Great to hear Elder Davis' voice!

The best thing about 6:15 on a Monday morning was a 15 min phone call from Elder Gage Davis! He was getting ready to fly to North Carolina, and had a few minutes before boarding his flight. For some reason I was thinking that if he was up at 3:30 am to head to the airport (from the MTC) for a 7:10 am flight, that I would have gotten to talk to him longer than 15 min. It might have been that he was traveling with 15 other missionaries that were all going to North Carolina. He sounded a bit exhausted for some reason, but he has never been much of a morning person, and that coupled with the cold that he has had this past week, might have been why he sounded that way :)  He will arrive in Raleigh later this afternoon, after one hour layover in Atlanta. Hopefully the flight will be on time so that all of them can get to their connecting flight on time.

Aaron, Kylee, and Kade popped out of bed without difficulty this morning for a chance to talk to Gage. It had only been 12 days since we last spoke, but feels like it has been much, much, much longer. (We now have 7 weeks & 4 days until we get to hear his voice again, but who's counting? That is also your countdown to Christmas Day!) Everyone got to have a short conversation and update Gage on the events of the past couple of weeks. He mentioned how much he has loved all the packages and letters! He was able to share with lots of the other missionaries. He has been slowly adjusting to the early morning wake up time, like I said, he is not a morning guy. He was ready to be out of the MTC and was grateful he wasn't learning a language that would have required a much longer stay there. He is nervous, but excited to be heading to North Carolina!

I asked him what his favorite scripture was so that we could have it printed on his mission plaque that will be displayed in the foyer at the church. He told me it was Alma 37:6-7

     6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.    7 And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.

This is the picture that I have chosen for the plaque.

I have a strong testimony of this Gospel of Happiness or I could not let my son leave us for 2 years to share this message with others. I am grateful to all of you for the love and support that you give him and the rest of our family! We are so very blessed to have such incredible friends and family!!!

HE ARRIVED IN NORTH CAROLINA SAFELY!!! THANK YOU TO SISTER JAMES FOR SENDING US A PICTURE OF OUR MISSIONARY!

Gage's letter, P-Day #2

So this is my last letter in the MTC. It has been a complete roller coaster, and has been so hard and so amazing at the same time! I have learned a lot already, mostly just how to teach people to their needs and really loving the people that you teach. I have been sick a little bit this week, and it kept me away from class one of the days.  I got a blessing from my companion and it was so amazing. Priesthood power is so real and so powerful. I also got to give my first blessing to my good friend Elder Meng that is in my room. He has not been feeling very good at all. So I gave him a blessing. The crazy thing is that words came out of my mouth, and I didn't even realize what I had said for the most part. He got up and turned to me and says, "that was the exact blessing that I needed at this time". It felt so amazing, and I felt the spirit so strong! God has truly blessed me. If we put him first he will bless us more than we could ever imagine. I challenge all of you to put away the natural man, and to put God first and you will be truly blessed! 

I have such a strong testimony that this church is the true church, and it will make us all so very happy if we follow with exact obedience. This is going to be my last email before I leave to North Carolina. I love you all!! Thank you for all the love and support!

THIS IS A LITTLE EXCERPT FROM ANOTHER LETTER HE WROTE TO ME THIS WEEK, I GOT IT THE SAME DAY AS HIS EMAIL : 

(His grandparents on the Marx side bought a new house this past week, that is what this is referring to...) Ah their new house looks so cool! I'm sad that I am missing family parties, but they can wait for 2 years! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!

All the letters and packages have been so amazing and I have loved having them! It has truly helped me through these hard times that come from the MTC. It is crazy to think that it's almost time to head to North Carolina! 

As said by Dieter Uchtdorf, "Doubt your doubts,  before you doubt your faith." This is true and is vital! We have to work to build our faith. I have been strengthened so much, I can testify with boldness and confidence that this gospel brings true happiness! I have had to rely on prayer, He always answers my prayers and I can't do this without Him! 

ELDER DAVIS COULD USE YOUR PRAYERS TO HELP HIM AS HE TRAVELS ON MONDAY, TO HELP HIM FEEL PEACE. I HAVEN'T GOT ANY PICTURES FROM HIM YET...HOPEFULLY SOON. MY HALLOWEEN HAS BEEN VERY HAPPY, I HEARD FROM MY MISSIONARY SON, AND WE HAD ALL THREE OF OUR OTHER KIDS AT HOME TO CELEBRATE WITH US! 

First P-Day in the MTC, been waiting all day for this letter :)

Gage's P-Day is on Saturday for the next couple of weeks while he is in the MTC. Here is the letter that he wrote:

So this was my first week in the MTC and it was extremely good, but very overwhelming. It is like a maze trying to get around the MTC with all the different buildings, but I am managing to figure everything out well enough. My companion is Elder Wagstaff, he is up from ogden area in a city called Huntsville. He is a good companion. These first couple of days have been extremely busy like there are so many things you get done in a day. I have been learning so much and feeling the loving spirit and it is amazing. Already we are teaching lessons to our teachers and it is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. Knowing what to say is very hard and you have to rely on the spirit a lot. You really have to get to know the person well to teach them according to what their needs are.

On another note the food here is alright nothing too spectacular, but its alright. I never knew how many missionaries were at this MTC. There are so many and it is very overwhelming but I am doing good. I am so thankful for the people that have written me notes and letters and emails. Also the candy that has been sent to me in packages has been very appreciated and it was delicious:) This has been such a great experience so far. Scary but good. I am doing well and feeling good. The lord has blessed me very much with such amazing family and people in my life. Thank you and talk to you next week.

This is a picture of Elder Wagstaff

First news from Elder Davis

Sweet little tender mercy for us tonight. Gage was allowed to send us a quick email. It is very short but very appreciated!


So the first days have been awesome and have been going really good. Our branch president let us email parents tonight so that they know we are doing well. In other news, mom and dad, I need you to contact my mission president, because all these other elders and sisters going to Raleigh North Carolina got a letter with information. Apparently we are supposed to have shipped a bike out there so I need you to ask him about that. Other than that its been really good and my companion is great. His name is Elder Wagstaff. I'm not able to type much more but I love you all and I'm doing good.

1st Day of His Mission

Our day started at 6:30 this morning because that is when missionaries are supposed to get up. Kade, our youngest son, was the first one awake. He was like a kid on Christmas morning. All of our kids had planned on being up with Gage to support him in his new missionary calling, and they wanted to go work out with him for the last time before he left on his mission. Cole got to be his first companion which only seems fitting since these two have been inseparable since Gage's birth.

Gage's bags were packed the night before with help from Grandma Kris and Aunt Cindy. Hopefully he can get everything back in them when he does it on his own :) Everyone got ready for the day, and we were off to IHOP in Orem to meet some other family  members for breakfast.

The view as we were driving to Orem made me think that Heaven was shining down on us!

L: Jen, Hannah, Cole, Kylee, Kade, Pat, Kelsie

R: Aaron, Gage, Kris, Kimball, Tabitha, Ronald

Jen took another picture so I could be in one too!

Elder Davis even ordered waffles and fried chicken for breakfast in honor of his new mission.

Gage said his goodbyes to his grandparents, aunts and uncle. Our immediate family and Hannah (our photographer for the day) headed to the Provo Temple to say our goodbyes.

Last good family pic for a while...this temple is where our eternal family started 22 yrs ago.

Kade and Gage

Cole and Gage

Kylee and Gage

Proud dad and mom!

We had a few minutes to spend with each other and luckily there was a soccer ball in the car...what else would you expect :)

Then came the hard part of our day...saying goodbye for the next two years. It is a difficult moment to explain because you feel overwhelming joy in his decision and sorrow in knowing he won't physically be with us for the next two years. There were many smiles and many tears shed (let's be honest, I did most of the crying). 

Trying to be happy for the camera...

This hug has to last for the next 2 years...glad you are seeing his smiling face and not my puffy, teary eyes.

Elder Davis has started his new adventure getting his training to serve the people of North Carolina! They are so lucky to get him for the next two years, okay so maybe I am a little biased. Watching him walk away was not easy, but I know that he is right where he should be right now! Looking forward to that first letter...

Set apart as a full time missionary

Brother Karl Nelson, Bishop Blaine Maw, Elder Gage Davis, President Marty Stephens, Brother John Eddington

Elder Gage Davis was set apart as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on October 20, 2015. His immediate family was present along with both sets of grandparents and his aunts: Winona and Hannah Marx. Elder Davis was given a beautiful blessing to help him as he serves the people of North Carolina for the next two years.

We ended our evening at one of Gage's favorite restaurants, Cafe Rio! He won't be able to get it for the next two years.

Attending the temple...

On Friday, October 2, 2015 Gage was able to go through the temple for the first time with his father, Aaron, by his side and many family members. He really loved the spirit that he felt while he was there! Gage commented on how nice it was to feel peace and just leave the outside world stresses for a while.

Gage was able to prepare for his temple endowment by attending a temple prep class, and even was able to teach an Elder's Quorum lesson about temple work. At first, I thought it was strange for Gage to be asked to teach a lesson about temples in Elder's Quorum since he had not even taken out his own endowment yet. Looking back I realized that it was a great blessing for him, and helped him to be prepared to go to this sacred place.

What a handsome young man!

Proud momma, dad had already left to pick up some of our other kids to go to dinner with us.

Brick Oven for dinner afterwards, invited a few more along to celebrate with us!

Here is the other table of guests!

Gage enjoyed attending the temple, and was able to make a few more trips with friends and family over the weeks prior to leaving on his mission. It helped to have members of our ward family working at the temple on days he went, he was impressed at how many people volunteered their time to be there.  He felt like being in the temple helped him to keep focused on having the spirit with him at all times. One of his favorite trips was when he went with his sister and cousins to do baptisms for some family names. 

Lea, Andrew, Gage, Tyson, Kylee