Heading to My Mission During a Pandemic - May 18, 2020

I read this and it rang true... "The full time missionaries of 2020...those serving before, during and after the pandemic... deserve admiration and appreciate for their efforts in uncertain times as well as for their ability to adapt to adjustments in assignment, location, service tenure, proselyting techniques, and more.

And for avoiding the trappings of "preconceived missions."

This has been tough. Leaving twice on my mission is not something that is easy for me to do, but I have a lot of support and I can do hard things. My parents have taught me that. I do not know what the future holds, because it keeps changing. I do know that I am going to do my best and serve the Lord. I leave Monday for my mission. I am scared but ready for the challenge. My mom loves John Wayne and his quotes. He says "Courage is about being scared to death and saddling up anyway." So, here I go. My mom will update my blog and social media each week. Please keep me in your prayers. 

Hermana Davis

Mission Intermission - April 3, 2020

Hermana Davis and her CCM district were all temporarily released this weekend. They are waiting for their missions to open up or to be reassigned. Now we wait....

Well, I guess I’m getting released - April 1, 2020

Ok so I guess this will be one of the last emails ill send as a missionary for like a month or so. I'll be getting released on Friday due to me ending my MTC training online on Friday. I cannot wait to watch conference and be a normal person again. But I am also really sad that I wont be a missionary anymore it's really bittersweet. and I'm glad that I have direction now. The church gave missionaries two choices. So, I will go to my mission when it is safe and the missionaries aren't quarantined. My end date will stay the same. This week my family went on some hikes and stuff so it got me out of the house for a minute. I'm almost done with the 14 day quarantine so I am really glad. I love you guys, its some crazy stuff happening right now. 

Hermana Davis
California Ventura Mission

Wow! Suddenly, I'm home - March 23, 2020

ok so this has been quite the past couple of days. The week was going really normal and everything but then Friday night came and that is when all of the crap hit the fan lol. We got the update on lds.org about missionary work and everyone was getting reassigned to american mission calls but none of us knew any information, even on how big the virus was. The president of the mexico mtc got all the zone leaders and district leaders together and told us that every american had to be home by April 3rd(what a lie lol) So we were like OK well probably leave on Wednesday or something. But the next day it all changed. My district went and played 4 square which was banging lol. And we went to class... we got in to class still thinking we would be gone like Wednesday but two guys came in and were like we need this Hermana and she has to leave in an hour so everyone just got super emotional. and 1 hour after that our teacher got a call and shes like you guys have to leave now... so we went and they told me i was leaving on Tuesday (another lie) so we decided not to follow his instruction so me and my district went and packed our bags. 30 mins later this guy came to our apartment and was like Hermanan Davis is leaving in 30 mins so we had to book it to the buses. We got on not knowing where we were going or even what was going on. everyone had to pay for their own luggage so we were paying for each others bags and stuff. My flight was from Mexico to LA to Las Vegas, and my mission is like two hours away from LA lol oh well. There were 5 of us coming back to Vegas. And no one told our families or our stake presidents we were coming home so if I wouldn't have had a phone no one would have been at the Las Vegas Airport to pick us up. And there is no definite time for when I will be going on my mission, or if I will be reassigned. So now I am in quarantine with no word on what I am supposed to be doing except for quarantine. No missionaries really know what were doing, and its the weirdest thing being a full time missionary at home with my name tag on. 

I love you all so much!!! God has got a plan and I cannot wait to know what it is lol. Love you all :)

Hermana Davis

My district

Hermana White

How we are supposed to feel

How we feel right now!

"Holes" - A Poem that I Heard on My Mission

Holes

I had been in that whole for a very long time
In the dark and the damp, in the cold and the slime
The shaft was above me; I could see it quite clear
But there's no way I could ever reach it from here.
Nor could I remember the wold way up there
So I lost all my hope and gave into despair
I knew nothing but darkness, the floor and the walls
Then off in the distance, I heard someone call;
"Get up! Get ready! There's nothing the matter.
Take rocks and old sticks and build up a fine ladder."
This had never occurred to me-had not crossed my mind
But I started to stack all the stones I could find.
When I ran out of stones, then old sticks were my goal
For one way or another I'd get out of this hole.
So I soon had a ladder that was sturdy and tall
And I thought,"I'll soon leave this place once and for all!"
I climbed up my ladder; it was no easy chore,
For from lifting those boulders, my shoulders were sore.
I climbed up my ladder, but soon had to stop
for my ladder stopped short-some 10 feet from the top.
I climbed back down my ladder and started to cry
I'd done all I could do. I gave my best try
And in spite of my work, in this hole I must die
And all I could do was sit and think,"why?"
Was my ladder too short? Or my hole much to deep?
Then from way upon high came a voice, "Do not weep."
And the faith, hope and love entered my chest
As the voice said to me that I'd done my best
He said, "You've worked hard, you're labors' been rough,
but the ladder you've built is at last tall enough.
Do not despair. You have reason to hope.
Just climb up your ladder; I'll throw down my rope."
I climbed up the ladder, the climbed up the cord.
When I got to the top, there stood the Lord.
I couldn't be happier; my struggle was done
I blinked in the brightness that came from the Son.
I fell to the ground, His feet did I kiss.
I cried, "What can I do to repay thee for this?"
Then He looked all around Him. There were holes in the ground.
They had people inside, and were seen all around.
There were thousands of holes that were damp, dark and deep.
Then the Lord turned to me and He said, "Feed my sheep."
Then he went on his way to help other lost souls,
and I got right down to work, calling down to the holes;
"Get up! Get ready! There's nothing the matter!
Take rocks and olds sticks and build up a fine ladder."
It was now my turn to spread the good word,
the most glorious message that man ever heard.
That there is one who is willing to save one and all
And we've got to be ready when He gives the call
He'll pull us out of the hole that we're in
And save all our souls from death and from sin
So do not loose faith; there is reason to hope
Just build up your ladder; He'll throw down His rope.

Trying to find "gozo" in a crazy world - March 18, 2020

Hello from the bubble of the CCM!

So, sounds like life is getting crazy out in the real world. We don't know much here about what is going on. My mom keeps me updated. There are missionaries here who can't get into Argentina, Canada, Jamaica, and other countries. They have closed their borders. They are staying here for 30 days to see if their visas can get approved, if not they will get re-assigned. They aren't letting any more Americans into the CCM/ Mexico MTC. We aren't allowed to go to the temple anymore because it is shut down. I am bummed about that. I loved the temple here. No one really cares about the virus here, its just the worry if we will get to our missions.  

Last week when we went to the temple we were walking around the Visitor's Center and a man had us come look at something. He took us to a room in the Visitor's Center where sister missionaries teach on the computers on Facebook. They have an apartment building there for them. We are all thinking that might be a premonition. Maybe that is where I will end up. We will see.

I am learning a lot. We are all really grateful to be some of the only people in the world still having church. We had a regular sacrament and church this week. That was nice. I can't imagine not being able to take the sacrament. For some reason, I was called now and meant to be here during this crazy time in the world. We all feel that way here. There is a weird vibe here. We are not sure what will happen if we will get to our missions or not. My mom says the whole world kind of feels like that right now. It will be an experience I will never forget. 

The relief society president gave a lesson the other day and was talking about women and the priesthood. She said that Eve made the 2nd biggest decision in the history of the world She had revelation for her family through the priesthood and knew what had to be done. It was a cool lesson. We listened to the prophet's message during sacrament meeting about the corona virus. I am excited for conference and the chance to be here at the MTC for this historic conference. The Jamaican missionaries were supposed to fly to Jamaica this week. They got to the airport and they shut down the borders of Jamaica so they had to come back. The Jamaican teacher here knows Brodey and says they talk about him in Jamaica still. 

The food is horrible here. I am not eating much so I am glad for the packages. I got Kadee's chocolate and grandma and Sue's package. I also got a letter from mom and Christian's mom. The mail helps a lot. Thanks for the letters and packages. 

I am struggling with the memorization. Memorization has always been hard for me so pray that I can memorize all of the things I need to. I am getting good at listening to the spirit and hearing his promptings. It has been cool to really hear Him. I am good at talking to people and having conversations in Spanish. I love meeting new people. We are doing a safety zone video night this week and eating all of my snacks. We play volleyball for sports. When we do "Come Follow Me" it is the best time of the week. We talk, we cry, and learn together. My favorite word in Spanish is Gozo. It means joy. I am trying to find mine every day. 

Love you all! 

Hermana Davis