October 22nd 2012

Howdy Hey, So first off I have FAILED in pictures this week, sorry! So I told you last week that I was thinking about writing about tithing? So here's an email about tithing with only one (not so great) picture, hope you enjoy haha. So I have told you before of the humble circumstances of the people that we teach. They live in houses with grass roofs and dirt floors, mostly made of bamboo. They eat rice every meal and fish, because that is the least expensive of all the meats here. They truly have nothing and it is so hard to watch sometimes. I've seen kids hungry, shoeless (meaning they can't afford FLIP FLOPS) and without much hope, IT BREAKS MY HEART! I get sick to my stomach and it is hard to see. Now why do I tell you this? In my mind, what I am doing is either right or wrong. It is either good, or evil.I'll justify that statement later hopefully. I go into people's homes and tell them of all the things I believe. I tell them how there lives will be blessed and they will be happy. I tell them that it is possible to live with our families FOREVER. I say bold things at times. One of those "bold things" is Tithing. I share that part of being a part of this church is that we give 10% of our income to God (or His Church). That God has commanded us to do that through a prophet, much like he has done in the past. 10% is A LOT! Especially when you worried about how to feed your children that week. I am always shocked to see how many people follow this commandment so willingly. But then I think, "Once we know it is true- Nothing else matters." President Hinckley gave a talk here in the Philippines and he promised the people here that if they would pay there tithing they would ALWAYS have 3 things (1)Clothes on their backs (2) A house to live in (3) "Rice in their bowls". That is a bold promise from a prophet of God. But I know it's true. And as with all commandments we are blessed when we follow them. I can see how tithing has blessed my life and my families life. So what I do (in my mind) is of God or it's not, Because God and Jesus Christ either appeared to Joseph Smith or they did not, and if they did (and I know for myself that THEY DID) this is the TRUE CHURCH. If they didn't it's obviously not God's church. So I ask people to give 10% of ALL THEY HAVE FOR INCOME to this Church that claims they are the one true church of God. If it's not true, what I am doing is bad (in my mind). Why though, do these people or all members of this church pay tithing? It's because they know, because the Holy Ghost has told them, that this is God's true church and Joseph Smith was God's true Prophet. I can say that with no doubt and with all my heart. God answered my prayer when I asked if this church and if The Book of Mormon was true. That same thing happens to these people. And I promise them, as a missionary of Jesus Christ (just like The Prophet Gordon B Hinckley promised) that "you will have rice in your bowls." Once we know it is true nothing else matters and we are blessed and we are happy. Some blessing come quick others we have to wait for (like the Gift of Tongues) and other blessings we will receive only after this life but we will get those blessings as we are obedient to the commandments and our covenants. So if I just bored you I am sorry. But for me it's the most exciting thing in the world. I have played in a State Championship Basketball Game, I have thrown last second touchdown passes to beat my our rival football team and nothing is as exciting or brings more happiness as missionary work, meaning telling people the truth and they know it is true. I have worn some GOOD LOOKIN BLACK AND GOLD JERSEYS and nothing makes me feel like I do when each day I put on a shirt and tie and put on my missionary name tag that says "Elder Davis The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" or in Tagalog, "Ang Simbahan Ni JesuCristo ng mga Banal sa mga Huling Araw." Well tapos na. I hope that wasn't too long or "preachy". This week I led EVERY LESSON and planed EVERYDAY. It was fun and went great and I got much better at Tagalog but I am excited to hand the reigns back over to Elder Vogelsberg haha. Tagalog is comming, but it is still hard, obviously. It may be the weirdest thing in the world to see a Christmas Tree out when it's the temperature it is here. The Christmas trees are out and the Christmas music is playing- and has been for a few weeks- THIS IS MY KIND OF COUNRTY! This is probably mine Elder Vogelsberg's last week. After that NEW COMPANION AND MAYBE NEW AREA. Let's just pray it's the same language haha. Let me know what you want me to write home about. I am doing well, I love it so much. Nothing could get me to come home. I hope all is well back there and I pray for you all daily. Thanks for your prayers. I love you all very much. Alam ko na totoo ang simbahan na ito, at totoong propeta si Joseph Smith. Mahal ko ang mission na ito at alam ko na mahalaga at totoo ang mga itinuro ko, Sa pangalan ni Jesus Christ amen. Elder Davis P.S. Give the little nippers nieces and nephews hugs for me.