August 19 2013

Family & Friends!!!!

Can I just tell you how much I love being a missionary?!! It is the greatest thing anyone could ever do! What a blessing it is to be able to serve my Savior and my brother and sisters here in LV Nation!

This week we found NINE new investigators! NINE! Everyday we found one or two! I love each one of them so much! Each of their stories and how we found them are so precious and unique! I won't get into all the details, but I will tell you their names! Pray for them!

Shi! (friend of a less active)

Fabian! (we met him on the street)

Amanda! (friend of a member)

Katie! (less active's girl friend)

Tony! (referral from other missionaries)

Mauricio! (referral from other missionaries)

Jesse! (we met him on the street)

Eva! (we met her on the street)

Alec! (we met him on the street)

I wish I could share everything with you! One day I will! We can read each of these letters together and I will tell you all the things I left out! What an awesome time that will be! You will be able to see alllllll of my pictures, journals, and planners! You will really know how things are! Because they are just so great!

Things I've learned this week...

Goal setting is SO important! The goals and numbers we set are not just random. They have names and faces behind each one. A goal not written down is just a dream! We were able to exceed our goals! ONLY BECAUSE we had The Lord on our side. If you set a goal and don't go to The Lord for his affirmation and help to achieve it you won't achieve it! It doesn't matter the goal! Spiritual, Temporal, Physical, Emotional... etc. The Lord HAS TO be involved if you want to accomplish it!!!

When you pray for Christ-like Attributes The Lord will pour opportunities for you to develop it! This week I prayed for patience! I was given many opportunities to be patient! What a Blessing!

The Lord will give you just enough strength to get through the hard times. I was not feeling very good several times this week.. But the work must go on! As soon as we would get into a lesson or start talking to someone on the street I would instantly feel better! But as soon as we left or got into the car that sick feeling would come rushing back to me.... I know that The Lord gives us strength to be an instrument in his hands. I am grateful he gives me the strength and then takes it away, so that I can recognize He has a hand in all things.

I am just so full of gratitude. I know that my time here is but a blink of an eye. I hit my 4 month mark on Saturday. It's hard to believe! Only 14 months to go! It will be over so soon and I want to look back and know I did what The Lord asked of me. If anything I want to know that my service was not wasted. I have become a better person. I have realized that we have no other option, but to rely on The Lord and His timing! I am so grateful that I can only call home twice a year and write letters on Monday. I am more focused that way. I do miss all of you! But I know that we can overcome even the hardest trials with our Savior on our side! Thank goodness He knows us better than we know our selves. I look back on where I was a year ago.. where I was two years ago.. where I was 5 years ago... The Lord truly provided a way and guided me so that I would be worthy and prepared to be refined. So that He could mold me into the daughter he wants me to be! The daughter he NEEDS me to be! 

I am so grateful for this sacred time I have been given.

I love you all & pray for you!

Love,

Sister Davis

August 12 2013

What a week! I love being a missionary!

 

Hellooooo all you wonderful cheerleaders!

 

I am so grateful for your support! This week has been one to take note of! We found 4 new investigators! Talked to sooo many people! And had eight lessons with investigators, with members present! We call those LTMs! We met with so many less-actives and had an amazing missionary themed sacrament meeting yesterday!

 

Highlights for this week!!!

 

Ken Kirby! We met Ken as we were walking to visit a less active! We asked him if we could share with him a short message right then... And he invited us in! His girlfriend is a member, but hasn't been to church in 12 years! We were able to explain to him the Truth has been Restored to the Earth! He listened so intently! It wasn't a planned lesson, but The Lord put him in our path and gave us the opportunity to share this life changing message with him! I am so grateful that the Lord is guiding this work!

 

Josephina! As missionaries we offer blessings on homes in the form of a prayer. As representatives of Jesus Christ, people may ask us for the things that they would ask Christ for if He were here with them. Such as peace, comfort, etc. We met Josephina and explained that to her. She invited us in to have a prayer with her. I offered that prayer. The Spirit was so strong. I know that there were unseen angels with us. The way she described how she felt after the prayer was amazing.

Kelly M! Kelly was baptized last year, but his family is really against the church and so he stopped going. We were able to have a lesson with him and hear of his testimony and how he found the church. He wants to come back. He is just struggling! Thank goodness the Lord is on our side to help him!

Melody! I talked about her a month ago... She has been really sick and we haven't been able to meet with her. But that changed this week! We just stopped by and she let us in to share the message of the Restoration! It was great! She said that it sounded familiar, like home! I know that the Spirit can touch any ones heart! It is amazing to see that!

Marcos! This is a crazy experience! We met Marcos at a park and he was walking his dog. He started asking us a bunch of questions and he asked us if we could come over the next day and teach him more. He gave us his number and apt number. The next day we tried to call him before hand, but he gave us the wrong number. We went by his apt. But he gave us the wrong apt. number. We felt like we should knock on an apt across the way, and it was his apt! We met his mom and she told us he wasn't home, but to come back later! We tried calling the wrong number again, but it was still wrong... THEN.. I had remembered that when he gave us his phone number he said the last two digits were 24 and then said "oh actually it is 23" So we thought we should just try calling the number with a 24 at the end... GUESS WHAT.. it was his number!!!! He tried to give us all this false information.. BUT the Spirit led us to him anyways! Crazy huh?! WHAT A BLESSING! 

Yesterday, our Sacrament meeting was themed Missionary Work! I spoke first and made many specific promise to the members if they would share the gospel. Following my 3 min talk.. yes 3 min.. I know that is hard to believe... There were 5 members who each spoke for 3-5min about missionary experiences that they have had! Each was unique. But SO powerful! Then Sister Berger spoke for 3 min about a new thing we are starting in the ward! It is a MEMBER MISSION PLAN! Each ward has a mission plan, and each family should.. But since this is YSA we started a member plan! Where they can set goals and make plans to share the gospel!!! It is great!!!!!! Then Justin, our ward mission leader spoke! It was powerful!

We had about 5 new less actives come to church, along with the ones that have already been reactive. Two of them who never stay for all three hours.. stayed this week! It was so great!!!!! 

Okay last awesome miracle!

Last night we met a guy named Nate! We told him that we had an important message to share and that it would only take 15min. He invited us in and we shared the message of the Restoration! We explained to him that we have a living  Prophet today, Thomas S. Monson. He is just like Noah and Moses, we told him. Nate wanted to see Thomas S.Monson so we told him to visit LDS.org and watch a talk. He was so interested to learn and to read The Book of Mormon. The Lord just provided the way for us last night!

I know that this Gospel is SO real and can help every single person we come in contact with! I also know with all my heart... That this isn't just "another" thing to do, it is the ONLY thing to do! Sharing the Gospel is the ultimate way to live the promises and covenants we make at baptism!

I love this Gospel! I love the Book of Mormon and Bible! I love my Savior!

I love and miss y'all! Please write!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

XOXO!

Love,

Sister Davis

August 5 2013

WOW! WHAT A GREAT WEEK!

 

Hello cute family and friends!

 

I have to say this week, and especially these past two days have been full of tender mercies from The Lord. He truly knows us and loves us! He truly knows you and loves you! Sometimes it is hard to remember things that I did earlier this week because each day is so long! But I will hit the highlights of the past two days!

 

Friday/Saturday we street contacted 3 different guys and we were able to set an appointment with them each one of them!

 

On Sunday morning we went to a lesson and brought Kayla Paige! She is just so great! The guy we had the lesson with is named Michael. He basically lives in a party house with his half-brother. He has had a really hard life and was very open about the trials he has faced. We taught The Restoration and it was a powerful lesson! He told us that he never listens when people talk about religion, but we made him listen. He said that he will really pray about this. He told us that he hasn't prayed or gone to a church since his grandpa died, 8 years ago. He said it is just too hard. His grandpa was the one that raised him and taught him religion. We are meeting with Michael again soon! It is sure to be great!

 

After our lesson, Sister Berger and I went to our church meetings and then were standing in the back of the chapel welcoming people. Some crazy person, behind me, put their hands over my eyes... I had no idea who it could be.. I turned around and said, "Oh HEY!" Before I really saw who it was.. Then when I saw it was Summer and Kara, my cousins. I was speechless. It took me a second to realize it was really them, here in Robindale... It just made no sense. But it was the greatest thing! I just wanted to hold their hands the whole 3 hours. I just couldn't stop smiling or tearing up or touching them. I just am so grateful I could see them. It was a great surprise! WHAT A BLESSING!

 

Later on, we had a lesson with a guy named Rodrigo! He is from El Salvador. Jasmine and Cesar came with us and it was an awesome lesson! We taught the restoration, but focused on the authority that Christ gave to the prophets and apostles. We compared it to a flash light! Prophets light the way in a dark place, but the flash light has to have the battery or it won't work. That battery gives it the power or the authority. He really understood that and wants to read the Book of Mormon and learn more! It will be great to meet with him again this week!

 

Today Summer and Kara took Sister Berger and I to a doctors appointment and to Jamba Juice! It was so great to get to catch up with them. I am so grateful to have a family that loves and supports me. I know that Heavenly Father gave me them on purpose! He knew I couldn't make it through this life without the amazing support system that I have! I am SO blessed!!!!

 

I am so grateful for my Savior and I am so humbled that he has allowed me to represent Him for 18 months. I just hope that I can make Him proud! I love serving here in LasVegas. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!

 

I love you all so very much! Please write! Know that I pray for you!

 

XOXO!

 

Love,

Sister Davis

July 29 2013

Hellooooo :)

 

This week has been a very long week. Many changes! But change is a great thing! My new companion is amazing! Her name is Sister Berger! She's from Michigan and went toBYU-I the past 3 years! She knows Noah... well she sat next to him in a math class or two.. she recognized him from a picture I have! Crazy stuff! But she is the happiest person I have ever met! Never a dull moment! We have been street contacting people left and right! We have appointments set with three of the people we talked to on the street! Really awesome!

 

Since my mission began I have had many people not be interested in the message we share, but it wasn't until this past week that I had some who wanted to bible bash with us. It's amazing how The Lord protects us. As he was going off about all the reasons the Mormons are from the devil, the Lord placed many scriptures and ideas in my mind. I could have easily told him he was wrong, and shown him in the Bible that what he was saying was false. But all I could say was that we aren't here to fight or draw contention and just apologize. I know, however, The Lord put those scriptures and ideas in my mind to protect me and my testimony. So I would know that He is aware of me. He is proud of me! What a blessing that is!

 

This week we had a lesson with Dylan & Ryan C. They are brothers and are both veryyyy less active! We've been trying to meet with them since May. Dylan came to church on Sunday, which was such a blessing! He stayed for all three hours and then helped pick up chairs and socialize! We have a lesson with him this week! Reactivation is the best!!!

 

We also met Kelly! He is a less active! We invited him to come to institute and he came! We are meeting with him soon! What a blessing!

 

We taught a lesson to Rose this week! She is a member who was baptized two years ago. We were talking about how members of the church will not be tempted by things of the world like drugs, alcohol, or sex.. But of internal things... doubts, insecurities, fears.. which will lead to the outward temptations. That is why it is so important to be aware of our weaknesses so that we may be protected! Ether 12:27 has taken on another meaning for me.. 

 

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humblethemselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

 

We must know our weaknesses! We find that out through prayer! It is when we pray that we can find strength! I know that without pray I could not do The Lord's work. This work begins on our knees! What a blessing it is to communicate with our Father in Heaven!!! We must include him in all we do and trust in His timing! His timing is perfect!!

 

This P-Day when I went to the office all the Elders were teasing me and singing me Happy Birthday! They said it must be your birthday with as many letters as you have today! It sure was great to read your words! I wait all week to get mail! They truly get me through the hard days! Please keep writing! Every letter is so precious to me!

 

Love and miss you all more than you know!!!!

 

Love,

Sister Davis

July 22 2013

Hello my beautiful friends and family!

 

Well what a week it has been. One to remember, that is for sure! So much to say as always and sooo little time! So I will hit the highlights...

 

Last Monday was our 40 day fast fireside! It was powerful! Many members brought their friends! We finally were able to set an appointment with a girl named, Ashley, who we've been trying to meet with....

 

Fast forward to Friday... Ashley canceled our appointment, but we knew that we really needed to meet with her.. We scheduled the appointment for 30 minutes after our original appointment, with much effort. When we met with her we shared a Mormon Message about the Atonement. It was powerful! She began to cry and told us that she feels very alone! We told her that our message would bring her peace and committed her to meet with us and let us help her. We invited her to come to church and she said Yes!

 

Fast Forward to Sunday... Ashley came to church! All three hours! It was great! After church they announced there would be a baptism held for another ward after church so we would need to get out of the building quickly... Ashley turned to me and said, "I want to be baptized! Can I watch that baptism, so I know what my baptism will be like?" What a blessing!!!! We went to the baptism and explained to her that the men preforming the baptism have the authority of God to baptize people, and told her that her friend, Jake, had that same authority. You could see the Spirit working on her the whole time. After the baptism, she went and found Jake, and said "Jake I'm getting baptized, would you baptize me?" Jake was taken off guard but He said, "Of course! Thank you!" Ashley wanted to go talk to the two ladies that had just gotten baptized. She went up to them and told them that she was getting baptized next! That it was her turn now! She is so precious! The "Why I Believe" Fireside was after the baptism and she wanted to go to that too! So we took her to hear the conversion stories of three other people! The Spirit was so strong! She really connected with the last speaker and after the fireside went up to him to talk to him! He spent a few minutes talking with her and telling her that he waited 6 years to get baptized, because he was afraid of his mom... And he regrets everyday he waited to get baptize. Ashley's mom is totally against the church and hates us.. It meant a lot that that man had a similar trial. I know he really touched her. The fireside ended at 8pm... We spent 7 hours yesterday with Ashley! That is for sure the longest lesson ever!! After the Fireside was over she turned to me and asked... "What's next?" She wanted more!! We set an appointment up to meet with her tonight, and we will commit her to a baptism date!!! She is so prepared and wants this so bad!!!!! I am so excited for her!!!!! I will let you know how that goes next week!!!

 

Next miracle.. Corrine! We had a lesson with Kayla Richardson, who just left for her mission in WA!, a few weeks ago and Corrine was there just watching... I think I may have written about her before... Anyways... Kayla gave us Corrine's number just before she entered the MTC! We called her on Thursday... She told us that she has been reading The Book of Mormon and The Bible together! She said she didn't understand much.. We told her we could meet with her and that we would answer her questions.. she said, "I would LOVE that!" She was so excited to meet with us again... We have an appointment with her this Thursday... I will let you know how that goes!!!

 

Next miracle.... Brittany! Brittany is the girl friend of a guy, Jason, in our ward who is less active.. We asked if we could practice our lesson on him and that we would need another girl there with us. He volunteered his girlfriend... she was not happy! But when we met with them Brittany was very open and asked when we could meet again! What a blessing!

 

Okay last miracle of this email... Dillon Thornton! Dillon is a less active we met this past week! We are reactivating him now! He was in a serious car accident a year ago and was in a coma for months, because he was texting and driving! Crazy! He served a mission in Mexico City four years ago. He wants to come back to church, but he isn't all there since the accident. He has brain damage and struggles with socializing with others! He is a blessing to us and I know that the Atonement can heal his pains!

 

So many miracles this week and many I didn't have time to tell you about! It has been a great week! This was the last week of the transfer and my last day with Sister Cardenas! I am staying here in Robindale, but she is going to Paradiso. My new companion is Sister Berger! She is awesome! I've met her a few times, and we are officially companions tomorrow! I will tell you more about her when I learn more about her!

 

Until next week, know that I love you soo soo soo much! I know that this is where The Lord needs me to be right now! And I am so humbled to be able to take part in helping my brothers and sisters become closer to Him! How great is this calling?!!! SO GREAT!!!!

 

Love,

Sister Davis

July 15 2013

Hello all!

This week has been a week of miracles! I know it may seem like I say that every week! But it is sooo true! This week especially! I am not even sure where to begin! I want to start with thanking all of you for your letters & packages! This week I was very popular and it feels so great to know you are thinking of me! I treasure each letter! I have a binder I put each one in a sheet protector and always read them when those rainy days come! They don't come often, but every once in awhile I get a little down and they truly cheer me up and brighten my days.

Well, we have a new investigator! His name is Prakas.. and he is from Nepal!!! He speaks very little English. He is Hindu, but only because they really don't have a choice in Nepal. He is so sweet and very humble. He doesn't know anything about God or Jesus Christ! All he knew was that "Americans" were "Christians".. He came to church 2 Sundays ago and didn't understand much, because of the language, but he felt good. We taught The Restoration of The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Everything we explained was in a very simple way, but he felt the Spirit! We told him we would get him a Book of Mormon in English and Nepali! ... But we soon found out that there is no Book of Mormon in Nepali :( There is only 180ish members in Nepal, and no Book of Mormon has been translated for them! We plan to read it with him to help with the language. It was an amazing experience to teach him of our Savior and our Heavenly Father. I can feel the Saviors love for him! Even though he doesn't know Christ, Christ knows him! It is the best being a missionary!!!

We have been teaching two less active guys, Skye and Dylan, they are from Hawaii! They aresooo cool! We had a powerful lesson about Prayer last week! They have come to church the past 4 weeks, but only stay for Sacrament Meeting... But this week they stayed for Sacrament AND Sunday School! WOOH! 2 out of the 3 meetings! What a blessing!!!!!

Yesterday ended our 40 day Fast! It truly has been an amazing 40 days!!! FULL OF MIRACLES! We are having a Fireside tonight to end the fast!!! Three members of our YSA ward will be sharing their conversion stories! We will have two amazing musical numbers! And a member of the Mission Presidency is going to speak! Plus desserts of course! You are all invited ;) It is sure to be a great night!!!! I will let you know how it goes next week!!!

Over these past 3 months (yes I hit my 3 month mark this Wednesday!) I have grown so much in The Gospel. The Plan of Salvation truly has taken a whole new meaning! I know that we will all see our loved ones again. They are in a temporary state. They are sharing the Gospel with those who haven't received it and they are learning about The Gospel and this great plan! Christ is with them! I received a call from my wonderful Mission President yesterday, he sends his love and prayers to all of you who have recently lost a loved one. President Neider really helped me to recognize that Christ is looking after each one of us whether we are here on the earth or if we have passed on. 

I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of our Savior and His Atonement! I could not serve this mission without His Atonement! Prakas really opened my eyes that there really are people who don't know who Christ is or what He did for them! I am grateful to share this with everyone I meet!

I love you all! And I am so grateful to have my big brother here on the mission with me!

Can't wait to hear from you next week! XOXO!

Love,

Sister Davis

July 01 2013

Hello my beautiful family and friends!

This week was record breaking temperatures for Las Vegas! We received six heat alerts from our mission president. Six! We've been trying our best to stay hydrated! But these past few days no one has let us in. We just knock all day - out in the heat and then back in our little red oven! But the work here is moving forward and we have been showered with blessings during this heat wave!

There is so much to say and so little time! So I will do my best to convey how amazing this week has been!

On Wednesday, we were out knocking doors.. we stopped by a house we had been before, but no one had answered. This time someone did! A girl named Melody - we asked her if we could share a message with her about Christ! She said she would love that and asked if we could come back this next week! She has been in and out of the hospital and in and out of foster care her whole life. She told us how Christ has always been her rock and we told her we could help her faith become even stronger! I can't wait to see her again!

We also ran into a girl named Rikki, who I street contacted a few weeks ago in an apartment complex when we were on exchanges! We've tried to set up a time to meet with her, but her schedule is sooo crazy! She told us this past week that this would be the perfect time in her life to meet with us, that her faith use to be really solid, but she has been struggling a lot these past few years. We had her neighbor, Kayla, (I've written about her before) give Rikki a Finding Faith in Christ DVD! Rikki loved it! And wants to meet with us soon! What a blessing!!

Okay last blessing for this email....

Yesterday, a lady named Kim, who is a member, brought her old neighbor to the Singles Ward. Her name is Kayla, not confuse anyone... Now I am working with 3 different Kayla's.... Anyways, This Kayla called Kim yesterday morning and asked her if she could go to church with her!!! She asked to come to church!! WHAT A BLESSING!!!!!!!! We will be meeting with her later this week also, if everything works out with her schedule!

Say lots of prayers! The work is moving forward! I am so grateful to be apart of this great and marvelous work!

Always praying for you and sending my love your way!

Keep sending letters and packages! I live for them!

Love,

Sister Davis