March 31 2014

Hello Hello!!

Can you believe I have been in Boulder City now for six weeks?! Time flies by so fast! I only have 6 more months left on my mission! It is unreal! We found out about transfers on Saturday via a text message during the Women's Broadcast! Sister Area will be leaving and she is actually going to be with one of my former companions, Sister Nilson. I will be here in Boulder City with Sister TBA! I am training and won't know who I am with until Wednesday when I meet her!!! She is coming straight from the MTC! I am a little nervous, but I've been praying for her and I know that I new my future companion before we came to this earth. It will be great!

Let me tell you about some miracles that happened the last week of this transfer!

Monday we had a great activity! This whole every Monday night at 7pm thing is going really great! The members and investigators love it!

Tuesday we met with the Gossard Family. They haven't been for a few years. They are young couple. He's a return missionary and she is a convert. They were sealed in the Temple and have a little girl now. They just got "busy" and lazy.. But we clicked really well with them and they want to get back to the Temple and become active! We are going to start practicing our lessons on them! We had a really neat experience when we were walking to see one of our investigators. We met a man named Bill and his wife Wendy. They had just pulled into their drive way when we were passing there house. We introduced ourselves and visited a little. They asked if we were nuns... ummm no! We offered to say a prayer with their family. They accepted and we prayed with them right in their driveway. We asked them if Jesus Christ were here what would they ask for and I had the opportunity to say a very specific prayer for their family. They told us that their neighbor could use a prayer as well. It was wonderful! We also were able to share short powerful messages with quite a few members! We had a member of the Bishopric come out with us for the first time tonight! We were able to meet a less active woman, Sister Marten. She talked to us about her troubled life and how she had lost her way. She would like us to practice our lessons on her and we think a door has been opened for her! It was such a blessing to have Brother Prestwich with us! He talked about his experiences as a missionary! It was wonderful!

Wednesday we had an incredible miracle. We went to visit a lady in our ward who has been the hospital for the past 7 months. She's in her 70's and had to have her right leg amputated above the knee. We just went to share a short message and to see if we would help her with anything. When we were almost done with our visit her CNA came to help her clean. We wrapped up our lesson and asked if we could say a closing prayer. Yasuko, the CNA from Japan, was so excited and asked if we were Mormon and if she could pray with us! We visited with her and she explained that she knows lots of Mormons. We said a closing prayer and then decided to teach the Restoration in 5 minutes. She had so many questions, like why are there so many churches that all believe in Jesus Christ. We told her this is the message that explains that! She was so excited! We gave her a Book of Mormon and got her information so the missionaries near her could bring her a Japanese Book of Mormon. It was a blessing to be able to share the message that we love so dearly with her. She offered the closing prayer. It was her first time to pray and it was so sweet! Later we saw Mikalina, whom we haven't seen in a week and a half! She has just been MIA lately! We talked to her and set something up! I miss her tons!! We had dinner with Bishop Taggard and his family. He found out that my favorite food is spicy chicken wings and that Sister Area loves Mac and Cheese! So you can guess what we had for dinner!! It was the best!!! Afterwards we dropped by mutual to set up a few appointments with the youth. They were doing the funnest activity! It was combined and they had the girls learn how to do boy things and the boys learn how to do girl things! They had rotating stations. One of them was that the girls learned how to tie a tie and the boys learned how to braid hair! It was a hoot!

Thursday we saw more miracles! We were able to visit with Sister Guyette a 93 year old lady in our ward who had just gotten out of the hospital. She is a sweet hard and it is so fun to see how up beat she is for being so old! We had Kennedy, one of the Young Women come out with us and had a miracle lesson! We went by to see a man named Lou, whom Sister Area had met in November. He is from Germany and has a sweet accent. He's 77 and let us right in. We shared the Restoration with him and gave him a Book of Mormon! It was truly a blessing. We set up an appointment with him on Saturday and invited him to read the first chapter! After we left Kennedy turned to us and said, "Do you mind if I come with you on Saturday?" uhhh... NO! We were so happy she wanted to come with us again!

Friday we had Zone Training Meeting! It was wonderful! I also learn so much from all the other missionaries! Just before we went out to visit people, Sister Area said a powerful and specific prayer that we would find someone to teach as we were walking between appointments. Well needless to say God does answer prayers! We were walking down the street and started to talk to this man, Kenny, who was working in the yard. We found out that he was helping his neighbor with her yard. He said we could come to his house and pray with him and his 17 year old daughter later that night. Miracles! We went by later with a member and it was so great! Kenny has MS and other health problems! He has been through a lot and we hope to be able to help him draw closer to the Savior! We had another Young Women come out with us, Payton. We visited with Wanda, our 88 year old investigator. We read the first chapter of the Book of Mormon with her and Payton shared a beautiful testimony of the Book of Mormon! I love having the youth with us! We practiced our first lesson on the Gossard's! It was great! They told us they want us in there home all the time! They feel better and more motivated with us around!

Saturday we met with Brother Solomon like usual! We read the first chapter in the Book of Mormon and had a great discussion about some of his concerns! Kennedy came with us to see Lou, but he didn't answer the door. We left a sweet note for him though! We got a ride with the Stake President's wife and daughter to the Women's Broadcast! If you didn't get a chance to watch it then check it out on lds.org - it was so great!

Sunday was wonderful, because President and Sister Neider came to our ward to speak and teach 3rd hour! It was amazing! They talked about missionary work of course! The members are really inspired! We will see great things in the next few months, I just know it! Sister Area and I went around to visit a few members and to say her goodbyes. This is her first area and I know it will be so hard for her to go!

I am excited for the adventures ahead! I know Heavenly Father knows each of us and our circumstance. He will lead us if we let him and if we ask! I am so  I will tell you all about my new companion next week! Pray for us!

Love and miss you!

Love,

Sister Davis

March 24 2014

Hello!!!

Is it Monday already?! Wow- does time fly! I am so glad I get to write you and tell you about the miracles we saw this week! I know Heavenly Father really is guiding us and helping us here in Boulder City!

Last Monday, we had another really successful Family Home Evening! We taught the 10 Commandments with hand signals to remember them, but the highlight was when we taught about keeping the Sabbath Day Holy! We had two bowls of pure vanilla ice cream and lots of different toppings. We started to talk about what goes on our "Sunday"... going to church (chocolate syrup), reading our scriptures (sprinkles), writing missionaries *hint hint* (whip cream) etc. etc. Then we talked about what were things that don't go on our "Sunday" ... going shopping (ketchup), going out to eat (barbecue sauce), going to the movies (sprinkle cheese) etc. etc. As we put these things on our "Sunday" everyone was so upset. They didn't want ketchup on their "Sunday". I was confused, I told them, "But I love ketchup and barbecue sauce, why wouldn't I want it on my "Sunday"?" We talked about how going shopping (ketchup) and going out to eat (barbecue sauce) aren't bad things.. They are actually really good, but they don't belong on our "Sunday". There are certain things our Heavenly Father asks us not to do and to do, because we love Him we obey. It really helped our investigators understand the importance of Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy!

Tuesday was Zone Conference!! It was in Green Valley, so I got to see my old zone!! :) It was awesome! I knew everyone in the meeting and I was the oldest sister there (not in age, but in time in the field) So crazy!! We had some great trainings! Sister Neider made us all green smoothies! We also had a couple come and speak to us about Addictions and the LDS Addiction Recovery Program. I am so grateful that the Gospel can truly reach and touch all who are in need of rescuing! I know that our Savior loves all of us - no matter our struggles! We had a wonderful day! Later that night we had a Stake Relief Society Activity! A lot of our Less-Actives came! It was wonderful!

Wednesday was great! We had some interesting experiences! We met this man named Mike, he was outside working on his yard. He told us about his ex fiance who was LDSand other details that have left a sore taste in his mouth concerning the church. I think it is so sad when people base the whole church off of one experience with one person. There are imperfect people in every church. Anyways, he told us that his new fiance would be interested that we can come by and meet her! We went back to see her later that night but she wasn't home. We were however able to meet a less-active woman named Kathleen! She was really sweet and wants to come back and share a message with her next week!

Thursday we were able to talk to Maya, a recent convert about getting her Patriarchal Blessing! She is so excited and so are we! We had a great dinner with the Stake Presidents family, he wasn't able to make it. But it sure was fun to be in their home! I love being around members who have the Spirit with them! It is so refreshing! We had our weekly coordination meeting and it was an interesting one! But the work is going great here! There is a lot of potential in little Black Canyon!

Friday we were in most of  the day planning our week! But we were able to go to lunch with my old Young Women's President, Sister Cathryn Daniels, and her cute little girls, who live in Vegas now! It was so great! We went to Chilly Jilly's which I guess is kinda famous here in Boulder City.. who would've know! It was awesome! I am so grateful for the many wonderful examples my Heavenly Father blessed me with as a youth! I am so grateful for His love for me and all of His children here! We had dinner tonight with a less active family, the Smyth's. It was sure fun! Then we met up with some sisters to do exchanges! Sister Cummings came to BC with me!

Saturday after playing Basketball for morning sports with the other missionaries we went to set up tables for a baby shower! Then went home and got ready to go teach a less active man, Brother Solomon. He is a great guy, but is very logical which makes it hard to share things with him. We talked about faith! It was powerful! He asked us some great questions about Anti Mormon literature and our thoughts on how to know if it is true or not. We exampled that first we need to check our source and then we need to pray and ask Heavenly Father. We testified of the Book of Mormon and that if the Book of Mormon is true scripture, then we know that Joseph Smith was called to be a Prophet, just as God has always called a Prophet, and that the Church has been Restored just like it is prophesied in the Bible. After our lesson we saw a part member family pulling weeds so we pulled over and began to help them, it was a tender mercy and an opportunity for us to gain a better relationship with them. Later on we stopped by to see Mikalina. We had two lessons set up with her and she wasn't home both times. Tamra, her mom, had us come in. She was cleaning and organizing... and we threw on some pants and started to help her. We were able to have some great Gospel conversations as we worked. She found her sisters old journal with poems that she had written. Tamara told us that on April 1st this year it will mark 30 years since her sister was kidnapped and murder by a serial killer. She broke down. It was such a blessing that we could be with her and comfort her. I am grateful for Heavenly Father and that He is truly aware of each one of His precious children. We testified of the Plan of Salvation. http://www.mormon.org/beliefs/plan-of-salvation It was truly a blessing to answer her questions! Later on we met with Kristy, one of our investigators, we were able to share a short message with her and invite her to read about Faith in the Book of Mormon in Alma 32. We will be seeing her next week! To end our exchange Sister Cummings and I went to Coldstone! And just as we were about to pay a member came up and payed for us! It was a blessing and a great way to end the night!

Sunday we had a great day! I love going to church, there is no where else I would rather be on Sunday! We had dinner with the Hess Family, there was about 30 people there. It was fun to be with a big family for Sunday dinner. All cousins and aunts and uncles! Makes me miss my family! Bishop Taggard invited us to go to a Fireside with the Youth. Brother Beekman, in our ward, gave a presentation about Positive Thinking. He is a retired inspirational speaker. It was very interesting and I wish I would have known some of these principles as a youth. I know that being happy is a choice and that it is just as easy to go from negative thoughts to positive thoughts as it is to go the other way around.

I am really grateful for this Gospel. I know I have said that many times before, even just in this email. But it is true! I find so much peace and love because I know where I came from, I know why I am here, and I know where I am going. I know what Christ taught and I know how it applies to me. I know how to live His teachings and I know why I need to. Everyday I see people who have so many different struggles and challenges and I think to myself, "If they only had the Gospel they could have avoided this all together!" I know that we need to share with others the Restored Gospel! http://www.mormon.org/beliefs/restoration This is what I share with everyone who will listen! I know that what I share as a missionary is true! I would not have left college, family, friends, and the world, if I didn't know that what I was sharing with people was true and if I didn't know that what I share is for everyone. I know Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that He is coming again and I know that there is more to this life than the newest movie or what so and so said on Facebook. We are here to return to live with our Heavenly Father! We return by helping others. Everything else is there to distract us from our mission! I know that we are placed into each others paths to share the truth! The Church is True & The Book is Blue! Read it! Study it! Share it!

I love you and am so grateful for the example you are to me!

Love,

Sister Davis

March 17 2014

Hello Hello!

It so great to have this opportunity to write to you! I am so grateful for your love and support! I am grateful for your examples to me! This has been a great week! Of course all weeks are truly great as a missionary! I've never experienced a bad week. There has been hard moments, but that doesn't not mean the work or the mission is bad. I am grateful for the hard moments, because the miracles and good times are so sweet! Today is my 11 month mark, which means I have 18 months left on my mission! Well not exactly 18 months, but that would be nice! I am so grateful for this time that I have to serve. I cannot believe how fast it is going by! I feel like I was just packing for my mission and having a melt down because my suitcases were too heavy! Wow! Time flies!

Last Monday we had the chance to go down to downtown Boulder City, which is really about two blocks long and only 3 mintues away from us. We went to all of the antique shops and saw such cute things! I am so glad I'm a poor missionary, with little space, and little time, otherwise I would have been so tempted to take all the stores home with me! They had such darling things! I could spend hours looking at everything. I love the small town feel! It is so unique and so homey! Later that night we went to see a couple in our ward. We had contacted the lady two doors down from them last week and they told us she posted about us on her facebook after we left her doorstep. They said she wrote that "two cute lady missionaries gave me a book today.. now I need to find something for them to read.. any ideas?" We were pretty shocked that she posted on the world wide web about us and the couple told us that there were lots of negative things written in the comments of her status... But they wrote on her wall and bore their testimony to her and invited her to read 3 Nephi 11 in the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful for members that back us up! I am so grateful for their testimonies! Afterwards, we had an amazing activity!! We are holding a Family Home Evening activity every Monday night now and it is so great! We had our investigator Mikalina, who's 10, there and some other members. We read 2 Nephi 31 and talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which includes Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End! It was a great discussion! Then we played a game! We put an oreo on our forehead and had to get it into our mouth without touching it with our hands! We just had to move our face and tounge to get it! Mikalina won and I was the last to get it in my mouth, but it was so funny! They had a great time!

Tuesday we went to the Temple for my quarterly Temple visit. Sister Tucker and I arranged so that we would just happen to bump into each other there! We went to the session together and had lunch at the Temple! It was so great! I love to see the Temple! I love to go inside! I am so grateful that we have a Temple in our mission! Sister Bird came out with us today and we went to see a less active man named Brother Bradley. We is in his 80's and has a stomach problem that he caught while in Mexico 15 years ago. His hearing aids broke so we had to practically yell to communicate with him! It was fun! We talked about faith and he agreed to receive a blessing of healing! We are going next week with Sister Bird's husband, the former Bishop. After Brother Bradley we went to see another less active man, Brother Swoope! I love Brother Swoope! He is in his 70's and has had lots of heartache, with the passing of his mother, wife, friend, and girlfriend all in the last year and a half! We talked about Faith with him and invited him to come on Monday nights! He is so sad and holds such a heavy burden. I know that if he would come back into the fold he would fins peace. But he is scared to get close to anyone, because everyone dies. We also had a lesson with Caitlyn, our 13 year old investigator. SHe has been taught many times by missionaries. We had an overview lesson so we could see where she was with everything. There are some many points that we realized she doesn't grasp. Now we know where to start! We also saw Mikalina and taught her the importance of reading her scriptures, going to church, and praying daily. She is such a gem with a true desire to follow the Savior! I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed us with the opportunity to influence his precious daughters.

Wednesday we had a great district meeting! Sister Hess came out with us and though we weren't able to have a lesson with anyone, we were able to get to know her and street contact a man who was just visiting from Montana. It was a great experience for her to see that we don't teach people 24/7 - lots of times we just visit people who don't answer their doors! We got to visit a lady in our ward Sister Guyette. She is such an inspiration! She walks to church each Sunday, stays all three hours, and walks home. She is 93 years old. I hope I can be like her when I am that old. Her testimpny is so strong and she strives to share the gospel with her neighbors.What an awesome lady. We practiced one of our lessons with Sister Snowden today and she told us she would like us back the same time every week to practice! She even made us brownies! So sweet! At the conclusion of our night we had an experience that I will truly never ever forget. I wish I could put it into words for you, but it is just not appropriate to share at this time. I will, however, tell you this.. Heavenly Father put us in the right place at the right time. Our appointments fell through so that we could answer a desperate call. I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father's awareness of each of His children. I am so grateful for Bishop Taggard and Brother Sargant. They came to the rescue. I felt peace and my Father's love during this time of chaos and confusion. He protected us. I know He lives!

Thursday we met with Mikalina again and read in the Bok of Mormon, she is reading so much and is so excited about what she is learning! She loves the gospel! We had a great dinner with the Taggards! Sister Taggard has her own line of chap stick and perfumes and soaps that she makes herself, she let us pick some out and they are so good! While Sister Area was talking with Sister Taggard, Bishop and I played a little ping-pong! So fun! I haven't lost all my skills yet! Even though I hadn't played in 11 months. We met with Brother Norris, a less active, and his daughter Halena, who's 11. We had a great little message with them and invited them to pray every night together, they were both excited about that challenge! Sister Area and I met up with Sisters Fierstneau and Cummings to go on exchanges!

Friday Sister Fierstneau was in my area here in Boulder City! We had one of the best days I have had here! Sister Peterson, the Stake Presidents wife, came out with us. We had no lessons planed, but we had a lot of faith! After trying two doors and having no one answer we went to visit Patricia. She lives next to a member and her daughter actually joined the church when she was a teenager and served a LDS mission. I had only met Patricia once, and she was not interested. She didn't let us in. We went to the door, she answered, we introduced ourselves, told her we wanted to share a message with her, and she let us right in! She talked and talked! I was praying that I would be able to take something she said and be able to start on message of the Restoration. She talked about prayer! I told her we had a message to share with her about prayer and asked if we could start with a prayer! We began to share about Jesus Christ, she told us that the thing she loved most about Christ was that he loved the little children. We testified of that and began to share Joseph Smith's experience. We shared that he was just a child and Christ loved him. That Heavenly Father answered his prayers. We shared Joseph's experience in his own words and asked her to pay attention to how she felt, because the Spirit testify of truth through the feelings we feel. We shared Joseph's words...

"I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me...When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

Patricia smiled so big and said.. "I'm SO HAPPY!" She felt the Spirit so strong. We explained to her that the Book of Mormon is that convincing evidence that Joseph Smith was called to be a Prophet. We read 2 Nephi 25:26 with her. This is the Purpose of the Book of Mormon, it reads,

"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

That really touched her. We left her with a Book of Mormon and invited her to come to a knowledge of the truth for herself. It was one of the most powerful lessons I have ever been in. We truly followed the Spirit.

We talked and walked a lot on Friday. We met some really amazing people! We met a lady named Dorthy who had learned about the church 50 years ago, but had lost contact with missionaries when she moved. She said her Book of Mormon was packed away, so we gave a new one and invited her to read! They we met Donnie, a father of 5, and he invited us back to say a prayer with his family. We street contacted a family in our ward who is active, but I didn't recognize them until they said their name.. That was a little awkward, but hey! We were talking to everyone! A young man in our ward Jackson introduced us to his neighbor and they invited us to come back and say a prayer with them. Our night ended on a great note, we met a lady named Corrine. She was taught by missionaries in 2010. She invited us in and we shared a short message about faith. She told us she has been really stressed and working late every night, but tonight she decided to come home early and then we knocked on her door. She told us that we were an answer to her prayers and that we were welcomed anytime. She knew right where her Book of Mormon was and we invited her to read Alma 32, because it is all about faith! It was an truly amazing day! I love being a missionary!

Saturday we went to visit Brother Swoope, but we saw Wanda, our 88 year old investigator outside watering her yard. We stopped and helped her pick weeds. Sister Miller was with us and she helped too! It was great to be able to serve her even if we were in skirts trying to be modest and get down and pull weeds. Afterwards we met with Brother Solomon, a less active man. He is very lonely. We talked to him about prayer. He says he will prayer for others on occasion, but that's the only time he prays, because he knows that God never fixes his problems when he prays. We invited him to pray this week and he said we could come back next week. Then we hurried off to a Baptism in Quail Ridge!! We were almost late! But we made it! It was so great to see all of the people I love. Ashley was baptized by her husband Tim. He is a returned missionary and they were just married 4 months and then moved into our ward. I was able to teach them just a little bit before I was transferred. She is pregnant and is having a baby girl in August. They are so special and really have a love for the gospel! It is amazing! I miss Quail Ridge, but I know that my time there is done. I am happy to be in Black Canyon! After the Baptism I was able to have lunch with my Grandpa Davis and Uncle Jason! It was so great to see them! I shared a really cool spiritual thought with them! Hopefully they learned something! It was so great to be able to share my testimony with them! After lunch we took Mikalina to a Baptism that the elders were having. She leaned over to me and asked if you have to be Baptized in order to serve a mission. I told her yes. She wants to be Baptized and serve a mission soooo badly! But her mom won't allow her to be Baptized.. Yet! I know she will though! One day!!

Sunday was amazing! I was able to go to the Why I Believe Fireside. Carlos, who was baptized in the YSA Ward in November spoke. He is amazing! I love him so much! We were really worried, because he was late and wasn't answering his phone. Come to find out his phone died and he got a flat tire! But he made it in time. I know that the adversary was trying to keep him from coming!! But he made it! His testimony was so pure. He shared how he had met with missionaries on and on for about a year, and how he always told them.. I want to learn, but I don't want to be Baptized, so don't ask me. He shared that Sister Davis and Sister Berger really sealed the deal for him. That we shared 1 Nephi 8, about Lehi's dream with him and that was it! He knew he had to hold to the rod a join the church. He shared that he was going to ask us when he could be Baptized, but that we beat him to it! We asked him first! He shared that he has since been filled with so much joy and power. He shared that he shares the gospel with all of his friends and that he always has his friends over to eat with the missionaries! He invited everyone there to share the gospel and promised them peace and joy and love. He told everyone that he hopes to have his missionaries in his life for a long long time. He is such an amazing missionary! After the program he came right off the stand a reached out to give me a hug, he was so sad when he remembered that he couldn't hug me... only a hand shake. He is so precious to me! I am so grateful that Heavenly Father sent me here so that I could bring him the gospel! Oh how grateful I am to be a missionary! I love this gospel so much! I know that Heavenly sent us here to share it with others! I know that this is the truth!

I love you all so much and hope that you will find peace and joy this week! Remember that Heavenly Father has a bigger plan for each one of us!

Choose The Right!

Love,

Sister Davis

March 10 2014

Hello Hello!

 

I have never loved Mondays so much in my life, until I became a Missionary! Mondays are the best! I love getting your letters and emails! You all are so wonderful and so good to me! I am eternally grateful for your love and support! This week has been.. well.. Interesting! I was sick most of the week and just starting to be on the up hill of things! I had so much time to read the scriptures it was truly a gift! I love reading the scriptures! I find physical, spiritual, and emotional strength as I read them and relate them to my life. My mission is teaching me things, that I may have never come to known for myself otherwise. I finished reading the Book of Mormon again! Every time I read I can feel myself become closer to my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that I am learning things that will help me both spiritually and temporally through out my whole life. I learn things that will bless me and my future family. I am learning how to discern the needs of others. I am not just learning the stories, but I am learning why they were included. I am finding new insights and guidance on every page. I love what Nephi says in chapter six of his first book, "I shall give commandment unto my seed that they shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men." I know that this is true! In Mormon 8:35, Moroni says, "Behold, I speak unto as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing." I know that everything in the Book of Mormon is for us, for me, and for YOU! It was preserved for our day so that we could receive guidance and direction. SO many people sacrificed all that they had, even their lives to preserve and protect this book of scripture! Prophets who wrote these words and especially Latter-day Prophets! How grateful I am for their sacrifice! How grateful I am for our Heavenly Fathers love. I know that He loves us and wants to read and study and apply the scriptures so that we can be prepared for when our Savior comes again! He is coming!

 

Wednesday I had such an interesting experience. We had to take our car to the Ford Country dealership for a repair. I told Sister Area that it would either take 10 mins or 2 hours.. Well they told us it would take 2 hours, so we went in the show room to wait. We were reading the scriptures when a kid came up and sat at the table near us. He had random tats all over and his shorts were hanging to his knees. He looked about 17. We both felt impressed to talk to him. We started up a conversation and of course it led to the gospel, EVERYTHING relates to the gospel. We talked about our mission and what we do and share with people. His brother came to sit an listen, he looked about 15. They shared with us the trails they had faced in their lives. They told us about the death of their to brothers, how God had never answered their prayers, and how family is so important to them. We testified that they would see their brothers again, that God gave us our families to help us, support us, and that He does answer prayers. We were in the right place at the right time! We testified of the Book of Mormon and that it truly would help them come closer to God. I am so grateful our car didn't take 10 mins. We were needed there! Later on in the conversation we realized that the one we thought was 17 - was actually 25. And the one we thought was 15 - was actually 31!! We would have never guessed!

 

Thursday we had Zone Training Meeting. It was so fun! Our Zone is hilarious! We learned a lot of new tools and guidance that will really help our area if we can apply them correctly. Afterwards, Sister Area felt impressed to go visit a lady who didn't want to learn about the church a few weeks ago... We went down an allyway to her house and as we were walking we met these two teenagers, Marinda and Joseph. We talked to them and asked them if we could come and share a message about Jesus Christ with their family.. They gave us their address and we set up a time to see them! I know that is why we went down that ally to the other house. We needed to meet those two kids!

 

Friday I went down hill again, I was not feeling well. But we went to meet with Miranda and Joseph's family. They were not home but we met their father Oscar. He is from Honduras. He is a single father raising 4 children. It was hard to understand what we was saying, but what we did gather was he believes in God but has no religious background. His ex-wife and the mother of his 4 kids is in prison for the third time. She has drug addictions and it has really toren their family apart. He wants to learn about the gospel and have his family come closer to God. We set up to go back on Saturday, because he said his oldest two would be home then.

 

Saturday we went back and we felt impressed to bring Brother Gardner with us. Well it turns out that Brother Gardner knows Oscar!!! Oscar use to come to the church for the networking meetings to try and get a job! Brother Gardner helped him get a job! Oscar told us that he wants to be a member of the church. We taught the Restoration and Oscar asked us "How can I be happy like you? You are so happy!" AWHHH! It is the gospel! It brings us happiness! We talked about baptism! And he wants to learn and prepare! I am so grateful we walked down that ally and talked to those two teenagers.. We would not have met Oscar if it wasn't for that!

 

Sunday I gave a talk in sacrament meeting, along with our new ward mission leader and his wife. It was an amazing meeting! My talk was focused on a quote by John Bytheway. He once said, "A true friend brings you closer to Christ" My first point to be that kind of friend, a true friend, was that we have to see everyone as our brothers and sisters. I read a letter from my little sister Breeze. She wrote this letter to me last April, and it has truly shaped my mission. She talked about her testimony that every person I share the gospel with isn't a stranger, or a friend, but is our brothers and sisters. It is such an inspiring letter. My second point was that we need to be open. Be open about our beliefs. Be open about our standards. Be open about our way of life. I read a letter I got from my little brother Kiger, back in June. He is so open with everyone! I shared the story of him taking his friend home for school and his testimony to him about the Book of Mormon. I love what Kiger said at the end of his letter. "Then I dropped him off, he promised he would read! Who knows if he really read,  but I know that now that Book of Mormon is out there it has the opportunity to go places and touch other people's lives!" So inspiring. The last point I made was about inviting with love. I named all of the members of this ward that I have seen invite with love in the past 3 weeks that I have been here! It was powerful! The other two speakers did an amazing job as well! Sister Area and I went to Primary and taught the kids a song, "Invite! Invite! Morning, Noon, and Night! Invite! Invite! Invite with all your might!" We gave them all missionary name tags! They loved them so much! It was awesome!

 

I am so grateful to be serving in the Black Canyon Ward here in Boulder City. I am learning a lot. A lot about myself and a lot about how the hand of the Lord can work in our lives. I know that there are miracles all around us - we just have to find them! I love finding miracles! I know that this is exactly where I need to be!

 

I am so grateful for this gospel! I am so grateful to be a missionay!

 

Love and miss you all!

 

Love,

Sister Davis

March 3 2014

Hello Hello Hello!

It has been quite the week.. Full of ups and downs! Life truly is a roller coaster. But that is why we must hold to the iron rod! 1 Nephi 8 is truly one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon! Distractions and temptations to do the wrong things are all around us, but we can be certain that the iron rod will always lead us to the love of God! We are never alone on this path!

 

Monday was my first PDay in Boulder City.. we emailed at the local library and after 20 mins I was kicked off the computer and it was just a mess. We asked our Bishop for a key to the Family History Center so we are emailing here from now on! Thank goodness!! This chapel where we meet is on 5th Street. It was built by the members in the 40's - it is super old and way different then any chapel I have ever seen. We were able to practice our lessons on a couple members and teach a girl named Audrytonight. Her mom is not active, but her grandparents are. She came to church last week with a friend and we were able to teach her the first lesson. She really liked it and has a desire to prepare to be baptized. It was such a blessing to be able to teach her in her friend's home. Members are so key in helping others come unto Christ!

 

Tuesday we had an amazing experience, this is the FOURTH time this has happened to me on my mission. We were visiting with a less active lady named Staci. She was sharing with me her conversion story and how her husband and in laws are all very anti. She has an amazing story, but right in the middle of her sharing it she received a phone call from her mother-in-law. We could hear her mother-in-law crying hysterically and shouting "Patt's Dead! Patt's Dead!" She hunk up and began to weep. Her aunt Patt, whom she was very close with had died suddenly. We weren't sure of any of the details, but it was a blessing from our Heavenly Father that we were with her when she received such tragic news. We sang a hymn to her.. One of my favorites. I Know That My Redeemer Lives. Angels were singing with us. I know they were. I offered a prayer and the Spirit was so strong. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father can and does place us in the right place at the right time! A week prior to this visit we had set up an appointment to practice our lessons on Sister Benson, who just happens to be Staci's visiting teacher. Heavenly Father truly is aware of each of His precious children! We met with our 88 year old investigator Wanda and talked to her more about the Book of Mormon. She is open to ready the Book of Mormon which is so great! Everything we teach hangs on if the Book of Mormon is the word of God! If it is the word of God, then Joseph Smith did translate it by the power of God and he was indeed called to be a Prophet. Therefore, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's kingdom restored to the earth today. I testify that this is true. I am so grateful for prayer. I don't know of any other church that invites it's people to pray to know if their church is true. We do, because we know if they pray with a sincere heart and real intent they will receive a sure answer of the divinity of this gospel. We taught Caitlyn, who is 13. We talked about prayer and the Book of Mormon. She had taken the lessons before but was stricken with Elderites, which is a rare disease when one has a crush on an Elder! Ewwh! She told us that she knows that this is all true, she just needs to find motivation to go to church and read! That is the kicker! Later on we met with Bishop Taggard! He is such a great man! He wanted us to know that if we had any problems we could come to him. He reminded us that we report first to the Lord, then to our Mission President, and then to him. That if anyone in the ward asked us to do something we did not feel comfortable doing that we could come to him and he would take care of it! SO GREAT! We met with the Tobler Family to practice a lesson on them. They showed us a couple of cool object lessons that I hadn't seen before! It was so cool! I love object lessons!!! We finished the night by meeting with Audry again! We talked about the Book of Mormon and answered some of her questions. She really has no religious background. She didn't know who Moses was or anything about the Bible. She is so open and ready to learn.

 

Wednesday we had district meeting and went out to lunch with our district afterwards- it was so fun! We taught the Plan of Salvation to a girl named Emily. We drew it out on the sidewalk with chalk! SO AWESOME! It was more interactive and fun! We ate dinner at the cutest little diner called Southwest Diner. It was precious! I love the small town feel of this small town! We taught Audry again tonightand read with her in the Book of Mormon. She had already read the first chapter. She wrote a summary of it and questions that she had in her notebook! She is doing so great!

Thursday we helped a lady in our ward make some chili thing. It was fun to cut and slice and dice different veggies and peppers. We were a big help to her! We saw Emily again and talked about prayer. She has been praying more and really feels a difference in her day! It is amazing! Olivia is a 10 year old girl in our ward. She came with us to teach Mikilina at the Slack's home! It was so great! I love teaching all these young girls! They really look up to us and it is amazing to see there pure desire to come closer to their Savior! 

 

Friday we had Sister's Conference! All 78 Sisters in our mission met together to learn and grow! It was so great to see my old companions! 5 of the 6 were there! I miss them all so much! The trainings were so inspiring! I am so grateful to be an LDS woman! We truly were saved for these last days! We have a job that no on else can do. As sisters our calling is different then the Elders. We chose to be here! We reach hearts and get into doors that others can't! How great it is to be a SISTER MISSIONARY! We had a clothing exchange at the conference! It was so fun! I saw Sister Berger and she had taken one of the sweaters I donated! Too funny! We have such similar tastes! I wish I could describe the joy I felt being with all the Sisters. It truly is amazing! Later on our ward had a Chili Cook-off!! I don't like chili so ate pizza before the Cook-off! But we had such a great turn out! There was also a silent auction and one of the members gave me $15 to use at the auction! I won a foil art work of the Las Vegas Temple! It is stunning! I want to learn how to use foil as my canvas! It looks so realistic it is awesome! I am so excited about it! Mikilina came and had a great time with Olivia! They are too precious! We went to the Warner's home afterwards to ask Bro. Warner to help us make one of the object lessons that the Tobler's showed us! He said he would have it done on Sunday for us! I can't wait to show y'all it!

 

Saturday we had weekly planning so we were in most the day. I started to get a cold or something and it just got worse and worse. We went and ate dinner with Olivia's grandparents. They made homemade fries and chicken strips! They were to die for! So yummy! I went down hill fast and had to come home early to take medicine and sleep. Being sick as a missionary is no fun!

 

Sunday was a great day! Except for I was even more sick. But missionaries never miss church, so I went and received a blessing from the Bishop and former Bishop. Our ward is so great! Then the Elders Quorum President came and asked us to speak in Elders Quorum about missionary work, so I pulled myself together to go talk in front of all these men. I sounded so sick. Later we went to the Zion's Youth - Lamb of God Concert. It is a choir and orchestra concert made up of youth from all across Vegas. Kiger and Breeze would be so great for this group and they would have loved it! I wish they could have been there! Mikilina and Olivia came! Emily and her dad went with the Warner's! It was amazing! The Spirit was so strong as they preformed! Truly amazing! I went to bed afterwards and this morning I went to the doctor. He gave me some medicine so hopefully I will be feeling better soon!

 

I am truly so grateful for this gospel. I have seen so many miracles and the hand of Lord truly guiding us. I love going out each day to see what miracles the Lord has in store for us! He is so loving! I know He is aware of all of us! I love being His missionary! Never have I felt so much love than here in Vegas. Sin City has become a Sacred place to me.

 

Love and Miss y'all! Choose The Right Way & Be Happy!

 

 

Love,

Sister Davis