Monday, July 25, 2011

Hi Loves! July 25, 2011

Well it's a new week and a very new transition.. I picked up my new companion Sister Tuckett on Wednesday. Let me tell you.. this week was difficult! She is VERY QUIET. Infact the only thing she has voluntarily said to me this entire week was "How do I turn off this heater". So ya.. huge transition. It is difficult talking over an area when you are so used to working with one companion and all your investigators know you.. then comes a new one who doesn't talk.. ha so I feel super burdened with having to give the WHOLE lesson. . She is a very sweet girl I just can't get her to say a word.. she has been out for 6 months and apparently in her last area she hasn't had ANY investigators or ANY investigator lessons/basptisms... which sounds very odd to me.. because we are supposed to have 20 lessons a week with at least 10 investigator lessons.. so since she has only spent the last 6 months giving MEMBER lessons at dinner.. just a thought.. not anything from Preach my Gospel I think she is a little overwhelmed at all the work we have to do here in Red Lodge/ Absoarkee. Hopefully she'll get used to it soon. I feel like she is from another country or something because she won't talk.. ha. I am sure it'll work out.:)  
   The work load on a mission is always alot easier when you love the people you are serving.. Let me tell ya I LOVE the people of Montana. I really do.. I have some great friendships here already that I am sure will last forever. 
   We helped a lady from one of our branches Sis Clark this last Saturday with her annual garage sale.. she aslways has a bunch on antiques and coool stuff. And she gave me the best present ever! It's a super old school polaroid camera.. you know the ones that instantly print the picture.. I am not sure how to get the photo paper for those anymore but if anyone knows.. let me know! 
    Well I am happy to be here and am feeling a bit better now than last week.. still not 100 percent but soon! Anyhow.. Love ya all! Write to me!
Love 

One of my favorite Families. The Roses



P.S. I forgot to mention.. remember that lamb I had fed? Yeah well a bear ate it yesterday!!! YES A BEAR ATE IT!!! ah
Sis Rachelle

Monday, July 18, 2011

Come what may, and Love it!

This week has been rather rough.. I had my gallbladder surgery and there were a few complications.. basically my stomach blew up like a 9 month termed baby! But one of the nurses said "dear don't worry, you only look six months pregnant". I can honestly say it was the worst week of my life.. really. The pain was awful, I was really struggling and I felt very alone without my family and friends around to give me some good laughs and comfort.. But I learned some of the most profound lessons of my life thus far.
 After days of agony and 6 visits to the emergency room (yes 6!) I was very agitated.. I thought hey you Heavenly Father! What's up with this!? I gave up alot to come on this mission! It wasn't part of my plan, and now this! I am working hard I don't deserve this treatment! I'm doing EVERYthing that I am supposed to! How could you do this to me?
Not all at once but one by one.. the spirit told me different things that are lessons I will remember all my life.

1. For once in my life I thought about the Mormon pioneers.. I didn't used to care much about them.. i thought the stories were boring.. mostly because I never understood what they were about. I realized that they went through hell and back to preserve our rights to live the gospel.. they traveled thousands of miles with nothing but the shoes on their feet and small wagons.. it was not the very elite in shape that left.. It was everyone. The women and children included. Many lost all their loved ones.. children died. They must have felt very alone at times but they kept going despite the persecution and look now and the product of their sacrifice! I grew a deep love for these pioneers.

2. My mother. My mother gave me some of the best advice I have ever had. Since I was upset at God and my situation.. I was impatient.. I wanted to go to work. She encouraged me "DONT GO TO THE DARK SIDE! GOD is trying to teach you something, be patient, He is there, He loves you". I am so grateful for that because it is true.. when things get rougher than we think we can bear we should smile. I turned to the bible to the verse that says " Blessed be they who cry now, for they shall laugh".  It's so true!

3. My brother Jared wrote me a very sweet letter. He said that he knows how it feels to have surgery and that he hopes I get better. ( He has spina bifida) This meant so much to me. I realized wow I am such a jerk! My brother has underwent I believe around 10 surgeries, ten! He has to put up with so much pain and the after affects of all these medicines. I have been able to feel a small amount of the pain that I am sure my brother has had to endure all these years. Through Jared's thoughtful letter I was able to think of my Savior Jesus Christ and about his atonement for my pain as well as everyone else's around me. God gives us these trials to refine us.. so that we can have more compassion towards others.. and so that we can better understand the power of Jesus Christ's life and atonement and be grateful for him. 

4. The scriptures. I did a study on patience and read alot about the sons of Mosiah and the trials they underwent.. and about their missionary work. Alma 26 is one of my favorite chapters of the Book of Mormon because it shows the sweet product of the sons of mosiah's change of heart and diligent work to bring others to Christ. Ammon glories in God as he looks at their past, He is so happy to see the change in himself and all the blessings of all the people that joined to Church of God and started to commit to living happier, more fullfilling lives. As he is rejoicing his brother Aaron rebukes him saying.. hey brother, you better watch it.. I think you are boasting.. and Ammon replies.. Oh no no you got it wrong.. I do not boast in myself, but in my god.. for look at all he has done! Look at all the blessings he has allowed us to have after we had committed so much sin before. 
I love the scriptures.. they have so many examples of people just like us.. doing their best and going through hard times. The fruit of our labors will come.. but sometimes it takes a while.. BUT IT DOES COME! I am so glad to know this. Alma 34:40-41 tells us to have a firm hope that one day we will rest from our afflictions. I know this is true. It starts with hope. A little seed of hope. 

         The last thing I want to share is that we had two baptisim's this last Saturday! The Callison couple had a few things they had to work on and they pulled through! I was a little worried that some of the issues may need to push their baptism back a few weeks, but no it worked out great! I was even well enough to go! I was pretty sick but I made it through the whole thing. I feel so blessed to have been a part of this blessing. On sunday My companion and I both gave talks on missionary work, we watched the Callisons get confirmed.. and guess who showed up at church for the first time in his life? AL!!!  I couldn't believe it!  I am also very excited because I start teaching the Callsions two sons who are 14, and 12 the lessons next week. I am hoping they decide to follow their parents footsteps. 
My companion is leaving and I am getting a new one on wednesday! I am a little worried.. My health still isn't very good but the last two days I have gone out to work. I can't carry anything so my companions been doing that.. ha  i hope this new one is nice! I'm sure she will be. I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for good family and friends who have written me and helped me though the hard times. I love you all sooo very much. 

Love Sis rachelle Davidson

Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy Fourth!

Well this week was good!  I have to tell ya'll about a man named AL.. He's a veteran and prob around 65-70 years old.. He's a grump and a woman hater. . somehow we are teaching him.. hah anyhow.. I have really tried to get him to pray for the past couple weeks.. infact, I am kindof pushy with him because I know he can take it.. So on Saturday I was being my usual pushy self.  So at the end of the lesson I said "Hey AL, what's your problem? Why don't you want to pray?"  He replied.. "There's a few choice names I'd like to call you, but I haven't used those since the war. Your a pushy one!"  So I said.. "Alright sweet call me what you will I still think you should pray". .. (not really thinking he would do it).. after several grunts and grumbles.. But then he took his hat off and said just about the sweetest prayer I've ever heard.
   It is truly amazing to see people's countenances change.. I feel sooo blessed to be on a mission. I can't tell you how many times people will say "i am so happy you two come over to our house, we always feel so good when you come, and for days after".  . and we're like what the? We aren't even doing anything! We just go.. that's about it. . But hey the Lord knows what he's doing! I have never felt more fulfilled in my life. I am sad that my companion is going home in a couple weeks.. and also terrified to get a new companion and take over the area.. it's a lot of responsibility.
         Oh ya.. well I am having surgery on Friday. .. there yanking out the gallbladder... I really don't feel like doing it, plus not sure how neccesary it is but oh well, I could use a prayer or two! Oh ya my Mission President says we can watch fireworks tonight! woop!

Love Sis Davidson


p.s
Kari/Robert: I hear you had your baby!!!!!! AHHHHHH I am sooo happy for you and Robert! Mummi says you were gonna call her Eliza Jane maybe? tell me what the name is!!! Send me a pic! Congrats... I love you!
Kaylene: thanks for the letter I loved it, hope to hear from you again soon
Kirsten: how is Texas?
Kevin: Thanks for the letter, Ill write ya back
Hannah? hannah?
Stephanie Boinay????!