The last stretch!

Hiya Family!

It is seriously freaky how fast time goes. Can you believe I am starting my last transfer?! crazy!

ok Nathan I hope you are ready for your English culture 101 seminar: First of all, I am still trying to discover the meaning of wotcha that you asked about awhile ago.

Second :Money.

p is in reference to pence. quid is in reference to pounds (don't ask me why). I have no idea what guinea is. They have the following coins here: 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2. And they have the following notes(paper money/bills): £5, £10, £20, £50. Yes, they don't have £1 notes, so there are always lots of coins in my wallet. Hardly anyone uses £50 notes, but I have seen them (one of my companions had one).

Third: Food

In summer (the whole 2 weeks of good weather we get here.. haha jk it's been a great summer) they eat lots of salads. IT's not like an American salad all mixed up. Everything is separate. Usually lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, boiled potatoes, boiled eggs, etc. and then you mixed it as you eat it (if that makes sense). All the other time it is hot cooked food. Roast dinners are really popular and the common SUnday meal: meat, cooked veg, mash, Yorkshire puddings (which I learned to make from scratch!!), all covered with gravy. They like sausage rolls (I'm not a big fan of them), Kiesh (no idea how to spell that), pies-like chicken pies, steak and kidney pies, etc. baked beans with toast and mash and sausages, lasagne is popular and spaghetti bolognaise (minced meat with spaghetti sauce).

I will definitely miss a good roast dinner. And I love how much veg they eat all the time, but mum is always good about feeding us veg :)

They consider American cuisine to be anything unhealthy: too greasy, too sugary, and far too large of portions. haha. Hamburgers and hot dogs are definitely American.

Hopefully I answered all your questions :)   

Wow. Not too much time left, but I'll try and sum up all the great things from this week:

All the missionaries in King's Lynn decided to do a musical number to build the member's trust. It was a bit shakey every time we practiced and the person accompanying us could never practice with us beforehand. Thankfully we were just singing a hymn and mixing it up with parts. I don't know if you can actually believe this but I sang Alto. Yup. And it wasn't completely horrible. I am definitely not nearly as good as the rest of you, but it turned out ok. The ward really loved it. It was great to see how excited they were after (and how reverent during!). We had so many members come up and talk with us afterwards. ANd one of the youth came up and said she wanted to spend the next day with us, so that was fun!

I had a great workover with Sister JAcobsmeyer! She is so fun! We've already set goals and made plans for all the lessons we'll be teaching together on our plane ride home. We're hoping for a miracle member present. And I found out that her cousin works at Disneyland and is going to get us all in for free! Sweet! (BUt don't worry, I'm not getting trunky-thankfully sister Jacobsmeyer is taking care of plans so I don't have to even think about it). During our workover (we were in King's Lynn this time- the last few times I've left the area for it) we went to follow up with the family that we met at the bus stop with the member. They are great! THey will be the best kingdom builders.

In less exciting news, we went to a LA's house and her dog had peed on the duvet that was on the couch and the LA didn't know and guess who sat on it? yup, me. So gross. Thankfully it was the last appointment of the day so I could take care of it right after.

Ok.. the news we've all been waiting for:

So, last night was so stressful. I had talked with Sister Jacobsmeyer in the morning and she informed us that 4 sisters areas would be closing because so many sisters are going home this transfer and not as many coming in. crazy. So basically we had no idea what would happen, because sometimes it's the most unexpected moves but I was really hoping they wouldn't close KL for sisters. Well, we were having a lesson with a member and then we realized we had a missed call from the AP's. yikes. But then they wouldn't answer their phone. grr. We were freaking out. Finally they called back and said President wanted to talk with us. He spoke to Sister Couper first. She is going to Romford. That's right next to Ilford. She will love it. I'm sad to see her go and she is really sad. Then President was saying goodbye and almost forgot to tell me what was happening with me. haha Well, I am getting to stay in the blessed land of King's Lynn AND I'm getting to follow-up train... a Sister from Japan! She is the only sister from Japan in the mission and SIster Maurer (the one I was in a trio with) was training her. I'm getting a Japanese companion!! President said she's having a hard time with the language and that I'll really need to help her. yikes. I have no idea how to help people learn a language, but I know it will be great. I'm so grateful that the Lord and President trust me with this. I'm going to make every moment count!! IT's going to be great and I know we'll see so many miracles!! CAn't wait to share them all with you :)

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Love, Sister Davis 

 

 

Raindrops keep falling on our heads

Dear Family,

This week was not quite as wonderful as last week was.

We had quite a few investigators hose appointments and stop answering our calls. And some of our less-actives that were really progressing dropped us. One of them is the ward mission leader's wife. So sad. We have had such powerful lessons with her and she was really making efforts to come back and then he told us that she doesn't want to change and for us not to come by. :(

We've been able to do some great service. I got to mow a lawn. I miss that. It's weird here though because they have electronic mowers. It makes me feel like I am hoovering (vacuuming)  the grass. We also got to pick apples. And there were tons! So the member let us take a whole bunch home. Yay.

Apparently, the hurricane, Bertha, has come to England so we keep getting down pours of rain. Even with boots and brollies and jackets, we are soaking wet. And traffic around KL has been really bad. We went out to a village and what should have taken us about 40 minutes to get back, took about 2 hours, so we had to cancel some appointments :(

Justina is making some progress though. The Elders had a baptism yesterday (it made me so stressed, they had to do it atleast 6 times and the investigator was on his knees and was having to go down forwards because the water was too low and he kept having his foot or part of his clothes come up-- thankfully it eventually worked out and the investigator was not phased at all, he was just so happy). Justina came to the baptism (it was her first baptism to see). She said she is going to talk to her ex-partner again, but she is considering getting married so she can be baptised. I don't know how I feel about this, because he has not been kind in the past, but ultimately it is her decision. I am happy that her desire to be baptised is increasing and she realizes she needs to take action to make it possible.

We started teaching English to a Latvian woman. She has the cutest 7 year old daughter who makes bracelets for us everytime we go. THey are lovely. It is really hard to teach English when you don't speak the person's native language. We are teaching simple principles of the gospel too, but we're not sure how much she is understanding. Robert, you taught English on your mission. What did you find really helped? We're also trying to start an English class at the church.

I really love the gospel. Every part of it. I'm so grateful to know the truth about who I am, who God is, and how I can be truly happy. There is always hope in Christ. Always.

Stay strong. Be true.

I love you!!!!!!!

Sister Davis xoxox

P.S. We're off to Sandringham today. We're actually going into the house today!

Happy Anniversary, Mum and Dad!!!!

Hello my dear family!!!!

 

I love you all so much!

I can't believe Sara got her mission call! And that I'm just missing her!! That's a shame. She will be great though!

We were at a Less Actives and she requested a blessing. The bishop and his wife came. The LA's house is always a bit crazy and sometimes hard to feel the spirit, but once the Bishop walked in and prepared to give the blessing the spirit was so strong. I am so grateful that the priesthood has been restored! What a blessing!!!

We've had a great week.

Barry (the man who was living where a passed PI/Referral was living) is doing great. He really is eager to learn and has so many great questions. We are teaching him and his sister, Marion. He has accepted a baptismal date for the end of August but we weren't able to get him to church this Sunday. HE feels that is a really big step, but I know he can get there.

We also had a super great member experience. We had dinner with this super awesome couple in the ward. Unfortunately the husband (who reminds me of Brother Henrie) was away at young mens camp, so it was his wife and her granddaughter (who is 15 and also is in the ward)The Zone leaders had challenged us to try a new approach with members of consecrating a specific hour with members to teach someone in their home. Then them and us both work  and pray to find someone to teach at that time. We taught a great lesson and read from the scriptures about how the Lord is preparing people (Alma 13:24, Alma 16:16-17, D&C 84:88) and then committed them to consecrate this time. The sister said she already had the name come to her of who she needed to invite!! AND THEN she went with us to the bus stop to make sure we got our bus. There was another family from the neighbourhood waiting at the bus stop with luggage ready to go on holiday. The member didn't know them and just right away started talking with them and introduced us. The father is especially religious. The member asked them about where they lived and when they would get back. They are gone for two weeks and she said we could come see them when they get back. They said they would be happy to have us round and talk about our beliefs over a cup of tea. The member right away and very boldly just said it would have to be hot chocolate or squash (an English type of juice concentrate) because we don't drink tea or coffee. That peeked their interest and they started asking us questions about why and what we believe. It was great. And the member asked for all their details for us! So great!! She is amazing! I can't wait to go by and see them in two weeks.

We had interviews yesterday. AMAZING! I love President and Sister Jordan! They have such strong spirits. And it's always amazing to hear how close relationships they have with the first presidency and quorum of the 12. President Jordan has represented the First Presidency legally quite a bit. And on his mission he was Assistant to James E. Faust. We're all convinced that one day he will be a general authority.

The gospel is amazing! I love my Saviour Jesus Christ! I know He lives!!

Thank you for your love, support, and emails!!

LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Love, Sister Davis xoxox

Picture Catch Up

I thought I'd share PResident Jordan's letter this week. WE have been hearing lots about this documentary. I don't know if you've heard about it at all. But I really love that the Lord does take even the attempts to negatively portray the church to bring his children Home. Whether it be from the Book of Mormon musical to Meet the Mormons.

His work will not be frustrated!!

How lucky we are to be on His side!!! :)

Dear Sisters and Elders,

Forty years ago as a young missionary in Brazil, I attended a mission conference with a Seventy, Elder Asael T. Sorensen, from Salt Lake City. After his talk, he opened the meeting up for questions. One of the elders told how he and his companion were being persecuted by a priest of another religion, and asked what they should do. Elder Sorensen rubbed his hands together to indicate his pleasure and said, “That’s great! There’s nothing like a little persecution to get the work going.”

I was reminded of his words this week when Sister Jordan and I watched a “documentary” on TV called “Meet the Mormons.” (And, no, you are not authorized to watch it.) It takes a negative slant on the Church, and tries to depict the missionaries as brainwashed. The program follows a new missionary, Elder Field from England, as he enters the MTC in Preston and begins his service in the England Leeds Mission. (He had an especially rough time with homesickness in the MTC.)

This past week several missionaries called me to say they had been asked about the show by people on the street and wondered how they should respond. I told them to take a positive approach and say, “That was a TV show. If you would like to know what Mormon missionaries are really like and what we teach, we would be happy to meet with you so you can see for yourself. Would you be willing to do that?”

There always has been and always will be opposition to the work of Lord. Indeed, it is a sign of the Lord’s true church. As the old saying goes, “The Devil doesn’t kick dead dogs.” The great and spacious building has put on a new wing to accommodate demand in the last days. We should take the same approach to finger pointing as Nephi and Lehi and pay it no heed. (1 Nep. 8:33-34). Satan is busy, but so is our Heavenly Father. He covenanted with each of us before this life that He would do all He could, consistent with the laws of agency, to help us return home to Him. Just as in the days of Alma, God is working to prepare the hearts of His children for the gospel: “For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.” (Alma 13:24). Those angels are messengers of the good tidings of the restoration. They come in both heavenly and mortal form, and you are among them.

I have seen evidence this week of the Lord’s hand in the lives of people who saw a negative TV program and yet were moved upon by the Holy Ghost. I had a call on Friday from a member of Chelmsford Ward who told me about a work colleague who approached him and said she had watched the Meet the Mormons program. The member thought to himself, "Here we go." But instead of criticizing, she said, "I watched those young missionaries and I thought to myself, I want my own sons to grow up with that same kind of character. Can we have missionaries from your church come and teach my husband and me and our three sons?

I also spoke with a member from the Birmingham Mission who told me of man who walked into the chapel in Warwick last Friday. The chapel was full of members who were there for a funeral. The man introduced himself and explained that he had seen the program and it brought back memories of how homesick he felt when he first went into the army. He asked if he could learn more about the Church.

The Lord can do His work in spite of earth and hell, and so can you. As Joseph Smith said:

“The standard of truth has been erected; No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”

We love you,

President and Sister Jordan

PS: I talked to the president of the Leeds Mission today and he told me Elder Fisher is a wonderful missionary without a trace of homesickness.

Welcome to the Family, Calvin.

Family,

Congratulations, Robert and Claire!!! Your baby is so big and cute! Yay for new members of the family! I had to laugh when Mum said you named him Calvin to avoid him being teased. You know with our family there will always be something we can find to make fun with. However, I didn't even think about "Cal, the lights" haha. Atleast Calvin will know he is loved and I think it is a requirement for him to get a tiger and name him Hobbes. what a cutie! I'm so happy he's here. I don't think I could have waited another week. I've been telling everyone about him. Now I have pictures to go with it. yay!! Thanks for sending them. It's true that no letter would have been necessary. But speaking of pictures, I never got pictures of Katie's blessing.. just saying. *hint hint*

We have had a stellar week!! Things just keep getting better. We think as we really focus on be 100% obedient and truly unified in all we do that it really brings the spirit so much into everything that we do and allows the Lord to bless us so much. Whatever the reasons, we are just so happy to be so blessed! Barry, the man we were supposed to see last Monday (the former PI that asked us to come back and seemed really interested) wasn't there when we went :( so sad. We stopped by another time and talked with someone who said he was his brother, but it seemed like it was the same person "barry" just trying to get rid of us. We were pretty sad. But then Friday night we were walking home for dinner and it was about 8:30. We thought maybe we should just stop by and try Barry one more time... and what do you know? He was in! And he buzzed us in. We could go in and teach him, but we got to meet him on his doorstep and have a mini-lesson about the Restored gospel and what we do. He said he's been going through a rough time and really wants to strengthen his relationship with God. He doesn't have issues with the Law of Chastity or smoke. We will see him tomorrow. He said if he likes what we teach him he will come to church! Wahoo!!!

We saw another family (they have a complicated family situation, but I'll just call them the Clothier Family to make it easy, even though they all have different surnames) and they are awesome. They have 2 girls. The 9 year old, Madi,  is baptised and the other daughter, Eden, just turned 8. The father used to be a member, but isn't interested about coming back and the mum doesn't believe in God, but fully supports whatever her girls want to do. She was bringing them both to church (and staying with them) but then they stopped wanting to come because it was too long. They are interested in coming back again though and the 8 year old wants to be baptised. They are the cutest girls ever. And they are all from Liverpool. Best Accent EVER. I could listen to them talk all day! I'm so excited to keep teaching them.

Another cool experience was when we were traveling out to a village called Downham Market. It's just a couple of train stops away. Well for one reason or another (mostly because the trains only come every hour and we were trying to make the most of our time and our watches weren't the same time as the train station) we missed TWO trains going there. We made sure we caught the third train and then we saw some members from Downham Market on the train. We had actually planned to just surprise pop by because we don't know this family too well and wanted to share a message. Well we were able to get to know the DAd and daughter and he said he would talk with his wife about when we can come see them (we didn't even have to ask for an appointment!). I know God wants us to work with the members and I love the little miracles that he is working to accomplish his work in His way. And we have Dinner Appointments everyday this week!! Normally we are lucky if we get one. We are upping our member work and it's amazing to see how they are building their trust in us and how we are being blessed with more people to teach. So great!! In Downham Market we went to see a Less active family. The mum and one of the boys are members (the other boy is only 7) but the Dad is not. We are going to start seeing them regularly too. AND they are AMerican! So they fed us lunch. oh my days. I forgot how amazing America is: huge, gigantic bottle of ketchup, Ranch, BBQ sauce, sweet potatoe fries. IT was the best just to see American things (the husband is in the military so their food is all from the American base). They said they used to have the sisters over every Saturday for lunch and a lesson (things were a bit crazy when I first got here trying to figure out who the sisters had been seeing and then this family went on holiday to Scotland so that's why we just got to see them)... and they invited us to carry on the tradition. yes! The husband is a bit reserved about things, but I know we will see great miracles with this family.

I just can't believe how much the work is growing here. I love it! I love King's Lynn and I love the ward! So many good things are happening!

Oh and before I forget, next week I will be emailing on Tuesday. We're having interviews in Norwich on Monday so our P-day is pushed to Tuesday.

And I have been meaning to ask Kristi if Loom bands are a huge thing there? They are so popular here. All the kids make different kinds of bracelets with them. On facebook the other day someone posted that someone made a loom-band dress and it sold for over £160,000. crazy (and weird and gross- who wants to wear a rubbery dress??). If they are popular there I'll have to send KRisti some.

Well, my time is running up. I know the church is true. The Book of Mormon is true. I love that book. I love the gospel and I'm so grateful that God has blessed us to have the Holy Ghost, a member of the godhead, with us as our constant companion.

Thanks for being the best family ever!!

I love you!!!

Love,

Sister DAvis

P.S. I have almost mastered the first vision in espanol. :)