November 25, 2013

Family!!

Hello!!! Thank you so much for your emails! I LOVE reading them and I LOVE pictures that you send. It looks cold where you're at and I'm happy to say that I love being in the sun everyday. I think I have Mom's Arizona blood in me in that I love love love the heat. Don't know why, I just love it. :)

This week was great! Every week is great! This week we had many experiences where we learned that everything happens for a reason. There are no mistakes in God's plan for each of us. 

We visited Sister Aquino this past week who is less active. We had a good lesson with her and then at the end of the lesson she opened up to us about why she is less active. She had a traumatic experience in her life that really shook her up. She went to church that next Sunday hoping to find comfort, but rather a member added to her burden by saying some things that shouldn't have been said. Rather than feeling the comfort that she was looking for, she felt more rejection. Her feelings were hurt really badly. She really wants to come to church, and she really is trying. We are working with her on forgiving this person who has hurt her. She  has the desire to forgive this person, but it is taking her time. We're working to help her remember the Savior's Atonement and that through Him, everything is possible. Through her opening up it reminded me that I've had experiences where I have been hurt by what people have said to me, even if they didn't mean it intentionally. Through those hard experiences, I had to forgive them. I've had to rely on the Savior to remember that even though my feelings were hurt, they didn't mean it and they really are good people trying to do the best they can at life. But through those experiences I have more sympathy for Sister Aquino. I learned that everything happens to us for a reason. The times in our lives that have been hardest, we seem to learn the most. The times that are the hardest we draw closer to our Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. And then after the event, we can usually look back and see why things turned out the way they did. We can usually look back and be grateful for the experience and the many learnings we had from that hard experience. 

Dad I'm grateful you mentioned that this past week was the time 5 years ago we found out Mom had cancer. 5 years ago? Wow. But anyway, even though everything that happened with Mom was incredibly difficult, we've learned so much. We've grown so much. I am grateful for our trials in life where we are able to learn and grow. I think it is through the hardest times in our lives when we grow the most. I am grateful that everything happened the way it did with Mom. Without that experience, how would I ever have learned sympathy or compassion for those who I meet that also have lost a loved one? How else would I have learned to have an idea of how others are thinking or feeling when they learn their loved one has cancer or any type of sickness? Without those experiences, I'm not sure how I would have learned those things. So yes even though it was hard, I'm grateful, incredibly grateful for those many experiences. For you though, how have the hard times in life helped and blessed your life?

I love you all soooo much! Each and every one of you is a light and example to me and I'm grateful to be family with each of you! I hope you continue to read the Book of Mormon everyday, and say your personal and family prayers. The quote is true that "A family that prays together stays together" and we like to add "forever." Our family really is eternal and it's perfect. :) 

Keep doing what you know you should!

-Sister Davidson :)

Pictures!

1. We had an FHE with the Gomez/Tumacas family! This kid is adorable. His name is Charles Darwin ha ha 

2. Happy family! But they'll be happier if they come to church! Because we know that families that are sealed in the temple can continue their happiness like this in the eternities! 

3. This was just a cute Kodak moment. These kids were yelling to each other through this tube thing on their way home from school. Ha ha just cute kids.

4. Sister Naldoza and me in front of our chapel!

5.Sister Naldoza petting the monkey while Sister Calobosa is holding him!

 "Bad to Smoke" but I took a picture more because I laughed at the funny English "pull d'string to stop."

2. Practicing our Choir for Branch Conference! These amazing sisters don't show their excitement too well ha ha but it really was fun! Also fun stuff, but the Lord has really strenghthened my piano skills here on the mission. Jared Heywood was right that even though I'm not good at piano-they use me. I've been the branch pianest for the last 2 transferes. I've also been the pianest now for a funeral, and 2 choir performances. Ya! Good thing they're not picky or they don't mind the many mistakes I make. :) I love these people!

3. Also we love free food and the members are great cooks!

That's all folks! Love you! Stay safe! do what you know you should. Fear God more than man. :)

mahal ko kayo!

OHH I almost forgot! How is my Christmas present coming along? :) Remember Elder Ballard's message to us about missionary work?

"The key is that you be inspired of God, that you ask Him for direction and then go and do as the Spirit prompts you. When members view the work of salvation as their responsibility alone, it can be intimidating. When they view it as an invitation to follow the Lord in bringing souls unto Him to be taught by the full-time elders and sisters, it is inspiring, invigorating, and uplifting."

 "We are not asking everyone to do everything. We are simply asking all members to pray, knowing that if every member, young and old, will reach out to just “one” between now and Christmas, millions will feel the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. And what a wonderful gift to the Savior."

I love you! And I also look forward to hearing about your experiences with missionary work!

November 18, 2013

family!!

Thank you so much for your emails! LOVE getting them. Especially when there are pictures. Thank you! it sounds like you're all alive and doing well-that's what is important! 

So sorry last week if my email seemed depressive. I was so distressed about all that happened with the storm. Looking back I'm sort of amazed at how badly that storm affected me mentally and emotionally. But seriously. I felt like I had lost so many of my brothers and sisters and it broke my heart. I did loose so many of my Filipino brothers and sisters. My Nanay-Sister Frejas. I haven't yet had communication with her since she's gone home but she's from Bicol and they say the storm wasn't too bad there but just the not knowing how she is.. .it's hard. I feel like she's fine though with her family and I'm trusting that's the Spirit letting me know she's fine so no worries. Check it out though-the Lord has a plan for each of His children. That is something that I've learned and gained an incredible testimony. No matter what happens to you, me, or to these sweet sweet people here in the Philippines; our Heavenly Father is mindful of each and every one of us. 

So because they have taken all the missionaries out of the Tacloban mission... we have 15 new missionaries from the Tacloban mission here in our mission! They came in this morning. Hearing some of their stories... even though we didn't really have any time to talk to them, they just kept saying over and over again how many miracles they witnessed. One Elder was saying that in many areas every apartment, building, etc. was flattened except for the missionaries' apartment. They said that they evacuated to Manila and were chilling in the MTC for about a week before they decided to do with them. After the storm though they had area representatives coming and looking for all the missionaries. It was harder in some areas as they had no cell phone service, etc but all were found. So the missionaries until they had contact with the area representatives just did service as much as they could all around them. I pray these 15 new missionaries from Tacloban will feel welcome in our mission! 

This weekend we had 2 baptisms! Sister Arizza and Sister Kristaleen-2 Young Women! They have been taught by the missionaries for forever and they've finally been baptized! The best part about it was that their mom's came to watch them get baptized! The mom of Sister Arizza is a non-member and the mom of Sister Kirstalleen is a less active who hasn't been to church since she's been baptized like 10 years ago. It was so great! the mom of Sister Kristaleen also came to church to see her daughter get the Holy Ghost. SOO exciting! This week we also had 5 less actives officially return to church!!! Soooo exciting! That's the most I've ever seen return in one Sunday! Sooo exciting! We are having so many less actives return. it's so great. I love watching the light that comes from living the gospel return to their eyes, their countenance change. It's inspiring. I love it. Ah man. This gospel changes people's lives. Watching people come closer to Christ-it's amazing. I love it. I'm so blessed to be a missionary!!! If anybody is on the line of 'should I serve a mission or not?" i vote go! do it! It is so rewarding. So many blessings. You won't regret it I promise. Ya it's hard. ha ha wow yes it is hard. but soooo rewarding. all the hard times, there are a million good times that make up for all the bad. So rewarding serving the Lord. I love it and I want to do it for my whole life.

Well that's about it folks. I love you. Wow yep I love you so much. This storm, just I don't know, knowing that you're all alive is so comforting. Even if you were sick-knowing that you're alive yep it's a blessing. Some things in life matter and some things don't. What to eat for breakfast, what to wear to school, things like that are not as important as family. And what a blessing we have that sort of choice! What a blessing that we have the choice of different clothes to choose from, we have different cereals to choose from every morning for breakfast. Little things like that-we're incredibly, incredibly blessed.

Mahal ko kayo! Stay strong. Do what you know you should. Fulfill your calling! Go to all 3 hours of church. Say your prayers. Read your scriptures EVERYDAY, especially the Book of Mormon. Serve your family. Serve your friends, serve those around you. Say kind things to each other. Remember nobody is perfect including yourself-so be kind to those who are trying their best. We're all doing the best we know how to so be patient with one another.

love you!!!

Love, Sister Davidson :)

Pictures!

1. Some kittens that live in our back porch. This picture is more for those animal lovers-ahem Darla. :)

2. It was Sister Amber's birthday! We were invited to eat some delicious food at their house and we hope they will let us come back and teach them! They are so kind! Sister Amber is an investigator and her grandpa is a recently returned less active!

3. Tatay and Nanay Sicam!! These 2 adorable people are less actives who are on their way to returning back to church! This is their adorable granddaughter who they take care of and who is sooo cute! 

4. Sister Kristaleen and Sister Arizza on their baptism day!!!

5. Their families who came to support!!! SOOO exciting!!!

1. Wacky!

2. Chicken feet.... mmm!! ha ha actually I didn't really want to try it. But they all say it's delicious! So you can guess what I did. :)

3. Pero first high five. Also this is Nanay Wy! She is like our nanay here we love her soo much!

4. boom!

5. Yep did that. Ha ha okay it just tastes like chicken. naturally as it is a chicken foot.  

 1. This morning we went to the Stake Center to pack clothes to send to Tacloban!

2. more packing!

3. even more packing! it was sooooo fun to see some of the ward members from Ward 3 and Ward 1 again!!! as in soooo much fun! I miss them so much and I just want to visit them all over again! ah man they're great. 

4. We're missionaries and we love to serve!!

That's all folks! love love love you all so much! Keep doing what you know you ought to. Fear God more than you fear men. Keep these sweet, sweet people in your prayers. love you!!!

November 11, 2013

Family!!

Thank you so much for you letters! Ah man this week has taught me how incredibly, incredibly blessed I am in so many ways. 

Okay so the storm... Wow we are so blessed. PLEASE keep those people affected by the storm in your prayers. We are totally fine here. The storm we had a month ago was worse for us here than the one this past week. So really we are fine here. Friday night we were at a teaching appointment and got a couple texts from our leaders about the storm, school had been released early that day so we knew it was coming, the news was everywhere so we knew it was coming. Friday night the winds started picking up so we felt like we needed to go home so we did, we filled up every possible water jug we could find with filtered water, and went about our normal activities. No worries. All night it was just windy and a little rain but the next day was normal. We never lost power and we had water also. So we seriously were so fine here. 

Hearing about the damage from the storm breaks my heart! So many people have been affected. The Philippines is all pretty close. From where we are at now, to Tacloban is about a 2 hour plane ride. Not very far. There are so many people who have families in those regions who have yet been able to communicate with their families to see how they're doing. Sister Naldoza's family is in Bicol and she was able to text them to make sure they're all right and they are. Her family said they witnessed a miracle as the winds were all about the area they are in, but inside their house it was as if the winds passed by. They were totally safe and the promise in D&C 100:1 is true-our families are being taken care of. Such a relief. I was so worried with her on Friday night before she was able to text her family. Watching her worry made my heart break. We saw some news coverage of the damage from the storm and the area that was on the news is close to her area. As if watching her own area on TV. Seriously, it was so scary not knowing if her family was alright or not. But the Lord is true to His promise-her family is fine. Ah such a relief. 

How incredibly grateful I am for the Plan of Salvation. This storm is affecting so many lives in so many ways. The Plan of Salvation, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, brings peace to our lives when tragedies like this happen. I pray I can help bring that knowledge of peace that comes from the Savior to some of these people who are worried. I seriously, I don't quite know how to describe the feelings that I'm feeling with all that has happened with this storm. But I do know that everything is in the Lord's hands. I do know that everything happens for a reason. I do know that God has a perfect plan for each of us, and it's up to us to trust in His plan and find peace that comes through our Savior Jesus Christ. 

I love you all so much. Thank you for your love and support to me always. Please continue to pray for those affected by the storm. 

Mahal ko kayo!

-Sister Davidson :)

Nov 9, 2013

Hey Family!

So just a quick email to let you know we're all safe and sound here. There was a big storm but no worries, we're all good here. Here in La Paz it just rained and was pretty windy but nothing to worry about.

Love you! 

-Sister Davidson 

November 4, 2013

Family!!!!

Hey family how are you!? Thank you sooo much for your emails! LOVE them!! Also I love the pictures. Okay Lincoln-who is this kid? He's adorable! Ah man he's adorable! I love the Halloween pictures and the new app on Darla's phone where it collages them all together. Good work. and Thank you!! Also Dad and Darla I'm glad you've gotten your package. Don't open it up til Christmas eh? Also let me know if you want another nativity like that. I can get another one next year right before I come home so just let me know! Also it's not badly priced so ya! 

Okay this week... AWESOME. Seriously I love everything about my life right now. Everything about it is soo great. The Lord is too kind to me. 

Couple of cool stories. 

First. I sent you a picture last week of a deaf woman I met and I was able to sign with her! Well actually we were able to communicate okay but her sign was a little unclear. Come to learn, her sign language is a little unclear because she's still learning ASL. How did I learn this? Oh you know, I just met her teacher! Her teacher is hard of hearing and when they both walked up I signed hello to her and then her teacher signed back as well! We started signing back and forth and it was like "woah we both know sign!" It was sooo cool! Also cool note. The gift of tongues is real. Like I already know that b/c if it wasn't for that I couldn't speak any Tagalog whatsoever. But the gift of signs is true also! As soon as I started signing to him, signs were coming back to me instantly. My hands were signing before I was thinking of what I was saying to him. It was a neat experience to have and its hard to explain exactly how it happened. All I know it was a gift from God given to the both of us so we could sign back and forth. I really am praying we're given the chance to teach him and her soon!!! I feel like this experience is teaching me that the Lord didn't have me learn ASL for 2 years for nothing but He has a plan for me to use the little ASL that I do know. Wow I seriously am amazed at the way the Lord accomplishes His plan. And that everything, absolutely everything, happens for a reason. 

Second. The Book of Mormon is true. If you want to be happy-read the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon will answer absolutely any question you have about anything. If you have a question about seriously anything-from how can I help this person come to church, help me with patience, who needs my help today, where is my towel, ha ha anything, seriously anything! If you have a question, pray and ask Heavenly Father and then read the Book of Mormon. The question is answered. Of course it is answered in the Lord's time and not our time, but the question is always answered. I've been asking different questions about many different things and every time I pray and ask, and then read the Book of Mormon-the answer comes. It will come as a thought, a name of a person,  something you remember, something you've learned in the past, a past experience, or whatever. The answer comes in the perfect way the Lord wants it to come. But this I know-the answer will come through reading the Book of Mormon. My testimony of the Book of Mormon and the power in the Book of Mormon has been strengthened soo much throughout my mission and especially recently. I know that book is true. I like what President Hinkely's father (??) about the Book of Mormon about "no wicked man could write such a book, and no good man ever would save it be he were inspired by God to do so." something like that. The Book of Mormon is true my dear family and friends. Everything about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints relies on the truethfullness of the Book of Mormon and I can say I know it is true. Try it. If you have any type of question; pray first. And then read. Start from wherever. The beginning, where you are, or just open it up and read. That answer will come. I KNOW the Book of Mormon is true. I KNOW if you want to be happy-read the Book of Mormon. 

Third. We are always hearing about "see people as they can become, not as who they are currently, but as they can become-their potential." I love that. It gives me the pump to talk to people about the gospel of Jesus Christ. When I try to see people, see these beautiful people around me, as Christ sees them it changes the way I act and talk. It's wonderful. I read President Uchtdorf's talk last April to the YW about Our Journey Here on Earth this past week. I loved what he mentioned. He asked everyone to look around them-the people they are around. And then as seemingly normal or meaningless they may seem to you-they were with you in the pre-mortal life. They are your brothers and sisters. They were with you when you chose to start on this journey here on earth. They were excited with you. They were probably a little nervous as you were about "will I make it back?" But they took that step like you, and are here now on earth. Life is hard. No secret about that. Sometimes so hard, those around us have forgotten the journey they are on here. They have forgotten where they have come from and they have a destination. It's not our job to convert them, but rather it is our job to love them. Testify to them about our loving Heavenly Father and His love for them. Love is a universal language. Even if we don't know English, Tagalog, Chinese, or whatever-love is universal. The language of love can penetrate hardened hearts, can heal the wounded soul, and can cheer up the lonely and sad. The love of Christ is for all. I'm learning to look around me at those all around me, from the people here in the computer shop to my family and friends at home, to look at those around me as who they once were. They may have been my number 1 hero in the pre-mortal life. They may need my help remembering for themselves who they truly are. Who they once were. Who they are now. And who they can become. I love these people around me even if I've never met them before. And I know it is only through the love of Christ that things like that are possible. Wow how incredibly grateful I am for the love of Christ. How incredibly grateful I am for the Atonement of Christ. Only through Him am I able to return back to my Heavenly Father. I have so many weaknesses, yet through Him, I can become perfect like our Heavenly Father. We all can. We all have that potential within us.

I love you all so much. I love being here on a mission and learning new things everyday. I am so blessed to have a family like you. Thank you for your sweet and kind examples to me all the time. I hope you're happy and doing well. I know if you want to be happy despite the difficulties you're facing-draw closer to the Lord and you will be happy. Say meaningful prayers everyday. Actually communicate with your loving and tender Heavenly Father. Read the scriptures and words of our living prophets and apostles. Read the Book of Mormon. Go to church for all 3 hours. Fulfill your callings in church. Serve those around you. Give yourself to the Lord. That is when we can truly be happy. And not just temporally happy, but happy for eternity.

I know the Church of Jesus Christ is Christ's church today here on earth. He established it before, and again He established it through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know our Heavenly Father is aware of each one of you and what you need. He is always concerned about your well being and he looks forward to hearing from you all of the time. I love you. and I know our Savior loves you.

Thanks for everything. Love and miss you always!

-Sister Davidson 

1. Happy Halloween!!! We had a CSP and helped clear some damage done by the storm a few weeks ago at a members house. Even though it's been almost a month since the storm there's still a lot of visable damage. oh this is Sister Antonette next to me and Sister Ghale-2 of our awesome youth here!

2. Ya we're adorable!

3. Tatay Manarpiis and Brother Arnold helping put the roof back on Nanay's house!

4. Damage done by the storm. Poor Nanay. She was here all by herself during the storm and was just hiding in the CR hoping she would be okay. She was blessed! nobody was hurt! Just the house! 

5. Happy Halloween from our awesome district! It's just the 4 of us but it's fun! 

1. Tatay Teoldofo (non-member) and Nanay Felicitidas (less active who came to church this past Sunday!!!!) they were both struggling to read the Book of Mormon because their eyes are so bad-but they did it! It was so adorable! I snuck my camera out in the lesson to capture the moment-a precious moment indeed to me. 

2.Si Tatay of Sister Gwhen. Ew nasty his make up was so nasty! He did it for All Saints Day on November 1 which is their day to celebrate their dead. not much on being scary but more on being with family and friends at the cemetary to give respect and enjoy each other's company. It's awesome as the whole community basically shuts down so everyone can go to the cemetary. They really come close together it's neat. 

3. The Giray family! So kind! They fed us dinner and it was delicious! they are an active family who we can rely on for help so it's great! They are so kind!

4. It rained while we were at the church for an activity and all the kids from around came to play in the rain! so fun! 

5. You'll be proud I still know how to eat with my hands!

6. And I'm still eating fish. Although not all types of fish yet ha ha. 

1. The deaf sister! Although i can't remember her actual name I just know her sign name... sorry.

2. The deaf sister and her hard of hearing teacher! Although like Sister I don't know his actual name, just his sign name. He gave me a sign name though which was fun!

3. And then this was just awesome. At one of the drug stores check it out-Orabrush. Seriously??! ha ha I laughed so hard and was amazed that they have this! Except at SM they have so much stuff. I was laughing so hard and was so thrilled to find they have Orabrush in the Philippines. Good work. 

That's all folks! Love you tons! Keep doing what you know you should and fear God more than man or woman!

love you! mahal ko kayo!