"...FOR BEHOLD, HE KNOWS ALL THY THOUGHTS..." Alma 12:3

FAMILY!!!! 

What a beautiful and tremendous week it has been. A cold front has come. We got rained on a few times and the leaves are slowly starting to change. 

I was able to visit the Encino Park Ward this past week. They are just north of the San Antonio Temple. How neat it is to be all over San Antonio and every one of different faiths can point out this central edifice, THE TEMPLE! Look to the temple! As we walked around this neighborhood Sister Pectol pointed out a man we should go speak with watering his plants. As we approached him he looks at our tags with squinty eyes, walks towards us and holds out his hand to shake ours. He was so intrigued. As we began to share with him the restoration, he asked question after question. He has a wife and three kids and invited us to come back and share more with his family. Before we left, Sister Pectol shared with him a powerful testimony of sincere love for this man she had just met. We are all his children. 

The Book of Mormon chapter in Preach My Gospel has hit my heart this past week. I have heard many times that we can "Use the Book of Mormon to Respond to Objections," but have not quite understood this principle. I can't say that I fully understand it now, but I feel I have caught a glimpse of the vision. In a lesson yesterday there were many questions thrown at us. I felt confident about answering some, but others I had no idea how to answer. As we drove home that evening I thought of the phrase in Preach My Gospel, "Our main task is to declare the gospel and do it effectively. We are not obligated to answer every objection." If I truly understood this principle, then WHENEVER a question is asked I would respond with the Book of Mormon. How exciting this is to have a greater and deeper appreciation and love for the Book of Mormon!

We were in another lesson earlier this week where it began with a bit of negativity. We quickly opened up and began reading with the family in the Book of Mormon. We shared with the father a background on the Book of Mormon. Immediately the focus and the spirit changed in the room. He felt a peace, an excitement to learn, and eagerness to know what was inside. 

There is POWER in the Book of Mormon. Oh how I wish I would have known this when I was in High School. Answering and responding to all those questions from friends day after day with the Book of Mormon. "You can come to know and understand why I don't drink coffee by reading the Book of Mormon."

I have also come to appreciate and respect fathers! How I am so grateful for them and the crucial role they play in our lives. We shared a brief scripture with a family last night. The father of the home shared with his children a critical principle that we had no intention of sharing. The spirit filled the room with great intensity! It allowed us to see and feel a greater measure of our Heavenly Father's love for us. How we must respect, appreciate and love our earthly father and our Heavenly Father. 

The work of the Lord is incredible! There is a great urgency in preparing for the Second Coming of the Messiah. I can feel it in my bones and it drives me every day! I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is his kingdom here on this earth. 

Sincerely, Sister Davis

I love this family!

We had the great opportunity and tremendous blessing to attend the Baldea's sealing!!!

"...FOR CHRIST WILL SHOW UNTO YOU, WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY, THAT THEY ARE HIS WORDS..." 2 Nephi 33:11

FAMILY TIME! 

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY JORDAN!!!!! It is a grand a special day. The day to celebrate when you met mom and dad! When Grandma and Grandpa became Grandma and Grandpa! The day you began setting the example for generations of children to come! Thank you for always being the example to us all! 

I am happy to hear that the blue is still true! But something is more true than blue.

Mark: He wants to find the truth. He has searched long and hard. We had the opportunity this past week to share our firm knowledge of what we know to be absolutely true. We know something that some doctors, theologians, lawyers don't know. This is a favorite quote from President Henry B. Eyring.

"Well, the danger may be hard to see, but it is real, both for them and for us. For instance, at some moment in the world to come, everyone you will ever meet will know what you know now. They will know that the only way to live forever in association with our families and in the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, was to choose to enter into the gate by baptism at the hands of those with authority from God. They will know that the only way families can be together forever is to accept and keep sacred covenants offered in the temples of God on this earth. And they will know that you knew. And they will remember whether you offered them what someone had offered you." 

Obeng Family: Three fantastic lessons this week!!! The kids, ages 8 and 9, were outstanding. They understood. They knew and felt something different. The mother expressed after, "I love the feeling I have felt tonight. I want to continue to have this in my family.”

Janet G: We saw a family down the street walk into their home before we could catch them. We decided to approach the home and knock on the door anyways. The mother answered and expressed her friend was a member of the church. She has shared quite a bit with her about the church, but never invited to do anything really. We invited Janet to see the building. She sent us a text the other day mentioning how the one thing she feels missing is family worship time. She wants and desires this for her family! How wonderful! 

"The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance." Galations 5:22-23. 

Brother Peterson: This is the gentlemen I may have mentioned some weeks back. He went from slamming the door on the missionaries just a few months ago, to being ordained as a priest this past Sunday. As he arises from the chair he asks, "So what do I need to do to obtain the Melchizedek priesthood?" His countenance has completely changed and he has gone from being quick to anger to being gentle with every person. Alma teaches, "...he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God..." Alma 5:7. His wife (who is not of our faith) attended church and was able to witness the ordination! WOW What an incredible experience! 

We visited the Romney family this past week! The moment we entered their home they began discussing all those people they are working with and how they are branching out to share the gospel with those they may not even know at this time. Brother Romney mentioned how occasionally he has asked his friends if he could show them a cool app. He downloads the free Mormon Channel app onto their phone and shows them a video or two. And that was just one idea alone. How powerful the spirit can be in our lives to drive our desire to share the gospel in any possible way. 

I was asked to speak in a couple of weeks on "Standing Fast in the Face of Adversity." If any thoughts come to mind as you hear this, I would love to hear them. 

I love each one of you. Thank you again for your prayers day after day. Your love and desire to follow our Savior. Thank you. You are shining examples. I have always wondered and worried about the future. Who will I look to as an example? Who will allow me stretch? Who will push me a little farther? It has been right in front of me this whole time. My family! Thank you. I will always have each one of you to help me grow. 

Always, 

Sister Davis

Another picture from the Boerne Parade last week...this is our district

"...YE HAVE COME TO A KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD…" Mosiah 4:11

FAMILY!

What a tremendous week filled with so much rejoicing! With the restoration of the gospel, what more do we need to rejoice!?!

Dominic: We stopped to grab a bite to eat at Taco Cabana. As we ordered the cooks asks, "Are you Missionaries?" We replied, “Why yes, of course.” A few minutes later we sat down with our food and he came over to us, saying, "Do you have a Book of Mormon on you by chance?" We said, “Why yes, of course!” And he continued, “My wife is Catholic, I was raised LDS. I remember all the good times as a child and all that the church did for me when I was young. I fell away shortly after my childhood. But I have been sharing with my wife all about the church lately. I thought it would be perfect to show her a Book of Mormon. She would love this. I really want to raise my kids LDS because I remember how wonderful it was to be raised in the church." We asked if we would like a visit from the missionaries to teach his whole family. He said YES!

Obeng: We stopped by to see a potential. We knocked on a door on the same street. An African father answers the door. He asked a few questions about accepting blacks into the church. We shared with him some scriptures in the Book of Mormon that speaks of this. He mentioned that his wife is friends with a "Mormon family" and the kids play soccer together. We invited him to have a lesson with this family that lived just around the corner, the Murry's. We will be seeing them this evening!

Shanari: A few weeks ago we stopped at a gas station for a pit stop. As we walked out a worker was putting ice into the ice chest freezer where you buy ice. We asked if we could share a card with her. We then invited her to hear our message. She said YES! We were able to meet with her just yesterday! (ironically enough in a Starbucks)  As we taught the restoration we felt it was nothing Sister Barrick or I said or did, but that the Spirit was so strong and pierced her heart. She accepted the invite to pray about Joseph Smith! She accepted the invite to come to church! She accepted to be baptized on September 27th! She will be attending the YSA ward because she is in her 20's but we couldn't be more excited for her!

A few months ago President Slaughter said we need be out in shops, stores, gas stations, events etc. As we talked with families this week we shared with them in Preach My Gospel all about the "Go About Doing Good" section, and about Charity and Love. How powerful it has been to seek out opportunities to serve, to have compassion and love for not just those inside the church and those we are already friends with but most importantly with those who are strangers, those who don't know about the gospel, those who don't have the great blessings we have.

I wish I could share more but we are short on time today! 

Much love for each one of you! I can tell school season has begun! Time is crazy. Best wishes with all the work!

Always,

Sister Davis

We were a part of the Boerne Parade! We got to hand out cards and candy and see hearts touched, kids enthralled and parents and others asking questions and being sincerely curious! We ARE a peculiar people! and people not only wonder, but really do want to know why we are different! That's the power of God and it changes lives!

"...I SHALL PROCEED TO DO A MARVELOUS WORK AMONG THEM..."

Mom, Dad, Jordan, Cristy, Adri, Tyler, and Tucker! 

I love each one of you so very much! Thank you for all your emails and letters! Thank you, thank you. 

School is beginning! Well, for some of you I guess, not all. But I wish the best to those who are beginning! 

I am also glad to hear that everyone has made it back home safely! However, I am a little sad to hear that the boat did not. And most likely will not return home anytime soon. All is well! 

It has been a powerful week! 

The Mota Family! We met them this past week and the wife invited us back. She is so enthused and excited to learn, however her husband is completely opposite. As the father, he of course wants to provide that protection for his home. Carmen (the wife) shared with us her view of what happened inside their home when we first came...She said, “As you walked up the driveway, my husband said, "They’re coming, don’t answer the door. Don’t answer it. But when you knocked, I felt drawn to the door. I heard my husband, but I knew I needed to answer the door. And I opened it, and there you were bright and smiling!" 

Brother Peterson! A few months ago the missionaries stopped by his home. He told them to leave "in a not so kind manner." (his words). He had been praying for help just before they came by, and as soon as he shut the door he had a feeling that that was his help and he had just turned it away. He immediately opened up the phone book, found the number for the church, called the mission office and referred himself to the office. He has changed completely. At first he didn't want to read the Book of Mormon, the next week he read. Then he didn't feel ready to attend church, but the next week he attended church. Then he didn't feel worthy to partake of the sacrament, but the next week he took the sacrament. He didn't feel ready to meet with the Bishop. Then the next week he met with the Bishop. Just yesterday he entered the chapel with his white shirt and tie, and passed the sacrament to the congregation! 

Janet Baguio! Her son, Dante, was baptized a couple years ago, she has been learning and attending church every week since. She has a few callings in the ward also! She has given so much and wants and desires to continue to give more. 

The Leon Springs Ward is outstanding. I feel like I am sprinting and still miles behind them. Proclaiming and sharing the gospel is so natural to so many families, mothers, fathers and their children. They have a firm and strong testimony in the restoration of the gospel. This is what allows them to so naturally and powerfully invite others to come unto Christ. 

We just found out our Ward Mission Leader, Brother Hill, will be moving. He has made an impact in my life within just a few weeks. I am so grateful for the great blessing of him sharing his testimony and knowledge with so many others. 

I love each one of you. Have a wonderful week! Sincerely, Sister Davis

Sisters Felix, Winn, Barrick and me
Sister Felix and Winn are the two sisters we live with...they serve in the Fair Oaks Ward

"...THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON THEM, AND THEY WERE FILLED WITH JOY...." Mosiah 4:3

Family! I love you so very much. I am so grateful that I have you by my side every step of the way. Thank you.

I would love to share with you some powerful experiences: 

(members) Clark Family! Tuesday evening we had dinner with their family. They shared with us about their neighbors and all the different families they have been sharing the gospel with. One particular family is the Mott Family. They have asked questions in the past and the Clark's were able to share and invite this family to different events. Just last night they sent us a text..."An opportunity came up to discuss the Book of Mormon and we bore testimony of it and offered them a copy of the book. We directed them to mormon.org/BookofMormon website and are waiting their response to see if they will accept a copy. I will follow up with them this week. Please keep praying for them and us. Let us know if you have any thoughts to help them out." Wow!...so awesome!

(members) Mefford Family! After we shared a brief message with their family this past week, they sent us a text ....."We invited the Wilsons to dinner tomorrow but they were busy. Other neighbors coming instead." And then this morning..."I gave a pamphlet to our friends across the street last night." 

Brother Hill (WML) asked that we visit the families whose children will be getting baptized soon! We shared something brief with the Almager family. They already have a list of family and friends they would like to invite to their baptism! 

These members are so great! We can't keep up with the Leon Springs Ward……..My goodness! The list of experiences goes on and on! 

We had a meeting in San Antonio this past week! It was spectacular….. I cherish and try to soak up every opportunity we have to hear from a servant of the Lord. How I love the leaders who serve us within the mission and within the wards and stakes in San Antonio. 

President Slaughter shared with us some wonderful words of wisdom. I would like to share with some of His thoughts. 

One of the great attributes of the faithful is "steadiness" (Alma 38:2; 39:1; Hel. 6:1). This divine attribute is mentioned in scripture, exclusively in the Book of Mormon. It consists of being unwavering in purpose and unfaltering in faith. One who is steady is spiritually stable and doctrinally sound. He (she) is not easily excited or upset; is not quickly offended; does not jump to conclusions. Steadiness is not to be mistaken for steadfastness; these are two different attributes.

Amazingly "steadiness" can refer to being "firmly fixed in one place" like a pillar, but it can also refer to being "constantly moving" like the earth in rotation. Such is the dichotomy of a disciple: he (she) is "firmly fixed" in purpose and yet "constantly moving" in faith. Those who have attained the divine attribute of steadiness are natural leaders. They are worthy of absolute trust from God (Hel. 10:4-5).

Those who strive to follow Christ, strive for the attribute of steadiness. Some become frustrated when they fall short. Be patient with yourselves! Time and patience, and even some growing pains, are a prerequisite to attaining any divine attribute. Allow me to list below a few pitfalls, which you may want to avoid and which may prevent your progress towards steadiness.

Pitfall 2. QUESTIONING GOD. Nothing leads to spiritual instability faster than the tendency to question God, or his servants. Imagine feeling the need to pull over on the side of the highway to question every road sign along the way; it would be a long drive, and you could not possibly enjoy the journey. By the same token, when you feel the need to question God at every turn in your life, you miss the point and slow your progress. Those who have attained the attribute of steadiness, have attained also the ability to enjoy the journey, to go with the flow, to find excitement in the unknown, to rely on the Lord and His wisdom.

Pitfall 3. EXCESSIVE WORRY. God does not walk the hallways of heaven worrying about His creations. He sees the big picture. He understands the plan–of course He does–it is His plan. He understands the Fall; He understand agency; He understands time and patience and faith. The nearer we get to God, the clearer become our views also. Worry is not a gift of the Spirit; in fact just the opposite. Worry robs faith. There are things we simply cannot control; let those things go. Faith and focus will displace all worry and vice versa.

Family I love you so much. Thank you again for all your love and your prayers. I love you. Sister Davis

THEY TRULY SAW....WITH AN EYE OF FAITH! (Ether 12:19)

Mom, Dad, Jordan, Cristy, Adri, Tyler, and Tucker!

Thank you for your examples every day! As my companion and I took a walk this morning we talked all about our families and all that we admired about our parents and siblings. To be sure, we just skimmed the surface in sharing all the characteristics about each one of you.

My new companion is Sister Barrick! She is from New Harmony, UT (near St George and Cedar City). She is a spiritual powerhouse! And she has such a deep passion to share the great news of eternal families.

We are in the Leon Springs Ward, Hill Country Stake. We are about 30min north of the San Antonio Temple. (no, there are no hills in this area mother, not sure why the name ‘hill country’) We drive down the highway and just see flat lands of beautiful green trees! Every day we mention how we feel we have been placed in the greatest ward. The sisters that were here in the ward before both went home, so we are adjusting and getting our feet wet here. It reminds me of something Tucker mentioned to me once…, "As soon as I felt that I knew how to do missionary work and that I knew everything, Heavenly Father gently reminded me that I had no idea what I was doing." How grateful I am for the strength of the Lord and the enabling power of the Atonement. I have truly come to rely on Him and only Him at this time. We have a phenomenal Ward Mission Leader, Brother Hill and every day we witness that the Lord is hastening his work by calling us to positions where we must serve and build his kingdom.

Austin Ward I believe is doing well! The river alongside the apartment misses us a lot of course. Sister Barricks previous companion is now actually serving in Austin Ward! How incredible!

So, quick Austin Update:

- Rolle is not only getting baptized himself but every time we meet with him, he introduces us to a new friend! It reminds me of the mormon message where there was one young man in the priests quorum and they just brought one friend after another until there were 12 men in God's Army!

- We met with Sister Tapaevalu (member). We showed her the pamphlets we are using. We asked if she would like some to give to her friends. She said, “yeah! At lunch I go on a walk around our office and I carry a Book of Momon with me because I always meet people. And I pray and I pray to Heavenly Father that I will meet someone to give it to and that I will have the courage to give it to them. I met this lady the other day and she would love this pamphlet!” And she just went on and on! As Sister Barrick would say, "She caught the bug of missionary work!"

My New Address is:

125 Crosspoint #4203

Boerne, TX 78006  (I think I may have mentioned this, but just fyi, it's pronounced Bernie, lol)

Oh and did I mention about the most exciting phone call I received a couple weeks ago....The Baldea family will be receiving their ENDOWMENTS and getting SEALED this Saturday, Aug 16th!!!! My heart is "swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears..." (3 Nephi 4:33). They will be with God again! They will have Eternal Life!

In the Leon Springs Ward there are several families that have served as temple presidents at the San Antonio Temple. Yesterday during Relief Society we were able to hear from their wives powerful testimonies. It reminded me of Grandma Jones and Grandma Davis. I just pictured them sitting in that room as if they were giving me direct grandmotherly advice! I soaked up as much as I could.

I love our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. I love them dearly. I hope and pray that my actions are showing my deep gratitude for our Heavenly Father and Christ. I know they are real. I know our Heavenly Father communicates to us through the simple and still small voice. He will let us know what needs to be done in HIS kingdom.

Thank you once again for your love and support. I pray and I hope that I am giving just a small portion back of what I can in these letters. I hope they are uplifting and helpful in some way, and not just some words on a page. I love each one of you.

Always, Always, So much Love! Sister Davis

"PRAY ON!" 3 Nephi 19:26

FAMILY,FAMILY, FAMILY!

I love each one of you! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO THE BEST MOTHER AND FATHER who began such a wonderful family just a few years ago that will last for eternity! I am forever grateful for a decision that will affect generations to come. Sister Slaughter shared with us this past week about the sons of God and the daughters of men in Genesis 6:1-8 and Moses 6-8. "We are only one generation away from apostasy." Thank you, mom and dad for taking the energy, effort, time and dedication to make this covenant with God.

As I grasp a greater understanding of the doctrines of the gospel, I am just filled with more and more joy. I find more reasons to rejoice and praise God!

God is here and present in the Austin Ward. He knows each individual that needs to come unto him. This past week Linda referred us to her family just around the corner. Her brother craves the knowledge of God. He has been taking the Book of Mormon to work and reading like crazy. Can you imagine if we all did this?

Jim is doing great! He came to church again and offered to provide us with a meal this week. He is so sweet to us. He has such a tender heart and I wonder why he was never married or had children.

Latecha made it back home safely with her kids!

Brother and Sister Gianes stayed for third hour of church for the 1st time!!!! Sister Gianes LOVED it and just had a blast. She also prayed for the first time this past week! And it has been none of our doing. Her husband Brother Gianes has been inspiring her SO much and helping her faith in God truly grow. He has more influence on her than I think he realizes.

AND guess who else prayed for the first time? Brother Herring! (His wife, Sister Herring is a member). We finished learning about who God is and knelt in their little RV and Brother Herring offered a heartfelt sincere prayer! He truly felt God’s love and presence before he even began to say anything. This brother has cancer and has been fighting it for a few years. He loves everyone and cares so much about them.

The Kelly family is a part-member family we were lead to just yesterday. The mother and kids have all been baptized. Before we shared a message with the family, we invited the father to join in with us, but he resisted time and time again. However, Sister Hansen mentioned that throughout the lesson he was listening the entire time from his work desk. He was nodding his head at certain points, and even turned to look at the pictures we were showing. It reminded me of those mothers who describe their kids that don’t want to join in FHE, yet they are listening from the other room. How powerful the word of God is.

Last night we had dinner with the Simental Family! It was a sweet reminder of how precious it is to have dinner with members of the ward. We discussed who they were currently working with, what their struggles were in sharing the gospel, and hopefully helped by sharing some ideas that our mission has been working with. As we shared the restoration the father was in tears as he remembered how he felt the first time he knew that Joseph Smith saw God the Father, and His son, Jesus Christ. They are an outstanding family!

We had quite the meeting this past week! 75 missionaries in the TSAM gathered together in one chapel to discuss the needs of the mission!

And then…..’mass exodus’! We have 28 missionaries leaving tomorrow. Yes, the big rush is headed home these next couple months. CRAZY! Tucker, the wait wasn’t too long, was it? You now have many options. Yet again, we also have 55 missionaries coming into the mission this Thursday. 33 new missionaries and 22 mini-missionaries. (Priests and Laurels from the San Antonio Stake that will be serving and experiencing the mission for a week!)

Bitter-Sweet News... I will be leaving the Austin Ward. I will be headed to the Hill Country Stake just north of San Antonio. It covers the cities Canyon Springs, Fair Oaks, Boerne (pronounced Bernie lol - I know what you’re thinking) Bulverde (pronounced Bull-Ver-Dee) and so on and so forth. It will be sad to miss all the wonderful families here. They are now on the track to enter the kingdom of God though and I couldn’t leave with greater happiness for them.

OH MY GOODNES THAT REMINDS ME!!!! Brother and Sister Baldea from Garden Ridge Ward......ARE GETTING SEALED IN TWO WEEKS!!!!!!! Yes indeed. The Garden Ridge Sisters called to pass the message along the other day. They are making that blessed decision that will affect them for the ETERNITIES!

Thank you for playing such a HUGE role in all of these miracles.  Your prayers, your encouragement, and your love….all of this occurs because you. Thank you. I love you so much. Happy Day!  Love Always, Sister Davis

the river we live on in Austin Ward

the river we live on in Austin Ward