"Forgive Them", Training, & Four Weeks Left - November 18, 2019

This week I taught a training on hypocrisy for district council, we helped a hoarder move, worked out, went on exchanges, and learned about forgiveness. 
My mom sent me a quote this week. that says "Is it true? Then what else matters?". If you believe in Jesus Christ. We shouldn't sweat the small stuff. We all know how it is going to work out in the end. It is important to remember that. 
Elder Lambert has me working out every night. He sent me a video of what to do. So, that has been challenging and fun. I'm keeping busy out here. 
We also got to see the new Nativity video again to show members. It is amazing It comes out this weekend, so please watch it. 
We helped a man move from his home. There was a lot of stuff so we just started throwing it out the windows. He hadn't left the house in a while. We were glad to help him out. The elders quorum president took us to chik fil a after because it was a lot of work. Brother Thibideau is great!
We were supposed to have volleyball at the church that night but when we got there there was a youth dance. So, we just helped them set up. 
My mom sent me  quote from Elder Cook. He is a straight forward kind of guy. I read a talk from him a while back. He went to a stake conference and there were 76 young men of mission age who hadn't gone on a mission yet. So, he asked the stake president to meet with all of them in the next six weeks to check in on them. When he returned he asked the stake president how many he met with and how many are planning on serving missions. He said that he had talked to all of them but only 3 were going to serve. Elder Cook then said there is one of two problems here. Either  you have the most unworthy group of men or the most ineffective stake presidency. Wow! He said it was hard for the man to hear, but he got his life in order and helped those young men. One of the things I've learned on my mission is that if you believe in Jesus Christ there is little else that matters. He won't leave you. He will help you do the hard stuff. His gospel and what He taught should be foremost in your life. 
I also taught a training on hypocrisy in our district council. They told me it was "the best training they've ever heard in district council. President Stratford asked me to send it to him. He is sending it to the mission. That always makes you feel good when you do a good job on something. 
My mom asked me what gospel principal I've been studying this week. When Jesus says "Father forgive them for they know not what they do on the cross. He wasn't just being a nice person and forgiving. He could actually understand at that moment that they really didn't know. Because he had atoned for them. He knew that they were just following orders and really didn't know. That is the only example of what Jesus does for us when we make mistakes in the scriptures. He knows exactly how we feel and pleads for us to the Father. It is a good lesson to learn. 
Can't believe I am almost done out here. My pday next week will be on Tuesday. 
Have a good one
Elder Davis

Jib Jab!!

A Thelma!!

Snow!

Last Package from Home

Ohio, Hardest Part of Being a Missionary, Lost of Service this week - November 11, 2019

Hey Everybody
I have 5 more P-days left so I'm going to tell you a little bit about Ohio and my mission each week.  First, we had a good week. We performed a lot of service. There was one day that we raked leaves, set up and moved in someone to their house, delivered a bed to a family, and fixed someone's car. It was a busy day but rewarding. We were with Elder Lambert and Elder Foster that day. We also finished a deck for a lady in our ward. It was hard work, but fun. We had exchanges with the assistants and that is always fun. It snowed this week and is supposed to snow tonight. I like snow. So, we are excited for it. I only have to be in the cold for 33 more days. One of the meals we make a lot is broccoli beef. I like to cook and they encourage us to ear healthy. The new white handbook comes out in the gospel library on Friday. So, we are excited about that. Youngstown is interesting. It is just being abandoned. Everyone is leaving here. It is a very different environment than anywhere else I've been. 
There are a lot of small animals in Ohio and no road cleaning businesses. So, there are a lot of dead animals on the road all of the time. We have lots of possums, bugs, raccoons, beavers, snakes, and bats. 
I have been in 7 areas on my mission... 1- Mad Lake, 2- Gahanna, 3- Alliance, 4- Columbus, 5- Cambridge, 6- Cleveland YSA (which was my favorite), and 7- Youngstown. I am not sure if I will go to another area for the last two weeks of my mission. We shall see.
I have had 13 companions... 1- Harward, 2- Madsen, 3- Peter Smith, 4- Loutzenhizer, 5- Hooper, 5- Baldwin, 7- Norris, 8- Henshaw, 9- Rasmussen, 10- Green, 11- Stoddard, 12- Madsen, and 13 - Anderson.
My mom asked me today what the hardest part of being a missionary has been. I thought about it and I think it is people not realizing the importance of our Heavenly Father's plan. They say I am spiritual but not religious. I believe in Jesus Christ, but many people just aren't willing to take steps toward Jesus. I recently read a talk "His Grace is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox.  It is a great talk. It kind of sums up my feelings about what makes a mission tough. People are living for the here and now. They believe in Jesus and that he saved them, but they don't know why or why we are here. What is the whole point of life? This question is one not many know. We are here to learn and become like him. We are the only church on Earth that knows exactly why we are here and where we are going. People worry about the here and now, but not about the forever. The purpose of life is to endure it well and learn. His grace can save us, but we have to do our part. This life will end but salvation won't. I have truly learned a lot on my mission about why I am here and what is important. I can't believe I will be home in just over a month. 
Elder Davis

Service Opportunity

Building a Deck with Elder Lambert

One More Month

Wow! What a Week & Uchtdorf - November 4, 2019

Elder Uchtdorf is coming to our mission this month. The whole mission will be meeting with him (which has never happened) for a three hour meeting. We are so hyped. It is going to be an amazing experience. We had trunk or treat this past week. The other elders and us had the best decorated cars. Everyone loved the minion. The little girl in the picture asked us if it was a real minion and we said yes. She wanted a picture with it. It was funny. We are teaching some amazing people. We found them by just walking around and talking to people. It is great teaching them. 
We got to watch the new Nativity Video from the church. It is amazing. Seriously the best church video they have ever made. It comes out November 24th. You will love it. Only the missionaries have seen it so far. The new Light the World initiative is amazing too. It is a lot of one on one ministering. You can get a text everyday about what service to provide. I am excited about that. 
Me and Elder Lambert went on splits this week, and we got the Popeyes Sandwich. It is pretty good.  We also ate at jib jab hot dogs this week for dad. It is a great The weather is getting cold too. It has been like 30 degrees here no snow yet. 
I went on exchanges this week with Elder Bishop. He is from Pennsylvania. It was a good day. 
Elder Hooper and I sang at zone conference. We sang A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief. 
We had a stake fireside this week. They were an Ahmish family who were converted to the church. It was really interesting. They are the Troyer Family. 
We also heard about the new white handbook. There are no wake up or sleep times. There is no music rule, you get 2 hours a day for dinner and lunch whenever you need it. You can do district activities again. So, it will go into effect after I leave. Oh well :)
It has been a great week and the work moves on. 5 Weeks left.  I'm going to keep working until the end. 
Elder Davis

Layla, Us, and the Minion

Elder Lambert and Companion

MLC Meeting in Columbus

Vallery Farmhouse Bakery, Echanges, & MLC - October 28, 2019

Hey everyone!

This was a busy week. Monday we drove to Columbus for MLC the next day. We stayed at the mission home. We got there at like 11pm at night. Tuesday we had MLC with all of the mission leaders. We role played hair cuts and dress standards. I got to critique our mission president's hair. lol  After that we had to drive Elder Koontz to the doctor in Mad Lake. That is London where I served earlier in my mission. We got to go to the Vallery Farmhouse Bakery. I got to see Eddie. I also saw the Watson's from London. It was a great day. We didn't get home until 11pm that night also.  Wednesday I went on exchanges with Elder Lambert. His companion and him live in Youngstown also. It has been fun to be in the same are with him again. We had district council that morning. We found that cool rock (in the picture below). It was on the Youngstown State University campus. We also saw a cool El Camino.  Thursday there wasn't much going on. We taught Rita. Friday we did our weekly planning. So, lots of planning that day. :) Saturday we played volleyball with people from the city. We also helped a lady move out of her house. It was a lot of moving, but kept us busy.  Sunday we went to church. There are over 600 inactive members in this area. So, we just want to get to know the members and help them if we can. 

It has been raining a lot. So, we are out of car miles, and the rain makes it hard to bike. So it goes. For Halloween we will just stay in side that night, but on the 1st the ward is having a trunk or treat. We are going to decorate the truck and go. That will be fun. I'm working hard but excited to only have 45 days left. 

Have a great week and keep working hard!

Elder Davis

Elder Anderson and Elder Davis

Vallery Farmhouse Bakery

Jib Jab Hot Dogs

Fall is Coming

Salapos Family 

Youngstown State University 

Youngstown, Ohio

Missionary Broadcast & MLC - October 21, 2019

Thursday I was in a trio for the day, and then we helped a lady moved. Friday was weekly planning with my new companion, Elder Anderson. He is from Boise, Idaho. 
Saturday was a missionary broadcast. President Ballard and Elder Christofferson spoke to us about our country. They said that we need to pray for our country that was founded on the power of prayer. Sunday was a member broadcast with Ballard and Cristofferson and we went to church.
We rode our bikes around this week. I hate to bike! :) Today we did some shopping and cleaning. We are heading to Columbus tonight for MLC. It will be nice to be around the other elders and see some of my old companions. 

Shirt from the Clothing Swap

Cool Halloween House

Elder Madsen's  new suit

Volleyball Mishap, Hot Chocolate, & Mission Call - October 16, 2019

Its been a good week. We did some service, had meetings, and got our transfer calls. I will be staying in Youngstown as the Zone Leader. Elder Madsen is leaving and I am getting Elder Anderson as my companion. This is the last transfer for me. Can't believe I only have 58 days left. I had my interview with the Mission President this week. It was good. He is a good man. We are getting a new white handbook in November. We don't know what it is in it yet, but apparently there are a lot less rules. 
We also have a training tomorrow with Elder Christofferson and Elder Ballard for the missionaries in the Northeast America Zone. We are excited for that. 
On Saturday we invited the area to come play volleyball at the park. We made 5 gallons of hot chocolate and bought cups for everyone. Then... no one showed up. :( Kind of sad. The hot chocolate may be rotting in the 5 gallon cooler. lol  But this is how missions are. You just keep working for the small miracles and amazing small moments that come along. Below is what we did each day this week. I am excited for transfers. Elder Lambert will be back in my zone. 
I was able to call home and "be there" when Elly opened her mission call. I am excited for her to serve the people of Ventura California. Three missionaries in our family! 
Killing it :)

Monday--We went to Hubbard and did some service for colleen
Tuesday-had dinner with Salapo and walked around
Sunday-church and stake correlation
Saturday-volleyball mishap
Friday-weekly planning and stuff

I got my travel plans. I will be home December 14th! See you in 58!

Volleyball Sadness

Indian Dealership

Huge McDonalds

Stupert, Our roommate

Calling on Pday

Elly's Mission Call

We made old bay fries and cheese sauce

Decorations, Conference, Favorite Quote, and Stupert - October 7, 2019

Hey everybody!
Its been a good busy week. Since our wasp episode last week we have continued to kill them everyday in our apartment. We think we have killed at least 300 wasps. So, that has been fun. We got the Halloween packages, mom and dad. The minion is in our living room and we named him Stupert. Thanks Sarah! We are going to put him in the bed of our truck for our ward Trunk or Treat. We are excited for that. We have been decorating our apartment for Halloween. That has been fun. 
We are really busy in this area visiting ward members and taking care of our mission zone.  We are over 13 companionship. So, they keep us busy. 
We have been visiting a couple living in a assisted living home here in Youngstown. They are great. The wife had a craft show this week, so we went. It is nice to visit with them. Life gets lonely sometimes. We try to get to as many people as we can. We are constantly providing service for people. I really like that part of my mission. Helping people is what I like to do. I try to always care about the people. That is why I am here. 
We go to a lot of admin meetings. Tonight we have stake coordination. We also did training visits with the assistants this week. I was with Elder Bench. That was a good experience. 
Elder Madsen and I get along great. We are different, but it works. President Stratford told us when he put us together that this would be "one fun companionship!" lol 
President Stratford also gave me a great compliment t his week in our interviews. He said, " If there was one missionary who was so planted in the gospel sod that he couldn't be removed and loved the Lord more than anything else, I would bet on you Elder Davis." That was nice to hear.  
I loved General Conference. My favorite talk was Elder Ballard when he talked about his wife and the importance of life. Being worthy of those moments is something I strive to be all of the time. I can't wait to read the talks again.
We had volleyball night again this week, and the sisters brought some investigators. It was a lot of fun. I can't wait to hear where Elly gets called. I'm excited for her. 
Keep working hard to be worthy of the great moments in life
Elder Davis

One of my favorite quotes. Its not about how much you have or how good you look. It's about your heart. 

Halloween Decorations and Stupert :)