First Week!

Dear Family,

Today marks one week. It has gone by SO fast! I'm really having a hard time deciding where to start. We have learned so much in just one week. My companion, Elder Ryan Bailey, and I have already grown to love each other and we have such a great brotherly love for each other. Our roommates Elders Schiffman and Mullins are awesome guys and our room is definitely the best out of our district. Our district consists of 8 elders. The other four are going to San Bernadino, California. They are Elders Best, Young, Hoyal, and Oliver.

We are having so many spiritual experiences already. I really am having a hard time knowing what to say. I mean we've learned a TON. We've learned the first lesson quite well. Elder Bailey and I are getting really good at teaching it together. It's kind of hard to get over the nerves but not as bad as I was expecting. I'm not nearly as scared of talking to people so far. I mean they're all missionaries which makes it a lot easier but at the same time I thought I'd be scared even then.

As you can tell I sort of freak out when I have a time limit.

I'm writing a little more about spiritual experiences and stuff in my journal which I'll definitely let some people read. It's not too personal lol :) (wow, I've missed using a computer and being able to use emoticons lol) I have a hard time with just coming up with stuff to talk about out of the blue. Questions will be much appreciated but I'll definitely do my best to get the information to you that I feel you should know :)

I haven't really been homesick at all. In fact I pretty much wasn't at all until Sunday. On Sunday we had our first fireside. Brother and Sister Beeson spoke to us. Sister Beeson spoke about music and Brother Beeson spoke about companionships. It was awesome. A quartet of elders sang and it really made me miss singing. Then we watched The Legacy...bad idea. I love that movie but it was REALLY good at making me homesick. As soon as I mentioned it to Elder Bailey guess who I came across?! Elder Qualyn Barlow! It totally made my night and it just wiped those homesick feelings away again. I know the Lord is looking out for me. I have held up so well in the MTC that I KNOW it's not just my strength that I'm relying on.

Yesterday was our first devotional. Guess who the speaker was...Elder L. Tom Perry! Wow, what an awesome first devotional! The cool thing was that Sister Perry talked about music, then Elder Perry talked about Companionship. It was cool to have a witness of two on each subject. Wow that's a cool thought.

We've had lots of pretty cool experiences but I don't really know what to write. I love getting mail. Dad said that he "wouldn't write EVERY day" because he knows it would just make it harder, but that is SO not true :D I am doing really well at focusing on the work and the task at hand. The mail is always nice and it makes me smile each time I get some, but it isn't distracting me. So please feel free (anybody) to send letters as frequently as you'd like. I won't be able to write back until P-days (Wednesdays while I'm in the MTC) and I may not give great long responses but I will write for sure. I love hearing from you all.

We are rumored to be getting our travel plans tomorrow! Our estimated departure date that we received when we entered the MTC is March 31! All the days are sort of blending together and going by so so fast. It feels like we've been here a month based on how much we've done and learned, but the time has just flown and it's hard to believe we've been here a full week. I know that the two years will really fly by.

Well I only have 5 min. left so I'd better wrap things up.

I love you all. Kody, you are an awesome little brother and I hope you'll prepare better than I did to enter the MTC ;) But even with the little preparation I put in I am still doing well so I know you'll do AMAZING! (not that you're going any time soon lol) I love you. Dad, you've done an awesome job raising me and always providing for me. You haven't ever let me down. You can write all you want :) I love you! Mom, I am eternally indebted to you for all you have done for me and still do. I LOVED the package! All my roommates loved the cupcakes and batter :D That made my day. I looked like a kid on Christmas. You have done an amazing job raising me as well Mom. I love you!

I'm glad my letters mean so much to you and I hope that my emails mean about as much lol :)

Hope things are well at home.
Much Love,

Elder Jay Davis