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!

Let us All Press On

Hiya Family,
Sorry that I ran out of time yesterday. This week has been great! There have been some frustrations.. like people not keeping their appts. And lots of people not answering their phones. That's ok though, this week we have lots of appts set up with promising people :). We also had a wonderful experience on Saturday of meeting a Lithuanian woman who has been a member for 16 years. She has been in Northampton for 1 year and never been to church because she didn't know where it was. She said she saw missionaries, but since she doesn't speak English, she never knew how to stop them or let them know. Luckily we stopped her while we were street contacting and Sis Karyan speaks some Russian so they were able to talk and we were able to get her a ride to church on Sunday. She cried because she was so happy to be there. It really strengthened my testimony that each and every soul is great in the sight of God and that reactivating and helping people come back to the church is just as important as introducing people to the church. We also met this boy who has watched the Joseph Smith video on youtube and says that he believes the story. We are hoping to meet with him again today! We've started tracting more. Any ideas for could street contacting questions or for tracting door approaches?? Sis Karyan has never tracted before I came so this is a new experience for both of us and we welcome any ideas for how we can be better. Mom, speaking about weather, there actually hasn't been much rain where I've been. We had a few days of REALLY wonderful, sunshiney weather. Then the next day it was freezing cold and while we were out tracting it hailed for about 2 minutes. The weather here really can change so fast, but I haven't had to many problems with being too cold. I'm grateful for the sunny days we do have. Sis Karyan is really so sweet and patience. She is always so positive and happy which I love. I am definitely blessed to have her as my companion and even though she isn't the most experienced, we are working really well together to learn everything that we can. She told me that she has never worked so hard as she has with me. Hopefully that's a good thing. Since she is still working on improving her English, we have had some really funny moments. One day she asked the boy we stopped what his name is. He said "Bonji" she then was going to ask for his number, but instead said "Bonji, what is your name" We had a good laugh about that. Also, when we were tracting, a man opened the door and asked "So you're selling religion?" She confidently and with a smile said "yes!" But then I had to explained to her what he had said and she just laughed about it. We had a mission wide conference call from Pres Jordan on Friday. It was basically a call to get to work. He reminded us not to stay too long with members and whenever in doubt of what to do just get out of our flats and do work, whatever that may be: street contacting, tracting, etc. We weren't having really any problems with this, but it's always good to have a reminder and to be reminded of the blessings we get when we are faithfully working. He also told us we are down on our numbers for baptisms and that we need to get back on tract. This was good for us to reevaluate our goals and really trust in the Lord that there are families that he is preparing for us. We just need to find them now! The members in this ward really are wonderful. Many of them are facing different challenges of their own, but they still reach out to bring people into the gospel and to help us missionaries any way they can. Linda, I loved your quote about the Lord sending us to succeed here and not to fail. I was reading a scripture this week (my mind is blanking as to the exact scripture) but it talked about how the people didn't see the success of their efforts until after they had worked hard. There are definitely successes I can see know, but I know that the Lord is working greater miracles than I can even see. Sometimes I don't think it has really hit me yet that I am a missionary, but I love that I can go out each day with the power and authority to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our district is really great and the elders are really great and have helped us a lot. We had a great lesson on planning and district meeting last week that has really helped Sis Karyan and I to plan better. What a difference it can make! This week we have zone meeting. That should be really good!! I know that this gospel is true, that Heavenly Father loves each and everyone of us and that he has sent us this restored gospel because he loves us. The Book of Mormon is the evidence of that! How true and powerful that book is! I am grateful for all the blessings Heavenly Father has given me and that he knows my needs better than I do. I love you all so much! I will keep you in my prayers and hope that you can continue to see the Lord's blessings in our lives.
Love, Sister Davis

First Few Days in the Field

Hiya Family!

It is so great to hear from you!

Good news- I can now email for 1 1/2 hours! Yay! I can email pretty much anyone (so you can give Austin my email and tell him good luck! He will love the mission) but I would caution to not give everyone my email because I do want to keep you all my priority obviously. So I guess if they want to email they can but I won't guarantee an immediate email back if I have a longer letter to write to you guys or to President Jordan. Also, for your info P-days are Monday. I wish the time difference wasn't so much so that I could be writing you when you were awake but most weeks it will likely be around this time or earlier. So maybe Dad will atleast get them when he's not sleeping ;)

Also if you are interested, a Sister in the ward gave me Sis Jordan's blog- englandlondonmission-jordan.blogspot.co.uk I wish I could've found that before I left but it's ok :) Also this Sister said there is a group on LDS Missionary Moms for UK South group that other missionaries' moms are on and sister Jordan is on that... as well as this Sister from the ward- Sister Gibbons.

Tell McKell I do have their address on that list and I will try to write to her today (soon for sure). You could also give her my email but tell her I might end up handwriting a response depending on time.

Ok, so let me tell you about how my first few days have been- AMAZING! As you know I am in Northampton with Sister Karyan. She is a new trainer and was only in this area for four weeks. Three of those weeks was with a sick companion so she doesn't know the area super well and there are not tons of people set up to teach. That's ok though because we've been able to get some great finding and are meeting with the members and less actives. And already I'm learning the area pretty fast. We ride the bus everywhere and do lots of walking, but I love it because it gives so many opportunities to talk to people. Also, we live really close to Town Centre. It's basically like an outlet mall with tons of shops and lots of people. IT's perfect for street contacting. There is also a library there and that's where we meet lots of people to teach. It's a little weird praying and teaching in a public place like that, but the good thing is that the Spirit is in our message and can be ANYWHERE that we share it. My first real day we went finding and ran into a man named Chris who at first wasn't interested but I told him we just want to share what we know and invite him to come to know for himself. He said ok and we've met with him once. He didn't have tons of time so we just talked about the Book of Mormon and invited him to read and pray. He said that next Sunday he will come to church because he has been to another church once before and liked the feeling. We had an appt with him this morning but he didn't show. I think he just forgot and we couldn't get ahold of him. I really hope that we can share more with him. Funny story: another Sister we are teaching, Kelly, is on her way to baptism. She has the testimony we just need to help her to quit smoking. But we were talking about Law of Chastity and following up about how she was doing with keeping that. She said she had accidentally kissed this boy. We then had to clarify a little bit what the law of chastity is an that a little kiss can be ok. IT reminded me of an episode of the District with some miscommunication about LOC. We are getting lots of dinner appt set up with members. Our first one was with the Gibbons and the food was great! Not bland at all. The dessert was similar to crockpot cake, but not in a crockpot. It was a nice reminder of home. We then were able to teach an investigator in their home. It was amazing!! The church is doing amazing things here in London. You should look up the new advertising the church just lanched here. So great! The Lord is preparing people. And we had a great sacrament meeting yesterday about missionary work and about the members' part in that. I gave my first talk and I think it went well. I spoke and my comp and the two Elders in our ward, Elder Ward (DL) and Elder Toth (from Romania!). There is also a recent convert from Romania, Robert :) Also, I thought you might like to know that my comp and I sang a christmas song for comp study yesterday. it was great! My comp is wonderful. It is a little hard since she is still learning English, but overall her English is great! I know that the Lord put me with her for a reason and so I can help her with her English while she helps me learn how to be a great missionary! Also thanks so much for the letters you wrote in that book you sent me with. It has been a great source of strength and comfort. I know that the Lord is helping to shape me into the missionary that he needs me to be. His work is moving forward and he is preparing people to be taught and baptized and I will do everything to find those people so I can be an instrument in his work! THis gospel is so true and brings so much happiness! Even when people slam the door in our face, I still can't help but smile knowing that this is God's work and that I know his plan for me. I know that Joseph Smith was chosen by God to be a prophet and that the Lord prepared the way for the church to be restored through him. I know the Book of Mormon is true and I'm so grateful for the power that comes from it. I love you all so much! I miss you, but I am so happy to be building the Kingdom of God here in northampton!

I will keep you all in my prayers!

Love, Sister Davis

Off to London I go!

Hey Family!

I can't believe my time at the MTC is coming to a close. We have a full day tomorrow and then Wednesday morning (early morning) we're headed off to our missions. That's why I'm writing today because we won't get another chance to write and I'm not sure when the Pday is in London. And they just gave us time to send a quick email to let you know that. It is so scary and exciting to think that soon I'll be teaching real people. I just pray that I get blessed with a good trainer. I know the Lord will bless me and that he will qualify me for the work. Thanks for the fast. I am so grateful for all that I have been able to learn while here at the MTC. It really is AMAZING! I can't believe how much my testimony is continually growing and how close I have been able to grow to my Savior. Mom, thanks so much for that talk from Brad Wilcox. It was so good and just what I needed to read this week.

Linda, take 2 of the pictures did work! Thanks! I LOVED it!

Dad, thanks for your testimony and for reminding me to be me :) Sorry that things at the office are still crazy. I've been praying for you and will send more BPs your way. I had a dream about working at the office. It was a little strange. But hopefully things will continue to improve.

Julie, Nathan, and Spencer- glad you had fun at the fair. Spencer, don't grow up too much! And be working to say my name by mother's day ;) 

Robert, yay for graduating! And sadly we haven't been able to go to any church history sites but where we are is beautiful!

We got to watch the other session of conf. Elder Holland's talk was so good! I loved it.

Well, hopefully I'll get to send a real email soon! thanks so much for the emails!

I love you all!

Love, Sister Davis

Livin' the London Life

Dear Family,

Hopefully I can get this all in because I only have 30 minutes so thanks for not writing to long of letters ;). First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICHARD!! I can't believe you're going to be 18. It's crazy to think that you would be old enouigh to go on your mission this summer. I'll try to be as good of a missionary as I can since you can't be out here. Love you! 

Dad- I did notice the HUGE focus on obedience in conference and know how vital that is to me being a successful missionary. I'm trying to be as obedient as I can. I'm sad that I didn't get to hear Elder Holland. I'm assuming he talked the last session. That was the only one we didn't get to see. Way to take Richard to Conference! I'm glad that went well. It's about time he go now that he's almost 18 :)

Kristi- I'm glad you enjoyed Orff and how exciting that you are signed up for middle school.

Linda- I was so excited when Elder Anderson shared the wilford woodruf story and I knew you guys would be excited too! Keep up a good attitude about work. I know it's a lot and some of it is so frustrating but attitude makes all the difference. You'll be great. I'll definitely send some blessing points your way for UNLV.

Jimmy- keep biking lots and having a good attitude.

Robert and Claire- Congratulations on graduating! Good luck hanging in until the end. And congrats on the job, Robert.

Mom- We leave the MTC next wednesday. So idk how that will work with p-days. Hopefully I'll get to write once I get to London. We are going to the temple this afternoon!!!! CAN'T WAIT!! This is our only P-day here though so I'll only get to go once, but that's better than nothing. I am doing well and haven't been sick at all. I was able to have an appetite on the flights over here and kept it ever since. the food is amazing!! We've had so many different things. I'm pretty sure I've gained some weight because it's so good, but I also have been eating lots because I know that I need it. And you can be proud, I've taken my vitamins everyday! :)

So I love the spirit of the MTC. It's amazing to be here and really understand my purpose as a missionary. I have the best companion! Sister Clark from Glendora, CA. She has so many similary mannerisms to Mary Ditto. She is just what I needed and we've been able to help eachother through  a lot. I'll be honest there are some really challenging things to face here at the MTC. It's a constant rollercoaster of emotions, but the past couple of days the Lord has taught me so much about what's really important and that I need to not be so hard on myself. At first I think I was having too high of expectations for myself and then felt frustrated that I wasn't being the best missionary, but I'm understanding that it's a process and I just have to do the very best I can right now and that is all the Lord asks and will make up the rest. Sister Clark and I have also learned to just laugh at the bad and awkward moments in our lessons with "investigators". That's been good. Yesterday we had a MARVELOUS experience with feeling what' sit's like to teach by the spirit. It was amazing!! And I love my district. They are amazing!

I am running out of time, but just know that the gospel is true! I lvoe the work that I am doing and all that I've been able to learn!! I love you all so much! And I miss you but I know I am where the Lord needs me!!

Thank you for the prayers! Thank you for being the amazing people that you are!! I will be the best missionary I can be and can't wait to bless those people the Lord has prepared for me!!

Wish I had more time, but I love you so much!!!

 

Love, Sister Davis

 

So President Edwards told us we could have more time. yay! And this time I realized which email you were talking about was wrong Dad so I fixed it this time. Sorry about that.

So here are some pictures of the MTC. The first one in front of the temple is from the very first day. The next is with Sis Clark, my comp, in front on the MTC and then one of our district who I LOVE!!

Enjoy :) Love you

 

Hey again fam,

So since there wasn't a line up for the computers, Pres. Edwards said we can write longer yaya!! Because I was feeling really rushed before and didn't have enough time to tell you all the wonderful things. I know I can't tell you everything. But there are 60 missionaries here total. Most going to London or London South. They are all great!! We have the best teacher, Sister Loynes, from Dublin, Ireland. She has the best accent and is a wonderful teacher.

I was also going to tell you, Mom that every meal I've been getting salad. Funny, because I always was saying that I didn't like having salad all the time and now that there are other options I still have salad every meal. So I guess I like it more than I thought and it makes me feel more at home :) It is crazy how long the days feel here. One day feels like several. It's amazing how when you are working for the Lord, he gives you time to complete everything you need to (like this bonus of getting to write you more!) I'll be sending a hand written letter today too with more details so keep an eye out for that and then let me know how long it takes mail to get there. Conference was amazing! Like I said, we didn't get to watch the last session but the rest was wonderful. I really loved the focus on missionary work and obedience. It was nice to be reminded of the many promises that the Lord gives his missionaries. It was really weird though when we watch the morning session because we watched them live, but it was dinner time here. That was really weird. I didn't have any jet lag problems at all, but it's weird to think of what the time is back home and what it is here. crazy! When I'm getting up you're going to bed. Like I said I've been healthy and happy and doing great. I feel like I have everything I need. There are a few things I wish I would have brought. Like I forgot those vitamin C and other chewy things but that's not vital. I just want to do everything I can to stay healthy and not get sick. I also wish I would have brought more shirts and different colors, but I should have enough to get me through. Especially here at the MTC because we can do laundry whenever. And it's hard now because we're inside most the day and most of my shirts I have left are longsleeved, but I should be fine. There was something else I thought would have been nice, but I can't even remember now. So no worries, I have everything I need! Sorry if my thoughts seemed so scattered and if I didn't answer all your questions. Writing emails is hard because there is so much I want you to know but I can't type fast enough. So Linda I now can understand why you didn't have the time to understand my awesome email from when you were out ;) I'll work on typing faster and organizing my ideas better. I loved hearing the total of missionaries from President Monson and knowing I was one of them!! Thank you for your emails. They really reminded me to find the joy in everything. Even just from reading them this morning it has already made me so much happier (and I thought I was being plenty happy before) so just imagine how happy and smiley I am now. I love it!! I'll try and make every moment fun and work! Thank you for your support and love! I really couldn't ask for a better family! I am able to be a good missionary and work hard because of all of you!

Love you lots!

Sister Davis

P.S. Congrats to Padilla (thanks Mom for making sure I found out) and Congrats to Jessica (that was a shock) and yay Megan!! So happy you got the job.