Howdy!

That is a lot a fun stuff going on in the west (that's how a Texan would say it). Did Christian get the postcard I sent? Also, thank you very much for the package with the necklace and also the one with the vitamins. I really like the necklace. Its very cute and I wear it a lot! Thank you!!

Apparently a couple missionaries died recently so the people we were eating with thought they should send a picture to our parents so they could see that we were still alive. They're funny.

Its been a slower week but still good. We had a Zone conference on Thursday which was way good. President Mortensen is SUPER smart. I think he knows almost everything, especially relating to the gospel. 

We had a stake correlation meeting which is basically when the stake president, mission president and his counselors, and missionaries with their branch presidencies meet together to talk about missionary things. Afterward each missionary brought one of the leaders from the meeting to a teaching appointment. We ended up bringing the branch mission leader to a lesson with Jordache. It went super well. Jordache just got a job and school is starting so we thought we'd teach about keeping the sabbath day holy. On Sunday Jordache was saying that he told his boss that he can't work on Sundays. yay!

We did a lot of searching this week in regards to people on the branch list that we don't know. We ended up getting lost a couple of times. Did I tell you about how much I like cows? For some reason (texas is wearing off on me) I just love cows. I think they're adorable. 

Life is good. I can't think of anything to email about! I'm doing good but those weird red bumps around my knees are coming back....I just say whatever. I imagine it'll go away when its not so hot. 

I attached a picture of a texas shaped chip because they make those here. 

We were listening to Elder Bednar's conference talk in gospel principles class yesterday and I really like this part:

"The unique burdens in each of our lives help us to rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah. I testify and promise the Savior will help us to bear up our burdens with ease. As we are yoked with Him through sacred covenants and receive the enabling power of His Atonement in our lives, we increasingly will seek to understand and live according to His will. We also will pray for the strength to learn from, change, or accept our circumstances rather than praying relentlessly for God to change our circumstances according to our will. We will become agents who act rather than objects that are acted upon. We will be blessed with spiritual traction."

I think those are good words to live by....someone made a comment that our efforts may seem small but as long as its our best effort, Jesus Christ will make up the difference.

Sorry, more things will happen this week. Be excited for next week's letter :)

I love you!

-Sister Davis

Subject: Re: I think these are the dog days of summer

Hola (spanish for howdy)

It has been a good week. We've been trying to find some new investigators and let me tell ya', the people we walk by or see when we're going into an appointment are people Heavenly Father has placed in our path. I have seen this very clearly throughout my mission thus far. A couple days ago we had parked and were about to go into a house to help some people move. We noticed a lady across the street sitting on the steps to her apartment and so we decided that we'd go talk to her. Her name is Tanaysha, she's probably in her 20's and has a really adorable 1 yr son. We talked to her for just a little bit about our purpose and asked if we could come back and talk to her more about the church. She said that we could come back. On Sunday we went back with a member and taught her the Restoration. The lesson went really well and she accepted a soft baptism invitation. The cool part, however, was after the lesson Tanaysha's sister (she had come in at the end of the lesson) followed us out and talked to us a little bit on their porch. She mentioned how Tanaysha is actually on medical release for anxiety/schizophrenia that was triggered from a recent tramautic experience and that she had a hard time being focused/calm for very long. During the lesson she was totally attentive and had a lot of questions, you really never would have guessed that she had any health issues. The experience reminded me a lot of the scripture Alma 31:5 "And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them"

We also tracted into a former investigator (a lot of the teaching records in our area book don't have addresses) which was pretty cool because she was super willing to have us come back. We called one of the sisters that had taught her and apparantly the only thing that kept them from teaching more was that she left on vacation. So now that she's back we look forward to continue teaching.

I can't remember if I said this already but Priscilla is moving into her own apartment this week and it just so happens to be in the same complex that we're in! We will be neighbors, yay! We did some family history with her this last week and it was really fun. We found some really cool records on her great-grandparents. She is really excited about going to the temple.

Jordache is basically a member. He told the sunday school teacher that he wouldn't mind teaching the class if he ever needed a sub. He also came to church in a white shirt and tie, not because anyone told him to but because he wanted to.

One of our investigators got into a lot of anti-mormon stuff this past week and basically doesn't want anything to do with us now. For little bit we tried to answer questions but it got to the point where we just had to bear testimony and leave it alone. This is sad but whenever stuff like this happens I feel the roots of my testimony grow a little deeper. In hard circumstances we can pray for Heavenly Father's comfort, and we should, but if we prepare ourselves each day/qualify for the spirit, it seems like He is able to send comfort immediately. I'm not sure if that quite portrays my thoughts. I like this scripture: John 14:18-19 'I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.'

I feel like I learn something new every single day. Its like I'm getting 20 years of wisdom/learning condensed into 18 months. Its awesome! 

Well, I love you! Happy Birthday to Christian!

-Sister Davis

On Mon, Aug 18, 2014 at 9:02 AM, Marianne Davis <maridavis.71@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello Sweetie,

I believe dad and Harrison both wrote you kind of long emails so I will keep this one short.  I know your time is limited and valuable :)

I got a call from you friend Amanda this week.  She was talking so fast I missed some of what she said but mostly she is getting ready for her wedding next year.  She found some shoes on line that are perfect and only $15 so she needed to know your size.  I said 8 1/2  Hope thats accurate.  She is quite excited about this wedding. And thought you were coming home to help her sooner that you are.  I don't know what help she is expecting, and how much help can she need since she's been planning this thing for 2 years already.  I kind of wanted to say step back and get some perspective  young lady!  I'ts good she's excited of course but everything in moderation -right.  I am so glad that your energies are being spent differently right now.  I'm not  sure if she is in Reno or not.  I didn't think to ask that.

Christian turns 17 this week.  Did that just blow your mind?  He does act like a teen age boy most of the time.  We are going to see Brian Regan (comedian) for his birthday.  I'm excited for that!

We are finally finishing the laundry room.  We kind of have to because the old washer broke and leaked lots of water all over.  So we are getting a floor in there -finally- and putting the machine in the correct place. and We bought a new washer and dryer..  It's ok because our old ones are just barely younger than you.  It was our first real purchase in Reno.

I sent you some vitamins.  Let me know when you need more.  I think , don't be too concerned about someone telling you your markers are off (or whatever is was) just try to be healthy.  I believe in taking a daily vit. but not everyone agrees with that and think it's mostly wasted.  I say 'what can it hurt"

Harrison says he gave you some good advice about dealing with companions.  I hope it really is good.  When I was a missionary I had many, many difficult comps.  And it was by far the hardest part of being a missionary.  I think with the current guidelines most of them would not have been called.  They just weren't healthy enough-physically and /or mentally.  My only advice is this.  You can't make a person be or do anything.  All you can do is influence, hopefully for good. The only effective way to influence someone is through love and concern.  I know that is true in regular life and probably on mission life too.  My concern is not really for your companion (hypothetical) but for you and how your holding up.  So many missionaries I know of are coming home early with anxiety and depression.  Please realize that your efforts are appreciated and enough.  God knows your heart and loves you for your willingness to serve so fully.  He also loves your comp.s and understands their heart too.  So do the best you can, be obedient and prayerful.  If it really is bad, not just a little frustrating, talk to your leaders.  That's what they are there for. And don't be too hard on yourself.  You are incredible and enough is enough.! (Mosiah 4:27)

I love you, try to stay cool

Mom

Howdy,

I can't believe Christian is a junior, that is super crazy.

Thanks for that quote! That is my favorite talk from conference, actually, probably my favorite talk since I've been on my mission. I've read it several times and still like it.

It has been a good week. A little difficult at times but still good. We had to go a million different places, which means, we had to do a lot of driving. The car is like a black hole, too much time in the car means less time working. I just feel like there are people around us that we aren't reaching when we are in the car too much. Joseph Smith says “It is not needful for … mine elders to be moving swiftly … whilst the inhabitants on either side are perishing in unbelief”  I say amen to that!

On tuesday we went to MLC (mission leadership council) and it was SO good! Its all the sister training leaders and zone leaders in the mission and President Mortensen, Sister Mortensen, and the APs teach us different things. This time we learned how to be "Master Teachers" and how to use the socratic method (asking questions because the truth resides in the learner). I really enjoyed it because I think a lot of time I get so excited to teach but I really need to just ask some inspired questions and have the investigator figure it out on there own. We've been trying to apply it in our own lessons and the spirit is so much stronger! Its amazing to see the spirit really working in the person, bringing light to the doctrine being taught and then having the "learner" testify of the things they are understanding.

We also have a new mission statement "Our disicipleship is settled. We will be faithfully prepared, exactly obedient, and lovingly bold. We will see miracles and accomplish our missionary purpose as we unite with the Lord to hasten His work. We are the Texas Houston Mission." At first I wasn't really sure what to think about it but now I really like it.

On friday the zone leader, the other sister training leader and I taught the material we got from MLC to the rest of the zone. That was up in College Station. It was a pretty good zone meeting.

After all that we had to go down to a dentist Bellville b/c sister Carling had some teeth needing to be done.

  

Yesterday Priscilla got called to be the Beehive advisor, she excited about it but she's really nervous. It'll be a great calling for her.

We moved Jordache's baptismal date up a month so now he's planning a getting baptized on Sept 27th. The branch has really welcomed him in, he goes to church, mutual, sports night (we have a sports night for lessactives and nonmembers). He is really liking the branch family. Hopefully he'll go to seminary too.

We had a neat experience the other day. We were tracting one night and we stopped because we felt like were needed elsewhere. We decided to go by a potential investigator from about a month ago. The people we were looking for were not home but the mother, Gloria, answered the door. She lives in Belize but has been in Texas visiting her grandchildren. We talked to her for a little while and she said that the missionaries in Belize had given her a Book of Mormon about a week before she left for Texas. We shared a scripture and bore our testimony. She wants us to come back before she goes back to Belize! Heavenly Father leads us to the people who need us when we are willing to listen.

I love you!

-Sister Davis

Howdee,

Sister Murphy is kicking the Brenham bucket (she is getting transferred). This was the fastest transfer of my mission, I just can't believe that 6 weeks have gone by already. She was really excited when I told her you served in Kent. She lives by the green river in the valley/downtown part of Kent near the golf course and apartment complexes, I guess its pretty close to Kent-Kangley Rd.

Our branch and two neighboring branches had a bbq for pioneer day. It was a good time but nothing too crazy. Everybody is really simple in the country but they do make some pretty good bbq.

I checked out the pioneer heritage on familysearch. It is super cool. It has been pretty fun doing the familyhistory class, you can really feel the spirit of Elijah.

We had interviews with our mission president a couple weeks ago. He keeps hinting at a bunch of changes that he's going to implement but he hasn't told us quite yet what those changes will be. I think he's been really busy with interviews and all the craziness of being a mission president. A LDS family in Spring, Tx was murdered a couple weeks ago and a lot of missionaries have worked with the family so he's been dealing with that as well. This new transfer should be interesting. I would definitely say he hit the ground running. Its seems like he has been a mission president his whole life.

Those were some nice pictures of Christian, he looks really happy about life. I hope he feels better soon.

Its been a slower week but a good week. We got to go to the temple on thursday and I took a name I found on Familysearch, Lucy Catherine Winfree. I have no idea/can't remember how we're related, probably 32nd cousins.

Priscilla and Jordache are our main investigators. Priscilla is getting baptized this saturday. She is just beaming with joy. I'm a little stressed now that Sister Murphy is leaving but it'll be okay. Its all planned out and ready to go. I'm really excited. I wish you could meet her because she is really cool. She's made a lot of changes the past couple of weeks but there is no denying the increase of light that has entered her life because of it. She was saying the other day that she just feels so happy and she wants everyone to "hop on this train because its awesome!"

I feel like Jordache could be a member already. He's made friends with the two priests in our ward and that has made a big difference in his conversion process. He's a pretty typical high school senior but he seems to be more with it than the rest of the world.

We've been having some success with the less-active members in our branch. We've been visiting a lady named Alma and she's come to church twice now. I think its been a couple of years since she's attended church. She's really sweet and has been very receptive to us when we visit. She always expresses how she feels like she's not just learning but understanding the gospel.

I hope ya'll have a good week.

I love you!

-Sister Davis

Howdy familia,

I'm thinking it would be a good idea to have zebra companionships (one english, one spanish) in this area because there are a lot of spanish speaking people. The closest spanish missionaries are 45 min away so that's a little hard.

Anyway, it has been such a busy week! So we have the goal of 25 contacts a day which we've been really trying to get. Here's the problem, we have found people to teach so.... we have been too busy teaching them that we don't have time to find all 25 contacts. I know....kind of a ridiculous problem. I'll figure it out.

Priscilla is still scheduled to get baptized on August 2nd and she's really excited. Let me tell you about how tough she is...at work (she's a welder, its pretty cool) her trainer is always trying to give her coffee and every one takes smoking breaks but she avoids it all. She said that sometimes her trainer will set down a cup of coffee next to her and she'll just wait till she walks away and then throw it away. She has two sons (10 and 11 yrs old) that she wants to bring to church but her ex-husband is not the most kind so he doesn't allow them to come. To compensate she just teaches her sons everything we teach her.

We met a teenager, his name is Jordache, tracting last week and he is really soaking up the gospel. He lives with his dad but it seems like his dad is never home. He is 18 so we don't technically need parental permission but it would still be good since he still lives with his dad. He is from Jamaica but he tries not to speak with an accent. Last time we had a lesson we taught the plan of salvation and set a baptismal date for oct. 25! Even cooler than that is when he came to church yesterday we found out that one of the youth, Anthony, in the branch is on his soccer team at school. That was really nice because its always good when they can have a friend. After church we told Anthony that he has a baptismal date and he was pretty excited about that, we think he'll probably baptize Jordache. 

I did an exchange with the YSA sisters last week so I got to go to the Texas A&M campus to contact. It was pretty fun. Since its summer there aren't as many people but still enough to stay pretty busy. They can easily get 25 contacts every day but its kind of hard because everyone is rushing to class.

The branch has started a family history class on Saturday ran by Sis. Murphy and I, its a little nerve-racking because I really don't know a ton about how to maneuver familysearch. So far, the problems people have mostly stem from basic computer-usage skills - I can handle that.

There's about 85-95 active people in our branch and there's probably about 20 kids in primary. Its a fun group but everyone seems so busy and they all live far out. Its pretty functional. We have a really good ward mission leader and I think we've been gaining more trust with ward members because we've had more referrals and opportunities to do service from them.

I sure do like it out here in cowboy country...lots of cows....and dirt roads....and greenery.

Also, thanks for the package! It was a pleasant surprise.

I love you! I hope you have a super nice week.

Sister Davis

Howdy family,

Life is good in Brenham. We have been so busy. I love the people here... they sure are an interesting bunch.

Last tuesday we had personal interviews with the president and specialized training. President Mortensen is super gung-ho about everything. He has some exciting plans for the mission, he hasn't really told us what they are yet. However! We will be getting ipads soon. I think we have to pay for them? Or maybe if we don't want to take it home we can just sort of rent it? I'm not totally sure about that. Anyway, it seems like he's been a mission president his whole life. I'm not really sure how his family is doing but I'm sure their all doing great.

One of the Texas Houston mission goals is to invite 25 people a day to hear about the gospel. Pres. Mortensen really emphasized that in the interviews and training. After interviews Sister Murphy and I had the day planned out and it didn't include tracting/contacting but we decided that we really needed to meet the goal of 25. President Pingree always said that if we talk to 25 people each day, we will find people to teach. We were able to talk to 26 people in the span of two hours (that by itself is a miracle for Brenham)! Better than that was we found 5 new investigators! I really believe in the "25".

I'm trying to fulfill my duties as sister training leader by going on exchanges but it has been surprisingly difficult to plan. I did go on one exchange with the College Station sisters but the transfer is almost over so I'm getting a little anxious.

I gave a talk in church yesterday. It was about covenants and ordinances. I thought it was pretty good. The first or second counselor asked me if I could talk about how the come follow me curriculum helped me prepare for my mission. I told him "I'm old and I don't know what you're talking about.". Just kidding, I didn't say quite those words but ....I am kind of old.

Thanks for the pep talk. Its just what I needed to hear!

I love you!

Sister Davis

Sorry this was short...we really are busy all the time, I promise.