February 23 2014

Maray na Ramrag! 

        Hey there everyone! I can't express how happy I am. Everyday I spend here I love it more. We are seeing so many miracles I can't share all of them with you, but they are all safely kept in my journal. I truly can't say one tenth of how awesome our work is going! We are being led to people, and people are being led to us. This is the 2nd week in an open area and we are literally like SO CLOSE to the Standards of Excellence. The miracles are so visible right now. The work is hard, very hard, but it is so amazing and fulfilling. Despite how hard and how hot it is though, I still have way more energy than I did in the office. Our schedule in the office was killer. We had an office to run and all of those responsibilities and a full area, with Zone Conferences and Workshops and MLC and Exchanges and I don't even want to think about it. All I know is it is much happier out here in the field! 

        I could not be happier with my District right now. I got their reports last night and between the three companionships we taught 69 lessons!! That is VERY GOOD for our mission. Especially for just being in a group, but the group is SO CLOSE to becoming a branch. And it is good considering we have an open area and their area boundaries were effected. We are seeing miracles. I almost cried last night talking to the missionaries about their work. We love Baao. We are serving because we love Christ, His Gospel and these people! 

        This week was great! I love our group-soon to be branch. Sacrament there is so great. We couldn't all fit this week, like most weeks. I spent Sacrament meeting standing in the second room of the house like building we live it. We don't fit and we don't have enough chairs for everyone- you should see the miracles happening here as the work hastens! Even though we meet in a small building and that picture of the spider with the eggs was taken INSIDE the chruch, and even though I could hear Bon Jovi playing from the Padyak outside I could feel the Spirit so strongly and so could everyone else. I love the simplicity of our sacrament meetings. Sundays are my favorite days as a missionary. They beat Preparation days and everything else. 

       We are going forth in the power of His spirit and teaching all creatures, literally we talk to everyone. I love it so much. I have felt D&C 84:88's promise so real in my life. It says there that, "And whoso receiveth you, there will I be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on you right hand, and on your left, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine ANGELS round about you, to bear you up." I have felt all of those things. I like to think that Grandma Sherwood watches me in my mission. I have 4 months to go to find a nickle... I want to really bad hahaha. For those of you who don't know the nickle story, sorry.

       As we teach with the spirit people want us to come back to their home. We taught someone last night and we taught them how to pray after we shared with them about Joseph Smith and how he was called to be a prophet. In the closing prayer our investigator gave such a sincere prayer, "Thank you for these missionaries. Bless them that they will never git tired of teaching us. Above all Father, bless us that we might know the truth in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen." Oh how happy that makes me! They live about a block away from the church- a whole family! We met them by just talking to them on the street. I know you guys aren't missionaries but that doesn't mean you can't share the Gospel. Be a living example, and then when God gives you the opportunity to share, share with power! 

        So, I hope you liked the pictures. That is my kid, anak, aki, igin! We are rocking this area and being led by God to people. I have never felt so led in my whole mission. We are giving everything we have to this area. The picture of the spider with the sack is real, we saw it in our church haha, where they prepare the sacrament haha. We just let it be. I am so used to it that it didn't even bother me. We didn't kill it or anything. Then the other spider we found dead about 4 feet from our bed haha, who knows. Anyway, I hope you like the pictures, the other one is our AWESOME DISTRICT and the Zone Leaders were there too. 

        Well I hope all is well back home. Time is flying by here. I love you all and I am excited to see you in June but it makes my heart hurt just thinking about leaving these people. I don't know if I can do it. I am excited to see Gramps and go stay on the farm with him. Gramps, if you go before June you just come visit me early!! I will be waiting, but lets just plan on June! We have some work to do out their on the farm! Start a list of chores you want me to do and we'll get to work when I get back. I love you all. I miss you. I am thankful for your prayers. Have a great week. Love you a bushel!  

Elder Davis

Nasty pregnant spider living in the church

Another nasty spider living in his bed:)

Baao district

Apple star fruit

Elder Arganda - brand new Elder!

February 17, 2014

Hey family! I am so stinking happy right now you have no idea. I am a horse that has been in the corral for 9 months! Holy smokes I truly have never felt better in my whole mission. I am in BAAO GROUP! I told our group leader, Brother Jeff Botor, who is the man by the way, that I WILL NOT GO HOME UNTIL THIS PLACE IS A BRANCH. SO Mom if you want me home by June, pray this place becomes a branch- we are so close! I am so excited I can hardly stand it!

      This group, about 3 weeks ago, used to meet outside under a tarp and the primary was out under the mango tree a little way off. Now we have a small little house that we rent and we go to church there. It fits about 50 people and we fill it up. I truly can't put to words the happiness that is in my heart to be here. 

        On Sunday I was the concluding speaker and I was given 15 or 20 minutes or so. Now I do not mean to brag in my language skills, I know that Chantz Davis is pretty terrible in Tagalog, but I don't hesitate to tell you that Elder Davis can impress people. I know that I haven't learned this language, rather it has been given to me. My tongue has literally changed. I don't want to draw attention to myself by saying this but rather give God the glory for the gift of tongues he has given me. Anyway, I have never spoken Tagalog better in my whole life than I did for those 20 minutes. I had been in Baao for 4 days and THE BICOL HERE IS WAY DIFFERENT than the Bicol in Naga. People in in Naga can't understand people here even though they are only like an hour away. Anyway I even spoke some Ricwanada (I don't even know how to  spell it haha) you should have seen their faces when I told them, "isi ko na isaddi kita sa matood na Simbahan ng Diyos!" They were shocked haha. I have been studying their language and I hope to be very good by the time June comes. I already have a big stack of flash cards and I don't know if you can imagine this but they have no English on them. When I started my mission I would have told you you were crazy if you told me that I would one day study flash cards with Tagalog and Bicol Naga on one side and Baao Rincwanada on the other side. Tagalog is natural now haha. Did I mention I taught the 1 hour priesthood last minute too- that was fun. 

         So I am training! I have a new kid (see pictures) His name is Elder Arganda! I always say, U R GANDA haha I think it is funny- you might not. The members call us Elder Ganda and Elder Gwapo haha he is a really nice kid. He is 18 years old and the only member in his whole family. He converted about 3 years ago! He is a chunk of clay that needs a bit of shaping but I am very happy to be his trainer! We are just hitting the streets and the rice fields and loving it. OPEN AREA IS AWESOME! Very challenging but very fun. He is shy too, yesterday he did his first approach to a person and was so scared to talk to them but he did great- I was a proud Tatay. Training is the best. We are obedient and diligent without exception and we are seeing the miracle as I have seen my whole mission. 

         Also I forgot one calculation from last week. I forgot to add how many times Gramps Sherwood was quoted from the pulpit in 9 months haha. But it would have to be a lot! Also, did I mention that my IGIN (baao) meaning aki (naga) meaning anak (tagalog) meaning child (english) gave a baptismal invitation in his first ever lesson to an investigator? Well he did! 

      I just finished 1st Nephi and it is awesome! I love Nephi! Anyway I was struck by the story of the Liahona. Especially opening an area. It says that the Liahona worked according to their diligence and faithfulness and heed which they gave. I told Elder Arganda that we need a Liahona. I said that we might not be as lucky as Lehi and find it outside the door tomorrow but as it teaches in Alma, "it is as easy to give heed to the words of Christ" as it was for them to follow the Liahona. I have never felt so guided and so blessed in my whole life as I have this past week. You should meet the family we tracted into, fed us and let us share with them. We are going back there tonight. I just can't even say one tenth of what I feel right now.

      The past 9 months have been great. I have learned a lot and have been around two of the best men and 2 of the best women that live today and I have learned so much. But to be frank I am so glad to be out. If you would rather have a hot shower than be able to teach all day then you are crazy! I love Baao! I love missionary work and I know this church is true. I think I am just going to start writing to you in Tagalog I can testify of truth more powerfully in Tagalog.

      I love you all and I pray for you. Thank you for your prayers. Baao needs them. I need them. I love Jesus Christ. I have never felt closer to him. I will try to send you more pictures next week. Have a great one. Choose the right. Love you a bushel.

Elder Davis

New 'air conditioning'

Laundry facilities

Preach My Gospel Laptop

Goodbye mini van!

Great quote!

18 year old Elder Arganda

Pretty small for a 6'3" American.

Beloved rice fields!

February 10, 2014...... Green Acres is the place for me, Farm livin' is the life for me.... Land spreading out so far and wide, leaving the city just give me the countryside.

Hello All!

       Well what a week! This was my last week in Canaman and my last Sunday was actually pretty hard. I was joking with President that since I have been in this ward for so long that people started calling me Brother Davis rather than Elder Davis haha. They think I am just "moving" and not getting transferred haha. It seems like I am just a part of the ward. It was rough saying bye. The best family ever, the Bienvenuto Family fed us Sunday night, like they do every Sunday night and that was really hard to tell them goodbye! It was like leaving my Filapinang Mother haha. But I am already assigned to speak in Sacrament Meeting in my next area... it is still a group but very close to becoming a branch. So that is our goal in the next 4 and a half months, become a branch! But as sad as I am to leave Canaman, I am just as happy to leave the office and go back to the pasture! 

      So I have said goodbye to all the luxuries of the office (see pictures) and embracing the pasture. Truth be told I can't wait to get out of the office, I wasn't designed for an office. I feel like Nemo in the tank, but fear not- the toilet is close and I can smell the fresh air! "We're not meant to be in a box kid, it does things to you."  -Fin. Anyway now that I have made myself sound quite weird I am excited for my new and presumably last area. You will know next Monday where I am and with who... as for now just know that I am opening an area and training and I am as excited as excited comes! 

         Are you ready for some crazy calculations I have done these past days... I hope so because they are coming! Okay- first of all I have been here for 9 months, in the past 9 months I have traveled 11,330 miles!!!! And that is only in our van not including the MANY LONG TRIPS I HAVE TAKEN IN PRESIDENTS VAN! The equivalent of that is going from San Diego California to New York, New York ROUND TRIP, TWICE! And then there is extra 286  miles give or take and that is ONLY in our van. Yup! Now what makes that even more amazing is our furthest trip we do generally is from Naga to Daet and that is only 52 miles. So you can see why I might be excited to leave the office hahaha. Just kidding. Anyway that is what we call here in Bicol HARAYO, meaning far!

        Second calculation, I have been here 9 months. When I got here we had 51 companionships in the Naga side of the mission (We still had Legaspi mission back then) and in the past 9 months we have gone from 51 companionships (102 missionaries in the current Naga Mission Boundaries) to 109 companionships  (218 missionaries!) That is 58 open areas.... and we are still growing with no end in sight!!!!!!! Do you think the work is hastening? The Mission Compliment is 230 missionaries, meaning that Salt Lake "shouldn't" send us more than that but in March we will exceed it and we have no new compliment. How exciting is that? Anyway that is a lot of open areas and apartment finding and what not! But it causes a lot of stress on a mission president. 

        Third and last calculation. Last week I finished the Book of Mormon in Tagalog, again. This is my second time in Tagalog. That is 1,554 pages of Tagalog text. 777 of which I didn't skip a word that I didn't know the meaning of without looking it up. So if I were guestimating, and I am, I would guestimate that I have read over 2,000 pages of Tagalog scripture all together. And I have learned MUCH more than just Tagalog in in those 2,000 pages or so. I hope I don't sound boastful in these calculations, see Alma 26. 

        This week was also my last MLC, I couldn't help but smile when President asked what would like to be discussed next month because I knew that I would just be in my area worrying about my little pasture! So I told you that we were fed on Sunday night, we had fish and I FINALLY learned how to eat the head of the fish properly and completely. They taught me how and it is true what they say, the head is the most delicious. To quote them, "It is where the juice is." The coolest part is eating the eyes... you just suck them out and eat away. But the black part of the eye is hard and you don't eat just in case you are planning on trying any time soon. Anyway, it was really good. They also made me write on their wall that I will come back before 2020... I hope so! Just have to do it before I am a Dad and it would not be possible! They made me write it on ink haha. Me and that family are really close. We baptized one of their referrals to us. They are awesome, the heart of Canaman ward! 

        Did I mention that a lizard pooped on me in a lesson yesterday? That happened. That makes a chicken and a lizard both in my mission. But it was a good lesson nonetheless. Well next week when I email I will be in very different circumstances, I am excited out of my mind! I will miss a lot of the stuff I have come to love here but it is time for me to go finish my mission nang maayos! 

       Thank you for your prayers and everything. I love you and I love my mission. Not a day goes by that I am not thankful that I am here. I don't want to waste any time. Keep the prayers a'coming! I love this Gospel and I know it is true! Have a great week and a Happy Valentines Day. Love you all a bushel! 

Elder Davis

Gotta love this boy!!

No more AC!

Back to washing in buckets!

Back to no TP?????

Shower buckets here I come!

Favorite family in Canaman Ward!

Good bye minivan! Back to the rice fields he loves!!!

No more AP!

      

February 2, 2014

Kumusta po?

       What a week. I think every week is a "what a week" on the mission. This past week we had two sets of Trainer and New Missionary Workshops and after the second one held in Pamplona we went on Exchanges in Daet with the Zone Leaders. It was a great exchange! I was with one of my best friends in the mission. His name is Elder Maroket from Manila. He and I were in the office together for 7 and a half months so we have become good friends. The kid is amazing at English. I am not joking when I say that him and Elder Colipapa correct my "Eagar English" all the time haha. Anyways this week literally feels like two days went by and the week was over. 

       I love trainer and new missionary workshop. I love being around new missionaries and trainees. This one was great too because I told them that next transfer I might be the one BEING trained and not the giving the training. I am excited for next transfer. But I am sad that I have to leave Canaman. This is my last week here. I am sure I will cry a lot haha. But my next area is just calling my name! President talks to me about it like everyday. 

      While we were on exchanges in Daet I got the opportunity to teach a family that they just baptized. They are so strong but the Tatay didn't seem very interested. Anyway he attended their baptismal service and then went to church the next day and felt the spirit strongly. The next lesson in his home the missionaries focused on him and he expressed his desired to know and to be baptized. We taught him about the Book of Mormon while I was there. They are a huge family! The sister is just so happy in the gospel and so happy that her husband is coming along too! I'll send a picture with them! I will also send some pictures with the Campbells before they left.

          I have been a bit sick, don't ask me with what. But the past few days have been rough. But for the most part I have been able to work without too much trouble. With only having less than 150 days I don't plan on staying in bed all day for even one of the remaining days I have. Anyway, I wasn't feeling very well when we went out but we had a great day. We went to the Barangay Hall (unplanned) and started talking to the leaders of the community. Anyway we were given 7 referrals. Most of them were the leader's families too! It was awesome. For all the referrals we get from NON-members we don't have time to tract, we are always looking for names, and we get into so many more doors if you just know their name. Anyway our area is good and our work is progressing, I don't want to leave the area and this people. 

         Anyway, this past Sunday was a long one. Like I said I have been a bit sick, nothing to worry about Mom. But despite that we went to Ragay. It is a very far area. This is the area that used to go to church in the hut by the river, remember the pictures? Anyway when they started their first group meeting their were 11 people they said. Now 6 months later they have moved to a nicer location (but not as cool) and their attendance is 60! Elder Villamor, my trainee, was the one who opened that and they all love him there. the group leader told me, "I trained him well." I hope so. Elder Villamor is the man. Anyway we went there with President Reeder to translate for a baptismal interview. It was fast and testimony week and the spirit was so strong and the interviews went well. They are very close to becoming a branch. There is something about sacrament in small little branches in the middle of nowhere that I just love. The spirit is always so strong. 

           On our way home from church though we had to make a stop. This is the part about being a Mission President that has to be the hardest. Sunday morning President and Sister Reeder got a call that one of our Sister missionary's father had passed away from a heart attack

Anyone know what that is?

I hope it is not this:)

What a house full! I counted 9!

Saying goodbye to Elder and Sister Campbell. He loves them!

the night before. So on the way back they stopped by to tell her the bad news and see what they could do for her. This poor sister was not expecting this visit nor the news that it brought. I felt so sad for her. She got permission to call home and see how everyone was doing. This Sister is doing okay right now. I'm not sure how many times this has happened since I have been in the office, but at least three. It amazes me  to see their faith. It always reminds me of Bauer Brown when Coach Brown left us. I still remember what he wrote home from his mission to be read at his father's funeral something like, "Some of you are wondering why I didn't come home for this. I didn't come home because I know I will see my dad again. I know families can be together forever but the people I am teaching don't know that." It is inspiring to me to see missionaries who have so many reasons to not serve, keep serving. 

            As of late it seems like so many expected things are happening, death maybe being top on the list. We never know when our time will be. Life is short. I have noticed though how much comfort the Gospel gives to us. Our simple knowledge of God's Plan of Salvation gives the answers to some of the biggest questions in life. I know that God lives. You should see these missionaries' faith in Him when they have loved ones, like mothers and fathers, die. Miracles happen. I truly do know that the things I teach to these people everyday are true. It is not just a good story or a comforting message. It is God's truth, restored again to the earth. I know that Christ lives, and because he lives we will too. Preach My Gospel teaches us that, "All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ." Lots of unexpected things happen in life, sometimes they seem very unfair. But our trials build us, and all that is unfair will be made right. God loves us. I know He does. I can feel it everyday as I teach His children. Well, I could go on for a while. But I know this work is true. It is of God and it is God's. 

         Thank you for your prayers! I love my mission. This will be my last week in the office! Can you believe how fast these past 9 months have gone by? Next week will be my last week emailing in the comfort of the office and then I will be out in ^&*#. I am so excited! Keep your prayers coming this way. I love you all. I promise you that this church is true. Believe in God. Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. Have a great week! Love you a bushel! 

Elder Davis