WEEK 69

 
   Wow what a week!! It has been crazy, fun, insane, powerful and just completely sick!! Andres our investigator was baptized on Friday and that was probably one of the best experiences of my mission so far! You are right that it is kind of like when Luis got baptized but it is very different at the same time. 

    To see someone from finding them yourself, teaching them, and them repenting and making all the changes necessary to be able to come unto Christ and be baptized in his restored church is better than anything yet that I have experienced in my life.  Andres is such a beast and his baptism was super sick!

    There were so many people there that we had to bring in like 3 loads of chairs from other rooms! I had the privilege of baptizing that young powerhouse of a little spirit and it was so sick!!! It took me back to my baptism and made me feel super happy knowing that I am helping other people be able to do this.

   It gave a strong confirmation that I am doing what's right and that this is where I need to be.   I still can't believe how much of a beast Andres is. He was confirmed on Sunday and that was yet another cool experience.  President Martinez ( the branch President) confirmed him and it was so cool. I felt the spirit so strong that it brought tears to my eyes. His family filled the entire first 3 rows of the church and it was amazing to see that happen. 

   Josh is still looking good for his baptism and it sounds like he is really gonna make it this time.  Pam is doing well too. Francisco however is kind of faltering a little.  He hasn't been reading, or praying, or coming to church. It makes me really sad but maybe it's not his time yet.  We did invite Yadira to the baptism but she has been super busy lately and she might be moving so we're hoping she just moves to another part of Chula. We'll see.  

   Sounds like things are going pretty well over there! It's sad to hear that everything with the house is still kinda lame but I know that it will all resolve itself.  We just have to use the 5th step of the Gospel and endure to the end.  It's the most difficult and takes the longest but it's the most rewarding. I know things will work out. :)

 

   There has been a scripture in my mind all morning and I thought it was to share with someone else but I feel very strongly impressed to share it with you as well. So here goes. It is: Alma 22:16 this is when Aaron is teaching King Lamoni's father.

     " 16 But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hopewhich thou desirest.  "

 

    I know things probably suck right now and that it's hard. But I know that you are being prepared by the Lord for something big. The worst thing you can do is give up. 

 

    I really love you and am grateful that you are such a solid member of the church and that you are converted.  Thank you for always being an example of faith and of love. I would be a sack of nothing without your example. I love you dearly and hope you enjoy this email.  

 

   This week we are going to go to a place called Sunset Cliffs up in Ocean Beach. It should be a lot of fun.   Our next transfers are in about 3 weeks.  So they are coming fast!

 

   Love you!

 

   Love,

   Elder Taylor C. Davis

WEEK 68

The "Comfy" couch.

    Not usually am I this excited about the sports updates but for some reason I am feeling pretty pumped!!   I feel like this week is going to be a good one.  You did a great job with your updates too because I was able to read them and basically live the game. So thanks for always doing that!! It really does make me happy!!

   So today I don't have a ton of time so I am going to just get down to business.... This week has been sick! Andres passed his interview and is ready for baptism!!! Ever better.... He's getting baptized on Friday and he wants me to do it!!!  So Sick!! Man it really has been cool to see him learn and grow so fast! It's crazy seeing such a giant spirit inside such a tiny body!!It's cool to think that he is one investigator that I have found, taught and am going to baptize.  How cool it has been to see him progress in the Gospel! He's such a champ!

   They haven't took the couch away yet so we are really enjoying it.  I am actually having to use it here and there because my chair that's at my desk really hurts my back. But hopefully we'll get new chairs soon.

    My last zone conference was about 2 months ago and we met in a stake center at Sweetwater. There were about 30 missionaries there.

    So far we don't have many plans for thanksgiving but we have received an invite so we'll hit that up for sure.

    Haven't really heard anything about iPads. We suspect that we will get them next month but nobody seems to know. 

   If I can find a member that will let us Skype on Christmas, I probably will.  Otherwise it will be a phone call.

   Elder Strong and I have cooked thinks like burritos, biscuits, french toast, pasta, all that fun stuff.
    
   Josh Has a baptismal date for the end of this month! I was so pumped when I found out. I love that kid!

   Today we are emailing from the Family History Center since the libraries are closed.

   The funnest thing I've done on P-day would actually probably have to be playing sports.  Yeah I have been to Ocean Beach and the Mormon Battalion and stuff like that but it's always so rushed since we have such little time.

   We can go to recreational places like museums and parks and bowling and that's all that I have done. 

   We are seeing  a lot of change in the branch. People are stepping up to callings, more people are coming back, and it is really taking off. The branch has more attendance than the ward now.
   
  As far as Christmas goes, I don't wanna ask for anything because I don't think I can haul anymore around than I already have.  My clothes are holding up fine.  Everything's good. I wouldn't mind a couple more pairs of CTR socks though. They're starting to get wholes in them and I might have a couple casualties before I go home.

   So yeah that's my life so far. Oh yeah! And we added a GOLDEN investigator named Yadira last night!! She is super cool and committed to reading the introduction of the Book of Mormon and pray about it! Ahhhh Yeahhhh.
 
   As always, I love you so much and I hope that you enjoy this email.

   Love, 
   Elder Taylor C. Davis

WEEK 67

 

 Mine and Elder Strong's Pumpkins

 My pumpkin

  Sporting the mustaches that were in his Halloween package.

     Week 67...has been crazier than crazy!!!  There has been so much going on and we have been super busy! But yes it has been good too.  :) 

     The continued training of Elder Strong is going really well. He's taking the lead in most situations and he says that he is finally understanding people.  So that makes us happy. 

     I am still the district leader and yes it is going great! I had been praying and talking to President about getting more missionaries in the district to help the work and it happened on Wednesday! So we have had a lot of meetings to help them get their new area and change things up a little.

    

     Our new apt is just me and the Terminator. It's pretty nice though.  The apartment that we moved out of is still a 4 man so I think you can say it was a success. :)  We didn't move too far from where we lived before but geographically we are in a way better place and it has actually become really nice! It's very roomy in some aspects and not so much in others.  Overall I think it's nicer because it has it's own washer and dryer.  So we will be saving like 40 bucks a month now!!!! It also has a lot of dining space. I will take more pictures this week to send you next Tuesday of what it looks like. 

      Pretty much every apartment is different. Ours right now has a comfy couch but the mission office informed us that they'll be taking that away soon. :(   You asked what we take when we move, usually we just what we can fit in the car to go.  Down here in Chula, most of the apartments have dishwashers so that has been nice. :)  Our apartment has a crock-pot, but usually that isn't very common. It pretty much all depends on who was living there before.

 

     We actually have been trying to cook more lately.  Elder Strong likes to cook and I do too. I was wondering if you could somehow make me a small, portable cook book of easy things to cook.  I know you have suggested it before but I think I'm ready for it now.

      On Halloween we had to be in by six and they gave us an assignment to study and it was pretty good. Once we were finished with that, we carved pumpkins and put them out on the porch. :)  

     I did get the package you sent and it was super cool. Thank you so much! I can't decide what my favorite thing was but I'd probably say the Reese's Pumpkins, the Reese's cake mix, or the tie. :)  How are you so creative!?!?!? 

     Things  with Andres are going pretty good. He came to church with his grandma on Sunday! Which was actually stake conference. SO SICK! Plus we saw him yesterday and he is SO ready to be baptized. We are going to schedule his interview today. :)  So yeah he's looking good for the 15th. :)   We are starting to see a desire of his grandma to take him to church. So that would be really good!

      The new branch is going along pretty well. I am super good friends with the Branch President so that always helps.  We have actually been having more attendance in the Ward so far, so that has been pretty good. Church is now at 9 so of course that is great for us. Minus the 7 am branch council meeting.

     We are still working really hard reactivating peeps - yes. There is a family that we have been working really hard with that is almost considered to be fully active again and it has been a lot of fun working with them! 

     What else is new? Hmm.  Well as you know, I have been in Chula since February so you can probably imagine that I am struggling with that.  But I actually have been loving it here. Yes, a change would be nice but I would be okay if I stayed here for another 3 months if that's what the Lord wants.  Anyway, last week at transfer meeting (Wednesday), President invited all the missionaries to pray to receive personal confirmation that we were where we needed to be. Well, this made me feel kinda cool because the Monday before that day, I had actually had a feeling that I was staying for sure and I prayed to know if that was actually what was going to happen and if it was where I needed to be.  But.... I had not received any type of answer yet. This experience seemed all too familiar... So since that day, I have been praying and still had received nothing. I started to doubt, I started to worry.  But when I was sitting there on the pulpit as part of the choir for stake conference, President Schmitt got up on the pulpit and said how there are 36 missionaries in the wonderful stake of Chula Vista. At this moment, I was overcome with the spirit. I felt the spirit so strong that it was the strongest I have felt the spirit in a LONG time.  I can't even explain how it felt, but it was almost like Nana was giving me a giant bear hug of the spirit. I hope to never forget that feeling. I know I need to be here and I am glad to be here. Chula is where it's at!

    Mom, I love you to death and appreciate all you you do for me to the very core of my being. You mean so much to me. 

    Dad - What a joy it is to read how well you are doing! You really have amazed me with your conversion. Especially since I have left home! It's just a testimony to me that Heavenly Father really does take care of you while I am away. Thank you for always sharing your powerhouse experiences and for sharing what you have learned from the Gospel. I hope to be as temple thirsty as you are when I get home!  Don't get me wrong, going to the temple once every 3 months as a missionary is unexplainable. But I'm not sure it competes with going every week.  Well Pops, I know you know I love you and I hope that you enjoy this week and feel that love for you.

    Love, 

    Elder Taylor C. Davis

WEEK 66

    May the force be with you! 

Sis. Todd, Elder Agnew, Elder Davis, Elder Strong, Elder Avery

     Mom, It makes me very happy that your birthday package pleased you so much and that you love it as much as you do. I thought you would like those things and it made me very happy that I was able to do more than just send you a "Deeds card."   From the looks of everything, it looks like your week was quite eventful and that you had a lot of fun!  It must have been cool to see the deer and everything! Did you catch a lot of fish?

    Dad, It must have been cool to be there when Uncle Auby and Grandpa killed the deer and to help gut it.  I wanna do that someday. Did you make like Red Dawn and drink the blood?  So I do have to say that I really like the blackout jersey's for Utah and I am blown away that they are doing so well! Maybe it's because I'm unable to watch them at all!  Wish I could say that about the 49ers though.  I might have you send me my 9ers tie to wear while I'm studying on Sundays. It really does make it easier that you give me updates every week though.  That makes it so I don't worry or feel "Homesick for Football" or anything like that.  So definitively don't stop giving sports updates!!!!

    Well not much has happened here in the sunny side of Chula Vista.   Just trying to help the Branch get on it's feet and all that fun stuff.  It's kind of cool though because a lot of less active members that weren't coming to church for a long time have started coming back and it has been super cool to see their bright faces there in the congregation, knowing that we have worked so hard with them over the past little while.  Very Fortunately, Elder Strong and I are both staying and neither of us is getting transferred!!  Heck yes!!!  So I get to finish his training and stay in the area for at least 6 more weeks. 

    We will be moving out of the 4 man apartment though. :( Due to the split and how our area is now.  We live outside of our area so we will be moving to live in our area.  So that will actually be kind of nice. I just don't know if we'll be living with other missionaries anymore.  So we'll see how everything goes. :)

     We did get to see Andres though and his great grandma was there. She is super cool and she told us a lot of stuff that we didn't know.  But a lot that we already know too.  Andres has a baptismal date for the 15th of November.  He is super pumped and everything and he's definitely ready.

    Thanks for your email and for the pics. I am so glad that you appreciated the package I sent home.  I love you with all my heart!!  Have a great week and remember that I love you!   I wish you the best for your week. I love you so much and appreciate all that you do for me.

 

     Love,

     Elder Taylor C. Davis

 

WEEK 65

   Phew! Sounds like you have had quite the crazy week. I guess you could say that our week was pretty cray cray too. But it looks like you had a good time. It was good to see pics of everybody.  It looks like you and pops are both looking pretty skinny!! I hope that Jonah's break goes well and that you enjoy the time you have with him. He needs to stop growing up so dang fast!! I'm going to have to pummel him into the ground again when I get back so he's not so tall! 

    I am not looking forward to having a crapple Ipood anytime soon but at the same time, I am. Apple aside, it will help us out a TON and make things SO much easier.  From what I have heard, we should get them around December. I have also heard that the missionaries that have been out for a while will not have to pay for them since it was introduced way after they started their missions.  So hopefully those rumors are true.

   About my back and my "flare ups", I actually haven't had any problems with either. Of course my back bugs me here and there but not enough to immobilize me like it once did. My stomach/ "shpleeen" has been about the same.  I have a had a couple of days that it has really bothered me but I have always been able to deal with it and still go out and teach. Thanks to the power of God and prayer that is.

    So this week was pretty interesting. Elder Strong and I ended up with a part of the branch that is mostly less active members and a couple really solid members.  That being said, we are super stoked to start this area fresh and add the world! Baptisms for dayz!!! We have already got a few families to come back to church and are trying really hard to get them to church.

 

     It has been hard saying goodbye to the members and investigators that we used to see a lot though. Especially Francisco, Pam, the Perez family (the family that threw me a birthday party), and even Josh tonight.  But we know that only good things will come from it and that they will progress better than when we saw them.  Saying goodbye to Francisco and the Perez family was really hard. I almost cried both times. But I know that everything is happening for a reason and that it will all turn out. It really becomes hard when you've been in an area for long and grow to love the people so much and then it's time to move on. But all will work out. :)  Not much more to report. Other than we are in a sick branch now and I am pumped to see what happens with everything. I actually worked with the Branch President before in my last area so we are already friends. That definitely helps out a lot. So yeah not too much to report. Just been trying to organize the district's new areas and this week should be sick!

 

   I am glad that you got your letter and I hope you aren't disappointed with it. There should be something else in the mail for you as well but I don't know if it will make it there before your birthday. P-day was crazy nuts last week and I barely had any time to do anything. But it's okay because I was able to do something. :)

 

   I am actually loving the new razor!!!!! It's way better than my old razor and I don't think I'll have to charge it for like a month or so.  It sure beats anything I've used before.

 

   Yeah so these pics were taken with our bishop before the split. It was pretty much our "farewell" for him because he is acutally an english attending member so we won't be able to see him anymore. He is super funny though and we wanted to take a silly pic.

    It has been crazy to see everything fly by so quickly!! Next week we wil find out if I'm being transferred or not. Yeah I know what you're thinking.... Already! Yep. It has already been almost 6 weeks since I started my journey with Elder Strong.  I am not sure what will happen because he still has 6 more weeks of training and I would like to be the one to finish it, but who knows. I have been in this stake for 9 months so anything could happen. I really don't want to change because I love this area and the people so much. Especially Elder Strong. He is a beast!!! But that fact in mind just makes me think that it will be reasons that I am bound to change. But whatevs. I'll go wherever he wants me to go. :)

 

    Mom, I hope that your birthday goes well this week and that you get your gift soon!!! Thank you for making me into the man/missionary that I am.  :) You definitely have a giant role in everything I am!  Love you!!!

    Thanks for all you do for me Pops. I sure do love you. I hope this weeek is full of fun and love and excitement. I hope you enjoy the temple and that everything goes well with Mom's birthday.

     xoooxXXOxxxoooooXooO

     Love,
     Elder Taylor C. Davis

WEEK 64

    Things have been pretty nuts this week!! Our ward was split into two units and I have been running around like a chicken with its head cut off. But even then it has been super spiritual. In fact, Elder Strong and I just got out of a meeting with the mission president on how the new areas are going to be and who will be in the ward, branch and so on.  The split basically cut our area in half but we will inherit parts of a different area. So it will be fun to teach Elder Strong the area again.  It has been crazy busy, but crazy good. 

    I sure do love Elder Strong. He is a really good missionary and his desire to work no matter what just blows my mind. I have no doubt that he is going to make an even more excellent missionary and do great things in this area in the future. I know that a lot of the miracles that we are experiencing are just because of the fact that he is here. I love that kid.

     This week wasn't the best week ever but it turned out pretty good actually.  We were able to meet with Josh and Francisco but that was about it on the investigator front.  Francisco is really loving us and I am super worried for him because he will live outside of our Spanish unit and our area. I really hope he will accept the fact that we won't be able to come see him anymore.  Pam has been struggling with homework so we weren't able to see her but we did have a really good talk with her mom. :) Josh might be able to get a baptismal date tonight. 

 

     On the positive side, we actually have had a lot of success with less actives this week and they are coming back! We have a super good appointment set with two of them tomorrow. Andres is doing alright. His family is still finishing up getting things running again so we haven't taught him but we did see him yesterday and he is very excited for us to come over tomorrow. :)

 

    The apartment is going well. We live with two other English missionaries and it is a lot of fun. You'd be surprised at how well we keep it clean with that taken into account.  We are super close and have not heard anything from President though.

 

     I wanted you to know that I did get my razor but I haven't opened it yet. Thank you so MUCH!!! I will be sure to take care of it so it will last.  I did not however receive the other package/mail. Sister Soffe said it should come in later today so hopefully I can get it before next week.

 

    Not gonna lie, it sounds really weird to hear you say your are pregnant!  But I am glad that you are so excited.  :) I think you'll be even more excited when I tell you that you are actually " Missionary Pregnant" today! :)  I come home on the 14th, not the 15th! :) 

 

    My favorite part of my week besides talking to you would have to be sacrament meeting on Sunday. All the newly called men got up and bore their testimonies and it just blew my mind and the room was filled with the spirit. I know those men are called of God.

 

    As always, I sure do love you and thank you for all that you do for me. Especially how you inspire me every week. I love you and appreciate you.

 

    Love,

    Your Son

    Elder Taylor C. Davis

WEEK 63

 

 
 

    

       
    So it was a super good week!!  As you can probably guess, I enjoyed the heck out of conference!  It was really good!  It was so cool to be able to go to each session at the stake center and be able to participate as a missionary.  I think my favorite talk was the talk that President Uchtdorf gave in the Priesthood session.  I think it was titled, "Lord, is it I?"  I really enjoyed it and it taught me a lot.  One thing that I learned from conference was that I can do a better job at making sure that I am doing what is necessary to make sure that I would be able to KNOW that I didn't betray/offend Christ.  I also learned that I could be doing more in my life to make sure I am on track so that the blessings in my patriarchal blessing will come to pass as well.  There are a lot of things that are coming up quick. 

 

    Something else I really liked was how much everyone praised the Prophet. It taught me that I could do a better job at making sure that I am grateful for him and ALL that he does.  I also learned that I don't give you and Pops enough thanks or credit for all that you have and still do for me.  If it weren't for you I would not be where and not be who I am today.

 

     So yeah that was conference.  No investigators came so that hurt, because we got a few of them to commit to come.  But it's alright.  They are moving along pretty well.  Josh is meeting with us tonight so hopefully we can get him with a baptismal date again.  We are seeing Francisco on Thursday and we have high hopes for that one as well. We saw Pam on Friday and are going to see her again on Thursday as well.  We think that everyone is starting to progress and we could see some baptisms next month and maybe even this month.  We haven't seen Andres though but we have an appointment with him tomorrow. :)

     Performing those baptisms was really cool, I have to admit.  I was super nervous since it had been so long since I had baptized someone and the last person that I baptized was a little 9 year old girl who weighed nothing.  But the baptisms went perfect and I felt abnormally confident while I was in the font. Guess praying your brains out still helps me a lot.

  

    I actually did get to see Meet the Mormons last week, for zone conference. It was actually really good.  It was pretty much just a Mormon message on steroids. I highly recommend it though.

 

    I am glad that you asked if there is something you can do for me because I actually was going to ask for a bit of help.... I was wondering if you could some postage so I can mail a box to you with some stuff?  Could that be possible?  Also I wanted you to know that my Razor bit the dust yesterday.

The little guard that covers the actual blades busted and it started cutting me and then yesterday it just gave up.  I am surprised, because I have always made sure to take good care of it and everything.  I don't want you to have to buy another one though.  I can just use disposables for a bit.  My companion gave me a few that should last quite a while so I think I'll be good.  No need for you to spend more money. :)

 

    That's pretty much it to report. Except our miracle on Tuesday night!!! We were waiting that night for Josh to show up at the church and a member grabbed us and asked us if we spoke Spanish. We of course said yes and then she introduced us to one of her non-member friends that she had invited to the church for an activity and we taught her and added her right there!! We have another appointment with her tomorrow! So Sick!

 

     We went to the temple today and it was super good!!!!

 

     Mom, know that I love you more than anything.  I actually had a dream the other night that you and I were hanging out at the house and it really touched me.  It's comforting to know that even though you're so far away and have been and will be for so long, that Heavenly Father can still let me see your face and enjoy a little time with you and not have it hinder the work.  I really have been blessed in that regard on my mission.  Sometimes I think I should feel bad that I've never been homesick but at the same time I know that it's because I try my best to stay focused.  May the Lord comfort you and help you feel peace like I do.  :)  I love you sweet Momma!

 

     I can honestly say that I really am enjoying the heck out of my mission and I have loved every second of it.  It has been the funnest thing I have ever done in my life!

 

     Love your guts and hope this week goes well for you!

 

     Love you!

 

     Love,

     Elder Taylor C. Davis