Y'all, this week has been crazy.
Highlight of the week: Christmas!
Christmas was amazing. It was kinda hard being away from home, but we spent the day visiting members and talking about Jesus Christ. The Spirit was so strong, and I loved being able to share that joy with others. Thank you so so much to all of you who messaged, emailed, or sent cards and gifts! I love you all!!!
I remember one year for Christmas, Seth and I ran down stairs and we were so excited to open presents. I remember the disappointment when mom and dad told us to go get our scriptures. We read Luke 2 as a family, and it really rought a stillness into our home. At least, i'm sure it did. I don't remember how many times we did this, but I got to share this tradition with the members here in Washington. It was amazing. The story of the nativity scene is a powerful one, and I'd encourage you to read Luke 2 if you didn't get a chance this Christmas!
But on to other things! Like I said, this week was crazy. We had an ice storm, and literally everything was frozen. Our mission president decided it was too dangerous to drive, so we walked everywhere. We bundled up real tight and prayed that we wouldn't freeze to death.
And we didn't! If anything, it was super fun! At the stop lights, we'd hurry across the streets and you know where that yellow thingy is on the other side and how it slopes up? It was completely iced over, and we almost slid back into traffic.
We were laughing so hard at ourselves, and I'm sure the people driving pass had a good laugh too.
Luckily, I didn't fall... Until we got back to the apartment. It was dark, so we were inside, and my companion said that she could do a handstand for 7 minutes against the wall. I pridefully said that that was easy and went to prove it to her.
My arms gave out before my feet got over my head. I ended up twisting my ankle the tiniest bit, so that was fun!
and then yesterday, we went out to find some inactive members. We talked to this man for a little bit, found out he wasn't the member we were looking for and that he wasn't interested, so I turned around to leave.
My ankle gave out right as i took the first step, and I fell down the stairs. I landed on my knees and just lowered my head in embarrassment and just tried not to cry.
My companion thought I was praying, so she didn't know what on earth happened. Then I started laughing, and it was just so embarrassing. but the man still didn't let us in :/
Hopefully this email isn't getting too long, but that's about all i can remember from this week.
I've been thinking a lot about goals and trying to change my mindset about them. I've never really felt motivated or satisfied by a goal, and goals are big in the mission.
As I've been pondering, I've realized that my goals were stumbling blocks. For example, before my mission, my goal was to get better at saying my prayers every night. And I was so bad at it. I had this stumbling block in my mind where I had to pray vocally and on my knees. If I didn't, I wasn't really praying, and I felt so much guilt for not wanting to get out of bed and pray.
It was kinda sad. Now i know the truth. As a missionary, I've learned that it doesn't matter so much if you're on your knees. Of course, we should kneel if we get the chance, but we pray in the car, at the door, in bed. Our Father just wants to hear from us. It doesn't matter how we do it as long as it's humble and sincere.
I'm grateful for that knowledge, and I know longer am going to let the fact that I don't want to get out of bed keep me from praying. I mean, how silly is that? That's just Satan winning. I don't want to let him win.
Anyways... I've come to realize that our Father loves effort both big and small. No sacrifice goes unnoticed. No prayer goes unheard. I'm grateful for that knowledge, and I'm grateful that I get to share it with my friends.
There's this talk that illustrates what I'm trying to say. I'll attach the link, but basically, you are enough. The Lord sees and is proud of your efforts. Don't let Satan weigh you down and make you think you're not enough. Christ was born for you. He died for you. Please don't let the accuser make you think otherwise.
If you made it this far, congratulations. That's my spiritual rant for today. Sorry its a long one.
I love you all. Jesus loves you all. Our Father in Heaven loves you all. Keep smiling. Heaven smiles back when you smile.
"Whenever the adversary cannot persuade imperfect yet striving Saints such as you to abandon your belief in a personal and loving God, he employs a vicious campaign to put as much distance as possible between you and God. The adversary knows that faith in Christ—the kind of faith that produces a steady stream of tender mercies and even mighty miracles—goes hand in hand with a personal confidence that you are striving to choose the right. For that reason he will seek access to your heart to tell you lies—lies that Heavenly Father is disappointed in you, that the Atonement is beyond your reach, that there is no point in even trying, that everyone else is better than you, that you are unworthy, and a thousand variations of that same evil theme.
...
I testify of a loving Savior who expects us to live the commandments. I testify of a loving Savior who is so very anxious to bestow His grace and mercy. I testify of a loving Savior who rejoices when we apply His Atonement daily with the calm and happy assurance that we are facing in the right direction. I testify of a loving Savior who is anxious for your “confidence [to] wax strong in the presence of God” (D&C 121:45)."
Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence
<3 Sister Davis
Pictures:
They're out of order so I ain't gonna try.
12/21/2022
12/13/2022
12/21/2022
12/23/2022
12/21/2022