Let Go. Let God

There are some things.. especially on a mission that make it impossible to "take care" of myself like I normally would. I am starting to try and worry less on these matters and let God take the reins- if you will. It is inevidiable that many personal things must be pushed aside while serving the Lord. .

      When I let God take over and show me the path I find myself to be a much better/happier person than I ever anticipated. God knows us. He knows our weaknesses, strengths, worries.. ect.
     Our life is not just a rote presentation of bliss with hailstorms of unexpected pain and misery. Sure life has valleys of sorrow.. but the gospel gives us the ability to use the Lord's sacrifice to lift our spirits. I am convinced that God recoices when we do.. and cries with us when we feel pain.

 I have had many people on my mission say.. "well if there is a God why would let all these bad things happen in the world"? We have all asked this question to ourselves.. if you think you haven't.. then you are not human. My answer to this would be that of course God has the power to take away all these problems from us.. but how could we grow if everything was perfect? I dont know about ya'll but for me I know that my trials have made me the person I am today. I am more compassionate, understanding of others pain, happier. . ect.

      I have seen many miracles on my mission. . and also many heartaches of those around me. I feel like my mission has been my whole life. I love the people here so much.

Marvin.. the 80 year old man we baptized this summer has been diagnosed with Lukemia.. we have been to the hospital twice this week to sing to him and read him a scripture. He is such an example of faith. The people here have imporoved the quality of my life so much. I would like to think that I am beggining to feel love for those around me as the Savior would. I mean these people in Montana are soo different from me in many ways, yet so similar.. they were strangers at first, but now they have become family.

Love,
Sis Davidson

Aloha

Well this week was good! I love my mission. I have decided that a mission is training for the rest of your life. I get to see soo many different people in their home element.. I get to see how they raise their families, what they love most, what they spend their time on.. how they keep their house.. what their interests are.. what and how they cook..and especially how they view and practice spirituality.

    I consider this a huge blessing because in what other situation can you just go into so many different peoples houses (strangers at first)  to just talk about the gospel, eat, just chat about family.. ect.. it is really odd I think that people just let us into their space! You really get out of your normal life comfort bubble.. I thought I loved people before my mission.. but now I love them EVEN MORE.. 

    I prayed and fasted this Sunday and asked if we could just find some new people to teach... well we did that night! We had been trying to get into this part-member families house forever... the parents were on the verge of divorce and moved into separate houses.. two weeks ago we were walking to an appointment and we saw Sister Bulski.. the mother.. and we were like.. Hey do you need anything? Can we help ya? and she says.. no unless you like cleaning.. Dan and I are moving back in together so I gotta clean the house.  Of course we were quick to jump in and help so we spent the time cleaning and talking.  So anyhow.. they were at church on Sunday and we asked if we could come that night.. they said yes. So we taught them the first lesson and it went great! Dan was catholic in his childhood but has since looked for something else.. He is reading the B.O.M now and since his wife and kids are members he said he may as well investigate. So we are so excited! The Lord answers prayers quickly sometimes.

    Well I love ya!

    Sister rachelle 

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