It has been a different week. This week We didnt get to spend a whole lot of time proselyting because we were out of town for a while. I went on Exchanges with Elders from a town called marksville. They are really struggiling for members in marksville and it was interesting to get a different side of the mission work But it felt good to spend sometime doing hard things and knocking some scary looking doors in the ghetto. My door approaches really need some work but my exchange companion Elder Brimhall comented on my fearlesness and drive to share the Gospel. We taught some really cool lessons to people in that area and I Told that Elder that I would definitely need updates on what happens with the members their. The whole Experience really confirmed to me that God himself really is working with us out here. We see his hand Everywhere. Especially in marksville. Lives are being changed in marksville. I was glad I got to be apart of it. |
As we drove back to Alexandria though I started getting really excited because I realized for the day and a half I was gone out of my area how much I missed my investigators and my area. it felt like coming back home! I instantly wanted the updates on our investigators and to get back out there and start teaching them again. I love Alexandria. I hope I can stay here for a while.
We left again this week for a zone conference meeting with Elder Kopichke who is an Area 70. What a powerful meeting. Elder K is really shaking things up in louisiana and I LOVE it. He is lighting a bonfire under the Elders and Sisters and it got me so excited to hear what he had to say. I dont know how familiar any one is with the "Vision for the South" But he basically promised us that we would be participating in it. and that if we did what he told us to (and he's asking us to do some very hard and Exciting things!!) that We would see our numbers Double at LEAST. I am so excited to get started. My companion seems a bit reluctant but I am sure he'll come around.
We left again this week for a zone conference meeting with Elder Kopichke who is an Area 70. What a powerful meeting. Elder K is really shaking things up in louisiana and I LOVE it. He is lighting a bonfire under the Elders and Sisters and it got me so excited to hear what he had to say. I dont know how familiar any one is with the "Vision for the South" But he basically promised us that we would be participating in it. and that if we did what he told us to (and he's asking us to do some very hard and Exciting things!!) that We would see our numbers Double at LEAST. I am so excited to get started. My companion seems a bit reluctant but I am sure he'll come around.
The next day we got to visit the Temple. One of my concerns with what he told us to do was that We wouldnt be able to teach everybody we found. I was afraid there wouldnt be enough time or manpower to get to all of them. While we were in the temple I was pondering this and I recieved a very powerful revelation that, again, God is out here laboring WITH US. I recieved an impression that was so powerful it was just shy of hearing actual words. I felt that as long as we strived to teach as many people that we found and all of the people that we contacted. As long as we made sincere and urgent efforts to help and invite and teach ALL of them that God would provide a way for us to do it all. (Going on splits with the ward came to mind) That being said I am no longer afraid of having 15 progressing investigators or even more. I will take however many people God decides to send our way. I know that we will have the resources and ability to help all of them. That revelation got me all the more excited to begin the work this week. I have HIGH expectations!!!! The world Is CHANGING YOU GUYS!! I am so glad I can be apart of it.
I love you all,
Thank you for your continous prayers and support. they mean so much.
-Elder Davis
The Vision for the South
Make no small plans: They have no magic to stir men's souls.
This is the vision I have for the South.
I believe that one day the South will baptize more people into the church
than all other English-speaking missions in the world together. There are
great hosts of marvelous Baptists, members of the Church of Christ,
Methodists, and Catholics who are honorable people, and have faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ and love him.
As they see their church veering off to the right or to the left of those
basic teachings, they will begin to search for truth; and as pivotal
teachers come into the church and have influence, we will see the time
when we will baptize hundreds and thousands, tens of thousands. In your
day, you will see a million members of the church in the South. There
will be Temples plural in the South States. What a great call you have to
serve with these marvelous people. The missionaries love the South. We
are making great strides and expect to continue.
President Spencer W. Kimball gave the first sentence of the quote and
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone added the rest. In 2012 Elder Featherstone
spoke with President McKee, Nashville Temple President 2012 to 2013,
and told him the quote was legitimate and that when they built the
Atlanta Georgia Temple, in June 1983, they read the quote and then
placed a copy of it in the cornerstone of the temple.
Make no small plans: They have no magic to stir men's souls.
This is the vision I have for the South.
I believe that one day the South will baptize more people into the church
than all other English-speaking missions in the world together. There are
great hosts of marvelous Baptists, members of the Church of Christ,
Methodists, and Catholics who are honorable people, and have faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ and love him.
As they see their church veering off to the right or to the left of those
basic teachings, they will begin to search for truth; and as pivotal
teachers come into the church and have influence, we will see the time
when we will baptize hundreds and thousands, tens of thousands. In your
day, you will see a million members of the church in the South. There
will be Temples plural in the South States. What a great call you have to
serve with these marvelous people. The missionaries love the South. We
are making great strides and expect to continue.
President Spencer W. Kimball gave the first sentence of the quote and
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone added the rest. In 2012 Elder Featherstone
spoke with President McKee, Nashville Temple President 2012 to 2013,
and told him the quote was legitimate and that when they built the
Atlanta Georgia Temple, in June 1983, they read the quote and then
placed a copy of it in the cornerstone of the temple.