really opened up.  After the lesson he said the prayer, and his 15 year old sister said she had never heard him say such nice things.  Even his mom said that the prayer was beautiful.  It definitely helped the family come closer together, when he said a prayer.

 

As a missionary it has been difficult for me to figure out what exactly is obedience.  In past companionships you could say that I was quick to find problems and fix them regardless of the cost.  Having realized how difficult it is to be exactly obedient with each companion I have become a much more pleasant person.  Before I would get frustrated over every little problem that came up.  That was not healthy for me or our companionship.  Looking back I can see that caused a lot of stress between companions and even more inside myself.  That is why I'm really the happiest I have ever been.  The Lord knows that I have been asked to do things that I can't or do not know how to do.  It is much like a man with no legs being asked to run 100 meters.  Some of the things I've been asked to do can't be done, but I will try to do it, and with a smile on my face.  Really that is where success comes from, trying to do the things that are beyond our reach without the help of the Lord.  When faith is applied that is when some else comes and picks us up, finishing the race.

 

There is no greater satisfaction than being here in Arizona, I love it so much.

 

Love you all,

Elder Will Davidson