Am I Part of the Cure?

  Well I didn't get transferred! i am staying here in good old Roberts for at least another 6 weeks. I am happy about that... I have been very blessed here and I know that Sister Tuckett and I have lots more work to do.. 
  

    I thought about all the new converts that Sister Buchanan and I just had baptized and thought.. hmm I wonder if they can go in the temple to do basptisms before they have been members a year? So I searched and found out that yes they can! So I am planning a temple trip with all the recent converts September Friday the 16th.. I am soooooo excited! There is no better place to be on earth than the temple.. it truley is the house of God. It's a place where we can get away from all the noise of the world and feel peace. 

   Anyhow.. yesterday I was at a members house the Jacobson's and thier children were all playing thier instruments for us.. the oldest son was on the piano and he played Coldplays classic song -clocks-.. as he was playing I was really listening to the lyrics in my memory
        "Am I part of the cure? Or am I part of the disease"? and I thought to myself.. what am I doing? Am I here on a mission as part of the cure? Do I truely want to help all those around me to have happier more beneficial lives? YES of COURSE!! But I think all of us.. whether we are old or young.. on missions for the church, working, or just taking care of our families.. we should think to ourselves.. am I part of the cure or the disease? 
    We all struggle in our daily lives.. trying to fit into a mold.. going down our checklist and sometimes I think we lose sight of what those check lists actually signify.. As a missionary I have noticed that it is easy to jsut get into a cookie cutter routine.. but this does not neccesarily mean we are part of the cure.. if we just accomplish our list.. it is the journey and the purpose behind these items on our to-do's that really have meaning.. We can be doing a richeous routine and yet still be a part of the disease if we do not listen constantly to the promptings of the Spirit. I am trying to do better!
    I love you all and am soooo excited for everyone back home.. for whatever it is you are going through this week, month, and year.. I hope you are finding joy in your journey..
    So my mom sent me a picture of a mural I did in highschool. It brought back alot of memories for me.. while I can't paint on my mission for lack of time I am excited for the day i will be able to develop that talent further.. and while I am here in Montana there are so many new ideas spinning in my head for what I can paint later..
    I love the message from President Uchdorph "Create"..

We all have talents that are given to us to help us enjoy life more.. to learn more.. God doesn't want us to just punch in the clock from 8-6 every day.. he wants us to devlop and share what we can offer to others. I know that God has a plan for us all and that though we may have rough spots in our journey EVERYTHING we go through can be for our benefit, if we just look at the positives.
   Love you
  Sister Davidson

write to this missionary

Well this week is transfers.. I am terrified. I find out on Friday if i stay in my area for 6 more weeks or if I get transferred to somewhere else.. I really don't want to leave yet.. but since i have been here all my mission it is possible but if not I will have been in this area for 6 months by next transfer. I basically have a year left since i figured out I come home in the beginning of September 2012. wow! not that I am counting down or anything.. haha

The mission is great. I encourage anyone who is reading this who is thinking about going to stop thinking and JUST DO IT. there is basically nothing more fulfilling then completely dedicating all your time and energy into selfless service. It is the hardest task to do but a mission is basically the only time in your life where you can really set time apart and put forth all your efforts into the work. I love being a missionary. I meet the coolest people and get to teach them the most important things to know... basic simple gospel principles that make people happier than anything in this life.. life has so many fleeting quick fixes for "happiness" but the only real lasting happiness comes from keeping the commandments and enjoying life while expanding your talents to bless the lives of others. 

Love you

Sis Davidson

hello fam

Well let me just tell you. I have grown soo much on this mission it feels like 5 years have gone by. Especially in the knowledge of the gospel and all the scriptures. Things are going great with my companion and she has opened up alot. She's awesome. 

       This past week I was able to have the most intellectual/spiritual lesson of my life thus far with a couple the Williamsons. The Williamsons were raised in the Baptist faith (they are in their 40's) but have since determined that all churches have man- made properties involved which has transpired into them no longer affiliating with a specific religion. . but they are true lovers/believers of the bible and say that they are "saved". 

    I went through the lesson trying to teach about the restoration of the gospel.. that Jesus Christ had set up his church on the earth with all the ordinances and leadership necessary. That an apostasy had happened which can be read about in Amos 7- 11-12.. That there would be a time again when the church that Jesus Christ ( and the preisthood) had set up would need to be restored.. not reorganized or changed. We went through the possibility of a living day prophet.. I said that in Mathew 7 we can read that "by their fruits ye shall know them".. So what is the fruit of Joseph Smith?? We have determined two major fruits.. 1. The Church   2. The B.O.M.. now we must analyze these two things and study, ponder and pray about them to determine if the fruit is good or bad. If it is good then Joseph Smith was a prophet. . and everything else that goes along with that is true. If not the latter.. right?

    Well Mr. Williamson believes the bible to be the only necessary tool to read and therefore be saved.. and will not come to a church meeting until he embraces that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet.. So I thought.. well lets read in Alma 32. We read the whole chapter together.. analyzing the doctrine of faith. . that it is not to have a perfect knowledge.. but if we start to feel the swelling motions of a good thing.. it will sprout .. it will grow into something great. . So then He said.. Sister Davidson.. will you come prepared next time to answer What Jospeh Smith has revealed that is not in the bible.. and why we need a latter day prophet? I answered of COURSE!! 

I have studied and found many scriptures to back the truthfullness that the gospel needed to be restored and that the church is necessary and that we must take the sacrament weekly and continue.. that the preisthood needed to be restored and that a prophet is always the spokesperson for the Lord. 

But no matter what I have researched.. no matter how prepared I am to try to doctrinally prove that Joseph Smith was a prophet.. the spirit of truth.. asking God for yourself.. is the only thing one can do to gain a testimony of it. I am so grateful to know that personal revelation exists.. that we can actually pray to God and expect an answer back if we sincerely desire the answer. . and even that answer we receive may not be what we want.. but it WILL come. 

    I am excited to teach more lessons.. but more importantly to learn and grow more in the truth that i have found.. and the happiness and contentment that comes from living the principles of the scriptures. 

   Love you all

     write to me

    Love Sis Rachelle Davidson

Aloha Family

Well this week has gone by pretty smoothly. We finally got in with some new ivestigators! Marion and Tiny are in their 80's and we got in and taught them the first lesson.. watched the Restoration and left them a book of mormon with a chapter to read. It was pretty awesome.. they asked alot of good questions.  I am so happy to be out here.. Montana is great. We started teaching the Callison's sons yesterday and hope to get them baptized soon as well. Things are going along.. Sorry don't really have much to say this week... But I NEED YOUR LETTERS AND SUPPORT! 

Love you all

p.s. the church is true

-Sis Rachelle

p.s.s

Check out how beautiful Montana is.. all dirt roads and sunsets

p.s.s.

this crazy cat named Bessie is in love with me.. it jumps on my head and paws and pets my face.. and sleeps with me on the weekends.

The Sun Will Come Out.

Changes can be HARD can't they. Sometimes I wonder.. hey Heavenly Father.. can i just take a break for a second? I think missions and marriages both go through the same types of lulls.. where you have to work for a while and it gets really tough, then it gets tougher.. and then finally a break though and a burst of happiness and joy! haha At least all my married friends that write me seem to be going through these types of up's and downs alot.. I guess you call that life.. But isn't it fulfilling? I think so. 

    We have been working really hard at trying to find new people to teach. I have had to break out of my shell alot and be more outgoing, talking to Everyone.. since my companion is so quiet.. but it has been really good for me! I have grown alot! I am getting closer relationships with everyone because I have to be more persistent and outgoing. I am starting to like this trial. maybe i shouldn't admit that because it is rough at times. 

    I am so grateful to have the scriptures and prayer when things get hard.. when everything else isn't working the way I want.. when i feel lonely or maybe a little scared to do what I know I need to.. there is only One being who can truly and completely understand and therefore is capable of helping me to see the sun come out tomorrow. Our Savior Jesus Christ knows us. He went through our trials so that He could understand us. If you don't believe it pick up the New Testament.. read all about his life.. If you still don't believe it.. pick up the Book of Mormon read Alma chapter 7.. Jesus went through all our pain and afflictions by choice. He KNEW this life would be hard and He loved us enough to provide us a way to escape our pain and not just to endure this life but to have joy in it. 

Love and Aloha,

Sis Rachelle

Well I may look frumpy in these pictures.. but oh well. I figure this is about the only time in my life where it's ok to not be attractive. Plus I bought that skirt at a thrift shop for a dollar. whoop

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

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