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