Happy Bloomin' Boxing Day :)

Dear Family, 

I liked your subject mom, so I stole it :)

It was BRILLIANT to see all of you yesterday! We have the best family ever. I love you all so much!!! And I am so happy to hear about how the Lord is blessing all of you! I know He loves you even more than I do (which is impossible to comprehend). 

As I was thinking about your questions about things unique to an English Christmas, I came up with a couple things. Not many, but here they are:

Christmas crackers, you pull them apart and they pop. Inside is a little tissue paper hat/crown, some stickers, and a corny joke. 

Mince pies. These little pastry pies filled with mince. "That doesn't thrill me at all"

At 3 pm on Christmas, everyone watches the Queen's speech. It's about 5 minutes long. 

Christmas pudding (which I did try. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but the member said that she had made it lighter than it normally is.)

This is such a wonderful time of the year. I am so grateful for my Savior and for the love that we can feel from him and the love that we can offer to others. Thank you so much for sending the book of Christmas stories. I love Christmas stories. They really help to bring the spirit of Christ. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior. I love him. I love knowing that because of him I can become clean, I can improve, and I can be with those I love forever. This gospel is true. It is the best! I know it. I live it. I LOVE IT!!!

We have seen so many miracles this week and met so many prepared people. Just to update you on Hassan, he won't be getting baptized soon. President says he needs to wait until he chooses a date for himself and is REALLY solid in his testimony because once he does join, he will face so much opposition, especially from his family. But Hassan is carrying on strong and continues to exercise great faith! I know he will get baptized one day. 

I'll share one of my favorite miracles from the week: We went to see our 11- yr old investigator, Anais. Her mum has always been there when we have taught but isn't always concentrated on what we are teaching and usually gets distracted and comes in and out of the room and doesn't really like to be involved at all in the lessons.  She has a really hard time believing in Jesus Christ, but loves Christmas. We've been praying to really help her feel the true spirit of Christmas.  we were reading the Book of Mormon with her daughter, who has a very strong testimony and clear understanding of Jesus Christ, in Helaman 14 about Samuel's prophesy of the coming of Christ. Like normal,  her mom just sat on the side listening, not involved at all, yet not as distracted as normal. It started with her daughter sharing her beliefs about Jesus Christ and how she believes everyone needs to believe in him because he came and sacrificed his life for them. Sister Stoja and I both bore our testimonies of who Jesus Christ is. Then we asked her mother how she was feeling about who Jesus Christ is. It was amazing to see how she was touched by the spirit. She didn't claim a sudden belief in Christ, but she said that she could understand what we believed and see we were really passionate about it. She said she could tell that we really believed in him. We then shared with her that it was something she could know for herself; she said that for the first time she had understood that as she had been listening. We then sang some Christmas Carols with them. IT was amazing the spirit that was in there home. The mother said that she had never had Christmas carols sung in her home before but thanked us and said how nice it was. It was a wonderful experience and definitely an answer to our prayers. 

We still haven't gotten our call about moves, but I'll try and email again once we find out! Happy Traveling! Give all the family my love!

I love you all!!!! 

Love, Sister Davis xoxoxox

Moves Calls news:

Sister Stoja and I are staying!!!!! Whoo!! 

Still in Ilford. It's going to be a great transfer! 

I love you all!!! 

Love, Sister Davis 

Christmas is coming, Sister Davis is getting fat. Please put a penny in the old man's hat

FAMILY!!!

9 days! Wahoo!! 

You were suppose to let me know when a good time to skype would be since I don't remember what the time difference is, but since you didn't, I am planning to skype about 4pm my time on Christmas day. This should be sometime in the morning for you. IF THAT DOESN:T WORK PLEASE EMAIL AND LET ME KNOW ASAP! I plan to do like last time and just log onto dad's skype account if that is ok. Also, originally President Jordan had told us that we would have an hour and a half to skype...but when Elder Dykes came we were informed that we are strictly following the white handbook. So I'll only get to skype for 30-40 minutes, so PLEASE make sure that everyone is awake and ready when I skype. PLEASE, PLEASE!!! I can't wait!!!

Also, since next week is Christmas, we aren't having p-day on Monday, it will be boxing day(the day after Christmas). so you won't hear from me until we're skyping, but I will check my email when I come on Friday to do progress record so you must let me know if anything with skyping needs to change! Thankfully yesterday we had a family invite us for Christmas. We were starting to get worried that no one would have us. The Elders had gotten an invite weeks ago and the Ward Mission Leader had said if we didn't get invited anywhere we could go with him and his wife, but they have been really sick for the last two weeks and so we didn't think they'd be up for having us anyway. An awesome family, the Stevenson's, are having though. Should be lots of fun! And I really cannot wait to skype with all of you. 

No one here says Happy Holidays. I haven't even seen a sign with that on it. It's Merry Christmas  and Happy Christmas for everyone here. Well, everyone here that celebrates... remember that Ilford is filled with Muslims... and with quite a few Jehovah witnesses. So lots of people that don't celebrate Christmas. Everyone else is really into. I don't know that they necessarily are focused on the true meaning of it, but atleast they are much happier. Some people do use Xmas though:(. Our bishop talked in sacrament meeting yesterday and he shared that at work they were having a Christmas party and they put up some signs about it saying "xmas party". He said he was so upset and offended about it; he went to his managers and had a talk with them about it (keep in mind he is a big Nigerian man and very passionate about God). They just tried to shrug it off, but he said the next day that he went to work that had taken down all the old signs and put up new ones that said "Christmas party". How sad it is that Satan has skewed people's views to want to get rid of the true meaning of Christmas, but what a great opportunity for each of us to share our testimonies and let others remember Christ through our light and example. 

This week has been really great and we have seen so many miracles. Hassan is progressing well. He is meeting with President Jordan this week so we'll know more about when he can get baptized after that. I really admire his faith and his humility. 

The Conference with Elder Dykes was WONDERFUL!!! I loved it so much. I wish I had brought my notes with me to share specifics. And Canterbury zone was there (it wasn't the whole mission meeting together... they had a few days of conferences, but we got to have ours with Canterbury Zone.. which was my last zone) so I got to see Sister Larson and hear all about Gillingham. It made me miss it so much!!! But I'm happy to know that she is there and taking good care of it. Elliot got baptized!!!!! And our investigator, Kevin, is still progressing and they said every time they teach him he asks about me. it's always nice to know that I made an impact on the people there. They really are all so amazing and have such a special place in my heart. 

I got to surprise teach gospel principles yesterday. Our Assistant WML was suppose to teach it sense our WML was sick, but right before he texted us to say that his wife was sick and they weren't coming to church. I think for it being so last minute it turned out ok. I also got to put my talent to use at a baptism at Romford this week by playing the piano for them. I am really glad I could because it was such a sweet service. I love the spirit that is at baptisms and to see the joy that the individual being baptised has. They just glow. And he bore such a sweet testimony afterwards. 

We are really trying to build the trust of the ward. I can understand some of the reasons they don't have as much trust in the missionaries from what I've heard other missionaries have been like in the past, which just makes me so sad. And it makes the work for us so much harder, but we have already seen so much success. Since our ward mission leader has been really sick, I thought that maybe I should just go through the ward list and send the progress record to everyone in ward council that had an email on the ward list (our ward mission leader has never given us their emails, but told us that he would forward them the progress records. Since he was sick I wasn't sure he'd be able to forward them so I thought I'd better send it to those that I could). Well, the next day we went to a ward function and the bishop came up to us just absolutely thrilled and just thanked us so much for sending the progress record. He said it was the first one that he has received in MONTHS. What?! We thought that he had been getting them this whole time, but it was lovely to see how grateful he was for it and how he immediately let us know when he is available to come teach with us. It's amazing the little things that can make such a huge difference. Hopefully we can just continue to build up the ward, both in bringing people into the ward and also in strengthening those they already have. 

Which brings a really cool miracle we had when we were less-active finding this week. We had planned to try and visit a certain less-active. When we got to the street that we thought was her street, we realized the street name was just slightly different than what we had on the ward list. Well, I figured the Lord knew we were going to that street and maybe he had prepared someone else for us. So we knocked on the door of where the less active would have been if it was the right street. Nothing. No answer. But the neighbor next door was outside and started talking with us. We had a great conversation with him and then he said "My neighbor across the street is a mormon." We asked who it was. Turns out it was another less active that we were going to try and see later in the week. But the address we had for t hem on the ward list was not on the street we were on. We never would have been able to find them otherwise. It was really amazing. Yesterday we were able to go see this family and had a wonderful lesson with them. Hopefully that all made sense, but it was just a really cool experience to see how the Lord has His hands in this work and is guiding us. And we've seen so many instances of that this week where we've been just where we needed to be and found wonderfully prepared people. This truly is the Lord's work. I know this church is true. I am so grateful for my Savior and for the time that we have to celebrate his birth!

I love you all!!! See you soon!

Love, 

Sister Davis 

 

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Dear Family!

Thanks for taking all the cold weather. It's still cold here, but not as cold as everyone keeps saying it's suppose to be so I suppose that it all headed to you guys.

Man Satan really is sneaky. Hassan still has such strong faith, but he got really sick this week and so we haven't been able to see him at all and then some work things came up so we haven't taught him for about 2 weeks. :( So he won't be able to be baptized on the 15th, but we are seeing him this week and working out a new schedule so we can teach him everything and get him baptized this month. He's so great! Since he's been sick he went on mormon.org and has been doing skype with some other missionaries. Apparently one of them is from Vegas! I didn't recognize the name, but I thought it was fun anyway.

We got a great new investigator this week, Suzana. We had a solid first lesson with her. AFter we taught the first vision she said, "Wow, there were two of them." She comes from a catholic background, but she quickly accepted what we know to be the truth about the nature of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and them being two separate beings. We gave her a baptism date. We were suppose to have a lesson with her the next day but she hosed us. And she wouldn't answer our calls or texts. We were pretty bummed. But then we had a member who asked us to try and bring an investigator to dinner. We thought we might as well try Suzana. The worst things that could happen is she doesn't pick up... but she did!! And she came to dinner and loved it and got on really well with the members! It was lovely. We had a really great lesson.

We started reading the Book of Mormon as a mission. We are all going to read it from the 6th of December and finish on the 6th of April. We are focusing on the commandments and associated blessings. I was almost finished with the Book of Mormon, but I restarted anyway. It's great. I love the Book of Mormon. It truly is an amazing book and really is the word of God. How blessed we are to have it!

We got to bake and decorate Christmas sugar cookies this week with a member for the ward Christmas party! That was fun! The ward Christmas party was good, but sadly some of the investigators we were hoping could come ended up not being able to:( They had asked us missionaries to do a funny skit for it. We had a pretty solid idea, but then last minute the Elders decided they didn't want to do it and we had to change everything.... it was interesting. Hopefully the ward enjoyed it.

Did I tell you one of our investigators taps? We took her to a dinner appointment with us and while we were washing up her and I just started tap dancing together. So fun! I miss that! Tell Ronda that I am putting to use all those great things she taught me!

London last week was AMAZING! I am serving in the best place ever... and for more reasons than just the touristy sites. I'll send some pictures.

Tomorrow we are going to Hyde Park to hear from Elder Dykes of the 70. Should be good. I am really looking forward to it.

I am looking forward to getting to see all of you via skype soon!! I can't believe it's already almost Christmas! What time would be the best for me to skype?? Then I can work out with members whose house I can go to at that time.

What a wonderful time of the year where we get to celebrate the birth of the Savior and what a great time to share this great news with our friends and neighbors! I'm so grateful for the unique opportunity to share this wonderful message at this time!!

I love you all!!!

Love, Sister Davis

Dear Family, 

I am so glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

Everyone in Ilford is famous. I don't think I told you yet, but we go teaching with Lola. If you don't know who Lola is, go to mormon.org.uk and find her video. She is on all the pass-along cards and when they did the huge mormon ad campaign in London her face was everywhere. She's awesome! She's not in our ward, but she's in the Stratford ward, which meets in our same building. The stratford ward only has Elders in it so she comes with us teaching :) Also, the woman who plays Jane in the Joseph Smith movie is in our ward! Crazy! 

This week has been full of miracles. We have met so many wonderful people and have gotten so many great referrals. Hassan really is converted. He always talks about how happy he is now that he has the gospel and he keeps talking to everyone about it. He's been bringing friends along to all his lessons and they are great! It's awesome!! Hopefully our members can get that conversion bug too! He didn't lose his job from coming to stake conference, but he did get suspended for 2 weeks. He's not at all bothered about it and he said that the Lord blessed him with more hours at another job. He made the connection that it was the Lord blessing him! He's so golden! Hopefully we can get him to come to church this next week though and find time to teach him everything between working so he can be baptised on the 15th! 

We had a musical fireside in our ward on Friday. The England London Mission choir came and performed (some of the missionaries are in a choir and play different musical instruments). It was really good! And it was a great experience for some of our investigators. 

We have these other investigators, a mother (Virette) and her daughter (jade) and ... her daughter's girlfriend. Jade would be so wonderful except for how she chooses to live. And she recognizes that she shouldn't be living like that too. We talked about how there are people who have those feelings and it doesn't make them evil, but they shouldn't act on those feelings. her and her girlfriend understand and have such a strong belief in God and in Jesus Christ, but they say it's just too hard for them to not live that way. They said they believe everything we teach and it makes them sad because they know they can't be baptized. It makes me so sad! They know it's true and I just don't know how to help them have the courage and strength to do what is right and receive all the blessings God wants for them. Please keep them in your prayers as well. I know the Lord can inspire us how to best help them. Hopefully we can help them to feel the spirit and have a desire to do what is right. 

Thanksgiving was mostly like every other day in the mission. Teaching and finding, and finding and teaching, BUT all of us missionaries in the ward got to go to an American family's home for dinner. IT WAS SOOOO GOOD! A traditional American Thanksgiving with keylime, pumpkin, and pecan pie. Yummy!! This family also sent us home with a sweet box of Christmas presents! They gave each of us a Cadbury advent calendar and another member of the ward had given us one, so we got to have two chocolates every night till Christmas! Whoo. And the best part is that it's not yucky, waxy, cheap chocolate; it's delicious! 

We are going to London today!!! YAY!! I'm so excited!!! 

This week should be great! WE are teaching so many wonderful people and we have the ward Christmas party. And it's almost Christmas and so everyone is so much happier and friendly. It's a unique and wonderful time to share about the gospel of Jesus Christ!! It's true and wonderful!!

I love you!

Love, 

Sister Davis 

 

And I thought missionary work was exciting

Dear Family, 

Oh my days!! (that's a very English saying which an Elder in the ward is constantly commenting on how much we all say it....When in England, speak as the English speak, I guess ;)) But really OH MY DAYS!!! I couldn't read the letters fast enough. I feel like I've just watched an intense season finale of White Collar or Sherlock after reading your letters. Thankfully I got to know the cliff hangers. First of all, I am so grateful that I can be a missionary and know that the Lord has promised to keep my family safe (In so many blessings since I've been on my mission, it always says not to worry about my family because the Lord will take care of you.) I wish that it didn't have to be manifested in such a huge way, but atleast we can all recognize the blessings and the Lord's hand in our lives. And just think what a GREAT missionary moment conversation this can be for the WHOLE family (I expect some good reports next week about this :))

I MISS THE MOUNTAINS!!! We don't have any snow yet, but everyone keeps saying it is on its way. We had an intense hail storm this week though. It was awesome! Thankfully we were just catching a bus somewhere, but some of the elders were out street contacting in it (they said they had to change their plans a bit. haha). I loved what you said about coming out of comfort zone. I've been thinking a lot this week that I need to do that more. We grow the most when we are uncomfortable and so my goal is to push myself more out of my limits so I can truly become what the Lord needs me to be. 

Jimmy, there are no llamas in England. Sorry. Just lots of spiders. And mice :) And foxes!! I saw one this week!

In exciting new this week: I started a new journal!! YAY! We had interviews (THE BEST EVER!!). We caught another mouse. Sister Stoja I think is beginning to realize how OCD I am because I started really cleaning our flat today (it was pretty gross). Mom, I understand your love for bleach now. I made brownies for one of the Elder's birthdays. Yup, homemade brownies. I had never made chocolate brownies from scratch before. And Julie, I'll have you know that they weren't dry or cakey. They were delicious (with nuts of course, Dad:)) We have had several days where we have lunch and dinner appointments!! I am beginning to see why everyone gets fat in this area. I went running this week...and slipped on ice. I bruised my knee really bad, but nothing seriously injured thank goodness! We had stake conference this weekend too!! So good! It was really funny though. So Friday night we had dinner at the bishop's house. Part of our lesson was helping them with a family mission plan. We have a sheet that we print out with goals to fill in and quotes and all that jazz. So then on Saturday night at stake conference all the bishops were giving talks. Guess what our bishop talked on? Everything that was on our member mission plan. Really, he read everything on it. IT was pretty funny; I'm glad we could help him out with his talk. They shared that a general authority that came a few years back said to their stake that once the missionaries serving FROM Europe equals the number of missionaries serving IN Europe the work will truly be hastening. Well tomorrow in the Romford STake (the stake I'm serving in) the 22nd missionary from the stake will be set apart. There are currently 22 full-time missionaries serving in Romford Stake. AWESOME!! The Lord truly is hastening his work!

Our amazing muslim investigator, Hassan, came to stake conference and loved it. He is amazing! He told us that he couldn't come because he was working, but then he said about 2 hours before it was starting he just felt like he needed to come. So he came and said he just turned his phone off so nothing could get in the way of him coming and so his boss couldn't call and get mad at him (a big risk because he really needs that job). I know he is feeling the spirit so much and I love that he is so quick to follow it. He is already sharing the gospel with everyone around him. We are hoping to meet a couple of his friends tonight to teach them. He is just so full of courage. He says whenever he gets scared, he just says a prayer and doesn't let the negative thoughts come. I learn so much from his great example of faith!

We've met some other amazingly prepared people this week!! So many good people to help come closer to Jesus Christ! 

What a glorious time when we can help the Lord to share this message with everyone! I love it!

I love you all!

Love, Sister Davis 

 

 

Ilford: No heating, mice, and a whole lot of Muslims.

Dear Family, 

Ilford is CRAZY! Really crazy! But I love it!! Dad, you asked what is different and it's just about everything. It is so so different from Gillingham. There are three sets of missionaries in the ward: 2 sets of Elders (2 from Utah, 1 from Australia, and 1 from California). They seem to be doing pretty well with bringing people into the ward, but apparently retention is no bueno in the ward. It's sad really. But hopefully we can help make some really good changes. The ward is really good, although I still don't really know most of them. There are so many different cultures there (which is very different since most members in my other areas have been English). Our Bishop is African and there are lots of Africans in the ward, there's English, people from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, America, etc. It's a true London experience now. There are SO many Indians here. Most people are Muslim, but there are also lots  of Seeks and Hindus; most Africans are Christian. I really feel like everything is different from where I was before. Which is exciting! I do miss some things from Gillingham, but I don't really feel like it's even fair to compare the two. I get to ride a red double-decker bus EVERYDAY!!! I am in London!!! And now that I'm close to London I'll get to have a p-day in London!!!! I'm so excited!! 

Sister Stoja is my companion from Tirane, Albania. Her parents converted when she was just a baby so she's grown up in the church. She has been out three months (just finished 12 week training) and speaks really good English. Uncle Bob, what else would you like to know about Albania? That's great to look for opportunities to have casual conversations about the gospel. She's great. 

In other exciting news, when I got to my new home in Ilford there was NO heating. AND it's FREEZING!!!! I didn't sleep well at all the first two nights even with being all bundled up and having like three blankets. But it's ok because it's all fixed now and we have a nice toasty warm home. Sister Stoja said the heating has never worked but her last companion just never called the landlord about it. I don't know why they didn't call or how they survived. I called after my first night and thankfully they got it fixed right away (it was such an easy fix too, if I knew anything about heating I could have fixed it. It was just pushing a button- I'm sure there are many gospel analogies you can get out of this.) So don't worry, I'm not freezing anymore. BUT Mom, you would die in our flat.. there is mice!! I am dying in our flat with mice. They had two that they caught before I came and then discovered shortly before I came there was another one. We caught that one but then the other day we found some bread eaten that lets us know there is atleast another one :( Opposition in ALL things I guess. haha. 

So I know the new hunger games movie is coming out because there are posters for it everywhere. I really liked a quote on one though (maybe it's on all of them but I don't pay attention to them) "Remember who the enemy is." I thought it was very applicable for each of us. We have to remember who the enemy is. We always have to have our guard up and be aware of the attacks that Satan will throw at us. Especially as we know that the times are getting worse and worse and Satan is obviously raising his efforts, that means we have to raise our's too. But along with remembering who the enemy is, we also must remember whose side we are on; the winning team: God's side; And if any of us are ever making choices that would suggest that we aren't on God's side then we need to make a change if we want to come out conqueror over the enemy. 

Amongst all the many muslims here, there is a fabulous Muslim named Hassan that we are teaching. He is amazing!! He is sacrificing SO much to learn about the gospel and take steps to follow Jesus Christ. It really is humbling to see the trust he is taking in turning to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It can be quite dangerous for Muslims to leave their religion. We have a member of our ward who came from a Muslim family and in a lesson with HAssan he was sharing about his experience. It really is so inspiring to see how much people are willing to sacrifice to worship the true and living God and come closer to their Savior. Please pray for Hassan. We have given him a date of the 15th of December. I hope and pray taht he can make it!! I know that with God's help, he can! 

I've met so many great people already. We are working to build our teaching pool and find people that will really progress. Prays would be so wonderful!! I love having so many new people to talk to. I felt like in Gillingham that I had talked to most people there; I would always run into people I had talked to before. And here there are just so many people all the time. It's great! And I just love how new and exciting everything is. And it's amazing that even though so many people here are Muslim or of a different religion and maybe aren't as eager to talk with us, I just LOVE it! I just can't stop smiling. Being a missionary is the best!! And I know that the message that I share is true. I know there are people who have a desire to hear this message, and I know as I do everything within my power to share it with others that the Lord will place those who are prepared in our path. 

In a conversation I had with a Muslim this week, it made me so grateful for my knowledge of personal revelation. He kept telling me that I needed to read the Quaran and then I could know that Jesus Christ was really just a prophet and not the Son of God(crazy talk). I asked him if he had ever prayed and asked God if the Quaran was true and if Jesus Christ was really a prophet. He said no, that I just needed to read the Quaran and I could understand the truth, but although he said that prayer was so important, he said that he had never asked God about the truth of anything; he just took what the Quaran said as truth. I am so grateful to know that Heavenly Father loves us so much that we can asked him the truth of anything and everything and that if we ask with a sincere heart and real intent then we can know the truth of ALL things. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he is my Savior. I love him so dearly for what he has done for me and what he continues to do for me everyday. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have prayed about it and through personal revelation I know that it is true. And I know that every person can know this truth for themselves. And I pray that everyone can know this truth for themselves because it is amazing!! 

I love you all!!!!!! 

Love, Sister Davis 

 

 

I forgot to put my new address in my email. 

Here it is:

3 Clandon Road

Ilford

London IG3 8BB

P.S. Sister Som is in my district!! It was so fun to see her at district meeting!

 

 

 

The Magical Land of London

Dear Family,

You are the best! I just love hearing from you every week.

Also, I think I've officially decided on the scripture for my placque: Alma 26:12 (and maybe if you wanted to include a couple lines from vs. 11 starting with "behold, my joy is full...")

 

This week was amazing! Sister Larson and I were on fire with our finding. We found some really good people, including a former investigator from my first transfer here. He was amazing, but then we just couldn't make contact with him. We saw him on the high street the other day and are starting to teach him again. He also introduced us to his friend. I don't know how interested his friend is, but he sure made for a crazy lesson and he's funny. He was trying to discuss (moreso argue) a point with us. We were just really confused and trying to get him to explain better. Finally he just said "I don't even know what I'm trying to say so I can't help you to understand what I'm trying to say." haha. Later after we had taught about our purpose and the Book of Mormon he said "well, your Jesus sounds spot on." Awesome. Even though he may be a bit crazy, atleast he can recognize truth. Truth will prevail.

We found out we get to keep teaching Elliot even though he lives in London South. We got permission from Pres. Jordan!!

I got to be Sister Larson's mom this week. She's been having trouble breathing and she finally gave in to the fact that she needed to go to the doctors. Her family doesn't go to the doctor for anything (hence why she's NEVER had an eye exam) and she really hasn't ever had a real dr's visit, just for her mission papers. So she was a bit nervous about it, but I held her hand through it and she survived. She came out with an inhaler and has been doing much better so we're guessing she has some mild asthma although the doctor said all the tests were fine.

In exciting news!!!! I got to go to London this week!!! Not just for a missionary meeting, but to actually do proselyting!! IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!! I loved it! We had a workover with the Sister Training Leaders. One came and worked in Gillingham with Sister Larson and I went to London to work with Sister Portillo, from Bolivia. So fun! And Linda, I got to teach a Peruvian!! There is this amazing family who Sister Portillo is teaching in Spanish. Sadly my spanish isn't good enough to teach any doctrine in spanish... I just taught simply in English, but I was able to talk a bit in spanish and I could understand almost everything they were saying in Spanish. It was so cool. I got to ride on a RED double decker bus! And I got to see big ben and the London eye... we ran there for exercise in the morning!

Also, speaking of Spanish speakers, we have this awesome friend, Leonardo from Ecuador, who plays pipes on the high street (Linda, like the pipes you brought back with you). It's funny because he doesn't really play any actual songs he just randomly makes sounds on his pipes with long pauses in between and then has a CD of a song playing the background.

 

So the news you've all been waiting for....

I am leaving the blessed land of Gillingham. I knew this day was coming, but it doesn't even seem real. It has been a wonderful 6 months here and I am so grateful for all the wonderful people I could meet and teach and help come closer to Christ. Sister Larson is staying here and getting a companion from Brazil, Sister Oliveira.  I am going to Illford (where every Sister missionary gets fat :( ). But I am so excited! Apparently there are lots of Africans there! I've talked to a lot of people who have served there and they love it so I am really looking forward to it. And although I will really miss Gillingham, I think I am ready for a change of scenery. I am grateful for teh many wonderful experience and growth I could have here, but I know it's time for something new and an opportunity for new growth and experiences. I am going to be companions with a sister from Albania! I can't remember her name, sorry. Should be fun! I'll be able to tell you more about her and Illford and the wonderful people there next week!!!

 

This work is amazing! I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that my Heavenly Father is there and that he loves me and wants me to be happy; that is what He wants for ALL of his children! And I get to be a part of bringing that to them! What a blessing! The Book of Mormon is true! Everyone should read it and pray about it. It will change their lives! I know it has changed mine and continues to help me change to become more like my Savior everyday that I read from its pages.

 

I love you all!!!

Love, Sister Davis 

 

I like to look for rainbows because there's so much rain

Dear Family,

 Miracle of the week: MISSY GOT BAPTISED!!!!!!!

On Thursday (when we normally teach her), her dad called to cancel since it was halloween and she was going to a friend's. But then he told us that her mom had softened her heart and was ok with Missy being baptised. Not only was she ok with it, but she wanted it and wanted it done soon as possible. So we had two days to put a baptism together. It was a bit stressful, but it all worked out. We were just so thrilled and grateful for our prayers to be answered! And she got to get the gift of the Holy Ghost on her birthday. What fun! Her brother (who was baptised about a month ago) spoke at her baptism and did such a sweet job!

We have not been able to get in touch with Lakota :( We sent him a letter. We just hope he is ok because he didn't seem like the type who would just ignore us.

Rudy is facing some challenges but he is still doing pretty well. We went with him and his children to the fireworks for Bonfire Night. Bonfire Night is a holiday in England. I don't really understand what it's about, but they light bonfires and do fireworks. The fireworks show was really cool! But it was literally cool too; it was freezing. Winter is here. I hate it, but I'm surviving.

We have a really wonderful new investigator this week, Kevin. He came to church yesterday and really enjoyed it. He's older and so I think it will be a bit slower of a process for him because change is a bit hard for him, but he is really open and doing well.

Shayla is amazing! We haven't seen her for awhile because she was sick and then she went on holiday. We saw her this week and she is so excited for Christmas. She was asking us about where she can read about it in the Book of Mormon. She said that she's really excited for it now because now that she's Christian it really means something. When we met up with her to walk to church, we were just a little bit late and when we walked up she was waiting there reading the Book of Mormon!!

Elliot, the boyfriend of a girl in our ward, is GOLDEN! HE is so prepared and so eager to learn and prepare for baptism. BUT.... we can't teach him :( He lives in Maidstone, which is in London South and so we have to pass him over to those missionaries. So sad.

Halloween isn't really that big here. A few people dress up but most people don't even do anything for the holiday.

Sorry this email is probably a bit all over the place. I can't really think and my stomach has started not feeling good as I'm writing (don't worry Mom)... Anyway, just know that things are going well.

Transfers are next week, so I'll be emailing on Tuesday!

One more quick thought: So yesterday, Sister Larson and I were tracting. Most people just sent us away because they were having tea (that's what they call dinner). We finally got to a door where someone would talk to us. It was an older teenage boy. He said that he didn't have any belief in God and that he never wondered about it, about the purpose of life, or about really anything that we teach people about. Sister Larson and I both bore our testimonies and taught about prayer. The boy just said, "I think that is stupid." Not really the response we were hoping for. But it really just hit me how grateful I am that I know that not only is God there, but he is my Heavenly Father and He loves me. He wants me to communicate with him. He wants me to be happy. I know He wants that for all of His children, but he also will let them choose whether or not they want it and that means that some won't choose that. I'm grateful I have the choice to choose to believe in Heavenly Father! I know that He is there. He cares about each one of us and He hears and answers our prayers! It's our job to share this good news with everyone, but it's not our job to force them to accept it. Which goes back to Kevin; he says that when he first met us, he liked talking to us because we didn't force anything at him like another religion he mentioned, that I won't. He continually mentions as we meet with him that he loves that we just share and don't push him into anything. This is the Lord's work. As we reach out in love to His children, if they are prepared, they will want to know more. If they choose not to, the Lord will continue to bless us for our efforts!

I love you all!!

Love, Sister Davis

P.S. Anything specific any of you would like in a Christmas package?

Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy

Hiya Fam!!

So the best thing of this week was getting a whole extra hour of sleep Saturday night. A whole hour! IT was glorious! Because America is not the only ones who does silly time changes (who knew, right?-name that movie KRisti.. I'll give you a hint:frying pans). So since we turned back the clocks we got to sleep in an extra hour. However, our phone doesn't automatically change time, which we didn't know and we use the alarm on our phone. So we hopped out of bed at 6:29am only to find out that it really was 5:29 and we got to sleep longer! Ok.. so this really wasn't the best thing of the week, but it was pretty magical. However, I probably could have slept for 10 more hours. 

Zone Conference this week was MARVELOUS! We talked about the great apostasy and how important it is to understand that in order to appreciate and truly understand the importance of the restoration. President Jordan talked to us about the history of gospel doctrine during the great apostasy and it is so interesting to see the valuable simple truths that Satan got the leaders to vote out of Christianity. Firstly being who God and Jesus Christ are, and our eternal relationship with them, existing before we came to this earth. Then we talked about the Hastening the work of Salvation. In case you haven't heard, the Lord is hastening His work. It was so good. The stake presidents from Romford Stake and our stake, Canterbury came and spoke. I LOVE OUR STAKE PRESIDENT. HE IS AWESOME!! He did such a fantastic job. And the best part is that he leads by example. He shared with us a list of friends that he is working with and the progress they are making. It was inspiring to see him not just talking the talk, but taking real action!  He had so many ideas for member work that I am excited to incorporate with the members. He did a really cool demonstration. Him and President Jordan sang the first verse of Brightly Beams our FAther's Mercy. Then they invited whoever wanted to join them to come up. Quite a few did, and they sang the second verse. It was even better than when Him and President Jordan sang it. So then he invited anyone else who wanted to be a part of the last verse to come up. Everyone got up and sang the last verse. The spirit was so strong. And he then talked about how that is how we do missionary work. The stake and the mission come together.. come shoulder to shoulder and get the work started. And then we invited others to join us. And little by little everyone gets excited about the work and wants to join in and be a part of it all. And the results are even better than when we started. It was so powerful. 

Then this weekend, we had Elder Dryden, an area 70 from Leeds come talk to our ward and the other ward in our building. Our stake president, PResident Hunt,  came as well. It was all about hastening the work of salvation. I loved it!! President Hunt did a similar presentation in RS/Priesthood as he did at Zone Conference. It was really neat. Elder Dryden shared some really amazing thoughts, as well. And then he came into our Gospel Principles class. That was really cool to be able to sit in a small setting like that with a man of God. He has such a wonderful spirit. It was really amazing to get to have personal conversation with him....oh, the perks that come from being a missionary! But I am really excited to see the change that will come to missionaries and members working together.

Missy is doing good, but we are still waiting to hear from her mother... We haven't been able to make contact with Lakota, but we will not give up! Rudy is doing pretty well. He has some Word of Wisdom issues that he's struggling with. He did give us his tea and cigarettes though to dispose of (that was weird.. SIster Larson and I felt like sinner just holding the things: I realized that I had never touched a cigarette before. Who knew the first time I did would be on my mission?! haha) We are so excited for some lessons that we are teaching tonight. One is the boyfriend of a girl in our ward. She's been good about talking to him about the gospel and invited him to Stake Conference and he's been going to institute with her (on the Book of Mormon). He has decided that he wants to take the discussions!! It should be really good!And the other lesson is also a friend of a member. The work really is so much better when the members and missionaries are in it together (we're all in this together! So get your H-E-A-D, head in the game. Wookie, wookie :)).

Some days the work is really hard when just NO ONE wants to talk to us, and then the ones that will talk to us feel the need to tell us what we believe (which is always way off!) and then they won't even listen to us explain our beliefs or answer the questions they have, but it's amazing how that all just goes away and is forgotten once we find just one person who we can have a quality gospel conversation with. It's true that the work is not easy, and like Elder HOlland says it's because "salvation is not a cheap experience". I am so grateful to know that this is the Lord's work. That not only is He working to help His children have an opportunity to receive the restored gospel, but He is working to help me to be the disciple that He needs me to be, not just for this mission, but forever. I pray that we may each rise up and be the disciples that He needs as we reach out in love to his children, all those around us. The gospel is true! IT is the way to true happiness!!!

I love you all!

Love,

Sister Davis

I Believe In Christ

Dear Family,

Way to go on the missionary experiences everyone!!! I am so proud of you all! Keep it up! I'm excited to hear more next week!

Our new relief Society presidency really is the best! Sister Rogers isn't the one who makes 7 desserts (that's SIster Hawkins... we're going there next week!!!), but SIster Rogers does feed us every week and is a good cook. She's given me lots of yummy dessert recipes. She called her counselors yesterday: Sister Lingad (a phillipino sister who recently moved in who is a member missionary machine! We just started teaching her friend) and Sister Johnson (the bishop's wife, who is also a fantastic member missionary: she invited over 40 nonmembers to her son's baptizm and is working really closely with this one family whose children participated in the primary program!). It's going to be amazing to see how this change will help the missionary work move forward. We also had an amazing lesson with SIster Roger's neighbor Suzie this week! She is so excited for us to come back. 

I love England, but the weather really is stupid! Every time it starts raining, Sister Larson and I get out our umbrellas and about 2 minutes later it's stopped raining. So we put our umbrellas away and then it starts raining again a few minutes later. Over and over and over this happens. And we can't just leave our umbrellas up while it's not raining because then we just look silly and it's a hastle, but seriously every time once we put our umbrellas away it starts to rain again and once we get them out it stops. So weird. It hasn't been too unbearably cold.

This week, our investigator, Rudy, accepted a baptismal date. We started teaching him during the week because he takes care of his young children on the weekend and they are very distracting in the lesson. We took them to church on Sunday. WE were a bit nervous that they wouldn't be ready on time and how the kids might behave, but once we got there, the kids were all ready and looking out the window. Once they saw us they started yelling and getting excited,"Dad, Sister Davis and Sister LArson are here! They are here! They are here!" It was so cute! And they were so good during church. Our ward was really great about fellowshipping them.

Lakota gets back from holiday today. I hope he is still progressing and no strong opposition happened while he was away.

Missy's mom is softening her heart, but still hasn't agreed for Missy to be baptized. We gave Missy a new date with the hope that her mom will say yes this weekend. WE set the date for the 2nd of November. MIssy's birthday is the 3rd of November and would then get the gift of the Holy Ghost on that day. What better gift than that for her birthday?! She is so excited! Please pray that her mother will allow her to be baptized then!!!

We've had a good week. Time just is flying though. It's crazy how fast the weeks go, yet how LONG some of the days can be. But it's great and we are teaching such wonderful people, and pray that we will continue to find those that are prepared. People really need the gospel now more than ever! I just wish that all of them would realize that. It really is so scary to see how sneaky and deceitful Satan can be in keeping people from the truth. We met this mother and daughter yesterday. The daughter is 16 and she smoked 2 cigarettes in the time that we were there. The mother has been smoking since she was 9 and said she's tried to give it up but her children won't let her! How sad! I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but EVERYONE in England smokes. I really just don't understand why it apeals to people, but it just is so so sad. This mother was also convinced that because she is "a good person" that that is enough and she doesn't need Jesus Christ. If people could just open their hearts and really understand what Jesus Christ can and will do for them. Thankfully there are people who will listen and who allow their hearts to be changed, but it really is the saddest thing to see those who have just hardened their hearts so much to God and those things that would truly make them happy. 

I am so grateful that I KNOW that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he came to earth and suffered and died for me. He knows everything that I ever go through and knows perfectly how to help me. Because of Him, I can be forgiven. I can be clean. And I know that is true for every single one of God's children! What a glorious, happy plan Heavenly Father has made for us! 

Continue to spread this wonderful message to all those around you!

I love you all so much!!! 

Love, Sister Davis 

Converting the Princess

Dear Family,

Thank you for your letters!

No one here says "oh sugar". They do have very strang sayings though. Sister larson and I were just making a list of them the other day. I'll send some to the family. They say cheeky here a lot. That is Sister Larson favorite one and she uses it all the time. haha. They especially say cheeky monkey. There are different accents. The farther up north people are from the stronger their accent and the harder to understand them. I don't really have a favorite. Sister Larson and I are working on our accents though. Every morning when we read the missionary handbook we do it in our best English accent (which for me most of the time sounds more new zealandy than Brittish...)

Sister Larson and I do lots of fun things. We haven't done a chocolate face mask yet, but we have a fun jar that we do every night. They are weird, random things. One night we skipped around, one night had a 3-minute dance party, last night we played "this word describes..." with the dictionary and randomly flipping open and picking a word. We have one that is to put up the Christmas tree (we have one in our flat :)). So we have lots of fun!

This week has been pretty good. We desperately need to find more people to teach. Lakota is doing well, but he's gone on holiday for two weeks (what is with all our investigators always going on holiday?). The weather here has been... well, English weather. We had an amazing summer. And now it is over. IT has been downpouring rain most days. That makes tracting fun! But atleast it causes people to ask us why on earth we are knocking on doors in that weather and provides great opportunities to testify.

We are having slow success with exciting the members, but success nonetheless. We have started having a missionary moment at the beginning of Relief Society and we had a WONDERFUL missionary lesson in RS yesterday. We got a new RS President. It was one of the couselors from before, Sister Rogers. She's amazing. And she referred us to two of her neighbors, who we have appointments with tomorrow! Pleas pray they go well! It's for Kelly and Susie. She will be amazing though. She already basically was president, because the previous president (who also was amzing) went on holiday for a month and recently has been really sick. We also got a new Elders Quorum President ( I wonder if it has anything to do with the issue of home teaching). Hopefully we can really get the ward council doing missionary work and that will inspire the rest of the ward.

We had an amazing sacrament meeting yesterday. We have those special people who always get up every Sunday and do the "did I tell you the story about..." kind of testimonies. They got up yesterday as well, but then so many others got up and bore simple, pure testimonies of the Savior. The spirit was just wonderful! Too bad none of our investigators could make it :(

Mom, before I forget, I can't remember if I told you this already, but a couple weeks ago I had a dream that the family all went to the party for the queen. In the dream you gave Princess Kate a Book of Mormon. And then she asked to meet with us, the missionaries! IT was awesome!

We got the mp3 of the last session of Conference and have started listening to it. So good!! I just love Conference! And the gospel! And the fact that we have a living prophet! And the fact that I get to teach people about our Savior! What a wonderful gospel this is!!

I love you all so very much! I pray for you and know the Lord is blessing you!

Love,

Sister Davis

So we had an emergency transfer this week.

I'm going to......

 

 

HOGWARTS!! ;)

 

 

I got to go to Platform 9 3/4!!! HOw cool is that?! 

 

Dear Family,

Don't worry; I'm not dead. Sorry that I didn't get to write yesterday. We had an all day sisters training conference in London. It was wonderful and so uplifting. Between watching the RS Broadcast, the first three sessions of Conference, and the Sisters Training, I am all super spiritually recharged! What a wonderful past few days!! Conference truly was AMAZING! I LOVED all the focus of member missionary work. Sister Larson and I are so excited to start really working with our members and helping them get fired up about missionary work and fulfilling the call the prophet has given to them. Way to go on making a family mission plan. I'd love to hear more details about it! So many people commented about President Eyring's talk and for the life of me I can't remember what he talked on. I'll have to look at my notes when I get back to the flat. I think with all the broadcasts and trainings and everything it's all just blended into one. I do know that I LOVED President Monson's talk at the Relief Society Broadcast and I loved the focus of covenants. It is always interesting to see the theme of Conferences. Aside from the last session (since it was too late here for us to watch it), it seemed covenants, missionary work, and enduring (truly living the gospel, handling challenges with faith, repenting, and making and keeping covenants) seemed the big themes. It does make it seem like the second coming is getting closer and closer. How wonderful that we get to be a part of this great work!! Also, the missionaries from Central London after conference are in my mission; I know them!!! The one from New Zealand is one of our AP's. all wonderful missionaries! I must say watching Conference as a missionary is a bit of a different experience. So many things people said I was thinking, "if only ____ was watching this." or "this is just for ____" or "I hope that _____ is watching this and feeling the spirit of this particular message" But of course, I was blessed to get lots out of it for myself as well. What a wonderful blessing to have living prophets and apostles! I don't know how anyone could watch conference and doubt this wonderful good news of the restored gospel. It's so true!!! And Conference just brings the perfect spirit of it!

 Sister Larson really is so great! She is from Fruit Heights, Utah. She knows our cousin, Mark! They went to school together!! How fun! She has the same laugh as Megan. IT's awesome! And we laugh a lot, which is so great! She's only been out three months, but I feel like she is re-training me. She's so wonderful. And she has some great ideas about helping our ward become more enthusiastic about missionary work. She also is a cosmotologist. Free haircuts!! Which is awesome because on transfer day I really wanted to go get my hair trimmed because it is driving me NUTS. We didn't have time though with visiting people and getting Sister Som packed. Then what do you know, I get a companion who cuts hair. I was so excited when she told me (especially because hair cuts here are pretty pricy... and that's even just having them cut it dry-they have dry cuts and wet cuts and the wet cuts are ridiculously much). Since we were in London yesterday for pday I haven't been able to get it cut yet, but I WILL get it cut next week.

We saw a fox this week! It was awesome. People are always saying they are everywhere in England and I finally got to see one.

We had a crazy Ward council this week. It was like WWIII. It was over Home teaching (which I heard the priesthood session talked a bit about.). Our ward has been saying the HT list is going to be re-done and updated ever since I got here and keep promising that it will be done by the next ward council. Well, 4.5 months later with me still here, it still isn't done. Our RS President wasn't too happy about it. And the Elders Quorum wasn't at the meeting to help sort anything out. Hopefully by the next ward council it will be done or else I don't envy the person who has to tell our RS President. I can understand her frustration because so many sisters are struggling to stay active and having Home teachers who can bring the spirit to the home can make such a difference. Hopefully as we continue to work with the ward as well, we can help.

Lakota is doing pretty well. His mom fell this past week and so he had to go and help her and we weren't able to visit him :( But we are suppose to be seeing him today. Hopefully it goes well!!

We also have the daughter of a less active , Missy, who is suppose to be baptized in a couple weeks. Her father's heart is finally softened to the idea (his son was just baptized a few weeks ago). And he is really excited for her, but now her mom is not happy with it. Please pray that her mom's heart will be softened and that she can get baptized!!

So we went and taught Lakota and he is doing great! He will go on holiday this week, but he is excited to continue to read the Book of Mormon and he really wants to come to church once he gets back!

I am so thankful for this wonderful gospel. I know that it has been restored in it's fulness. I know we have a living prophet today, Thomas S. Monson. He speaks for God. He holds the power of God. I have been called and set apart with that power. For that, I am so eternally grateful!

I love you all!!!!!!!!

Love, Sister Davis xoxoxo

We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet

Dear Family,

Can you believe this week marks my 6 months?! It is going by much too fast, but I am so grateful everyday for inspired leaders and the opportunity the Lord has given me to devote myself to full-time service. It is hard to believe it was a year ago that President Monson made the announcement that has completely changed my life and is completely changing the world. I am so excited for GEneral Conference!!!!!! HOpefully we will be able to get many people there. However, sadly because of the time difference I won't be able to see all of the session. Hopefully, it will work to be able to see all but the last session. We haven't seen the RS broadcast but they are broadcasting it this week. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Shayla is still doing amazing. She is integrating into the ward really well. She went to institute this week and really enjoyed it. They are just starting the Book of Mormon course so it will be perfect for her! The miracle man in the library is doing really well. His name is Lakota. HE accepted a baptismal date in November!! It would have been sooner but he is going on holiday for 2 weeks to Germany. We had taught him Word of Wisdom in our first lesson and when we went back he had already given up tea completely and was cutting down on coffee. So wonderful!! We had this other amazing investigator, Carla, who was getting so excited to be prepared for baptism, but sadly one of her friends sad some negative things about our church that Carla took as her answer that it wasn't true. I was devastated! It is so sad to see people blinded by the craftiness of men and fail to understand the happiness that their loving Heavenly Father so desperately wants for them. Hopefully in time her heart will be softened.

This week truly has been full of miracles and we have met so many amazing people!

Sacrament Meeting was absolutely wonderful! IT was the primary program. Other than General Conference I think it is my favorite Sunday of the year. There is just such a sweet spirit about seeing and hearing the children bear testimony of sweet, simple gospel truths. Our bishop and his wife have been working closely with their friends who have three children. They were able to come on Sunday and two of their children that were old enough were able to participate in the program. THey are definitely going to join the church one day. They are such a wonderful family! And it was a really sweet experience to see a once less-active man and his recently baptized son pass the sacrament. Sister Greenfield and I had been teaching the son, but then passed him to the elders because we felt that it would help him relate with the priesthood more. He was baptized a couple weeks ago and received the priesthood last Sunday. We are still teaching his younger sister (who's 10), but her dad who was originally hesitant for her to be baptized is eager for her to be able to be baptized as well. So hopefully in a couple weeks she will be baptized as well. It is amazing to see the growth this family has made. In general on Sunday it was just a really sweet experience to see the growth the ward has made since I've been here and to be able to see how I've been able to be an instrument in the hand of the Lord in making it happen. I felt it was the perfect Sunday to be my possible last. The Lord definitely knows what is best. We received a call last night. I will be..... staying in Gillingham! Sister Som is leaving to Romford and I am getting Sister Larson here. I think that she just finished her 12-week training. I honestly was pretty shocked that I am staying here; I had SIster Som all prepped to take over the area, but I think she is relieved to not be in that situation. By the end of this transfer I will have been here for 6 months. I am really happy though because I just absolutely love the people. The ward is fantastic and we are working with so many wonderful people. When the Lord decides it is finally the time for me to go somewhere else it will be really hard to leave. I'm excited to see the miracles that will happen this next transfer. This is truly the Lord's work and He is doing things in His way:perfectly. I know this church is true; that it is God's kingdom on the Earth. I know that through the prophet Joseph Smith the priesthood, the power and authority of God, was restored to the Earth. I am grateful for the saving ordinances it allows us to perform, the sweet covenants it allows us to make. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It was written for our day and I come to love it more and more every single day.

Enjoy listening to a prophet's voice this weekend! (Don't forget to come prepared with questions and prepared to receive personal revelation :))

I love you all!!

Love, Sister Davis

 

"We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ.The Bible sits on the pulpit of hundreds of different religious sects. The Book of Mormon, the record of Joseph, verifies and clarifies the Bible. It removes stumbling blocks, it restores many plain and precious things. We testify that when used together, the Bible and the Book of Mormon confound false doctrines, lay down contentions, and establish peace. (See 2 Ne. 3:12.) We do not have to prove the Book of Mormon is true. The book is its own proof. All we need to do is read it and declare it! The Book of Mormon is not on trial—the people of the world, including the members of the Church, are on trial as to what they will do with this second witness for Christ."- President Ezra Taft Benson

Dear Family,

Shayla's baptism was wonderful! We had a bit of a rough time scheduling it because we scheduled a time and then found out there was a stake primary activity happening at the same time and Shayla couldn't do the time they wanted to and the bishopric wanted to push it back another week. I was not going to let that happen and the Lord was on our side so everything worked out ok. Poor Shayla had to be baptised three times. The young man baptising her was doing his first baptism and I think he was more nervous than she was. She was a great sport about it though and it was lovely. I was keeping it together really well and then the Ward Mission Leader asked me to come up and bear my testimony. I am my mother's daughter and didn't get a word out before I was crying. The spirit was so strong there and it was amazing to see how happy Shayla was. Her sister and cousin were able to come and although they may not be interested at the moment, it was a very positive experience for them. Our ward has been brilliant to reach out and make Shayla a part of the ward. I think she really is feeling a part of the family. It was funny though because she left church with  a whole stack of books. I asked her what her plans were for the rest of Sunday and she just said that she had some reading to do. haha. Hopefully she wasn't too overwhelmed.

Funny story: We had a step-in with a man this week named Tony. SIster Som was saving a prayer before we left and couldn't quite remember his name; she called him Tuna. I wanted to correct her but I was laughing so hard and was trying not to laugh out loud and I knew if I said anything I would lose it. And she said his name, or rather what she thought his name was, more than once in the prayer. Thankfully she could laugh about it.

Interviews were so wonderful! President Jordan is such an inspired man. I know he is called of God. And Sister Jordan is absolutely wonderful! They both did brilliant trainings and the spirit was just so strong! BEing a missionary is the best! How priviledged I am to have the opportunity to learn and grow and to bear the Savior's precious name.

I love you all!

Love,

Sister Davis

P.S. Don't forget next week is transfers so I'll be emailing on Tuesday again. :) I can't believe another transfer has gone by... and then it's GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!! I'm just a bit excited for that. 

Quick Miracle

So as I'm sitting here emailing you (at the library), a man comes up to me and asks how he can get information about the Latter-day Saints... well, he asked the right person!! He says he's always wanted to learn more about the mormons and that he just moved here. Amazing! The Lord truly does micromanage our lives (Linda, I remember you use to say that in almost every email you sent home. haha... I guess because it's the truth! :) ) So great!

Love you lots!

Sister Davis