September 1, 2009

This week in proselyting was difficult. We were not able to pick up any investigators, and we also didn't get to teach any investigators, because we have had to stop teaching many of the ones we used to be teaching. It is a difficult time for this area. However, our ward is doing a 40 day fast for the growth of the ward, and I know that we will see miracles happen in one way or another.

Last week we were able to go on a mission tour of some of the historical sights in the mission. I loved it so much!!! Our mission area is like the Nauvoo of the States. It was the center for the saints in this area. We went to Liverpool docks, and also to Preston to see where they preached, where President Hinckley's first mission house was, to see where the first missionaries were attacked by demons, to see the River Ribble, and to see where they held their first meetings. After that we went to Downham, where Heber C. Kimball baptized many and had a spiritual experience which Joseph later told him was the blessing that former prophets had laid upon this land. Amazing!! We may not even have the records of those prophets, but they too were looking forward to a time of restoration. I am convinced that the more records we receive, the more prophesies we would have of the restoration. The dead sea scrolls are a good example of that. I loved walking the very roads of the early apostles and thinking about the great work we are doing. It is incomparable, and very spiritual.

It is a tradition for the departing missionaries to bear testimony in their last zone conference. This time it was my turn!! I couldn't believe it. It was always somebody else. I didn't like that it was me. However, I did have the cool experience of doing it in the Downham Chapel, where we held the final part of our Zone Conference. It isn't an LDS chapel, it is a Anglican(I think) chapel, so it was a very unique experience. I never say what I want to say in testimonies, but I guess that is the way it should be.

I should tell funnier stories in my e-mails, so I will follow Taylor's example and share my CBSOTW aka Crazy British Story of the Week

This weeks entry hails from a town called Flint. We met a man that had been taught by the Elders a couple of years ago. We asked him why they stopped coming around, and he wasn't quite sure. 15 minutes later, we knew why. He just talked and talked and talked about how the secret services are chasing him, and how he has all of the government conspiracies figured out. He told us a story of how we took the secret services for a wild goose chase, and kept creeping up behind them saying, "Have you had enough yet?" Next, he took us to his neighbor, who is from the middle east. He took us over there to verify that he was a pain in the backside. He didn't have to go to all of the trouble, we could have told him that ourselves!!! Don't you just love them?

I wish I had more to say about progressing investigators, but we still had an eventful week. I love you all and look forward to seeing you all.

Love,

Elder Jo

August 24, 2009

Our week was quite difficult. We have had little success in finding new investigators and all of our current investigators are dropping like flies. I must be doing something really bad. I know that isn't always the case, but I am worried about these people. We did find one new investigator this week from our favorite YW . . . S****. She is the best little missionary. So honest and mature. We are friends. She invited her friend J*******, and he was really good. He asked a lot of questions, and actually felt and identified the spirit in the first lesson. He should be at church this upcoming week, and we will be teaching him after church again.

I love serving in this ward. I love going to church. I have a relationship with almost every member in this ward. It has gone by so fast, but I really love them. I will hope to stay in contact with many of them.

I got some post this week. C*****, my convert from Man. South, is doing amazing.

We have a lot of fun. We laugh a lot, and I wish I could capture those moments for you. I will have to take some meditation time before my e-mails, like I used to do in the past. I love Elder Forward's accent. I am going to capture it on my recorder. He is a fantastic guy.

We have been trying to help out with some less-actives, doing service and what-not. The D****, a LA family, came to church this week. It was fantastic to see them there! There is so many cool things that happen each day. I couldn't possibly capture it all. Just know that the Lord is good, he loves his children, and the work is true.

Love,

Elder Jordan Davies

August 17, 2009

I want to begin by commenting on how lucky we are to be in this family. There are few families like ours, and that isn't any boasting, because we only have this bond because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We all love each other and it comes natural to all of us! I want you all to know how much I genuinely and sincerely care about all of you. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much. We are all so lucky to have the Mother and Father that we do. We can put our family closeness down to the fact that they have made the gospel a priority in our home. I wish more people cared about their kids enough to realize that the best thing they could do for them is bring them unto Christ. We have all been and still are like Mom and Dad's "Eternal Investigators". That never ends.

Mom sent me the words to a song that talked about being Brave, Strong, and True. It reminded me of missionary work, of course. We do brave things that are sometimes uncomfortable, strange to others, or new to us. What moves us to do those things? What is our compelling force? The great cause!! When we wake up and don't know if we can do it anymore, or don't know how we will find the courage to continue on, we must think of what we are fighting for!! Salvation, Exaltation, Eternal Life, Forever Families!! This is applicable to all things in life. Parenthood especially. Why do parents work endless hours, wake up at ridiculous times, give all they have to their children, make meal after meal, clean up mess after mess, and all the other things only parents fully know about???? Because of love and the great cause!! That is why the knowledge of the gospel changes us, it teaches us the great cause!!! That motivates us to fight for right. "Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to victory!" D&C 128:22

So about Elder Forward. He is awesome. He is such a cool guy. I definitely would have tried to be his friend back home. He comes from a really gospel-rich family. Seventh Generation!!!!! From Wales, that is unheard of. When everyone was sailing over to America, his family was one of the few that stayed. He lives in Southern Wales in a town close to Cardiff called Cwmbran. That is in the area they call "The Valleys". Wales is so beautiful. There is sooooooo much I haven't seen. I will have to come back maybe a couple of times.

I am so happy I get to finish in Wales. There is something that draws me to this country. When I first came out, I had absolutely no desire to come here, but I love it. And to be honest, I am hardly in Wales. It is so English in this part of Wales. I also love England, and want to see more of it someday. But there is beauty and amazing things everywhere. I am especially glad to spend more time in Wales, because I am hoping to go to a town called Ruthin sometime this transfer. Some of our ancestors come from that town and some outlying towns around it. I would love to get some pictures and look for some things that are Davies-ish. If anyone knows anything else about our ancestors in Wales, please let me know.

Yesterday, we were at a members home called the Kinouchi's. We have been going through a member focused proselyting activity with them. It involves them making a list of the people they know and praying to ask God whom they can work with. They then set goals on specific activities and work on that activity first. They seemed quite hesitant the first lesson, and at the beginning of the second lesson yesterday. They hadn't really kept the assignments between the lessons, and I was a bit discouraged. We asked them if we could pray right then and there with them to pick up to 10 names from their list. They were once again a bit hesitant, but agreed to do so. We prayed and had silence for quite a long time. We asked if anyone had received any inspiration, and they had! They were getting excited about it, and started to list off some names. Some members of the family were a bit more excited than others, but it was cool to see how they suddenly had names stick in their minds and had already started to talk about ways they could invite them.

My favorite scripture of the week comes from D&C 50: 40-45. We are his children, so there is no need to fear. The winds and waves still know His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below. He has overcome the world, He has all power, and He extends that to us. I would type it up, but I want you all to go read it.

Also, I love the Book of Mormon. It is so cool!

I love you all. Please continue to pray for us. I love being a missionary and want to serve Him well.

Love,

Elder Jo

August 13, 2009

I did not get transferred yesterday, but Elder Parker did. We had quite a long stint with each other, but change is always good. I like transfers, because it keeps you on your toes, especially your last one. I was so happy when I found out who my companion was going to be. A Welshman named Elder Forward. He is really cool. He is also a very good footballer. We will have a great transfer together. He comes from a strong family and he is a good and humble missionary.

Last week was really great! We got some new investigators and we have been progressing some older ones. We talked to everyone!!! And set up a lot of appointments, which usually don't go through, but it is fun anyway. I love being more diligent and more obedient. I still have a long way to go, but I love the feeling after we just exercise the tiniest bit of faith. The Lord truly blesses us in ways that we can't control when we are faithful in ways that we can control.

Anyway, sorry for the short e-mail. Know that I love all of you. I will leave you with a quote:

"There is a line of demarkation, well defined, between the Lord's territory and the devil's. If you will stay on the Lord's side of the line you will be under his influence and will have no desire to do wrong; but if you cross to the devil's side of the line once, you are in the tempter's power, and if he is successful, you will not be able to think or even reason properly, because you will have lost the spirit of the Lord."

George Albert Smith, quoting his grandfather George A. Smith

That is so true! There are so many times when we do something wrong, and we wonder, "What could we possibly have been thinking?"

Well family, stay on the Lord's side of the line. I love you,

Elder Jo

August 3, 2009

We had a really good week this week. Interviews were on Tuesday, which is always good. President Bullock is very business like, but he is such a charitable man. His wife is very impressive too, but very, very loving. Every time she teaches us it reminds me of Mom. They are almost identical, except for the hair color. She is a brown-haired Mom. We have been working with an investigator named M***. I am not sure if I told you about him last week. He has some very serious problems to overcome, but he remains to have a positive attitude. He says that he doesn't think he can give some of the addictions up, but I asked him if he believes in miracles. He says he has never seen one before. I told him, "I do believe in miracles, and so will you after you see the Lord help you give up this addiction. Miracles are wrought by faith, so as you strengthen your faith in the Lord, and do your best, you will see a miracle." He has been doing well at watering his seed of Faith, and in time will succeed, if he follows the same pattern.

It was Big D***'s birthday this week, and we went out to eat with his family. We went to a Chinese Buffet, and it was so good. Not a rubbish buffet, but a proper one. I was chuffed. I ate 11 plates of food, including the ice cream and desserts. Yes, I was full.

I love reading and listening to the words of the prophets and apostles. They make everything make so much more sense. Everything is so clear. They strengthen me, and I feel a desire to follow their words and stand up for the cause of Christ. I listened to Elder Hollands most recent talk, and just loved the whisperings from the Spirit about standing fast in a righteous cause when it seems that no one is there to help.

My Scripture for the week is D&C 82:10. If we follow the principles and be faithful the Lord is bound. We did that yesterday and just exercised a bit more faith, which seemed daunting at the time but turned out okay, and we found 5 new investigators! It works.

I love you all and look forward to talking to you soon,

Elder Davies

July 27, 2009

The work continues to go up and down. We have decent success in scheduling appointments, but it is more difficult to have those appointments go through. We have had some success with a new investigator named M***. He recently came out of Prison and is very humble. He wasn't able to make it to church, but he has felt the spirit each time we have been there. He says he feels "warm".

We had an appointment in the middle of nowhere, and didn't take the easiest path to get there. We were riding our bikes through the middle of large grass and climbing over fences with our bikes! It was crazy. Well, she wasn't there, but the ride back was quite enjoyable too. The daily life of a missionary.

A missionary recently returned from Greece in this ward. He is really nice. We played football with him on Friday. That is the first time I have played football since being in this area. I really loved it, but it definitely felt like a long time.

This e-mail hasn't been very inspiring. I sent a spiritual thought to Mom, so maybe she could share it with you. I think that exhausted me.

Generally, I am doing well. Physically I am fine, of course tired. Spiritually, I am continuing to grow (gratefully). Emotionally, I am a missionary, I don't have emotions ;) I am grateful to be serving at this time. Getting closer to the end brings all sorts of different experiences and feelings. I am trying hard to fight those off. I understand the importance of my calling, and often feel quite humbled to be trusted with something so important. I have loved to serve in this ward, and it looks like it may be possible for me to stay. I love all of you, and often I share how lucky I am to be a 'Davies'.

Love to you all,

Elder Jo

July 20, 2009

I pray that this e-mail finds you smiling and happy because of the wonderful blessings of the gospel in our lives. We truly are a blessed people. This week has been a very fast one, and I don't imagine that they will slow down. I had my second to last Zone Conference, and it seems that many things are trying to remind me that I only have a short time left. I know that everything has its time, but I would never want to look back on the next two months and think that I got 'trunky' at all. At Zone Conference, President Bullock made a cool announcement that next transfer's zone conference will be a tour of the church history sites in the mission. They did this the transfer before I left, so President Bullock wanted to do it so we wouldn't miss out. I am excited. I will not have another proper zone conference, which makes me sad.

This week we have had some success with working with members. We received three new investigators from member referrals. They are all younger, I think all of them are 15. One is from a family who has been bringing along a boy from their neighborhood for the last couple of weeks. Another is from a girl in the ward named S**** W*****. She is really cool, and we have developed a good relationship with her. She has been inviting two of her friends to a lot of things in the church, and on Saturday we were able to sit down and talk about the restoration. Members are the best. I continue to grow in my love for this ward, and consider it a great blessing to have served here.

There was a baptism in the ward on Saturday from the other Elders, Elder Atkin and Elder Wagner. It was a single woman named V****** J****, and it was wonderful. She is such a sweet lady. I am so impressed with her spiritual insights and excitedness about the gospel. Sister M*** H*****(baptized two months ago) gave a talk at the baptism. It was amazing! I was so impressed with her. She is a very smart lady, and has really been digging into her scriptures. We don't get to have as much contact with her anymore, which makes me sad, but I don't plan on losing touch with her after the mission. She is such a nice lady, and I have really enjoyed watching her flourish in the gospel.

I went on splits over to Chester this week with Elder Atkin. We had a good time. I like going to Chester, because it is a new area for me, and it seems that something great always happens on exchanges. However, whenever I go to Chester, it rains like mad! Not nice.

We had an amazing tea appointment with the S***** family on Sunday. Brother S***** is not a member yet, but he sure is amazing. He lives like a member, and is one of the nicest people I have ever met. He is so pleasant to be around. They are both from the Philippines. He is an amazing cook, and has been trying to give us cooking tips. I don't know how well it has sunk in, but it is a pleasure to always taste the outcome. They just had their first baby and have been trying to catch up on sleep. Despite that, we were roaring with laughter for most of the visit. Most of it isn't funny if described. One of those things that you have to be present for.

Well, I am happy to be a missionary, and happy to be in Wales. I hope that continues. I love you all, and constantly feel blessed to be a member of the family. Take Care,

Elder Jo