Week 7 -MTC

Dearest Family,

How are you? How was the catering event? What/who was that for? Oh that Russian Book of Mormon you found, I advise you to open it and read inside the cover. It's meant for better purposes than sitting with my stuff. Well this is interesting, Memorial day is next Monday, this will be the first time I can remember that I have been to Camp out. I'll probably, this Sunday, sing a bunch of the songs we sing. Yeah that would be nice.

It's so nice how present and strong the Spirit is here. Yesterday we had a devotional, Elder Russell M. Nelson cam and spoke to us. The spirit was there. After the devotional, we have a devotional review with my district, I never thought I would love this group of people this much just in 7 weeks. It's crazy, because at this particular devotional review almost everyone was crying, not including me and a few others. These strange people are always here for me in the MTC, they are my family now. I have a family reunion every day. :)

I have a personal study time everyday, today I plan on finishing the Book of Mormon, if all the letters I have to write don't get in the way. I need to write 9 people! Crazy! Looks like everyone only wanted to talk to me this week! In other words, (that one's for you Josh) the Book of Mormon is true, I know it to be true, it has blessed me everyday, every time I read it. I know remember scriptures easier, I know scriptures that will help me at different points of times of need. If I can advise anyone back home, it would to be read the Book of Mormon like you are reading any other book. It helps a lot. It blesses my life everyday, every moment. I look forward to reading it everyday. Yeah right now I'm in Ether 7, my goal today is to finish it, by tomorrow. I think I can do it.

Experiences I have had this past week (our week here starts on Wednesday not Sunday): Last Wednesday we had the opportunity to do TRC again, and this time, it was some random girl from BYU who volunteered. We also had to teach in 100 % Russian. It went well, extremely well, we made her cry as we were bearing our testimonies. She told our teacher after wards, that was what she needed personally. I can honestly say, being in tune with the spirit is the greatest thing that has happened to me. I feel like I have changed so much since before my mission. I didn't know I had all this in me. I didn't know I could make someone cry bearing my testimony. I didn't know I could be this blessed. It makes me feel, an inadequate greatness. Like I feel awesome and great being a tool in the Lord's hands, and yet I feel unworthy and inadequate to have such a blessing upon me. It makes me appreciate the Lords love for me. That is something you can feel so well here, the love for me from the Lord. He is always there for me, waiting with his arms open, waiting to embrace me and say, "It's OK, It's OK." That's something that I truly have grown profoundly, my love for Jesus Christ. He truly is our Savior and Elder Brother. He is my best friend, it's my turn to be his friend in return. Become His best friend. I love Him so much, to go through what he did, for me a sinner, I can't even fathom why he would do that for me. Why? How could I ever love someone like that? Yet, I know I can, through Jesus, I can love everyone with Christlike love.

I can't remember what day, but we, my companion and I, taught our teacher, in Russian, as he acted like one of his investigators from his mission. I think I told you what this is called, but I will tell you again, this is called Progressing Investigator. Well this particular one, Женя (pronounced like Jenny but more like Jyenya, it's short for Eugene) had an issue with praying in front of us, so we taught him why it was important, and what he needed to pray about. He agreed to pray in front of us, it was a sweet and nice prayer. After that my companion, said out of the blue, "Будете ли вы крештится" (I butchered the spelling on some of that) but that means, "Will you be baptized?" That surprised me for a second, but after a few seconds it felt right. He then committed to be baptized! That was the best feeling in the world. I really really hope I have an experience like that in Russia. That felt so wonderful, to have someone feel that prepared to be baptized. He did have an issue in our next meeting about smoking and drinking tea. I told him that in order to be baptized he has to keep the word of wisdom, and he said he would try. He really wants to be baptized.

I really do love it here in the MTC, but nonetheless I'd rather be in Russia right now. I am really excited. 3 1/2 weeks left, I get my travel plans next week. After that I will tell you when I can call you on June 20th. Even though the total travel time is 24 hours, I'm actually excited for it. The "older" district that left two weeks ago, actually made it a goal to contact people on the plane. That's so weird! People, real people! It's going to be weird to see everyone without a name badge. The MTC is great in all, but it's so sheltered. They need a Wendy's here! OH! That's another I'm excited for in the airport, real food! I think I will probably have two subway foot long sandwiches!

I just got your dearelder dad, thank you so much for sharing that. I love hearing from you, I see you as an apostle. You have so much wisdom in you, and hind-sight being 20-20, I realize the mistake that I, too often, didn't heed to your advice. You truly have a wonderful spirit about you, I never realized how lucky I am to have you and mom as my parents. I am truly blessed to be raised in this family. You are right, I did feel homesickness about 5 weeks being here, I know that's peculiar. Now I'm better! Loads better, I am here for the Lord not me. Because of that the Lord will help me with all my trials, whenever I ask him to help me. I did ask him, and he did help me. Now the MTC is wonderful, minus the food. ;)

I hope all is well the Davis family! Thank you all for your letters! I really do enjoy them, they lighten my worry about everyone back home. I pray for all of you every night!

Love Always,

Elder Ky Davis

Стареишйна дэйвис

week 6-MTC

Dearest Family,
Thank you for all the letters this week, they ment a lot because this week has been a letter less week so far. I would ask some questions about home, but it seems they don't get answered. ;) Work on that!

This week has been quite "eventfull" the first time teaching in 100 % Russian, went...well. The investigator, Yuri (who is actually a convert from St. Petersburg) asked some pretty difficult questions, that I could answer in English pretty easily. But, it being the 100 % lesson couldn't really answer them, because I didn't have enough vocabulary. I teach each of my teachers once a week, they pretend/act to be an investigator from there mission and we, my companion and I, teach them as we would teach a real investigator (in Russian). I taught one of my teachers yesterday, he was Jyena, and the spirit was so present there. It felt wonderful. I loved every minute of teaching him. I love how I feel the Spirit everyday here. It's not that I haven't felt it before every day. It's just everything is focused around him, it is more easily to recognize when I feel it. If I could ever teach anybody at home, it would be to listen, actually listen, don't try to put answers in your head where you "think" it's the spirit. Listen and wait for that still small voice/feeling. This can help you always, if you think you aren't getting your requests/questions answered, maybe you are, and just aren't realizing it. The Lord always listens to his children, but far too often, we don't take the time to listen to Him. Strive to always head to the teachings and promptings of the Spirit, if you do this the spirit will become a more common feeling, and you can tell definitely that it is the Holy Ghost. No second guessing. But, you have to work at it. Always.

Yesterday, we had a devotional, Elder Hinckley (Gordon B. Hinckley's Son) came and spoke to us. He reminded me so much of his dad. Always to the point, no reason to mince words. He basically told us a list of things what to do and what not to do on the mission. To obey all rules with exactness. To be the missionary that my mother thinks I am. He actually said straight up, "you are not cool, so don't try to be". That made me smile, and think that we shouldn't try to fit into the crowd, we are representatives of the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter Day Saints, we don't need to be anything more or anything less. He told us a story when he was younger, when his dad (Gordon B. Hinckley) told him a story of Adam and Eve, the story went like this: "After Adam and Eve got kicked out of the Garden of Eden, they began to prosper and began to have children, one day Adam took two of his children to the wall of the Garden, hoisted them up on his shoulders, and said, 'Take a good look boys, this is where your mother ate us out of house and home'." It was really funny to actually think a prophet of the Lord said this, given that he said it before he was actually the prophet.

This past week has been nice, my zone, which is considerably smaller because the "older" districts have left, it consists of 19 missionaries. Later today, we get 48 more missionaries. 48! That's a ton! I have to be an example to every single one of those missionaries. They will look up to me, like I looked up to my "older" districts. I feel old, my friend worded this perfectly, "It's not my family that's keeping me back, it's not my girlfriend that is keeping me back, it's the MTC that's keeping me back. I need to get out of here!" It's so true, I will have 4 weeks left on Monday, I leave to Russia on June 20th. So yes I only have 10 1/2 weeks, they tell you twelve but, that has rarely happened. I can honestly say that I am kinda tired of the MTC. It's wonderful in all, but, I want to get to Russia. I have a foot in the MTC and a foot in Russia.

Dad, I was thinking this week, I really didn't here any stories from your mission, as I recall, you actually didn't talk about it that often. I would love to get some dearelders from you also. What you like about it, what you didn't. I don't care if you just copy from one of journals, I just want to hear what you think.

I just got back from the temple today, and had a wonderful experience. In the celestial room I was sitting next to an older lady, she was in her 70's/80's and was waiting for her husband. He came through and was clearly 5-10 years older than her. She went over and gave him a hug, and said, "You made it." That was so wonderful. I wonder if it will be that wonderful in the actually Celestial Kingdom. I surely think so. It will be a glorious occasion, having my ancestors come and hug me and say, "Good Job, You've made it." Then have the savior come and hug you and say, "Thank you, you did your best." That was such a uplifting and humbling experience, that will be one of my goals to have the Savior say that to me.

I also want to say in this letter, how much I love the Book of Mormon. I've decided to make it a goal to read it, the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price before I leave the MTC. Right now I'm in Helaman, so far I'm on track to accomplish that goal. As I read I also mark scriptures that pertain to me or that will help me. It truly has blessed me. I advise all to do this. Another goal I made, I made while I was reading about the sons of Mosiah, Ammon, the one who converted King Lamoni, when he returned to Zarahemla, Alma figured out that he served the Lord for 14 years. I too want to serve 14 years. No, not all at once, but by the end of my life I want to be like Ammon. If you think about it, 14 years is 10.20 % of my life, I would be paying the Lord more than he has required that we should give. Which will result in more blessings. I'm so excited.

To rap it up, I'm going to give everyone there Russian Names:

Ray- Рай
Londa- Лонда
Cavin- Кавин
Marissa- Марииса
Cassie- Касии
Mason- Масон

Love Always,

Elder Ky Davis

Стареишйна дэивйс

Week 5 -MTC

Dearest Family,

Sorry for emailing late into the day, I had to drag my companion out of bed to come do email. He actually said, "Who needs family" yeah. Now he just found out that his grandma passed away. I feel sorry for him.
On a more happier note, I'm glad you had a good mother's day. Oh I would like a copy of Cavin's talk, that would be great! :) So what has been happening with the shop in all? Grandma told me it was coming together pretty nicely, I'd like to see pictures! Oh you didn't really answer any of my questions in my last email, why was Mason taking a break from karate?

Ok, new stuff with me. In my zone there is four districts, the two "older" ones left Monday and Tuesday, so now I'm the "older" district. It's kinda weird to see how much I have progressed since then, in my district we actually said, "I wish we could take a picture of this [referring to the blackboard] and travel into the past and show it to ourselves, and say 'This is where you will be in 5 weeks, have fun'" I really thank to Lord for all the blessings he has given me. Again he blessed me with another apostle, Neil L. Anderson, to come and give a devotional yesterday. That is three apostles in the 5 Tuesdays I have had. They truly have a wonderful and powerful testimony of Christ.

My thoughts on missionary work are; right now for me, patience is one of the biggest Christlike attributes I am trying to work on, having a companion that completely different then me, can some times 'highten' small things. It is hard to patiently wait for my companion to get out of bed and get ready as I wait for him. One thing I have noticed, as I read the scriptures (I made a goal to read the Book of Mormon, D&C, and Pearl of Great Price before I leave the MTC) with a purpose, which purpose is to find scriptures that relate to me, I have a greater knowledge of them, I get more eager to preach the gospel, and my love of Christ grows enormously. Anyone can become a missionary, one of the best ways to do this is to strive to become like Christ. Being the example, the way you dress, speak, and do; effect everything everyone thinks about you. If you become like Christ, your example alone is doing missionary work. I wish that I would have, before my mission, to strive better to be better. I was kinda lazy, and slacked and shrugged of work, I wish that I had worked harder, helping everyone as much as I can. That is the past, but now, and only now, can I change this. I choose to become like my Elder Brother. The one I love more than anything. He truly is the perfect example, we should, no must become like him.

The MTC has been wonderful, tonight, I teach my first lesson completely in 100% Russian. I feel ready for it. It is going to be an experience to remember. Today in the temple I saw Kevin Peterson, I actually figured out that he works her, teaching the English speaking missionaries. What a wonderful job. Come home from a mission to teach missionaries how to preach. I'd like to do that, but I don't want to go to BYU ;) and only BYU students can work here. I am getting eager and impatient to leave the MTC to Russia, I only have 5 1/2 weeks left. Yeah I know, they told me I am to be in the MTC for 12 weeks, but I actually have to be here for 10 1/2 weeks, but, hey I'm not complaining. :)

I hope everything is swell with you, I want to you to know I love you all, and I love the Savior.

Love Always,

Elder Ky Davis

Стареишйна дэивйс

Week 4 MTC

Dearest Family,
Thank you so much for your letters, I feel loved so much, when I do recieve some. I hope you enjoyed the pictures I sent home. We have a lot of fun up here, learning, and preaching. Maybe, a little messing around. You know how guys are. So Marissa misses me? ;) Haha nice, :) I miss you all, too. I actually had a dream last night with the family in it, but mostly cavin. It was a weird dream though. Why is Mason taking a break from karate? He did it so well. Yeah my district president did say to limit sending packages, he said at most to do it once a week.
So school is almost out. How is everyone doing with their tests and such? How was Cassie's last track meet? How was Cavin's last game? That's great that Mason "graduated", no more homework! GOOD JOB BUD!
Things going on with me, simple sitting in a class room for at least 12-15 hours a day. Only taking breaks for meals or meetings or gym. Gym is quite fun, it's a nice break from the rutined day. I usually play basketball, but recently I started to play four square and lift weights. I gonna be buff! It is loads of fun. Everyone is so kind, but occasionally I see somebody, that is not here because they want to be. They treat everyone like scum, and step on them. It saddens me, it's like High School all over again. A mission is not supposed to be like school. I sure hope they realize that they need to overcome that. I personnal found out that i need to be more patient and loving with everyone, especially my companion. I can physically recgonize the blessings I recieve as I slowly become closer and more like the Savior.
Every Sunday, there is an opptional temple walk, sometimes it is nice, but sometimes, I'd rather relax and read the Book of Mormon in my residency. Then every Wednesday, now, I have the oppertunity to go to the temple and either do Inititory or Endowment Sessions. I actually just got back from doing Inititory an hour ago. There is such a sweet spirit in the temple I love going.
Some stuff I have found out about my mission, ties (really nice ones) cost only three dollars each. So dad expect a package of like 15-20 of them on your birthday or either christmas. There is actually a rumor/story that there was an elder who wore a different tie every sunday of his mission. He came home with 150 +, then there's another rumor that if you come home with less than 100 ties, people from the same mission as you will be upset with you. So uh, I'm going to have a lot of ties when I come back. Dad, you really did get me to love ties. :) Everything there is pretty cheap, not like Mexico cheap or China cheap. But cheaper than what it would cost in this country. The have a snack/appitizer that I really want to try, they take the bacon fat cut it up into tiny little bit sized pieces, and serve it cold with salt. Sounds gross, but you know me, I'll eat anything. I'm excited. In St. Petersburg, during the winter solstace there is what is called the bright week. It's actually two weeks of all sunlight, the sun doesn't go down. It happens in June, so I might miss it, or I might get there just in time for it. In Russia they actually celebrate Christmas on New's Year Eve. But, I might not be allowed out of my building on that day, because of how many people are drunk. You can tell that I'm excited. :)
Normally out in the field I would be able to call you, Mom, on mother's day. But, because I'm in the MTC, that is not possible. But, I did learn, while I'm in the airport, I can call you. I can't give you the time right now, I will as soon as I know. But, it will possibly be on June 20th or June 21st. In the morning around 5 or 6.
Thank you so much for everything you do. I love you all so much! I miss you oodles of amount of an object!
Love Always,
Your Elder Davis.

P.S. I figured out that the camera charger I have doesn't work for my camera. I need the one that Cavin has for her camera, I'll send back the one I have. Thank you so much! Dearest Family,