December 30th 2012

Kumusta Kayo? Bagong Taon Na! So, I never know what to write about, so here we go. This week we had a bagyo... a tropical storm? I think is what we call it back home? Anyways we had a big Bagyo. It rained forever with some serious strong winds, it's worse on the Island than on main land they say. Anyway it killed our work which was a shame but I got some good studying in. I also feel somewhat old on the mission... my shoes are getting holes FINALLY! That means I have worked hard AND I am no longer "Bata Pa" "Still a Kid." I remember the first day I was in Naga and met Elder Vogelsberg and saw his shoes... mine where much too shiny! I told him we needed to, in essence, "get some mud on the tires." So yeah, I take pride in my worn shoes (no need to fret mom). I am 20! Weird right? Way weird, I feel 12 haha. It is also now 2013, so my 20th year (being all of 2013) will be ALL dedicated to missionary work! AND IT FEELS GREAT! I am excited for this new year, and I hope you are too. It is a great time to make meaningful goals and become a better person! So the pictures are me in a tricy (I have no idea how to spell it but in this country- you can spell anything the way you want to and it is correct haha)! Example Ketchup is Catsup... sounds good to me. I never have been much of a speller haha. Anway, the side car for these things are TINY... so you can imagine Elder Lavaka and I fitting, it's funny every time. And they will fit as many people as possible... more than possible actually. So I truly have "grown closer to the people!" Anyways now you know what a tricy is! Since we Skyped last week I don't have much to tell you guys, I'm just still doing good. My Tagalog is improving rapidly, especially in understanding! Speaking is getting better by the day too. So way good news, thank you for your prayers! I try not to compare myself to others but I am "ahead of schedule" as they say. So I am very happy and very grateful! I wonder how it is that 19 year old boys learn all these languages so quickly? Must be coincidence right? HINDI! I am blessed everyday to speak this language. I know, and those that know me know, that I would have no shot at learning this language as well as I have thus far by my self. It is truly given from God, and I am a happy recipient. I am confident that by our "Mother's Day Call" I will have been fluent for some time. Who knows Tagalog? What a weird language to know haha. Anyways that is my language update- still have a ways to go. As Reece told me before I left, "If you work hard it will be easy, if you take it easy it will be hard." Pretty good advise for all of life. Now, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! I hope you had a great birthday. I don't know another man on this earth that is kinder than my father. There are so many attributes about my Dad that I love, here are a few: I have NEVER, EVER heard my Dad raise his voice in anger (referees not included HAHA). I don't believe he possesses the ability to be mad. I inherited some of that from him and I am grateful. My dad is my best example, he had taught me so many things. I don't know if there is anyone as kind to their children and wife as my father is to us kids and our mother. I have seen the best example of a father, a husband, a priesthood holder, an employee, an employer, a grandpa, and a citizen. He taught me how to work, and with what attitude we should go about it. He is a volunteer-er and "does many things by his own free will." I am most grateful for the hours I have spent working with him on our numberless projects. My dad has a sign that hangs above his desk at work that says, "Your name is safe with me." Meaning you can trust him. I always knew I could go to him with anything and he would help me and love me. The best thing he may have ever done is marry my mother, I don't know of better parents on earth. Growing up I remember seeing my 6 feet 5 inche father weep in tears as he testified of truth. As he would tell us about what he knew to be true, namely God lives, Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith is a true prophet, and the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I would see his tears and feel the conviction of his heart and spirit. Growing up I fed on the testimony of my parents until I myself had one. I always knew, that my parents knew it was true, and for anyone who might be doubting- IT IS TRUE. I know it is. So thank you Dad for all you have done! And Happy Birthday! This next week should be great. The Zone Leaders are here, and it will be an awesome week. Hopefully I will have some good stories and pictures. So happy New Year. I hope we have some good Resolutions. I think it is better to just pick one maybe two things you want to be better at, don't make a list a mile long. Well keep keepin' on. The church is true and we should be happy and thankful. I wouldn't be here if it weren't true. Elder Davis

Hard to imagine 2 elders in this contraption; one is a 6'3' skinny white boy, the other 6'6, 300+ lb Tongan plus others fitting!

Happy 20th Birthday with a little seasickness!

Kumusta Kayo? Well I don't know too much to write about... I get to Skype you TOMORROW! I am excited to see all of you! So this week has gone by super fast. We had a "Mission Christmas Conference" and it was a lot of fun to see my "mission friends" and be with President and Sister Bliesner and to hear them speak to us. I have the best mission president that ever lived. Sorry Race, but it's true haha. It's too bad that I only have him for one year. But anyway the Christmas Con was great and it was a lot of fun, when we got back to the Island we had a Branch Christmas Party and it was on my Birthday so it was AWESOME! Today has been a festive week, I am excited to just start working again, I feel like i haven't really spoken Tagalog in weeks haha. Also I got your Christmas packages you sent to me, thank you so very much! So again we went to the main land and the boat over there was great... but the boat back was BAD! I got sea sick for the first time and it was not fun, but happy to say I never threw up. The boat was getting thrown around in the ocean. Malakas ang Dagat! The boat was swaying back and forth and we were out in the sun/rain it was bad. "The sea was angry that day my friends like an old man trying to order soup at a deli." I started out fine for the first hour of the trip but then was feeling SICK for the next hour or so, then I got my sea legs and was fine for the last hour. Usually it only takes 3 hours to get to Cats but the ocean was so strong it took 4 hours, it was fun. Also, random but Sting Ray is delicious! So if you ever run past Sting Ray cooked by a Philippino EAT THAT STUFF! I have basically started to just eat whatever sounds the weirdest wherever we eat, usually it is DELICIOUS. I love the food here and I will miss the rice... I love rice... I love rice more than I ever knew anyone could love rice haha. It is so weird to think you people eat meals with no rice involved- that's weird! I really don't know what to write about haha. Actually I have two pretty cool stories I guess. The first one was, of course, while I was showering. I was just enjoying my cold water in a bucket and out of the corner of my eye I saw something hop. I move another bucket (our flusher) and I see this massive frog hop again... I am not sure who jumped higher, the frog or me haha. But I defiantly yelled louder haha, it scared me. Anyway I just kept on showering with that guy looking at me the whole time and then we caught him and let him go after I was done haha. I have no idea how that BIG frog got into our second story apartment, but hey it's the Philippines, anything could get into your apartment. Second story, last week we were out working with a member to find some less actives in a place called Bato we went out early in the day and, of course, IT WAS HOT! We worked all morning and it was very good, in our last appointment in Bato we met a family and invited them to church and to our Christmas Party. Their house is very close to the beach, we could hear the waves as we were in their house, so after the appointment we decided to go look at the beach and maybe take a picture. We were just standing there looking and then Brother Tubo started stumbling, like he was falling. We thought he was just kidding but then we saw his eyes rolling back into his head and he was heading into the ocean. He was stumbling and spinning and his eyes were rolled back into his head, before I knew it he was about to his knees in the ocean and was doing everything he could do to not fall. Before I knew it I dropped everything and ran in after him with Elder Lavaka at my side. We grabbed him and started to carry him out. It was very scary. We got him into the shade and got him water and eventually took him home. He's much better now, I figured he had a heat stroke or high blood or I'm not really sure. Either way, other than for baptisms I bet that will be the only time I go into the ocean on my mission. I felt like I was in The Other Side of Heaven. My shoes were SOAKED but that happens all the time, just this time it was salt water. Anyways it was scary, but it makes for a good story. YOu never know what will happen in a day. Thanks for all the letters and packages again. I got some letters and pictures from the Hunts, thank you very much, the kids drawings were awesome! Also thanks for the El Pato, I can't wait to eat it! Well I don't have much else to say and if I do, I'll just tell you TOMORROW as we Skype! Well, MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope you have a great Christmas! I know I will. I am excited to have a Christmas as a missionary for Jesus Christ and his church. I would rather be right here than ANYWHERE else on earth and that includes home. Of course I will miss you and my thoughts will go to Christmases past but I don't think I will be homesick. I am much to busy and happy for that. I know what I am doing is right. I am called of God to "Preach His Gospel" and that is exactly what I will do, no man, power, language or anything will get in my way. His Gospel is going to the ends of the earth and I am a happy missionary continuing that work. My feelings of Christmas as a Missionary are best expressed in my poem I sent last week. I know a few simple things to be true, namely Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, Joseph Smith was his Prophet, Thomas S. Monson is his prophet right now, The Book of Mormon is True and this is the one and only true and living church on the earth, His Gospel and Plan of Salvation will guide us through this life back to his presence. I know these things through the power of the Holy Ghost and I thankful for my simple testimony. It is true, I know it is, and it is also REAL! So Maligayang Pasko! Love you all. Elder Davis P.S. The thing I miss the most is The Forgotten Carrols Music with the family! We should go in 2 years? See you BUKAS!

December 18th 2012

Kumusta Kayo?? What a crazy week. I feel like I am living in a mix of two movies, the first- The Other Side of Heaven, the second- The Blind Side. The first one is pretty obvious, the second one not so much. I feel like I am on The Blind Side because my companions shoe size is 17!!!!!! His heaviest weight was 360lbs daw! He's 6 feet 6 inches and we are a scary sight for tiny Filipinos who don't know missionaries. He is AWESOME! He has a big heart... but maybe a bigger appetite haha, I have never seen so much rice disappear so quickly. He's also very very good at Tagalog, people think he is Philippino by sound, but definitely not by sight haha. He's awesome and I am excited for the transfer. So many things are happening all at once, I hit my six month mark, I turn 20 this week, and IT'S CHRISTMAS! It is weird to think it is Christmas though, with no weather change it seems like no time has passed at all. I am truly living in an endless summer. No white Christmas here haha. People here just can't comprehend the thought of snow. I've told people about my baptism too, when we had to break the ice in the pond, they can't imagine it! So funny. So last week we had a CSP (community service project) and it was really cool. I saw some really cool and really beautiful things. I also saw a man, of which the only adjective to describe him is MAN haha, In fact I refer to him as MAN. He basically lives without human contact for a few weeks way up in the mountain jungle! And he's bare foot the whole time! Tell all the nieces I found the man who makes Rapunzel's hair. He makes rope out of banana tree's and it is a very interesting process. But we went up there and helped him and of course had some delicious BUKO (coconut)! Man is the husband of one of our members, Sister Espiritu. So we hiked way on top of this mountain, I could see the whole island pretty much and The Mayon Volcano in the distance! It was awesome. Then we helped this guy make his banana rope stuff and then carry this HEAVY stuff down the mountain. I about died getting my bundle down and they say MAN can carry three of those at one time. He's 67 years old, tiny, but as strong as an ox, his hands and feet feel like metal, I know because I felt them haha. He's my Philippino Grandpa Sherwood haha. I hope we can teach him next week. The problem is he is always in the jungle just walkin bare foot with his big machete. It was a great experience with the culture and has helped a lot with that family coming to church I think. Hopefully even more will come out of it. I hope the pictures load! So, now I have some way good news. I am progressing in Tagalog! More like SKYROCKETING! But that doesn't mean I am good hahaha. But just this last week I am really started to progress. It was like I woke up one morning and I understood the things people were saying to me haha! I am a long way from fluent still but I can't believe where I am at right now, I am so blessed. The Gift of Tongues is REAL, I promise haha. This last Sunday I had conversations with people and after we were finished I just couldn't believe what happened... I SPOKE TAGALOG hahahha. And I understood what they were saying. It is a cool feeling. If you've never had a conversation in Tagalog, do it, you'll like it haha. But truly I am a very grateful missionary right now, I am so blessed. It is truly GIVEN to me to speak and understand this language. Again I have a long way to go but I am progressing quickly right now! So awesome! And I thank my Father in Heaven for it. Malapit ng Pasko! Christmas is coming soon and I am excited. I wrote a poem a couple days ago about missionaries at Christmas I hope you will enjoy it. I am excited to have Christmas here, not here so much as, I am just excited to have Christmas as a missionary. Christmas is a great time of year, people literally change because we feel the "Spirit of Christmas" or we feel like being Christ-like; giving to others and being with our families. It is all about Christ, all He did and does is GIVE never take, all He is is selfless, never selfish and all He wants is for us, as Families, to live together again in the Kingdom of God. We give at Christmas and we are with our families and we think of Christ. But as President Hinckley taught, "Without The Atonement, Christ would be just another babe born in Bethlehem." I hope this Christmas we will all remember him, and what he did for us. This Christmas I would rather be here than anywhere else INCLUDING HOME. But it's an easy second place. Well I love you all. Thank you for your prayers and I pray for you daily. I hope you enjoy the poem. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON SKYPE!!!!!!!!!!! A Missionary’s Christmas By Elder Chantz Hamblin Davis Naga Philippines Mission This Christmas, like those in all my past, I’ll be waking early and out of bed real fast. But this year will be different, from previous ones I’ve had. I’ll be away from family, and yet I am not sad. Still I’ll wake up early, but with a different plan, To go and teach and preach, about a certain man. Presents won’t be atop the list, of things I want this year. All I really want to find, is someone who will hear. I won’t tell’em about Santa, or Reindeer in the sky, But of the precious baby, born to suffer bleed and die. I’ll speak to them of Family, of God and Peace and Love, And what they must do, to return to Him above. And though I may be far from home, in a far and foreign place, I still feel the love of God, and His Son’s Eternal Grace. Yes 6:30 the alarm will sound, and I’ll rush out of bed. Not looking for the latest toy, but for a lost soul instead. So this Christmas will be different, from those in all my past, Just happily “Preaching His Gospel,” doing what He has asked. Elder Davis

December 10th 2012

Kumusta? Well, another transfer down. And Elder Datu is TRANSFERRED! I will receive my new companion tomorrow, today I am staying with Elders Webb (from Blanding Utah) and Alldredge (from Arizona). I am excited but sad to see Elder Datu go, he was an awesome companion. So this next week will be fun getting to know my new companion. I hope he is Philippino and knows NO english, we'll see. So also it is almost my sweet mother's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!! You look great. I hope you know I think of you everyday and you inspire me to work hard and be obedient. I have promised many people on this earth that I would be obedient, but you are at the top of that list. Mom, THANK YOU! I can't say more than that. You really are an angel in my eyes. So happy birthday mom! Also Rulon's papers are in???? He's coming to NAGA NO DOUBT! And I will train him hahahhahaha how cool would that be???? If it happened I would literally pass out of happiness like Ammon in the Book of Mormon. Love that kid! Keep me updated. So Christmas is soon and I am excited to skype you all. This will for sure be the warmest Christmas of my life haha. I am excited. On Christmas day I will be working..... I AM EXCITED hahaha. Those will be some awesome lessons of The Savior Jesus Christ. And when you work your not homesick so it will be a good day. So I hope you like the pictures of the Monkey hahaha WE TEACH EVERY CREATURE hahahahaha! Except we don't teach the mice as you can see haha. These mice are everywhere and then there is also the occasional BIG RAT! I have no time this week sorry. I hope you enjoy the pictures. Also I was not effected by that bagayo the other week but it was defiantly sad for those that were. Sad day. So no real stories this week, just trying my best and working hard. We will see who my new companion is soon! I love you all and pray for you daily. Be good and do good. The church is true, we know it, let's live it. So I must go and, yeah know, be a missionary! Have a happy Birthday Mom, Love you a bushel! Elder Davis P.S. Just a fun fact, I wake up every morning and watch the sun rise over the ocean, and then every night I watch the sun set RIGHT NEXT TO A VOLCANO. Kinda cool, Living on an Island is fun!

December 3rd, 2012. Thank you Coach Semore, Coach Matthews and Coach Steven Brown

DECEMBER ALREADY? Well, time is going by so fast, I will hit my 6 month mark this next week and I can't believe it. So first off... a lot of you family members of mine have birthdays that have happened or will happen these last two weeks- sooo- happy birthday Markee and Katie and Happy birthday to my sweet angel mother as well! Hope they are great days! I had exchanges this last week and I was the "senior companion." I led all the lessons and all my companion did was bare testimony at the end. My companion is actually older than me in the mission but he just didn't talk so I led everything. We taught a lot of lessons that day and it was an amazing experience. During that day we went to Nanay Estilta's house (recent convert) and her house was being taken down because she doesn't actually own the land. The government was taking it down and "relocating" her (this has happened to a few of our members). We didn't know this would be happening and I wasn't sure what we should do. We began to talk to her and I prayed that I would know what to share. The Spirit told me to share Enos 1:27 in that verse it talks of the "mansions of Heavenly Father" that are "prepared for us." I testified to her that I knew this life was hard, but that God still loves her. I told her that there is a MANSION prepared for her as she lives this gospel. I could feel God's love for sister Nanay Estilita so strongly in that lesson. And Nanay is doing very well now, she is as happy as she can be despite her circumstances and she says it is because of this gospel. It is great to be a missionary. The next appointment we had I saw a little girl, who was very sick, eat crumbs of bread from the floor because it had fallen and she was hungry. We taught that family about the Plan of Salvation and afterward gave blessings to three of their sick children. They are an awesome investigator family! Also, how do you give a blessing to a baby that has no name? Dad, email me the answer next week haha. It was a great day. Then that night we got very sad news. There are four missionaries in Virac (where I am) and one of them (American and a buddy of mine) got news that his father had died. We went to see him and we talked for a while at the beach... He is so strong. I don't think for one second he thought of going home. He knows why he is serving a mission and he is a testimony builder to me. I told him about Bauer Brown and Coach Brown and how that inspired me to serve a mission. My book of Mormon bookmark is Coach Brown's card and on the back I have written the words of Bauer's letter read at the funeral, "I know that I will see my family again, the people I am teaching don't know that." We had a good talk and this Elder is a stud. What a day, you never know what will happen in missionary work. It was the best day of Tagalog I have had so far and I am very thankful for it. So funny thing- everywhere here there are clothes lines that hang about 5 feet high, perfect for Philippino's height... but not mine. I get literally "Clothes Lined" every night. It is funny every time. So we play basketball quite a bit here with the ward and with potential investigators. It is easy to say I am the tallest and best on the court. It is funny to see all the people come to watch the Tall White Guy play basketball. It is a lot of fun and it actually helps us do missionary work quite a bit. I am so thankful for my coaches that have coached me growing up. I have learned a lot from them, especially Coach Semore and Coach Mathews, I have learned a lot from those two men that have helped me on my mission already. So the internet is terrible here and I can't get any pictures home this week... SORRY! Next week for sure! Well I love you all, and I pray for you daily. Keep on praying for me. Elder Davis Sorry I am in a super big rush right now!