Letters 11/05/2012

Another day gone by...

This past week has gone by like the passing of a dream, and I am finally coming down to my last week here in Daveyton. It is really quite a sad experience. I won't go into much detail, but it definitely sucks knowing that I likely won't see any of these people ever again. If I could say anything, I don't know what it would be. It is incredibly hot in this email cafe, and I'm finding it hard to think right. I hope you don't mind, but this week will be terribly short. I haven't sent any pictures in a great while, so I hope this will suffice for a time. I figure it is a good one to send...
Much love,
Elder J W Davidson

Letters 10/29/2012

Into my soul

What a week this was. It seemed to flash by in a second, but as I look back, it feels like an eternity passed. We were all eagerly anticipating the arrival of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, and we couldn't help but wonder what his visit would bring. The last time that he spoke in a missionary meeting was just over 4 years ago, and it happened to be at the same chapel that we were to see him. After that meeting four years ago, he hasn't been to ANY other missionary meeting. He mentioned how noisy, disrespectful, and disobedient they were, and from his own account, "I was spitting fire. I'm surprised this building was still standing when I had finished." He also said that he was never more angy than he was at that time. Because of that, he refused to speak at other meetings. Luckily, he said that we were quite healing to his soul. Before the meeting began, he asked to shake all of our hands, and he noted later that it was the closest thing to an interview that could be made in such short time. As I shook his hand and stared into his blue, small pupiled eyes, it seemed as if he was staring into my soul. I was excited and frightened at the same time, and when he asked me how I was doing, I blurted out a very bumbly and unintelligent "I'm good." I sat back down with my face quite flushed. We Heard from the area president, as well as Elder Clayton again, and we finally got to Elder Holland. He is a very passionate man.... the majority of what he said was directed towards our honing and perfection, which he was quite animated about. He talked of becoming God's investigators, and doing more than what we wanted our investigators to do. He said "Do you want your investigators to pray harder? YOU pray harder. Do you want them to read more often? YOU read more often. Do you want them to pray harder? YOU pray harder and more passionately. Do you want them to repent? YOU REPENT!!!" 

Following this, he told us of the creation of preach my gospel, and the purpose it has to convert and educate the missionaries so that they slowly become more converted and don't become inactive when they return home. He then proceeded to passionately chastise us, as is his style, and I think each and every person in the room left feeling that they weren't working hard enough becuase the looks on every face were quite solemn. I know mine was. Another observation I made was that Elder Holland is very short. It added a bit of comic relief to the suspensful drama that had previously taken place. I have great respect for that man.

On Sunday, we had a few more baptisms, one of which was the Sister that lost her child a few months prior. She made the comment afterward that she felt closer to her daughter Praises. I don't think I can describe the joy and compassion that I felt in that moment. This morning I continued my studies in the book of Luke, and I noticed on several occasions where it mentioned the compassion Christ had towards several individuals, then proceeded to the topical guide to count the others. There are many.

During our studies this morning, we were interrupted by a knock at our door. It was a pastor that lived in the flat below us, and he informed us that a burglery had taken place the previous night between 12 and 2. Our flat complex has 12 apartments, and surrounding the complex is a large stone wall with razor wire and an electric fence. Someone broke into several flats, but some had security doors so he passed by them. Unfortunately for us, we don't lock our door at night. This very same pastor heard a commotion in the complex as the assailants fled the complex with their loot, and he called the security service. When they arrived, they checked all of the flats and talked with their occupants, and when they came to ours, our door was wide open. They entered and proceeded to look through the house for us, and when they did, they found us fast asleep. They attempted several times to wake us, but they could not so they left and told the pastor to inform us in the morning. After saying goodbye, we went about the flat checking for missing items, but many evident things were still there. My camera and wallet were on the table safe and sound. Nothing was gone. Why they didn't take anything we do not know....but we have some very good suggestions.

Love,

Elder J William Davidson

Letters 10/22/2012

Times and Seasons

This passed Sunday, we had the opportunity to have Elder L Whitney Clayton attend our stake conference. It was quite a wonderful experience. What was even more interesting, was that he winged his whole 30 minute address, and it seemed to flow flawlessly. At one point, he changed the flow of the conference and randomly asked one of the missionaries present to stand and bear his testimony. I was relieved that it wasn't me. An Elder King from St Louis was the unfortunate one. He sauntered up to the podium, face beet red, and coughed and squeaked out his testimony and sat down. I felt quite bad. We are all highly anticipating Elder Holland on Thursday, yet at the same time we are a bit tentative to rejoice. He has a colored history here in Joburg, in the form of chastizing missionaries, which is very much his style. I'm interested to see how things work out.

We were visiting with one of our investigators who will be baptized this coming Sunday, and before we could ask her how she enjoyed conference, she blurted out "Wasn't that conerence just lovely? That was the best time that I have had at church. And, that President Monson, he is so normal! He is so meek and gentle and kind. Isn't he just a wonderful person? I felt like he was talking to me, and I KNEW that what he was saying is true." She went on for another  10 minutes... I won't relate further, but this was the part that struck me the most. The spirit had testified to her heart that what she heard was true. It had moved her because she was CONVERTED to the gospel. The power of the gospel is real, we just have to be meek, humble, and submissive in our approach to "search, ponder, and pray." I wish all of my investigators were as this sister. The relief society president came up to us after church a few weeks ago, and she explained how this sister was very active in the lesson, and that she seemed to possess  the knowledge of a member that had been in the gospel for a long time. She said that she didn't know that she wasn't a member until after church when she started a conversation with her. It is awesome to see how beautifully the spirit works when it is cultivated properly, and a person truly lets conversion happen. It makes a missionary feel good.

Love, 

Elder J WIlliam Davidson 

Letters 10/15/2012

The highs...and the lows

This week seemed to fly by,  but not without its striking experiences. The greatest of these happened friday night. As we were preparing for bed, Elder Beenfield received a call from President Omer informing him of the death of his grandfather. He was seemingly devastated, and I couldn't help but feel compassion and much empathy for him. I know all too well the sting that death brings. The wonder though, is the knowledge of the plan of salvation, and the hope that it brings. I have never thought about this in relation to those I knew that had passed on, and in a brief moment, I came to feel the comfort that I lacked after the deaths of Ben, Matt, and Tyler. I seemed to feel the love of God  through the comforting thoughts that I would see them again, and in the words of Joseph Smith, "..it will be a glorious reunion." In addition, the wife of one of the councilors in the bishopric passed away last monday. She was very young, and I couldn't help but feel for him as well.
I have been doing my best to keep him involved in the work, so that his thoughts don't linger upon these thoughts.
We watched conference this weekend, despite much technical difficulty, and while we could only watch the Sunday sessions, I felt  a strange feeling, one which I cannot fully describe. It came to me subtly, and I felt a profound sense of urgency. I felt excited, yet concerned. I felt a stirring in the very fiber of my being, and I began to ponder of my own personal duty and stewardship. I thought of the path to discipleship, and the many twists, turns, and obstacles along the way. I won't describe all that I thought and experienced, for much of that which I received, I feel constrained that I should not speak...or write. 

My flat is clean, my body is healthy, the work is progressing, and I feel my saviors love along with the love of everyone that I have left behind. I thank you for it.

Love,
Elder Jared William Davidson

Letters 10/08/2012

Elder Beenfield


The new transfer has rolled in like a storm, and everything has been moving quite well with the new companion. His name is Elder Beenfield and he comes from Hennifer, Utah (I had never heard of it before now.) He is a lot different than Elder Mcknight, save for the fact that he likes to pump iron. It took a while to adjust, but things are running smoothly. He is a great guy, and he is willing to work. If we would have had Zone Conference this transfer, we might have had high hopes for my second MVC. His testimony of the gospel is strong, and it is easy for each of us to testify from what the other has said. Give it another week, and we should be running full steam ahead. I don't recall if I had mentioned already, but I bought a piano a few months back, and I have been practicing quite a bit. Practice really does make perfect, though I'm still struggling with the hymns made easy. Elder Beenfield has a guitar, so I have been having a good time. A member gave us a large stalk of sugar cane, so we have been chewing wood and playing good music all week. 
     One of our investigators, a young man named Nature, has recently agreed to be baptized at the end of this month. We had just finished teaching the law of chastity, and he made the comment that he wanted to be like Paul. He said that girls were too much of a distraction at that age of his life, and he wouldn't consider dating until after his mission. He is a powerful young man, and he has been coming to church for some time now. On Saturday night, a mob came to his house, full of members of his previous church. They said that he could not leave their congregation, and they put some strange band on his wrist. They threatened him to the point that he wouldn't come out of his house to talk to his best friend (a member) Sunday morning. We have yet to see him due to a busy schedule, but it is interesting how Satan attacks just at the time when someone starts to make good growth. I will try to make note of the results of our visit next week. 
     It was also nice to see an old gogo stand to bare her testimony Sunday. We had visited her all winter, and she hasn't been to church in over 5 months because of severe arthritis, intensified by the cold. She stood for nearly 10 minutes. I guess she made up for the other testimony meetings that she missed. Her home teachers hadn't visited her throughout the entire duration of her exile, and she made note of that and how the missionaries were the only dependable members of the church. It was quite touching, and quite sad how poorly the wards operate here. People aren't willing to do their part or magnify their callings. The workload usually gets thrown onto the shoulders of the few willing and faithful members.
     We get to watch conference next week, but we heard about the new age limits for Elders and Sisters. I got a strange feeling in my stomach, and I thought a great deal about how the work we are doing is progressing faster and faster. The time is drawing nearer and nearer to the end, and the work is being pumped up. It will be interesting to see how everything will turn out. I'm sure there will be a great deal of stress on the missionary dept for a while. I look forward to the increase though. 

All is well, and all is as it should be.

Much Love,
 Elder JW Davidson

Letters 10/01/2012

The transfer is coming to an end, and Elder Mcknight is headed home. He is ready to go. I'm glad he was able to finish strong. It has definitely been an enjoyable 3 months. I should be out of Daveyton in another 6 weeks. I really need a change of scenery and some new experiences. I love the people here, and the thought of leaving is quite sad, but it is a necessary, not to mention inevitable, change. I don't know who my new companion will be, but Elder Mcknight said that it was an African. He saw his picture next to mine in passing as he left his final interview. I'm sure he will be an ok guy, but if not, I will only be with him for a short 6 weeks. This last week has been full of goodbyes for Elder Mcknight, so there hasn't been much that has gone on. We went to see a sister on Sunday, and not wanting to break the sabbath, she sent her 7 year old daughter to a kota shop to buy Elder Mcknight his last Kota. On her way back, she dropped both of them in the dirt, so we had to go through and remove everything inside and put it on fresh slices of bread. We also had the opportunity to go to a few weddings this week. If the people get married in the church, they have a combination of traditional and modern syle wedding. It is really quite interesting for some parts (mostly the traditional ones,) but there were many boring parts as well. Hopefully the coming week is full of change...we shall see...
Much Love,
Elder JW Davidson

Letters 09/25/2012

Another week, another dollar... out of my pocket.

Nothing much has really happened here for quite some time. Yesterday was a public holiday, and the email shops were closed, so we got permission to email today instead. For some reason, everyone has waited until this week to ask for our help. It was nice to get out in the sun and do some gardening and spring cleaning though. I needed the change in the schedule. Things were getting a bit repetitive. The African sun is HOT. Even when the temperature doesn't seem to be too hot, the sun seems to sap the strength right out of you. We have been sleeping quite well as a result. Killing a dying missionary has its rough spots, but it also has its perks. We got permission to go with our zone leaders WAY outside our area to a place called Chameleon Village. It is basically a flea market with all sorts of cool African stuff for very cheap. I wish I had more money, I would have bought more souvenirs. Also, on Friday we will have the opportunity for a temple trip. Because the temple has been closed, the returning missionaries have not been able to go in quite some time. They have organized the trip for the departing missionaries and their companions only, so  I again feel privileged. We just found out that Elder Holland will be making another trip here, and he will be coming to address us in Gauteng. We have actually known for a time, but the anticipation has finally set in. Apparently he comes here quite often, so I should be able to see him a few more times before I come home.  I should also know by this Friday how long I will be staying in Daveyton... We shall see...
Until next time,
--Elder JW Davidson

Letters 09/17/2012

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head

 As the summer nears, so do the rains. When it rains in Africa, it pours. We had just left our flat earlier this week, and we noticed some dark clouds rolling in our direction. Being that we drive the car every day of the week, I made a joke directed towards the other elders, to which they responded with menacing glares. As Elder Mcknight and I laughed, Elder Lewis stated that it would not rain on them, in addition to some other rude comments. He then said that his faith was greater than mine, and he knew that it would be well. I jokingly did a rain dance  several times around the car and told him that in addition to MY faith, I had the African Mootie (Voodoo magic) on my side. He glared some more, and then he got into the car. 
     As we sat in our first appointment, we began to hear the tinkling sound of rain on the tin roof. I smiled to myself and continued to teach. Soon, the tinkling changed to a sound not unlike that of hammering. Soon we were not able to hear our own voices as we taught, so we decided to wrap up the lesson and head to a home with a more insulated roof. As we stepped out of this family's door, we were welcomed by three inches of water on the ground... I smiled even wider. The storm turned into a flash flood, and the streets had in most places at least a foot of water. Luckily, the remainder of our appointments had ceramic roofs, or they had insulation to block the noise. As the day concluded, we picked up the other elders. Elder Lewis was DEAD silent as his companion explained how they got caught in the worst of the storm in between their appointments. He sad that their next was on the other side of their area. When they got there, they had to wait out the remainder of the heavy rains. I know it is not good to be spiteful, but Elder Mcknight and I laughed the rest of the way home.
     The rest of the week has been off and on in terms of storms, but apparently it rains a great deal here in the summer. What is even worse, is that when the rain comes on saturday night, people don't tend to come to church. We only had 8 investigators at church this Sunday, as opposed to our usual.  On the upside, we had a few more of our investigators baptized. The water was quite nippy, but fortunately, all of our investigators asked Elder Mcknight to baptize them... The work continues, but aside from our wet and wild adventure, nothing much has happened. We're still truckin....

Much Love,
Elder JW Davidson

Letters 09/10/12

Elder D.

This week, like many before it, has gone by unusually fast. As the transfer hits its peak, my companion seems to long for home more and more. Everyone always said its easier to train than to kill a dying missionary, and now I see why. He is still willing to work and such, but he is very "trunky." You can see that he is tired, and it is hard trying to keep him up and motivated. The good news: We are still having fun. We have been visiting a family, and the mother has a problem with talking WAY TOO much. She always makes us laugh, but she always finds a way to add more than we need to hear.
     We have also been visiting a certain father, who has taken our teachings very well, but he hasn't kept many commitments, aside from reading. He has always held himself very well, and he has never let on to any kind of care or trouble. As we visited with him, we invited him to come to church. He responded with a seemingly untrue story of how he had to stay with his aged mother so that nothing would happen to her. He is her only child willing to help, and they stay alone. Thinking it was a lie, Elder Mcknight and I gave each other a look of confirmation, but as this man continued to speak, he began to unfold another story about how his nephew and family have been trying to kill him with some type of African voodoo, so that they could take over his house. His nephew had just been released from prison, and had been by their home the day prior to our visit. The brother began to cry and it was then that we realized that he was truly scared for his life. If you could experience South Africa, you would know why we then began to believe him. We did our best to comfort him, but when fearing for one's life, you can only go so far. 
     During our PEC meeting this Sunday, I was asked to give a spiritual thought. I read a few scriptures about the priesthood in D&C, and began to expound upon them. After sacrament meeting, the second councilor came up to me and said that after hearing my spiritual though he felt that I should give a talk the following Sunday on the very same topic. He handed me my assignment on a piece of paper, and as I looked it over, I noticed that it had a members name on it. Upon further inquiry, he said that he thought I would deliver the message that needed to be shared. So far I am the only missionary since I have been here in Daveyton that has given a talk, and this will be my second venture to the pulpit. I wanted to say no, but the cheesy and incredibly large smile on his face made me say yes. I guess I will let you know how that turns out next week...
But until then,

I love you,
Elder JW Davidson

Letters 09/03/2012

Nothing New

If anything really new happened, it probably has no real significance. I had an interview with President Omer last Monday. We discussed many things which had been on my mind, and as I left his office I felt quite positive and content. There is an elder in our flat that I have been trying not to deck on several occasions. He gets offended VERY easily, and he likes to be spiteful and get revenge. Due to Presidents orders, I'm not allowed to mention his name.  I have had to be very patient and "kill him with kindness," but for some strange reason he hates everyone. I won't mention the things he has been doing, but both Elder Mcknight and I have had some  time to grow in our Christ-like attributes...
During our fast and testimony meeting, the bishop asked me to play the piano. Luckily, I have been practicing... and the piano has the hymns pre- recorded... As each person stood to bear their testimonies, they all  mentioned something about missionary work and how it had affected their lives. What surprised me the most was that nearly half of the people were people that we had helped into the waters of baptism (one hasn't even been baptized yet.) The most gratifying thing about serving a mission isn't baptizing people, but rather, it is being able to see those people baptized bearing powerful testimonies in front of their peers of the truthfulness of the gospel restored through Joseph Smith, the divinity of the Book of Mormon, and the power of the priesthood. I felt like standing and sharing myself, but as each of  them stood to make their way to the pulpit, I felt inspired, and content to sit back and listen. As we sung the closing hymn, I could barely find my voice, so I let the words of "The Lord is My Light" sink into my heart.
It astounds me how a person who begins with great skepticism and contention towards this message end up being some of the gospels greatest advocates, or those who have a desire to be so. Despite myself being one of them, I still can't even entirely imagine how this happens to an individual. But I do know that it does happen, and it happens by the power of Lord made manifest through the Holy Ghost.
Keep well, and I will try my best to do the same.

Much love,
Elder J W Davidson 

Letters 08/27/2012

Progression

This week has been a huge step for our investigators, especially the stoners. We waited by the door of the chapel until 10 minutes after sacrament meeting started, and we were just about to give up hope, when we saw the two of them half jog- half walking to the perimeter gate. They went through the day, and they said many times how nice it was there and how orderly everything was. The two continue to surprise Elder Mcknight and myself, and we look forward to our teaching appointments with them. We decided to hold back on the word of wisdom until they have a few more spiritual impressions so that they will be more inclined to follow.
     We have been exercising every morning, and we have been eating much healthier. I can feel the difference throughout the day. I have more energy, and working is much easier when your body is well and alert. The members have begun to feed us much more frequently, and we would be getting fat were it not for our schedule. Being in a car all days of the week doesn't help.
     During one of our appointments with a recent convert, she asked if we could watch a video. As I looked through my collection of conference talks, I felt inspired to show her the talk entitled "Children" by Elder Niel L. Anderson, from the 2011 fall conference. We began to watch, and feeling that it did not apply, I thought, somehow, that I chose the wrong talk. As Elder Anderson concluded and we stopped the DVD, I shook my head feeling somewhat foolish. In the following 10 minutes, I received a humbling lesson by the spirit. As this sister reflected upon the words of the apostle, she also reflected upon the blessing of her own children in her life. She then began to unfold a story which she had never before told to anyone. As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes and she thanked us for showing her those things, saying that it was what she needed at that time. She had been fighting with her children throughout the week, and she explained how much perspective the counsel gave to her. As we walked out of her home, I  deep feeling of shame come upon me for questioning the power of the spirit, and I couldn't help but be sufficiently humbled and chastened. The following day, I read D&C 95: 1-2. 
The Lord humbles us in many ways for our growth and progression.

Much Love,
Elder JW Davidson

Letters 08/20/2012

Another Week... or Twelve in Paradise 

transfers are here again, and we just recieved the news that I will be staying in Daveyton to see Elder Mcknight through the rest of his mission. That means I will be here for another 12 weeks guaranteed, and 18 if I will be training... That is ok with me.  We have been gathering weights from around the mission, and we have nearly 200 pounds, a set of dumbells,a straight bar, and an iron gym. We have set a work out plan, and things seeem to be going well. We also found some cheap harmonicas and we have been learning the hymns...the good ones at least. Most of our free time is spent playing music.

Imentioned a few weeks ago about some stoners that we had been teaching, and they have turned out to be some of the best investigators I have ever had. They keep their commitments, they read, they pray, they have come to church, and their understanding of what they receive is astounding. We are told to teach the honest seekers of the truth, and we found a whole gang of them, though two of them, Potatop and Arabi, stand out as the most progressing. We are teaching the word of wisdom next week... We'll see how that goes. I feel that we will be able to get them though, it's just a matter of time.  They have also been inviting more and more of their friends to be apart of our lessons.

     The month of September looks to be big for baptisms. We have been preparing most of them since I arrived here in Daveyton, and they all seem to have worked out their problems. I guess time always tells, but I feel that Elder Mcknight will go home on a very high note. Things are going very smoothly, and I have been feeling great, so I hope things are going well on the other side of the world.

 

--Much Love,

Elder JW DAvidson

 

Letters 08/13/2012

Africa?

Our zone conference came and went, along with some interesting events. It has been quite cold as of late, and when we left our flat headed towards the car, a strange but not uncommon chill crept into my bones. When we broke for lunch, we were more than astonished to see a small blizzard outside the chapel doors. It snowed for about 3 hours, and it left about an inch of snow. It was odd seeing a bunch of "Men" running around in the snow like a bunch of small children. Apparently it hasn't snowed here since 1981. After we all nearly ruined our suits, we gathered back together for dessert. Elder Mcknight and myself won MVC (Most Valuable Companionship,) and we bought matching smiley face ties to celebrate. 
     The rest of the week seemed to fly by. We have been working hard, and we have finally seen one of my favorite investigators baptized on Sunday. She has been battling with problems since we began teaching her, but she was determined to do what the Lord wanted her to. She has overcome every obstacle that has come her way, as well as sacrificed a great deal in following in the footsteps of Christ. Now, the objective will be baptizing her two teenagers. They are about as interested in the gospel as HIV it seems. Every time we come over, they dart out of the room/ house.
     Aside from this, and another teaching appointment with the Rastafarians, nothing much has happened. This week should prove interesting. It's the last week of the transfers, and they always seem to have some interesting events...

Until next time,
Much love,
Elder JW DAvidson

Letters 08/06/2012

Drunks, Stoners, and Hypocrites

People can be so dumb. We have had several experiences with each of the three groups this week. We attempted to teach a group of  "wanna be" Rastafarians who wanted "to know more about God." I don't know how productive the lesson was, but they kept their reading commitments and invited us back, so we will see... As far as hypocrites, there are to many stories to recount.

One of our investigators has been meeting us at a recent convert's house, and we have been trying to teach him some time. Sister Alinah (the recent convert) has told us he has a drinking problem, and we have seen him several times in the little pub that is attached to sister alinah's house. We recently taught him the word of wisdom, and he claimed to be clean and sober for some time. On Saturday, we went to visit sister alinah, and while we were talking with her, one of her grandchildren ran in saying that this brother was running away. Apperantly, he saw us pull up, waited until we went inside, then started towards home.  We put on our bags and chased after him. We could see how ashamed he was, and his drunk girlfriend kept telling us that everything was ok and they would both be at church the following day. When Sunday came, this brother did not. We went to sister alinah's  house that night, and as we pulled up, we could see him through a glass sliding door. We tried not to turn our heads in his direction, and he tried to sneak to a place where we could not see him. We spoke with sister Alinah again, and we sent her grandson to fetch the poor man. He walked in (drunk out of his mind) and tried to tell us through slow slurs and stinking breath that he was sober. We have a lot of repentance crying to do, as well as truth seeking. One great problem  about the African people would be the amount of lies that they tell. They are not very good at it either. This week went by fast, but I have a feeling that this coming week should be more eventful.

Love,

Elder J. W. Davidson

Letters 07/30/2012

Legends...

 The work continues to progress here in Daveyton, Gauteng, South Africa. My companion and I received word from the APs of the mission record for most lessons taught in a week, and we made it our goal do surpass it. When you put your mind to something, you have a righteous goal, and the lord is on your side, you can work wonders. We surpassed the goal by 3, and we are preparing to REALLY set the bar the last week of the transfer by passing it again. The hardest part was trying not to allow our goal to surpass the importance of really teaching our investigators. As we strove to do this, we maintained the spirit, and we taught by the spirit. Miracles come when you work hard, and the Lord really puts people in your way as well. It seems as though my determination to work has increased ten fold. For the past week I have been filled with the feeling one gets when going over a hill in a car at a high rate of speed. You could say I'm "pumped."  
     We met a guy on the street Sunday evening, and he attempted to sell us an air freshener for our car. We tried to explain that we don't buy on Sundays, but he persisted in his attempt.  Finally, he broke down as we told him who we were and what we do. He then confessed to us his many wrongdoings, and we began to teach him about repentance and the atonement of Jesus Christ. He began to weep, and he told us that the air fresheners he sold weren't long lasting, and that he couldn't lie to us because he felt his guilt weighing upon him heavily. I couldn't sell garbage services, but I can definitely sell the gospel. Its easy when you have the spirit guiding your thoughts.
    We had the opportunity to eat Skopa, goat head, on Saturday.... It didn't taste too bad, but the members feeding us made me eat the brain. I nearly puked several times as I choked it down. The texture got to me more than the taste. My stomach has felt quite strange for the passed two days as a result. 
     I will try to make a more detailed account of things next week, but for now, I have nothing more to add. Stay well, and remember the lord. Elder Mcknight says hello as well.

Love,
Elder J. W. Davidson

Letters 07/23/2012

Patience, Humility, Diligence, and Humor

 It has been two weeks now with Elder Mcknight, and I have had a resurgence of energy. I have always had a great love for this work, but I feel that I am reaping the rewards in a much greater abundance. Having an African companion with a different background and orientation, not to mention the conflicts, really inhibited my sense of humor.  I notice it more and more as I am able to laugh and joyfully roll about throughout the day. All things seem to have a lighter mood to them, and I have definitely been caught up with the fever of missionary work. 
     We had interviews with President Omer on Wednesday, but it turned out to be a brainstorming session instead. We discussed the different attitudes of the South African people, the quality of the mission itself, and the solutions to the problems with certain investigators. For some reason, my monthly allotment had some kind of glitch, and some unnecessary deductions were taken out, so I have been living off of very little for the past two weeks, and most likely for the rest of the month.  The office elders take too long to get things done, but I have enough rice and sweet chili sauce to last me for at least two more weeks.
     One of the most fulfilling parts of a mission comes when you are teaching a stubborn investigator, and they finally have the light in their head flip on. You can see a new spark in their eyes and a glow in their countenance that seems to extend through every fiber of their being. Then, as they fulfill their commitments too you, you know that they "get it." It really lightens my own soul and being. I cannot stress the importance of keeping this light maintained. Without it, we lose faith, and without faith, we lose hope. If we lose hope, we must surely be in despair, and "despair cometh because of iniquity."

Love,
Elder J.W. Davidson 

Letters 07/16/2012

New Companion

 Transfers finally came, and I can't even begin to explain the relief that I have felt. A great source of contention and stress has departed from before me, and I can finally breathe easy. Elder McKnight is my new companion, as well as the new district leader. He is from Orem, and Daveyton will be his last area, so I may end up being the one who kills him off. The quality of the companionship has been great so far from week one. He has been willing to work, and we have set some great goals to work towards that would have seemed quite unachievable before. I am definitely enjoying the work much more than I had previously been. One of our goals involves receiving the most valuable companionship award at zone conference in August. From everything that has happened thus far, it seems like it will be a straight shot.
     We had an experience standing in line at one of the supermarkets, and unfortunately for us, it was a saturday. We had been waiting in line for about 20 minutes, and the line seemed to move only a foot or so. When we were about to leave and shop somewhere else, one of the employees came up to us and asked that we follow her. We came to the front of the store where she scanned our goods and gave us a receipt and then proceeded to say "My elders don't wait in lines." Up until that point, I don't believe that I understood just how much the people here love and respect the missionaries. 
     The more time goes on and the more experiences I have, the more I begin to enjoy the work. We have been incredibly busy this week, and I haven't had much time to do much else, aside from the work. My shoes are scuffed and unpolished, I haven't had time to cook proper meals, most of my clothing is dirty, but it doesn't seem to matter. My mind has been focused on other things which are more important. I now have a testimony of P-days. Time has also begun to fly. This week has flown like a rocket, and  the next is coming just as fast. The only thing slowing it down would be the ice cold showers at night and in the morning. For some reason, the water heater hasn't been working properly. I have also had the opportunity to eat pigs feet and goat head... which I will never eat again... 
     My time feels well spent, the spirit has been strong, and I am doing well. I send my love and prayers in your direction.

Much love,
Elder Jared William Davidson

Letters 07/09/2012

Last Week of the Transfer

 Elder Lewis and I have continued to have much success, and we have really been working hard. We get along quite well, and the work has progressed more in these two weeks than the previous four. It has been refreshing to see and experience what true companionship unity is, but unfortunately transfers are tomorrow. I will be staying in Daveyton for at least another month and a half, if not three months. I'm excited for a change in the district.... There has been quite a bit of discomfort and contention between the entire district. We have all claimed to be patient and long suffering, but in reality, as I look back, we were all a bit spiteful towards one another. I think we are all a bit relieved that our time together is nearly done. This transfer has been a rollercoaster ride, and everyone is getting off.
      The highlight of the week was another trip to the temple. I had many things to converse with the Lord about, and I couldn't help but shake with excitement. I had a great deal of personal revelation, but that which stood out the most did not come until we began our drive home. I realized that as I go into the temple, I let my guard down as to things of the world. I become so overcome with the comfort of the spirit that I forget about needing to resist the temptations of the adversary. As I leave the temple doors, I am so comfortable that I forget to put my armor back on, and satan seems to be standing on the other side of the entry way with his foot sticking out to trip me up. He knows when we will have our guard down, and he is always ready to pounce. As I came to recognize this, I understood the importance of staying continually on a higher ground, and always remembering to heed the subtle, quiet promptings of the spirit.
   Hopefully all is well, and hopefully my companion isn't a lizard. Stay well, as always.
--Love,
Elder Jared William Davidson

Letters 07/02/2012

The Bittersweet Nature of the Work

Well, I typed out a huge letter to send, and somehow I deleted all of it and then the auto save  took effect, and it was too late. I don't have much more time, so I will try to summarize:

There is opposition in all things. It seems that no matter how much you seem to understand this statement, one always seems to forget it. This past week has been one of the best and worst of my mission.

     With elder Lewis as my companion, the work seemed to excellerate. He said that he was willing to do whatever I felt inspired to do, and we proceeded to have a miraculous week. We set a record for total number of lessons taught in a week, and we exceeded several other goals. We were able establish much trust with several investigators who have previously been quite stubborn, and for those who have had a difficult time grasping or understanding our teachings, they seemed to absorb our message like a sponge. I have really begun to understand how much the spirit abounds when a companionship is in unity.

     There was a certain instance this week when we were teaching an elderly man who was a pastor from the Assemblies of God church. No matter how hard he tried, he could not confound us. In the end he mentioned how knowledgable we wer, though we were only 20, and he had studied the bible for over 60 years. Two young men with little knowledge and experience, but with the spirit, will always confound the wise and learned of the world.

     The downside of the week came on Tuesday when an investigator's child passed away. I won't go into great detail, but it stirred me up into remembrance of my own experience with death. I ended up conducting the funeral service, and the mother asked me to sing "Be Still My Soul." Long story short, I did much thinking.

Letters 06/25/2012

In The Trenches
I always say that the week was peculiar and interesting, but sometimes different interesting things happen. I came to realize that if you are bad, people tend to hate you, but if you are good, people will still find a reason to hate you. Therefore, it's better to be good because you will be hated AND happy. 
I finally started to get better this week, only to find that on Saturday I got a bit of food poisoning from a kota shop... no more street vendor food for a while I think. I was unable to go out all day because of severe diarrhea and stomach cramps. Fortunately it got better by sunday and we were able to confirm all of our latest converts. 
     The other elders in our township had their bikes stolen on Thursday, and we had to waste several hours taking them to and from the police station so that they could fill out a report. They finally got new bikes on Saturday, and man they were nice... and I say were because the very next day Elder Lewis got mauled by a car as he crossed the street. We again had to drop everything to go to their rescue, and fortunately there was no major damage to anything but the car that hit him and the damage done to the bike. He had to go to the hospital for routine procedure, and he will have to walk on crutches for a week. Because of this, he will have to be working with me all week because I'm the only one who can drive. Hopefully things go smoothly. We will most likely have some drastic changes this transfer because of the situation. 
     We had a missionary fireside on Sunday, and Elder Hartman was supposed to be there, but because of a serious illness, he was hospitalized. As a replacement, an Elder Lewis came and spoke about marriage and in choosing the right mate. He related it to two different breeds of horses he had known as a youth, Great blacks and little Sorries, and how a great black had to be yolked to another great black or there would be tragedy. He compared the great black to a person who would never give up, nor discourage his or her mate, but would go on continually strengthening the other. He compared the little sorrie to a person that would easily give up  and not provide support his or her spouse. In the end, the fireside was a success and everyone was quite pleased. 
     
   As always, I send all my prayers and love,
--Elder Jared William Davidson

Photos 06/18/2012

Letters 06/18/2012

Sambunani
Well this week has been quite dull. We had been devoting most of our time to the people who were baptized this sunday. We also had a father's day breakfast saturday, but because of the cold, most of the fathers did not attend, so the missionaries were called to eat the rest of the food that had been prepared. We had the opportunity to have President Omer with us afterward to interview one of the sisters being baptized. The very next day we had the APs  attending church and our baptismal service for some reason. I came down with a gnarly cold the day before, and I started to dread the baptism because I knew the water would be cold. It was FREEZING!!! I started to get a migraine afterward, so we headed back to the flat a few hours early to rest. As we were driving home, I noticed the African sunset for the first time. It is definitely a beautiful sight to see. Sometimes it takes sickness to help you slow down and enjoy the beautiful things that would otherwise be missed. It also helped me more fully enjoy the feelings you get when an investigator finally comes to church after much prodding and patience. Life is good, and things continue to improve. Hopefully it can last the last three weeks of the transfer...
    
     Much Love,
Elder Jared William Davidson

Letters 06/11/2012

This week has been incredibly interesting as far as events to report. I had the opportunity to cook for an elderly Gogo in the ward. I made her chicken alfredo with a recipe that Mikki sent me, and she wouldn't stop saying how good it was (the food here is usually very bland.) I got a haircut at an indian salon, and the old man cutting my hair kept rubbing my head and laughing... It was quite peculiar, but my head felt much better afterward.  I feel much more like myself this week, and it has been highly appreciated, seeing as how I have been leading the area of late.   The weather has been a bit chilly here, and I had to buy an extra sweatshirt to keep me warm at night (the walls have to insulation.)  Because of this, people have been using extra electricity. The overload caused the power to go out in Benoni and the surrounding cities and townships. Luckily the power returned, but for some reason we have no water... go figure.

     As we met with a certain sister by the name of Dineo, she mentioned that she loves having us come to teach her, and she looks forward to our meetings ( she is usually the one who calls us to set up another appointment if things don't work out,) but she then went on to say that she hated us coming becuase we usually chastise her about something.  This same lesson went on to be one of the most bold and powerful lessons I have been apart of.  Afterward, we went to see an elderly gentleman who ended up cancelling our appointment to go and take care of his health, but he expressed that he knew we loved him and cared about him. He became somewhat emotional and then proceeded to thank us. This struck me quite deeply, and I realized that people can tell who we are, and our feeling towards them as missionaries. The following lesson, I experienced one of the great gifts of the spirit. We were teaching a woman who could not speak english, and we were struggling to teach her, so I said a silent prayer to myself, and then proceeded to teach the woman as simply as I could. As we asked her to recount our teachings, she spoke to another woman (a member) who translated to us, and she understood every thing we taught her with exeeding understanding. As the week went on, I noticed several other great examples of the spirit in our teachings. The last came on Sunday. One of the speakers cancelled at the last minute, and the 2nd councelor asked me to address the congregation concerning the sermon on the mount and the beattitudes. After 30 minutes of frantic scripture searching, I stood and as I walked to the pulpit I prayed for the spirit to be with me. As I spoke, thus being filled with the spirit, I proceeded to give one of the most powerful sermons ( for that's what it became) I have ever given in any situation. I recalled several other examples  and teachings from the lives of Christ as well as Joseph Smith. The spirit is real, and it definitely cannot be mistaken when used and discerned properly.

Letters 06/04/12

June 4, 2012

This week was full of more interesting events. In the area of Kwa Thema (about 30 minutes drive from my area,) the people started to riot for some reason or another. They burned cars, buildings, and other inanimate objects. A few people were even killed. Because of this, the elders of the surrounding areas were all sent to team up with other districts within the zone. We had an Elder from Swaziland join us as a threesome, and it was not fun. He came in trying to change our approach, and because of it, we had little success this week. Luckily he has gone back to his area, and things should get back to normal. My health is getting better, and it has been very humbling trying to do the work when my body and mind say no. I have been very tired this week. I haven't been able to exercise because of this, and I can feel the difference it has made. Without that extra boost in the morning, I can't  focus as well throughout the day. All is well though.  The work will go on, and I am confident that I shall recover. Its just another thing to grow and gain experience from. I am beginning to realize what people meant when they said that missionaries are poor. Luckily, members have been feeding us quite well. They eat a lot of pap (a type of corn meal) and they feed alot to us. It fills you up like nothing I have ever eaten before. Everyone loves the missionaries, even if they have never heard of the church. Drunkards especially seem to like us. We have had several chase us down the street and proceed to tell us their problems and current situations. I don't know whether to laugh or sympathize. I will be leading the area this transfer, and I hope all goes well. I think Elder Xaba doesn't mind relinquishing a little power in order for him to have an easier load.   I wish I could relay a few experiences more, but I don't think it would be quite prudent for the time being. Oh, and hopefully, hopefully mother remembered to pay my credit card balance.....

--Love,
Elder Jared William Davidson

Letters 05/28/2012

May 28, 2012


Well today is the last day of the transfer. Though I'm not going anywhere, it is a fun time to see where all the others are headed. This passed week has been very peculiar in many respects. The people have been acting funny, the weather is bipolar, everyone is getting the flu,  and I am having an allergic reaction to something of an unknown origin. Despite the setbacks, we were able to baptize a sister that has been taught for over 7 months. She was never willing to commit to anything for an extended period of time, and she never really had a solid testimony until recently. She finally started coming to church consistently, and she now realizes the importance of the sabbath. I will send pictures when I buy a card reader. 
     Our zone went to the temple on Friday, and it was nice to just relax in the house of the lord. I had many questions and concerns that were finally answered as I sat pondering for nearly an hour. I am glad our area is so close to the temple. As long as I stay in areas within 3 hours of Johannesburg I will be able to attend once per transfer. I had a good spiritual thought to add, but it will have to wait until next week. My head hurts and my mind is on other topics. Everything should improve this week,  and I'm definitely looking forward to having my body back to normal. Have faith. The sun will always rise again...

Letters 05/21/12

May 21, 2012


 This week has been quite trying. We have had the opportunity to see, firsthand, how powerful the adversary can be. It seemed as though there was a concentrated attack on our investigators, and each case proved mentally exhausting. Some of our most promising fruits have been thrown around like the playthings of the devil. He is a real being, and his power and influence reach far beyond our knowledge or comprehension. Luckily, the sun always rises, and likewise, the power of God will always dispell even the darkest of the adversaries darkest nights.
     The trials that we have gone through this week have humbled me greatly. I came to realise how much more I need to learn. I have also had many experiences where Elder Xaba and I were able to develope our companionship in unity. We finally had to sit down, let everything out, acknowledge and resolve our differences, and push on as one. I believe we have finally spanned the gap, and our companionship is being polished as a stone in a river. The fruits of our labors will be great if we can go forth as one.
     I don't know how many times people have said that I look like someone they know, but someone finally put a name to it. A man in the ward that is slightly crazy told me that I am Michael Knight from Knightrider. This same man, Sonney is his name, is mostly homeless, not a member, and he can't be baptized for several reasons that have to do with his mental handicaps. Despite this, he shows up every Sunday dressed in his shabby shirt and suit and he participates fully in the meetings. His knowledge exceeds that of most every member currently attending in the ward, and he acts the part. He is friendly to everyone, he always helps when help is needed, and he loves the missionaries (especially the Americans.) I can't explain the many lessons that he has taught me through his example, and I know that he will be right in the sight of God regardless of his membership status.
     All is well in Zion, and progression is one eternal round. It would take hours to make an account of the lessons and growth I experience, but know that "the universe is unfolding as it should..."

As always I leave my enduring and endearing love and affection.

--Love, Elder Jared William Davidson

Letters 05/14/12

May 14, 2012


So this past week has been crazy busy. We already had many people to teach, but we spent a whole day tracting and we were able to dig up a few more gems. We had some complications with  the two sisters that were supposed to be baptized yesterday, so we had to postpone their dates for the end of the month. We have been quite active in the morning hours, and I am starting to feel the difference physically, mentally, and spiritually. I have had to become a leader more and more everyday to keep the work going forward. We missed a few appointments a few days back, and I told Elder Xaba to notify them before hand that we would not be able to make it. When we arrived at church, several of these people expressed to me their disappointment that we did not show up, and that we failed to call them. I felt humbled and humiliated, and I have since sworn that it will NEVER happen again. We are servants of Jesus Christ, and with that calling comes a responsibility to represent him in all manners of our lives. We MUST NOT compromise that calling and the sacred nature of it. Since that day I have decided that I will need to speak up and be a leader more so than I have ever been before. My confidence and devotion have increased dramatically, and I have noticed in certain situations that I am more likely to act. But, as Ammon explains in Alma 26, I do not boast in my own strength, but rather the strength and spirit of the lord which dwells in me, building, edifying, and polishing. This is a great work and I intend to do all that I can to be the greatest instrument that I can become in the hands of the lord. This work is true. I have a solid foundation of knowledge and faith of said statement, and if anyone thinks otherwise, I invite you to test that knowledge. As stated in Moroni 10 :4-5,"...I would exhort you to ask God the eternal father if these things are not true, and if you ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will make the truth of it known unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost you may know the truth of all things." As it says, I promise that an answer will come. I have felt the power of this gospel and the atonement of Christ in my life. Most people forget where I have been, and the dramatic change in behavior. I am thoroughly convinced that such a change could not have been wrought upon any person without the touch of the master's hand. My heart is lowly and my spirit is contrite. Great is this work and great is my glorious calling. I say all these things out of the love of my heart and I hope all might yield to the advice and counsel given. Even those who already have a testimony of such things. We all need to be reminded, even myself as a missionary, and we all need our witness reaffirmed from time to time.

With much love ,
Elder Jared William Davidson

Letters 05/07/12

May 7, 2012


This week seemed to fly by. We had so much going on that we were not able to have a very productive week. We had zone meetings, new missionary meetings, as well as a number of other things. We had another opportunity to see the Young Ambassadors perform, and it was quite refreshing to experience. At the moment I don't have much to say. My mind has been running over the things that are to come this week, and I am finding it hard to focus on the things of the past week. I finally got food, and I have been eating alot to compensate. I have been exercising alot in the mornings, and it has definitely been helping me keep my energy and focus throughout the day. I'm still smoothing things out with the companion, and each day things get better. For some reason now, everyone says I sound like a younger version of Truman G. Madson. I don't hear the comparison, but that is my opinion. During our companionship study, Elder Xaba we speaking of obedience to God's rules and avoiding Satans, and of this he said something that really mad me smile: " I don't want to play with the devil cause I'm scared of God." We have a very packed week ahead of us, and my time now is short so that is all I have to give today, but I send my love and support, and the knowledge that I am becoming a shining instrument in the hands of the Lord.

--Love Elder Jared William Davidson

Letters 04/30/2012

April 30, 2012


The days have been getting faster as I continue to focus on the work. I haven't been as homesick as everyone told me I would be. I feel that I have hit the ground running, and this has helped me to stay focused thus far. We are struggling with several investigators not keeping commitments, but I have a feeling that a few of them will ponder deeply about such things this coming week. We had to chastise a few of them and  lead them to humble themselves. Our ward has over 600 members, but only around 100 are active. Most of our time is spent trying to reactivate these other 600, as well as establish more priesthood holders so that we can split the ward and build another chapel. The problem with most of them is the distance to the church. Most people do not have cars, and walking sucks. If they were committed, they would walk anyway, but I will not be the judge of that. The people are great, even if they don't care to hear our message...especially the drunks walking the streets after dark (there are tiny bars everywhere.) I'm beginning to pick up a few words here and there, but President Omer told me not to worry about learning more than simple greetings, responses, and statements. Most people in Daveyton speak Zulu and a few speak sutu, but they all speak English!  I have had to simplify my language exponentially, and I have to explain over and over again when I forget. 
     I have started somewhat of a workout routine, but I think I need to do more. I also need to start eating more than PB&J and oatmeal. They only gave me a portion of my allotment because I only spent half of the month infield, so I'm broke till tomorrow. My cupboards are bare, save the a fore mentioned meals. Elder Xaba and I are beginning to gel, but unfortunately everyone in our flat has been sick except for me. I have had to do most of the work and talking because of this, but things are getting easier and easier each day. I came here wanting to hit the ground running, and I believe that I have done just that. The old ladies, or Gogos, that are members still call me greenie anyway. 
    As I mentioned last week, the people are very poor. The houses and shacks are not insulated, and being that it is  winter (though it feels like spring to me,) the people have problems keeping warm. They burn wood and coal when they have it, but when they don't, they burn tires. Once the sun starts to go down, so does the capacity to breathe. Luckily we have the car every day except Sunday, so most of this can be filtered for a short period of time.
    On Sunday, we went to the YSA Branch where the Brigham Young University Young Embassadors came to visit. It was nice speaking with and being around Americans again. The work still goes forth, and I'm making lemonade out of the meager and often dainty lemons I'm given. All is well in South Africa...for now.

--Much Love,
Elder Jared William Davidson

Letters 04/23/2012

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:11:47


So my first new area is  called Daveyton, and my new companion is Elder Xaba ( the X makes a clicking noise.) Daveyton is a township of the city Benoni. Our flat is in Benoni due to the poor conditions of Daveyton. The people have beedn wonderful. They are incredibly friendly and laid back. Unfortunately this is a problem because my companion is a native to South Africa and we have been late to almost every appointment. Nana would not be pleased... On my first day I had the experience of driving right  out of the gate. My companion has no licence, so driving was a trial by fire.  It only took about 10 minutes to get accustomed to driving on the left had side of the road, but finding my way around has been quite troublesome because most street names are in a different language, not to mention the fact that they are not numbered. The food here is quite interesting, and I have had several dinner appointments already. They all eat a type of corn meal called pap, which is usually accompanied by sausage and a type of gravy. I have to go to the store and buy  some more food. I have been eating oatmeal and yogurt for breakfast and PB&J for lunch with a few apples thrown in. when I have spare change I might buy what is called a Kota. It is similar to a burger but much much better. My flat was incredibly grimey when I arrived , and I need to go through today and scour everything with disinfectant and bleach. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, and everyone should know I need things clean and orderly to function properly. Luckily we live in the city, and the shopping centers have most necessities, but there are many things that they do not have, such as mexican food. No refried beans, salsa , or tortillas. Also, the food is somewhat lacking in great flavor, and the candy here has much less sugar than American candy. If anyone feels generous, I could use some good ol' American candy. 
     The people here are very generous and humble. It has been a great experience for me in humbling myself in order to teach the people on the same level. Most of them are lost, there are literally dozens  and dozens of churches in such a small area. Noone nows what to believe, and many have stopped caring. This makes committments hard because noone is willing to go to church, and the people are proned to tell you what you want to hear.  For some reason I have been told on numerous occasions that I look strikingly familiar. What makes it even funnier, is that I am literally the only white person in the entire township. The work is going good, and we have been focusing on recent converts and less actives. The people have a hard time because most people dont have cars and the church is quite a long distance from their homes. Regardless, I am determined to plant and nourish as many seeds as I can. This will be another challenge because most people don't speak english well, so I must simplify my language a great deal.
     Adjusting to my companion, the lifestyle, the language and the people will be a task, but one that can easily be overcome. I hope I am in your prayers. Everyone is in mine.

     -- Much Love, 


Elder Jared William Davidson