April 27, 2014 - Clark

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Shelley and I are home for the weekend before returning to the MTC for welfare training.  During our week at the MTC while studying Preach  My Gospel we met several wonderful couples and heard of their decisions to serve a mission and where they will be serving.  There were 30-35 couples who were split into districts of 4 couples.  The other three couples in our district were Rasmussens from West Valley city who will serve at home, the Lavulos who are from Tonga originally and now live in Woods Cross and are going to Papua New Guinea, and the Untches who will serve at the Martin Handcart visitor’s center.  

We did a lot of role playing to practice our newly learned lessons.  Our first role play was with Mike Taylor from Highland.  We taught the first lesson which is on Restoration and each lesson took 45 minutes; 15 minutes getting to know one another followed by a prayer and a 30-minute lesson.  We would practice the night before and prepare a lesson plan along with scriptures we felt would fit.  Preach My Gospel is a resource manual and we could not use them during our lesson role play.  The next day we had practiced the second lesson, the Plan of Salvation and met with Gleneen Genther.  She was about 65-70 and had a million questions which directed the lesson to wherever she wanted to go.  We quickly lost control and didn’t have nearly as good an experience.  What was remarkable to me was that the Spirit was in those meetings and helped us even though it was only a role play.

The final day’s role play was home teaching an inactive member.  We played both roles and in an effort to make it more realistic, we did the role play with two couples from other districts.  Our first session was to act as inactives and play a certain couple we were familiar with; the Ereksens from Albuquerque were our couple.  Secondly; we were the missionary couple trying to get to know the background of a different couple where we were to come up with suggestions on how to help; this couple was the Carrol’s from Santequin.

We had several inspiration moments during the week.  Elder Oaks and his wife came for the Tuesday fireside.  An elderly couple by the name of Hawkes came on Friday morning.  They talked about the seven missions they have served together.  They were a wealth of information and certainly inspirational.  They incorporated missionary work into every aspect of their lives and shared several examples of how everyday experiences can be viewed as missionary opportunities.  In the afternoon we had the Denton’s speak with us.  They had been to the Philippines and to Ghana on missions. They gave us improved insight into the African people.

The instruction was conducted by both young elders and young returned missionary sisters.  The sisters were consistently the best teachers.  The food was good with lots of variety, the accommodations were  clean and convenient and the overall experience was excellent.  

Shelley and I are going through our normal “after tax season” adjustment period.  I have been gone so much during tax season that it takes time to readjust to more time together.  We have to work together like never before.  Shelley is an excellent teacher and consistently has spiritual insight when I tend to be more rote and by the book.  I can see we will grow even closer together working as a missionary couple.

April 23, 2014 - Clark

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

I’m recording events of the past couple of days.  We have 4 couples in  our MTC district: Lavulo, Rasmussen and Untch.  Our teachers have been Brother Carver, Brother Rowe, Sister Bateman, Sister Sanford.  There are around 40 couples in total.  We meet at a chapel that is adjacent to the MTC and we enter through a secure fence.  Everything here is by secure entry.  Even the elevator doesn’t work without your identification card.  

The cafeteria food has been good but not on a par with Lindsay and mom.  It is nice to have someone else take care of all you food needs however.  We have tried to sit by new couples each meal in order to get to know more people.  I have enjoyed studying and preparing with Shell.  She has such good insight and teaching together seems so natural because we can anticipate one another’s thought process.  

Last night we had Elder Oaks and his wife come for a devotional.  They both spoke on missionary service and gave the missionaries an 8-point program for success.  We had an assignment to prepare for today and our first teaching role play.  We were to meet with an investigator for 45 minutes to give the first lesson on the Restoration.  The first 15 minutes is get to know you time and then you transition into a 30-minute with a prayer.  

Our investigator’s name was Mike Taylor who lives in Highland.  He graduated from Utah State and was about our age.  We had a wonderful time together and although it was a role-play, we got all choked up in bearing our testimonies and promising him blessings.  He has 4 children, 13 grandchildren and is already retired.  He worked for Atari video games and I think he is fairly wealthy.  We had a great experience and yet recognized ways we could improve our teaching and working together.

Tonight we attended the Provo Temple.  It has a beautiful view and nice gardens (not as good as Brigham City) but nice.  It reminded us of attending Ogden with the same floor plan and building layout.  We went early and got right in.  Afterward we went out for dinner in an effort to escape.  It can become pretty restrictive in a hurry.  We went to Kneaders and so mom was right at home.  

We  have spent most evenings in our room preparing for the following day.  Tonight we worked on lesson 2, the Plan of Salvation.  We have another live investigator session tomorrow morning.  Following that we reviewed a couple of French grammar sections from our workbook and read 5 verses from Alma chapter 40 in French.  

The time is passing quickly and we have enjoyed the together time for the most part.  We are still in post-tax season adjustment mode but no big issues yet.  We seem to fill up the days and usually get to bed around 11:00 and get up at 6:30.  Well good night and I’ll try to write more later.

Love, Dad

April 21, 2014 - Shelley

Dearest family - Dad and I just finished our first "companion study".  We've had a great first day at the MTC.  They were pretty easy on us.  We are staying in a building that houses the MTC bookstore, and the rooms look about like a Marriott Hotel.  Part of the senior couples are staying at the married student housing area - so we're pretty lucky.

      We just listened to the "Africa" song from last night - it totally sounds PROFESSIONAL with all of the harmonies and great voices!  Thanks for sending it!  I started to play "Homeward Bound" but we couldn't take it.  Anyway, we can't thank you enough for the wonderful weekend we had with you!  We are so proud of you and the things you are doing with your lives.  Thank you for making us feel so supported and loved!  It made coming this morning so much easier - knowing that you are behind us and it's the right thing to be doing at this time in our lives.  We miss you already!   Much love,  Mom

April 21, 2014 - Clark

Monday, April 21, 2014

First day of our mission here at the MTC.  I knew after tax season and the final preparations at home, that the pace here would be a welcomed slower cadence.  It has been very pleasant today and we have already met some wonderful people coming from all over the world to serve throughout the world.  

Someone mentioned it was like sending us off to our first day of kindergarten and it has many similarities.  We started the day as complete strangers and had several friends by the end of the day.  We have heard several conversion stories and stories of sacrifice.  One couple from Woods Cross who is Tongan, Elder and Sister Levulo were called in by their stake president and asked to serve in New Guinea as member, leader support missionaries for 18 months.  They had no save or prepared to serve and when the stake president said they would need $1,400 per month for housing, their response was ,”we can sell our business to pay for our mission”  The Stake President asked them to pray about it but the wife said without hesitation, we will accept.  This was in November, her grandmother had served 7 missions and her mother said you can go and the Lord will prepare a way.  Her mother died 3 months later and Sister Levulo had 3 insurance polies on her mother, who is now paying for the mission.  

There is a companionship of 2 sisters who are sisters’ in-law.  They are assigned to Washington D.C.  They are both single mothers who have 10 and 9 children respectively.  Sister Hawkes is from Layton and her husband was a doctor in the military who died in 1992.  Sister Robinson is from Houston and was the wife of a mission president who served in Washington D.C.  They are divorced and she is returning to their old mission with her sister in-law to work in women auxiliary support.  Basically they will be helping other single mothers cope with the issues they have faced as single mothers.  Their call and companionship assignment was arranged through the missionary department.

It is inspiring to see others who have made significant sacrifices to make themselves available for missionary service.  

Tonight we have been studying Preach My Gospel and French for a couple of hours and then writing our thoughts of the day.  No distractions like gardening, sports, Castle or Dancing with the Stars.   The quiet is driving us crazy.  We loved staying up late and having our music and singing time together.  We love you all and have to stay in the moment so our letters are upbeat and positive.  Goodnight,

Love, Dad

Boyd K. Packer promised that “As you look after the Lord’s children, He will look after yours”

April 21, 2014 - Shelley

Well, our mission has officially begun! We had a good first day at the MTC.  Actually, last weekend must be included in the beginning of our mission experience.  Monica's and Andy's families organized a family reunion, starting on Thursday night with Emily's rehearsal for "The Messiah" with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  It was so inspirational to see the choir "up close and personal" - especially with our own Emily in it.  She is amazing!       Friday morning brought a golf outing for Clark, Andy, Matt and Spencer - 36 holes!  In the afternoon we met for a family history scavenger hunt.  We divided into teams and had one hour to find 30 different locations around Brigham City that had historical significance to our family (ex: Cooley Hospital, where Clark was born).  Teams had to take a picture at each location with at least 2 team members in it.  It was challenging and super fun! This was followed by dinner and crafts at Andy's church.        Saturday morning was especially wonderful because all of the adults were able to attend a session at the Brigham City Temple together - it's the first time that all 16 of us have done this.  We had family pictures taken afterward at Hazen Studio.  We met for dinner at Emily's church, had a FHE, danced and had a fabulous evening!!!  There were lots of special surprises for Clark and I - musical numbers and very meaningful gifts! They spoiled us pretty good!!!!       Sunday was the "farewell" and setting apart.  For the rest of the day and into the evening, we ate, talked, laughed a lot, sang, and enjoyed each other.  The children played and had plenty of "cousin time".  It was a glorious day! What a send-off for us!       And today has been great, too.  We've met wonderful, faithful people who have sacrificed everything to serve the Lord.  We actually have met another couple is who going to Africa - well, South Africa.  We're a bit homesick, but the atmosphere at the MTC is so upbeat and positive.  We've been very impressed with the young missionaries - they are so polite to us!

April 20, 2014 - Setting Apart

Elder Clark Neil Davis and Sister Shelley Marie Davis were set apart as full-time missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Stake President John Ferry on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014.  Other men in the priesthood circle included: Bishop Taylor, Trevor Christensen, David Chamberlain, Scott Roche, Spencer Davis, Nate Davis, Mike Muhlestein, Matt Davis, Andy Davis.  These blessings took place in the chapel of the Brigham City 18th Ward, located just west of Clark and Shelley’s home.  All of Clark and Shelley’s posterity were in attendance.

Shelley Marie Davis, in the name of Jesus Christ and with the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood we, your brethren, gather around you and place our hands upon your head and as your stake president duly authorized by a prophet of God I set you apart to labor as a full-time missionary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Lubumbashi Mission, for a period of 18 months, to preach, to testify, to love, and to join your wonderful companion, to establish Zion in that part of the world.  In doing so, I confer upon you the rights and privileges and the responsibilities pertaining to this important calling, and I bless you at this time.  I bless you with health and strength.  I bless you with the gift of tongues, for not only will they hear your words, but they will feel your love.  Most importantly, they will feel the Holy Ghost, for when you speak, the Holy Ghost will take that message and it will touch the hearts of those who are listening. I bless you that as you carry on this great work in this part of the Lord’s vineyard, that you’ll have the confidence necessary in knowing that this is where the Lord God has called you, for he needs you there, and that as you go forth and as you mingle with the sisters in that part of the world, that they will feel your love and they will see the marriage that you enjoy, and have a desire to have the same thing -- to go to the temple to be sealed for time and all eternity to their loved ones.  I bless you that as you go forth that the mysteries and wonders of the gospel of Jesus Christ will be unfolded unto you, and you will understand them even more.  I bless you as you go forth to serve at this time that you’ll enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost, for the Holy Ghost will teach you how to love your beloved Clark even more, and as you serve together as companions, you’ll understand the great Plan of Happiness of our Father in Heaven.  I bless you with peace of mind and of heart while you are away, that the affairs at home will be taken care of.  You have surrounded yourself with beautiful and powerful and wonderful children who understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  As they wait for your return, may they do their part in establishing Zion in this part of the world.  I bless you with all of these blessings as you go forth to serve, in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Clark Neil Davis, in the name of Jesus Christ and having the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, we are gathered around you as we place our hands upon your head, and as your stake president, duly authorized, possessing the keys necessary from a prophet of God, I lay my hands upon your head and I set you apart as missionary to labor in a full-time capacity for 18 months in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Lubumbashi Mission.  I confer upon you the rights and the privileges and responsibilities pertaining to this very important call, and I bless you at this time.  I bless you with health and with strength.  I bless you with confidence, knowing that this is where the Lord wants you to go, for He knows of your talents and your abilities.  He knows of your pure heart.  He knows of your desires to serve Him and your love for Him, and as you go forth to serve, you will be accompanied by Him, and even as a threesome, with you and your eternal companion as you go forth and as you testify, as you teach, as you organize, and you do all those things that are necessary to build up and establish Zion in this part of the Lord’s vineyard, that you’ll be drawn closer to those people.  As you call upon your talents and the experiences you’ve had throughout your life, all of these things will come together even as tools, and you will use those in strengthening and establishing and purifying the church in this part of the Lord’s vineyard.  I bless you that as you teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ that you’ll come to know and love the Savior even more.  As you testify, you will be guided, you’ll be touched, you’ll understand the whisperings of the Spirit, you’ll know what to say and when to say it and who to say it to, and how to love and to testify.  I bless you with the gift of tongues, that the language will come to you, you’ll understand and comprehend and you’ll be able to give glory and honor to our Father in Heaven and the Savior even in the beautiful language of the French.  I bless you that as you go forth to serve, that you’ll have peace of mind and as you are losing yourself in service to our Father in Heaven in a faraway land, that while you are away, affairs here, family here, everything that is near and dear to you that is here will be taken care of.  Even angels will look upon them and minister unto them while you are laboring many miles away.  I bless you with these blessings as you go forth to serve, in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.