The Tagalog Blog: 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