PARENT NOTE: LAST WEEK WE DID NOT RECEIVE A LETTER FROM ELDER CHAD. HE RE-SENT HIS JUNE 18TH LETTER -- AND WE ARE GRATEFUL HE DID.  THIS LETTER IS ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRING WE HAVE RECEIVED.  ALSO INCLUDED IS THE JUNE 25 LETTER.  TWO FOR THE WEEK!!

Hola a todos!                     18 June 2012

 Another week has come and go and here we are again for the weekly email from Elder Davis. This week turned out to be pretty solid. We were able to accomplish a lot and to see quite a few miracles. The worst part about this week was that I have had a cold almost the whole week. I woke up on Tuesday morning with a really sore throat, and then it just went through all the cycles. I got a runny nose, then a cough, then everything all at once. But I had Elder Linville give me a blessing and it has been getting better and I just have some congestion still, but I should be better by the end of the week.

   Blessings really seemed to be a theme for this week. I think we ended up giving like 4 or 5 blessings this week. We gave one to a guy that is headed out to Afghanistan for 9 months. We gave one to one of the Sister's investigators. Elder Linville gave me one for sickness. Each time, my testimony of Priesthood blessings just grows. I think being the voice for a Priesthood blessing is such a great experience. I have really grown to know that when you give a blessing, you try your best to get out of the way and say what the Spirit indicates. I think this is one of the greatest feelings I have had on my mission, to know that the Spirit of the Lord was completely working through me to give a blessing to someone else. I have heard many times people say, "Oh that was a wonderful blessing Elder Davis." At that moment I just have to remind them that it wasn't me who gave it, but it was the Spirit. It was the things that our Heavenly Father wanted that person to know at that specific moment.
      A miracle that we did have this week was being able to invite a few more people to be baptized. We met with this Hispanic guy earlier in the week named Enrique. We were talking about the Book of Mormon, and I felt the impression to invite him to be baptized. So I invited him and testified of the blessings that will enter into his life, and he said that he will get baptized if he receives his answer from the Lord. So it is a good thing to know that Heavenly Father has our back and He wants Enrique to receive his answer as well.
       We also were able to meet with a 15 year old kid named Bret, that we found last week. His family is basically all members, but his parents haven't really been active for awhile. We asked him if baptism was something that he wanted to do, and he said he wasn't quite sure. So we taught him what baptism was and what it meant. We then were able to set the goal for him to be baptized on July 21st.
        Another blessing came in the form of a returned missionary. This is the same missionary that we heard speak a week ago. He actually was able to come with us to some of our Spanish lessons and help me teach. It was such a nice feeling to know that someone else could help me teach and someone else spoke the language. He was able to really set the tone and testify to our investigators about the blessings that can come into their life. By the mouth of two or three witnesses, right?
       The biggest miracle that we had this week was the BAPTISM of Kemmer. Kemmer is the deaf kid that we have been teaching for the last month. He was so excited to finally get baptized. The day of the baptism was definitely a crazy one. His grandfather was supposed to baptize him and had come down from Salt Lake area to do so, but the problem was that he is such a big guy, that we couldn't find a white jumpsuit that would fit him. So we were racking our brains to find a solution, but it came through Kemmer's mother. I was originally supposed to confirm him, but since we couldn't find clothes for his grandfather, we just swapped him and me around. I was called upon to baptize him about 45 minutes before the baptism. After that the whole baptism went very smooth. Kemmer actually did very well in the font and after I brought him up out of the water, he just said, "WOAH!" It was quite funny, but very fitting for him. The thing that was amazing after the baptism was when I talked with Kemmer's grandfather, the one that was supposed to baptize him. Some background is that Kemmer's father died when he was just a baby, so he never knew him. But his grandfather said that while we were in the font, that he knew that Kemmer's dad was there too. It was a pretty good feeling to know that his father was in attendance to his son's baptism.
       I also was able to have this huge epiphany about the Priesthood that I hold. I know that the Priesthood that I hold is something very sacred from our Heavenly Father and we always need to be clean and worthy to hold it. I know that even though I was asked only 45 minutes before the baptism to baptize Kemmer, I didn't have to worry or think about if I really was worthy to baptize him. That was just one of the biggest epiphanies I have ever had, to know that I need to live my life in such a manner, that in no matter what situation or what moment, that if I am called upon to use the Priesthood authority that I have been given, that I can do so without any doubt in my mind. The Lord instructs us to be worthy and clean of that power that we hold, but our personal obedience is what qualifies us to use that power we have been given.
     This week was also transfer week, but nothing is happening because of the training program. The only thing different is that one of the 2 stakes that we were covering is now being covered by another set of missionaries. It will tough to just do our work with one stake, but we will strive to gain the trust of the members and to work as hard as we can to find those who have been prepared for us here.
     NEWS FROM HOME: Well it was great to hear about the graduations of all of the cousins. I wish them the best in their futures! (Cousins Skyler and Kelse graduated from high school and Caitlin graduated from Oregon State!)  Well I need to be on my way, but I still love this work with all my heart and soul! I know that this is where I am supposed to be at this moment in my life. I wish you all the best this week! I love you all!
Live it, Love it, Preach it!    de la viña del Gran Rey Jesus,  ELDER D

Buenos dias!              June 25, 2012

    I am sorry to hear that you didn't get the letter that I had sent last week. I know that I did send one, but maybe because of the pictures that were attached to it, it didn't go through. So I resent it with and without the pictures, so hopefully you will get that all figured out.

     This week was a week of ups and downs. We had some good moments, and some low moments, but that is all part of a mission, right? We had a really good lesson with one of our investigators that we had been visiting since I got here. His name is David. He is married to a semi active member of the Church. He has been around the Church for so long, but he just hasn't been able to be baptized yet. He almost got baptized about a year ago, but had some problems arise with the missionaries. This week we were able to visit with him. We watched "The Restoration" DVD. It talks about Joseph Smith and his story on how he sought out the truth. Afterwards, we talked about David's belief in Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. It was so awesome, because he bore his testimony to us saying that he knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon was true. We then were able to invite him to be baptized on the 21st of July. The biggest obstacle we will have with him is to get him to church. He works A LOT! He has spent probably the last month going back and forth from here and Moab for work and we have only seen him maybe 4 times. Hopefully we can get him to come to church and to be able to teach him enough so he can get baptized on that date. He is probably the most solid investigator that we have at this time.
    This week I had a really big learning experience once again. I learned how precious the time the Lord has given me to serve him really is. This week we made some choices that reflected what we wanted to do, rather then what the Lord wanted us to do. Let's just say that the day didn't turn out very well. I learned that we need to continually mold our mission into what the Lord wants it to be; rather then what we want our mission to be. There is so much weighing on the time that I have been given to serve the Lord and my fellowman, that I need to use to the fullest. I am helping my brothers and sisters to come unto the knowledge of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and to gain eternal salvation. If I choose to use my remaining time in the mission to do what I want to do, those people that I am supposed to find, teach, and baptize will go unfound. I definitely do not want to have those stains upon my garments in the last days. It was definitely a very big eye opening experience.
      With the loss of one of our stakes, we have taken to the streets - we have tracted more this week then I have in the last year of my mission. I don't think I have tracted this much since I left St. George. It has brought some good blessings and some funny experiences. Another one of our investigators that is making a lot of progress in a guy named Jason. He is such a character, but loves having us over. He is also married to a less active member of the Church. He has always told us that it would be a long time before he would go to church, stop smoking, or join the church. Well he went to church for the first time last week, and he was there for his second time yesterday! We were also talking to him during the week and he said that his quitting smoking, and that his official religion is LDS. It is so crazy to see how people can change in a matter of time. I am excited for him, so hopefully we can help him to quit smoking and to invite him to be baptized.
       This week we also had a big training with President Leonard here in Huntington. It was really good. It was another thing that really helped me this week. It just helped me realize the importance of "the basics". After the training I actually had to get my temple recommend renewed. It is weird to think that my recommend is that old and that I have been out that long!
        At the end of the week we did a lot of things with the community. On Saturday, we did a bunch of service with one of the wards here. We just pulled weeds, cut down trees, leveled out some ground, and a bunch of other stuff. Later that night we went to a big community BBQ at the park. It was a good chance to meet with members and nonmembers. After the BBQ, we got roped into help announce some of the events afterwards. They had some pig chases, chicken chases, stick horse races, steer riding, and a cash cow event. It was pretty funny to see all the community and little kids do these events. We even got talked into being part of the chicken chase. Basically they make you all line up on one side of the rodeo arena and you run towards a chicken that is on the other side of the arena, and if you catch the chicken, you get to keep it. Well we didn't win the chicken, mainly because we were in white shirts and ties, so we didn't dive onto the ground like everyone else did. But it was a fun thing to do! We had a bunch of people come up to us on Sunday in church and say how good it was to see us there. Hopefully it will produce some referrals or investigators for us.
       My BYU (Provo) application still isn't finished. I need to still write my essays, and get President Leonard to sign off on it. But that is the only other thing I need to do. You are correct, the Manti Pageant is this week and we will be going to it. We actually will be there tomorrow night. I will send some pictures and tell you more about it next week!
       I wish you all the best this week! I love you all so much and am so grateful for your support!
Live it, Love it, Preach it!   tu hijito!   ELDER D

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY POPS! 

**In Honor of Fathers Day this Sunday, I am including Chad's note home to his father -- I usually keep these tender thoughts private.  Considering all that is going on with our family, I asked Darin for permission to share.  Enjoy! **

Thanks pops! I really appreciate the letter that you sent me. I know that you have never been too much of a writer, but I do appreciate anything I can get from you. It is good to hear that you spoke in church on the Book of Mormon. I really love that subject. That is the one major thing that helped me decide to come on my mission and it has been a source of light for me since I have been here. I have been reading the Ensign from last October that is all about the Book of Mormon. I really enjoyed the old talk by President Benson, about it being the Keystone of our religion and how we should make the Book of Mormon the "keystone" of our lives as well.

   I am glad you have been working a lot lately. It will keep you out of trouble! haha   All is well here and everything continues to be. I am grateful to have you as my earthly father and to call you my hero. Just remember that I do love you with all my heart (I guess it is split between you and mom and the Lord), but I do you love you very much and I know that you will always be my father. Here on Earth and in the eternities if we will just do our part and live up to the covenants that we have made at baptism and in the temple. This is the Lord's true church here upon the earth, never forget that. The gospel will always bring us happiness and eventually it will bring us "never ending joy". (Mosiah 2:41) I love you pops! Remember who you are! (my father, my hero, and a son of God!)    ELDER DAVIS

 June 11, 2012

Well it is that time again here in the wonderful land of Utah, that I have been calling home for the last 21 months. Every week is an adventure and a learning experience. This week was quite interesting. It wasn't the greatest week, nor was it the worst week. It was just one of those average weeks that makes you keep on going forward. We were able to have some good experiences and some funny ones, but that is always to be expected.
Last Monday, we did have the chance to meet with Priscilla. She is the lady that was baptized about 2 months ago, and then we baptized her daughter. As you know, she has breast cancer, and she actually started her Chemo treatments. So we took the opportunity to stop by and visit her with the Ward Mission Leader. She has been feeling pretty crummy lately from all of the Chemo running through her body. But her faith is so amazing. She asked us if we would be able to give her a blessing to help her through this time and throughout the whole time that she is receiving treatments. I was lucky enough to be able to give her the blessing. I really don't remember what I said, but I just know that I blessed her with the power to bear her afflictions and to look unto the Savior, for he knows her pains. It was a very powerful moment. She has always been so in tune with the Spirit the whole time that we have taught her. After the blessing she just sat in the chair and soaked it all in. Through tears in her eyes, she looked up at me and said, "Thank you for everything that you have done for me and for Andrea." I know that I was truly sent here to this area to teach her.
On a lighter note, we went to talk to an older lady that we got referred to by some members. It was pretty funny, because she was nice like almost all old ladies are. She grew up in a less active LDS home, but never got baptized. Now she is in her 80s and saw her great grandson get baptized a month ago. She said that she felt a "good feeling" while she was there. So we talked about what that "good feeling" is and what that meant. We talked about how there is no age limit on baptism and she just said that she knows she should have done it, but now she is just too old to do that. We will follow up with her in a few weeks and see if there is any change.
       We were able to start teaching this kid named Bret. His family is less active, but his dad was pretty supportive to everything that we were teaching him. We bore testimony of the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. We have an appointment with him this evening, so hopefully we can get that moving in the right direction.
       This week we spent a little time tracting (knocking doors). It is something that I haven't really done too much in this area, but we having been needing to try something different. We spent most of Saturday tracting in 30 MPH winds. It was funny to see how tired Elder Linville was afterwards. When we finished tracting, we went to talk to a member about some people in that ward. Elder Linville fell asleep in the chair he was in. It was quite funny.
     Another funny moment this week was that Elder Linville sat down in a chair on Sunday and just blew out his pants. They ripped in about 3 places; on the backside, next to the pocket, and on the leg. He was super embarrassed, because it was at our dinner, and the family has like 5 girls in their home. He seriously turned fire engine red!
       On Sunday, I had a little spiritual awakening. We heard some very good counsel throughout the whole day. In the first meeting we went to I heard a quote from President Monson on the temple. He said, "As we touch the Temple, the Temple will touch us." That thought really stuck with me. To think that if we will open ourselves up to the teachings in the Temple, that they will touch and change our lives. Then we went to a homecoming talk of a missionary that got home last week from Mendoza, Argentina. It was a really good talk, but it was just so weird to see him talking to people and hugging everyone that he hadn't seen for two years. He just kept telling me how weird it was to see all these people again. It will definitely be a weird feeling (for me) to be back and see everyone again.
         Last night, we also had a meeting with President Leonard and Elder Brimhall (Area Seventy). The meeting reemphasized the importance of what I am doing and how great my calling as a missionary really is. I am giving my time and attention to a cause that is greater then anything that I could be doing for myself. The work of the Lord is the great cause that exists upon this great earth.
      NEWS FROM HOME: It is good to hear that everything went well with Lois' surgery for her back. I wish her a quick and speedy recovery. It is a very true statement that we always do need someone to look out and watch over us, and that can come in many different ways. In this case, it comes for Lois and Pops through each other. (They call each other Mom and Son.) It is good that you got the chance to see the Broadhead family, too. I am sure that you had a pleasant surprise when that elder stopped by. (Former Missionary in the Burbank Area, Elder Aitchison, now home from his mission, stopped by to see us!) I am sure it was pretty weird for him to be back in the mission, without his nametag. I feel strange to go and see people that I met when I served in Price, and I am still a missionary. Last night I probably saw 15 people that I knew from when I served in Price at a big missionary training meeting. It was quite a weird experience.
        Well thank you for the package with the shirts, the pictures, and the letter to extend my license. I appreciate it. I love you all so much and thank you for your support!

Live it, Love it, Preach it!     ELDER D

LOTS OF TEACHING, KEEPING BUSY AS A MISSIONARY!

Hola a todos!           June 4, 2012

            Well this week we struggled at the beginning, but we were able to finish it off strong. It is something that we continue to do every week, battle. These last couple of weeks we have been back and forth with a lot of things, but I think that everything should really start to pick up.
            The weather lately has been pretty amazing. The week before it was so bipolar, but this week it has been in the 80s the whole time. It is tough to adjust to the warmer weather, especially after being used to it be cooler the whole time. The biggest thing was that this week there has been a lot of humidity. It has been quite overcast the last few days and has acted like it wanted to rain, but it would only sprinkle. This area really does need some moisture, that is actually what all the Stakes here fasted for yesterday. I have been enjoying the warmth and we have actually been able to get out and walk around.
            We have had some pretty good lessons this week. We are teaching this lady named America. She has such great faith and really enjoys learning. This was confirmed this last week with the two lessons that we had with her. I asked her point blank if she was interested in learning and joining the Church. She said she did and that she wanted to get baptized. Now we just need to work on her marriage situation. So that will be something that we need help with, so any prayers in that behalf would be great! We have also been working with a less active family to help get them active and able to go to the temple. They have been really progressing lately. We had a great lesson on the blessings that come through our obedience to the commandments. So that will be a great day to be able to see them be sealed in a Temple of God.
            A random moment this week: we were out knocking on some doors of some people that the missionaries used to visit. We went to this smaller home, one that you would think a newly married couple would live in. Anyways, so we knock the door and this girl comes to the door and we are talking and asking her some questions. She actually was from around there, and then she said she was already a member of the church. I didn't want the contact to end there, so I asked if she lived there with her husband (hoping he was a non-member). Well she just starts busting up laughing and says "that she isn't married, and she is going to be a senior in high school." So it was a pretty random thing, but I blame Utah and all the very young marriages that happen. J
            We were able to find quite a few new people to teach this week. One is a 9 year old kid named Logan. He is probably one of the funniest kids that I have ever met. While we were there, his babysitter asked if he was baptized, and he just turned to her and said, "No! Why do you think they are here?!" It was a super funny comment. He really knows a lot and wants to be baptized. We invited him to be baptized and he is planning for the 30th of June to do so.
            We went on exchanges to Wellington. It was a pretty weird thing, because I saw so many people that I had met when I served there. (Chad served in Price before going to Cedar City, and now in Castle Dale.) It was a good experience, but also very strange. I wonder if it was a strange feeling for me now, what it will be like when I come back after my mission, or even in like 10 years. While I was there in Wellington, we were talking to this guy outside his house, and my companion was throwing a chunk of wood for his big chocolate lab. This dog and the way he acted reminded me a lot of Bear. (Bear was our black lab we had in Boise.  He loved to run after toys -- we would have to hide them before he would stop!)  Anyways this dog had been chasing this chunk of wood for quite awhile, and he came back and dropped the wood at my feet. What I didn't realize was that he had gone through a little stream on his way back from retrieving the wood. So as all dogs do, they shake to get all the water off. Needless to say I got drenched with water and mud. It was pretty funny when I think about it now, but at the time I wasn't so happy. The worst part was that it was my suit pants, so I had to take those to the dry cleaners. (Chad has always cared about how he dresses and is particular about looking nice.)  We also found out that one of our investigators was involved in a car accident this week. He and his wife took a trip to Colorado to visit some friends, and on the way back they got in a wreck. The worst part was it happened in Price. So it was only 30 minutes away from getting home. Our investigator is only sore and bruised, but his wife is pretty banged up. She is in a neck brace and dislocated her collarbone. It has been a humbling experience for him and a good chance to see how the ward supports them. Hopefully this will soften his heart and let him receive the answer he is looking for.
            The last lesson I am going to talk about was with a Spanish couple. Their names are Veronica and Gerardo. We had stopped by a few weeks before and talked with them, but never really got an actual lesson with them.On Saturday we had a really good lesson. We talked about the Restoration of the Gospel. We had talked about Joseph Smith and we were introducing the Book of Mormon and how they could know if the book was true. At the end of the lesson, I asked them if they had any questions, and the response from Gerardo really shocked me. Keep in my mind that this was the first lesson that we had with him. He said, "No I don't have any questions, but what you could do is leave that book for us, so we can read it and find out if it is true." That just blew me away. I can definitely tell that he is a "sincere seeker of truth". I am excited to see what happens with them this week.
            NEWS FROM HOME: It is good to know that Pops is getting all his tests done, so that everything else can proceed forward. (Darin has had 7 body scans, a brain scan, ultra sounds and a full body PET scan.  He feels like he should glow in the dark! Just one more test before getting approval for chemotherapy treatment at Univ of Washington.)  It was also nice to hear that Emma and Chay came to church this last week. Hopefully that can continue to happen. But I am grateful for you support once again, and it is nice to know that you are always there for me. I know that this is the Lord's church and this is His work!   Live it! Love it! Preach it!   con muchismo amor!    ELDER D