Same Ole! Same Ole!

Hey fam and friends! 

How's it going? I hope you're all happy and healthy and that you had an amazing week!

I really don't know what to say this week. It's been the same as the past two: still sick :/ We are slowly getting back into the work, and we actually got in to see a doctor, so that should help. Sad it took 3 weeks, but maybe we'll get better before 4!

This week I've again had a lot of time to think and ponder. My companion and I have gotten out a little bit, and we've been able to visit some of our friends and some amazing members! 

We actually made two new friends this week without any work on our part. Our Zone Leaders went knocking in our area since we haven't been able to go. They found us a new friend!! Her name is Aprica and we're hoping to visit her this week.

The other friend came when we were trying to get in contact with our other friend. She's his sister and she loved the Spirit we brought last time we visited! She's another we're hoping to visit this week!

We had zone conference, and that was amazing! Our mission president talked about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and showed us a video of the training that the guards who protect it have to go through. Basically, they expect nothing less than perfection. 

It was amazing to see their dedication to their purpose and how much they cared about even the slightest error. Their uniforms have to be literally perfect. There was this tiny little thread that they burned away since it was an imperfection. 

Of course, our Heavenly Father asks us to be perfect. However, He's had to work with imperfect people since Adam and Eve. I've been trying to be nicer to myself because even though we as missionaries hold ourselves to higher standards and even though Heavenly Father asks us to be perfect, He also asks us to love our neighbor as ourselves!

I came away from that zone conference so motivated to do better and I'm excited to get back to work! And part of my improvement is being confident in myself, in my message, and my BINGS. I think Elder Holland says it best in his conference talk titled "Lord, I Believe." I invite you all to listen to it and to be confident in your testimony and in the promptings that the Spirit gives you.

Love you all!!

 

<3 Sister Davis

Pictures:

• Crazy wax lips from my mom
• Jesus pictures
• Making banana bread (seriously love it. It's so good!)

  

Late night ER trips and early morning temple trips

Hi family!! How's it going?

Things are looking up in Tacoma! The sun is out today, and we got to go to the temple this morning! I'm definitely grateful for temples because, this morning, it took us an hour and a half to get there! Apparently, 7 AM is the 4 o'clock rush hour in washington.

It was so nice getting to the temple today! When I first saw it, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of love and home. It is the house of the Lord, and I love being there!

Yesterday was our first day out and about as missionaries! We took it kinda slow since my comp is still on the recovery, but we had a lesson with our friend Travis, who's actually already a member! We're helping him come back to church! He's super elect and I think I've talked about him before! We also had a lesson with our friend Jessie, and I just love her so much. She knows everything and she's so ready to be baptized. 

Other than that, I don't have much to share. We rested a lot this week, especially after going to the ER late Friday night... My comp had a really bad coughing fit, and she couldn't breathe, so we ended up at Urgent Care. We went in at 10:30 PM and didn’t really come home until 1:30. But she's doing much better, so thank you for all your prayers!

Also, thank you for all the emails! It means a lot! They've kept me company this week, and I'm so grateful! Keep 'em coming!

I don't really have a spiritual thought except that I love the temple so so much, and that our Savior is always here for us. I've truly come to rely on Him this week throughout all the craziness. He's there for me, and He's there for you. Every time I think about Him, I'm overwhelmed with love and gratitude. He's our Savior and our best friend. Don't be hesitant to ask Him for help!

Love you all. And see you next week!

<3 Sister Davis

1. Us at the temple this morning

2. a cool bird puzzle from a lady in our ward 

(sorry, but much more enjoyable than that Christ puzzle. Finished it in an hour!)

3. Christ praying with the Nephites

4. Christ's resurrection

 

Happy New Year!!!!

Hi family!! I love and miss you all! I hope you had an amazing week and that you were able to start off the new year strong!

This week has been another crazy one, like always. We got sick this week, so we didn't do a lot of missionary work, but I was able to do a lot of studying and pondering. My goal was to finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year, and I did it! I'd fallen behind, but I managed to finish early! I teased my companion that she got sick because I asked Heavenly Father for more time so I could complete it... So sorry, Sister Golding.

But it was actually really cool because I was able to act on Moroni's invitation and ask Heavenly Father if the Book of Mormon is not true. I've read it before and I knew it was true, but I hadn't actually knelt and asked yet. I'm grateful that Heavenly Father answers prayers, and I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon. I know it's true. I know Jesus Christ came and ministered to the Nephites. I'm so grateful for those prophets who carved the letters into metal and for Heavenly Father for preserving the plates and for Joseph Smith for being so willing and determined to obey His commandments. I love the Book of Mormon! I actually painted my copy! I've never done it before so please don't judge too harshly

My mom gave me a puzzle for Christmas, and that's what I've been working on a lot this week when I haven't been reading my Book of Mormon. It's the picture of Christ called "Prince of Peace." I'm not a big fan of puzzles, so I'm not sure why I'm torturing myself with it. It's one of those puzzles where the pieces are the same shape and the same color and they fit in places where they aren't supposed to fit! When I found Jesus's nose, I yelled "Got your konk!" ..... yeah.

But I've actually realized something cool from this puzzle. The only way I've been able to make any progress with it is if I focus on Christ first. The background is too difficult, so I focus on Him. It's really a unique way to learn that the only way we're going to get through this difficult life is if we focus on Christ. I'm grateful that He guided my mind away from "got your konk" to more spiritual matters and that He taught me this lesson.

Another thing I've learned this week is that "the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which He commandeth them." Our Heavenly Father asks us to do things that might be hard - like staying off your phone while sleeps all day - but He will help us as we do as He asks. He won't abandon us. He's there, even when we don't feel Him, and sometimes that means He comes in the form of others or an idea of something else to do. I know that this is true, and I'm grateful for this lesson too! I'm sure I'll have to be taught it again sometime, but I will remember it!

I'm sure there's more that I've learned, but I can't think of anything else at this moment. I accidentally drugged Sister Golding. Apparently, she was really out of it. I offered her some Benadryl, and she took it and it knocked her out all day. When she came out of the room at like 5 o'clock, she asked what in the world I gave her... oops. It was the right dosage, so I guess she really needed the sleep.

Last night, we had a silly string fight. We were saving it for the other sisters, but we were bored, and it was just sitting there, waiting to be used. I started it... :)) 

I've had a lot of time to think this week, and although it was hard at times, I'm grateful for it. I'm excited to get back to work though! Please send prayers for us! and emails. I'd love to hear from you! I could use some family. I miss you all.

<3 Sister Davis