September 13, 2011

Hey Fam,
Hows everybody doing down there?? Is school coming along well with the new kids?? I really hope that the school year can be succesfull for you both. I hear people talk about school sometimes and it always reminds me of the crazy kids you talk about every dinner haha. I still havent finished off all those goodies in the packages you sent theres so much goodies in there!
So some Q's again: Is Amy really going to New York and when is she going...i heard from Shauna in a letter? Also Matt Beus is coming home in 2 weeks? thats crazy! O and did you send my letter to David and how is Louie, you see him ever?? And how did Fantasy go DAD?
Update down here in the North Valley: Had a sweet day last week and we got 4 new investigators that were home! 2 of them are actually ones that could go somewhere and asked good Q's. I noticed also that when we were working hard it was the day that I recieved the most insults from people in cars...kinda weird huh? Also got to teach some Lesbains which was really interesting and one of them kissed me on the cheek, didnt enjoy that too much :) And the end of the day I got to give one of the Sisters a blessing that wasnt feeling too well...it was only my second time but I said the right stuff and didnt mess up at all. Phone went off from text message during the blessing, but I recoverd well and kept going. Me and Elder CHilders are working well together and the numbers might not be showing but were helping this area pick up. Our Zone Leader Elder Yardley who I really like even said its a tough area cuz he served in it, so it makes me feel better when have great days where we see alot of people and teach them about the Gospel.
Got to play some Zone on Zone basketball too yesterday and I was so excited! I think I was little too excited at the beggining cuz I had some dumb turnovers at the begging, but got more comfortable near the end. It felt alot like a C-Squad basketball game in High School with the very few amount of people there but cheering after every point there team scores. We won all 4 games and other missionaries we are probly the Best Zone in the mission. Got some nice ties on pday too, and got a Nicole Miller tie (reminded me of the Seinfield where Elaine wants Nicole Millers and the guy says he'll give her free discounts) So ya loving the mission life and cant complain :)
I would love to bear my testimony that I know this Church is true. I know my Heavenly Father loves me and that he wants the best for me in this life. That is why he provided commandments and why the fullness of the Gospel is found within the Book of Mormon. Im grateful for all my family and friends and the support I recieve from them. I know this is the Lords work and it is so important. I bear you this tesimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder D

September 6, 2011

Hey Fam,
Wow I finally got the Patrartichal Blessing Im so happy! Were about to
leave to come and do emails but we saw the mailman coming and I had a
feeling he had something good for me so we waited for him. Like the picturetoo with me and Daws, especially loved my huge beard haha. I alsosentyou guys a pretty good sized envelope that has some goodies in it, pictures, anda nice letter. I really enjoyed the last letter Mom it really helped me forthe week. Your kids coming up look like a treat, especially one withissues...hope you have a great year with them you deserve it. All the loveand support from any family makes missionary work and life alot easier!

O a couple Q's: I asked Chad and Nate but do you know what their new homeaddreses are going to be so I can send them stuff? And how isthe sharkdoing back home? I sent a pic with a similar car and It totally reminded meof it.

Wow sounds like a pretty good game for a season opener...I think that
Eric Gomez kid might be Lee Gomez's younger brother. We never beat them whenI was on Varsity but in C-Squad and JV we beat them if that matters? Yaheard about Boise State winning which was cool...also the weather herehasn't been too bad just HOT still! We are starting suit season (where wehave to wear suits while proselytitng) after General Conference and Im notgoing to like it all! I sweat alot and I wonder who I got that from?

Loving how well the Sisters are doing in the Ward...I didnt know Juan wasso young? Did Mom ever teach him and whats his last name? When I went onsplits with our DL Lamb we had a discussion in a garage but really nothingtoo weird, wow 14 people there teaching too we need to step it up down herethen! Ya ive been emailing Vignoodle every week and he is doing well, hereminds me of the funny times cuz him and TD talk alot there at the MTC.

And something good to say for your spirtual thought is that you could
expound D:C 88:119 and talk about how you raised your kids well by
esablishing your home how it is mentioned in the scripture. Maybe share aexample of how much you saw Chad grow after his mission or how well Nathan is still living Gospel Standards by getting married in the temple, going to church, reading scriptures, etc.

So for update down here in the Valley. Pretty good week that I enjoyed, We saw this LA guy named Bro Ridgeway who is so awsome...he is a 500 lb.,grumpy, old man that orders us around while we pull his weeds out in thefront yard. He gives each of us 5 bucks after though and he also makes us a HUGE LUNCH that fills me up for the rest of the day. I talked about the color personalities too with the Elders and I had to explain becuase none of them had a clue what it was haha. We decided that Barret was a Red, Childers is a White, and Me and Elder Bird are Yellows. Im a Yellow right? Sat morning ball too which was great. Of course I dominated...and we played 3 on 3 at the park pday and for some reason I dod way better in 3 on 3 so ya dominated that too haha.

Cool thing was the Elder Barrett got a little sister this week named
Adalene, and he was way excited! I got to answer a tough Q too that our investigator Bi asked, she asked if we believed that we were the only true church here on the Earth today? I told her that each Church has great truths and people with it, but we believe we have the fullness of the of the truth because of the BOM! I thought I handled it well, if I were to be asked that a month ago I wouldve been scared and looked for my comp to answer but she was looking at me so I did the best I could. We finally got a part member list from the ward and I brought up the idea to do HT with members to increase home teaching and also to help us get our member present lessons goal throughout the mission with 80%

I would love to bear my testimony that I know this Church is true, I lovemy Heavenly Father and all that he does for me, Im so eternally grateful forhis son Jesus Chirst sacricfing for all of us so that we could repent andlive with him again. I love all my Family and Friends and I know my prayersget answered everyday for them. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love to all,
Elder Davis

August 23, 2011

Hey fam,
Quick Questions: Any big updates on David/Jesse/Carson/Wes just curious?? Is Wes still planning on a mission? Do you know when those spandex G's are coming in? And same with the Patartical blessing too?

Wow so much fun you guys are having it makes me feel great! Who is Kylee by the way should I know her? I heard about the intense HORSE game too and it sounded like Chad definitly let Jim win too...sounds like alot of effort was put into this sheesh you guys did alot! Thanks for the pics too those were cool. I wish you guys were having as much fun as I am though :)
Its going great here in the Valley with my new comp Elder Childers! We get along really well and we have fun while working. Childers is about 5'6', a really talented guitarist/pianist/musicain, and real easy to get along with! Im hoping to pick up some guitar skills and improve my piano game with him. Im also going to help him improve his bball game as well and we set goals every pday for what stats he has to get haha. This week he easily made his goal so I have to make it harder for him. Also Elder Bird is the other new missionary and we get along great, he probly loves basketball more than me (scary huh?) and he enjoys having fun! Im really getting sick of biking by the way-Tips DAD??

So are plans didnt go exactly as planned because we helped a couple with some moving! The first one was with Bro Ennenga a real nice guy in the ward and it took about 5 hours even though he said it would take about 2...it was worth it though with the lunch he bought us and the much needed exercise that I need. The second time was way more annonying though. It was with a new lady moving into our ward and she told the Bishop that she needed help from the missionaries. So we called her, she accepted our help and luckily I told the other missionaries (Bird and Barret) in our area to come with us to help. Of course she said that she had only need help moving a couch and TV but what you do you know she needs everything in her whole apartment out. Nothing is organized too, she lives on the 3rd floor so we got fun sets stairs to deal with, and her family is just watching us move everything haha. then we get everything into the U-HAUL, go down to our area, and unload everything as quick as we can cuz she needs the truck back by 5 (its like 4:30) or else she pays a 100 dollar fine! She doesnt make it but they let her go, we miss a meeting too. Good times..

But anyways...Im really praying that I can do my best as missionary and we can get things done. Not to brag, but I feel that I improved immensly from the 1st day at the MTC to right now. Its good being with Childers too beacause he is allowing me to grow and its making me more responsible. For work improving...We recieved a good list from the ward on part member families we can see and also we went through some former investigators in our Area Book. We have over 25 numbers that we can call that me and Steadman didnt see. Ill make sure to update you on how it goes with them. Have you guys heard of the video sets for studying the srciptures by the way? They are so cool they have them at Deseret Book and they cost like 6 bucks! Im learning alot from those too.

I want to bear my testimony that I know that the Restored Gospel here on the Earth today truly does bless us and our families. If we follow this and our Heavenly Fathers commandments to the best of our ablitly we will recieve these blessings. I know this to be true from the so many blessings in my life. I make plenty of mistakes but Heavenly Father loves me so much that he gave me a such a great family to help overcome my mistakes and grow. I love this Church and I love my family here on Earth. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love you all,
Elder or Anziano Davis

August 9,2011

Hey Mom and Dad,
Mom: I hope you are doing well, thanks for all the letters your write to me! I enjoyed your last one about the good updates on you and Dad with the WML calling and how the conference in Florida went. Cant wait till you start school again huh? You are such a great teacher and all my classmates would always say how much they enjoyed you as their 3rd grade teacher! And to answer your Q's on the letter: Im doing alot better today and am having fun getting back to work. My week kinda sucked but had a great Pday yesterday and got some good shopping in haha. We are teachin baptisimal prospects named Camillio, Ben, and Lisa (I know somebody with that name? :) ) We have a bap date set with Ben and are doing well with the others who are taking everything seriously that we are telling them! The conversations that I have with people are usually about their lives, I talk about you guys when I have the chance because I love you so much. I am learning members names alot better but get confused every once in awhile with some like the Warrens and the Webbers. My comp is doing well and I think were going to end in this area well together. Shin splints are fine thanks to DAD. Im doing pretty good on cards and envelopes, I get about 3-4 a week from family members including yours every week that I love. For my support....I dont know of anything else that you arent doing already to help me out.
So yes I did have a form of the flu and I was really sore throughout my body too. I was sick from Tuesday to half of Friday and then I was fully recovered Saturday morning! My comp didnt really helped as much as he shouldve and just slept all the time, the Coles got me the usual sprite, chickn noodle soup, and crackers for me which was really nice of them! Elder Olson put a hot shirt on my head but that was about it haha. How are the little boys doing, I miss their smiling faces! I keep praying for ya mom and Love you so much!!
Dad: Did you mean why is Childers in a green suit? Its every week 6 district meeting that you dress up funny haha?? Hey Dad how are you doing with school coming up? I like to hear your getting prepared for Fantasy i want you or Chad to win all for me :) I like your analogy with playing sports just for fun when you get older to create good memories...and I know my mission will be a experience of a lifetime as I continue working hard and being motivated by all you guys to do it! I cant believe you are running that much thats ridiuculous!! We are not biking as much and probably do about 12-15 miles a day thanks to the BUS PASSES they give us. O and the cool thing I wanted to show was in Matt 1:17 about the 14 generations and its like that in the BOM as well and I wrote it down but Ill explain more in detail later. Theres 14 generations from the time of Lehi to the time of Christ coming to the Americas! And 3 Nephi 15 is a great chapter for relating the BOM and the Bible! Im really proud of you both in your WML calling and I try to brag about you guys every once in awhile too
Im all good from being sick and the shin splints are pretty much gone thanks to you! I had a awsome Pday yesterday and found my DREAM STORE called Pro-Image youll have to check it out too they had some sweet Raiders stuff! I was talking with the owner and explaining why I was in Albuquerque and where I was from, so he was nice and gave me a awsome discount with some shirts that I bought!! I got a Bucs and Colts shirt that are really cool!
Back to working is great too...we have found this trailer park that is MOOLAH for missionary work and a whole street in there has provided great investigators for us! We have a sweet one named Ben who is a older guy and has a great mindset on life! Be obedeint to God and all his commandments and help others whenever we get the chance. I like him and we set a bap dat with for the 20th of this month. I wanted to have Steadman actually PEFORM his 1st baptisim before he left but Ben has a little smoking problem. The other poeple are named Camillio, this guy totally reminds me of Carson for some reason, and Lisa whos name of course reminds me of MOM haha. Some of our investgiators moved out, George and Edna, but Im kinda glad cuz they were super lazy and now we can focus on Georges mom alot more cuz she is the only one there at the home now. Its kinda funny cuz the "promissing investigators" that other missionaries left for us have either been dropped or moved out haha funny i guess how this area is a little slow. O had a weird incident with a drunk lady saying how are church just takes money from people and our Bishop kicked her out for no reason, ya sure? She said we didnt believe in God too and said that was abbsolutley not true and just tried to be calm and respond to her objections but she didnt listen and just drove off? I also gave a good scripture message to this family and Elder Olson said hes seeing me growing as a missionary...Im starting to really enjoy missionary work and I hope I can step it up in all the aspects of it like teaching, work ethic blah blah blah.
I would really love to bear my tesimony to you all on how much I know that is the only true church here on the Earth today. I testify that the BOM is true, the prophet Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God because of the BOM. Im grateful for the the Holy Ghost and for him giving an answer to my prayers and let me know for sure that I made the right chioce to come out here on a mission. I know that familes can be together forever and I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father put me with such a great one. I bear you this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Love your missionary,
Elder Davis

July 19, 2011

Hey everybody!!

For mom: Im getting some really good pics so Im hoping Ill be sending some next week! You still doing fine? I love evrything that you write to me and Thanks for the letters so much MOM...I loved the pics of Jett and Dawson they were so cute! Jett is already growing up I cant believe it!! Chad was telling me how Dawson talks alot clearer and Jett can listen pretty good too. You still seeing them alot? Thats awsome about Taylor going through the temple...did he look as confused as me when I first went through? :) Im sending Amy a Thank You card right after this I totally forgot to do that...I wonder who that kid from Basin City is by the way?? My comp just kinda had a slow stretch but I think hes wanting to finish strong now and I can tell hes doing better. We actually made our goal throughout the mission by getting at least 80% member present lessons throughout the week so that was cool! Umm about being transferred...I dont think they will transfer me just cuz they usually dont like to do double transfers in areas and they just did that when me and Steadman came in...P Miller likes to interview us about once every 2 transfers so like once every 3 months. We also get $120 month but the AP's get $140 cuz they are so special :)...just got a new AP called, his name is Elder Smith and he is way cool! Im so happy that you guys are helping the missionary cause and I know blessings will becoming like crazy because of it...Love ya so much and cant wait for my PB to come!!
Ok a couple Q's I NEED answered: What are Matt and Taylors missionary email addresses?? What are they grandparents email addreses? O and whats Brads email address? Can you send me two pairs of the spandex type of Garments and a pair of shorts...they would really come in handy! I got a letter for David so maybe I can just deliver it to you guys than you can give it to him?
So ya I really want to tennis but the thing is just we dont know who to ask but we all want to play Im kinda made they just dont give us a free rackets for being missionaries. Ive been trying to play hoops down here too but Ive been getting shin splints like crazy...how do I get rid of them?? Tell Taylor just to remember to write me back when I send him emails...give him my email address too if you can somehow? Havent given Bro King the article cuz I havent seem him in awhile but I have it saved and I can remember it pretty good...Kolb to the Cards thats pretty cool, I think he'll be top 5 QB this year calling it! Whats wrong with Hightower? haha..O and tell Miles hi too thats so awsome hes getting ready to go back out!!
Im so glad to hear your awsome experiences that you and mom are having with the missionary work and thats exactly right about WML being a coach to motivate...I see it alot like that too, they also are like the link between the missionaries and the ward that keeps both sides focused. Our WML is ok at doing that hes just way busy...tracting is kinda interesting, huh? I felt that same way bout it but it gets better the more you do it. I would say thats true about the Sisters being better at teaching just cuz they seem to connect with people better because they are just themselves. I notice some of the missionaries do that here by just kinda being robots and thats something Im working on by just being myself and trying to connect with people and let the Sprit touch their hearts! Ya Humhreys are so cool...I think they are around 60ish?? haha I remember about breaking that window thats funny! Sorry this is going a bit long...But anyways to update you guys on the Big NM. Work is still not as fast as I would like it to be going but Im trying to be more aggresive with it and push myself and my comp to get some new people to teach. I think we kinda hit our bottom last week and now we are going up up up from now on haha! Im getting more comfortable with just teaching and talking with people in general...what Im noticing is that you need to ask alot of Q's to get investigators more involved with the lessons, I like to look at them as discussions more than lessons. Im also noticing that people like to talk about themselves, so I usually like to ask them about their families then relate to them about certian subjects! Went on splits with my best bud and other greenie Elder Barrett and got some sweet jerseys and a hat while I was with him...Nash and Rodgers btw. We taught a alot of poeple down in there area and had a fun lesson with the Holy Ghost at one of the investigators...the kids had to follow there moms voice which was the Holy Ghost to a certian part in the yard, while me and Barrett who were "the devil" haha tried to tempt them to go the wrong way...one of the kids tripped it was funny! Had some very authentic Japenese food with one our members too which was interesting, I honestly could not tell you what I was eating but it was pretty good
Had a way spiritual experience with a old lady who is a LA in our ward...she hasnt came to came to church in about 2 years! She has alot of excuses every time we come over but this time I wanted to really find out what was going on. So after sharing a story about service, I asked her how she can show love for God by relating it to giving service to others by showing them our love. She said she could be more nice but I told her she could come to church and God would bless her so much for and then I gave her the invitaion to come, I told her it was out of the love we had for that we wanted her to come! She got a little teary eyed and said she would definitly try to make it...I just felt so good after and the Spirit was so there!
I just want to bear my testimony that I know that is the only true church on the Earth today with the full gospel. I understand the many blessings that come from living this gospel and I from going being on a mission Im learing how much God truly loves us, I hope to bring as many people as I can to this knowledge, I know that Thomas S Monson is true prohpet of God and leads and guides us all in the right path, I love being a missionary, and I bear you this testimony in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ Amen. :)
Elder Davis
P.S.-this may be the longest email ever written in history!!

June 27, 2011

Dad and Mom,
This week was pretty awesome...glad to hear all the details about Hoopfest from you and Chad. Yes Mom the Funks were so NICE to me and made my last few days in freedom the best! It made me not as sad to go to the MTC because I felt so much love and support from them and I felt like got alot of the Jitters out of me. Yes Bob Kings wife is a member and she is so nice she gave me a Larry Bird cup no sig though, and also gave us some groceries on Sunday, but she has a son who is like 35 and still lives with her kind of a dork and he doesnt think Quest Field is the loudest stadium he thinks the Pit is?? Umm Monday is our P-day but the library that we come to do our emails at isnt open on Monday so we just do emails on Tuesday...Yes I have been reading the scriputres everyday and I like to read 2 Nephi 31-33, talks about the whole Gospel and the importance of prayer in our lives and we recieve many blessings from following this commandment. I also was reading Exodus and I came upon some interesting things: 1) In Ex. 33:11 it says that Moses saw God face to face as a man speaketh to his friend but then in verse 20 it says no man can see Lord...so I checked out the footnotes and it took me to JST and I found out that the other Isrealites were not worthy enough to have the privalege of seeing Gog. 2) And also in Ex. 32:14 it said that the Lord repented?? ya right so I turned to the footnotes again and once again JST solved the problem and I made sure to write a little arrow to that! And its so much easier to read to cuz I understand alot better what everything means...
Sorry that you guys didnt too well, shouldve done more pick-and-rolls with you and Paul...Chad was saying that Cliff didn't do too good as well and he said he went like 1-15 the last game no wonder you guys lost!! So your not doing Sunfaire 3-on-3 Im assuming?? Let me know how that goes...Good to hear most of O-town gettin represeneted with the Tovars, Travis and my old team doing great though! Crazy about that guy getting arrested he was sure asking for it when he wouldnt leave the court I wouldve tackled him myself! Not suprised Noodle and DC had to do most the work, Jesse is slippin and Tyler will be better the older he gets...Tell them to write back telling me how it went for them. Good Luck in the Sunrun
So my turn haha...any luck on the Partartical Blessing yet?? Whens the BIG trip again?? O and tell Taylor he will probly see Adam at the MTC cuz he works on the same floor with all the other missionaries learning languages...sorry no bike wrecks this week but I took my bike into the shop and my cones are completly demolished and I have to get a new wheel I guess and it will cost like 40 bucks...Pday was fun used those gift certificates to Baskin Robbins that Mom gave me, we also stopped by Deseret Book and I got a new pink tie and The missionary little book of answers, we had a ride from this guy named Andrew who is a LA and he took us to these other little shops as well...like 5 guys which is where we ate and it was really good. Pretty much everything I have eaten has had Green Chile this week and its kinda funny, theres also green chile fry sauce!! Ive been reading alot in the scriptures and Ive been focusing on trying to memorize as much as I can...I shared the David and Goliath story with one of our investigators and it went well, explained how if we could just have a little bit of the immense trust and faith that David put in the Lord it could go such a long way!! Also shared a dinner message with the Precheks after some Lasagna!, it was actaully really good and I really wanted to have seconds after, crazy huh! We were making up some names for a cooking class that she might do as well...like Nephfries and Samburgers haha, o and Laman Marang Pie it was fun trying to think of these with her, also I ruined a bowl with my Ravolli mom! I didnt know its not good with plastic, I guess it permanently stains it! I was mad it was my favorite bowl too! Well dont have too much time but I loved the email so much and I pray for you and Love both so much more the longer I am away from you! Love Elder Davis
O and let DC and Jesse know that they are both in the scriptures together in 1 Sam 25:10 haha a little thing I noticed during studies

June 21, 2011

Hey Dad!!
 
So great to hear you are doing good and getting in shape for Hoopfest (are you really doing all that running and ball?? thats crazy!) Ya I meant everything in that Fathers Day card...I even talked about in my talk about you!! My main focus was how much you were an EXAMPLE in my life and how you influenced me greatly to go on a mission! You showed me the importance of hard work, obedience, and how living rightously throughout my life can bring great blessings.
 
Nothing special on Fathers Day...just had a great lunch and then had a even better dinner as well with Korean Food!! Work has slowed down with people cancelling and not being home but we are still trying to work our hardest to see as many people as we can! I did comp exhanges with Elder Anderson in Bear Canyon and that was fun just slowed things down a little haha. Thanks for the update on Lisa and Trev...Vignoodle told me that Miles showed back up!!! What the heck? He told me he needs to get eye surgery so hopefully he can stay focused when he is ready to come back out again! Crazy your working so hard, thats exactly what I talked about in my talk...tell Larry that I want a special when I get home haha.
 
Ya I told Mom that you should invite him and his fam over so that he can see the blessings from living the gospel and going on a mission...I told mom but tell him that I want him to memorize Joseph Smiths 1st vision! Got the letters from Taylor and Jesse and those were awsome thanks for talking to them! Dont know exactly what happened in the crash just happend so fast, but the pants and shirt are fixed actually so dont worry I still got them :) Thanks for the encouragement and hope that you get hooked on those Green CHilles like me!
Met Bob Kings wife the coach of the Lobos and that was awsome, she gave me a poster fixed my pants, and guess what! She had a Larry Bird signed basketball!!! Because Bob coached him, i took a picture with it and asked if I could have it but for some reason she said no?? haha...I talked to her son and argued with him briefly and on which was louder The Pit or Quest Field?? You should ask Paul to research this...he said it gets past 125 decibils in the pit or something like that...Also met Rafeal and we had so much common except that hes 40 years old...he knew all about Fantasy and I told him the stories about Jim cheating and stealing players from us and he totally agreed! also mentioned him about the bidding on players and he seemed intersested in so maybe we got another believer!! Pday was awsome yesterday we went to watch the Isotopes baseball game and it was way funner than I thought, me and Elder Olson were dancing to get on camera but no luck haha, Kinda mad tho cuz a foul ball came right where we were sitting but we were getting lunch! I guess that was the Lord punishing us cuz we did the trick where you buy the cheapest seats then move up to way better ones haha but it was great to have some good laughs together! Also did some 3-on-3 football which I set up and of course dominated! Having such a good time out here... but cant complain!! Good luck in Hoopfest and make sure to give me plenty of details on how Taylors team does, what teams you played and bad you stomped them, and how you played? And also Chad too! He didnt send me anything this week so I assume hes doing great and Ill pray for both of you to win!! Love ya Elder Davis

Mom,
Enjoyed the little card thingys they should motivate me to work harder and tell the Thompsons thanks for the greenie package haha, cool that summer is going well and how are you doing? Im doing great! Starting to be more comfortable with all the missionary stuff...the work kinda slowed down this week cuz we had alot of appointments cancelled, but we met a couple new investigators named Jason and Yolanda which was nice. Glad to hear my words are bringing joy to everyone :) Temple is always nice I wish I could go every week but we only get to go every 6 months.
 
To answer your questions: To uplift my companion I cleaned up the house today so he didnt have to and Im trying my hardest on my part to get down the lessons so we teach in better unity, To grow spirtually Ive been making sure to be more obedient to our schedule, using my personal study time to the fullest, and also motivating Taylor and TD to focus on their missions and prepare better than I did, And something I can improve on is obedience to all the mission rules and my teaching skills. A family to invite? Hmm how about TD and his family? It could help TD focus more and dad said hes not working right now so that something to fill his time better...tell him that I want him to memorize Joseph Smiths 1st vision ok? 
 
Got the letters from Vignoodle and Jesse which were GREAT...not from TD but hopefully soon. I made sure to put some thought into my replies to them and I think they will be glad to read the letters...funny about Poop Camp haha, does Dawson know Im in New Mexico yet?? Hes so cute, make sure he's shooting hoops as well after swimming! So most people here in North Valley are fairly respectful and not too many door slams yet, but most the time ppl arent even home till after 5 which is annonying but we still try to tract about an hour or two a day...
 
So thats funny about Curt and that Elder told me that exact same story that Curtis wrote, I can tell that he really enjoyed being around him. On Sunday Me and Elder Barret "The greenies" gave my Fathers Day talk and my main focus was how Dad was such a great EXAMPLE to me...by showing me how to work hard, how to live the gospel principles, and the importance of obedience. I told them how even on Dads days off he would still do yard work and make sure my car was fixed, and also that he rode his bike 60 miles a day! Alot of members enjoyed the talk and gave me compliments after. Having more fun with the members and Im really srating to love them, they give so much service and are so good with feeding us! Nothing really scary that Ive eaten just alot of Green Chile haha. So glad to hear you are doing great and hope you enjoy your summer to the fullest!! Love ya, Elder Davis

June 14, 2011

#1 LOVE YOU TOO! To answer the Q's on the mail you sent...everythings going great loving it down here, were doing great as a duo our personalities work well together, we will be together for 12 weeks then he is gone!, and Im getting alot more used to Albuquerque and, yes the accident it was very funny if someone was watching,
Thats cute about Dawson hope you enjoy those 3 days with him! Hope you enjoy your summer to the fullest! Loved the Care Package again!!! Love
Elder Davis

On Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 11:20 AM, wrote:
put neosporin on your cuts and bandage them at night - it will help them heal more quickly - ummmm.....your handlebars in your comp's wheel? No offense, but I'm totally laughing picturing that! Taylor and TD should be writing soon. I'm taking Dawson for 3 days next week to hopefully get him potty trained - when he looked at a picture he called you "Pah-ker" like usual and Gpa Budge was "Pah-ker's dad" while I guess he calls Gpa D. “Gwampa Ivard” - so funny.....

#2 Hey Dad and Mom and Family,

Hows everybody doing, missing you guys and Im always praying for all of you!! Omg first I gotta say a Huge Thank You to you and Mom for the awsome care package!! It was pretty much an answer to my prayers with the oatmeal, tuna and crackers, and the little juice packets are sweet!! So I do write back on Tuesdays because the Library isnt open on Mondays and I did find out about the Mavs winning from Bro. Cole and I wasn't suprised...Playing Othello ball gets you no where and I wish I couldve saw them sweep the Lakers though, Elder Barret is a huge fan and I make fun of them every once in awhile to him and he gets mad haha...Thanks for the update on the STP and no way are we cathing up to those miles!! Yes we have alot of wind and it is very annonying but we do well in it, the ankle brace would be nice cuz I have to tuck in my sock all the time! Ya the Rio Grande dissapointed me bigtime but at least I got to see it? Did you like the DANS Boot and Saddles?? Umm Elder Olson said he actually didnt get to play his junior and senior year in fball but he talked about how they beat us in 06 I think and he said they stomped us, but I quickly reminded him of the 4 times in a row that we beat them so that ended the conversation haha. Hes real cool and we are starting our own "Big 3" with me him and Elder Barrett! Thats cool you shared one of my experiences in your talk thats probably why it went so good huh, ya good idea to get my blessing thats weird that I lost it? Thats definitly a balanced team with you Cliff and Paul. Cliff to shoot 3's, Paul to make the tough lay-ups, and you to make 3's and the tough lay-ups!!! Staying with Tim again??

by the way this last P-day was so cool. We ate at Dions which is my new favorite pizza place, Im getting hooked on the Green Chile here too they put it on everything and its so GOOD. We had it on the pizza with pepperoni yum..then we played basketball for a couple hrs and that was the best ball Ive played since a long time, even before I left on the mission, and they shopping and laundry was actually fun too i guess haha. So I met the Bishops wife and she mentioned that the Hansons are in some ward far off so I dont know how Ill see them?? But I met a Elder BrockBank at Zone Conference and he is from Uncle Curtises ward!! It was crazy and he totally knew Curtis...we laughed about his laugh because it is so contagious and said it reminded him of Ganondwarf off of Zelda (Nate and I think Chad will know what Im talking about) so true though haha and that was cool to meet him and see the cpl other missionaries from my district there as well. Ate at another good Mexican restaurant called Sadies and I got this GINORMUS burrito with green chile! and that same day We met the Davidsons and we played Skip-Bo with them for like an hour, Reminded me so much of playing Rummy-O with Gma and Gpa Budge, hows GPA BUDGE doing by the way after his surgery! And then i shared a message with them about the wise and the foolish man and it was fun...we also got a strawberry pineapple pie from Village Inn which tasted so GOOD! Umm our Bishop is a Rocket Scientist...literally a Rocket Scientist which is crazy haha, also got in a Bike Crash after hooking handlebar in to Elder Steadmans back wheel and went flying superman style at about 15 mph and cut up my hands and knee pretty good but Im doing way better, also ripped my long sleeve shirt and my pants but Sis Cole is going to fix that up for me today :). doing more tracting and we got 3 return apointments in 1 hr which is pretty good other than that just learning and growing my tesimony everyday, and still working with our progressing investigators to prepare them for baptisim and not get distracted with other trials in there lives. Having a great time out here hope you guys are having a awsome summer! What are the big plans??

P.S.- Tell Taylor and TD how awsome a mission is and that they should definitly start getting more prepared now, by going to all 3 hrs of church, mastering PMG and the scriptures with saying prayers day and night as well. These simple things can make the mission come to you so much easier. Tell them I how much I pray for them every night to stay on the right path...tell Taylor he should see Adam Beus alot because Adam works over by the foreign language district at the MTC which is sweet for him!

Love
Elder Davis

June 7, 2011

Hey mom/dad and fam,
 
How is everybody! Its summer already right? school ended last week here so Its cool to see the kids everywhere having fun. How is being out of school and enjoying the freedoms? What do you guys got planned to do? Ya keep me updated on the NBA Finals Dad or Chad too cuz Im hoping Mavs can pull it off...and are you getting ready for Hoopfest Dad? And you better start the studying for Fantasy cuz ill be cheering you or Chad on to win it all!! I got the letter you sent me and good details about the ward its was good to read. Thats crazy about Tony Solberg though I hope hes doing all right after the whole passing out thing kinda scary...I answered all those Q's as well mom and Im sending alot of pics your guys' way they will probly get there this weekend...I think there is about 47 of them!! I think you'll like the snake and the shower pictures haha.
So I bowled a very weak 95 for P-day yesterday...I started out great too with having 3 strikes in my 1st 5 bowls! But then I quickly lost my luck and touch and had some gutterballs but it was fun to be with the Zone. And also it was Fast Sunday yesterday so I had the opprtunity to bear my testimony and introduce myself to the ward. Some members came up afterwards and said how much they enjoyed hearing my testimony...and I also gave my first report in Ward Council which was cool. It was super hard not being able to drink anything but I did the fast and it felt great! Something interesting I tried during the week was a Habenro Lime Shake...i know crazy it just tasted like a normal lime shake but with a burning aftertaste? And also next P-day we are doing this stupid Armageddon Challenge that Elder Olson did and he wants us to do it...we have to eat these 6 blazing super duper hot hot wings in 6 mins and then hold them in our mouths for 6 mins! He was showing us pics and he was throwing up milk everywhere and he said it feels like a hornet stung his throat haha Im a little nervous to do it but its something that the Man vs. Food guy would do so I have to do it!! I used the Gift card you gave me yesterday for DQ and Orange Julius and it was so good! Thanks alot for it...I made up a rule by that way for us so we can do more tracting throughout the day which is the "3 house rule" and it means if somebodys not at there house that we want to contact then we have to knock on 3 doors or more haha.
So biking has been getting alot better and Im averaging about 14 mph or whatever it says on the speedometer and I feel more comfortable too riding. How long is the STP ride by the way dad Is it 200 miles? Ill be ready to do the Tri-Centruy with you when I get back too...ya in our ward with the LA's its mainly just laziness cuz there all real nice but dont want to make any efforts at all. Yes I got a candy bar but it was because Warren our WML chose my comps scripture. Ya its the raw green chiles mixed with the sauce in the soapillas. Very little green around here for sure...Bro. Cole was actually at The Pit a cpl days ago for his sons basketball championship so it was cool to ask him a little about it. Ill try to get in there somehow haha. PLEase contact Taylor and TD and tell them to write me or something or look at my pics or read my emails so they can see how awsome a mission is!! Thats cool about Jennifers great testimony and ya I think Aaron has work he was tellin me before i left so he cant go? Kinda hard to practice tennis with no rackets haha but there are courts and maybe I could borrow some from a ward member? Ok Ill definitly pray for the Blessing and it should be in my Shoe Box that says DO NOT TOUCH so if you find that it should be in there. And a example Ive had of proclaming the Gospel would probably be when we taught the Restoration of the Gospel to an older couple...It went really well but the thing that was most awsome was that I was saying things I didnt even knew that I knew about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smiths 1st vision and the Spirit was so strong...We then asked them to commit read and pray to know if it is true and they accepted. Felt great to have a good lesson finally!! And also we have been going to these progreesing investigators George and Edna that have a bap date set up for the 18th and there moving but they said how much they love us and they had there testimonies strengthend. Love all you guys very much and appreciate all the prayers!!
 
P.S.-keep up the letters and details about the family love reading them, look for the P blessing still, tell Taylor and Td to write and my other friends? tell chad and nate to keep up there mini golf skillz, and loma to master down making soapillas so I can have them when I get back, and chelsea to keep up the good work with dawson and jett so they can stay cute and be ready to school me in bball
 
Love
Elder Davis

May 31, 2011

I forgot some stuff :)
My Home address is:
Elder Parker James Davis
255 Willow Rd NW Front
Albuquerque, NM 87107
 
So I was going to say just how freakin hard biking is for me because we are biking over 20 miles a day!! since I havent biked at all since I got the cycling merit badge....Im way slow but my quads are definiltly getting a workout haha. My 1st day at church was pretty cool, the WML does this thing where he choses a missionary scripture from one of us elders and whichever one he choses he puts in the program and they get a CANDY BAR!! anyways the Bishop is nice but he doesnt talk too much and I didnt even really meet him, the average age in the ward is 69 by the way. I know CRAZY! And theres around 500 ppl in the ward but only 85 showed up! Thats why were focusing on less actives and getting progressing investigators baptized! Also I forgot to say cool Pres and Sis Miller are and that Sis Miller reminds me of a mix between Mom and Gma :)...Pres Miller is very nice man and doesnt like to get angry which is great, he also stresses the importance of accountability so we have to discipline ourselves kinda haha. And some funny tidbits...Our shower in our house is so tiny that I have to stand outside every 30 seconds or else Ill burn up or I have to put on my body wash so it doesnt wash off ha, Also on P-day we were watching Jeopardy, totally reminded me of GMA Budge, and we were just trying to answer the questions and I won 1800 bucks it was great haha. And also some native dishes I had were Burgers with green chile on them, it tastes so good, and also soapillas which is like and elephant ear without cinnamon and you can fill it with chicken and other goodies, also had some coconut sherbet in a coconut which was delicous! BEST thing by far was soapilla tho!
P.S.
Keep updating me on sports and how hoopfest goes too Dad and Chad...So maybe mom you could just update everybody this week and then every 2 weeks I can do the big email ok? Tell Taylor and Td to write me too! And pres Miller said no on the Fathers day call :(...but its ok. Ill make sure to send get well cards to Gpa Budge and Gpa Davis too.  And send me my P Blessing please if i didnt tell you yet. Love you so much and wish everyone a great week!
Elder Davis
-----------------------------------
Hey Mom!
 
How are you?? I miss you! Some bad news I might not be able to call on Fathers Day :( but im trying to conivnce them to let me. Im doing great and my new comp is awsome...I talked bout him in Chads email. The shcedule is not too hectic right now just because were both new to the area and were trying to set up all our appointments with investigators. Im sleeping better each day just my sore throat will wake me up at night sometimes cuz the really dry air. Not too much tracting just more apoointments...ya but not too nervous just for the 1st couple days and doing things for the 1st time. New Mexico is simmilar to Othello with being real dry and not much green ha. Ya got a bike form the Edler leaving my area...I just need my Patratical Blesssing please. Pday is Monday and ya Elder Barret my DL at the Mtc is in my distict...Im eating pretty normal food so far! My 1st dinner with the Garner family was steak, corn on the cob, and potatoe fillet, and then at home I have alot of cereal, ravolii, top ramen, and other fun things we creat ha.. dont know address but ill let you know soon and thats awsome to hear the news from home! THanks for the prayers and hugs, Love ya
 
Ill send the big letter in the mail or something
 Elder Davis

May 18, 2011

Whats up everybody!!
 
Im leaving May 23rd at 5:00 a.m. to New Mexico and well probly get there around 10:30. I cant wait to meet my mission president and see how he rules the mission field haha we kinda gave a first impression as well cuz the presidents wife sister took a picture of all of us and asked us some Q's as well
 
I just want to start off with funny little story...so we were getting ready to go into the Provo Temple today and guess what? My comp forgets his temple recomend and we have to RUN all they way back to our residence to get it! so i was a little discouraged at him haha and i missed going with the rest of my district so I was even more discouraged but anyways so were sitting down waiting to go into a temple session and guess who i see ADAM BEUS! we talked and it was just so awsome to see him! I guess blessings can happen in weird ways...so the MTC is getting better and better. Im very good friends with Elder Olsen and Elder Barret and I will definitly be friends after the mission with them as well...weve been doing some funny things in our very limitied "free time"..we like to have Rook games, do arm wrestling contests, eat pizza pockets all the time, and just joke about what we do throughtout the MTC. Bball is so sweet down here but theres just this annoying fat guy who thinks hes Michael Jordan haha but we beat him all the time. Me and Barret have a way of getting on the same team bu winking at each other if we want them to miss there free throw to get on the other team ha. I can feel that Im imporving as a missionary just by how much I can feel the sprit way more in my life...im also learning so much about this Gospel and Church that its crazy!! Some cool spirtual experiences with our investigators...this guy named Daniel was so skeptical about the church and the only way we got in his house to talk with him was when I asked if we could help him with his computer haha but anyways the next time we stopped by we went into a deep disscusion about the power of the priesthood and the Spirit was so strong and I knew he changed and he wanted to have it and change his life around! Also Gorden B Hinkleys son talked to us yesterday and he sounds and looks just like him its hilarious but he shared his love for all of us and good teascing techniques...So thanks everybody for all the letters and packages and emails I really aprreciate all the support from all you! I LOVE all of you
 
Elder Davis

May 11, 2011

Hey everybody!!!
 
So far mission is going great..kinda weird having to shave everyday and not being around Mom to help me with everything...I cant wait to get all these lessons and doctrine down so that I can share this beautiful Gospel with everyone in New Mexico!! We have starting teaching investigators and its kinda hard to me cuz I didnt really prepare as well as i should have...but Ive been praying everyday to the Lord to help me feel the Sprit and relate people with the lesson to help them better understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ!! I was crazy nervous at the begging not knowing anyone here and having to come out of my shell alot but the District Im in is so loving and fun to be around that its getting easy for me...my first companion Elder Maxwell is pretty bold guy and likes to go on about deep doctrines, and he is a complete bookworm and loves Star Trek :) so we are pretty much opposites on things to talk about haha! Luckily our District Leader Elder Barret is such a cool guy and loves to ball so me and him connect pretty well...there are 8 guys in our district but probly the Elder I love the most is Elder Olsen! He and I are so alike...same height, weight, love sports, like to get talking about random things! I recently beat him in basketball so I need to stay away from him for a little bit haha...but anyways the food here is pretty random what I mean is that it will either be really great food or just some cold stuff thats been in the freezer for too long but most the time its great. Yesterday we had a great Devotional and Neil D. Anderson of the Qurom of the 12 gave a great talk about repentence and how we can use scriputral power to help us back up our doctrine..I loved it! WE also had another devotional on Sunday where this crazy piano player just demolised the piano and played for like 12 mins but it was awsome!! Just got done going through the Provo Temple with all the missionaries which was a great experience as well as being amazed at the beauty of it. Love all of you and especially my family for helping me get this far in life!! Hope everybody is doing well!! and sorry I only got 30 mins to write so I cant give more detail but next time Ill be more prepared i promise.
 
Elder Davis