A truck!

Hello my family,

Can you believe it there have been two baptisms in this area since I got here, and already we've found a lot of people who are really interested in learning more.  On Saturday there was a couple who actually came into the church just looking for someone to talk to.  We spent some time getting to know them, and went by that evening to their house.  They were really interested in what we did.  The woman couldn't believe that the young men in white shirts and ties spend two years going and helping people.  In fact when she made the connection she said two or three times, "so this is what you do".  I don't think she imagined that anyone would be doing what we are doing for her.  It was humbling when we went by her house, and she treated us as if we were royalty.  She and her husband are really awesome.

In other news the three wards I cover (a big leap from Camelview ward) are wonderful.  I've never felt more comfortable as a missionary in my life.  I think lots of it has to do with my experience and a little more confidence in myself.  On Sunday night we met with the bishop's family, and they were all so cool.  The 16 year old son and I have set a goal to read the New Testament.  We are going to read 7 chapters a week, which means we'll finish around May 12th.  It will be I'll have to write back and forth to stay up to date.  There are other members of the ward that are just amazing.  They are ready and willing to serve anyway they can.  One sister who was baptized just a few weeks ago asked if anyone in the area needed food, when her family barely has enough food to meet their needs.

So the truck we are driving is a white Chevy Colorado with four wheel drive!  It has been the best vehicle I've driven on my mission.  Our family's old Ford was more fun to drive (and a bigger engine), but we get by really well.  So the reason we get a truck is because most streets are unpaved.  For example going out to the bishops house you turn off a small two lane highway and follow the road until you see a triangle hazard sign, at the sign take a right and then it's the third house on your left.  The address system is very different from Phoenix or Mesa where everything is laid out on a grid.  Most of the terrain is brush and cactus on light colored dirt.  The best part is there is tons of wild life.  We see rabbits, and lizards all the time.  As of yet I haven't seen any snakes, except for one that we ran over while driving.  Coyotes are all over the place too.

So my companion is Elder R.  He has a larger family and right now my brain blanked on their names.  He has three younger sisters, and a younger brother who is on a mission as well.  Then he has an older sister who is married (or it might be an older brother).  His dad works selling prescription drugs.  He is a really good singer, so we have some fun singing together in the car.  In fact he volunteered us to sing in a couple Sundays.  Speaking of which this weekend we were asked to speak in sacrament meeting for 15 minutes.  I hope everyone doesn't fall asleep.  The topic is on The 10 Commandments, and how they help us love one another.  Not the easiest, but a story here and a story there, and it should be ok.

Right now my new home is right across from ... desert.  So every time we pull out of the apartment parking lot I get to see brush and desert.  However just behind that desert is an amazing view of the Superstition mountains.  Our apartment is just north of Superstition and Idaho road, so if you Google street view, and then head north on Idaho and turn east you should see that view.

Well that is about all I have to say.  The weather has been very kind only 98 has been the highest.  I think I'm the only missionary in our district of 8 that likes being cold.  At almost every meeting I'm sitting there burning up, while everyone else seems to think that it is way too cold.  I guess that isn't too surprising.  Last winter I would always wear gloves, but even then when shaking peoples hands it would feel like ice.  That makes me the cold heart-ed missionary.

I love you all, and don't be afraid to send little messages by ye good olde snail maile.  I will always respond.

Love,
Elder Davidson

Right an update on Elder R's leg.

It isn't broken! The bad news is that he has torn three of his anterior ligaments in his ankle.  The doctor wants him in this huge boot for a while, and it needs to be iced every so often.  I figured out a way to make an effective ice bucket for his foot.  Basically I froze a bunch of ice in a frying pan so his foot can rest on a solid piece, then I made tons of ice to put around the leg while it is in the cooler.  Due to how uncomfortable the toes get I took some gauze and a couple sponges to wrap his toes in.  All was very successful.  He should be off crutches in 12 days.