12/31/12

well...

The internet shop that we usually visit is closed today, so we had to come to this one, and the service here is quite abominable before me. I answered a few emails, then the internet connection slowwed immensely and it just started back up. The letter won't be long today, sorry.

The Christmas call home was great, despite the problems and not enough time. I think if it had been more though I would have become quite trunky. We didn't do much aside from resting (which I was very grateful for.) We have been very busy this week doing some tracting. All of our investigators are still at their home villages, so we don't have many other people to teach. We had a few great stories, but due to the lack of time, I will relate them next week, if I can remember. Please forgive me if I don't, though I doubt it matters much anyway. We have new years day off to relax, so I will use it to rest my body and mind. I need to destress a bit. I love you all and I'm grateful for everything!

--Love,

Elder Davidson

12/17/12

Treansferrrs...

Transfers are come once again, along with my birthday and christmas. Elder Komba will be leaving, so I will be receiving my 6th companion in 9 months. Hopefully all things work out well. My birthday should be interesting. I have been here long enough to develop relationships with a few members and investigators, and they have mentioned trying to throw me birthday parties, but the transfer schedule up here in Botswana is a bit funny, so we will see how things turn out. It really doesn't feel like christmas in this hot weather, but we have been playing christmas music in the car, so it gives it a bit of a home-like feel... but not really.

We went shopping last week, and as we walked down one of the isles, we spotted 3ply toilet paper. We have been using some REALLY cheap 1ply that is scratchy and has holes, so we American missionaries sat marveling at the sight. We thought of buying it, but when considering the nature of our small allotment,  we unhappily decided otherwise. This month will prove to be a bit tight. We have had some unforeseen problems and most of us will have to tighten our belts for a week or two due to a lack of funding. 

 Hopefully Christmas turns out alright. We are not allowed to work on Christmas day or New Years because the people here become a bit crazy with drunkenness and robbery. It will be a nice break, though we will likely be bored out of our minds... In addition though, we have been allowed to use facetime for our calls home at Christmastime. If everyone will be together, I would definitely enjoy a look at all of your ugly mugs... We are using the senior couples' computer, so if someone can email me their facetime account before next week, I would greatly appreciate it! Until next week though, 

Love,

Elder Davidson

12/10/12

Mysterious Ways of Missionary Work.

Well I was planning on discussing the events of the zone conference, but I don't feel it much right now, so I will talk about the ride back! We were about half of the way back to Francistown when our tire blew clear off and we nearly crashed into an oncoming car. But things are well, we got the tire fixed quickly, and we arrived safely home. We have some Indians living next door, and their two small children always try to talk to me. They wait at our door in the evening and around lunch time, and they always ask me the same silly questions. They are sweet, but the parents dont care too much for our message. They are good, humble people though.  We had a huge storm on Wednesday, and we happened to be helping a member move his soft serve ice cream machine. He and my companion sat in the cab of the truck while two other members and myself rode in the back holding the machine. At first the sun was shining, and I now can surely say that I have seen, as well as felt, " the rain coming down on a sunny day." The sun quickly became covered with clouds, and we were drenched (full proselyting attire) to the bone, and we continued on to our last apointments, my companion completely dry, and me looking like I just crawled out of the river.  I got 2 free ice cream cones for the adventure though. I found that after my little stomach ordeal, I have lost 7 kgs (something like 15 lbs.) I'm down to where I was when I came out. I'm in much better shape though. 
We had a referral from one of the members in our ward, and as we entered the gate of the family, the mother gave me a very strange/ puzzled look. We sat down and began to teach, and at the end of our lesson, she explained that she knew we were sent from God and that our message was true, though I'm quite sure she will still need to pray. She said that a week prior, she had a dream, in which she saw a "very tall blonde white guy" and a short, lighter black skinned man. She was told to listen to the two men because they had something precious for her and her family. She said as soon as I walked in their gate, she was shocked and didn't know whether to cry or be happy. I'll say it was a very wonderful experience, and she should progress quite nicely.
For now that will be all.
Much love,
elder Davidson

12/03/12

Not A Week

We had a few setbacks as far as the work was concerned this week, but it seems like there were many great experiences to note. Elder Komba became ill on wednesday, so we were unable to work. On thursday we had to travel to Gaborone, which is about 5 hours away, for a  zone conference with Elder Rendlund of the Seventy , so after planning around 2 we headed out. We returned Friday evening. On Saturday, we had to help a family that was planning a baby shower, then they made us wait while they cooked us food (It is highly offensive to decline food when it is offered to you, especially after a service to them.) We only had a few hours to work the rest of the day. On Sunday, the second counciler in the bishopbric went missing and he could not be reached, so we had to go on a search for him for a great portion of the day. Luckily, we found him, not without some trouble and consequences.

     As we prepared for the zone conference, we found that President Omer's first counciler and president of the work here in Botswana, President Kimball, had to leave his service early due to his wife's diagnosis of cancer. I will most definitely miss him. He was very kind and loving, and he showed it to all the missionaries he served around. I can't mention everything that he did or that he taught me, but it left no small impact. The zone conference was quite nice, but due to my lack of time I will have to give details next week. It was very powerful.

     On Tuesday, we had several small miracles happen that were quite uplifting to notice. Our first appointment was with a young man (20) named Arnold, who we have started teaching just a few short weeks ago, and he explained to us as we arrived that since the last time that we visited and left the Book of Mormon, he has had a hunger to know more, and he has read and read and read some more. After the appointment, we felt that we should stop by the chapel. As we arrived we found a man who was on his way to zimbabwe and his car broke down. He explained that he was the director of public relations for the church in Zim and he was passing through from zambia and his car broke down. He Said he did what he could to find the nearest branch, and he prayed that the missionaries would stop by. We did and we helped him on his way....

 Life is full of miracles, you just have to notice them.

--Elder Davidson

11/26/12

"My Bowels Are Filled With JUSTICE!"

That has been my slogan since I came to Africa. I am grateful for mercy though, especially from the sickness I have been battling. I still have a few side-affects but for the most part, I am full of strength and work. We have been working very hard. The Elders have been very lazy previously, and instilling an attitude of work has been my main goal. We ran into a few difficulties that set us back (and I will make mention of them next week after a few more things get sorted,) but we have seen great progress so far. Our teaching pool has gone from 7 to over 17 with plenty of other new investigators that have great potential and great preparedness. It has been good knowing that all the fruits that come forth will be entirely from my own labors, and not those of previous missionaries, but the prospect is hard, and without the help and direction from the Lord I don't think I could do it. I was reading the 26th chapter of Alma and the words of Ammon inspired me to work even harder. I don't have much to say other than that I am working. Luckily the weather has taken a turn for the better, and it has rained for the past 5 days. I'm so very grateful for the relief in my time of sickness. It makes the stress of my new responsibility much easier to bear...

I am well and very thankful for all that I have been given and blessed with. I am very grateful for the love and support you provide. I love you all.

--Elder Davidson

11/19/12

BATSWANA!!!!

So transfers have come and gone, and I have found myself in the farthest point of the mission in a place called Francistown in Botswana. It came as a bit of a shock because everyone told me that I was going there, but I did not want to go there in the least bit. It is not as bad as I thought. While it is also the hottest part of the mission, which is VERY HOT, the people here are nice enough to compensate. Also, there is a great deal of wildlife, such as monkeys, lizards, other fun stuff like lions in some spots...  Leaving Daveyton was hard though. They were just like my family, and they acted like such as I left...

My new comp. is from Tanzania and his name is Elder Komba. He is a sweet guy that kind of reminds me of Elder Grobergs companion on the other side of heaven. The area is struggling a great deal because it has had several dying missionaries in the past few months, so I will be working very hard to build it up. By the end of the trasfer it will be flourishing. This past week has been pretty unproductive though because we have had to do a lot of work to get residency here. I hope they grant it to me, otherwise I will have to leave after 90 days.

In addition to the residency stuff, I have become quite ill with intense cramps and severe diarrhea. I managed to work Thursday-Saturday (not without a few close calls) but Sunday I was down and out. It really sucked. Saturday evening, on the way back from an appointment, elder komba and I were crossing a bridge, and about half way across, I stopped dead in my tracks... without consulting my companion, I jumped over the railing of the bridge onto a small landing out of the sight of passers by, and all I had was a law of chastity pamphlet. I told myself I would never be one of those missionaries that went in his pants ( those are quite abundant here,) and I am proud to say that I am still unassociated with that group.... I haven't eaten really anything since thursday, and in addition to the heat, I think I have dropped 5-7 pounds. You wake up sweaty, and you go to sleep sweaty, and such is life in Botswana!

Much Love,

Elder Davidson

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