12 August 2013

Dear Family,

It's been an interesting week. It's really strange to be in a new area! But I'm still not complaining about the running water. Today, I'm writing on an American keyboard, so I have to readjust to where the punctuation is!

Strange fact: I am now sporting my placa (nametag) on the right. When the new missionaries arrived, all the sisters had their tags on the right. Apparently President Monson wants us to make the change because when you put your right hand forward to shake someone's hand, their attention goes to your right. The Elders will keep their placas on the left, because that's where the pocket is. It is really strange to have the placa on the right now! I can't tell you how many times I have started to point to my left to help someone with my name, only to remember my tag has migrated!

We went to contact a reference last week. We arrived and the house was vacant. It seemed they had moved, so we went to a neighboring house to verify. They had in fact moved, but we introduced ourselves and the husband said, "My wife is a member." So now we have an inactive and her non-member husband to teach. She was baptized in a different ward, so we never would have found this family just by asking in the ward or consulting the ward directory. It was a nice miracle to start off the transfer.

Today, my comp needed to have some dental work done. I've been totally exhausted, so I took an hour-long nap sitting in a chair. Not the best sleep I've ever had, but still nice. We also had a chance to do a little shopping in a city as well. I picked up an inexpensive wheeled suitcase to help with transfers. Right now it's also full of my groceries.

We taught a man last night who had a very interesting question. He wanted to know why, since we have agency, we couldn't pick where we were born. He thinks he might have chosen to be born in Germany. He got to pick to come to Earth, but not when or where.

It's kind of the same with missions. I chose to send in mission papers. But I didn't pick my mission. And with my foot, I had very little say in when I came. Sometimes I think I would have picked somewhere a little less hot, maybe a lot less hot. But I guess the Lord wants me to learn something here! I'm trying to learn it, but it isn't necessarily easy. I really appreciate your prayers and your love. Keep going on the home front. I know you have your own battles to fight there as well.

I like this scripture in Alma 17:2-3.

2 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. 

3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.

We are in different places and different climates with our own individual challenges, but we are united by the same thing, the Gospel and temple covenants that make us a forever family. I want to know that when we see each other again that we've all been growing together in the same thing.

Love you all!

Hermana Davis