Belgium - Week 28 (Brussels)

9/2/13

 

Hello Everyone!

Wow, what a week! So much to write about, so little time. Writing emails home as a missionary is really hard because there are so many awesome things to write about. Unfortunately because of time I have to pick and chose what you guys get to hear about.

Let me see...

 

Well for starters, I just want it to be known that I have the greatest mission president in the entire world. President Poznanski is the coolest French guy that has ever walked on the face of the earth. When he tries to speak English it cracks me right up haha. His English is actually pretty good, but his accent is super strong. He and his wife have changed my life. 

This week we taught a lot more lessons with members present (meaning members come to help us teach our investigators). There are some awesome pre-mission guys in our ward that love to help. Kevin Wendo, his brother Raphael Wendo, Jeremy Fernandez, Kurt, etc. They have all become such close friends of mine. I never would have thought that I'd some day live in Belgium and have friends that only speak French... but my mission has given me that opportunity and I am so thankful for that. 

 

Last night I realized that Elder Player and I are teaching some pretty legit people. Last week we started teaching this guy who works at the world trade center here in Belgium. We are also teaching a guy who just published a book on religion. Another is a doctor, we have priests from other churches, a man who is the prince of over100,000 people in Imostead, Nigeria (his father is the current king and he has prince written on his passport and everything) and more! We have quite a diverse group of people that we teach and I love each of them! 

 

I need to tell you about Sylvestre and his family. Sylvestre is from the Ukraine and he is living with his soon-to-be wife Elena and their two children Georgic (2) and Ada (7 months). We found them while we were street contacting a couple weeks ago. They are so amazing. I love all of my investigators, but these people really have a special place in my heart. They are so sincere, so humble and they love us so much. I can't put into words the spirit I've felt with them and the spiritual conversations we've had. We saw them last night (even though it was Sylvestre's birthday he still wanted us to come over). It was probably one of the best lessons I've ever had. He told me last night that he wants to stay in contact with me for the rest of his life. Missionary life is awesome!

Ok one more cool miracle that happened this week. So Elder Player and I had a lesson at 8 pm with a less active family in the ward. Unfortunately, when we got to their house, they weren't there. We later found out that they had some emergency that they had to take care of. But anyways, we were supper disappointed because they are usually pretty reliable. We went back to the bus stop to see when our next bus would come.... Since we just got off the last bus we would have to wait another 20 minutes. We decided to go knock on some doors in the area in stead of waste that 20 minutes. 

Now keep in mind that we spent several hours without success earlier that same day knocking on probably 100+ doors.

But get this.... Within less than 10 doors in that short 20 minutes... We found an awesome family (married couple with 1 new baby) from Brazil. They let us right in and we had an awesome lesson with them. We ended up missing our bus again, but it was totally worth it. 

Ok, so maybe you're sitting in your chair right now thinking big deal, that's not even that great. But let me tell you that was a miracle. That was no accident. I've literally knocked on hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and maybe almost thousands of doors during my mission... And the only times I have ever been let in is during situations like that.

It was no accident that the Johnson family we were supposed to teach weren't there, it was no accident that we had enough time to knock on doors while waiting for a bus, it was no accident that we were led to knock on the doors we did, it was no accident that we were in the right place at the right time. it was no accident because the Lord is in control. He is the author and leader of His work. 

Missionary work is really interesting. I've always wondered why I have to knock on so many doors and get rejected so often. I though "why can't God just lead me to the prepared, receptive people every time?"

I think I'm slowly starting to understand. Maybe it just takes the blood sweat and tears of a missionary knocking on hundreds of doors all day long to show the Lord that he has his heart in the right place and that he is worthy and ready to teach and care for a family who is looking for the gospel. God wont put an awesome family who is ready to hear the gospel in the path of a lazy missionary. 

There is a cool phrase I heard from a good missionary. "Christ bled from every pore for me, so I'll sweat from every pore for him." It feels like that is what we do on some days in the hot summer sun. But it is so worth it. Every second of it.
 

Alright this has turned out to be a long email. That gives you an idea of about 5 percent of my week. I'll try to send some pictures

I love you all, keep praying for us over here in France/Belgium!

 

Elder Davis 


1. If you want to Google maps our church building. which is really close to this

110 Strombeeklinde

1830 Grimbergem

 

2. African clothing

 

3. Me and elder Player with our Boo Boos (I don't know how they spell it). It is a type of African clothing. We bought it last Pday. Africans wear stuff like this all the time. Super comfortable. super stylish haha. Super bright. 

 

4. me and Kevin Wendo. He is only 18 but looks like he is in his 20's. He is studying to be a doctor!