Monday, July 23, 2012

10 days left? Seriously?

Well it has been a great week! I'm a tiny stressed out. Ok I'm a lot stressed out. It's nerve racking coming home soon. It's the scariest thing ever! You go through so many emotions.. and ask yourself a lot of questions.. Did I do everything I was supposed to? Am I more Christlike? Have I learned all that I needed to out here. Did I help other people come to Christ? How will I ever get back into "normal" life. I guess these are all the be expected. Life is full of change. If you aren't changing your not progressing right?
Two amazing things from this week:
1. Brett. He is the guy that works at the gas station, the one I invited to church and actually came! yeah. So we taught him the first lesson this week.. let me tell you it was absolutely amazing and spiritual. It was meant to be. So many things that have happened in his life were similar to my own experience.. I believe everyone has to be "backed against the wall of faith". We all have to come to Christ on our own paths.. and once we do sometimes we get to help other people who are trying to find that truth that only comes from the gospel. This is true with Brett. During the lesson he cried. He said "I haven't cried in years, you don't understand how much just this conversation has helped me already, I have been looking for this peace all my life". People like Brett make missions so worth it.
 
 
2. Nancy Glassco got baptized! Yes! It was so great. I gave a talk at her baptism on the Holy Ghost.. I teared up at the end because I am just so proud of her.. Also because her non member mom and 3 sisters came to the service and were on the front row intently listening. It was a powerful experience. One that I am truely grateful to God for letting me be a part of. He really knows everything. it was wonderful.
 
I come home in 10 days! It's nutso!
Love you
Sister Rachelle

Monday, July 16, 2012

It's so Good.

The mission is good so good.

1. We had 5 investigators at church on Sunday

2. We fasted and prayed with Nancy about her baptism. She is getting baptized this Saturday

3. I love my mission

4. I heart my companion. We are two peas in a pod.

5. My diet coke addiction has a purpose. I always talk to the guy at the gas station while purchasing said caffiene. Well I invited him to church.. he came and loved it. He asked us when we could teach him! hahaah

I love you all. Lots. I will tell you everything when I get home. I feel like these e-mails are getting shorter and shorter.. welp.. see you in 2 weeks!
-Sister Rachelle

Monday, July 9, 2012

Yikes

Is this a joke? Three weeks left. I would like to live in denial. I kind of am actually. Amazing things have been happening.. Remember Nancy? I asked her if she prayed about the Book of Mormon and got an answer... her reply " Yes I did, I think I got an answer, but I'm not sure. Basically I asked God if all of this was true.. the Church and everything.. and well I just had this feeling of joy all over my body, what does that mean? It felt awesome"!
Oh my goodness that was so amazing.. I'm like uh yeah that's an answer from God Nancy.. I took no more thought about it and asked her if she wanted to be baptized.. She said she would like to! She's going to pray about July 21.. oh my Hannah that's great. The Gospel is for reals.
   One thing I have found is that as a missionary.. all you really need is the Spirit. If you have that.. it doesn't even matter what you say.. the people you teach will respond if they are ready. God knows who is ready for the gospel.. all he asks us is to help Him get them into the church.
   I am terrified to go back to normal life soon. You'll have to help me!
Loves,
Sister Rachelle

Monday, July 2, 2012

I'll go where You want me to go

Yesterday was my last fast and testimony meetings of my mission. That is absolutley scary/emotional for me to say the least. Both Sacraments were great meetings.. amazing actually. I bore my testimony in the last ward and wow I felt like bawling my eyes out. I didn't though thankfully.. but there were a few tears. I basically thanked the Lord for all the unreal blessings/miracles I have seen on my mission. The hymn "I'll go where you want me to go" has been going on in my head the last couple weeks..
"But if by a still, small voice He calls to paths I do not know,
 I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Yours,
I’ll go where You want me to go."

It's been hard for me.. and kinda makes me mad! Why? Because I know the Lord is calling me back home soon. He wants me to return back to normal life. Frankly that sucks! I don't want to do it.. It's bittersweet.

The Lord blesses the obedient. He blesses those that serve Him.. some of the blessings I've recieved lately shock me! I feel incredibly blessed by God. I just realized I said blessed like 5 times already.. Well here I go again.. I feel BLESSED beyond my own comprehension.

Want to hear an amazing miracle? A couple I taught in my first area.. the Wards.. Amy was just baptized when I got to RedLodge. . I was able to take them to the temple the for thier first time to do baptisms. . anyhow they are now getting sealed in the temple... Guess where? San Diego on August 4! I get to go to thier sealing.. oh my amazing.

So we have been teaching a new investigator named Nancy.. She's 15 and I love her to peices! Guess how she found out about the church? The Donny Osmund website! How hilarious is that? She has this newfound obsession with 70's music and on his website there is a link to ask questions about the chuch.. She's been coming to church with us for the last two weeks and she loves it! She is trying to memorize the Young Womens theme.. she is the best. She will get baptized and be the key for the rest of her family.. for sure. Wow I just love the gospel.. and it's amazing teaching the elect who want to learn and progress.. It's so cool.

We got a new mission President! Did I forget to mention that? He is rad.. I like him alot. It is weird though having such a huge change right before I go home.. But hey if things aren't changing.. you aren't progressing.
I love my mission. I'm gonna love these last four weeks. Let the miracles roll in
Loves,
Sister Rachelle

Monday, June 25, 2012

This little light of mine

Moved again!
1214 Daybreak
Helena, Montana
59601
It's been a great week! Dawson got baptized and confirmed. He is so cute I can't even handle it. During his interview for baptism.. The district leader asked him what he thought of a living day prophet.. his response "It's breathtaking"! haha so hilarious.
5 weeks to go and I'm absolutely going crazy. I don't ever want to leave this mission. It's been amazing.. every moment almost seems monumental. I can never replace the time I've had here.. and I don't want to be a normal human again! It sounds scary. I am going to be one of those weirdo returned missionaries for a long time I think. You'll all have to help me.
  I am sure this last 5 weeks I'm going to be feeling all sorts of emotions. I already am. I am basically heartbroken leaving Montana.. but I'm excited for what God has in store for me. It's crazy. that's all I can really say about it.
  I want you all to know how much I love the Lord. I love him lots. The atonement of Jesus Christ has helped me heal from the deepest of wounds. It's helped so many people out here in Montana.. I've witnessed it. God is so aware of us. . even when everything seems dark. He really is there.. helping us.. and if we listen we'll start to notice His spirit guiding us in our daily choices. I don't doubt that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. I know it. With all my heart. I've been blessed to meet the most amazing people here.. people that will be my friends forever.
I love you all!

Sister Rachelle

Monday, June 18, 2012

I'm so freaking happy

Yeah,  I said  it. I'm freaking happy! It's true! I am. I am having a great time. Amazing actually. My mission has definately been the best part of my life thus far. OH AND GUESS WHAT? So I was really worried that I was going to be training a new misisonary for my last 6 weeks.. I was super bummed for many reasons about that.. mainly because I LOVE Sister Val.. and because the investigators we are teaching right now are really connected to us. (the gospel too, but you know what I mean) So what did I do? I prayed about it. I was like "Heavenly Father, is there ANY way I can just keep my companion".. basically the nevertheless Thy will be done ending.. ha I fully expected to say goodbye to Sister Val.. Sister's in this mission NEVER serve more than 2 transfers together, it's never happened, ever. Welp. God loves me. It's true! I get to stay will her my last transfer! She's killing me off! WOop! And what's rad about this is that this weekend we have a baptism. no big deal. God is a God of miracles. For real.
    I've learned so much on this mission. Serving God full time is an experience that's hard to describe. I've loved the whole thing. The hard parts were HARD. The good parts were AMAZING. I know I'm so profound right? But anyone who has really loved thier mission I'm sure will relate. It's difficult knowing that I soon go back to the "real world".. but you know what? This is the real world. I can feel the spirit like this for the rest of my life. I never have to let go of these missionary experiences. . I am just being positive Patsy right now.  I'm just going to name off a few things my mission has taught me about life and the gospel.
   - The Priesthood power is real. It's the real deal. Direct authority from God has been restored to the Earth. The same priesthood power Christ had when he healed the sick in Jerusalem, and the America's. The same Priesthood his apostles used. The one that Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist under. . we can recieve blessings from it today. It's amazing. Men who honorably hold it are amazing.
 - The Holy Ghost is the greatest. The influence and power of this member of the Godhead is the greatest gift you could get. God loves us enough to let us feel his Spirit on occasion, which I imagine to be a little piece of the Celestial Kingdom. Heavenly Father hasn't left us alone. . not ever. We can recieve answers from God through this gift.. so we're not wandering.. but we can go forward with determination and peace knowing what choices are right. It's my favorite gift. My mission has taught me just how real/important it is, and to always remain worthy to feel it.
- The importance of Motherhood. I am not a mother yet.. probably won't be for a while. . but I know that my mission has helped me know what kind of mom I need to be. There is no better training than on the mission field for this.. im convinced that God wanted me pay attention to the Mother's I have seen out here and learn from thier examples. I always want to be there for my kids. I want to teach them the scriptures.. I want them to grow up in a safe environment where there is always love.. and food:) haha
- How important it is to marry the right person, at the right time, In God's temple for eternity. I still occasionally hear Grandaddy's word's "Rachelle when you get married, make sure you get married in the temple. Don't do it any other way. I see many people get married out of the temple and it's a sad thing to watch". haha Obviously I am not married.. but I have seen many examples of different marriages on my mission. It's the most important decision you could ever make. Eternal Families are sacred and Satan will do all he can to stop a good marriage. . You have to do the little things with your spouse. You have to read the scriptures, fullfill your callings, go to the temple together, pray together.. be willing to sacrifice. There's a lot that needs to be there. I'm super grateful for all the lessons I've learned out here. They were unexpected. But real.
  I could go on for days.. I am so happy I served this mission. The blessings I've recieved from it are innumerable. I love life. I love God. I love being His missionary.
Sister Davidson

Monday, June 11, 2012

   It's been a great week. Tiffany and Sam came to church! Woop. We're going over to thier house for dinner tonight. yay.
   So I'm not gonna lie it's starting to set in that I am going home in 7 weeks. It's terrifying! I am way nervous.. I'm sure it will be fine.. but it's just crazy. nutso actually. Oh and incase you were wondering .. YES I AM GOING TO BYU-Idaho. It's not a joke. I'm admitted and everything. Don't you just love direct revelation? Sometimes it just swoops on you and you have no choice but to follow it. It's basically a compelling force.. but it feels amazing. There's nothing better than knowing you on the right path..
   I feel like there are so many amazing things that happen every day and I jsut don't know how to put them down. I guess I'll just have to tell you all when I get home.
    I find out on Friday where I am going to be serving my last transfer. I think I will probably be staying here in Helena.. at least I hope. Love you

Monday, June 4, 2012

Just Love you Helena.

   Well incase you were wondering.. I am almost 100% for sure in for the Fall at BYU-Idaho. Weird right? I know. They have this returning missionary program and so I am definately qualified! WOOP! Wish me luck.
It's been an amazing week.. although I have been sick my heart has seriously been so full it's gonna burst.
Here's some miracles.. not neccesarily in order:

1. Remember Tiffany Smith? the one we always feel awkward asking to get re-baptized? Well we met with her this week.. and before we went in we were like "what should we teach her"? Both our minds were blank on what to say so I was like "welp we'll just have to go in there and let the Spirit do the work. . that we did, and guess what? Tiffany went off telling us how much she likes us, because we don't push her.. We don't make her feel uncomfortable beacuse she's been excommunicated.. We've loved her and treated her as an equal.. She was like "Siste's you don't make me feel like getting to where you are is unattainable. . Thanks so much for coming over here, it's really helped me. I've been thinking about getting back into the church. When you call and invite me to church I get so excited and something feels different when I go now. I don't come home feeling guilty and turn to my vices anymore. HOLY MIRACLE. I've been praying for this woman FOREVER. I seriously love her.. can't wait for the day to see her baptized.


2. My companion was like "Sister Davidson, you are always so happy, how can I be more like you? It's like your always positive." K. that is a miracle in of itself. For any that no me I have been somewhat negative/cynical most my life.. haha More like just thinking I was being realistic, but really I just didn't have the faith to believe that good things would happen to me.

3. Remember the Callison couple I taught that got baptized last summer? We'll Jess Callison baptized Deb's two sons that I taught yesteraday!!! YEAH!! I can't wait to be in the temple with them when they get sealed. How amazing is that?

4. I bore my testimony in Sacrament without crying the whole time. You know when you bear your testimony and you actually say everything you wanted to. It was just rad. I was like "I am literally happy ALL THE TIME.

There's lots more miracles but hey who has time to read them. So for any of you there reading I just want you to know how much my mission has meant to me. It's helped me to understand the priesthood. To trust in the priesthood power and believe that it is real. It's helped me to understand my purpose in life.. To trust in the power of prayer and really develop a personal relationship with diety. It's shown me how important the scriptures are. It has shown me how to be a good mother.. one that is willing to follow all the commandments and teach her children to do the same. I am sad that I have 8 weeks left. But I am never going to forget the miracles that have happened in Montana.
Loves
Sister Davidson

Monday, May 28, 2012

Old Habits Die Hard

Well, get ready for a surprise. .. I decided I am going to go to BYU-Idaho! Yeah I know right? I am actually being dead serious. Yes I hate the cold, Yes this was not in my plans at all.. So what's the deal? Well I am not exactly sure.. all I know is that I've had the strongest impression not to go back to Hawaii and to go to Idaho. I have NO IDEA how this is going to work out.. seeing as I already registered for Hawaii and the fact that I despise Idaho. haha
    Let me tell you though I know this is the right decision. . Just as much as I knew I should go on a mission. I fasted and prayed about it. I told God there was no way I was going to BYU-Idaho cause that would just be nonsense! By the end of my fast I felt so good about going there.. ha  Makes no logical sense, but at the same time it does. Anyone that has any tips or in's on how to get into BYU-Idaho for Fall let me know! I know this is crazy talk.. but I'm really serious about it.
    Sometimes on our road in life God makes us give up something we love for something even better. In this situation.. that's how I feel. I LOVE HAWAII. I am obsessed with it. I love the ocean. I love BYU it's the best. I love the time that I have spent there and the people I have met. I thought for sure I would just graduate from there and go on to get my Masters... I guess the Lord has different plans.. He always seems to have different plans. God knows I hate the cold.. so anyone reading this knows that my decision to go to Idaho has to be from Him because there is NO WAY I would have chosen this on my own.
     It has been a good week. I have had a terrible cold but other things are going really well. We set a baptisimal date for a little boy named Dawson Hazelitt! His family came to church this Sunday.. so we're super excited. I love that family. I don't know if I mentioned them before. I LOVE teahcing kids.. they are so humble.. they just get it. I would say alot more but I don't really have the time. Love ya'll

Monday, May 21, 2012

Sunshine in Helena

Running for the Cure for Breast Cancer
Well it was a good week! Last P-day I convinced all the Elders and my companion to hike Mount Helena. It was sooo pretty! Not exactly like Hawaii hikes, but beautiful nontheless. I also convinced my companion to run the 5k for Breast Cancer with me.. It was super fun! We live right by the captiol, it's a nice building I must say.
There's been a few nights I haven't been able to sleep at all.. so that was no fun. One of the days this week I was super tired and we we're walking to our dinner when we saw this old man with a broken arm (and very sick/tired looking) trying to mow his lawn.. He almost fell over! I was like Oh no way is he mowing this lawn.. So I asked him if I could mow it for him..(who cares if I'm in a skirt right? I've been walking all day anyway and it was hot and sweaty) I might mention I have not used a lawn mower in ages. I could count on one hand the times I've used a hand mower.. But I did it! The awesome part was Sister Valdivieso was talking to the Man as I was mowing. She asked him if he was interested in learning more about the chuch.. he said "Well I never have been until now, I am just so touched by your service". She then set up an appointment with him and his wife (he says his wife is afraid of us) then she found out he was going on vacation to.. guess where? St. George utah! haha He said he was planning on walking around the temple grounds because they are so pretty. Hmmm seems perfect. we'll see.

Montana Capitol Building

Breast Cancer Eye Protectors


Mt Helena

So we met with Sam and Tiffany again this week. We called and invited Tiffany to church (since she hasn't been coming much, just her husband) and she was so excited that we invited her! She's like "yes I can't wait to sit next to you girls, you are so funny". Ha hey if being weird works, I'll take it. She came. The best part was by default we had to teach the lessen in Gospel Principles because our teacher was gone.. We taught the restoration.. and watched the 20 minute restoration video. Man was it spiritual. At the end I felt inspired to share my testimony about my favorite convert Jane. I told them how I remembered watching this DVD with Jane.. and when I looked over she was bawling.. by the end my comp and I were bawling as well. By the end Jane finally knew she needed to be baptized.
Tiffany had tears in her eyes. Please pray for us to know how to invite her to be re-baptized. She is so awesome. I just love her.
I'm not gonna lie.. being close to the end of my mission is REALLY HARD on me. It's depressing. I know it's just part of life to move on.. but who would ever want to move on from this?
Love, Sister Davidson

Monday, May 14, 2012

A band of Angels coming after me

I love this song. .

Swing low, sweet chariot,
Comin' for to carry me home;
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Comin' for to carry me home.

I looked over Jordan,
And WHAT did I see,
Comin' for to carry me home,
A band of angels comin' after me,
Comin' for to carry me home.

If you get there before I do,
Comin' for to carry me home,
Tell all my friends I'm comin' too,
Comin' for to carry me home.

It's been a great week. First.. I was threatened at gunpoint.. a .38 to be exact. haha! So there's this city in our area called Montana city.. It's pretty country.. houses are up in the hills and far from civilization.. we went to this house on the top of one of said hills.. an old man answers the door and screams.. "I am going to shoot you, get the *BEEP* off my property! I'm not joking if your stupid enough to knock on my door I can kill you on sight"!... So of course I did what I should and bolted to the truck as fast as I could.. Well we were in a trio that day and the other two sisters are like casually walking slow.. all the while he is screaming "Get out of here now! Your making me sooo mad! while proceeding to throw his crutch at them!"  I'm like get the heck in the truck now!!!! I'm already in the truck and finally one of the sisters makes it in.. my companion is outside the truck picking something up very slow.. I'm like sister WHAT ARE YOU DOING GET IN THE TRUCK!!! haha she was picking up a couple mormon.org cards she dropped.. I'm like are you serious! Leave the cards! hahah it was kind of hilarious.. She was just in shock. I would have been ok if I got shot.. Spirit paradise sounds pretty gratifying.. I wouldn't mind a band of angels coming after me.
     Mothers day was nice. I don't think I told you about a lady named Elizabeth we met with a few weeks ago.. We'll we were out trying people and no one was answering.. then I told Sister Valdiviso.. Don't worry I've got a feeling we will find someone we never met today and teach them.. She's like yeah. . not even 5 seconds later.. a lady starts RUNNING towards us "SISTERS! SISTERS! wait!!!!, I want to talk to you"! It was Elizabeth. She had been inactive for 8 years or so. . shortly after she got baptized.. We got to know her and right on her door step We taught her about the atonement.. and it was AMAZING!! Long story short she's been coming back to church for 2 weeks strait now.. and the ward is embrassing her. My comp is like.. "how did you know? you always call stuff like that out before it happens".. Then I remembered seeing sooo many little miracles like that in my first area with Sister Buchanan.. She called stuff out all the time.. it was like she just casually went through all the miracles.. and I was astounded at them.. I asked her the same question.. she said.. I guess it's just that I expect the Lord to do these things.. I have been out so long that it isn't I don't recognize them.. it's just that they happen so often. Anyways .. It's just rad. that's all.
      Sister Michiels came to church this week with all her kids!!! It was the cutest thing I have ever seen. Since we've been bringing the kids to church the last month.. they were all able to sing with the Primary to thier mom. I almost cried. Geez I never ever ever ever want this to end. I can't ever type all th miracles I see in a week. But I can tell you I LOVE GOD. I love Him so much. Jesus Christ is my BEST FRIEND. Nothing is better than doing His will.. because He knows me best.

Irelyn,Me, Harry,Wynter,and Davis
Loves,
Sister Davidson

Monday, May 7, 2012

Nothing is Coincidence

Just thought you might like a tiny taste of what we sisters do all day. Just sing prmary songs.. thats all. This onw is give saiuid the little stream. It's a cute Primary CD/ ha. Can you tell we like being companions?
It's been a good week. We had transfers and I am with Sister Validieso for another 6 weeks! So that's good! Anyhow.. I don't know If I mentioned before that we cover 2 wards? Well We are at church from like 8-5 every Sunday. .. that's ALOT of church. I've never had to go to 2 wards plus two meetings every Sunday.. but It has it's benefits. You get to learn from different people.. and say alot of prayers.. people always ask us to pray. ha.
We're going to have another Sister with us for a couple days until her new companion comes here..So that will be interesting. haha I think it's awkward with 3 people. we'll make due.
 I love Helena. The Michiels kids came with us to church on Sunday. It's just us and the 4 kids.. hilarious. I feel like a mom but I seriously love it. They are the best kids ever..seriously
We have had some pretty awesome things happen this week. We ran into a less Active Brother Langdon.. who has been away for about 15-20 years.. After talking with him for a bit.. I found out he went to BYUH shortly after he joined the church in New York. I asked him wabout his missionaries.. some spiritalyu experinces he had were told.. I could see the spirit reminding him of the truth.. It was amazing. I asked him alot about BYUH and we actually had one of the same teachers who is still there! Long story short.. I don't think meeting him was by chance. There was just too much for us to talk about. I asked him to come back to church. I said the Lords needs you Brother Langdon.. your a great guy. He said.. it feels a little like I'm going to relay this situation over the pulpit someday.. I said nope you for SURE will. It was so awesome. I love being a missionary. I love being Bolod for Christ. I've learned so much out here. I know that everyone I meet .. it's not just a coincidence they are in my patyh. It's up to me to do something about it. What a priveledge it is to be here. So humbling.. and motivating. I love the Gospel. It's sooo true. no matter where you are.. how far you've gone. the gospel, the atonement of Jesus Christ can heal you. It has cleansed me from the inside out. I;ve nevver been happier. Love Ya'll Sis Davidson

Monday, April 30, 2012

When you dream, dream big

I've been thinking alot lately. Actually I think allll the time.. literally all the time. I'm really good at giving advice to others.. much better at teaching them the basic principles of the gospel. I can teach someone about Faith.. and how they should have faith in God and trust him.. believe that He is and that He WILL fulfill his promises.. For myself though.. not so much. Why is t that I can know that these blessings God has are for the people I teach, yet struggle believing it for myself? hah It's a hard task. It's not that I don't think God loves or cares for me.. it's that I just haven't had the strongest Faith in believing all the promises He gave to me.. will actually happen.. if I do my best. I sell myself short.. all the time.. for all you out there that sell yourself short... STOP It. thanks.
A mission teaches you.. if you let it.. how to "hold fast" to God.  How to change. How to become better than you were before. I realize that I truely have changed.. I now have a log of all the things I struggle with (don't worry, not massive sins, just things I want to change) There are 5 main things that I can do better.. Every day I check off whether or not that particular problem happened that day. . I literally log my progress. It's a huge eye opener.. I believe doing this has helped me be more prepared each Sunday to take the sacrament.. It helps me feel less guilt.. It helps me repent fast.. It's pretty cool. haha I recommend it.

I needed a blessing this week. I hadn't slept at all for days.. it was just a hard week. Well I'm prideful and basically refuse to get a blessing until I'm about to break.. (maybe I should put this on my log) anyhow.. I gave in and called and asked the stake President.. who just lives down the road from us.. He sat down with me and we chatted for a bit. Let me just tell you this man is Rad. yep. I said it. He is so full of the Spirit it radiates off him. We talked about my life, my mission, and what I'll do after. He opened my eyes to so many things. When he gave me a blessing it was seriously like a conduit to heaven opened up.. not even joking. It strengthened my testimony in the power of the Preisthood. it truely is restored to the Earth.. the same exact Preisthood when Christ was here. I felt it. I talked to this man for 15 minutes.. and some of the things the blessing said were direct quotes from my patriarchal blessing.. It was amazing.. there is no way it wasn't a strait message of God. Seriously a miracle..
   Which brings me to Miracles.. Miracles to not produce conversions. Take Nephi in 1NE17.. He's telling his brothers.. hey.. Moses lead the children of Israel out of bondage.. they were fed manna day,to day (except Sunday cause saturday they had to gather two days worth.. they complained about that) Basically they witnessed many miracles.. I mean Moses parted the Red freaking Sea!!! And the Children of Israel complained! They thought it might have been better if they remained slaves.. then Laman and Lemuel.. they saw an angel.. they heard God's voice from time to time.. but did it convert them? Nope. Fact is that if you are diligent in keeping the commandments and trying your best.. you will witness little miracles all the time.. but if you just saw miracles.. it would mean nothing.

   This week we started teaching a new family... the mom is a member, the dad is excommunicated and seriously poisons his kids minds with anti materials.. it's so sad. He gets them every other week.. The kids mom wants us to come and teach them, so she can have some reinforment for the gospel in the home. I love these kids. They are struggling like crazy.. but they remind me of me when I was young. It's a priveledge to see God working in my life, since I was young.. to meet other people struggling,. Anyway as we were teaching the kids.. about "Faith" haha One of the kids said "Sister Davidson, you smile ALOT, why are you always smiling".. ahah I said "We'll its' because I'm super happy, do you want me to frown"? haha there's a lot of good things coming around in this area.. Really

I love the Lord. there have been so many times where I have felt like Alma..
I love these scriptures.. I am going to place a few additions in here that make it personal to me.

 17 And it came to pass that as I was thus aracked with torment, while I was bharrowed up by the cmemory of my many sins.. (afflictions, pain, broken heart) behold, I dremembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
 18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, ahave mercy on me, who am bin the cgall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting dchains of edeath.
 19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my apains bno more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins( afflictions, tempations, losses) no more.
 20 And oh, what ajoy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
Some advice for myself.. and everyone else. when you dream of your future dream big. Dream as if God would grant you your every righteous desire.. because HE WILL!!!
  Love you..
Sister Davidson

Monday, April 23, 2012

Can this last forever?

This week was good. Like really good. I feel like I'm finally understanding.. just exactly how to be a missionary. It's so much work.. so much.. but it's worth it. God knows exactly why He puts people in a certain place, at a certain time. I truely believe that 100 percent. I've been doing alot of organization in this area.. there was no map for us to go by (we don't have gps mapped in our brains, sorry. Oh and we're not Elders who's dad's actually buy them gps's) So I've spent a bunch of time oraganizing the area into smaller area's that we can walk to and plan our days around. It's funny the random skills you pick up as a missionary.. before the mish I was literally directionally challenged.ha .. We found 5 new investigators this week! WOOP!
    The first family is the Michiels. Sister Michiels has a pair of triplets, and a set of twins.. Yep.. crazy. One of the kids (davis) has autism.. another one of the girls has slight autism.. and one has alot of problems and is basically bedridden.. When I saw them on the ward list I realized there was one mom with 5 kids.. no dad listed.. So I figured we should see how she is.  Can anyone guess that this mother needs help? She is actually going through a terrible divorce and hasn't made it to church in basically years. We got to know her a bit.. and then found out none of her kids are baptized.. and they are all old enough! So we started teaching them! We've taught them twice this week and I called a couple from the ward who picked them up for church! (Since the mom can't come because of Pheobe, the bed-ridden child)
     I cannot express how much joy fills my heart as I teach these children. Children understand things in a way adults don't. . and you know what they are super smart! It's impossible to explain the love I felt as we taught the children to sing "I am a child of God". . I'll never be able to express the joy as we taught them how to pray to thier Heavenly Father.. we all knelt down and waited as each child slowly said thier own prayer. My favorite was Davis's prayer (the one with autism) He said ..
"Dear Heavenly Father, My favorite Spider is the black widow.. but you probably already know that. I like them because of thier bright red spot.. and because they are the most poisonous. Thanks for the missionaries coming over, and please help us to have a great day. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen." ha
  My heart seriously almost burst when the kids came to church and there was Irelyn (all pretty in her red dress and pink tennis shoes) holding her Book of Mormon.. she ran up to me and said "Sister Davidson! You promised I could sit by you"!
   Geez. I don't want this to ever end. I feel like when I say I love the Book of Mormon, the Restored church, and Jesus Christ. it sounds cliche. But it's not. This gospel is for real. It's the only way to be content. . completely content with whatever God lets us go through. How patient He is with us. How much He truely loves us. I can feel His love all the time for the people around me. I can feel His love everyday. My life was good before my mission. But it's WAY better now. Good thing I came right?
    So Sam and Tiffany (the ex communicated couple) invited us to go fishing with them and the kids tonight! So excited right now. haha pray it goes well!
Love ya'll.
Sister Davidson

Monday, April 16, 2012

Aloha

A mission is like a long run.. you start out thinking wowza this is going to take forever.. I'm tired.. How am I ever going to complete this.. then you get your first wind.. your just strolling along, feeling great.. for a while your like "yeah, I got this"! Then as the next mile approaches your like.. dang, my legs ache.. why can't this be over (all the while saying.. I can't stop now I've come too far!) Finally your in that final stretch.. your sprinting to the finish.. your almost floating as you come closer to home.
  That's how I feel right now. The realization that I have 2 tranfers left seriously sinks my heart.. but I am sprinting to the finish. I'm giving it my best.. and it's going by tooo fast. I never want to come home. I just want to be the Lord's sevant forever. I know that maybe whoever is reading this thinks.. wow she's being dramatic.. she's got three whole months.. haha maybe you just don't understand. I spent the bulk of my life not understanding God. I believed in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.. I went to church frequently.. but I did not believe that God loved me.. I did not believe that I could have a good life. I thought I was on my own. Literally. God's "eternal blessings" were for other people, the "chosen people".  I heard the generic.. "read scriptures, pray, go to church.. then you'll be happy". . but I didn't believe it. In my life it was fend for myself, protect myself, work my butt off.. and then maybe.. just maybe you'll find a tiny happiness at the end. You see I didn't have any Faith in God.
    My mission has brought an immense sense of peace and understanding to my life. I've found myself on my knees begging God to help me understand, and He has shown me soo many wonderful things. I believe God had my mission in His  plan for me from the beggining. . my trials have really helped me to understand the people of Montana. My struggles have helped me love more.. reach deeper within myself.. asking God for the charity I need to forget myself.. and help these people. I don't know if there is anyone that I have helped more on this mission then myself. I've converted myself, to the gospel that was always available to me.. But God knew I needed my mission to do it.
    There's so much that goes into the work that the members do not see.  They expect that missionaries.. don't take a break to eat lunch.. shouldn't be playing soccer on P-day.. many many other things. It's been one of the rougher things I've dealt with out here. Sometimes you just have to please people. For any that know me.. you may know that I am NOT a people pleasure. I am not humble enough. haah seriously. So it's something I'm working on. When you come to a new area.. the previous missionaries may have been breaking rules.. the members do not really know the misison rules.. so they find these things to be "set in stone schedules" that all missionaries should do. It's hard to break the cycle but I came out here to do the Lord's work.. aha I'm reminded of Moroni 7
45 And acharity suffereth long, and is bkind, and cenvieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily dprovoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
   Sometimes it takes a while for the members to get used to the way you do things. But in the end.. if you have charity for the people.. everything works out and understanding prevails. . because Charity is the pure Love of Christ.
   I saw a miracle this Sunday. Sam and Tiffany came to church. Tiffany hasn't been to the church in YEARS. I sat next to her in relief society and we chatted and laughed about stuff that was going on. It must be rougghh coming back to church when EVERYONE in the ward knows your excommunicated. She is awesome though. Just love her.
     I am nowhere near perfect. . but because of this gospel.. I know how to be better.. how to be happy.. how to make good things happen in my life.. by letting God take the reins.
Love ya'll
Sister Davidson

Monday, April 9, 2012

Helena I ♥ you





Sister Valdiveiso, Danielle, Bry'yanna, Me



It's been an amazing week. I am LOVING.. I repeat that.. LOVING Helena.. I just love it. p.s. I love it. My companion and I are finding and teaching well together. We picked up an excommunicated couple who have been away for over 10 years.. The Smith family. Thier parents are in one of our wards and Sisters have not had much success before.. just a couple random visits with them. Well we met with them and it was RAD. We watched Finding Faith in Christ with the whole family.. (They have four kids that all attend church).. then we talked about the atonement of Jesus Christ.. how it's not just a one time deal.. It's unbelieveable to me how much love/charity I can feel for people I just met. But I do. I don't care AT ALL.. what they have done in the past. . I know the Atonement will heal them.. it will.. there is no "gone too far".
I'm so excited to see how this turns out.. pray for them!

     So Larry.. the man with MD that we have a baptisimal date for.. he is so awesome. We also went and watched finding Fath in Christ with him... he had a few questions.. He asked "So does this mean when I will get ressurrected and I will have my body back"?  It was the most tender thing ever. I seriously almost bawled as we told him.. yes Larry.. you will have a perfect body.. you won't have any pain.. you won't have to take any medicine. He smiled. He then asked, " but what if I sin again after I am baptized"?  We went on to teach about the Sacrament.. and the Plan of Happiness.. and how the ressurection is a gift to all men.. wiked or righteous..   Isn't that a miracle? How loving is our Heavenly Father to offer us such a gift through His Son Jesus Christ.
    
     I have had so many experiecnes on my mission. Miracles. Small and Large. There have been many times where I felt unworthy to be where I was.. to witness what I was seeing. Some things are too sacred to share. How grateful I am to have come here to Montana.. Who would have ever thought I would ever be a missionary? Now I can't imagine my life If I never came. I would not be me without this. I feel sooooo blessed. No matter how hard some days are.. the miracles outweigh any discouragement. I love the Lord.
Loves,
Sister Davidson


p.s. On a funny note.. my comp's name is Sister Valdieiso.. so everyone thinks she is Mexican.. what's funny is that I am more Mexican than her.. hhaa that's right she's full white.. She was adopted.. she gets so irrated when people think she is some other nationalitiy.. I find it hilarious.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Loving Helena

So I feel like I have greenie fire right now. Ha If that's too missionary lingo for you, it means I feel like I just got out on my mission and it feels great! So many awesome things have happened since I have been transferred to Helena..
My companion Sister Valdiviso is from Visalia.. I think she is in my cousin's stake! The Lakes.. Anyway I love her!  she is a bit crazy.. reminds me of me when I was younger.. not that I'm not still crazy:) haha but it's been GREAT working with her. She has the desire to serve and we work well together.. we have just been talking to EVERYONE we see!.. the best part is that with her we have the same spunk and so I don't feel awkward. Remember how in conference I can;t remember who told the story.. about the Senior companion that patted the Junior one on the back when the guy was rude to them at the door? Yeah I have been doing that to her everytime as a joke.. and for some reason we find it hilarious.
  I have really started to learn to listen to the spirit.. right then and there! Don't sit and worry if it's the spirit prompting you to do something good. if it's a good thing do it! So our first lesson together we went to teach this man Larry Benson. He has muscular distrophy.. really sweet guy that had a few WOW problems.. so we taught him about the word of Wisdom and he agreed he would do it.. so my companion is still teaching and talking and I feel the spirit saying "ask the man if he wants to get baptized".. I'm thinking.. I have no idea how long they have been teaching him, my comp had said he wasn't really progressing. . so I wasn't sure if they had already asked him or anything.. So I kept debating with the spirit for a few minutes.. then I blurted "So Larry have any of the Sister's ever asked you if you want to be baptized"? (sad attempt right haha) and he said actually no they haven't asked me yet.. then Sister Validiviso asked him if he would like to be baptized April 28 and he said YES!!!! We walked out of that house beaming.. the Spirit was sooo strong. I felt good knowing that I actually listened.. Sister V was freaking out.. she's like OH MY GOSH THAT WAS SO AMAZING, I HAVEN"T FELT SO GUIDED BEFORE! It was awesome.. she said she felt like she wanted to ask him before, but her companion never felt like they should.. so it was just perfect timing!

       Ok so then two days later we had 2 baptisms!!! Yeah the ward members here are sweet. This lady abby started bringing her friend Danielle and her daughter to church.. the sisters started teaching them and they both got baptized after the last confrence session on Saturday! I only got to teach them once on Friday before they were baptized, but it was awesome being a part of it. Danielle is obsessed with hello kitty.. which I also am haha and she gave me a cute wallet and Calendar. It was cute.

   There's always some adjusting when you are working with a new missionary.. but it's exciting.. and I loved conference! I loved every talk. One I especailly loved was Uchdorf's just STOP IT! It was so good. I love the gospel.. I can't wait to see more miracles unfold!
Loves
Sister Davidson

Monday, March 26, 2012



Sister Berry and I

So you'll just have to disregard the fact that I have no photo editing programs.. so what you see is what you get.. no touch ups.. I think Sister missionaries need some touch ups.. since we can't get makeovers haha. Anyhow. I just thought I'd upload some pictures of the people I have taught in this area.. just a few of them. I'll miss Kalispell.. but I am excited to move on to Helena! It's crazy that I only have three tranfers left. It's scaring me a little honestly. Well love you all! I don't have my new address yet.. I'll post it later:)




Dalton Family

Ward Family

A cake a young woman made me:)

Jared and Cameo Wright

Monday, March 19, 2012

Miracles in Kalispell Town

Hi people! So the Lord is awesome.. just so ya know. Truly.. some weeks I am just like smiling all day.. literally per-ma-smile because the gospel makes me so happy. This week Sister Berry and I decided we were just going to talk to every single person we see.. who cares if they are trying to walk briskly away from us.. our message is the best thing ever so we're sharing it! Anyhow. I think the Lord was happy with our efforts because we met some really cool people.. a few mean ones but nonetheless it was great! This one old guy was walking down the street.. He's this really tall Jimmy Stuart looking man.. with cane, hat and all. (snazzy) I'm not gonna lie for some reason I was terrified to talk to him.. because he was reading a book and walking right by me.. and I didn't want to interrupt him. Luckily He looks up at me and says.. "Hey"! then he stares at my name tag and then touching it says "Sister huh, are you catholic?.. oh no no your one of those missionaries, I met some of you in Greece once, talented young people.. they even sang beautifully.. so where you from"? Perfect! Anyway we explained to him who we were,... a little about the Book of Mormon.. I reminded him of Jesus sermon on the mount and how He said He had other sheep he must visit.. so He did.. "So would you like to read the Book of Mormon"? we asked him.. "well now I've got a lot of reading to do.. soo yeah I donno maybe I'll grab one someday".. "how about we give you one right now.. for free"? we offered.. "You wouldn't! You'd give me a copy right now that I could have? With no obligation to be a Mormon first"? haha "nope we just want you to read it for yourself because it's the best book ever". I said. "oh it's the best book ever, well I'm sure glad you gave it to me then"!.. haha it was so funny.. because he seemed genuinely excited to read it. The best part is that about 20 minutes later a lady from our ward called us.. She says "Hey did you guys give an old man a book of mormon today"? "Yeah" ..we said (worried that he threw it away or something)  " well I just thought I would tell you I saw him walking down 3rd street reading it". YAY!!!

     Two miracles happened this weekend.
 1. There's this 19 year old Japanese kid that I have seen a few times at the Food Bank.. well we went to this AA meeting (I know what your thinking, but it was actually pretty sweet, and a lot of people there are searching) Anyway.. he came up to us and just started talking to us.. after a few minutes we had already given him a book of mormon and committed him to come the church the next day.. And guess what.. HE DID! HE CAME TO CHURCH WITH US!! It was so cute! He wore these kaki pants and a nice blue sweater with church shoes.. and he held his little blue Book of Mormon the whole time. It was amazing!!! Oh and the best part is that when we dropped him off back home (we had already set an appointment to meet with him this week) He says.. so can I come next Sunday too? Man I love the church.

2.  So I dont know If I have ever told you about the Ward family? Sister Ward and her daughter Kyla are less active.. and have been forever. Kyla got baptized by some Elders when she was 12.. but is now 20.. and turned Less active almost immediately after she got baptized.. and her Mom didn't even go to church when Kyla was getting baptized.. So for Sister Ward it's been like 20 years since she's come.. and Kyla it's like 8. I've been working with them the last six months.. teaching them the LESSONS.. COMMITTING them to read the Book of Mormon. I didn't want to be some passing missionary that comes to share a thought and not make anyone feel uncomfortable.. I feel like my purpose as a missionary is to first love the people.. then tell them the Lord wants them back in church. So essentially that's been my angle with the wards.. and I never sugar coated anything with them.. just told them like it is.  Anyway the lesson we taught was on faith and I ended up telling them a story that my grandaddy had written about a less active family that he had tried to reactivate for a looong time. He had this dream that all these ward members were hiking up this mountain and once they reached the top they had these big animals that they got to eat.. My grandpa looked around and it seemed all these diligent ward members were devouring their meat.. all to the bone.. then he sees this less active family.. and all they eat is the outsides of the animal.. almost as if they don't realize that all the meat is delicious and valuable.. So I told them this (which I was not planning) and then I was just boldly told them "Heavenly Father wants you back at church, I know it's been a long time, but it's time to come back". Anyhow.. it actually went really well.. I was almost brought to tears when Sister Ward said "Sister Davidson, I think Heavenly Father sent you to Kalispell, just for us, because you can understand us". Wow. I felt so complemented.. and guess what..
THEY CAME TO CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!Miracle.

Well I love the gospel. I love that I can always repent every single week when I take the Sacrament, what a miracle.
Loves
Sister Rachelle

Monday, March 12, 2012

Guess What.....?

 Oh hey you guys. family y friends.. Guess what I just found out slash decided... The date I'm coming home! Yeah it's freaky! So school in Hawaii starts September 10.. and My original date home was Sept 13.. so that would just not cut it. So I talked to my mission President.. fasted and prayed.. and ultimately the decision has been made that I will go home one transfer early.. which means I will be back In La Palma August 2! It's been a really stressful decision to make.. but I really feel good about it now that I prayed.. My program at BYUH is the BFA art program. . and my minor is creative writing.. anyhow if I don't go to school in the fall it could potentially take a whole lot longer to graduate.. so there ya go.
    I just want to take a second and tell everyone how much I love my mission. Wow it's been rough. It's almost been a year. . but that year feels like an entire lifetime. There's no way you can return home from your mission and be the same person you were when you left. I love the people of Montana. I love cowboy towns. I love being a missionary. I am super nervous about the fact that I only have 3 more transfers left. yeah that's right.. three! but you know those three transfers are going to be rad because I'm going to work my butt off! The Lord expects much of us. . that's what I've learned out here. he doesn't expect perfection.. but He definitely wants us to reach our potential.. which is usually much higher than we ourselves imagine it to be. When I first came out on my mission, I thought it was all about finding people to teach and baptize.. and while that is our purpose as missionaries.. there is so much more than that. Your developing who you've always wanted to be so much quicker.. your loving people so much deeper.. your pushing yourself so much harder to have the Spirit.. to be like Christ.. to fix the area's in which you lack. Your trying your best to build up your companions.. your learning that maybe this mission has a lot more to do with them.. then you thought.. it's just awesome.
      So we helped with the sheep shearing process last week. it was 15 degrees and I was soooo cold.. but it was really interesting work. I appreciate the people that do it all the time.. it's kind of disgusting.. haha
    Oh so last night we had this really sweet fireside with Justin and Troy Osmund! yeah like the osmunds. it was really cool. Justin is 90 percent deaf, but he can still play the violin and all sorts of other stuff. He gave a really great talk on motivation.. and how to motivate yourself to become what God wants you to become. I loved it. It was seriously so touching.. he did this rendition of the First Vision in Sign Language to music.. ahh loved it. (For any of you that don't know I took sign language for 2 years and I can semi understand it. ha) Anyhow he was so awesome and talked a lot about Missionary work.. and how we all need to do it.  My companion and i met him after and he was a really sweet guy.
     Well this week has been good. Who knows what next will bring. I love my companion Sister Berry! I will miss her so much.. I bet i'll get tranfered in two weeks.. there are 4 new sisters coming into the misison and I'm pretty sure I won't be able to stay in Kalispell... Usually sisters don't stay longer than 6 months in a place. I'll miss Kalispell and Sister Berry if that's the case.
   Love you all. Remember how important the gospel is. Remember to pray. Remember to do the little things.. because they matter SOOO MUCH. Don't you ever give up. Your potential is more than you can imagine.
Loves
Sister Rachelle

Monday, March 5, 2012

Note to self :Some people are Creeepy!

It was a good/entertaining week with some slightly odd and creepy  moments.. 
. Met with Caleb and Singles Ward Elders Quorm President and his counselor. I realized just how awkward I will be when I get home.. I felt SOO uncomfortable with men that weren't missionaries.. I felt like I couldn't even teach! haha embarrasing. I guess I did fine according to my companion.. but I was like.. what the heck is wrong with me.. it' not like they were highly attractive or anything.. it was weird. I thought I was normalish. apparently not. maybe I will just never come home to avoid awkward encounters. ha We asked caleb what he wants out of life and he said "a sweet pair of nunchucks".. cool.

. Ok so by far the scariesttt expereince. We tracted into this guy  Corey Cain (40ish) a few weeks ago and started teaching him. He said he was a less active member and hadn't been to church since he was 12.. but from the get-go I sensed something fishy about him.  He said they stopped going to church because his mom was excommunicated.. but He just seemed to know exactly what came next in each lesson.. almost as if he had gone on a mission. I started thinking maybe HE was the excommunicated one. Just a creepy feeling. So then he wants to meet us at a coffee shop.. so were like.. ok public place.. not too sketchy. Well we get there and he tries to get some "private room downstairs"? uh creepy. Luckily the lady is like "Um that room has been reserved for tonight". So we just sat down in a room that was semi in the open.. so we start asking him about his reading in the BOM.. and some kid comes and sits in the same room.. we told him it was fine he could sit there we'd just be teaching.. he obliged.. anyway Corey starts asking these WeIRD questions.. stuff that you'd probably only know if you've been through the temple.. So I said "Wow seems like you know a lot about the church for not being back since you were twelve". I don't think he liked my attitude.. cause he was giving me a scary look as if he got caught. I continued "So you said you have family that are still members, do you ever talk to them"? (he had previously said that lots of his family were still members but he didn;t know much cause he was only at church sporadically until age 12, he also said his mom still occasionally went to church but never got re-baptized)  he got all awkward and rambling about how all his family lives in England. (which he previously said they lived in Utah) I'm not dumb.. this guys a freaky liar. . Then the kid thats in the room starts talking to us.. He 's like.. "are you the mormon missionaries? I was baptized a year and a half ago.. I stopped going.. but I'm thinking about going back".. So I start talking to him and bearing my testimony.. bla bla.. going over his concerns.. it was pretty awesome.. Little did I know while I was talking to this kid Ben.. Corey is talking to Sister berry.. He's quietly trying to get our address from her! he;s like "Hey I might need to send you something in the mail can I have your address"? Sister Berry's like.. "Uh we've been advised that we aren't supposed to give our address out, but we can give you our mission home address".. Then he's like "Oh no I don't want that".. All the while I'm still talking to Ben so I have no idea.. Then Corey's like well I'll probably not ever meet with you guys again.. cause I never got a sign that it's true.. So I tell him that he can search wherever he wants but he'll never find anything that brings him real happiness except for the gospel of Jesus Christ.. it was pretty intense.. haha but awesome.. at least for me.. Then he's like well maybe I;ll come to church on Sunday.. Then after we pray he tries to get us to come out to his car with him to show us something.. we're like.. uh creepy.. so we go out but stand like ten feet behind his truck and he shows us some pottery.. it was weird..
   After we get in our truck Sister Berry's like.. "Sister Davidson! He's a creep! He was trying to get our address from me when he knew you weren't paying attention to me! I think he thought I was dumb enough to give it to him!"  I was like oh sick... what a creep! Good thing Sister Berry is not dumb.. whats worse is that we live alone in a house that is constantly unlockled by realtors. Well get home and our house will be unlocked because we dont have a real key.. just a code! For all we know we could have a squatter in our basement.. the house is like 4,000 square feet. So when we get home and the doors were unlocked I called the realtor to ask him to lock the doors.. He is spit face drunk when I called him. Here's how it went
    Me: Hi is this Chance?
   Realtor: Who's this?
   Me: Rachelle
   Realtor: in a creepy voice Oh HEEEEyy Rachheelle....
 Me: Uh.. is this the Realtor?
   Realtor: Who's asking hahahahahahah (drunk laughs)
  Me: This is Rachelle.
  Realtor : oh Heeyyy Rracccheelle.. Yeah I'm a Realtor.. ahhahaah
  Me: Is this a drunk realtor?
  Realtor: YEah!!!! hahahaah
 Me: ok well can you please tell the realtors who come to lock the door..
 Realtor: What! why!? You don't even have any furniture in there!..
Me: Maybe I'll call you tommorrow when your sober
 Realtor: Well I don't understand how it's unlocked.. blab balba
   Oh my heck he contiunues on and on with his drunken nonsense until I finally hang up on him.
haha
   Well Missions are weird.. I love it though. Hopefully were safe.. I called the mission President.. he said we'll be ok. Were looking for a new place to live. Until then I have a knife by my  bed. I aint scared! ahah
Well love you guys
Sister Davidson

Monday, February 27, 2012

HI family and friends!
This one's gonna be short cause a girl from my ward is gonna highlight my hair for free! Woop!
This week has been really good. Jenna came with us to a fireside last night with Sister Bell (who is the one doing my hair).. we also had a great lesson with Jenna this week and S. Bell is the perfect fellowshipper! S bell is the new mia-maid teacher and she is also a recent convert of 2 years so she can really relate to Jenna. I don't think it's just a coincidence.
  We have a lesson tonight with our new investigator Caleb (25). He is sweet! haha he has a Jehovah Witness Background so that's been fun. Tonight were bringing the Elders quorm President from Singles ward to help us teach the Plan of Salvation,.. should be interesting!
  I love missionary work. Somedays I wake up so excited for the work. I meet people I know I needed to meet. I make friends I know I will have forever. I learn about my weaknesses and how to improve myself through Christ daily. It's humbling and rewarding.
Love you guys so much!
Oh ya I have a blog for missionary work.. check it out sisterrachellejanae.blogspot.com
Loves
Sister Davidson

Monday, February 20, 2012

Well I have been like super sick all week. I don't really know whats wrong with me. One night I woke up and felt like my chest was about to jump out of my body.. I was in a cold sweat and I could barely breathe! It was so weird.. then I have had fuzzy eyesight and dizziness for like 4 days now.. blaaaa
   Nonetheless this week had some good moments. Sometimes I look at myself and I'm like.. "Who the heck are you"? I forget that people used to call me Rachelle.. I used to wear normal attire and feel relatively like a normal individual. Lots of things have changed.
1. I now wear like 50 layers of clothing.. and ALWAYS skirts
2. I don't do my nails, hair, or makeup like i used to.. oh and NEVER wear heels
3. I go by Sister
4. I talk to everyone I see about Jesus Christ and the Church He set up while He was on the Earth
5. I have to eat huge meals.. full on meals every day.. lots of food
6. I understand sooo much more about the gospel and scriptures and just how organized the church is
7. I realize just how real the Atonement of Christ is.. and just how much I need it. EVERY DAY
  
    It's a great thing.. but sometimes people are like.. oh you only have 6 1/2 more months to go! What are you going to do when you get home? And I am thinking... huh? I'm a real human? One day i will go Home?? What is home? WhO AM I? haha stressful! I'm going to be sooo weird when I get home.. literally preaching the first lesson to everyone I see.. I'll be identity-less! I think I'll stay here forever.. unless i die of whatever sickness i have.

     So remember how I told you about Brother Keathley who really made me angry because he just randomly decides to be anti and leave the church??  Well this has bothered me alot because although.. he has done some pretty dumb things.. i know inside he is a good guy and obviously I didn't want him leaving the church.. You can leave the church but it never leaves you. There's always reminders in the world that the church is true and will bring you the most happiness.. no matter how hard you try and shove it... it comes back. Once you find the truth.. you'll fight your whole life trying to deny it.

    Anyways  I have felt like I should visit him ever since he left.. But the bishop and another man in our ward had already went to his house to try and knock some sense into him.. but they ended up leaving because  he had such a spirit of contention they couldn't get through to him. He was pretty much saying Jospeh Smith is a liar.. Book of Mormons not true.. bla bla bla
   Brother Keathley and i had an interesting relationship. He is a convert and has had ALOT of family issues in his life.. not to mention just about every other problem that could be possible to have. I just felt like I understood what he was underlying saying all the time. I think he felt like no one in the ward understands him because his background was SOO different. . i can relate to that in being a missionary. All my companions have pretty much lived in Utah their whole lives with cookie cutter families that always read their scriptures and did fhe.. they never questioned much because they were "safe" in the way they were raised. (im not saying thats a bad thing, I am merely pointing out that there are many people out there that just can't see what it's like to not have a nearly perfect upbringing)
    Anyhow Saturday night I was pretty sick.. it was 8pm and we were not getting in with anyone.. then the Spirit again is telling me "GO SEE BROTHER KEATHLEY".  So I tell my companion.. who knows nothing about him.. how I feel but that im too scared to go cause he'll probably just freak out at me and kick us out of his house.. then she says "What, you afraid? Your sister Davidson.. you can do anything"! haha I felt like I was Rocky being pumped to go into the ring.. so I agreed.
      We knock on the the door and Brother Keathley answers.. "Look who it is".., he smiles at me and says it's good to meet you new Sister.. Berry? to my comp.. ha he lets us in and sits down.. His wife is on the couch preparing for her sunday school lesson. He looks different.. his face now has a scragly looking beard and such. So he starts joking around, picking on me.. the usual.. after being there for about 20 minutes just chatting.. I was like ok so can I share something spiritual with you guys? He's like with who my wife? haha 
   So I pick out some scriptures and start reading them.. He was VERY UNCOMFORTABLE but he was listening.. but the whole time in my head im thinking  "Sister Davidson.. you tell him what you came here to say".. and I'm fighting within myself.. what I want to say is WALTER YOUR AN IDIOT! GET YOUR BUTT BACK TO CHURCH! haha
   After the spiritual thought it was a bit quiet when something took over me and then I said..
   "Brother Keathley I came here to tell you something".  He looks at me intently and I say
    "The church needs you"!  
     silence
   I continue ( and I'm bawling)
  "I know you have felt the Spirit.. I know that you have had the Priesthood and  given beautiful blessings, by the power of God. I know that you know the Chruch is true. I know your in a different place right now.. but I pray that you come back. The church needs you."

   Dead Silence.. his wife is crying.. me and my companion are crying and I'm pretty sure he was. It was crazy! Then he says
   "Thank You".

I hug his wife and she says "Did you feel the spirit? Thank you SO much".
 I did feel the spirit.
We leave and Sister Berry is like.. Whoa that was like a Spiritual Smackdown!
haaha I was so grateful. I am so grateful. I know the Lord was the one speaking to Brother Keathley.. I feel so blessed so have been a vessel for him. Sometimes in moments like these i just feel so unworthy to feel such love. But I felt the way that God feels about Brother Keathley. I felt the Love that He has.. and it was amazing.

love ya'll
Sis Davidson




























Monday, February 13, 2012

well hey there... things are good here in Kalispell Montana. A little cold, but good. Sister Berry and I are doing well together and meeting lots of new people! Tracting is very entertaining.. we talked to like 100 people this week and every other door has someone crazy. haha Some people are super nice and just say "I'm not interested". Others yell and say "I believe in Christ and your wrong"! SLAM .. ha that was an exact one this week. I was thinking hey there lady.. read the tag.. ( or TAEEG if your in Montana) I believe in Christ too! Oh my people are hilarious. Have i ever told you about SKULL CHURCH? Yep it's real. it's basically this young hip pastor that gets a bunch of bands to come and play and then for 5 minutes at the end.. he saves your soul because you can accept Jesus. People are soooooo funny.. did I mention that? So many doors say.. oh ya I'm a new Christian..  I was just saved at Fresh Life/Skull Church last week. I wonder why people think all you have to do is accept Jesus and your saved forever.. I don't get it?
    Anyhow.. missions are awesome.. hard.. long.. fun.. and everything in between. I hope ya'll have a great Valentines. I'll be sharing the Savior's love.. ha

Loves,
Sister Rachelle

Monday, February 6, 2012

wellllll

Sis Coyne and I.
                 
                                                       
So my companion got emergency transferred back to one of her old areas. Which means today I pick up my new companion Sister Berry! Sister Berry and I were in the MTC together and we are basically BFF so needless to say I'm pretty excited! p.s yes.. she is from Utah. ha
Some crazy stuff has happened this week. There was the executive secretary in our ward.. (who I have questioned several times, if he was sain) he left the church! He went crazy basically. It was nuts. One time he started bible bashing me at our dinner appointment.. and he had no actual background for what he was saying! It made NO SENSE. I felt super guided by the spirit on what to say to him and I didn't bash back.. I was glad to have read from Jesus the Christ so I could answer a lot of questions.. and then he had the nerve to say Talmage was wrong! I'm like.. hello he's an apostle! I felt the spirit so strong as I testified that the Apostles are servants of God and I trust them.  I think he just started getting into anti-material which is a big no no. Why? because it's negative garbage that's scewed.. and makes you feel awful. if you feel awful reading it.. it's not from God. If you don't feel like praying.. it's the adversary! It really shows me that when you lose track and don't take the time to do the little things.. read your scriptures, pray, ect. you can get really off. Maybe you have some questions you haven't found exact answers to yet.. DONT THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER. Remember how you feel at church, at the temple.. You feel the Spirit in your heart and in your mind. You can't just see it logically. You can't just see it spiritually.. it's a mixture, and then you incorporate faith. Sad news. His wife was in tears and took me out of relief society so she could tell me exactly what has been going on. My heart went out to her. . she is such a great woman.. just trying to do whats right.. and now her husbands gone nutso. Pray for her! 
Well Heavenly Father gives us crazy times occasionally.. to help others.. and also ourselves in the process. If we really love others we will do ALL we can to help them. ALL WE CAN. No one is perfect. We shouldn't hate other people just because they choose to sin differently than we do. We need to pray for those that hurt, manipulate, and despitefully use us. Is it easy? No way! But it is possible through the atonement of Jesus Christ. I am sure ya'll already know but I LOVE MY MISSION. This was the best decision of my life. I could never regret it. I get little tender mercies.. right when i need them that remind me.. 
GOD IS THERE
HE LOVES ME
HE IS AWARE OF MY NEEDS AND DESIRES
I am uplifted by prayer. I am uplifted by the good people around me. 
Love you. Every one of ya's
Sister Davidson