Every week when we get on to email, before I open my
emails I always hope that my Gramps is okay. This week I opened it with
the same thought and read that "Grandpa was alive, but that he died."
Well, these keyboards are wet with tears. I don't know what to write
about anymore. I am glad he wants to make it til June, I pray he does.
Since I have been a deacon I have prayed that he would die either before
or after my mission, just not during it. Truly, since I was a deacon.
I just want him to be happy though. CAN YOU BELIEVE MOM FOUND A
NICKEL!?! SOOOO COOOOL! Well you can tell gramps that he better not be
like those girls that say they will wait for the missionaries and then
flake out... but then again Mary J is waiting for him haha. Like I said,
if you go Gramps, just stop by Baao Philippines first and tell me good
bye. But I would prefer June if that's okay! We'll go feedin cows and
any other chore we have and you can go then.
Well, I don't feel much like telling stories right now but
this week was pretty cool. Elder Arganda and I did get pretty sick
though. I think it was because we had two days in the shoes of the
assistants and that is not fun. We were their temporary companions on
Monday and Tuesday because of our meeting. We were up til 11 and drove A
LOT, like a lot. and Didn't get home til late, anyway we got sick, but
nothing too bad- we're fine. But I had two highlights of the week!
1.) We taught this great less active guy, like he could be
your uncle he's so cool, and it was a great lesson. One of the best I
have ever had with a less active. We read with him the story of the
Prodigal Son! It was powerful! This man has a testimony of the Restored
Gospel of Jesus Christ and reading with him was amazing. When we hit the
part of "The Dad seeing his son afar off and running to him and
embracing him" the spirit was so powerful! The man said, the Dad didn't
even think twice about taking his son back, he asked no questions, he
was just happy that his son came back to him.
I testified to him that our Father in Heaven is waiting for
us, and when we go back to him he will run to us, all he wants is for us
to return back to him! "To be eternally wrapped in the arms of his love
will be a real, and not a virtual experience." -Elder Bednar. Anyways, I
hope he doesn't take too long to come back! Prog... Progin.... MY SON
RETURNS! (some of you are laughing right now). But it is a great story
for every one of us.
2.) Seeing from the corner of your eye that a recent convert
is paying their tithing is one of the happiest feelings in the world.
The sacrifice they are making to pay their tithing just makes my heart
jump within me for the blessings that are coming their way. Tithing, out
of all the commandments we teach, is my favorite, because I teach it to
people who need financial blessings from heaven! No sacrifice is too
great for the rewards awaiting us. Anyway, those were my highlights.
After reading the letter earlier I still don't know what to
write about. You just tell Gramps that he doesn't need to wait for me.
Mary J is probably pretty mad at me, she about had him back and then he
pulled a Lazarus! Anyway, I love you all. I truly do. I love my mission.
I have learned so much here. Above all that I have learned is that of
the pure love God has for us (see #1). I can feel it as I teach his
children. I can feel that they are special to him, he cares for them, he
is aware of their needs. If only my mission could just last forever.
Anyway I better get going. Have a great week. I hope you enjoyed the
pictures. I promise I won't be distracted from my work because of what
is happening back home, I will work everyday of my mission until they
kick me on that air plane. My Gramps taught me how to work too well for
me to not finish my mission strong. Also I just texted President and
told him I won't extend anymore despite my desires. I love you and I am
thankful for your prayers! Love you a bushel.
Elder Davis
P.S. "Life and Missions are like a roll of
toilet paper, the closer you get to the end, the faster they go."
Revision of a Larry E. Sherwood quote!
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| Baao Philippines |
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| The new assistant Elder Klassen |
Well Elder, I am just learning about facebook and requested Kathleen to be a friend, and I am so happy to connect to your blog. Thank you for sharing....I love your GPA too. It has been many years since my parents and your grandparents did so much together, but once you connect with people like Larry and Mary J you never forget! I am sure you know that it goes without saying what it was like to live just around the corner from them and especially as brand new members of the Church - I was 14. Sounds just like Larry to pull a Lazarus, but it makes perfect sense - caught in the middle of both worlds with love for all of his family. I miss Mary J so often, but I also miss thinking of those two together...what a team! We all probably feel a little of what you feel as far as being caught in the middle of a rough and a hard spot.....do we let go or hang on??? I know this much - we'll all be right behind them before you know it. I heard a sad story once of a woman I hardly knew and how she had lost her son. Even though I hardly knew her, I thought of her often and felt sadness for her. Many many years later, early one morning I sat straight up in bed feeling a sigh of relief - I no longer had to feel sad for this woman I barely knew, she had been reunited with her son for YEARS now. The sadness was completely gone!!! Perhaps we need separation to appreciate eternity with our loved ones. You sound like a dynamic missionary who has the backing of a wonderful, faithful family - it doesn't get any better than that Elder. Love to all of your Sherwoods forever!
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