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!
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