The Latest from Elder Davis

Anona Fruit

The sky... Its a lie....

I have completely forsaken the habit of trying to judge what the day's weather will be like by the sky... It changes in a heartbeat. Rain, rain, rain, and thunder that makes your ears bleed! However, I really enjoy it. Almost all of our investigators have corrugated metal roofs over their homes and when it rains it gets really loud. This is difficult in lessons, but nothing fatal.

I have gotten to the point where I can have a lot of fun with my Spanish. I feel that because of this my relationships with ward members and investigators are improving. I have running jokes with  some and talk crap on others... its good. I am still being careful not to be too loose though, I don't want to be the missionary that wastes all of his time buddying with members. Whereas there are many of those in the mission from what I hear. I have a lot of fun with the kids and youth here, one has discovered that I  am a doodle bug and asks me to draw him characters in Sacrament Meeting. I hope he doesn't spread the word around too much...

My investigators are coming along, but only one came to church this last Sunday... super frustrating. Some of them show so much positivity until they have to do something... I am not quite sure how to get them to understand that without action faith doesn't mean anything. Unfortunately there is a firmly established culture here that following Christ is just thinking nice things about him. Partly because most of the churches here are comprised of happy spiritual comments and singing really loud. I am by no means a master of the scriptures, but it amazes me how little even the pastors know of the scriptures... or how corrupted there doctrinal knowledge has become by there own thoughts and feelings. From them and their congregation alike we get a lot of Bible bashing. All you can do is bear your testimony, and leave with the spirit. Occasionally we machete the pastors pretty hard, but they always just make silly comments about how you can't take it literally or that we have changed the Bible by the power of the devil. That last one has yet to happen with me, but it has been heard by my companion on more than one occasion... but seriously, you get some really funky (Christian) beliefs from people out here.

We have changes coming up in a few days... I will likely lose my comp whereas he is being made district leader, it is possible that he could stay, but highly unlikely. I am going to miss him, but what can I do. So, with that in mind, I ask that you all would pray that I get a good comp this coming change. I feel my companions patience waning thin from all of my Spanish questions... which come at at a steady pace throughout the day. In the beginning he encouraged questions, telling me that it would help me out a lot, but I am a very curious person and unanswered questions eat at me... so its probably getting old for him. Yet, I think that all of my questions are helping his English as well.

I tried some really good fruit this week, its called anona, the locals call it by there own name here.... its really good. I look forward to January, because that is the beginning of mango season! Anyways, all is well over here, luckily I still haven't gotten sick... Try not to miss me too much. Love you all!