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

Happy Fourth!

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

Love Sis Davidson

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

June 27, 2011. Give oh Give

This last week was amazing. Jane Noblitt...  One June 25, Jane's Birthday she was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Baptism program went as follows.

   * Sister Davidson (me) ha gave a talk on Baptism. I had my comp. sing "Give said the Little Stream" because that is JANE

   * The three Ward girls sang "When i am Baptized"

   * Sister Buchanan (my companion) gave a talk on the Holy ghost

   * Jane bore her testimony of how she came to know the church was true

This baptism was the best event I have been to that I can remember.. because the spirit was so strong in the room and throughout the entire program it seemed there wasn't a dry eye. I want to make a little tribute to Jane Noblitt. 

     Jane had 9 brothers... her mother died when she was four.. She grew up in Massachusetts. She had an extremely difficult childhood

    Jane took care of three triplet girls until they were from the time they were babies until they were 18, because their mother couldn't.

     She always wanted to have her own children but could not.. so she adopted one boy. She said she used to cry alot and ask God why He didn;t allow her to have her own children.. then she finally decided that there were so many children around that needed her love already that weren't getting it. 

  Jane was a nurse for many years... she prides herself in caring for others.. it's her favorite thing to do. She always talks about how god made us to serve others and to help and love one another.. if there is anyone she comes in contact she says she tries to give them as much love as she can.. so they can feel the love God has for them.

   She opened a Bakery in Columbus, montana and also a cleaning business

   She can build things because she grew up with so many brothers.. she built her a shop for her late husband all by herself and shingled the roof of her own house.

    She was in a serious car accident that caused her jaw to shatter and had to have many back surgeries and was told by doctors that she would be a vegetable her whole life.. But after many years she taught herself to walk again.  She also had a stroke which caused her to lose her some of her memory.. she forgets names because of it.

     She lost her "hubby" as she calls him a couple years ago... And ever since went into a little slum of deppression because she feared he was gone forever and she'd never see him again.. she prayed for something to happen.. She asked God to help her make things right again...

   Sister Buchanan my companion.. (a few weeks before I came) was walking down the streets of Columbus doing missionary work one day when her and her comp at the time passed A lady in a blue coat. on the street... they passed her without saying anything and then Sis Buchanan felt very strongly that she needed to talk to the Lady.. So they ran back awkwardly and talked with Jane.. they asked her if she wanted to meet them and learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ.. She cried and said yes, I just lost my husband and am having a very hard time..

     They saw her a few times before i came to the mission... the first time I met Jane I felt an instant connection with her. I tell my companion.. maybe it is because she is so similar to my Mummi (grandmother) and is so Christ like and loving.. you can't help but love her back. 

   In my talk on Baptism I said that Jane had changed my life. She taught me more about love and service and coming closer to Christ than I taught her. I saw a change in her since we started teaching her the lessons.. I witnessed her depression fade.. I saw a new hope and renewed faith.. with every visit. She now has courage and knowledge which she says she had once forgotten.. but now remembers. . That one day she can be with her husband again. 

   I know that God must REALLY love Jane. I figure He must love me too for allowing me to be a part of her life. . and apart of her experience of being baptized. 

June 20, 2011

This White and Brown horse kept nibbling on my dress and making me pet him!

Look at all these Elk!

Well This week has been crazy... in and out of the Emergency room and hospital a bunch... My favorite places... 
So they found out I have four ulcers in my stomach.. who would of thought a mission stressful?? no way. But the Doctor says she thinks my gallbladder needs to be taken out... So today i underwent a really awful gallbladder test. So hopefully I find out soon and they can just rip it out! I am sick of feeling like garbage!!!
But Hey this week Jane is getting baptized on her birthday.. Saturday June 25th. i couldn't be happier. i am so excited for her. it is going to be WONDERFUL!! 

June 13, 2011

Well where do I start???? It's been a great week for the work and a terrible week for my health... Let's start with the good things.

1. My companion and I have been praying about jane.. the 73 year old woman we have been teaching the last 7 weeks who is basically perfect. . We both felt it was time to ask her if she wanted to be baptized.. as missionaries we come up with a date and then present it.. I really felt strongly about June, 25.. My comp agreed.

2. We brought jane to a young boy in our branches baptism on Saturday.. she loved it!

3. After the baptism we went back to her place and taught her a lesson.. during the lesson she said.. "Well I just want to have that good feeling of the Holy Ghost to be with me all the time, I feel like it just comes and goes.. how can i get that"?  Perfect question Jane! You can recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost after you are baptized! Jane says.. "What do I need to do to get baptized"?  AhAHH! We didn't even have to bring it up.. she did.. we had a great lesson about Baptism/Holy Ghost and the qualifications. 

4. Then we said.. we have prayed about it and we both think that June 25, would be a great date for you to get baptized... Tears rolled down her face as she said.. " Well that will be just beautiful, that's my birthday". 

How great is that??? I feel so blessed to be a part of Jane's baptism. She is beyond wonderful. She has done so much good during her life and served many.. She loves the gospel of Jesus Christ and is so excited about her baptism,. she's calling and telling everyone she see's about it, and about the church. Goes to show that Heavenly Father has his own timing for our lives.. 

Lets get on with the bad/sickness I have been having... 

1. It is terrible being sick as a missionary because you are used to serving people all day.. we have been helping people clean up from the floods and you can't really do that when you feel like death.

2. The top of my stomach feels like it has pieces of glass shattering inside.. this has gone on for days now,

3. Blood has been coming out of places it shouldn't when I use the restroom, so obviously I had to eventually get to the emergency room.. which happened on Sunday

4. the nurse.. in the ER was very young and looked like a student.. i said to my comp "Sweet I get to get poked by a greenie".. She replied.. " oh sister don't worry I'm sure they wouldn't hire any crazies that didn't know what they were doing".  

5. Well not even 2 minutes later the nurse comes in to put an iV in my arm... well obviously she didn't know what she was doing becuase the blood started shooting out of my arm and splattering on the ground.. this really freaked my companion out.. I was laughing really hard which wasn't good for the blood flow.. ha you could tellt he nurse was so worried she didn't figure out  how to stop the blood for like a whole minute (which is alot when blood is gushing out of your arm) Anyhow.. after my clothes which i was sitting on got blood spurted all over them, she finally got it under control.. ha

6. I was there for six hours! I told the Doctor that it was probably stomach ulcers.. but they kept giving me different tests for my gall bladder.. Which wasn't the problem... anyhow basically they just kept giving me morphine and making me drink this nasty white paste (which they called a coctail)..

7. After all that time they just let me go! They were like... I really think you should get in with a doctor tommorrow... Ok??? What the???

8. My conditions are still the same,.. My president is worried sick.. we'll see what happens.. haha the joys of a mission.

Anyhow...

I love you all! Thanks to all that sent me letters I really appreciate it! I could use a few prayers so I could get back to work... love you!

Sis Davidson

June, 6, 2011

Well... we had a baptism on Saturday June, 4th! Marvin Krook:) I am not sure if I have mentioned him before but for the last 6 weeks Sister Buchanan and I have been teaching him. My comp and her last companion taught him some before i came to.  He is 80 years old and has been Methodist his whole life. He married his wife.. who is a member.. three years ago.. His wife died about 15 years ago. Anyhow Sister Krook never pushed him into the gospel, but she knew he would be receptive to it so she invited him to church with her on Sunday's and he came.. eventually he met with missionaries (Elders) and stopped for a while.. Then when they moved to Joliet, Montana he started meeting with Sisters ( my comp and her former) and then me and my comp. i liked him from the start.. he is a huge Jokester so he reminded me of grandaddy.. ha. Anyhow he was very receptive but had a lot of questions.. We were so excited when we committed him to be baptized.. He said " well do I get to get baptized in my birthday suit, thats how I was born the first time". Ha what a silly old man.  His wife said that our particular companionship has brought the Spirit into their home more than ever and she was so grateful we were the one's to see him baptized. that made me happy. his baptism went great. I spoke on the Holy Ghost and my companion sang "His Hands". It was beautiful! I have always loved that song because my mom played and sang it on the piano all the time. I sang that song with my companion to all our investigators this week and nearly every one cried. it was nice. Anyhow I didn't get transferred! I am staying here with my companion for another transfer! Sadly this is her last transfer and she goes home after this. . And that means I will probably take over the area! I am terrified!! 

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. The happiness it brings to people cannot be measured by any system. There isn't anything more rewarding than watching a person's countenance change.. and becoming happier as they start to realize that Heavenly Father really is there and that He loves them..  For those family members that are reading and are members of the church.. please help the missionaries! Invite them for dinner.. talk to them about the people in your community that they are teaching.. They need you! The most loving thing you can do for anyone is invite them to learn about the Gospel.. the work cannot be done without you. I never realized how much the ward really makes an impact on investigators. Please be sensitive to those who are trying to find the truth.. and be an example of love.   I love you all! I can't believe it has already been two months! it's crazy! 

I hope to hear from you all soon

Love 

Sis Rachelle Davidson