Abandoned McDonalds, & Groceries - September 23, 2019

It has been a good week here in Youngstown, Ohio. We did service and helped chop wood and load it into a truck. It was a lot of wood, and they were wet. The logs weighed a ton. It was a good day, though. We were happy to help out.

 We were also able to go to the abandoned McDonalds. There are only like 3 in the US. It is in  Youngstown and pretty creepy. Everything is still in it. So, that was really weird.

We had a man teach us how to make chicken and waffles with the cooking group in Youngstown. That was fun. 

We also have an amazing lady in our ward who buys us groceries every two weeks. She leaves them in the fridge at the church. She is a huge blessing to us. We love it! Last week she said she ate two of the fruit cups so that she could put the eggs in there so they wouldn't break. So grateful for her and the people who help us out here. We are teaching a few people and it is going well.
I went on exchanges with Elder Johnson this week as well. We are working hard and grateful to be here.

Elder Davis

Chopping Wood

Abandoned McDonalds

Halloween Fun

Chicken and Waffles

Hospital Presentation, Small Miracle, & Training - September 16, 2019

Hey! 
It has been a good week. Wednesday we drove to the mission home and attended MLC training  all day. We learned a lot. I lost my bathroom bag somewhere during the trip but so it goes. We were able to eat at Canes in Columbus. I miss that place so much. We went on exchanges with some elders in Lisbon this week. We have an elder in our area that is 7 feet tall. He is going to play basketball for the university of Oregon when he gets home. Pretty cool! 
We have been going through the records and finding people to teach in our area. We had a lesson with Shonda and Rashid. It was good. They have a little girl who kept telling us that we were going to get shot. Not sure what that was about. They were really nice, though. 
We also signed up in the Youngstown Photography Facebook group and the cooking group to meet people. So this week we have a man teaching us how to make Chicken and Waffles. We are excited about that. 
The other day we had a small miracle. We had to buy a USB for a presentation we were doing at the hospital. It was only $10 but we didn't have a lot of money. So, when we were at the store a member came up and bought it for us. He was super nice and we were so grateful. 
We did a presentation at the local hospital here about patients who are members of our church. We told the staff about our beliefs, the articles of faith, and explained the Book of Mormon. They wanted to learn how to help terminal patients who are members of our church. It was a cool experience. It was nice that they cared to know about their patients. They gave us vouchers to eat at the hospital cafeteria. That was a great day.
I'm learning a lot and finding my way in this new area. 
Thanks for all of the prayers,
Elder Davis

Cleveland to Youngstown in a Tacoma - September 9, 2019

Hey from Ohio!

It's been a busy week with lots of moving. We moved into the new apartment in Cleveland, and then I was transferred and moved to my new area in Youngstown. It was hard to say good bye to the YSA ward in Cleveland. We opened up that area and there are a lot of amazing people there. I will truly miss them. Elder Neeser, Elder Stoddard, and I were a three pack after Elder Lambert went home. That was a lot of fun. They are great guys. Elder Neeser reminds me a lot of dad.  He likes a lot of the same things. 

Youngstown looks like the town in I am Legend. It is the place that they made Fallout the video game after. It is a scarier place than Cleveland was. The two places are a lot different. We have a huge area. It covers Pennsylvania and Indiana as well. The areas back here are a lot larger than the ones in Nevada. 

We have a tacoma truck in our area, so that has been nice. This week we are attending a training meeting at the Mission home. I haven't been there since I came out on my mission almost two years ago. We are about 3 hours away so it will be a road trip for us. It is going to be a learning experience being a zone leader. I was transferred here for a reason, and I am going to work hard to find out. Thanks for all of your prayers, letters and emails.

Elder Davis

Dear Elder Davis

I congratulate you on your new calling within the Ohio Columbus mission.  Your acts of love, 

compassion and service, coupled with your eagerness to work in building the kingdom of God,

 have prepared you for this greater responsibility

Your new role will likely include new responsibilities--reports, exchanges, etc., but your most important 

role must be a devoted laborer in the work of the Lord.  No greater service can be rendered than to labor

 faithfully for the salvation of the souls of men.  The Spirit of the Lord will help make you a successful and 

effective leader if you will be humble and prayerful.  Teach by example and by the Spirit.

Your call is a call to service--service to God, your companion, your missionaries, and your fellow men.  

Remember that "no power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the Priesthood, only by 

persuasion, by long suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness and 

pure knowledge..." (D&C 121:41-42). Also, "Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men..

.and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence 

of God..." (D&C 121:43).  This is especially important to remember as you work with imperfect 

missionaries or even some members and leaders within the Church.  Be patient and pray for understanding.

I have every confidence that you will be a great asset to our mission leadership.  I know you will enjoy 

this new calling as have others before you.  Always remember that you are an ambassador of the Lord, 

Jesus Christ, and a representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

Your words and your actions matter.  The Lord is anxious to pour out his great blessings upon 

you as you go forth in this new and challenging calling.

Sincerely, your brother in Christ

President Val T. Stratford, Ohio Columbus Mission

Transfers, Zone Leader , & Leaving Cleveland - September 4, 2019

Hey from Cleveland! 
It has been a good week. We played ultimate Frisbee Monday with the YSA ward. We also moved into our new apartment this week. Lots of stairs and a sketchy elevator. We also helped people move in the ward. We worked out in our apartment gym. So, that was fun. We are the highest baptizing area in the mission since Elder Stoddard and I opened up a couple of months ago. 
One of the members brought a friend from India to church. He was a great guy. It was fun to meet him. We had lesson with Erin this week and she got pizza for us. That was awesome.  The senior couple also made us breakfast today because.... I'm getting transferred! Can't believe it. I will really miss Cleveland. My mom asked me the top 5 things that I would miss about Cleveland. Here they are...
1- Culture/ Museums
2- Nice People ( I haven't met any rude or mean people in Cleveland)
3- YSA Branch
4- The Weather! It rains sometimes but it is not hot! It was 68 degrees today. 
5- Crazy Encounters with people. 
So, I am being transferred to Youngstown, Ohio. My new companion is Elder Madsen. We were transfers back in London (my first area). So, it has been almost two years and we are companions again. And Zone Leaders!! That is going to be fun. Lots of work and exchanges. It will keep me busy my last three months. The mission president said.. "You have done some great work in Cleveland, Elder, but the Lord needs you to go to Youngstown." I am excited for the changes, but sad to leave the people her. They are amazing. Youngstown should be a fun adventure. 
Have a good week
Elder Davis

(When I was talking to Sayre they were eating Taco Bell. It was interesting I heard a young man come up to them and start up a conversation. He was telling them about his microphone business. He could come work at the church functions or do whatever their business needs with sound systems. It was interesting. The elders were so nice to him. He then told them about his brother dying two days ago and how heartbroken he was. They talked to him and were so kind. He invited them to his brother's funeral and to be friends on facebook. They all accepted and were so kind to this young man and plan on attending the funeral with him. It reminded me of how different these missionaries are to many young men their age. They are away from home with all new people and surroundings, they they are so kind and loving they are to everyone around them. That is why they are there to serve the people of Cleveland, and I saw that today. I was so impressed.)

Art Museum Downtown Cleveland

Elder Lambert Art Museum

View from our New Apartment

Art from the Museum

Elder Madsen and I Almost Two Years Ago (Comps Again)