Dear Family and friends,
.
Well I want to tell you a bit about the sister we're training. Her name is Sister Hudson, she actually knows Chelsea Ellsworth! They were in the same Book binding class together. Small world right? :) She is a really sweet sister with such a drive to serve and do her best. We admire her so much for it. She has been teaching us a lot. We've been so blessed to have her to work with. She's actually making me work a lot harder then I did before haha. I have to be the one to set the example and yet I feel like she is a better example to me. President Clayton did say in our training meeting that we learn more as teachers than those being taught. So I'm definitely learning a lot.
.
I've also realized that being a trainer isn't really a calling saying that you're a good missionary. President told us that we were chosen because 1. God knows how this will bless everyone's lives, and 2. because we are very obedient, and we have to set that example for them. I think of it more as, because I was obedient, Heavenly Father's blessing me with learning a lot more of how I need to be a better missionary. He's giving me the opportunity to grow more, not because I'm a great missionary, but because I have the desire to learn and grow and I'm showing that by being obedient. Obedience is the first law of everything right? :) When we are obedient, the Lord shapes us, molds us into a better person, the person He wants us to be. I was thinking about it today and it makes sense that the Prophet has to be the most obedient man on earth! I admire President Monson for serving the Lord no matter how hard the task may be, no matter if we can't see the outcome, he trusts the Lord enough to be exactly obedient to His will and that's how I want to be.
.
This last Sunday was very stressful. We were in Gospel principles and we had a lesson on the Word of Wisdom. Our teacher is very good and is great about teaching investigators we bring but after the lesson, Flo went back to thinking we had the choice to choose to drink or not, and she didn't understand why God would command us to not drink. Obviously drinking is not the main issue, as she still hasn't had any wine or coffee in the past two weeks, so she must have an issue with something else. We're just trying to figure out what it is now. Well after Gospel Principles we had Relief Society and the person giving the lesson didn't know they were supposed to so we had an imprompto Testimony meeting. The theme ended up being we must all follow God's will, even if we don't understand it. I bore my testimony and so did Sis. McCloy along with a few other sisters. I don't know about anyone else but I thought that was one of the greatest Relief Society lesson's we've ever had. I know the Lord allowed that to happen so we could help Flo. I just pray and hope that she felt the spirit and realized the importance of following God's will and not her own. Obvioulsy He knows best.
.
Well I'm low on time but I want to let you know about a few miracles that have occured lately. A few days ago we were trying to follow Elder Ballard's challenges to talk to 10 people every day, we saw some kids in the street and started talking to them. Their mom came out and we began talking to her. She said she had been taught before by the missionaries and that she was interested but her husband didn't like it. So we asked if we could practice giving her the lessons, as Sis. Hudson needed practice, she agreed and we're meeting with her on thursday. She seemed really happy to meet us, and we were so happy to find her at the right time and place! We also got a call that night from our investigator who we haven't been able to meet lately, Rob. He hasn't been able to come to church because he's not allowed to bring his girls to church with him. Well he told us that his ex-wife allowed him to bring them on Sunday! so he and the girls were there! It was Amazing! The Lord truly blesses us as we do His work, work as hard as we can and are exactly obedient in everything!
.
I love this work. I love being a part of it and I love letting people know of the amazing blessing we have of having the truth restored here on the earth today! It's awesome.
Keep being amazing missionaries! I love you all so much and I pray about you often! Keep my investigators and Sis. Hudson in your prayers! :) She needs them when I'm training. haha
.
Love you!
Love, Sister Maureen Davis
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Week 26 - Thursday, August 18th, 2011
Thank you Mom,
.
I noticed I received a letter that I wrote to you From you, I must have been included in the forward somehow haha. Alright ready for some breaking news?! Transfers are tomorrow. Sis. McCloy and I are Still companions But we're getting a third companion. In fact, we're both Training. I've never been so excited and terrified in my life! Haha I think there is only one english speaking sister that is coming in because all of the other 6 english speaking sisters are staying the same. It's so weird when there are so few of us. Well we're training, we have to get a new bed and potentially a bigger table to study at. But yeah, it'll be good. We'll have to learn to rely on the Lord even more. :)
.
Other then that, Flo is pretty much going to be baptized this month. She has this fear of baptismal dates, but she's decided on baptism and when we met with her Sunday, although she was previously Very opposed to stopping her alcoholic consumption, she found out on her own when Sis. McCloy read 2nd Ne. 28:21 that Satan likes to drag us down carefully through little things, she realized this was one of them. So she pretty much threw out all the alcohol in her house and is telling her friends that she isn't drinking anymore and she hasn't had coffee or tea, so it's going Great! She'll be baptized shortly. The other lady's date should be moved up tonight because she is no longer going out of town. Rob, we haven't been able to meet in a while, we're praying he answers our call sometime. And Todd is progressing very well, the whole ward notices it. He is happy at church and he talks to everyone now so it's a matter of him taking more initiative. They're all great, we're still working on finding up here. No one is outside so we have to work with the members a lot more. But it's been really great and everyone we've talked to so far hopes that we stay for some time. :) It's nice to feel loved
.
Well I don't have as much time today but I want to tell you all how much I know this gospel is true. I know you hear that a lot from me but it's really interesting to see how Heavenly Father works with us and gives us those little revelations, line upon line, telling us He is there and that He's involved in the work. I realized how much He gives me those little testimonies every now and then and just like Elder Bednar's talk they really do grow upon each other like the sun rising until it's the perfect day. He has been letting me know how much He and His son are involved in this work and how much they love each and every one of us! It's so great to feel their love and that peaceful feeling when I know I am doing something right. It's a great comfort and blessing. And if anyone wants to gain a stronger witness for themself I would ask them to bear their testimony in church, to their family, etc. That's how my testimony has grown so much, when I have testified to others what I know. It's so great. :)
.
Well I love y'all. keep being missionary minded and work hard!
Love, Sister Maureen Davis
.
I noticed I received a letter that I wrote to you From you, I must have been included in the forward somehow haha. Alright ready for some breaking news?! Transfers are tomorrow. Sis. McCloy and I are Still companions But we're getting a third companion. In fact, we're both Training. I've never been so excited and terrified in my life! Haha I think there is only one english speaking sister that is coming in because all of the other 6 english speaking sisters are staying the same. It's so weird when there are so few of us. Well we're training, we have to get a new bed and potentially a bigger table to study at. But yeah, it'll be good. We'll have to learn to rely on the Lord even more. :)
.
Other then that, Flo is pretty much going to be baptized this month. She has this fear of baptismal dates, but she's decided on baptism and when we met with her Sunday, although she was previously Very opposed to stopping her alcoholic consumption, she found out on her own when Sis. McCloy read 2nd Ne. 28:21 that Satan likes to drag us down carefully through little things, she realized this was one of them. So she pretty much threw out all the alcohol in her house and is telling her friends that she isn't drinking anymore and she hasn't had coffee or tea, so it's going Great! She'll be baptized shortly. The other lady's date should be moved up tonight because she is no longer going out of town. Rob, we haven't been able to meet in a while, we're praying he answers our call sometime. And Todd is progressing very well, the whole ward notices it. He is happy at church and he talks to everyone now so it's a matter of him taking more initiative. They're all great, we're still working on finding up here. No one is outside so we have to work with the members a lot more. But it's been really great and everyone we've talked to so far hopes that we stay for some time. :) It's nice to feel loved
.
Well I don't have as much time today but I want to tell you all how much I know this gospel is true. I know you hear that a lot from me but it's really interesting to see how Heavenly Father works with us and gives us those little revelations, line upon line, telling us He is there and that He's involved in the work. I realized how much He gives me those little testimonies every now and then and just like Elder Bednar's talk they really do grow upon each other like the sun rising until it's the perfect day. He has been letting me know how much He and His son are involved in this work and how much they love each and every one of us! It's so great to feel their love and that peaceful feeling when I know I am doing something right. It's a great comfort and blessing. And if anyone wants to gain a stronger witness for themself I would ask them to bear their testimony in church, to their family, etc. That's how my testimony has grown so much, when I have testified to others what I know. It's so great. :)
.
Well I love y'all. keep being missionary minded and work hard!
Love, Sister Maureen Davis
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Week 25 - Thursday, August 11th, 2011
Hellooooooo Family!
.
So, as of today, yes I've been out 6 months! Yikes how time does fly. Sometimes it feels like it's been really long and like we have forever till we're done and then there are times that we feel like there isn't enough time left for us to do all that we have to do! It's interesting. It's official. This is the longest period of time spent away from home And, not surprisingly, the longest time I haven't called my family. Haha But it's been really good, and yes I've said it a lot already but I Absolutely Love being here 100%! It's been wonderful and a great experience. I've learned so much! So I will share a few of those things as I love to share my wealth of information. :) Ps tell Bro Jennings that I did get the picture and I laughed really hard. Thank you for it! But yeah I can't write anyone other than immediate family and I actually just found out that I can write my Grandparents too.... yeah so Grandparents you can write me! I must have missed the memo at the beginning of the mission. :)
.
Anyway, about that acquired knowledge...
.
1. Family Mission Plans: it may seem silly, but because some families have made goals for the year of what missionary work they could do we've had more people open to the gospel! And the goals they make are anywhere between praying each day as a family, studying scriptures as a family, to inviting someone to dinner, having a block party, and inviting someone to church or to an activity especially when you or your child has a part in the program. :) It's great and I challenge everyone to do it whether you are with your family still or a young single adult. Do it!
.
2. Don't do missionary dinner calendars! Invite the less actives, nonmembers who may attend the ward, and the ward council to have dinners for the missionaries first. It's not about the food, we can feed ourselves, surprisingly enough, it's about knowing the people and building faith.
.
3. Mom if you ever wanted a tabby cat, we got one. :) One of the members in our ward has been trying to get rid of their cat and I thought I'd ask. Just in case.
.
4. On Friday, I went on exchanges with an Australian, that's right a real live one! And I must say her accent rubbed off on me. I was trying to explain to sister McCloy what she told me and ended up speaking with an accent. hey it's what happens when you're around her. It's contagious! But the more important thing is what I learned from her. I could take a whole day to tell you but I'll just say that she has helped me be myself and be 50% less stressed then I've tended to be lately. I went to her area in Santee, it's spanish speaking, and I practiced my listening in Spanish. I understood most of it or got the context clues anyway, but I chickened out and didn't say much. Still, there was a reason I was supposed to be there that day. We met with two girls who could speak english so I was able to help them grow in their learning. It was a really neat experience. And I learned so much. Too much to tell so I'll have to share later. :) Just know that I have had many growing experiences that have helped me so much.
.
5. We had a sisters meeting today. First one ever for me. We met, had a brunch and talked about how we can be better sisters and how we can show more love to each other and we talked a bit about exchanges. It was really good! We also talked about obedience. And the thing I got from it was, it doesn't matter how silly the rules are, or how difficult or non-sensical. As we are exactly obedient as we obey those rules, we will be blessed greatly! That is something that I'm working on. I'm actually going through the mission handbook and seeing what rules I haven't been good at and that I need to work on. It's been really good knowing that as I am obedient the unexpected miracles happen. I love it.
.
6. Last thing I've really learned is that when Elder Ballard was here, he talked to us about something he had challenged in a talk a long time ago, called the 90 day challenge. I don't know if you remember it or not but the point was, if as a family we prayed to find someone for the missionaries to teach in the next 90 days, and then we worked on it, talked to everyone we could and prayed constantly, we will find someone in 90 days for the missionaries to teach. So I want you to put it to the test. I invite you to do it and see if Elder Ballard is telling the truth. I know you will be blessed for doing it and you Will find someone for the missionaries to teach. Just imagine if every family did this, how many people would be ready to come back to our Father in Heaven. So many of them are ready and being prepared, we just have to go out and find them and the missionaries can't do all the finding. But I know it'll be a wonderful experience so i invite you to do it!
.
Okay quick updates:
.
- One of the ladies we're working with has a date for Baptism. Flo Almost had a baptismal date - she told us that she knew she was going to be baptized! We went over the interview questions and the only one she has a hang up with is the word of wisdom - she likes her wine. So we asked her to pray for the desire to change. She's nervous but she knows it'll happen eventually. We are still working wih Rob and Todd, it's just hard for us to meet with them but they have progressed a lot since we got here. It's so wonderful to see them all progressing! We love them and love working with them so much! We are working with a few part member families, trying to help them see the importance of doing this all together. The work really is going well and I think a lot of it has happened because we've been submissive and have listened and heeded our leaders even when things seem impossible. Always follow your leaders!!! Obedience is the first law of everything. Obedience is how we got to earth in the first place and obedience is our ticket back to Heavenly Father. We must be obedient. :)
.
Well I love you all! I hope you are all doing well and being the best missionaries you can be!
.
Love Sister Maureen Davis
.
Ps tell Olivia and Emmy thank you for the notes and thepictures, they are so cute. I love them a lot! And tell Erin not to be afraid of Mrs. Snyder. Just faint and she'll love you forever. haha that's how it worked for me. ;) other then that tell Maddy to be good and enjoy BYU! Tell Dad good luck at work and that I'm proud of him and Mom I love you so much. Thanks for all you taught me. You're wonderful!
.
So, as of today, yes I've been out 6 months! Yikes how time does fly. Sometimes it feels like it's been really long and like we have forever till we're done and then there are times that we feel like there isn't enough time left for us to do all that we have to do! It's interesting. It's official. This is the longest period of time spent away from home And, not surprisingly, the longest time I haven't called my family. Haha But it's been really good, and yes I've said it a lot already but I Absolutely Love being here 100%! It's been wonderful and a great experience. I've learned so much! So I will share a few of those things as I love to share my wealth of information. :) Ps tell Bro Jennings that I did get the picture and I laughed really hard. Thank you for it! But yeah I can't write anyone other than immediate family and I actually just found out that I can write my Grandparents too.... yeah so Grandparents you can write me! I must have missed the memo at the beginning of the mission. :)
.
Anyway, about that acquired knowledge...
.
1. Family Mission Plans: it may seem silly, but because some families have made goals for the year of what missionary work they could do we've had more people open to the gospel! And the goals they make are anywhere between praying each day as a family, studying scriptures as a family, to inviting someone to dinner, having a block party, and inviting someone to church or to an activity especially when you or your child has a part in the program. :) It's great and I challenge everyone to do it whether you are with your family still or a young single adult. Do it!
.
2. Don't do missionary dinner calendars! Invite the less actives, nonmembers who may attend the ward, and the ward council to have dinners for the missionaries first. It's not about the food, we can feed ourselves, surprisingly enough, it's about knowing the people and building faith.
.
3. Mom if you ever wanted a tabby cat, we got one. :) One of the members in our ward has been trying to get rid of their cat and I thought I'd ask. Just in case.
.
4. On Friday, I went on exchanges with an Australian, that's right a real live one! And I must say her accent rubbed off on me. I was trying to explain to sister McCloy what she told me and ended up speaking with an accent. hey it's what happens when you're around her. It's contagious! But the more important thing is what I learned from her. I could take a whole day to tell you but I'll just say that she has helped me be myself and be 50% less stressed then I've tended to be lately. I went to her area in Santee, it's spanish speaking, and I practiced my listening in Spanish. I understood most of it or got the context clues anyway, but I chickened out and didn't say much. Still, there was a reason I was supposed to be there that day. We met with two girls who could speak english so I was able to help them grow in their learning. It was a really neat experience. And I learned so much. Too much to tell so I'll have to share later. :) Just know that I have had many growing experiences that have helped me so much.
.
5. We had a sisters meeting today. First one ever for me. We met, had a brunch and talked about how we can be better sisters and how we can show more love to each other and we talked a bit about exchanges. It was really good! We also talked about obedience. And the thing I got from it was, it doesn't matter how silly the rules are, or how difficult or non-sensical. As we are exactly obedient as we obey those rules, we will be blessed greatly! That is something that I'm working on. I'm actually going through the mission handbook and seeing what rules I haven't been good at and that I need to work on. It's been really good knowing that as I am obedient the unexpected miracles happen. I love it.
.
6. Last thing I've really learned is that when Elder Ballard was here, he talked to us about something he had challenged in a talk a long time ago, called the 90 day challenge. I don't know if you remember it or not but the point was, if as a family we prayed to find someone for the missionaries to teach in the next 90 days, and then we worked on it, talked to everyone we could and prayed constantly, we will find someone in 90 days for the missionaries to teach. So I want you to put it to the test. I invite you to do it and see if Elder Ballard is telling the truth. I know you will be blessed for doing it and you Will find someone for the missionaries to teach. Just imagine if every family did this, how many people would be ready to come back to our Father in Heaven. So many of them are ready and being prepared, we just have to go out and find them and the missionaries can't do all the finding. But I know it'll be a wonderful experience so i invite you to do it!
.
Okay quick updates:
.
- One of the ladies we're working with has a date for Baptism. Flo Almost had a baptismal date - she told us that she knew she was going to be baptized! We went over the interview questions and the only one she has a hang up with is the word of wisdom - she likes her wine. So we asked her to pray for the desire to change. She's nervous but she knows it'll happen eventually. We are still working wih Rob and Todd, it's just hard for us to meet with them but they have progressed a lot since we got here. It's so wonderful to see them all progressing! We love them and love working with them so much! We are working with a few part member families, trying to help them see the importance of doing this all together. The work really is going well and I think a lot of it has happened because we've been submissive and have listened and heeded our leaders even when things seem impossible. Always follow your leaders!!! Obedience is the first law of everything. Obedience is how we got to earth in the first place and obedience is our ticket back to Heavenly Father. We must be obedient. :)
.
Well I love you all! I hope you are all doing well and being the best missionaries you can be!
.
Love Sister Maureen Davis
.
Ps tell Olivia and Emmy thank you for the notes and thepictures, they are so cute. I love them a lot! And tell Erin not to be afraid of Mrs. Snyder. Just faint and she'll love you forever. haha that's how it worked for me. ;) other then that tell Maddy to be good and enjoy BYU! Tell Dad good luck at work and that I'm proud of him and Mom I love you so much. Thanks for all you taught me. You're wonderful!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Week 24 - Thursday, August 4th, 2011
Dear Family,
.
Oh how I love and miss you. Thank you Olivia for the reminders of your love and your jokes. ;) And I'll try to get that address sometime. I'll talk to Trevor since now I know the zone leaders who work in his ward.
.
Well! I have a lot to share and hardly any time so I'll be brief. Thanks mom for the apricot leather! I was nice and shared pieces with the others in my zone last p-day as we were all playing sports together, even though I could have ate it all in one night by myself. haha I've been trying to save it for a little while at least.
.
Poway is lots of fun! We're beginning to love it up here! It's no longer a strange far away place but a great area, with amazingly kind members and super fun missionaries. We are the only sisters up here so we hang out with the elders on p-day. Last week we played Ultimate and softball. The elders were impressed with my catching frisbee skills, which are limited and then while playing softball I had issues and ended up jamming my thumb. Fortunately it's feeling much better today :)
.
Today we went to the Midway which is a HUGE naval ship that is now a museum. It has a landing dock for planes and it's ginormous. I can't explain much more than that. It was really hard going around in a skirt especially up the narrow stairs but I survived. We went with our zone leaders and Assistants which was fun and then Becky (our recent convert) met us there and we went out to eat later. It has been a good day. :)
.
Anyway, today I've been in a really good/happy/excited mood because last night we talked with Flo and she is really hesitant about lots of things but we asked her to be baptized and she said it will happen, we're still working on the day but we are so exstatic for her! She's great and we all have grown close together, us, Flo and her less active husband. We told her that we were privileged to have met them and have them in our lives and they said they felt the same way about us. i don't know about you but that just made my day. Realizing that anywhere I go, when we work with people to come closer to Christ we come closer together and these strangers feel like family. :)
.
Okay, So Elder Ballard was awesome! He taught us that we need to be working with the members more, in fact we had the ward mission leader and bishops there with us. So we all realized the potential of working together as missionaries and ward members. We got to shake his hand at the end of the meeting as well which was really neat and I gave Sis. Ballard a hug! It was cool. What was really neat is that they didn't seem so distant, I mean Sis. Clayton got up and introduced them as their parents so in a way they seemed like any other amazing great-grandparent/speakers :) It was really neat to be a part of that.
.
Well we've been fed by members for almost every dinner, we get dessert sometimes three times a night, I hope my metabolism can keep up with all of this, so don't worry mom, I'm alive. :)
.
As for listening to impressions, I think I'm getting better at it, Every thought I get I try and act on it, whether it's go here, or text this, or call this person. So yesterday we tried following impressions but it didn't seem like anything worked till the time we met with Flo. I've realized that sometimes after lots of trials and hard times that's when miracles happen and Flo was our miracle last night. Following her meeting we went home and I felt like texting a less active about studying the Atonement, she responded and said we must be doing our job because that's exactly what she needed at that time. I love this work I know it's the right thing and that I'm doing well. I have much to improve on but I really feel so peaceful out here serving the Lord. I know it's where I need to be. :)
.
Now the only challenge is trying to work with the members. Sometimes they are so on top of things and others just don't want to help. I try not to get frustrated haha. But it's all been going well. I'll have to tell you more about what I learned next week. Know that I love you all, I'm constantly praying for you and I hope everything is going well!
.
Love Sister Maureen Davis
.
P.s. keep up that missionary spirit! it will help you a LOT! :)
.
Oh how I love and miss you. Thank you Olivia for the reminders of your love and your jokes. ;) And I'll try to get that address sometime. I'll talk to Trevor since now I know the zone leaders who work in his ward.
.
Well! I have a lot to share and hardly any time so I'll be brief. Thanks mom for the apricot leather! I was nice and shared pieces with the others in my zone last p-day as we were all playing sports together, even though I could have ate it all in one night by myself. haha I've been trying to save it for a little while at least.
.
Poway is lots of fun! We're beginning to love it up here! It's no longer a strange far away place but a great area, with amazingly kind members and super fun missionaries. We are the only sisters up here so we hang out with the elders on p-day. Last week we played Ultimate and softball. The elders were impressed with my catching frisbee skills, which are limited and then while playing softball I had issues and ended up jamming my thumb. Fortunately it's feeling much better today :)
.
Today we went to the Midway which is a HUGE naval ship that is now a museum. It has a landing dock for planes and it's ginormous. I can't explain much more than that. It was really hard going around in a skirt especially up the narrow stairs but I survived. We went with our zone leaders and Assistants which was fun and then Becky (our recent convert) met us there and we went out to eat later. It has been a good day. :)
.
Anyway, today I've been in a really good/happy/excited mood because last night we talked with Flo and she is really hesitant about lots of things but we asked her to be baptized and she said it will happen, we're still working on the day but we are so exstatic for her! She's great and we all have grown close together, us, Flo and her less active husband. We told her that we were privileged to have met them and have them in our lives and they said they felt the same way about us. i don't know about you but that just made my day. Realizing that anywhere I go, when we work with people to come closer to Christ we come closer together and these strangers feel like family. :)
.
Okay, So Elder Ballard was awesome! He taught us that we need to be working with the members more, in fact we had the ward mission leader and bishops there with us. So we all realized the potential of working together as missionaries and ward members. We got to shake his hand at the end of the meeting as well which was really neat and I gave Sis. Ballard a hug! It was cool. What was really neat is that they didn't seem so distant, I mean Sis. Clayton got up and introduced them as their parents so in a way they seemed like any other amazing great-grandparent/speakers :) It was really neat to be a part of that.
.
Well we've been fed by members for almost every dinner, we get dessert sometimes three times a night, I hope my metabolism can keep up with all of this, so don't worry mom, I'm alive. :)
.
As for listening to impressions, I think I'm getting better at it, Every thought I get I try and act on it, whether it's go here, or text this, or call this person. So yesterday we tried following impressions but it didn't seem like anything worked till the time we met with Flo. I've realized that sometimes after lots of trials and hard times that's when miracles happen and Flo was our miracle last night. Following her meeting we went home and I felt like texting a less active about studying the Atonement, she responded and said we must be doing our job because that's exactly what she needed at that time. I love this work I know it's the right thing and that I'm doing well. I have much to improve on but I really feel so peaceful out here serving the Lord. I know it's where I need to be. :)
.
Now the only challenge is trying to work with the members. Sometimes they are so on top of things and others just don't want to help. I try not to get frustrated haha. But it's all been going well. I'll have to tell you more about what I learned next week. Know that I love you all, I'm constantly praying for you and I hope everything is going well!
.
Love Sister Maureen Davis
.
P.s. keep up that missionary spirit! it will help you a LOT! :)
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