Lots and lots of missionaries

Dear Family,

 

Guess what our mission next Tuesday the 5th of February will be receiving 29 new missionaries.  That is the biggest group we have received in a long time.  It is very exciting, because there are even more planned for the transfer after that.  So this past Saturday the young lady was baptized that I've been talking about.  It was a really special moment to see that take place.  At the baptism I saw several friends from old areas, including the girls boyfriend.  I really enjoyed seeing old familiar faces.

 

I also saw Sister Brinton at the Zoo today.  Our whole Zone went to the Phoenix Zoo this morning.  We really enjoyed the whole trip.  There weren't a lot of animals out because it has been raining for the past few days, but the African dogs were out and about.  The lions were also prowling around the cage.  It was really nice that most of the zoo was empty.  In fact when we got there no one was in line.  My favorite thing to see was the birds.  I also learned that there is more than one kind of rattlesnake!  Another reason (besides the heat) that I don't think I could live in Arizona.  This being said the last two days have been very beautiful.

 

So now for the biggest news of all.  This past week there have been some switches made in our Zone.  I have been moved to the Zone leaders area in the Mountain View Stake, and Elder Brown (my old companion) has taken my place with Elder Kirwan.  It was so good to be around Elder Brown again.  He is such an amazing missionary, and is really ready to work.  They will be together at least until the end of the transfer.  I will be staying with the zone leaders until transfer time.  It was really exciting to be in this area, full of fast paced work.

 

Coincidentally a young couple just moved into the ward that we cover just before I came in.  They were being taught in the Mesa stake by Sister Javed and Brownell, who just happen to be the missionaries that I worked with in Nov-Dec.  It is amazing to see how easily it is for the Lord to place us in the right place at the right time.  Another cool story is that Dad of an unbaptized 9 year old happens to be someone I taught in my first area.

 

FYI my companions for the moment are Elder Jace Smellie (My third Cousin from Pocetello), and Elder ...Christian Halling (from the MTC!).  Elder Smellie will be finishing his mission a week from this Tuesday, and it doesn't show one bit.  He has stayed focused the whole time.  We did show him a little love when I got a few sticker hearts in the mail.  Elder Halling and I proceeded to put them all over Elder Smellie's stuff.  He was not too enthusiastic about finding 100 little foam hearts every where.

 

We are looking forward to a baptism this Saturday for a mother and her 15 year-old daughter.  They are both very prepared and ready to be baptized.  The mother has been struggling with smoking for a while.  One afternoon she was feeling particularly stressed about preparing for baptism, and felt like she was not ready and didn't want to come to church or meet with the missionaries any more.  We quickly ran over and talked with her.  After a little while she began to feel more comfortable, and we were able to give her a blessing of comfort to help with all the anxiety.  It is lucky that we were in a trio, otherwise, we would not have been able to visit her.

 

Another afternoon on the way to a dinner appointment we saw a pick-up truck stuck trying to get up into a parking lot off the street.  there was only two men trying to push it up into the parking lot.  We were late, but knew that those gentlemen needed help.  We pulled into the next entrance of the parking lot, and proceeded to run to the aid of the pick-up.  We confirmed that they did need help then pushed the truck in only a matter of seconds.  Wished the men well, and went on our way.  I was so happy we were in the right place, to 'run to the rescue' of our friends.

 

We are so blessed in this great work.

 

I love you all,

Elder Will Davidson

Finding happiness

I'm very behind on responding to letters, and now I have a good stack to take care of during this afternoon.  So for those who are expecting a letter have no fear it will come....

This week was very exciting.  There was a number of amazing miracles through out the district.  Several different individuals simply called out to us missionaries, and asked if they could attend church and learn more about the church.  I have been so impressed.  there seems to be an undercurrent of individuals who are truly looking for spiritual strength as well as Honestly Questioning.  Last week we knocked on the door of a neighbor who just moved in.  She had met several members of the church before, and was willing to come to church.  She really enjoyed the whole service including Sunday School and Relief Society.  During Sacrament meeting it was a bit of a struggle to keep her three nephews under control.  We found that paper and pens served as an adequate distraction.  It will be really exciting to start working with her and teaching her more about the church.

There also was a young lady who we met on the street.  She had just come from her friends house, and they had been talking about religion.  She asked some really good questions and actually knew quite a bit about the church.  The other missionaries just started teaching her, and they said that it is going really well.

As I continue to become a better missionary and a better individual it is difficult at times to keep going.  I was lucky enough last week to meet with President Ellsworth during our normal interviews.  It was straightforward and he gave me some really good advice.  The most difficult part of this missionary work is learning how to be happy even during the hardest trials.  With the gospel there isn't much reason to be un-happy, and I try not to be every day.  Some days it can be a real struggle.

Regardless it is so much fun when we have special moments to share with others the joy that we have found from learning the gospel.  Why else would I be here unless it had changed my life.


have a wonderful week,
Love,
Elder Will Davidson

Freezing in Arizona

I of course know what hoar frost is.  Dad has educated me fully on the subject.  Speaking of weather Arizona has experienced some FREEZING temperatures.  It has been in the 20's for a couple evenings and the highs during the day are usually around 42.  I enjoy it, but it is still cold.  In fact one of the mornings I was on an exchange and had to put my suit on over my exercise clothes along with my towel around my neck.  My Zone leaders were impressed that I had dressed in proselyting clothes just for sports :).

Meanwhile we have had a wonderful week.  Last Monday we taught the husband of a member, and he has a strong testimony of what we have taught.  He has been attending sacrament meeting for more than a year, so he is very prepared.  We are looking forward to teaching him again this evening.

We also have a baptism scheduled for this weekend with a sister who has been taught for a long time.  It will be nice to see her finally make that commitment.  In my old area I was informed that the husband of a member was just baptized.  He hoped that I would be able to attend, and we had plans to take an investigator with us, but at the last moment she canceled, and I was unable to attend.  Elder Conaway and Elder Dobbie report that the ward has "exploded".  It was good to hear from my companion and know that he is doing so well.  He also let me know that C was baptized just before the new year.  It is so wonderful to know that things are going so well.

A short report on our preparation day activities.  This Monday we acquired four laser tag guns, with attachments.  It has been great fun to run around the cultural hall blasting the life out of the other players accompanied by an electronic computer voice warning you of your health.

We are really experiencing some great success in this area.  It is a great new year and life is treating the whole district well.

I almost forgot.  This Sunday we got to attend the Missionary preparation class in the stake.  There were over 25 missionaries in the class, with several young women preparing for missions.  In our little break off group I got to teach with the other future missionaries.  I was impressed by the sister in the group, she is a convert of about two years, and her family wouldn't let her get baptized until she was 18.   She is very prepared and I had the opportunity to practice teach as her companion, and it was humbling to see how prepared the future missionaries are.  I wish I had the same things that the missionaries have now, when I came into the mission field.

Love you all,
Elder Will Davidson

Good start to the New Year

Dear Mom-
I got the package from the family and it was like Christmas all over again.  I admit it was a little strange to see Elder Davidson participating in so many activities by proxy.  My favorite was sledding and building the igloo.  Eating breakfast with Tyson was fun as well.

All the pictures were very entertaining, and I really enjoyed seeing the Nieces and Nephews. 

Anyway I was happy to receive another Penguin tie.  I had passed the other one on to a young man in my old area.  He was good friend and I will miss him dearly. 

As far as missionary work is concerned we had a tremendous week.  Two individuals have committed to be baptized.  The first is a lady who has been learning about the Church for more than 7 years.  She has struggled with some alcohol problems, so she hasn't been able to make that covenant.  As of now she has overcome that and is ready and willing to be baptized the 19th of January.  The other lady is in the young single adult ward.  She has been associated with the church for a while and wrote a missionary during his whole mission.  She has since learned more about the church, and is also ready to be baptized.  She is afraid that her family won't be supportive, so she has yet to tell her parents that she is learning about the church.  We challenged her to tell her parents so she can have their support, and let them know of her intentions to join the church.  It should be an amazing month for this new year.

Speaking of celebrating the new year.  We had an amazing new years day.  The family that fed us made pounds of crab for us (Yumm).  They even sent some home with us.  It was nice to have something from the "Big Blue".  Afterwards we played a game of backwards charades.  It was all the girls against the guys.  Most of the competition leaned in favor of the women who seem to think on the same wave length.  However one round the men took a very lopsided lead.  The elders came in handy when trying to act out the 10 commandments.

All in all it is a great time to be a missionary.  I have lots of work left to do, and more opportunities to improve. 

Speaking of improvement, the T-wreck has risen to a new height.  A member offered to take the bike to a shop and have it fixed.  When they opened the rear hub (which made all the noise) he was surprised at how good of a condition the whole assembly was in.  The front hub and tire are another story.  He pointed out that the rim had been worn to almost tin foil, and the brake pads had worn right through the tread.  The member kindly donated a used rim and tread to repair the front tire.  It's like knee replacements.

In other news my garment bag which had been left in my old apartment finally found it's way to me.  The sad news is everything still smells like an Eagle and Child.

Glad to be in a matching suit and ready to work.

Love you all,
Elder Davidson

Christmas week report

You could say that it has been a good week of really sweet experiences.

I don't know how I'm going to get a 'good' picture.  I'll try my best.  As for a scripture I would have to request D&C 6:36.  I have always loved that scripture, and it always is a help.

This was a very interesting week, it feels like it has been a full month.

I guess I'll summarize the activities of this past week.

Monday was a good relaxing day as we spent time at our Zone Leaders house.  I got stamps and a few letters while there.  And it was exciting to get a new tie along with some chocolates.  I opened all the packages that day before Christmas.  It was actually really nice, because I didn't have to worry about finding a time to open gifts and other things.  We played a good game of foosball, and the other missionaries played a lot of ping-pong.  It was all going well right up until Elder Halling (yes my old companion) hit it straight into the roast pit.  It was only a split second before the ball completely obliterated.  I thought that was pretty cool.

Christmas day was spent at breakfast with two different families.  The first was our mission family.  We got bacon and pancakes, and all the fixings of a god breakfast.  Then after taking some good pictures we went to the other family, where we spent our time preparing to talk to our own family.  It was a fun experience, to see my whole family.  I'm looking forward to seeing them again.  It was a very special experience and one that won't happen again.  Following the wonderful visit we played a few backyard games.  One of the boys got a ladder golf set.  Basically you throw golf balls tied together by a string at a PVC pipe ladder.  It is pretty fun and very tricky.

The rest of the week was spent working on getting a young man ready for baptism.  He has been around the church for a good 18 years.  Finally he was prepared and ready to be baptized.  His first choice for the person to baptize him couldn't and Elder Kirwan was sick (No surprise to anyone who knows that my companions are always getting sick).  So I was the back up and got to perform the baptism.  It was a sweet experience, especially during the Christmas season.  I'm looking forward to a new year and a great transfer.

Love you all and a Happy New Year.
Elder Davidson

PS.  My garment bag has been found.  Yay I can have my ties back.