PICTURES!!!!!!! Monday October 28th 2013

Howdy Howdy!

        This was a GREAT week! I don't even know where to start. I have so much I could write a page about! But I'll just start... So on Monday we had P-day and then work that evening. Tuesday we had exchanges is Camaligan. Wednesday we had Mission Tour with ELDER ARDERN in Pamplona. Thursday we had a mission tour in Canaman with Elder Ardern. Friday we had exchanges in Iriga. Saturday we had a Baptism in Pasacao and we toured the Lubigan area after that. So- we've been a bit busy! But it has been amazing! What a great week. 

         I wish I could tell you more about Elder Ardern's Tour here but it was amazing, He is a very spiritually and scripturaly  powerful man. He taught us so much and motivated us even more. He gave us some great vision of where this mission can go in the future. He taught us about becoming a "Teacher come from God" it was awesome. In our exchanges in Iriga we had just tracted into this family and taught them the first lesson. We tried hard to teach so that they would recognize us as teachers sent from God. After the lesson was over we walked out and I heard the Nanay lean over to the little boy there and say, "Do you want to grow up to be good boys like those boys are?" I hope I teach in a way that people recognize me as being a "Teacher come from God." Anyway my whole mission I have tried to serve with this attitude, "Be the kind of missionary my mother and father think I am." I still think that was but after the mission tour I added, "Be the kind of missionary I will one day as my sons to be." I hope to serve with honor- serve the way it says to serve in D&C 4! Anyway I learned A LOT from that Mission Tour, Elder Ardern is pretty amazing. His wife is too and we chatted about Papa Hansey! 

       I am getting way better at finding new investigators! We have to talk to everyone! I hope this will help you guys when you try to share this Gospel will others. Elder Ardern taught that when we see people say to yourselves, "There goes someone of great importance to God. what am I going to do about it?" When you are with your non-member friends say that to yourself, "This person is of great worth to God, what am I going to do about it?" 

        NOW! The baptism in Pasacao! I was so excited when I got news that this family was ready to be baptized! They asked them who they wanted to baptize them and they all said, "Elder Vogelsberg!" And may I add that would be the only thing that would have made this day more perfect. Anyway they settled with Elder Davis in Elder Vogelsberg's absence. When we got there and were making our way to the beautiful beach we crossed a half-broken hanging bridge right near the mouth of a river into the ocean. Once we were over the bridge I heard Erica's little voice, "Elder Davis! Elder Davis!" Beside her I see the other little nippers running to me, with little puffs of sand with every step. I bent down and they just hung on me! I love this family. I started talking to them and they said, "Hey you're way better at Tagalog now!" I just laughed and said, "Yeah, it's been a year!" Anyway we walked to where my beloved Pasacao Branch was waiting, the whole time with all those kids clinging to me! Side note- they are in the process of building a chapel in Pasacao so they won't have to keep meeting the basement of that building. 

        We got there and had a great visit and then had a wonderful program and then had the baptism! First off, as missionaries we can't go swimming, so it was quite nice to finally get in the water. It was so blue and clear and the sun was perfect! It made me think of Christ's command to his apostles in the last chapter in Mathew in the last two verses, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." I baptized them having been commissioned of Christ ... on the edge of the world... in the name of The Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 

        Elder Vogelsberg and I loved this family. We loved teaching them. When we were there their father wouldn't allow them to go to church or be baptized. Their mother is a member, when we were there she had just given birth to that little baby in the pictures. As much as we loved them we had given up much hope of them being baptized. They live far from the church and it is a big sacrifice to go but they finally softened their Dad enough to let them go to church and to be baptized. I think sometimes we don't realize what effects we have as we go about doing what the Lord asks us. I didn't think they would be baptized- but a year later to my surprise and delight they were ready. Don't give up on people! You can count the seeds in a single apple- but you can't count the apples inside one single seed. "by small things are great things brought to pass." 

        Saying goodbye to those kids was terribly hard! They would come hug my leg, look up at me and say, "Elder Davis, I'll miss you..." I told them I will miss them too! I told them I love them. I asked them if they remembered about "enduring to the end" and they said yes. I said, "Well if you endure to the end, go to church, say your prayers, read your scriptures, follow the commandments, etc. Then we'll see each other again in heaven. I say Elder Vogelsberg and I will endure to the end, we will try our very best and then, "Magkikita-kita tayong lahat sa langit!" I will miss that family. I went to the Dad, who attended the baptism but wasn't super happy, and said, "Thank you for allowing your children to be baptized." I don't think he has a clue what path they just entered. And remember they just entered a path- a long one that will lead them to Eternal Life but baptism is not a destination, only a beginning. I could go on about baptism for a while, children baptism, immersion, proper authority, etc but I'll leave that for another day. 

        Anyways keep working sharing this gospel. You never know what will happen in a years time. Miracles will happen- languages may even be learned. 

        Finally I will share one more story. When we were in Iriga we contacted a member of the church that had been less-active most of his life. He grew up in Cotnogan and then moved to Iriga- but he lives pretty far from Iriga Centro. So he lives kinda far away but he saw the missionaries and told them they needed to come to his house. So we went to his house and started talking to him. Since he moved from Cotnogan he hasn't been going to church except once or twice a year when he goes home to Cotnogan. He then showed me three books (see attached pictures). The three books were: The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ, The Holy Bibly, and The Hymns of the Church! 

       This man, though less active, still reads from these WORN books. His house was flooded, like 6 feet of water flooded. And that is why those books look the way they do. That's why you see mud on "Silent Night." Anyway he showed me these books and while my companion talked to them I just kept looking at it and staring at it- half smiling and half crying. They asked me why I was so intrigued and I said, "It's so old- but it's still true." I asked him if he still reads them and he said, "Yeah I still read it." Then I said, "Can I take a picture? I need to send this back home and tell everyone back home to make sure they read their scriptures!" They agreed and now I am saying- Read your scriptures! 

        Well I love you all! I am thankful for your prayers! I am doing great here! This is my home and my people for the time being. I know, with everything in me, that what I am teaching them is true. I see the difference is brings to their life. I see the light that goes into their faces when they know it is true and when they live it like they know it! I pray for you. Be good. Be better, serve with charity. Read your scriptures. Go to church. Love God and his children. I miss you all, but all these sacrifices seem like nothing- they always do in the service of God.

Elder Davis

Everyone came out to the baptism in the sea!

The Bunion kids!

A picture is worth a thousand words!!!

Eating with the hands!?

Well worn scriptures

Headed to the sea!

Headed to the sea!

Monday October 21, 2013

There are pythons and cobras in that grass!

Still got hops:)

"Chapel" in Ragay. Only white face in the crowd!!

Elder Davis

San Carlos Family

Well howdy! I hope everyone's week went excellent! Mine was great! This week we watched two precious souls enter into the waters of baptism and it was perfect. To top things off- BYU won and The U lost to U of A... living the good life! So the San Carlos kids are baptized! This is a great family. The first time we went there they seemed pretty hesitant to be taught again. They had been less-active for over 10 years. We kept visiting those first few weeks even though we didn't see much progression and as we did we grew to love this family and see some of the challenges they are facing. We grew to be close to them and they grew to trust us as the listened to our lessons. The kids had not been baptized due to how long they had not been in church and we taught them about baptism. I could make this a real long and better story but I don't have a ton of time and there is a lot more to write about BUT they have sacrificed these past few months to come to church. These little girls and their older brother got their father to come back to church! He even stood in the circle when they were confirmed members of the church! The baptism was perfect! They were all there and Tatay came straight from work- hammer still in hand! I can't tell you how great it is to see them pass in the gate toward eternal life! I wish I had more time to write about them. Enjoy the pictures. This Sunday was awesome! We went to two sacrament meetings! One of them was in RAGAY! Ragay is one of the newest sites we have a church in. They are still a group and as you can see in the pictures they meet in a chapel with a dirt floor and bamboo walls and a grass covering on the walls and roof. The first time they met about 7 weeks ago they had 6 people attend... when we were there they had over 20! The church is growing there. The missionary that opened that group is my son in the mission- Elder Villamor! I'm so jealous of them, out in the middle of the jungle, preaching the gospel and going to church in a hut. There is something special about the sacrament that has been blessed while kneeling on dirt. Hopefully I get assigned somewhere like that when I get out of the office! After Ragay we attended sacrament in our ward and it was the Primary Program! Is there anything better than cute little Filipinos singing in the Primary Program? It was awesome and our new convert had a part in it... it was hilarious! All you could see was their black hair sticking over the pulpit and their cute little English accents quoting scripture! This past week we had exchanges and I was with an elder from Cebu... if you didn't hear about the huge earthquake in Cebu then you should look it up- it was MASSIVE! Anyway we got to teach a lot of lessons and in this one lesson the family was asking where he was from, he said Cebu and then they started asking about his family and what not. This good missionary told them, "I don't know how they are doing. As missionaries we can't email except on Mondays. I think they are okay, I'm praying for them." They were quite impressed with the sacrifice he makes to serve on this mission and the focus he had on teaching people this gospel. At the end of the lesson I told them that the reason we missionaries do what we do... and volunteer to do it.... is because we know that what we are teaching them is true. Missionaries amaze me everyday! It is incredible the sacrifices missionaries have made just to share this Gospel. This work is THAT important. I've seen missionaries serve though family members die while they are serving, though their family doesn't have money and they have no one with a job to support their family, two weeks ago the house that my companion grew up in (his grandma's house) washed away in a hurricane, and now earthquakes and missionaries just keep serving. They go in peoples homes with big smiles and tell them about a message that makes everything sad about life become okay. Why do over 80,000 missionaries, ages 18-21ish, serve missions all over this world? It truly is "a marvelous work and a wonder" it's a miracle! So help those 80,000 out as we take this message to the ends of the earth, be it Ragay or your own neighborhood. Now I am going to share something with you that President Reeder just shared with us. Yesterday he was at a stake conference in Daet and one of the members of the stake presidency gave a talk about fasting. Now for any of you who read my letters who are not members of this church, we believe in fasting. Fasting means not eating and drinking for a period of time. Once a month we fast for 2 consecutive meals and then give at least the money we save from not eating those meals to the church who then gives that money those who are in need of help. Now the story this man shared yesterday at Stake Conference was that there was a mother who joined the church. She was taught all about this gospel and accepted it with all her heart. She was taught the commandments, including fasting. Some church leaders had heard that this sweet sister and her family were fasting for two days at a time. Meaning they were not eating or drinking for 48 hours! President Reeder shared with us that the leaders went to visit them and make sure that they understood how to fast. This sister shared with her leaders that the missionaries taught her that fasting was going without food and drink for 2 consecutive meals. This sister and her family only have 1 meal a day- so being the faithful sister she is, they fasted for 2 days (wich is 2 meals for them)! She had such simple and amazing faith. "The missionaries taught me that fasting was a commandment in this church- and I know this church is true." How amazing is that faith? How is it that I sometimes complain about fasting? I think I can go without dinner and breakfast just to help those who are in need. I think the commandments, in general, whether it be baptism, or tithing or fasting or whatever, the Lord wants to see our faith. I think we can all have a bit more faith, try a bit harder at being obedient and be more thankful for the blessings we have. I love you all a bushel! I miss you- but not too much! Thank you for your prayers! HOLY SMOKES I ALMOST FORGOT THE BEST PART! So this past week I found out the best news ever! The Bunion kids are getting baptized! This family is Elder Vogelsberg's and mine's favorite family! They are a part member family, only the Mom is a member and she's been less-active, the father doesn't like our church too much but the kids love it! They wanted to be baptized last year when Elder Vogelsberg and I were there but they live so far away from the church that it is hard for them to go and their dad didn't want them to. Anyway the missionaries in that area asked me if I remembered this family and of course I told them I did. The kids are finally going to church and they are going to be baptized! The missionaries asked them who they wanted to baptize them and they said, "Elder Vogelsberg! Elder Vogelsberg!" The missionaries said he's already home and then they said, "Elder Davis! Elder Davis!" So President Reeder has allowed me to go and baptize them this Saturday right there in the ocean! It is the going to be awesome- the only way it would be better would be is if Elder Voglesberg were here as well! Anyway I love you all a bushel! Be good and say your prayers, read those scrips and go to church- mostly choose the right and Do Some Good! Elder Davis

Monday, October 14. 2013

As a missionary every morning I really only have one choice to make... which tie do I wear today? I know I am going to wear slacks (granted I can pick from 4 colors) and I know I am going to wear a white shirt, but the tie is where I can really use my imagination. Color- blue? Red? Brown- dare I? Stripes? Solid?Fat? Skinny? It is the biggest decision we Elders make as we get dressed in the morning- so next time you see an elder, compliment him on his tie. I love getting compliments on mine. Anyway- hey everybody! How was your week? Mine was great! General Conference never ceases to improve from 6 months to 6 months! It is amazing! It is great to have that guidance in a world that is like it is.

       So we survived another transfer week! Transfers are over and things are calming down again. We are getting swamped with missionaries. Our wards are stuffed with them and we are constantly making new areas and putting missionaries where they haven't been before! IT IS AWESOME! This next transfer we will open up an additional 13 areas! So we have 4 to 5 weeks to find all their apartments, get the contracts, get them stocked and EVERYTHING! The more missionaries we get the farther out we put them and the harder it is to find apartments and everything, so send a prayer our way haha. This is an awesome work, I am amazed to see how God allows us to do it. What I really don't understand is how President Reeder knows which trainers and trainees go together. They've never met them before! It is amazing to witness. There was clear inspiration when I was assigned to be trained by Elder Vogelsberg. It is fun to be a part of. 

       So since last week was transfer week after we did Trainer's Training and they all met their new companions and got assigned to their areas Elder Datu and I took many of them to their areas so they can get to work as soon as possible. We didn't get back until SUPER late at night and on the way there I killed a cat :( it's a good thing I don't like cats too much :). To put it in office words, "It's as dead as any dead animal that ever died." We were extremely busy this last week though with getting everywhere where they needed to go but we were still able to teach and teaching was far more enjoyable! We had some amazing lessons and general conference was just a spiritual feast! 

      This past week we taught a lesson with an investigator that a family referred to us. PLEASE GIVE REFERRALS! But anyway we asked her how her reading was going and how her prayers were and she said, "I think I have an answer." She says she just feels it is all true, she feels happy and peaceful. She has been a bit wayward so far in her life and this family that has taken her in and the Gospel is helping her find her way back to the "line in the middle of the road" as gramps would say. "Life's like a highway, I don't expect you to stay right on that middle line, but I DARN sure expect you to stay between the fences."-Gramps.I've used that a time or two on my mission as I teach the Plan of Salvation. But you should just see this daughter of God make her way back to straight and narrow. She is reading and praying with sincerity and God is answering as he always does. No matter who we are, whether we think we deserve it or not God loves us. As President Monson taught us, God's love is simply always there! Anyways I love teaching people that are truly looking for the truth. Member-Missionary work is the BEST! 

      As for General Conference- it was awesome! I would like to share with you a few "one liners" I really enjoyed: "It's not where yous serve; it's how!" "A grateful person is rich in contentment, a ungrateful person is rich in discontentment." "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith." "There is room for you here, come join us." 'You can do it now." "Will you falter or will you finish." "There is no superior career than a mother.""Man's laws cannot make moral what God has declared immoral!" "Sin, even if legalized by man, is still sin in the eyes of God." "Were there no sorrow, we would not grow." "You must become the rock the river cannot wash away." "We will each have a personal interview with Jesus Christ after this life." BASTA this general conference was awesome! The world is crazy, it is "flooding" like in the time of Noah, but if we follow the living prophet we will be found in the safety that has always been enjoyed by those who follow the prophet, just like those who on the boat with Noah. God doesn't change, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. I am thankful for the knowledge of a living prophet. 

       I love being a missionary. I love my mission. Things in life are too good to not be thankful for and not to enjoy. I am happy. I love the people who I serve. I love this Gospel and I know it is true. I often say to those I teach that we don't 'Share Information" we "Offer Salvation" and that is how I feel about it. Time is flying by. This is Elder Datu's last transfer. We will ahve been together for SEVEN AND A HALF months of our mission. That is basically one third of out whole missions. We are brothers! Also thanks for the package Mom. It got me REAL excited about CHRISTMAS! The Forgotten Carols! That night we went over to President and Sister Reeder's and had snickers and listened to the Forgotten Carols! It was a great night. Felt like home. I have a feeling that this will be one of my favorite Christmas's of my whole life. I remember someone, I think Elder Perry, say something like, 'What better Christmas gift can we give to the Savior than that of missionary work." Anyway I hope you all have a great week. I love you and pray for you. Thank you for your prayers! Sorry the letter is a bit short.

Elder Davis

I think he might have a little muscle left!

Gotta have THE FORGOTTEN CAROLS to get through the BRRR months!

Oh dear!!

Biscuits and gravy and RICE!!!! October 7, 2013

Well Howdy!

       If you were waiting to here an email from a happy missionary then you are in the right place! We had a great week, a busy week, but a great week. This week we had transfer planning to see where all the missionaries will go and what their assignments will be. It is amazing to see President Reeder/Bliesner when they are in transfer planning and to see how the revelation and inspiration changes what logic might tell you. Anyway it was a great and busy week, we weren't able to teach as much as I would like but when we taught we had AWESOME lessons.

      So first off we always fast when we do transfer planning and we always have a break-the-fast with the office staff. This week I asked Ati Rose if she knew how to make Biscuits and Gravy. She said she did because she had learned from a past mission president. So to my surprise our break-the-fast was Biscuits and Gravy! As much as I enjoyed it we'll just say it is was not buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy cooked in grandpa's dutch oven over some coals. But it was still good and I thanked them for their kindness in cooking that for me. It was also the only time I have ever had biscuits and gravy WITH RICE! But I've told you before, CTR= Cook The Rice here in the Philippines.         

     So RV beat SJ huh? DAPAT! 

General Conference sounds awesome! I can't wait to watch it this week! There is nothing like General Conference! I am excited to learn and to grow. I'll tell you what I think of it next week when I've watched it. 

      Yesterday was the most classic examples of how missionary work should be. We went to church and upon arrival we were visiting with the members, a family had a family member living with them and invited her to church. She came and the Nanay introduced us to her and had prepared her to be taught by us. We told them we could come by later on that day and teach. We went to their house and got to meet her and talk to her and find out who she is and who God is to her and EVERYTHING. We then asked if we could teach. She had cousins there and we asked if they would teach the lesson, teach her about prophets, and Christ, and the Apostasy, her cousin that is about to serve a full time mission in a few months taught about Joseph Smith and it was powerful. They taught her that she was a daughter of God and that He loves her and has a plan for all of us, and that we can return to Him with our families after this life. They shared part of The Book of Mormon to her (she had began reading it the night before) and then we pretty much testified to what her family had shared to her- and we invited her to be baptized and she accepted! Is there anything better than that? That is how MEMBER-MISSIONARY WORK is supposed to be in this day and age. Who better to share this message with than those we love so dearly? It was the perfect example of member-missionary work- especially because they fed us food afterward (very important haha). I can't wait to go back and teach her The full Book of Mormon. At the end of our first lesson I spoke Bicol for the first time to an investigator in a lesson! BICOL, not Tagalog- BICOL! It was awesome, and a bit humorous,I told her, "The best part about all of this, is that you can know it is true for yourself." I said, "These cousins of yours have told you what they know, they served missions (all of them were RMs) because they know the truth, we (Elder Datu and I) are serving the missions because we know the truth, and Kuya Jobert right here is going to serve in just a few months because he knows the truth." I testified that, "God loves you and will answer your prayers if you ask with sincerity, faith and real intent." Not all of that was Bicol, but most of it. 

      Her  closing prayer was amazing. She thanked God for sending us to her and sharing this message with her. Hearing people pray for the first time is AMAZING! She texted us that night and thanked us and said she is excited for the next visit. Can I say I love being a missionary!?! 

      The Tatay I told you about last week came to church again! It has been ten years that he has not been to church! Ten years! And now he is back, his children will be baptized soon and Nanay is darn close to coming back! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!  

      The Nanay of Sixtu, if you remember her, thanked Elder Datu and myself for serving a mission. It is hard to describe the feeling when someone tells you "Elder Davis, Elder Datu thank you for serving. We finally understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I want to thank you for helping my family." I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! 

      Well we are super busy. It is transfer week and we have a lot to do. I don't have too many pictures- but I will be sending a few  of me in my new suit. In Elder Datu's words, "It's saucy." I love you all. Share the gospel. Be good. Be obedient and help others. Thank you for your prayers. I can't believe it has been 10 years since Grandma died, I miss her, but I know we'll see her again. Our goal is to live as she did and become an eternal family and bring as many people as we can to Christ.  I love you a bushel! 

Elder Davis

Typical pose:)

Very cool!