Wisconsin Milwaukee Mission: Copy and Paste That To the Lord

March 23, 2020

Good day!!

Many of you may have seen my post on Facebook but - due to the risks of Corona, me and my asthmatic lungs will be affected and are returning home and being honorably released sometime along with tons of missionaries everywhere. I don't know when so this will probably be my last weekly email for all you who have thrived through my experiences and sarcasm somehow

so it's long

This week we were put in a more serious lockdown/confinement of sorts. But first we were able to meet and help an older lady in the branch that has lotsss of things clean out some her home! We fed a giant bag of cheerios to the neighborhood squirrels. Many AMAZING members have reached out, bought us food, and toilet paper

, and have made sure we are fed everyday so we are stocked and loaded with goods. Knowing that I will be returning home at some point is weird to comprehend, all these last moments that I didn't realize. But our amazing mission president has been telling us since he came last summer that we need to live up everyday because we truly only have a short time. Just a bit too literal and real for me!

Nevertheless we were visiting a recent convert whom I adore and as I was helping her to understand more about the temple as she prepares to go, I had a really cool experience where I was super bold haha. It may seem harsh but I promise it was really loving and light and we are amazing friends so it went well. She was talking about how it's hard to give up certain things forever and how she didn't want to stop completely, and all I could imagine is that everything she was telling me she was telling Heavenly Father directly. So I looked at her and told her to "copy and paste that to the Lord". She looked SHOCKED and in a loving way said I was mean🤣. But you could tell it really opened her eyes and the Spirit really testified that the Lord knows our fears before we do, so would we really say and do all these things 'if the Savior stood beside me?'. But can you imagine if missionaries sacrificed SO much just to tell people they are fine? Sounds abrupt but really we are here to CALL REPENTANCE and help people improve and progress! So don't be afraid to be straight up with people, because everyone deserves a straight up friend who wants to help them change and improve. If you really go about it with a love for God and a love for all your brothers and sisters, your bold will be much more loving and I have seen it affect so many people I have taught!!

Being in our apartment so much has given me and Sister Fairbourne lots of laughs and opportunities to get to know each other speedy quick. Like deep cleaning and finding translators that act as walky talkies and then using them to tell each other stories across the apartment. Or doing a 1000 piece puzzle. Or getting to know each other through long conversation. Or complaining about Corona. It has been a fun week:))

Since our whole mission is quarantining, we did a mission wide video call on Zoom. Talk about fun. Seeing a screen flicking through every companionship in their apartments at the end of the day all ready to hear from our wonderful Mission President was a powerful spiritual experience, I felt so much love and gratitude for this whole mission experience. Then singing God Be With You Till We Meet Again as a mission as President Murphy cried and seeing everyone together for the last time before many of us depart. It's like feeling the beat of your favorite song throughout your body as you have both headphones in kind of elevation. On top of the world - I love my life.

Friends and family, I have LOVED my mission and every kind and mean and funny person I have been able to cross paths with. I'm sad to see it go, but I'm happy to have it to forever look back on. Make good choices. READ THE BOOK OF MORMON, for in the inspired words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, "therein lies happiness brother". And to all of you, as Sister Davis, I bid adieu♥️ It has been a pleasure to serve my Savior. And it's been a pleasure to experience miracles at His hand. HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD?!

Sister Davis