Thanksgiving x 3

Dear Mother-

I included in Dad's email an outline of the renovations that we can do to the house.  The story of the house reminds me of the wise man and the rock.  I wonder if the whole time the wise man's house was on the rock water was running through the front door?

It is a real shame that even with all the renovations you made to the down stairs bathroom it still struggles to remain dry.  Maybe the drain should have been installed in the middle of the room rather than the shower.

In the world of missionaries exciting things are about to happen.  There is another media campaign that will be coming to the area with special emphasis on the Saviors birth.  It will be interesting to see how this compares to the I'm a Mormon campaign.

This week was full of tummy aches and injuries.  Thanksgiving morning we got to go spend time with a family at one of the church buildings.  We spent a good while playing some basketball, and then some soccer.  By the time all games had finished knees were hurting and ankles were swollen.  I escaped with nothing more than a scratch on my pointer finger.  We then decided to take a nap in preparation for the meal marathon.  It began with a wonderful turkey that was roasted to perfection by a family we've been teaching.  It was the first time she had ever roasted a turkey, and it was really good.  I also tried the stuffing from Trader Joe's, and it too was a success (I'm sure it wasn't the first time Joe had made stuffing).  Following that we had another traditional Thanksgiving meal with the addition of candied yams.  They were really good.  I wish a I had a dish or two left of the yams.  Our Thanksgiving finished off with the most wonderful thanksgiving meal of the day.  New Zealand style.  We had crab, shrimp, sweet potato, fried fish, and potato salad.  It was really good, especially when they gave us all 7 plates of left overs.  The rest of the night was spent rolling from one appointment to another wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving.  We also perfected the art of politely declining any more food.

So our area received a new vehicle a few weeks ago.  It is a 2012 Ford Fusion.  It isn't as nimble as our trusted corolla, but it does have a little more power, and the capacity to tow our bikes.  Normally we can save miles by using the stake center at Hobson and 10th ave as a headquarters.  Then we bike to our appointments taking occasional pit stops back at HQ.  It saves us a lot of time with construction around the area.  The only down side is we have to bike from point A to B.

Elder Conaway is back in the field and we have settled into a pretty decent routine.  Based on how we worked before I can tell that there are still a few things that I need to work on.  I still forget that it is really hard to leave and come back into the field, so patience is an attribute that I forget to apply in some aspects.  I hope today we'll get to do something fun.  There is a shaved ice place that i really like in the area called Bahama Buck's.  They have this drink that has a scoop of ice cream with kiwi and strawberry flavors (Mmm).

This week we committed another sister to be baptized.  She has been taught for many months, but she hasn't been able to be baptized because she is on probation.  On December 18 she'll be off and finally be able to be baptized on December 22nd.  We are hoping to have some others that will be prepared for baptism in December or January.


That really sums up the week,
love
Elder Davidson

I love being a missionary. 

Great baptisms

Hello Mom,

We are happy to report that our two baptismal services went very well.  At 10 in the morning the young single adult was baptized by a member friend.  It was a picture perfect baptism.  The talks were short, the temperature was nice and everyone was happy to come out and support this young man.  I guess the only thing is the water heater is broken, so it was very cold.  Elder Conaway gave a wonderful talk on baptism which made the service all that more special.

The older sister's baptism was a little more difficult.  As soon as she entered the building she was nervous.  We were really not sure that she was going to be baptized until she actually started walking down the stairs into the water.  While teaching she would often says prayers by talking to Mr.Jesus.  So as she began walking down the stairs I simply said "Mr.Jesus is with us".  With a lot of courage she was baptized and confirmed without the least little hiccup.  It was a privilege to be the one baptizing, but also a challenge.  It turns out duck tape and a few surgical gloves work very well to water proof a cast.

Speaking of the cast, I still have one.  Not sure when or if it is going to be coming off.  It still aches under the cast so I can imagine it will take a little more time to heal.

Our week will seem very short especially with Thanksgiving.  I've never appreciated holidays more than now.  As missionaries you can see how everyone slows their life down and reflects on things that they have and are grateful for.  As a missionary I'm so grateful for all the things I am able to do when it comes to serving.  Just last night we spoke with two individuals who lost loved ones, and a lady who literally was lost on the street, from Baltimore.  I'm so happy that we were able to both help physically and provide spiritual relief through the scriptures and prayer.  This will be the last holiday season that I shall spend away from home, and those I love.  It is hard, and I wish I could share some time with my family.  That said, there is no other way to gain this great appreciation for those you love with out being separated.  To a happy reunion in this life as well as in eternity I look forward too.  Thanks to our wonderful Savior (Mr.Jesus).

Love to all you at home,
Elder Will Davidson

Good news

Dear Mother,
Compared to the developments of last week this has been a very calm week.  However I am pleased to announce that there are two individuals that are going to be baptized this Saturday.

The first of the afternoon is a young man from the singles ward.  About 4 weeks ago we were walking around the church building and he came up requesting to come to church and have us come by.  His story is a really cool story.  He was introduced to the church through his girlfriend's family several months ago.  He doesn't really have any family and lives in a halfway house to stay off the street.  What is remarkable is his determination to do the right thing.  As we have taught him I have seen how much he has come to appreciate the ability to change.  He hasn't made all good choices, but he is doing everything in his power to stay on the straight and narrow path.  Prior to his baptismal interview we asked him if he had ever committed a crime for which he is on probation or parole.  His answer was a little shaky, but "no".  I kept feeling like he hadn't been entirely truthful, but when we interview we take his answers as the truth.  I was very impressed when in a lesson yesterday evening he revealed that he indeed not been entirely truthful.  In a world were individuals lie and cheat their way into just about anything I am grateful for this young man and his faith.  He knew that he could not make a promise with God until he was first honest with those around him.  We are unsure if he will be baptized this weekend, but the comfort that he has told the whole truth must be a greater blessing than not having to wait to be baptized if necessary.

The other individual who will be getting baptized this week end is the 80 year old woman.  She is so prepared and willing to be baptized.  Her testimony on the Holy Ghost is so powerful.  We did take her to the baptismal pool so that she could walk down the stairs and feel comfortable with everything that will happen.  When you baptize a 80 year old there are a few more logistical procedures to take care of.  Our plan is to plug the overflow drain so that the water level will be higher, thus making it easier for the sister to be submerged.

Beyond that we've enjoyed some time playing soccer and other sports with other missionaries in the area.

On Monday I gave my best shot at bowling.  It was a little embarrassing trying to get a good score.  About every 4th bowl would be a strike and the rest would be gutter balls.  You can say that I am a very black and white person.

Well that about concludes the news.

The weather is wonderfully chilly and we are going back on bikes this transfer.

Love,
Elder Will Davidson

Trick Bicycle Riding

Hello My friends and family,

It is with great appreciation and excitement that I relate to you a new development in the mission field!

This past Friday my beloved Elder Brantley took a break from his mission and returned to Georgia.  I will definitely miss him, and his amazing accent.  I hope he returns quickly to the field.  The story continues however for myself.  The night before Elder Brantley flew home I was speaking with President Ellsworth, and inquired regarding the Status of Elder Conaway.  With a smirk on his face President Ellsworth informed me that after nearly 6 months Elder Conaway would be flying in the following day.  So here I am with my "new" companion the one and only Elder Conaway!  It has been very fun, as we have put our best feet forward, and began another opportunity to work together.  Despite the almost constant changes this transfer I am confident that the Lord knows who I am and that I am loved.

We have a wonderful investigator in the singles ward.  He has been taught before.  We were walking around the neighborhood one day, and he walked up to us asking where the nearest church building is.  He came to church and a lesson at the Visitors Center, which went really well.  While watching a video presentation about the Book of Mormon, he turned and said "I remember reading that".  It is really cool to watch as he is super excited to be baptized. The only really sad thing is he will be moving out of our area.  We did encourage him to start going to the new ward and learning from the new missionaries.

This Saturday we had some fun ordering a pizza and taking it home.  On the way back to our apartment, we put the pizza on the handle bars of the bikes, so that we could eat at home.  I'm sure it was an interesting scene for those driving past.  A missionary biking down the street with a broken wrist, and a pizza in the other hand.

So I really haven't shared a lot of personal feelings recently, so I figured a report on how I am personally doing would be a good thing.  Having finished more than 3/4 of my time as a missionary, I have felt a whole array of different emotions.  The most powerful emotion is one of peace that seems to carry me over challenges as they come.  It isn't that missionary work is getting any easier, but I am learning to be humble enough that I can learn from lots of the difficult experiences.  A wise lesson I've learned is taking the good lessons from the bad experiences and leaving the rest behind.  I also feel inadequate in so many different ways.  No matter how good I think I'm doing I know that there is still so much I can do better especially when it comes to helping others.

On another side of the coin I am feeling the pressure of time left to serve.  There is so much left that I can do, and the time to do it is my constant prayer.  Major decisions that we help other people make are about to be coming back into my life.  Being subject to all the different challenges of the world is also looming on the horizon.  In addition I still look forward to the day when I can return home and say I did all I could do.  Until that time it will be lots of hard work.

Everyone should have an amazing week especially when the weather is so nice.

Love
Elder Will Davidson

General News

Dear Mother

Our apartment is a very nice place.  It has two bedrooms, one with a walk in closet.  The master Bedroom is were we keep our beds, and then the other is for our desks.  There is a nice kitchen with everything you need.  Then there also a laundry room(best part).  The only bad thing is the previous resident smoked a lot.  When we first walked in it was so bad I started coughing.  Now we've battled the smell with a citrus sent thingy that we put under the vent intake.  We also have found Fe-breeze to be a great weapon when it comes to going to church.  The other week our ward mission leader mentioned that we smelled like smoke, and wasn't sure how that would look to other people.

My companion is from Georgia and has been serving for just over 3 months.  So far we've found that we both have interests in motorcycles.  Elder Brantley actually brought his riding jacket, with a "lone Wolf" patch on the back.  He has built a custom bike off a Honda Shadow.  He really likes video games, and we have the same favorite video game (Time Splitters).  He has an amazing personality that people just latch onto.  His accent has proven to be a great gift to his missionary efforts.  When he teaches no one interrupts, because they are so intent on listening to him speak.  I'm very happy to be working with him.  The ward leadership greatly appreciate how we help them with their efforts.

As for last weeks dinner meals we had Jack in the Box one afternoon because we were having meetings all day.  Then we had a potato casserole with cornflakes on top (a fun texture). We also were treated to a soup meal after church last Sunday.  The best soup was actually baked in a pumpkin.  Our other meals included, Hawaiian haystacks and Enchiladas (which are really Hispanic lasagna).  If you don't know what Hawaiian haystacks are it is rice with a chicken gravy topped with crispy noddles, pineapple, tomato, olives, cheese, etc.  I really like them, because you can put what ever you want.

This week we met a wonderful young fellow who lives in a halfway house.  He has learned about the church, when he was dating a member.  Once they broke up, he still was interested, so he came this Sunday to the singles ward dressed in slacks and a white shirt.  He really enjoyed it, and we should start teaching him this coming week.

The work in this area is solid.  The individuals we are teaching have a sincere desire to learn.  It makes it easy when we explain to them gospel principles.  We don't really teach investigators, we just show them how to learn spiritual things, through prayer, reading scriptures, and attending spiritual meetings.  Those things are so wonderful, because anyone can do them.  Even if you can't read, some one can read to you.  Everyone can pray, and you don't need to pay any fees.  I often find myself silently speaking to the Lord.  Often I receive a warm comfort and confidence as I do so.  It is so sweet.

Elder Brantley and I are heading to the mission office this morning to have our car checked up.  This past Friday someone backed into the front bumper and did a number on it.  It still looks great despite the bump.

Well that's all folks....


Love you,
Elder Will Davidson