September 22 2014

Family and Friends!

My weekly letters will be ending soon and I can't hardly believe it! I
celebrated my 17 month mark as a missionary and representative of
Jesus Christ. I have no idea where the time has gone. It seems like
only yesterday I was in the Missionary Training Center. I am so
grateful for the time the Lord has given me to share my love of the
gospel with my brothers and sisters!

Monday was Sister Pence's last day in the area. We went around to say
a few goodbyes. It is always good to hear how much the wards will miss
her. She did amazing work here and I am forever grateful to have had
the opportunity to serve with her!

Tuesday I went to the mission office to pick up Sister Swerdfeger! She
is 23 years old and she is from Colorado. She's really great! We
really hit the ground running! There is lots to do here and not a lot
of time for me to be apart of it! We met with the Knauls and invited
them to read the scriptures daily with each other. I just know how
much this will bless and strengthen their family! I hope they will
really be committed to testing it out! We also had dinner with the
Holyoak's who aren't very active in our ward. They were really great
and we made plans to go back and help Sister Holyoak make freezer jam
out of fresh peaches! She has a ton of peaches! We then taught the
Young Women at Mutual about Missionary Work! It was so fun! We role
played the "Willing & Brief" Invitation with them and talked about why
it is so important that they share this precious and restored gospel
with others!

Wednesday we had our weekly District Meeting! It was the most
spiritual District Meeting I had ever been apart of! Elder Keogan
asked us to go in the chapel and pray. He asked us to give thanks and
then ask if the gospel was really Restored and if Joseph Smith really
was called to be a Prophet. As I sat in the chapel I was overwhelmed
with the Spirit. It was incredible. We walked silently back into the
classroom and on the bored was this question "What would your life be
like if the gospel had not been Restored?" We wrote in our journals
our feelings and our answer to that question. There was not a dry eye.
I came to have a great understanding on why we must share this with
everyone. Because whether our brothers and sisters realize it or not
they are missing so much direction and peace because they do not know
of the Restoration. I want everyone to know of the peace that is felt
and the comfort that comes from knowing and living the Restored
Gospel! Later on we had on of the young women out with us. Dani was
only with us for an hour but we had 3 lessons with her and none of
them were planned. The Lord knew she was with us and so he put people
in our path to listen and pray with. It was powerful! A great day to
celebrate my 17th month mark!

Thursday we had a lot of members and investigators cancel on us last
minute. That always makes for an interesting day. We were able to find
two new investigators because we had Sister Montandon out with us and
the Lord always blesses us when we have members with us! It is such a
blessing! He has the greater plan and places us exactly where we need
to be!

Friday we went to the mission office to pick up our new phone. It
turned out to be a big ordeal. But we finally got our phone fixed and
we were on our way back to North. We had some cool member lessons with
members that we hadn't met with before. We also had dinner with the
Smiths. We had been trying to teach Brother Smith, but I don't think
he is ready yet. He comes to church and helps out with the Scout
program, but that is about all he wants to do right now. We are still
praying for them!

Saturday I was able to go to Rylee Gardner's Baptism in Boulder
City!!! It was great! Sydni came and picked me up from North and we
spent a few hours together between the drive time there and back and
the actual Baptism. I was able to see the Gardner gang which was
awesome! Lou was at the Baptism! I miss seeing him so it was such a
blessing that he came! I also was able to see the Lopans! They were
pretty surprised to see me! I loved that I could be down in Boulder
again! I can't wait to really go back and visit!

Sunday President and Sister Snow came to speak at one of our wards! It
sure was good to have them there! They are very different from the
Neiders, but they are exactly what is needed here! We went to the Why
I Believe Fireside in the evening. It was so good to see all my old
mission friends as well as members from my old wards! They are so near
and dear to my heart. Everyone of them! Lou was there, so I saw him
two days in a row! What a blessing! I've really come to the
realization that I came on a mission at this time in my life so I
could meet Lou and share the gospel with him. Many people have made an
impact on my life here and I know I have touched their lives as well.
But I was transferred to Boulder City and met Lou. Then 2 days after
his Baptism almost 4 months later I was reassigned to another area. I
was in Boulder City for him. I will be forever grateful that my
Heavenly Father allowed me to teach Lou and to be taught by Lou as
well!

This is Christ Restored Gospel! I am so grateful for the past 17
months. I know I have changed and learned and experienced so much!
More than I could have anywhere else! This mission and experience has
shaped the rest of my life! What joy this gospel brings! Enjoy it!
Share it! Be better because of it!

Love,
Sister Davis