January 24th, 2013

"Aren't they a beautiful people?"

Baptism day in the ward

Kumusta lahat?
       So first off there have been 58 new missions made around the world can you believe that??!!!! What makes it even crazier is my mission is one of those, bet you didn't know that- but it is true! The Naga Mission (my mission) is being Ihahati SPLIT? It's becoming two missions. So there will be Naga Mission and the new Legaspi Mission. HUGE NEWS! The church is growing here and missionaries rock rock rock! It is an exciting time to be a missionary! I hope I will be in Naga, we'll see what the revelation says! President Reeder will be the new mission president. 
       So we had a baptism today that was great! It was the easiest baptism a missionary can get haha. She's nine years old, her name is Sidney and basically they just forgot to baptize her last year... don't ask me why- gotta love the Philippines! Anyways she is awesome and so is her family. And the baptism went great. I will tell you about there family in a little bit and how inspiring they are. Hopefully I will send pictures too! 
      So that family, the Jove family rock. They live in a area called Sigrada (our farthest area). There main language is not Tagalog, it is not Bicolano it is Rinkonada! So it can get a bit confusing when in your area there are 3 languages! Believe it or not I understand Bicolono quite a bit but I do not understand Rinkonada at all! TAGALOG NA LANG! Iyo Oo and Amo are the three ways to say YES! They are similar languages but WAY DIFFERENT TOO! Anyway it is a far area and a whole new language out there. In order for the Jove family to go to church they have to spend 100 pesos PER PERSON! Now in dollars that's a little over two bucks but that is SO MUCH MONEY for these people. It is over 3 kilos of RICE per person every time they go to church. THAT IS SO MUCH RICE! I would not be surprised if they go hungry on occasion due to this sacrifice. Brother Jove is awesome, he is a RM, an old RM, and he has some way cool stories from way back when! Anyways, this family the Jove family has found the "The Bread of Life" and "Living Water" they are willing to sacrifice MONEY, TIME, and PHYSICAL HUNGER just to be able to go to church. These people are amazing. It has been a pleasure to get to know them and love them. They are so inspiring, going to church is an easy thing for us back in America- I hope we go every week without exception and realize the importance of this Gospel like the Jove Family does in there little hut that is so far away from ANYTHING really! Did I mention Tagalog rocks, ya'll should learn it before I get home, it's cooler than English hahhaha! 

     So we have been so busy this last week, like all weeks haha. But it's been crazy. We are still have no apartment, hopefully this week! But the work has been great and we have been busy! In that busyness I have thought about HOW MUCH COOLER MY MISSION IS THAN RACE'S! And I will give JUST A FEW reasons why:

    1 Race had a volcano in his mission... cool? Yes. BUT I have MOUNT MAYON, the most perfect conic shaped volcano in the world... so!

    2 Race calls the grandkids Ninyos.... when I get home I will call those nippers either MGA BATA or PAMANGKINs. Whose language is cooler? That's what I thought hahahaha

    3 Race had at least 2 languages in his mission... that's a lot- But here we have about 18 dialects! So yeah.

    4 Race taught some great, loving people BUT I teach a better loving people... and they love Diyos more than the Guates do. Mythbusters tested it and ITS TRUE! 

    5 Race had a great mission president BUT I have PRESIDENT BLIESNER... end of story.

So now that I have got the brotherly competitiveness out of me- Race you rock. And you had the coolest mission and mission president SECOND to mine hahaha! Lets just use the Philippines motto, "It's more fun in the Philippines." So I don't have much time to talk. There is much to do, many souls to save and good to do! Thanks for all your emails. Hopefully the pictures will go through. I am in Naga due to a dentist appointment of Elder Guanio! Next week is transfers, I will let you know what happens! 

     So the church is true. Mom you said we have some good missionaries in Eagar- GIVE THEM REFERRALS! Especially if they are good ones! Today is the day to do missionary work, not tomorrow. Today! Do not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ all you people! IF I can do it in Tagalog you can do it in English! You and they will be eternally grateful you did! JUST DO IT! nike. haha I love you all, sorry there is no time. Stay strong and share this gospel with ALL!

Elder Davis

February 17 2013

The field is "green" all ready to harvest!

Valentines package made it all the way to Naga!

Yo Yo mga Tao!

    So first of all, no way cool pictures this week. SORRY! But it was a crazy week. Our area is growing, and with all the new missionaries we will be getting 2 new missionaries in Ocampo, meaning we need to find a new apartment- not easy to find here! We still haven't found the right one and time is coming quick! Anyway, we WILL find it! And then we need to get moved to. We are pretty busy here, but I LOVE IT! Elder Guanio is still bomb, and still short. Sometimes I pat him on the back or something of that nature and I feel like I will kill him... He's tiny- but has a massive testimony. So we're doing good still.

     Also I got the letter from Logan. Tell him I will write him soon! LOGAN CROOKS IS THE BOMB! Can't wait to see that kid. Also I got the Valentines package as you can tell, thanks Mama! Reeces Peanut Butter Cups are the key to my heart hahaha. Nothing like that here in the Philippines. Thanks for everyone's emails too- always good to hear from ya all!

     The cows are calving? Did I read that right? Trunky na ako haha biro lang. Life is great here and Tagalog is getting A lot EASIER! haha. BICOL... still very hard. It would be great if  these people just spoke Tagalog hahaha, I want to learn Bicol though. Hopefully before I leave I will be pretty good at it too! 

      So last week we tried a "finding idea" to get a new investigator via referal, what you do is teach The Restoration to a member, hopefully a very good lesson, and then ask who they my know who needs this lesson. It can be a very great technique to get investigators and members remember their own conversion and the importance of this gospel. We taught  Nanay De Leon and it was AWESOME. She basically just taught us hhaha. She told us her testimony and how important the gospel is in her life. It is hard for her to go to church but she goes EVERY WEEK. She told us, "You are Jesus's army." and that "missionaries are angels." NOW I'll tell you... missionaries aren't angels but obedient diligent missionaries can be angelic to the eyes of those they teach. The lesson was awesome, I couldn't hold back my tears as I heard her testimony and her feelings toward missionaries. The people missionaries teach have every right to see their missionaries as "the army of God" I feel that way EVERYDAY when I put on my NAME TAG, I fear no one. The calling of a missionary, or a "representative of Jesus Christ" is so important. I feel it everyday. And I know, that he is in this work. Anyway, the lesson was awesome and hopefully next week we will have a bomb referral from her. Nanay De Leon ay astig! Feeling the spirit is the coolest thing ever... especially when you are prompted to say things you have never before said in a different language to a complete stranger and it is what they need to hear. Sometimes the Holy Ghost speaks English, sometimes Tagalog, but it always speaks to the heart! 

    Also PUNCTUALITY is killing me! "Philipino Time" will be the death of me. I have too much "Kathleen" in me to keep up with this lateness hahaha! But church is still great, Sacrament meeting is the greatest meeting in all the church- it has come to mean so so so much to me. It gets better every week and I hope and expect that will continue my whole life. 

      So time is short. Kinda a boring email, sorry. I will try harder next week. We have ZONE CONFERENCE which is always fun!  Just being a missionary, and trying my darndest. Mahal ko kayong lahat! 

Elder Davis

Ito ay aking ibinibigay sa inyo... inside joke. So how's it going? I am really not too sure what to say sometimes- or how to say it- ENGLISH is hard! Anyway I won't complain about that. This week was GREAT, as usual. But it is getting HOT! Summer is almost here, which means two things, one good, one bad. The bad, IT IS GONNA GET HOT NA HOT! The good, MANGOS NA! So yeah, that is where I am at now. So right before emailing we ate a nice p-day lunch, I didn't know what I wanted because it all looked SOO GOOD! So the Nanay suggested I try the SHARK! I said, SIGI! meaning OKAY! IT WAS DIVINE! My goodness these people know how to cook. I will miss the food here, anyway Shark is delicious. Another story... we were in our farthest area... nothing but buko and palayan. When suddenly I had a case of the swift and mighties! It was about the time of my 6 months in the Philippines, they say you usually will have to change your pants before then at least once. I was wearing my brown pants... which could have come in handy. But we rushed to the Jove family (they're members) and I asked where the CR was, luckily there was already water there and we didn't have to pump the well or I wouldn't have made it. BUT I DID MAKE IT! 6 months and no emergency so far! But I tell you no man has ere been closer to disaster. The amount of privacy at that "bathroom" was about a 3 out of ten, and I'll give it a 4 for cleanliness. Anyway, pinoy na ako so nothing affects me now. Last week we stopped by Bishop Arce's house to ask some questions about the area, when we got there no one was home but Sister Arce's brother (non-member). He's from Manilla and was staying there for a few months, he stays there a lot daw. Anyway, we started to teach him while we were there about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The lesson was awesome. The spirit was tangible, as it usually is when you share the experience of Joseph Smith. Anyway he came to church and like everything... but now he's back in Manilla for a month or two. Good thing there are missionaries there too. I can't wait til he comes back. I love teaching LESSON 1! I could teach lesson one for two years straight and not get sick of it... oh yeah that's pretty much what we do... haha. It is amazing how the Holy Ghost comes in these lessons. All it requires is a soft enough heart to feel it. Anyway I don't know how to speak well in English anymore... I am in a state of not perfect Tagalog and just "don't know how to express myself english" haha. Oh well. Well the time is short today, and I need to be going on. ALSO, it's almost Valentines Day! So MOM will you be my Valintine??? Hahaha. In most missionaries handbook they carry a picture of their girlfriend, in mine it is of you Mom (the only girl that writes every week)! Mahal kita! Tapos, Mom you asked me some questions, the first one was do I have clean running water... yes, but it takes about one full minute to fill up a small water bottle. The unfiltered water pressure is pretty good, but that water can be sketchy... good thing I only shower my self in it everyday haha. And the second question... "Elder Davis, how are your shirts so white?" Well, I am a dang good scrubber haha. Paglalaba is what I do! Just give me a bucket, water, and soap and I'll hand wash that thing until it is white as snow! Anyway yeah, I really enjoy doing laundry now... bikolono na ako! The pictures, that's the biggest spider so far- bigger than my hand- and I touched it! A member (Larry) told me to. IT was terrifying. Tapos, I got the OLD SPICE! Look at your missionary now back at me. You are looking at the missionary your missionary could smell like. Also, remember Elder Vogelsberg's and mine aweseome BYU/Superman picture that went viral? Well BYU Athletics sent us shirt because we're awesome! Cool? We think so. Well I gotta go. I love you all and pray for you daily. I feel your prayers for me, thank you. Nothing is more important than this Gospel, hold on to it like your eternity depends on it! Elder Davis P.S. Tell Braxton Brown my "Mexican Bull" to email me. Namimiss ko siya!

Famous Fist Bump

This 'guy' is as big as Chantz's hand

BYU ROCKS!!!!

Sunday February 3, 2013

Remind anyone of RV??? NOT!!!

The mutt and jeff of Sur Camarines!

Howdy!

     So, time flies. I am almost 6 months in The Philippines and one third of the way through my mission! Time goes by way way way to fast. Also it's the Super Bowl? Who knew? Little to busy over here for football- never thought I would say that hahaha. Anyways it's February and that when by so fast!

        So things here are great. I am really loving this area and my new companion is super cool. I am pretty sure I could put Elder Guanio on a key chain and carry him around with me... he's tiny. But very cool! This was just a great missionary week, as every week is in a missionary's life. Oh, before I forget, please thank President Hunt and President Hamblin and President Goodman for their Christmas card to me. I just got here last week... it was like finding Booga Reds leftovers in the fridge, little late but still good! So truly thank them for all they do. They are wise and inspired men and I owe a lot to them. 

        The first day I was here we gave a blessing to Tatay Victorio... the next day he passed away. It was a humbling experience to watch and VERY SAD for that family. However they have returned to the church because of it. They are a large less active family and they are committed to church ever since Tatay (who loved the church) passed away. This last week we attended the funeral service of Tatay, and literally 2 minutes before it began I was asked to speak by Bishop Arce.... the assigned speaker couldn't make it. So with NO preparation I stood up and talked to them about life and death and the resurrection and Jesus Christ who makes it all possible. I talked longer than I knew I was able to talk and it was amazing what words were given to me as I addressed them. And they were truly given to me. I have found that true so far in my mission, when I NEED to say something- I have always been able to say it. Death is a scary thing for people even when you know the Gospel... it's terrifying for those who don't know the Gospel. I am glad I know the Plan of Salvation, this church is the only place where that plan is taught. And that's why I am serving, so others and everyone can know the plan. 

       On that note, the culture is very different here in the Philippines than at home. When someone dies here, they put a big black sign in front of the house with the person's name and usually R.I.P.. Then they keep the body there for a week or so in the coffin for people to see and then that family feeds everyone. Back at home, we take food to whoever family had a death... here it is backwards, don't know why but that is how it is. Also if it is your birthday and there is a party YOU pay. Seems like a rip off to me but hey it's not my country. So be careful who you tell your birthday too. Many american missionaries have been caught into spending a bunch of money on their birthday because they didn't know that little cultural treat haha. Good stuff. ALSO one of the first things they do when they have a death is get the VIDEOKE machine there.... these people love there videoke haha. It's hard to find a place where you can't here an old Nanay singing her heart away haha. I love this place so much. I am scarred to death to come home hahaha

      So this past month the Caribao (sp) and Cows here have been calving. And in my new area there is a lot of corn. Cows and corn will make a missionary miss home haha or at least this missionary haha. But not too much. The corn here is a little smaller, the cows are different too, but it makes me miss going with Gramps on the farm. Mais ka ba? bakit? Ang "corny" mo kasi! hahaha Yes Race, mais is spanish haha. Great Tagalog jokes! But anyway life is good here. Our area is massive but we'll be splitting it in two next transfer and a new branch is being formed.... I am super excited. I hope I get assigned to the branch! We'll see, again I think I am training next transfer... I don't know why but I do. And IF I do, it may be one of the first 18 year old missionaries.... WHO KNOW's! 

      Also, warning there could be pictures of me eating Crocodile in the upcoming weeks. . . I know a guy. But for real I do know a guy and hopefully I will be holding and eating one soon. AWESOME! Masiramon Daw!  I am excited. Hopefully my crocodile hunter isn't full of it. They crocs here are just small here they tell me. Like 4 feet or so. I was surprised there are even some here. We'll see. 

     Well life is great. The church is true and I love my mission. It is RIDICULOUS how fast 18-21 year old BOYS learn things on their missions. There is nothing like this in the world. It truly is a "Great and Marvelous Work." This church has grown rapidly and it will continue to encompass the globe. Nothing can stop it, it is the work of God. So, you all know it is true, and if you don't know- ASK. And God will tell you if you truly want to know and if you have faith. If you once knew, and have forgotten.... come back and hold on like your life depends on it. I would, without question, die for this truth. I would. I know you would to, anyone that is converted would. Most won't be asked to die for it.... but we are all asked to live for it. So let's live this Gospel everyday. I wouldn't be here if I didn't know it was true. So, gosh  there I go being a missionary haha. But time is up and I need to go. The bugs are still big, the shower... I mean bucket is still filled, the people are still nice and the church is still true. Love you a bushel.