The Spirit of Christmas Is Upon Us

October 14, 2019

Good mornings and evenings and all times of day!

     First of all, congratulations to myself for being an aunt for the 11th time! Also to my sister for having a beautiful baby over the weekend! Hold all the babies you can everyone!

     This week it got real cold real fast, which I have been waiting for! I love the cold. I'm so excited to be cold. It slightly snowed, which can't compare to Idaho right now but it was a real shock here. We have been listening to all the Christmas music, and honestly it is helping me thrive so much! Also, christ(mas) = christ(more) so really more Christ, so christmas music year round is a great way to keep Christ around! I gave in and got some solid Fa La La Llama Christmas pajamas, so enjoy the trio of life Christmas album cover. A member of the YSA branch is from Columbia, and she is so cute and fun. I don't know Spanish, but it's still a blast! Our YSA is turning into a fun little family. One of the YSA in Milwaukee is going to be in the Olympics this next year apparently. We deep cleaned more cockroaches! I ate tacos with beef head, beef tongue, and beef intestine at a solid taqueria this week. Tongue is boring, head is tasty, and intestine tastes like what you'd imagine. We met this girl who works for Broadway plays as a physical therapist, she travels all over with them and is traveling with Hamilton right now!! She's the first Christian we've met on a college campus and she's not even a student haha.

     This was a very Spanish week, we stopped by many people, most of whom didn't know English. Luckily one of my companions knows enough Spanish to explain the church and invite. Then we had a lunch yesterday with a Spanish member, and while one of the Spanish elders translated for me, I have never felt a greater desire and urgency to know Spanish. It was the last language I'd want to learn and now I just want to grasp it all! The Spanish member talked of her mission in Mexico and her love for missionaries and the Spirit was so strong, I only know 1% of what she was saying, but you knew what she was saying from the Spirit. It was simply amazing! 

     We met a 1 1/2 handed man this week, and gave him a Book of Mormon, and now we are teaching him! His story is crazy exciting, as I've found common here. I've loved reading conference talks this week, my lovely sister sent me one during the week called Which Way Do You Face in October 2014 General Conference - it's so so good! The only person we need to focus on pleasing is Heavenly Father, and He is perfectly understanding of our efforts. He understands. I can't say it enough. As we focus our efforts on Him, we can be satisfied with our works. 

     In my studies in the end of Mosiah this week I came across this talk about trials, and the topic of trials always stands out to me! It perfectly explains that some trials are results of misdoings, but sometimes, you are just being shaped, refined, and molded into an even stronger being. Just like a sword must be beat and welded, clouds must break to give rain, and glass is broken for mosaics, muscles tear to grow, being broken is how the best things are created. 

"No one wants adversity. Trials, disappointments, sadness, and heartache come to us from two basically different sources. Those who transgress the laws of God will always have those challenges. The other reason for adversity is to accomplish the Lord’s own purposes in our life that we may receive the refinement that comes from testing. It is vitally important for each of us to identify from which of these two sources come our trials and challenges, for the corrective action is very different” (”Trust in the Lord,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 16)

     I love each of you! If you need to talk, some motivation, or just wanna keep me updated, email me or message me! Send me voice memos or anything. I hope this week is just what you all need, pray often, be believing️

Sister Davis

Exterminator and General Conference

October 7, 2019

Hello!

     This week was a hoot, per usual! We started off with a very uncomfortable experience. We met a random lady, asked if we could help her with anything, and ended up deep cleaning her cockroach infested apartment for her! In dresses! Mmm good times. We also had these Hmong boba fruit drinks (minus the boba sadly) in a basement Hmong store, so basically a mini China town which is oh so exciting! I met an Australian that lives in Sydney, and he brought a ton of new Tim Tam flavors with him which was a delight! We had a district meeting and one of the new elders played the piano upside down, just spontaneously taught himself. Then him and another elder did an improv Spanish dentist soap opera - 10/10 recommend for entertainment purposes. We played lots of sports and games with the ward and branch which is a great time! I love the people around me! My dear grandma Rose, the Packers #1 fan, passed away a couple weeks ago and I was able to go to her funeral on Friday ♥️ how grateful I am that Heavenly Father's plan is for us to live for eternity with Him after this life, with family and friends! 

     We contacted at some of the universities here and got to know some cool people! We had powerful lessons and experiences, and I loved every second of General Conference this weekend! Even though we watched one session in a small office, the opportunity to hear from our Prophet in these days is so priceless! How great is our God to help us feel His love and direction! There were so many talks that mentioned pure joy and how obedience/holiness brings that happiness! How great it is that the Lord gives us so much for our efforts, He truly blesses us in some aspect of our lives or another. His answers are always always there. Just as Christ directed the winds to guide the Jaredite people across the oceans, He never ceases to blow and direct us towards our Heavenly home! He knows who we are, He knows our infinite incomprehensible worth, and as we always remember our own worth we can focus on Christ and see his hand guiding us! I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father! I love that they love us even when we are far from where we should be, and they rejoice greatly with the concourses of Heaven when we return to Him! So "without delay turn to the Lord" (Elder Donald L Hallstrom). 

     I hope you have a marvelous week! Please email me, about anything! I love you all! I am so grateful for this Gospel and know it can and will bless every willing soul! Read the Book of Mormon every single day, and review the inspired General Conference talks from this last weekend frequently! The fulness of times is upon us! 

Make good choices! 

How great is our God! 

Sister Davis 

Oktoberfest, Free Plants, and a Parade

September 30, 2019

Hello!

     This week my dear Sister Goff went home:/ we had a last day adventure of going to Lake Winnebago, which has a packed beach full of seashells so Sister Goff sunk when she walked on them It was super pretty!

     I'm in another blessed trio with Sister Nelson and Sister Knutson! That's probably companions number 7 and 8 in 4.5 months. What a party! It's an amazing time and we've already seen so many miracles! Our first day we went campus contacting and found out this spiritual house was giving away free plants cause they're good for your spirit. So now we have lots of new friends and I have an Arboricola plant named Pepsi. Get it. Haha. Cola, and Pepsi. I've decided it's polynesian as well. We went to the towns homecoming parade, they love the color red, and in the pouring rain we met Finbar! He's the coolest person, a skater boy, and he's super kind. He doesn't have any religious background but we've started teaching him and I'm so excited for him! Our town has many random statues, including this lady liberty, so we know I'm in the land of freedom. 

     The youth in the family ward do a fundraiser at the annual Oktoberfest, basically a German beer festival, selling tiger paws (deep fried dough dipped in cinnamon and sugar). So we went to this extremely packed festival full of people drinking and smoking, with random bands playing One Direction music, to support our good ole ward. We helped out at their booth making the food, and I got to be a deep fryer. Another new hobby of mine now! Moving around dough in a giant tub of 370 degree oil with wooden skewers is honestly a hoot of a time. Only got a couple oil burns/cool scars. We got free tiger paws afterward too, so I'm living my best life. Our dear friend that is on date to be baptized this month is doing amazing!! I am so excited for her and the changes she is making! This week I have loved my scripture studies! I use the seminary and institute teaching manuals to study deeper, and I was in Mosiah where it is talking about having prophets. How lucky are we that since God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, if He had prophets and apostles to lead His people anciently, then He would still have prophets and apostles today to lead His people! Having a prophet and apostles is such an amazing blessing! They warn us of things that we need to become stronger in, and they tell us the things that they KNOW will bless us, as they are aware of all the things to come that God has revealed to them! There is value in listening to someone who can see things we can't. As General Conference comes this weekend, I invite all of you to listen for the invitations and warning the prophets give! Each of them prepares us for the future and helps us as we heed their inspired messages! I am so grateful that Heavenly Father loves us enough to give us direction, and that He knows how to answer every person's questions with the General Conference talks. What a marvelous God we have! 

     I hope you all have an amazing week! Believe in miracles, prepare yourselves daily, heed the prophets, act on your faith in God, and learn from the trials you are in. How great shall be our joy when we are back in our Heavenly Father's arms. How great shall be Heavenly Father's joy. 

Sister Davis

I Love My Savior

September 23, 2019

READ IT ALL

     This week was good! Amazing lessons, building relationships, blessings and miracles all around, and the love of God on every molecule of air. This week wasn't perfect, there were upsets but there is more to celebrate than to mourn. All these things are for experience, right? I am learning to be more like my Savior every day, and He is giving me plenty of opportunities to work on developing His divine attributes. Transfers are this week and I am staying in the wonderful Winnebago YSA and Neenah ward, so here's a picture of my cute district! I am SO excited for the Lord's plans here! The wonderful lady we are working with has chosen a date next month to be baptized! She is so motivated and I am so excited for her to make these changes. Sister Goff and I sang a beautiful arrangement of I Am A Child Of God and Families Can Be Together Forever in ward sacrament yesterday, our bishops wife is an amazing artist. She writes music, arranges pieces, and has albums of beautiful work. I am so grateful I got to sing one of her arrangements! One of the members grandsons wants to be baptized! We got asked to give last minute talks in YSA, so exciting huh! 

     This week I want to share these thoughts, I love you all so much. I can't imagine how much Heavenly Father loves you

     Our Heavenly Father loves us perfectly. He loves us continually, endlessly, and fully. How great a God we have, that despite all our faults, doubts, stubbornness, weaknesses, struggles, pride, and blindness, his arm is always ALWAYS stretched out. That's a patient and merciful God. Jacob 6:4 "And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long". I can't begin to comprehend how He does it, but I know why. Knowing about my Heavenly Father's plan is a blessing in itself. How fortunate are we to have a most caring and forgiving Father in Heaven! 

"God knew the covenant path wouldn't be easy to find or easy to stay on, so he sent Christ to heal us, strengthen us, cleanse us, magnify us, and show us the way" -President Nelson, Sundays BYU devotional.

     I know this life is hard, it drags, it's not fair what feels like lots of the time, we don't get what we would like to, we are tested and put down and pressured and busy and betrayed and alone. But you are truly never alone. Not even close. If you can't think of at least ONE person who mourns when you mourn, "In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike—and they will—you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham’s seed" - Elder Holland, New Era Oct. 1980. For those who aren't familiar with some of those terms, focus on the middle; remember and NEVER FORGET that you have angels racing to come to your aid. 

     If all of these hardships of life exist, can you begin to list and comprehend all of the goodness that outnumbers the hard hundredsfold?! We have joy, peace, forgiveness, hope, guidance, fellowship, talents, hobbies, and charity. We have Jesus the Christ. Every single one of us does. He's never too busy, on the other line, or tired of hearing from us. He is the best counselor, teacher, guide, doctor, and Savior. We are Redeemed because of Him. We don't deserve it sometimes cause we vocally or internally doubt, are bitter, and confused. Nonetheless He is always always there and waiting, it is OUR responsibility to reach out and grab the hand of our Savior! We must not be too prideful to accept that invitation. You are invited to the happiest, most welcoming celebration ever created. The celebration of LIFE and ETERNAL HAPPINESS. RSVP every single day.

     General Conference is in 2 weeks, and I invite and urge all of you to watch or listen to the Prophet and Apostles of Heavenly Father uplift. Spiritually refuel with scriptures, living prophets, and prayer as often as you can. How great is our God, how great is our purpose, how great is our aid, how great is our hope.

Love, Sister Davis

For Times of Trouble. Elder Holland. October 1980 New Era.

Emperor Kuzsco and Master Oogwa

Spetember 16, 2019

Hello everyone!

     What a grand week in the wide open space of Wisconsin! Guess who did more service!? I got a free shirt from it so I am thriving. Organizing is so satisfying. And helping and meeting people is so humbling and I love hearing little tid bits of people's stories! We were able to host family home evening games for the YSA so we got to know many swell young adults! We are going to be teaching one members girlfriend soon hopefully and I'm so excited! This Gospel applies to everyone! 

     This week we had an amazing lesson with a woman who has been wanting to be baptized for over a year, the only hang up is smoking. She has such a desire to keep trying to quit, her testimony is so precious and I am so excited to see her grow! She was able to come to church yesterday for the first time in several months, and it strengthened my testimony of how much God is aware of his children! All the talks and lessons fit her so perfectly, it was the perfect spiritually uplifting time.

     We watched a church devotional at our branch presidents home (with the goats), and I've decided they're my new best friend family! I made a banana split in a cone (skills), played football, verbally trained a 4 year old a little about minecraft, and learned about the power of selling Doterra. Today we went to a little park/zoo place. The highlight was Emperor Kuzco the Llama and Master Oogwa the tortoise. Those aren't their actual names but they should be. There has been some thick fog the past couple days as well which is so exciting and Twilighty.

     I had amazing studies this week and focused on humility and the hope that the prophets of the Book of Mormon bring. This scripture stood out:

     Jacob 4:6 Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.

     I love how this scripture explained that we listen to the prophets that God has called and through their witnesses and the witnesses from the Bible and the Book of Mormon, we receive hope!! Our faith becomes unshakable, and if we reach that state of a perfect brightness of hope and faith in Heavenly Father and Christ's Atonement then we can truly perform the miracles that will help us! That's such an uplifting powerful promise️

     I am so excited for what the Lord has in store for the people around me, I am so grateful to be here at this time! The place is beautiful and so are the souls around me. I am so excited to continue to get to study and share this true Gospel and see miracles! 

Please please email me! I would love to see how you all are doing! I love you all, I miss you, and I know that the Book of Mormon can help every soul

     Make good choices! Remember God loves you way more than you can imagine or measure!  There are miracles everywhere, even simple things are worth celebrating and being grateful for! 

I look up to each of you! 

Sister Davis

"Sister?! Are you going into full nunnery?"

September 9, 2019

Hello!

     This week we did more service, surprise surprise. But that's where we get the subject of this email from! At our lovely food pantry, this week I got to check people out - so pretty much got to play store like a child which was just grand. That means I got to talk to every single person which was fun! After I helped one man he said "thanks kid" - haven't been called that in a hot second. One lady was astounded that her purse weighed 7 lbs so she blamed that for her back pain. AND my favorite, someone read my tag out loud and this lady I'm checking out goes: "Sister?! I used to be taught by sisters! Are you going into full nunnery?!"  I said no.

     We met lots of members who all have the cutest families! Little boys are so spunky and fun haha. One girl brought her little hamster, Chunky, to our sports night and I was obsessed. It was so small you could put it in your mouth or remove your nail polish with it (just for reference)!! On our many long drives we took pictures. Found an old creepy building (it's only creepy because it looks abandoned) to take pictures by, along with some greenery. We found a lake at the end of a random street so we stopped for a minute to go by it! Wisconsin is gorgeous! But paper factories smell horrid. Don't live by one, ever. Driving past them is hard enough. 

     We had our first combined District Council all the way in Fond du lac which was a grand time with our whole zone. Our lovely zone leaders had everyone come far and wide to go to a baseball game last monday, and an hour before the game realized it was an away game hahaha. We went to lunch with some other missionaries after a conference so it was awesome to see my favorite people again! We stopped by one of Sister Goff's recent converts and she's a cute old lady with a strong testimony. I indexed a lot this week while my companion prepared to go home with her online stuff, and I still love indexing so much! It is so fun to decipher impossible cursive from the 1800's! And even better that it helps someone's ancestors records be connected to them! I was also able to request my grandparents and great grandparents patriarchal blessings on churchofjesuschrist.org! Blessings from the priesthood in general are so amazing! I love how they bring such peace and come directly from our loving Heavenly Father! I have watched some videos about Christ's life this week and as I've read the scriptures, I am filled with such love, admiration, and peace from Christ! The light and love He gives to those who humbly and faithfully seek Him is amazing, there is so much love. I invite you all to ponder and abide the teachings of the Book of Mormon this week! The Bible prophecies of it, and it is full of all truth and light from God and brings incredible peace to those willing to abide its teachings! 

     You all are loved, let me know if there's anything I can do for you, or anything I can pray for. No matter where you're at, start in the direction of peace today and your burdens will be lightened and you will experience Heavenly peace! How great is our God! 

"Every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude". Joseph B Wirthlin. October 2008 conference.

Sister Davis

Exchange Miracle and Joseph Matthias and Pet Spiders

September 2, 2019

Hello good people!

     This week we did exchanges, so I was back with Sister Armstrong for a day! We were stopping by potential people, and this girl answers and we ask for her mom. Turns out the mom only speaks Spanish, and we only speak English, so the Spanish elders are going to do that. But the girl mainly speaks English and got so excited and lit up when we talked about Christ, and we set up a return appointment for the next day! When we came back she loved everything we taught her, and instantly knew it was all truth and that it expressed God's love! We were able to answer some of her questions and she was so glad we had come over. She is so excited to read the Book of Mormon and has been looking for the truth! And I'm so excited to see her again this week! We were able to be around lots of the ward and branch members this week which was so fun! I found out I prefer American Mexican food. We did more painting of walls, went to a little cheese factory with jalapeño cheese curds, played volleyball, had district council, drove far and wide, and went to a YSA activity. Lots of good things to keep us busy! 

     So the door to our apartment has some webs, per the norm in an arachnid world. I've named them of course, so we have the dad Jimmy, the mom Fallon, the quadruplets Fee, Fi, Fo, and Fum, and some cousins moved in yesterday. Honestly they are growing and reproducing way to fast and it's getting awkward. Probably gonna have them evicted.

     Every week we go to the good ole library so Sister Goff can do some prep thing to prepare to go home this month, so I usually index on familysearch.org a lot. But this week it wasn't loading so I decided to look at my family tree and see how far back I could go. I ended up getting back to around 700-1000BC. Yes that far. Lots of Roman emperors, queens and kings, AND Joseph Matthias! So for all that don't know who that is, he's in the Bible. He is the apostle that replaced Judas after Judas died. Joseph was a rich man, a follower of Christ, gave his tomb up for CHRIST, and took Christ's body down from the cross and wrapped it in fine linen in the tomb. YEAH. Genealogy is so cool and it's insane how we can know so much about ancestors! It strengthens my testimony and makes me so grateful that we can be with our family forever after this life as well! The truths in this Gospel are so precious, and they apply to everyone and every generation. I am so excited for all the work that the Lord has in store for this area I'm in! I know that God is perfectly loving, and that missionary work is a very humbling, growing, loving experience that is SO worth it. 

     I hope you are doing super good, remember to pray, read the Book of Mormon, trust God, and try your very best. 

     

This week I read this phrase from Joseph Smith: "Could you gaze into heaven five minutes, you would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject." Heaven is in comprehensively marvelous and perfect. What a loving God we have. 

Your favorite, 

Sister Davis

Silverware, Golden Plates, and a Roadtrip. And Food.

August 26, 2019

Hello subscribers to my awesome emails! If you read these I appreciate you, if you don't then know that I'm funny and still love you. But you should read them:))

     This week we started off by sorting and packing more fine china! Turns out it's popular here haha, I didn't break any this week! But we found these old genuine silver baby utensils, and a silver polishing kit from 1950, so now I have silver baby utensils! Haha. I polished them for 30-40 minutes and man is shining stuff fun. I'm finding all kinds of hobbies on my mission. We visited a family that is being taught and they're growing all kinds of fruits and vegetables in pots in the parking lot, so she pulled up some carrots and gave them to us haha. I forgot to take a picture of it for a while, so it doesn't have the leaves anymore in the picture provided haha. We painted the whole interior of a house which was so fun and so exhausting in the heat. We organized more clothes at a store. Last night at dinner they were flipping whipped cream and the 5 year old smacked his arm and it sprayed all over me - twice haha. I witnessed the lip challenge, and again ate pie. I had gumbo for the first time, and we visited some families that Sister Goff taught!! Also the other night I woke up at 3am and suddenly got my first Charlie horse, so my calf is bruised now, how exciting!

     We had our zone conference this week, and I got to see one of my trainers Sister Eaton! Of course we also had to clean our car for inspections, and we won with the cleanest car! I've never spent so much time cleaning a vehicle so it's a good thing we won haha. The winner gets a golden license plate border that says The Golden Plates, and we got a chick-fil-a gift card, so it was a good week. Since we cover the family ward and the YSA branch, our area is half of the mission, so we spent Saturday road tripping all around the state to visit various members! We are gonna stick with social media contact haha, but we stopped in a tiny town and got blueberry blizzard pie so it was well worth it! We had lots of meals with members this week so we were able to build a lot of relationships! I love the YSA especially, they are so kind and so much fun! I taught in Relief Society this week last minute. It went so well and I loved teaching and sharing about what I've learned! We are at church for 5-6 hours every Sunday, and after we'd left yesterday, a YSA member called us and said someone had walked into the church and asked to know more! So we turn around and hurry back and meet Carlos! He has been to many churches and religions, and we gave him a tour of the church and explained a lot of it. It was crazy amazing! We had a few lessons with returning members which were amazing! The Spirit is so pure and good!

     I had amazing studies this week! First of all I was introduced to a long compilation of letters that were written by a man who shared about his mission. And they were the most amazing words I've ever read!! I recommend every single person and missionary read over and over. The purpose of this life is to grow and learn how to do things for ourselves, it would be nice if God told us everything we need to know, but then we wouldn't learn to work on our own and strengthen our own testimonies! The best way to fight Satan is to open our mouths and share light! I have so much love for all of you. I truly hope you're well! I would love to keep hearing from you! 

     "If the Lord had commanded me to do all things I could do them" - 1 Nephi 17:50

I fell in LOVE with this scripture last week. Nephi is explaining to his brothers Laman and Lemuel that whatever God commands, He provides a way for it to be accomplished! You can do whatever the Lord commands, God makes it completely possible to do! I love that promise that we have - no matter how difficult something may seem, if God commands it then He makes a way!  

Make good choices. 

Be believing. 

The day of miracles has not ceased. 

Love Sister Davis