Monday, August 26, 2013

Monday 26th August 2013

Tough life!

Anyone recognize these 2?


No thank you!!!
Howdy Howdy!
       Well, this week was great- but I didn't get to go to Pasacao so it wasn't as amazing as last week haha. I am way jealous that Eagar is so green and beautiful right now, this is the best time of year to be in Eagar. But let's be real, anytime of year is a great time to be in Eagar, maybe not a "beautiful" time in Eagar, but a great time in Eagar. Eagar is a little slice of heaven. But speaking of heavenly lugars, The Philippines is STINKING AWESOME! I am still convinced that I will have a harder time with my transfer back to America than I will with my transfer to The Philippines. Anyway this week was good, and it went by SO FAST! All weeks go by so fast!
        This past week was the last week of the transfer which means we are BUSY! We did all our Transfer Planning and Travel Planning this week and it was super time consuming. It is fun work, but nothing beats missionary work- actually hitting the streets and rice fields and preaching the word. It would be safe to say that I miss the regular missionary work, too bad I still have 6 months to be caged in an office haha. It is okay, it is worth it just from all the things I learn from President and Sister Reeder.  But President Reeder knows that I am "field trunky" I am ready to hit the streets again. Anyway this week has been crazy hectic but way fun and I have learned a lot. 
       So as far as cool things go- I ate a goat. Or maybe I should say, I ate goat. I didn't eat a whole goat that is just nonsense. But I did have goat or kambing as it is called in the blessed language of Tagalog. It tastes really good, it is tougher than beef. It is sorta like a beef and pork mix. Anyway now I can say I have eaten goat- can you? Try it some time. 
      So to elaborate a little more on what "transfer and travel plans" mean, that is when President Reeder assigns missionaries to their new areas and assignments and who will train and all that fun stuff. We help and council and suggest things to him about transfers and then when it is finished Elder Datu and I go into the logistics of all these things. How the transfer will work so that no one is left alone and everyone will be using their time wisely and just so that everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time. It takes forever but it took even longer when we weren't split in half yet and when we had two islands to take care of. But it is still pretty complicated especially because we are opening up 13 brand new areas this transfer alone! And all of the missionaries who are opening these areas up are TRAINING! We have so many new missionaries, we are getting flooded with missionaries. It is awesome. The work is going forth faster than ever. We don't know where to put all of these missionaries! 
      The highlight of my week was yesterday after church. We had a great lesson with one of our investigators and invited him to baptism. It was a great lesson and he TIMIDLY accepted the invitation that was given quite boldly haha. Anyways he is progressing and so is his family. Nothing compares to inviting people to come unto Jesus Christ. My Purpose as a missionary is to invite others to come unto Jesus Christ and they do it in the most noticeable way through following Jesus Christ's example and be baptized by immersion with someone holding the proper authority of God. Anytime I am able to invite others to come unto Christ I am a happy happy missionary! When they actually do it, I am BEYOND happy! But I haven't had a day on my mission so far that I am not happy! 
       Just earlier today before I started emailing Elder Datu and I were walking by a store and a man came running behind me, grabbed me by the back, turned me around, and shook my hand like we were old friends. I was shocked, especially because this person was American. I said, sorry but do I know you? Turns out we don't know each other, he just wanted to talk to us. His name is Jimmy from Arkansas! And he talks like a "Jimmy Boy" from Arkansas! Haha he also knows some Sherwoods there apparently. I told him I was related to them and that my buddy Rulon Udall was serving in Arkansas doing the same thing I am doing here. He thought that was pretty cool and so did I, It's a small world. But the most interesting part was he wanted to ask us about the church. He is a very firm member in his religion, which I won't mention, and wanted to know how many missionaries we have in the Philippines. Sadly I didn't know the exact number but I told him how many we had just here in Naga and he was shocked!  He said and I quote, "Sadly my religion doesn't do a lot of things we should do."  He was a very nice man and had a great testimony of Jesus Christ. I was pleased at that, we talked about our belief in Jesus Christ being the number one most important thing and that is true. But he mentioned so many things that he thought wasn't right about his religion. I am so glad I have no doubts about this religion. We wanted to go visit him at his house, because he was staying here in Naga, but he is leaving to go back to the states later on today so we couldn't. He was just lost, he believes in Christ and is a good man- which says a lot I think but you could see it in his eyes that he wants more. Anyway, open your mouth and talk to people about the Gospel. Sometimes they come up to you but sometimes you need to be the one to open your mouths first. Isn't it great to know what we know, and to have what they need. Maybe Rulon will talk to that man in a couple of weeks- that would be  a real small world.
       How do you like the pictures of who used to be Elders Walker and Adair? Someone asked me, "Hey do you know these guys, it says they are from Eagar." I said yes before they said their names. If they are from Eagar- I probably know them haha. Also a district mate of mine from the MTC (Elder Atwood from Australia)  trained Elder Ryder Neilson from St. Johns, cool no?
     Do you see the size of that bug? By my body language you can probably see that I was a bit scared of it- haha the funny thing is Filipinos play with these things like it is nothing. The kids even put strings on it and then they let them fly around in the air. But when they started putting that thing on me (and by put I mean they would throw it on me and where it landed it just sticks to because it's grip is crazy good)  it was basically on my neck at one point and I was squirming they thought that was pretty funny! Big tall massive white guy scared of a "tiny" little bug! 
       Well I don't have much to say this week. We were in the office a lot and we will be in the office a lot this week, we will be training all the trainers and greeting all the new missionaries and send out all the old missionaries and all of that. It should be a good week. But sorry the letter wasn't great. But I do have a favor to ask, I would love it if all of you who read my blog would send me your testimony. Just a quick little testimony. I haven't heard the testimonies of my family members in over a year. I would love to hear them. And all of you who may reads this I would love to hear anything you have to say! I would love it if you could do that. Thanks for that. Well have a great week. Find joy in the journey, life's too short to only be enjoyed in retrospect.
Elder Davis
       

Monday, August 19, 2013

August 18th 2013 LAND OF MY BIRTH???


PASACAO THE LAND OF MY BIRTH! LET'S DO SOME GOOD!
       Almost exactly one year ago I arrived in the Philippines and was assigned in PASACAO with my trainer, Elder Vogelsberg. This past week I got the very luck opportunity of returning to THE LAND OF MY BIRTH, PASACAO! Now, I am a happy person, I always try to smile to people wherever I go, but the day I got to go back to Pasacao I could not keep the smile off my face! It was the happiest day of my mission so far I think. I am so grateful that I got to go work there for a day. We were assigned by President Reeder to go work there and try to help the missionaries in their area. I was quite happy to hear that "assignment." And now I am bugging him to be able to do it one more time because I wasn't able to go see everyone. But anyway it was awesome!
       Elder Datu and I drove into Pasacao, parked at the pier and headed STRAIGHT to Tatay Domingo Banares! Tatay Banares is Elder Vogelsberg's and I's convert there in Pasacao. He has given me more happiness in my mission than any other person has. He is awesome. But we went straight to his house and when he saw me it was like he saw a ghost! He said- ELDER!?! And I couldn't have been happier. It truly was like what Ammon talks about in the Book of Mormon when, he "did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord." I was so happy to see him and he was so happy too. THE ONLY THING THAT COULD HAVE MADE IT BETTER WOULD BE IF ELDER VOGELSBERG WAS MY COMPANION. It would have made Tatay Domingo happy too see him too, he asked about you Tatay. But I am pleased to tell you that Tatay Domingo is "still my brother in the Lord." He still loves the Book of Mormon and finds strength in it and goes to church and just LIVES THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. 
       We taught them later on that day and I gave a "Endure to the End" lesson. I told him about if we live the gospel the best we can our whole lives and try our best that the Lord will bless us with Eternal Life. I told him we won't have to wait one year to see each other and all the other great things that will happen if only we will Endure to the End! He has sacrificed so much for the Gospel. He doesn't hang out with his old friends because they aren't uplifting, he does drink or smoke or anything like that and now his youngest son Domgy (sp) is getting baptized in just a few weeks. Yeah that is right Tatay Vogelsberg- DOMGY is getting baptized! "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!"
       All I know is I am a very happy missionary! I also got to see all the quotes and goals and such that Elder Vogelsberg and I put on the wall by our study desks. Every time we went out to work we would say, "Let's do some good." And I am here to tell you Tay, WE DID SOME GOOD. I could write quite a bit about all the families I saw while I was there and what not but I don't have that much time. I just know "there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we." I want to go back to Pasacao with you "Ryan" haha. 
        One of the best parts about it was that I was able to SPEAK TO THEM. Obviously when I was still an "aki" or "kid" in the mission I didn't know how to speak Tagalog very well at all, V-berg can testify to that. But V-berg was fluent from the womb. Anyway I was so limited in what I could tell people. I was a fresh missionary with a burning testimony inside my heart that wanted so badly to share it with others but I was limited. That is why I am so lucky to have been able to go back now and teach the people I love so much again, but this time be able to tell them whatever I want. To be able to tell them what is in my heart and how much the Restored Gospel will bless their lives! I am so grateful for the gift of tongues and all the blessings Heavenly Father has given me on this mission. I didn't get pictures with everyone and I didn't get to see everyone but hey, I still have 6 months left in the office I could still convince President to go back I think!  
         So Markee had her baby huh? Sadee Janette, that is a cute name, especially because she was born on Grandma Sherwood's birthday! I hope Markee is doing good. I think lots of stuff happens back home without me even knowing haha. But that is okay, I would rather focus on right here in the mission and just pray all of you guys are okay. I know everything will be fine, as long as we do what we know is right. 
          Well the church is true everybody. It really is. I know it is. Elder Ballard talks about this life being like a small string tied onto a rope that stretches forth into eternity- both ways. Then he says that string represents the time we will spend on this earth compared to pre and post. So, be good. Choose the right and follow Christ. It will all be worth it in the end. I know this message is true. When we go talk to people and we ask if we can share a message with them I tell them that this message is the "most beautiful" and "most important" message they will hear in their whole life and that is how I feel about it. Thank you for all your prayers and I pray for you everyday. I am happy, I never haven't been happy on my mission I don't think. Anyway this was a great week, I wish I could just bring you with me for a few days into my mission! Love you all so much.
Elder Davis
      P.S. Mom thank you for the package, in it I found two of my favorite things: Starburst and Laffy Taffys. And on an unrelated  Laffy Taffy note, Why was the tomato blushing? Have you given up already? It was because HE SAW THE SALAD DRESSING! Anyway I got a kick out of it. Have a fantastic week! Share your testimony with someone!
PASACAO!!!!!!! Just for a day but still... a WHOLE DAY!

Taytay Domingo Banares
 
The "Land of My First Inheritance"


Same Alley...... minus the 'gift'

4 Future Missionaries!!!
First "Super" Companions!! Who hopefully "did some good".
 

Monday, August 12, 2013

Monday 12th 2013

Howdy!
       Well, I don't think you need to worry too much about the typhoon headed our way. The rain is super strong, the wind is decent but nothing too dangerous. So don't worry Mom, but I know you will haha. Rain here in the Philippines makes rain back in home look like nothing. When it rains here- it Typoons! Anyway the typoon here isn't bad at all. So pray for the folks where it is strong. 
        Second- Eagar looks so pretty! Prettier than usual and I think quite highly of that little patch of land. It is so green here in the Philippines so I am used to it, but there are no seasons here. It is just always pretty. That might be the biggest thing I miss is different seasons! I miss fall and winter and spring. Right now I live in summer, and then summer with more rain haha. BUT I LOVE IT HERE! Anyway it will be good to see pine trees when the time comes. But I hope that time is still a while from now! Because I know one I see the pine trees I will miss the banana and the mango trees and the papaya trees and LAHAT! So I will enjoy this while I am here. 
      Dad sounds super busy! hopefully your trip to Utah is relaxing. Markee is having her baby- that's exciting! And who knew Eric has to leave again- I don't know a lot what goes on I think back home. 
        Biscuits and gravy in the dutch oven huh? That is always a good time up at Sherwood forest, I hope the Hadlocks liked it. Is there anything that tastes better than that? When I get home I fully expect Gramps and me to make some biscuits and gravy the way it is supposed to be made- Dutch Oven. So keep those dutch ovens handy Gramps. 
       Mom you asked if my living conditions are better here in the office than they were before. Answer: yes. We have a hot shower here and a washing machine! WE ARE SO SPOILED! But I miss the buckets and the bad apartments- I really do. Getting out of the office and back to the field will be a happy day. I can't wait to hit the streets and teach the Gospel ALL DAY AGAIN! But yes Mom the  loiving conditions are better but I'd take a small nasty apartment again any day! As long as it meant I could train a missionary and spread the Gospel full  time. So send some prayers that I get "set out to pasture" before my time comes up.
       This week was great! We had a Family Home Evening- I love FHE's by the way- but after the lesson we played a game called BAKA BALAKA (Insert body part) NG BAKA (Insert different body part) NG BAKA! It was a way intense game. I was neck or leeg in Tagalog. It is a tongue twisting game so whoever messes up 3 times first is the loser. I don't know how many times I said, "Baka balaka leeg ng baka (paa, tainga, chen, ulo, mata, ect)  ng baka!" Anyway I am proud to say that I beat at least one person in that game! An american tongue beat a philippino tongue in a Tagalog tonge twisting game. We won't mention how old the loser was though. Because if I told you the truth that she was only 10ish years old then my story wouldn't be so impressive. So I won't tell you she was 10ish even though she was. But it was hilarious the whole household ganged up on me because they wanted to see how long I could say that crazy tongue twister. Anyway the only reason I tell you the baka balaka story is because I want you to know that Heavenly Father really is amazing, "The Gift of Tongues" is real- promise. 
       We had exchanges in Daet this week- our furthest zone so I had a long time to drive, especially on the way home that night when it was raining cats and dogs. So I took the time I had to drive and just prayed the whole way home. I hsve learned how to many things on my mission that I thought I knew how to do before the mission and prayer is very high on that list. Serving a mission is so important, I didn't even really know how to pray before my mission, you learn a lot on a mission. Anyway I prayed for every single one of you back home and I felt God's love for you. I am so very grateful for prayer.
      This past week we taught a family and for the lesson we just read and discussed 2nd Nephi 31. That chapter is incredible! The Gospel of Jesus Christ would be hard to be found more plainly and powerfully anywhere else than it is in this chapter. Anyway this family has gone to church before and reads a little in the Book of Mormon but they haven't really been to progressing toward baptism. We read this chapter and Tatay had a lot of questions that the Book of Mormon answered so well. He asked about what happens if a baby dies without baptism because we know baptism is essential and and if he needs to be baptized again even though he has already been baptized and so on. It is a great thing that God gave us the Book of Mormon to answer these important questions. We invited him to be baptized and he said.... "no,  not yet." But he said once he knows this is true that he would be baptized. Missionary work is awesome! Even if the people don't accept the work right away. My purpose is "to invite others to Christ." Any time I get to do that I am happy, even if they don't accept right away it feels so good to be an instrument in God's hand. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!
          I heard that we are getting a BUNCH of new missionaries in Eagar? That is because the same thing that is happening here is happening there! The world is getting flooded missionaries. We will open some 50 odd new areas in this mission after we reach our peak here- just so you know that is A LOT!!! We are opening areas that have never had full missionaries in there and we will be going places no missionaries have ever been- I hope that is where I get sent. Anyway the wold is getting hit by this wave of missionary work. But the only way it will be successful is if members share the Gospel with their friends. We have to fill the missionaries' planners that are assigned in our wards with names to teach. We have to. The work is hastening and I hope we are all on board as it starts running! So start opening your mouths and share the HAPPIEST AND BEST AND MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE ANYONE WILL EVER HEAR IN THIS LIFE! And don't be scared you get to do it in English. 
      I love you all so much. I pray for you and I know you pray for me because I feel your prayers. I am going great. I am happy and working hard and doing my very best. Have a great week, try to talk to someone about the Gospel every single day.
Elder Davis
       
       
TWO GREAT FAMILIES IN HIS WARD!


Monday, August 5, 2013

Auugust 5, 2013

Church building.....And to think they tore down our beautiful old Eagar building because it wasn't structurally sound.
Dewormed and feeling a whole lot better!


WELL IF I EVER HAD WORMS- THEY SHOULD BE ALL GONE! Howdy everybody! How was my introduction? Haha this last week I was positive that I had an ulcer, I was convinced of it and my stomach hurt for a few days. I didn't really know why I was hurting but I swallowed my pride and told Sister Reader I was hurting and then I swallowed a WORM PILL she gave me. Since that day my stomach hasn't hurt- I have seen no visual evidence to say that I had worms, but it is much like the Holy Ghost, though I haven't seen anything I can feel it and I just KNOW that I had worms. Anyway, all I know if as once I was wormed- now I am dewormed! Speaking of my stomach ache and my theory that it was an ulcer, we (Sister Reeder and I) texted Doctor Jackson. Now I had heard Doctor Jackson's name before I came to the mission because Uncle Paul Blad told me, "If you ever get sick in the Philippines you'll meet my friend Doctor Jackson." I told him, "I hope I never meet him then haha." Anyway when we texted him I told him that Paul Blad from Kanosh Utah says hello! His response was, "How in the world do you know that ol' retrobate. He is one of the best people in this world, but don't believe all his stories he tells about me." He told me to tell Uncle Paul HI! So Uncle Paul- Hi from Doctor Jackson! He told me "I couldn't have a better uncle in the world." That was word for word! Doctor Jackson is awesome and he helps out our sick Elders and Sisters all the time! But don't worry about my sickness that I had, it never was bad enough that I couldn't work. I have been blessed very much in my mission with health. This past week was had to travel to a very far area with President Reeder to give a baptismal interview to a lady who- who needed the Mission President to interview her for baptism and not just a missionary. Anyway we went up with President and I had the privilege of being President Reeder's translator. It was an amazing experience to see how much change had happened in this sister because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She has been christian all her life but she said she found God and the truth in this church. She continually used the words, NATAGPUAN and NAHANAP, which basically means DISCOVERED or FOUND, as she told us about her conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She talked about be spiritually hungry and thirsty and that the gospel gave her that drink and food she needed it. She kept referring to the Book of Mormon and how it was so easy for her to come to know who Christ in that book. It was a great interview and she passed. She had truly repented of her past sins and it was quite apparent, you could see it in her face. She had an countenance of a happy, repentant person who had discovered the Restored truth. It was an awesome experience and I learned a lot. I took a picture of where we had that interview. It is that cinder block building you see. It is about 50 yards too the prettiest ocean you will ever see. The water is like turquoise! Anyway it is extremely beautiful there, jungle and ocean beach! That cinder block building is also the chapel! A bunch of saints gather there every week to take the sacrament and go to church- awesome right. If you think that is a "bad" building you should know we have a branch here who meets outside! They meet in a place with just a grass roof extended off a building like a porch but with dirt floors and the primary meets under some mango trees jsut a little was off. Is that not awesome. The most powerful sacrament I can remember on my mission was in San Vicente- I already wrote you about taht one a few months ago. With the deacon who was passing the bread and water with no shoes or sandals. Anyway I hope we all realize what we have and I hope we are all thankful. We are opening 14 new areas this next transfer! That is right- 14! We have 3 missionaries going home and 30 missionaries coming in in 2 weeks! Our mission is growing so fast! If you haven't noticed in the past 6 months what the word "Hastening" mans, you have missed something We are starting to flood the earth and I hope we are using missionaries in our wards back home. I hope you are FIGHTING over them in their schedule on when they can teach your friends. Anyway it is an exciting time to be a missionary- actually I take that back- it is an exciting time to be a member or a missionary in this restored gospel. I hope you guys enjoy my emails. I love hearing from people that enjoy reading the blog my mom makes. I have gotten a lot of emails over my mission who say they love reading the blog. It is great to hear from you. I hope I am doing missionary work even in my emails home. Anyway thanks for all your prayers- from family and non-family alike. Well, I had better get going. We have MLC tomorrow and then Trainer and New Missioanary Workshop the next day and so much more! I love you all, I am thankful for you and all the blessings my Heavenly Father has given me. One of the largest sins has to be the sin of ingratitude. If I have learned anything on my mission it has been to be MORE grateful. Love you all a bushel! Keep those prayers a coming! Elder Davis