Testimony

I'm grateful for the experience of a mission. I'm grateful that I've grown as much as I have. My only regret is that I could have done a lot more growing in the earlier stages of the mission. I'm glad that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me enough to listen to me and answer my prayers. It seems that I've been doing a lot more of that lately too. I'm grateful to know that I have a Savior who not only died for me but also lived a perfect life and example for me to pattern my life after. I've been searching the scriptures for more Christlike Attributes and it's been an awesome process. I know they live. I know they love. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that it's a foundation to our lives. I know that as we apply the principles taught inside that we will gain a greater relationship with The Father and The Son. Once again thank you for everything! Love you!

Catching up....

We had a feed with one of the members in another ward since we are in a threesome right now. There was a girl there who served in our ward. Her name is Sister Na'a. She was there when Troy was still bishop. I think she was there when I went to a lesson with the Ferro's because she asked about them. It was really cool. She said she served in Idaho then I got excited. Then asked what mission and she said Poky so I got more excited. Then I asked what stake and she said Chubbuck and then the 6th ward and you can only imagine how excited I got then. She thinks she ate with us once or twice too. Crazy eh!

Testimony

I'm grateful for the atoning sacrifice of the Savior. I'm grateful that He was willing and prepared from the beginning to do the will of the Father. I really like the verse in Mosiah 15 v 7. It's really what we need to do. No matter how painful or unpleasent. The Son of Man hath descended below them all and He knows exactly how to help. I've been able to feel that enabling power and it's one that I'm truly greatful for. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that Thomas S. Monson is His prophet now in this day and age. I know that He answers us when we call for him in anything. I love him for it.

Change....

I got shifted to the Mt.Roskill and Waterview stakes. It seriously has been probably my favorite transfer. It's just going to be a transfer of Miracles! My new companion is Elder Brady. He's from Holiday Utah. He was my DL in Panmure. I really like him and we get along really well.

We're meant to get our calls from President Porter when he calls us to have a leadership position. He didn't call this time and man was I surprised Wednesday morning when Elder Daley called to tell me. I was very nervous and scared, felt very inadequate. But those are good things. He's just amazing and loves this mission and is very excited about everything so it makes the change really easy. As for our zone, we have 3 districts of 6 missionaries each. So in all there's 20 missionaries in our zone.... quite a fair few. They are all wonderful though so it makes it good. No problems yet.

ZL's have so much responsibility. It's amazing. We've really only had time to teach about 5 lessons since Thursday. There's so many things to do for the zone and making sure things are in order. I really enjoy doing them though. It's good to know that we're helping the other missionaries in the zone. I kind of get sick of being in the car driving around though. I think I'd rather be out finding and teaching. But it's all good because it's for a good cause.

Well things are sweet. I'm really enjoying myself and I know that that's only going to continue. and I also know that it's only going to go faster. We have 11 scheduled trade-offs this transfer and those really make a transfer go fast. So I'm really excited it's going to be really fun and a very good time and chance for me to grow and improve!

I'm learning so much from E. Brady. Not only about how to be a ZL but just in general about life and the gospel. He has probably one of the strongest testimonies I've heard from a missionary. Also he has a very strong desire and will to be obedient. So that helps heaps too! We're just going to experience so many wonderful miracles this transfer and see so many blessings come!

Thanks for everything! I love you all and am grateful for everything you've done for me and are doing for me!

Under the Weather

Our week was pretty good. It was put on hold for about 2 days almost. I got sick. I've been fighting it for the past week or 2 but Friday morning I woke up and was just stuffed. So we stayed in the flat until about 3 and stayed out until 9. Luckily it wasn't raining. But then I felt better so we went out Saturday morning and was okay but we came back for lunch and then it hit me really hard so we just stayed and slept until our dinner at 5. I felt a lot better after and now I feel pretty much 100% so that's really good.

We still got to teach a lot though. We've been really struggling to get new investigators the past couple of weeks. But this week we already have 22 set lessons and about 6-7 of them are with new people. So hopefully that will be really good for us.

We are hoping for 5 baptisms this month for our ward. Not too sure of who but that's how many we feel we can get. We have one couple that's married that has been taught for the past 7 months or so. They are really good and have been set for baptism about 5 times. Each time they find some excuse to not have it happen. But this week we've made a lot of progress with them. We really feel that this week they are just going to tell us that they are going to be baptized this week. It's a great big hope and wish but with what's going on it's not far from reality.

The weather has been cold as here. I'm normally wearing my sweater and my scarf. I've started to wear my gloves when we ride so my hands don't freeze. Especially since I've been not feeling good. The wind can be quite nasty sometimes but for the most part it's pretty calm. We've been really lucky and it hasn't been raining too much. But it's still only June. Winter really sets in next month. So yea. Hopefully not too much rain will come.

Back to where I started

Our week was pretty different. The Temple was amazing as always. I really enjoyed it and felt very uplifted. I love going there. We are going to be going again at the end of winter which means in 3 months...

Charmaine was confirmed yesterday and that went really well.

Rachel and Kennith had their wedding on Friday! They are going to be baptized on the 30th! It's really neat, their love for the gospel and for each other. They are doing really well!...

We'll have another baptism at the same time as theirs. A boy named Makarou... He'll be baptized this week as well.

We have another little boy that's 10 who will be baptized next month sometime. His name is Carlo and he's a relative of a lady who we teach. He loves church and he's been heaps. He only needs to have the lessons and he'll be sweet...

There's a lot going on and stuff. It's really exciting! The trade-off into Lincoln ward was really fun. I got to teach Margaret and Tess. They are doing amazing. They have such stronger testimonies and they have heaps of scriptures memorized. So amazing. I also got to teach Marearu. I'm not sure if you remember him so I'll send a picture... It was really strange to be roaming those streets again though.

Sometime in May

After being away in Whakatane, New Zealand for seven months, Elder Davenport is back in Auckland area.Our week, Intense. We had so many good things, so many blessings. It was amazing.

My first D.M. I was just stressing out so hard about it. I was so nervous and scared. Because I know what missionaries do and what they feel when a dl leaves and a new one comes in. I've done it. But I was really just hoping for the support of them all and everything. It turned out really good. I felt good about it and one of the Elders in the district said that it was the first really spiritual dm that he's been to in a really long time. That made me feel good.

The next day we had a district leader zone leader council with President Porter. It was amazing. He was teaching us all about how to be a better leader and we did a lot of activities that were team building and stuff. It was really cool. I was really glad that I got to go to it.

The next day I was on trade off with E. Heinitz (ZL) It was fun. Most of our day was spent at the office and in front of a computer. We received nearly 200 referrals that we had to sort out. It was not any fun. But in the evening we were able to teach 3 lessons so that was good.

We had a baptism on Sunday! It was a lady called Charmaine. She used to be taught a little bit when I as here last year. Do you remember Alana and Waiora? Well, it's her cousin. So that was really cool . It was E. Davidison's first baptism to do the ordinance. But it was really good.

We have now 5 people set with dates in our area and there's about 15 or 17 in our district with 27 in our zone. There's a lot of people and a lot of really good things going on right now. It's really neat.

Not too much else has happened. Things are going well and I'm doing good. I've calmed down a lot and chilled out and relaxed a bit. So that's always good.

We are having our zone conference tomorrow and I'm really excited for it. Becuase we are having it down in Hamilton! And we are going to the Temple! I'm so super excited for that. We are going tomorrow and then most likely at the end of the winter. So that's going to be pretty special. I just remember what it was like the last time and how exciting it was.

First of March

Well what a week! We just had the best week! We found 6 new investigators! Huge blessing! There's a family in there too! A mother and father and then a 1 year old! I'm really excited for them.

We had ZC this week and President Hilbig of the Area Presidency was here. It was really good. It was all about teaching about the Holy Ghost.

Well that's it for me today. Thanks for all your love, prayers and support! I really enjoy it and appreciate it. I love you all and hope you all have a sweet week!

February Transfers

My new companion's from Adelaide. His name is Elder Whitrod. He says he might have met Travis Nelson. But this is his first area and I'm his first companion. Minus the MTC in Hamilton. It's been really crazy. Last week was nuts. E. Bridge is in Mt Roskill with E. Maneha. I told him he'd like him but he's just concerned for his KFC intake. The islanders eat it a lot up there. haha. I had to drive us up to transfers. I was pulling a trailer and apparently the speed limit for pulling a trailer isn't 100 km/hr. I got pulled over and got a 80$ (NZ) ticket. I wasn't aware. So sorry. But we left for Auckland at 6 in the morning and got there at 10:30. Then we left at about 1:00 and we didn't get back to Whakatane until about 5:30-6:00. Long day of driving.

Thank you for the letters and the support. I really appreciate it. The one that Jason sent was actually one of my week goals that I set last week. To come what may and love it. I had a feeling that I'd be training and so I guess I was just trying to prepare myself. But it's going to be a really good transfer. He's just full of faith and excitement to do the work. We had 2 really good days in a row where we didnt teach as much as we planned but we found a lot of potentials. Yesterday was kind of a bummer day. Our appointments fell through and not very many other people were home. But it was still good. S. Hughes from Utah organized a musical program for last night. I sang in it and it was really good. It was for anyone who wanted to come. It was the Celebrate Christ one. It was really good. We had 3 investigators there. Alisha spoke and she did really well. She bore really good testimony on her conversion story and it was just amazing. the spirit was so strong.

It sounds like things are just going really great back home and that makes me just so happy. I really enjoy coming to the computer on Monday and seeing positive e-mails. I don't know how I'd re-act to things if they weren't so sweet. But I definately know it's not just coincidence. I know it partly is because I'm here, you are housing missionaries and that you are all living the gospel. It's so true that when we obey the commandments the Lord will make us prosper. I've seen that a lot lately!

My studies have been really good lately. I've gotten a lot out of the scriptures and it's just been very rewarding you could say. I just started Jacob yesterday and I've started a new thing where I read one chapter a day but I read it and then I re-read it. And the last couple of days of doing that have just been so good. I've gotten a lot out of it the 2nd time around then I did the first time. So I'm glad that I'm doing that.

Well, I'm not sure of what else I can write about. Not much has happened that I haven't written about and this has been a long one. Guess I'm done.

I love you all and thank you so much for everything you do for me and the Lord!

Airborn in New Zealand

First of all thank you for all your love and support..!!! I've definitely been able to feel the love the past couple of days!

We spoke in church yesterday.. again. I have now spoke in this ward 4 times. That's the same amount as all my other wards combined. Haha. Sometimes they are short so we get to speak. But that's okay because I am really starting to like speaking in sacrament. So it's all good.

The week was pretty good. We taught a lot of lessons. We also gave some service. One of our investigators (Wawi) had a stroke just before Christmas. We went and visited her in hospital the other week and she asked us to mow her lawn. So we went out on Saturday to mow. We both had our own mower and it took us 2 hours to finish. It was so long. But it was so worth it because she was amazingly out of hospital for the day that we went and did it. She had all her friends over to visit and when she saw us she just was so excited and kept saying my church friends are mowing my lawn! It made me feel so good.

Well I've got to go now but I hope things will keep going well! I love you all and pray for you daily! THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!

New Mission Address and Birthday Baptism

The mission office has moved. Please check the new address at the right.

There was a baptism on Michael's birthday.


The baptism was amazing. She's such a member. She fits in so well and it's just awesome. At the confirmation she was crying. It was just a wonderful present. We sang at the baptism, Elder Bridge and I. I took my mp3 player to record us, after we sang everyone told us how good we did. So we felt pretty good. When we got back to our flat we listened to it and just cringed. haha. We sounded gross. So then later at a surprise b-day dinner we asked a member who's really honest with us how she thought we sounded. She told us not to sing again by ourselves in front of a group hahahaha.. So yea. It felt good though.

Dani told us that she wants to be baptised without Adam knowing. We were quit surprised that she said that. But she has no action and really no intent on stopping smoking and drinking. Because when she went to Tarinaki she started again. So we are really confused about what to do with her. Last night we had a lesson and we just boldy told her what her choices were and what the consequence would be of each one. It was a very spiritually filled lesson. But we feel that she could at some stage make the right choice. .

There's a member family in Opotiki called the Fermanis family. They are an awesome family. I wish we could be down there more to spend more time but it's really hard. Anyways they have a garden with corn. The other day we got to be the first ones to eat their corn. It was so good. I haven't had it on the cob in ages...

But yea. So not much happened the rest of the week.. Oh yea I forgot, we had Zone Conference It was so good. For some reason it always seems to be centered around me and how I can be better. There's so much that President could do but somehow it's always around me and my needs. I can definitely tell that he is inspired from on high to help. It's awesome.

Oh and I got all my letters from December. For some reason they were sent to the address of where a couple missionary used to flat about a year ago. So all my December mail I got just yesterday. haha. It was really nice to get! But now I have about 12 letters that I am going to attempt to write today. haha.

But things are going sweet. I'm really enjoying my time here. I'm learning so much. I'm starting a more in depth study of the doctrine of the lessons and that's going really well. Also I'm reading a chapter a day from the B O M and that's going really well. It's just such a blessing!

I love you all and hope for the best!

Love Elder Davenport

Update

We finally got Koreen to tell us who she wants to baptise her. Elder Bridge is going to do the honors as well as confirm her. I was hoping I'd get to but that's okay. As long as it happens. And it'll be really good for him to do it anyways. For himself and things he's going through. But she's just blossomed. She understands everything so well and she's just completely ready for it all!

Ros and Elly didn't come to church this week gone. =( They went to another church instead but we visited with Ros after church yesterday and sorted some things out with her and helped her understand and things are looking up again! They have had a lot of things going on and it's just been hard to teach them. But it'll all be good this week!

We are probably going to be dropping Vicky this week. She has missed like 5 appointments for no reason and she's moving to Aus in mid Feb and she's allready packed all her stuff. Including her B of M. So at least she's taking it along but she won't read it here.. haha.. No, not haha.. sad..

Francis is still smoking and stuff. She hasn't been to church yet. But she's still reading and praying. She said she is getting more comfortable with it all and that's a good thing. She prays when she wants to smoke and she said that helps her. So she's going slowly..

Hailey and Haze are doing really well. I"m not sure if I've told about them yet. Haze is less active and has been since his dad died about 4 years ago. His partner Hailey is not a member. We started visiting them and then we've taught them the Resto and the Plan. After the Resto we gave them the commitment to read and pray together. They did it! He hasn't prayed since dad died. It was sweet. They said they felt good. We taught them the Plan this last week and it was soo good!!! The spirit was definitely there and you could tell that it was testifying to them the truth. I was teaching the Atonement and then I just had this thought. HMMM... and I'm sure you can guess what came out of my mouth next.. Ian. It was really good though because Haze could relate. He shared an experience with us similar to that that he had with his dad. It was so good. The spirit just was amazing in the room that moment. But it helped them understand and it helped me to cry... haha.. As always. But oh well. Lets them know the sincerity..

That's really all we have that's going well. We are looking to do some more work in different areas that surround us. Matata, Poroporo, Opotiki, Waimana, Taneatua, Edgecumbe and some others. The area is massive and we've been very focused on just Whakatane and Kawerau so we need to spread ourselves out.

Opotiki

Well this week has definately been a really good one! Many blessings were given to me! First we had a very hectic P-day trying to get things sorted and stuff for the transfer. It was a very busy one. I wrote many letters.. haha.. I still got about 8 to write today.. But then on Tuesday we had our last district meeting and it was pretty good. We then started a trade-off back here in Whakatane. I was with Elder Manscill and we went to Kawerau and just rocked it. We had a sweet day there. Many good lessons were taught. Then we carried on the trade-off until about 2 on Wednesday. We went to a wedding of one of our L/A's and that was fun.. On Thursday not much happened.. haha.. I"m still in Whakatane!!!! Elder Bridge has.... stayed with me.. Crazy.. We'll be together for 4 1/2 months... Friday we had a really good planning session for the week. Saturday was an awesome day as well as Sunday.. We set Koreen for baptism on Sat. We set her for 17th of Jan! Coool eh? hahah! I was so excited. I asked her if she'd prepare herself to be baptised on the 17th and she just got the biggest grin and said yes with no hesitation. Minus her smile.. haha.. It was sweet. On Sunday we had 3 investigators at church! Koreen came of course but also Ros and Elly came too. It was sweet. They called Sat night to ask what time church was. They stayed for the whole block and loved it. I taught the Gospel Principles class and it was a very simple and basic lesson about Heavenly Father, Elly was in tears. It was awesome. We visited them after church and they were just so happy. They asked where they could get the quad scriptures from and they are going to order some for themselves and yea.. just awesome!!! so wonderful!!!!!!!!!!

We are really excited for this upcoming transfer.. So excited. Things are going really well. Francis is just nearly there. We've been having really good lessons with her lately and it's just been so spirit filled. Dani will be coming home on this upcoming Sunday. We haven't gotten to call her since she lives out of the mission right now. But we've gotten updates from Alisha. Dani's starting to get annoyed by Adam.. So that's a really big plus for us. And everyone who wants her to be baptised!


The picture that I sent is one from our trip down to Te Kaha. It's taken about 30 minutes outside Opotiki. I dont' remember the little towns name. But it was beautiful!