Farewell Northampton

Dear Family,

Well, I'm leaving Northampton and dear Sister Karyan. I'm going to miss it so much, and Sister Karyan and I are bummed because we had such a great past week and we had such a great week planned for this coming week, but she's training again and we have great things set up for her new companion. Everyone, minus the zone leaders, in the Northampton district are training brand new missionaries! There are so many new missionaries coming. It's amazing!! I'm going to Gillingham (in Kent, near Canterbury) with Sister Greenfield. She is from England (so maybe I'll pick up an accent;)) and she jsut finished her 12-wk training. And some sisters from my MTC group are serving together and finishing up their 12-wk together, so that shows how many new missionaries are coming in. And new areas are opening. It's great! My new area will be a big change though because Sister Karyan and I haven't taught too many lessons; we've mostly been finding, but in my new area President Jordan said we have 3 on date for baptism and they teach 20+ lessons a week. So I guess it'll be a good opportunity to learn how to teach and hopefully I'll be able to learn quickly. Even though I'm really sad to leave, it is so comforting to know that this is the Lord's work and he knows what he is doing. I have complete confidence that I am going where I need to be. 

Sister Karyan is finally doing a little bit better, but is still making mends. HOpefully this new sister will take good care of her. This week has been fun. It's been a little discouraging because every potential appointment we had set up fell through (People just wouldn't so up or wouldn't be home) but it has also been so fun! Sister Karyan and I are really getting the hang of tracting. Yesterday we had an amazing day and got 8 potential appointments (Which is usually what we get in a whole week). It was so good and made it hard to hear I am leaving, but all is well. We had a talent show and cake auction in the ward on Saturday. It was kind of sad; there was only 2 performances of talents. One sister sang and us missionaries sang (I played the piano). My piano abilities are definitely improving. And then they auctioned off cakes taht the priesthood leaders had decorated (some were really good and others you could tell had been decorated by someone with little talent in decoration, but they were great!) It definitely wasn't like the Sun Valley ward's auction. Most went for just a couple pounds and I think the highest bid one was around twenty pounds.

Funny story- Sister Karyan and I were tracting this week and we went to go visit a former investigator, but they had moved so we just decided to tract in the area. We knocked on this one door and a man just started talking to us through the door. We were having a hard time hearing him, so he got down and started talking through the mailslot in the door. Apparently he couldn't find the key to his door, but we taught and testified all about the restoration through the mailslot and got a return appointment (which he wasn't there for) but it was hilarious! Another time we were tracting and this women started mowing her lawn (they call it their garden here) we offerred to help, but she said she was ok (for some reason people think sisters can't give service; they never want our help), but Sister Karyan would not take no for an answer and just took the mower from the lady and started going. So I started talking to the lady and had a lovely conversation with her. Her sister actually used to be a member of the church, but after some tragedies in thier family had stopped going. It was a great conversation and we got to pray with her. And it was funny because sister Karyan told me after we left that she had finished mowing the lawn earlier than she stopped, but wanted to give me more time to talk with this lady so she just kept mowing over the spots she had already done. She's so great!

This work is so great! I love being a missionary. It is really hard, but it's so wonderful and I wouldn't choose to be any other place. The Lord's work is so great and I am so thankful to have this gospel. It breaks my heart to see how some people are living and yet they reject what we want to offer them because I don't think they fully understand what they are rejecting. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is restored on the earth today. I know that we are led by a living prophet. I know that if we are on the Lord's side we will always come out conquerors. And I am so grateful to be on His side! I love you all and hope you have a fabulous week! I can't wait to tell you about my new companion and new area next week; I'll head there tomorrow!!

Love, Sister Davis

Keep calm... even in the constantly changing weather

Dearest Family,

I really stink at coming up with clever subject titles.

We have so many muslims here. We run into them all the time. And it's tough because we have to be careful about teaching them and so Sister Karyan and I haven't quite figured out how to invite them when we are talking to them. We are however teaching a man who used to be Muslim, but he does not like Muslims at all. It's very interesting.

Quick note, next week I won't be emailing until Tuesday because that will be our Pday. And transfers are next week!! I'm nervous to hear what will happen. Yesterday S. Karyan and I were talking and we think one of us are moving but we'll have to see. I want to stay here in Northampton, but I know that whatever happens will be what the Lord wants and will be best. S. Karyan still is having bad headaches and her blood results came back normal so we don't know what to do, but she is great to jsut carry on.

 

This week has been great and busy. Zone Conference was AMAZING!! I had to get up and give a gap training (I don't know if you remember me explaining this over skype, but it's teaching a certain PMG subtopic, with memorized scripture, and inspired question in 2 minutes) in front of everyone. I taught about the Pre-Earth life, but it actually went really well. It helped to boost my confidence in my teaching ability. And while we were in London we saw part of the mormon.org.uk advertizing in the tubes. I took pictures and was going to send them but forgot my usb. Sorry, next week I will send. Also, we had workovers and that was amazing! Sister Webster (from AZ) is so fantastic and I learned so much from her. It was sad though: We went to visit a member family and teach them, only to find out that the Mom has gone completely less active. She hasn't come to church since I've been hear but everyone (my comp, the ward mission leader, etc) said that it was because of her kids. Turns out she says she doesn't have a testimony of Joseph Smith and just can't accept it. She had been doing research about the church online and from what we understood ran into some anti-mormon stuff. It is sad how completely destructive that can be. We've actually seen a few cases with that this week. And we found out yesterday while talking about this with our ward mission leader that this couple was trying to prepare to go to the temple, but Satan is working hard against them. I think that's what I've really realized this week is how real Satan is and how dilligent he is in bringing people down and into misery like himself. But we are dilligent too and in the Lords work (on the winning side) and we continue to have faith that we can help others overcome Satan.

We also had Stake Conference this weekend. It was a broadcast for all of the UK. So good! Elder Baxter, Elder Scott, and President Eyring spoke and all did an amazing job. Elder Scott talked about the sanctity of womanhood. I love how much he loves his wife. President Eyring talked about reactivating and about joining in the rescue. Hopefully the members took it to heart so they can help us in this great work. Dad, I remember you saying how great that one sister missionary in Deseret Hills was about reactivating. What were some of the ways that she worked at reactivating? And what was key to it being so successful?

One of my favorite miracles from this week was from Saturday. We went to visit a referral from the Duston Elders from a member in their ward. We went and knocked on her door, but nothing. Something I learned with S. Webster was to never leave an area without tracting atleast one or two doors. She had told me there is a reason that you are in that area. So even though this referral wasn't home, we decided to tract a few doors. Well, two doors later this kind old woman invited us in. Turns out it was the referral we were trying to reach but she was cat-sitting for her neighbors. She had missionaries living with her for about 7 years, but is not a member. She is the member of another Christian church (she has been baptized into 3 different churches) and loves the Bible and knows about all our beliefs. She did say though that it was not a coincedence that we found her! She commited to read part of the Book of Mormon during her Bible studies and said we could come back. Hopefully her heart will be softened enough this time to recognize this is the truth. Her name is Noreen. Please pray for her! She is great!

Saturday I decided I was going to set a goal to give out atleast 5 pass-alongs every single day or get 1 potential appt. Saturday I had 1 card left so Sunday I was determined to reach my goal. Well, I gave out 10+ cards and we got 1 potential appointment. It was great!

This week we ate with an older sister in our ward. Her house is the cutest thing ever. It was like I had walked into an English house in a movie. The English wallpaper, the little decorations, and sitting down to dinner felt like I was sitting down to tea and crumpets with the queen at this womans cute little table with china. I loved it! Something interesting about English food is they poor gravy over everything. So you have some kind of meat and lots of vegetables (always potatoes included)-basically like Thanksgiving dinner- and then you pour gravy over it all, not just the meat and potatoes, everything on your plate. My companion isn't too fond of doing this, but I quite like it.  And she is such a sweet woman! And her and her husbands conversion story was so great. She waited over 45 years for him to finally join the church after she did and they were able to go to the temple just a little while before he passed away (about 2 years ago).

One of my favorite things I read this week was in 1 Nephi 8:11-12. It jumped out to me that it is AS he is partaking of the fruit that he has the desire to share it with others. The more that we partake of the fruit and feast upon the word of Christ the more we will have joy and have a desire to share that joy with others. It's not after we partake of the fruit, it's while we are partaking of it. And the whole time he is talking about sharing it, he is partaking of it. He doesn't say after he partook. It's AS he partook. I know as we continue to partake of the fruit of the gospel and apply the atonement continually our desire to share it will increase and with our desire will come the faith and the ability to do just that.  This gospel is so true and so wonderful!

I love you all! Enjoy the family reunion and canyoneering for me! Can't wait to hear all about it.

 

Love,

Sister Davis

 

What A Lovely Week

Dear Family,

It was so wonderful to see you and speak to you! Robert and Claire, I wish I could have talked with you too, but the temple is the best reason you could have to have not been there. I hope it was wonderful!

You are all Brilliant and I'm so happy you are picking up on the English-lingo so quickly :). Now work on saying youa'right? and Cheers. These are two that I'm still working on; it just isn't natural for me.

 I can't wait for Zone Conference. It should be so good!! The theme is the Holy Ghost. i'll tell you all about it next week. 

And thanks for the suggestions with Maria's husband. She invites him to church all the time but he just doesn't think he needs to come. But we started teaching her sister this week!! That was great! Her name is Roxana and we got on the topic of the Holy Ghost and she wants to know how she can get it! Hopefully she will continue progressing and hopefully she can get work off so she can come to church. At church yesterday we had a miracle. An investigator that we haven't been able to have any contact with for almost three weeks came to church!!!! It was so exciting. The members were great to make her feel welcome and she wants to start meeting with us again. Hurray! We gave someone a baptismal date this week! She so wants to be baptised and has actually had a baptismal date before but her aunt called off her baptism last time (the girl is 14 and her aunt- a member whose husband is in the bishopric- has guardianship). Please pray that her aunt will understand how important baptism is and let her get baptized! We don't  understand why the aunt is hesitant for her to be baptized, but without her approval she can't be. Hopefully that will go through.

Sister Karyan is still pretty sick. Hopefully she will get better so we can keep all our appointments and so she can enjoy zone conference. Also exciting news, we are hoping to do a work over this week (exchanges) with the sisters in Bedford. That should be fun and I'm excited for what I can learn from the other Sister- Sister Webster is coming to work with me in Northampton. She's training Sister Jacobsmeyer. We must be doing things right because yesterday after church it was raining and neither one of us had brought an umbrella and we didn't have a dinner appt. Well the bishop's wife offerred us a ride to our appointment. She asked if we had a dinner appt and we told her we didn't. She invited us to their house (they were already planning on feeding the elders anyway). So after taking care of the appointment we had, we got fed dinner at Bishop's and it was spicy chilli! I have been missing spicy food. And it was really nice to not have to walk home in the rain. Their family is great. Their oldest daughter and her husband live with them and they remind me of Julie and Nathan (they're awesome and have similar personalities) and are expecting a girl in July. IT was really fun to be with them. I think the Elders were a bit jealous that we get dinner appointments so easily without really even having to try. That's ok :

This gospel is wonderful! I am so grateful for all that Jesus Christ has provided for each of us and for how simple and wonderful Heavenly Father's plan is. I am so grateful for Joseph Smith and the faith that he had to press on when times were hard and to do all needed to do to be a wonderful instrument in the hand of God and to bring so much for the world.

Again, it was so great to talk to you and see you!! I love you!

Cheers :)

Sister Davis

Too old

Dear Family,

Can I just say how much I love you all and am so grateful that you are all dilligent emailers! I love your letters so much! They make me cry and laugh all at the same time! You are amazing!! I couldn't have been blessed with a better family. Thank yous!!

Apparently being late is something engrained in our blood. As hard as I try to push us to get where we need to be on time we are ALWAYS late. But it's not our fault. The bus system here is not great. One day this week we waited for 40 min for a bus that never came and so we ended up having to take a diff one. It worked out ok though and people are really understanding about it. Luckily we are always on time for church. haha. Which speaking of church, I am so thankful that you taught me piano. I wish I would have practiced more, but I play all the time and the Lord is definitely helping me to improve my talent. It's funny that you brought up Sis Karyan's shoes. Let me just say I am so grateful I brought the shoes that I did. They are WONDERFUL! I almost wish I had gotten the brown pair just so my black pair won't wear out as fast, but they have lots of good shoe shops here so if I need to buy another good pair I can. But anyway so Sis Karyan just has lots of normal ballet flats that she brought. Well, we walk ALL the time. Her foot started really hurting about a week ago and she got this funny bump on her foot. We had to go to the hospital to have it looked at (luckily it didn't take as long as it normally can here in England) but the nurse said it's probably tendonitis because her feet do not have the support that she needs for walking. I haven't had any problems with my feet! And thank goodness because it's already driven me crazy that we've had to just make calls and make plans from our flat for the past 2-3 days and do little walking because she is suppose to be staying off her feet. It seems to be getting better though and I think tomorrow we are going to get back to work. So thank you for making the drive out and spending hours with me getting good shoes :) Your fajitas sound so yummy! The mormon.org.uk campaign hasn't affected us tons here but it has helped us to work more with the members. We are still working to improve that, but most nonmembers we talk to don't know about it.

I have been out for over a month now! Crazy! Time flies. It's crazy to think I'm no longer a teenager too. I feel like I should know so much more than I do, but apparently I know some things because Elder Ward asked me to give a training for District Meeting tomorrow. Hopefully that will go well. We had a zone meeting this week and I was able to learn some really great things! The weather has been absolutely gorgeous. The sun is shining almost everyday, which is lovely. I got a little sunburned the other day, bu tdon't worry I have learned to wear sunscreen everyday no matter what the sky looks like in the morning. Like I said earlier, this week has been a little rough with getting appointments and actually teaching people. We set up appts and people either don't show up or call and say they are too busy. We keep pressing forward though and I know things will improve!! I'm really learning how precious agency is and that we can't force or convince people this gospel is true and what they need. They have to have that desire for themselves and allow that seed to be planted. We have had some very interesting conversations with people though. They always try and complicate our message or bible bash, but this week I've really learned how simple the gospel is and that when in doubt, I just bear my testimony and the simple truths and then it's up to them whether to accept it or not.  It's been a really good learning experience. A couple in the ward got married this weekend. That was fun to go to their wedding... and to have some Less actives come! Here in England, they have to be married civily before they can be sealed in the temple. They went to the temple right after, but still hearing the words that their marriage would only last in this mortal life was hard. I wish everyone could understand the AMAZING blessings that come through living the gospel and making those sacred covenants. It also made me very grateful that in America we can have our whole marriage done in the temple. What a blessing! But even more, what a blessing to have this wonderful priesthood authority restored on the EArth. Yesterday in RS we had a great lesson on priesthood and how much the priesthood is used throughout a girl's life. It made me so grateful for all you wonderful priesthood holders that I know, especially for you, Dad. Thank you!

Today we should have a fun P-Day. The sisters from Bedford are coming to play with us! Then tonight we are having FHE at a less-active's home with the Elders. Should be good. Please pray that this week we can find those that are truly prepared to hear this gospel, that will have a desire to keep their comittments. I know this is the Lord's work and that with his help I cannot fail! Thank you for your wonderful examples and for your prayers! You are wonderful! Can't wait to skype with you soon (and like I said I'll let you know tomorrow a specific time- hopefully Saturday morning for you/evening for me). I love you all so very very much!! 

Love, Sister Davis  

Sis Karyan decorated our door for my birthday! And please notice the shirt :) I figured it was the closest I could come to celebrating this day with you :)

The next was taken right outside the entrance to our flat (that's what they call apartments here). There is green everywhere. I love it!

Enjoy!