June 14,2010

Hey Familia! This week went by really fast! We had transfer calls on Saturday. I'm getting transferred to Kleinwood/Windrose. It's the area right by the Temple. It will be really great to be so close to the Temple and I've heard that we do service on the Temple Grounds like with the flowers and such. I am going to be training and opening a new sister's area so it will be a great last challenge. I'm really looking forward to it actually. It was funny an elder heard that I was going there so he called and left a message telling me a couple people he wanted me to go see and then he said, "Oh by the way, bring lysol to the apartment because where you are going to be living has a ton of roaches...other than that you'll love the area!" I was like ugh, oh great. Ha but it will be awesome I'm really looking forward to it. I had a really great time with Sister Smith and Sister Judkins and they were diligent and obedient so it makes the work enjoyable and we accomplished a lot. Sister Judkins is actually getting transferred, even though this was only her first transfer, she's going to Tomball with Sister Mullins and Sister Sorensen is coming down here to Katy to be with Sister Smith. Sister Ireland is going home!! It's so sad I can't believe she is leaving... We got to see eachother at the Temple last week because we went to a sealing of a family here in Katy that she taught. My trainer Sister Lieber is going home too. Time goes by really super fast it's so weird. I love my life here on the mission it's so awesome. So Ron is doing so good! We watched a temple video this week and talked about how his family can be sealed together for eternity. Background on Ron for those who don't remember: His wife and kids are members and his wife just started coming back to church last year and went through the temple in January. He has been like way against the church for years and her home teacher/visiting teacher, the Ravenburg's, have been awesome for years and they've developed a great friendship and he asked Ron if he'd take the lessons and Ron said he would. This was back in February when he was still drinking all day long and chewing and he really didn't care about the lessons and now he loves it, hasn't drank for 2 months and is about to quit chewing! And this Sunday, the Ravenburg's told me he set a date to be baptized right at the beginning of August!! They said it's a secret, he's gonna surprise his wife!! It's so neat! The change in him is the most amazing thing I have seen. It's incredible I'm so excited for Ron's family.
Last night, we went to the Roundy's, the family we used to live with, and they had a couple friends over that wanted to talk about the church. Okay, so they believe in pre-destination and I have talked to people that believe that, but only like on the street or at their doors. I've never had a long conversation about it. Okay...so it makes no sense and it made me soo sad!! He was just telling me that God has a chosen people that he's already chosen and those chosen ones cannot get away from their salvation. Then, he told me about this time when he and his ex wife had just had a baby girl and she was born with birth defects and he was soo upset. He said he went home and he was just done with this whole God thing. He opened his mouth to curse God...and no words came out. God wouldn't let him do it. But he wanted to soo bad so he tried just to think it in his mind...and he couldn't do it. He said it's because he's one of God's chosen. I said I think it's because you knew deep down you didn't want to. That your physical mind and body wanted to, but your spirit, which lived with God, knows better. And then he told me how he was playing pool and he had no idea how he was going to get his ball around his opponent's ball and into the hole and then somehow the opponent's ball moved out of the way and he made it and won! I was seriously just like what are you saying! I said, 'so you are telling me that God cares if you win a silly little pool game, but he doesn't love all his children?' And I said are you familiar in Peter where it tells us that Christ went and preached to the spirits in prison who were disobedient in the times of Noah? Why is he preaching the Gospel to them if they weren't following him before? He said I thought it was talking about those who didn't have a chance to repent in this life or didn't choose to. He thinks that the chosen ones have numberless chances to repent because they cannot have their salvation taken away, but those that aren't chosen just don't get that opportunity. He wasn't mean, it was a really great conversation/discussion/lesson whatever you want to call it. It was just super sad to think he's better than others. Sorry, I'm still a little taken aback at his views so I'm sharing my thoughts with yall. If it gets boring just scroll down... anyways so I asked him if he believed that Jesus Christ suffered for all of our sins, everyone's, and he said he did! I said why would Jesus Christ suffer for the sins of those he hadn't chose. The only reason we need the atonement is so that we can be cleansed so that we can live with God again and if they aren't chosen, they aren't going to live with God so there was no need to for him to suffer for their sins. It plainly says in John 3:16 that God loved 'the world' that he gave his only begotten son. He gave the world his son, He gave all of us the chance to return to him again. After that he really didn't have a lot to say so he changed the subject. He tended to do that a few times with me, but I was able to share with him the First Vision and he got teary-eyed. I have never felt the spirit so strong before and I know he felt it. And then I just bore my testimony that I know Joseph smith is a prophet and I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ really did appear to him and they did restore the priesthood and the fulness of the Gospel, and he did it so we wouldn't have to live by the Bible only. We have modern day witnesses and another Testament that Jesus is the Christ. I know this Church is the true church with all of the keys of the kingdom held within. I know we are led by a living prophet and I know he tells the truth. I'm so grateful for my testimony and for my opportunity to share the gospel. I echo the words of Nephi, "I don't know the meaning of all things, nevertheless I know that God loveth all of his children." I really love my calling as a missionary. I'm excited to go to Klein and to find those that the Lord has prepared there. If there is only 1 thing I have learned in my life over the last year, it is that this is the Lord's work, and that has changed my life completely. It's his work and nothing will stop his work. As I strive to humble myself continually, I will be more receptive to the Spirit and I will be led to those that are ready. I am only a servant in his vineyard, but I can see miracles happen, and I do every week, as I put it all in God's hands. I love this Gospel and even though some may stray, it doesn't change the truth and power of the Church. Inside us is a spiritual giant struggling from celestial homesickness. When we surround ourselves with the things of the spirit, we are happier and more loving because our spirits are because they feel close to home. Living the Gospel is the only way to be truly happy in this life. I'm grateful for all of you and for your examples. Love you.
Sister Davis