September 8 2014

Hello!

Wow! What a week it has been! I've been here in North for 5 weeks and
most days it feels like I just got here! It's hard to believe how fast
the time is going!

Monday we met with Robert! We have a lot to teach him to help him
prepare for his Baptism! He is finally reading and praying
consistently and it is making all the difference in the world. It's
great to see his growth in the gospel in only a couple of weeks. We
also met Janise, who was Baptized two weeks ago, and with her sister
Olivia, who is interested in learning about the gospel! We talked to
them about prayer. Janise is having a huge impact on her family and
their desire to learn about Christ's restored gospel!

Tuesday we had the hardest time finding a member to come with us to
Robert's lesson. Sister Anderson, the Relief Society President, was
able to make it, because her work caught on fire and they couldn't go
in. It sure was a tender mercy for us, but quite a problem for the
local YMCA. We also met with Sister Mundy! I just adore her. She has
been reading and studying about the gospel trying to grasp on to as
much light as she can. She compares herself to us a lot and wants to
know as much as we do. I was able to explain to her that personally I
didn't know much about the scriptures and where things were in the
verses before my mission. It was through great study and prayer and
that she can reach the same point as she is consistent. Later on we
had Brother Fontano, one of our ward mission leaders, out with us and
we ran into two guys, Chief and John. It was a blessing to be able to
talk to them and testify of truth! We are going to try and work with
them  this next week! They have met with missionaries in the past and
we are hoping to rekindle the good feelings they had before.

Wednesday we had Missionary Leadership Council. All of the Zone
Leaders and Sister training Leaders were there. We had a great
discussion on needs of the mission and how to better apply the
doctrine of Christ in all our teaching. It was great! I love seeing
all of my old friends from other areas. Sister Pence and I applied
what we had learned in the meeting to a couple of lessons we had later
that day. We focused on bring Baptism up in the first few moments of
talking with our investigators and those that we meet. It has changed
the way we interact with others and helps them understand our purpose!

Thursday we had exchanges with the Spanish Sisters in our Zone. Sister
Hepworth has been out a month. It was her first exchange and she
served with me in our area. It was great! She was very shy, but bore a
powerful testimony. We met with Robert and a lady named Terry. Terry
just moved into the same place as Robert and has a desire to learn
about the gospel. We talked to them about 1 Nephi 8. They really
connected to it! Terry feels like she has been led by the Spirit to
meet with us and wants to learn all she can. We also met with our
investigator Angel, whom we haven't seen in awhile. We taught her the
first lesson and soft set her for Baptism. She wants to come to church
this Sunday! We also met with the Johns, who are recent converts that
just moved into our ward. They have a nonmember brother living with
them named Aaron. He is from Friendswood, TX! We hit it off right
away, because we are both from Houston! I love meeting people who are
from Houston! It makes me feel right at home! Aaron said he would be
interested in learning more and that he would come to church with his
family on Sunday! What a blessing! Exchanges are always full of
miracles!

Friday Sister Pence and I trained at our Zone Training Meeting. We
talked about making Baptism our Vision and compared it to Hymn 335
Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy.

1. Brightly beams our Father's mercy (The Atonement. It can only be
accessed by Baptism)
From his lighthouse evermore,
But to us he gives the keeping (missionaries)
Of the lights along the shore.

(Chorus)
Let the lower lights be burning;
Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman (our investigators)
You may rescue, you may save.

2. Dark the night of sin has settled;
Loud the angry billows roar.
Eager eyes are watching, longing, (our investigators)
For the lights along the shore.

3. Trim your feeble lamp, my brother; (we must be prepared to share)
Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor,
In the darkness may be lost.

We had a lot of discussion and it was powerful! We challenged them to
make Baptism the vision and focus of all they do. I know that the only
way for us to return and live with our Father in Heaven is if we
accept the Atonement. That is not possible unless we are Baptized by
someone who holds the Priesthood Authority. That Authority was loss
through the great apostasy  It was restored or brought back by our
Heavenly Father through the prophet Joseph Smith. The Authority to
Baptize is only found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. In order to be Baptized just like Jesus Christ we must be
Baptized by that same Authority. That is why I am here. I am here to
guide others and invite them to learn for themselves if the Authority
of God is back on the earth.

We shared this knowledge with Terry when we met with her today. She
had been Baptized before but she understands now that it has to be
done by the right Authority and so she has committed to prepare to be
Baptized in Christ's true church. She has been a lot of places and
seen a lot of things. She has come to know for herself that this is
the only place where that Authority and the fullness of the gospel
resides.

Saturday we had a wonderful lesson with Gloria and her granddaughters
we taught them of the Restoration and helped them recognize the
importance of Authority and Baptism. It was a big step for them. That
evening Robert was Baptized. I was able to be part of a miracle! Just
seconds before Robert's Baptismal Service I slammed my ring finger and
middle finger in a heavy metal door. It was the worst pain. My fingers
started to bruise, they were crooked and I thought I was going to pass
out. We went on an emergency split. I couldn't give the talk I had
prepared and I missed Robert's Baptism. It was terrible. But there was
a great miracle that occurred  Brother Naumu, the 1st counselor in the
Bishopric and the Zone Leaders came to give e a blessing in the
hallway. Brother Naumu said he had a prompting to grab more oil before
he left his house, but he ignored the prompting. The Zone Leaders
pulled out their oil to anoint me, but they had no oil either. Brother
Naumu tried his oil again. It was dry. But one drop of oil came out.
They anointed me and blessed me. My hand and fingers were healed. By
my faith and the power of the Priesthood. My hand was no longer
bruised or broken. I iced it and it was fine. It was as if I had never
been injured. I know that the Priesthood power is here! That Christ's
Authority is back on the Earth, to both baptize and preform miracles.
I know that there was no oil in that container. But just like when
when the woman fed Elijah and did as the prophet asked. Her supply of
meal and oil never diminished.

Sunday we had 7 investigators at church between the two wards we
cover. It was truly amazing! They each benefited and was uplifted by
the Spirit! After church we were able to attend a fireside in which
Alex Boye was the speaker. He sang and shared his conversion story! It
was amazing! Here is his Mormon Messagehttp://www.mormon.org/alex
Enjoy and Share!

I know that this is Christ Gospel! I love sharing it with other!

Love,
Sister Davis