August 4,2009

Hi Mom,

I knew you'd be antsy. I was imagining you pacing and what not and it was pretty funny to picture :D I wasn't sure if you'd be worried or not but I figured there wasn't anything I could do about that anyway ;) I was glad to have made arrangements for Tuesday as well. Sorry it's Tuesday again this week. Luckily our members are home now so we are emailing from their house and things will be back to normal.

Speaking of which, both Elder Cellan and I are staying at least another transfer (6 weeks) here in Foresthill.

I know I will be kicking myself later for not writing in my journal. I hope you are saving all of my emails and all of the blog entries and all of my written letters. Those are about as good as any journal. So that will at least make up for what I haven't written up to this point. The problem is that we get home and then plan for our next day which takes us like 45 min. at least. Plus, we're so warn out by then that I just usually fall asleep. I've been trying to motivate myself to do better but I have been relatively unsuccessful thus far ;)

There have been a lot of people coming to church for sure. This week not so much but next week should theoretically be better again.

It's okay that we didn't get to go to the mines with Ben last week because we got to yesterday :D It was really hot, but really fun. We went in one mine that was pretty wet and muddy but we were able to avoid getting very dirty (they were tall enough you could pretty much stand all the way up in most places). Just like in the movies there were bats in them. That creeped me out a little bit but it was enjoyable. We were in the first one and started down it and a good ways in there was just a HORDE of bats on the ceiling and flying around ahead of us! It was SICK! So we decided we weren't going to try to walk through/past them. Needless to say we turned around and went back. That was a bummer because that was the one Ben knew the best to show us. Oh well, we went in a couple others. One of which had a pretty narrow entrance that you had to slide in on your back sort of like Nutty Putty Caves. It was fun to get into and it took us down to a place where we had tried to hike down to earlier but there was no way for us to get down there so we went in the other end and came out there. Then we turned around and came out where we got in. It was pretty fun stuff. The pond was basically all dried up at this point but it still existed ;) We had fun. We also played Phase 10 and part of Monopoly with Ben afterwards. About the week before I wasn't really heartbroken and only Elder Cellan and I played Trivial Pursuit and he actually won by one question. I was ahead most of the game though. That's okay :D

I'm sorry that your week was strange. At least it was anticipated. I'm sorry it was so lonely. If there's one thing I really can't stand it's when you just have to sit around being quiet because you don't want to disturb somebody.

That's pretty funny that the Adams yard got so elaborately TPed. The ironic thing is that we were just having a conversation about TPing last night. Here in the branch it's actually an activity that even the parents participate in and take their kids out to TP other branch members who they know will be okay with it. Then if there are difficulties cleaning it up they go help. They also said it's kind of fun trying to figure out who did it. It was pretty funny for me to listen to since you and Dad had such a different opinion as I was growing up :)

Honestly, I haven't taken a heck of a lot of pictures. It's really hard to find time to take pictures, especially at times when I won't "look like a tourist." I have taken a decent amount of videos though. I have found that it's pretty nice to be able to just explain what I am showing you instead of taking a picture where you have no idea what it is supposed to be. I will try to do better about taking pictures. I will get a few more pictures and videos and send the memory card next P-day hopefully. I'm really behind on letter-writing too so please forgive me and mention to anybody you talk to and post on the blog, that I am behind and apologize. I haven't forgotten people. Thanks.

I dunno, the McCollams said that it was 100 degrees in SLC every day they were there and it's only been in the high 80's and mid 90's this week here :D You're smart to walk during the cool hours of the morning. Convincing yourself is the hardest part, I know for myself :D

Elder Cellan and I both got the packages and really enjoyed them. Just to inform you so you don't send me any more, those Pringles Pizza Stix were NASTY but so far everything else has been good :D Thanks so much for the package. We have had lots of fun with them.

I love you back and I'll do my best to keep up the good work.

Love,

Elder Jay Davis

Hi Dad,

Wow! You really are working a ton!

Things here are good. The members we live with are finally home from vacation so hopefully that'll free us of at least a little extra responsibility. We are both staying in Foresthill so I will have been here 6 months by the end of this transfer! Crazy huh! I am glad to be able to stay at least another 6 weeks. I will definitely miss the first branch but I'm sure you're right that it'll be a good experience to change.

Things have actually been much less hot up here this past week. It's been hot but not as bad. I'm glad to have the new shirts that Mom sent me. I don't have to wear any long sleeve shirts throughout the week :) No new details since I'm in the same area with the same companion.

I think that Foresthill has experienced a lot of progress and just as you said I have in return received a lot of growth. Even the members of the branch that I work the closest with notice that. Brother Ensey is always telling me how I came in this shy little thing and now I'm just doing really well and have grown a ton. Brother Bond tells me similar stuff. I really love those two guys.

I love you back and miss you tons. I hope, other than being tired, you are happy and well also.

Love,

Elder Jay Davis