WEEK 31

  This week has been super sick! Answer time!

 

1.  I was actually able to pack everything up super easy.  (My Mother taught me well.)

 

2.  I did forget to pack all my candy.  But other than that, I am pretty sure that I was able to grab everything.

 

3.  We met in mission valley at a stake center for the transfer. I saw Elder Karlinsey there and we got to chat it up a little bit.

 

4.  I am in......... Chula Vista!!!! You were right! I am super close to the boarder and I cover the Rio Otay Spanish ward.  It is so cool.  I have been here since Wednesday and I am LOVING it. 

 

5.  My companion is Elder Nickel (like the 5 cent) and he is super cool and is a boss. He has been in the mission for almost 19 months and he is a stud.   He is a convert of 3 years.  I will take pictures at zone activity today and send them next week.

 

6.  He is from Texas.

 

7.   My new place is great. I have a super comfy bed.  Our apartment is a little first floor apartment and it is actually pretty nice. 

 

8.  It was actually pretty clean when I got there and it is a little bit cleaner now :)

 

9.  In comparison to Poway...I don't really want to compare it.  But I am sure that you can see that I like this area a bit more.  There is a lot more member support and it's nice to go to church in your area. My first impressions of the members here is that they are pretty sick.  I am in a huge Spanish WARD. It is definitely Spanish speaking.

 

10. I am LOVING it!  I feel like the Lord has really blessed me this transfer and I am stoked to see what happens.

 

11. The work is different because I am biking and I love it. Beats the car by a long shot. I was super worried when I found out I was biking because I don't have a bike.  But all is well because an Elder that isn't using his bike is letting me use his.  Eventually I will probably need to buy a bike.  But the mission office said that when I end up needing one, I can buy one from there.  So shouldn't be too bad.  I will keep you posted.

 

12.  Emotionally, I think the move has really helped me out. I am super pumped to work here.

 

13. We actually have like 15 investigators, so we are doing pretty well. We are hoping to add some more. One actually got baptized on Saturday! Baptism my first week in the area!  I wish I would have taken pictures but I didn't really know him at the time so I didn't feel like it was appropriate to just take a picture to have one. But that doesn't mean I am not going to work with him. We actually are well acquainted now and we see him often. He is super cool. 

 

14.  Can you ask the Pres for my address because I don't exactly know it yet.  I just know where it is and how to get there.

 

15.  My companion is awesome and we get along great!

 

16.  We email from a library a few miles away.

 

17.  I do not  know how many are in our zone yet but I will find out today. There are 9 in our district though.  me, my companion, the Zone leaders and 5 sisters.

 

   I just want you to know that I am super happy and I freaking love you! I hope that this week is the best for you!

 

   Love,

   Elder Davis

 

P.S.- Is my Spanish triple still sitting around?? There is a convert that wants one and I thought it would be cool for him to have mine.

WEEK 30

 

   
    I am doing so good!! It was been a tough week but somehow I feel good.  I got transfer calls about an hour ago and it turns out that I am being transferred.  I actually won't know until tomorrow because transfers are on Wednesdays.  We just get the calls the night before so we can pack and what not.  I just know that I need to be at transfer meeting where they will tell everyone where they are going. 

 

    I am sad to leave Poway but I know that I going where the Lord needs me now.  I can honestly say that I put everything I had into Poway and that brings peace to my heart as I deal with leaving behind friends and all that. But at the same time, I excited to see where I will be next and the many good times that lie ahead.  But it will be nice to start something new. I have already said goodbye's to a lot of people because I have felt pretty strongly that I was going to be transferred.  I have been really stressed because I don't want to leave these people but I know that it is of God and it will be for his will.  At the same time, I am excited to see what happens tomorrow.

 

  You all are so great! It also makes me happy that Dad enjoys his new position so much because we all know how much he hated work before!  Glad to hear that Jonah is being so protective as well.  Protect "The Momma always!!!"

 

   It makes me glad that you all enjoyed the package that I sent home. I tried to make it enjoyable for everyone.  It was fun to do that. 

 

   As to your question about my pants.... I am just wearing shorts and t-shirts like I always did.  :) The pants don't fit me anymore because my body is becoming more developed.  I have not gained a single pound or grown a single inch since I left but I have grown somehow.  Everything else still fits alright though.  :)  My slacks are a tiny bit snug but that's okay because they have the expandable waste. I can't think of anything else that I NEED. I am doing just fine.  :)

 

    SCARY story in the Chapel!!! But I am very relieved to hear that you are okay and that it was a mint and not something that wouldn't dissolve.  Happy to hear that everything is okay and that people knew what to do. :) You really scared me there for a second! I sure love you Momma!

 

   This week has been really rough to say the least. We barely got to teach anyone and none of those people were J****, I*****, the less active or his friend.  I know that I and my companion did EVERYTHING that we could.  That being said, it was still good because we always see the hand of the Lord in our work.  I am grateful to have served in Poway for so long and I am going to miss it like crazy but I know wherever I go is where I need to be.  I am surprisingly okay with leaving my area because I know that I held nothing back and gave it my all. Yeah I was out of commission with my back for some time but even then I know that I did everything that I could. 

 

   I did enjoy my valentines day. I will have to send pictures of our dinner.  It was pretty fun and I am glad that you had so much fun as well.  Thank you for your example and all you do for me each day.

 

   I am glad that you enjoyed all the pictures and everything I hope you have a great week... :)

  

   Love,

   Elder Davis

WEEK 29

Mother,

 

    It makes me feel so good that I do not have to worry about any drama with girls at all. It has made it easy to focus on the Lord and his work.  I have learned so much about my life and I have grown immensely here on my mission.  

 

   OK, so for the questions:

 

1.  Transfers are next week so I don't know if I will be getting transferred or not yet.  I would guess and say yes, but who knows.  Maybe it's not my time to leave yet.

 

2.  This week has been great. We have had a lot of success even with not being able to work with the English side at all.  Plus, we have had some great lessons.

 

3.  The Lord blessed us in our lives this week through helping a less active member that we have been trying to get to church for a REALLY long time to finally come to church!! Say WHAT!??? Yeah, and guess what!!!!!? He brought a non-member friend!!!!! Yeah Sunday was pretty sick. We have an appointment with him and his friend set up for Thursday! I talked to his friend a lot at church and asked him about what he heard about the church. He said that he heard a little bit from his friend, but he needs more. Heck to the YES!  I am so pumped for this week because it is going to be sick!

 

4.  I have not received my mail yet today.  But I will get it in about an hour so hopefully it has arrived. I will be sending a package home this week as well (hopefully) so look for it!

 

5.   My next interview with president is probably in a month or two. I am not exactly sure.

 

6.  My health is doing fantastic!! I feel like I am as healthy as ever! But, I did pretty much figure out that I am now lactose intolerant. So I am trying to cut dairy completely out of my diet. We will see how that goes. 

 

7.  I have no idea when Sister R**** goes home. I would imagine in the next 2-3 months or so. I love that sweet old lady!

 

8.  We do not eat with members very often but we have seen an improvement since our new mission leader.  We usually make burgers, pasta, ramen, or things like that. We have made breakfast for dinner a few times.  I also have made panini's and tater-tot casserole a couple times.

 

9.  I will take a picture of all my ties but it probably won't arrive until next week because I will have to print it out and such.  As for colors, I would like some light but conservative colors. I really like the blue one that you sent me for Christmas.

 

10.  I feel like my mission has been the best thing for me already.  I know without a doubt that this what I need to be doing right now.  I have learned and grown SO much while on my mission. I have changed a lot as well.  I am grateful more though for all the people I have been able to meet and for the spirit I have felt. 

 

11.  My greatest accomplishment would probably have to be learning how to follow the spirit and all the service that I have been able to give. But I guess more than that is my relationship with our Savior. I am grateful for the things he has taught me and how close I have grown to him.  My greatest obstacle was probably learning how much pride I really have.  I learned  and am still learning how to submit to the Lord, even when all I want to do is work.  I have learned that I need to take care of myself first. 

 

Mother, Thank you for your email and I want you to know of my deep love for you. You are my everything and I am SO grateful to be your son.

 

I hope that you feel better and that this week is full of  fun and the spirit.

 

Love,

Elder Davis

VALENTINE'S PACKAGE

After receiving Taylor's last email stating that meals were hard to come by, we decided to include food other than candy in his Valentine's care package.  A few heat and serve meals, some nacho dip, granola bars, garlic salt ( the boy loves it on everything), NFL valentines (the ones he ALWAYS chose as a child), Mio water drops, Lofthouse cookies (also his fav), peanut butter hearts, sweethearts, mint hearts. fun dip, a tablecloth, paper plates, silverware and banner for Valentine's day.  (We always have a special family dinner on Valentine's Day.)

 

 

WEEK 28

Hey Mom!! :)

 

    So this week has been a whole lot of everything, to say the least. Fun, cool, full of meetings, and super stressful.  We were actually able to meet with a lot of people this week.  Now you asked if we met with our investigators, not so lucky on that one. But the people we did see and lessons we had were amazing.  L*** dropped us the other day and we have not seen J***because she has been sick with the flu and won't let us come over. (Not complaining much on that one). But we have an appointment with her tomorrow so we will see what happens. :) 

 

   As for I*****, we had a pretty sweet lesson with him last night.  We just talked about how the small and simple things bless our lives and the whole family (well almost) bore their testimonies to us! It was so sick! (And spiritual.)

 

   All of that aside, our week has been very stressful and it has caused me to have a week long headache. Yowch!  But the cool thing about that is,  I was debating whether I should get a blessing or not and I prayed about it for the whole week. Well, I finally gave in and had the zone leaders give me a blessing.  I feel a MILLION times better! My headache is gone and I feel totally different. 

 

   Long story short, we have been trying to work with a lot of the English members in the area to try to hasten the Spanish work. Little did we know that all the missionaries and leadership would be all poopy about it.  It has just been frustrating me a lot. 

 

   In our area we cover the whole Penasquitos stake but we live and go to church in Poway.  We work under the Poway stake president's keys, but work in the stake of the Penasquitos stake president.  Bottom line, the Penasquitos stake president is really hesitant with the Spanish work and for that we struggle. As of now, it has been declared that we are not allowed to work with ANY of the English members.  I know you always ask what you can do to help so I ask you personally or maybe even you and Pops (not anything big) to pray that something will happen to CHANGE our area. 

 

   Other than that, I am so happy! :) I am amazed by the man I have become and the man that I am becoming.  If I were to come home today (never gonna happen) I would seriously be content with who I have become.  Plus, I have so much more time and room to grow! 

 

   I was reading my journal entries from the beginning of my mission and holy cow am I a new man! I feel like I have changed so much for the better.  I KNOW that a mission is exactly what I need to be doing right now. And that is not only because it has helped me so much, but I know that it has helped others as well. I love this work with all my heart and I am SO glad that I still have about 17 months left to be a part of it. How great is my calling!

 

    Just have to say that it sounds like Attysen's baptism was great! How cool that Pops got to confirm her! What a special moment and blessing!

 

    Jonah looks so big. He better stop growing before Elder Davis gets home and has to put him back into the ground! Just kidding.

 

   Transfers are in about 2 weeks and I have no idea what is going to happen. I think it is still possible that I could be here for 6 more weeks at the least.  I don't know.  But I do know that whatever happens, will be the will of God and I will do whatever that entails. 

 

   The best part of my week would probably have to be the blessing that I received.  I feel like the real Elder Davis again and I feel like this week is going to be SUPER.  I have a firm testimony of the power of the priesthood.  I have seen so many miracles through that power of Heavenly Father on my mission and I am grateful that our Heavenly Father trusts me enough to give me the responsibility to hold that great privilege and use it to help others. That is where the Lord helped me the most this week. I received counsel in that blessing that I will never forget.

 

   Sweet Mother, I want you to know of my DEEP love for you.  I love you so much!! I am amazed at how much I have learned form you.  Thank you for bearing me your testimony. I hope you know that it brought tears to my cheeks (doesn't happen very often) and I can feel the love and power of it as you bear your testimony.  You are amazing!!!!!!! I love you and hope that feel better and have a super awesomely sick and fun week!!!

 

   Love,

   Elder Davis

 

   P.S. Would it be possible for you to send me one of those labels that you use to ship things so that I can ship a box home? Let me know if that is possible.

 Taylor and his district.

THESE ARE A FEW OF HIS FAVORITE THINGS

Inside Taylor's bump day package we included a survey for Taylor to fill out asking what some of his favorite things were.  We received it back today.  How well do you know Elder Davis?

CLOTHING
Shirt Size:  Large 
Pant Size:  32/32 or Large
Shoe Size:  12
Sock Size:  10-13

HYGENIENE ITEMS:
All in One Shampoo
Neutrogena Stress Control Face Wash
Aftershave lotion
Hairspray
Cologne

FOOD:
Favorite thing Mom makes:  Kaluha Pig
Favorite Food:  Fettuccini Alfredo
Favorite Dessert:  Peach Cobbler & Ice Cream
Favorite Cereal:  Peanut Butter Crunch
Favorite Chips:  Fresh Ground Salt & Pepper
Favorite Crackers:  Cheese Nips
Favorite Cookies:  Butterscotch Chip and/or Peanut Butter
Favorite Candy:  Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or Reese's Fastbreak
Favorite Cake:  Marble
Favorite Ice Cream:  Superman

MISC:
Favorite Color:   Red
Hobbies:  Basketball, Football, Teaching the gospel, Friends
He loves his mom, dad, brothers, sister-in-law, food, the gospel, sports, friends and family.