Monday May 20th 2013

I need this in my back yard!

I know he has an umbrella!

Funny boy!

Not quite grandpas cows but a close second.

Well, Maray na Uran, yup, just spat BICOL haha

      I just said to you, "happy rain" in English haha and a Happy Rain it is. SUMMER IS ALMOST OVER HERE!!!! Rainy season is starting, and I would rather deal with mud, and being wet from rain, than be wet from sweat haha. It is going from Hot season, to LESS-hot season, with A TON of rain! I am excited and welcome it with open arms, I feel like Andy Dufrane (sp) when he's standing in the rain after the prison break haha. I've only seen the edited version of course.

      Also, Skype was GREAT!!!!!!! It was way great to see all of you. It blew my mind when I was skyping you all in Eagar and then on top of that I am seeing people on your  i-phones in Florida and Utah, what the crazy technology? Anyways it was a great Mother's Day call! See you in Christmas! 

      So this morning as I was doing my laundry, in my glorious bucket haha, I saw a spider about 4 inches across. Elder Klassen killed him, but I was just amazed at how desensitized I am now to those kind of things haha. I didn't even take a picture haha, it is a everyday kind of thing. I am so SANAY to this place hahaha I love it here. Though I will admit that a washing machine will be a welcome quan, and the lack of massive spiders will not hurt my feelings. I have showered (with my bucket) with big, unwelcome, jumping frogs and that just doesn't even faze me, where am I haha. It is a good thing we have a long time until I HAVE to come home haha.

     Rulon has already had his farewell? Holy smokes it will be fun to talk to him in 2 years! I miss that kid. He will have a very different than me, but it will be perfect for him, that's for sure. The language will be easier, not easy, but easier haha. But lets be real, Tagalog is quite honestly the language of the Celestial Kingdom hahaha.

     Mom I am glad to hear the garden is planted. That's important stuff haha. And all but one of the calves is on the ground? Sounds like fun work, but nothing beats missionary work haha. Though that one is a close second.Sounds like Gramps is still strong and well, that's good. He looked good on skype. Too bad Grandma and Grandpa Davis couldn't make it. I hope they got my letter I sent them, I can't remember if they got it?

     So I have no "knock your sock off stories" but I would like to talk about The Gift of Tongues, or Ang Kaloob ng mga Wika. Just the title in Tagalog really says it all for me. I want all of you to know from the bottom of my heart, "I did not learn Tagalog!" Rather it was "given" to me, thus GIFT of tongues. Of course I am still learning and I am not perfect, but I know the language of Tagalog, crazy to say that. And not only that, I am pretty good at it. I have lived in the Philippines CLOSE TO 10 MONTHS, that's all. Also I can understand Bicolono pretty well. It comes from God. I hope no one who reads these letters believes in anything else. Chantz Davis CAN'T speak Tagalog. Elder Davis CAN! But it is only due to God. And I believe He could take it away from me too. It truly is a miracle that 18-21 year old BOYS learn the worlds hardest languages and in almost every case are extremely good only being in the country for less than 10 months. There are so many organizations in this world that will spend a lot of money if they could have their employees fluent in any language in 10 months. But we have the power of God to help us. It is not bought by money, but by obedience, diligence, sincere prayer and desire, and finally the grace and mercy of God- as a GIFT. And we use it to bless the lives of his children and Preach His Gospel. To bring it forth to all the world. I believe that is one of the "signs" Jesus spoke of when he gave the commandment to the Apostles to "Take the Gospel to all the Earth" the sign that Those who do that work will speak with "new tongues." Why on earth would bless me with this gift if I weren't teaching truth?

     I am humbled every time Tagalog flows off my tongue, and shocked when Bicol flows from it. And I am still learning. Thank you so much for your prayers as I have been here, especially from my family. I still remember Race telling me, "If you are obedient, you will learn the language." That one is written in my missionary handbook.

      Anyway the Gift of Tongues is a cool experience. And the more you NEED to say something, example in teaching God's Children His Restored Gospel, or when your in a tight spot the better your Tagalog will get. Anyway it is cool. You said it was cool to hear me speak it on skype, but I want you to know HOW I am able to speak Tagalog.

     Anywho, I better get going. It is raining HARD HERE! I'll try to send it to Eagar, but that's a bit of a travel. Mahal ko kayong lahat. Ingat sila sa inyo. At maraming salamat sa mga panalangin po ninyo. Nararamdaman  ko iyan araw-araw. Have a great week.

Elder Davis   

Love you all a bushel!