Week 6 Kennewick, WA

Week 6            May 28, 2013              Kennewick, WA

Oi!

 Wow, what a crazy week! I have now been in Washington for a week and I have learned so much. Hmmm...where should I even start! I left the MTC last Tuesday. I was very lucky and one of the elders in my district carried my suitcases down the stairs for me ha ha. I really didn’t feel almost falling down the stairs again :) When I got to Washington it was pouring and only 48 degrees! It was so cold! The weather here is kind of crazy and it rains a lot, but rain is awesome!

 

 I am in a trio again. My trainer is Sister Funk and my other companion is Sister Penrod. Sister Penrod and I got into the mission field the same day so we are both new. Sister Funk has only been out 3 months and this is her first time training so this is a learning experience for all of us. We have been doing a lot of tracting, which I actually like! Most people we tract into are very happy with their religion and don’t want to change and also everyone here knows who we are because our area has been tracted so much! But all is well and I'm sure we will find someone to teach soon.

 

 Last night was interesting because we were driving and Sister Funk turned down a road and said, "I feel like we need to go this way" then a thought came into my head that we needed to go visit a member. The thought wouldn’t go away and so I told my companions and we were able to quickly find a place to park and look at our ward lists (yes, we cover 2 wards, its a little bit crazy!). Then Sister Penrod said do we have an England family in our ward, and we did! Its so amazing how the spirit speaks to everyone in different ways. We ended up going and seeing 2 families and I still dont know why the spirit prompted us to visit them, but hopefully we were able to say something they needed to hear.

 

 So in case you’re wondering...I have no idea when I'm going to get my visa! It’s definitely hard to be a visa waiter because people keep asking- "so who’s the sister whose not supposed to be here?" I guess that’s me. But I know for some reason I am supposed to be in Washington! If I was supposed to be in Brazil right now then Heavenly Father would have sent me straight to Brazil! But I'm here and I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve here  :)

 

 In my personal study I learned something that really touched me. I was studying patience in Preach my Gospel, because I really need to be more patient especially with myself. While I was studying a quote by Jeffrey R. Holland came into my mind- "why would we ever think it was easy for us when it was never easy for Him" That really made me think... how can I expect my mission to be easier when his never was? How can I expect people to listen to me when people didn’t listen to Him? It made me realize that things aren’t always going to be easy but through the atonement I can do so much. I know that Christ felt all of the discouragement, pain, and how tired I always am and that through Him I can do anything.

 

 Well, I think that’s about it! I hope everyone is doing well! Have a great week and keep on smiling :)

 

Eu amo voces!

 

-Sister Kaycee Davis

Week 5 Reassigned

Week 5            May 17, 2013              Reassigned

Ola!

 So a lot of things happened this week, but I will try to keep this as short as possible. First off...I got my reassignment! I will be leaving on Tuesday for the Washington Kennewick mission! I am so excited to be leaving the MTC and going out into the field. I am also excited that I will be teaching in English, I havent gotten to teach in English here at the MTC so that will be great.

 

 On Sunday in Relief Society our speaker was Janice Kapp Perry. She has written a lot of songs, like- "As Sisters in Zion" "I love to see the temple" "A child's Prayer" and lots of others. But the exciting thing is she wrote another verse to "As Sisters in Zion" and we got to sing it! So we were the first people to sing the new verse. One line of it was- "we go forth enlisted with Helaman's army" that line just really hit me. I am a missionary and I am going out to teach the gospel with a lot of other sisters and elders. I am part of an army of missionaries, that is such a great privilege and I am thankful for it.

 

 My district got to help host the new missionaries. I was really nervous at first but it was a great experience. The only bad thing...I almost fell down a flight of stairs...let me explain. A sister I was helping had really heavy bags and I had 2 of them. So we are walking down the stairs and one of them hit the back of my leg aaaannnndddd down goes Sister Davis ha ha. I caught myself, luckily, but that experience made me realize that I'm not going to be able to carry my own suitcases down the stairs, so I will be enlisting the help of one of the elders in my district on Tuesday to help me.

 

 The other big news of the week is Russell M. Nelson and his wife came and talked to us for Tuesday devotional! They are great speakers, I also sang in the choir which is always great. We sang- "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" I love that song and so that definitely made that night great. Elder Nelson and his wife talked about family history for the most part. But two thing not related to family history he said was- "...Lord's missionaries is a very significant title." and also "Obedience brings success, but exact obedience brings miracles." So yeah, don’t have time to explain those quotes but I hope you get something from them :) I am definitely going to be working on being very obedient, because I want to see miracles and I know I will if I am obedient.

 

 So, yeah, this week was crazy but pretty much the best week I've had at the MTC. I am almost out of time but I hope all of you know...I know this church is true. I know The Book of Mormon is true and that we can receive answers to our questions when we read it. I know that I am where I am supposed to be and that I am supposed to go to Washington. Have a great week everyone! Keep on Smiling :)

 

Eu amo voces!

- Sister Kaycee Davis

 

Week 4 (One awsome month)

Week  4 13 May 2013

Ola everyone!

 So um mes...one month...yep thats right today marked my one month mark as a missionary! Its gone so fast!

 My biggest news of the week is something that happened yesterday. As of yesterday night I can now recite Meu Proposito (my purpose, from PMG) and the Primeiro Visao (the First vision)! So needless to say I am very happy with that small step of progress I made. The funny thing is I recited both things in our classroom and so there was a small crowd...4 sisters (including my companions) and 2 elders. Everyone cheered when I finished ha ha. They all know how much I have been struggling with the language and so it was super exciting that I said anything in Portuguese.

 This Thursday I will be getting my reassignment. So that is kind of exciting. People are getting reassigned all over the U.S. so it will be interesting to see where I end up!

 I had an interview with one of our branch presidency counselors on Sunday and he gave me an interesting assignment. He challenged me to pray and ask that I see myself as God sees me. He said I would be amazed at what I find out. I havent really found out yet, but I think that is something I definitely need to find out.

 One of my favorite scriptures has become Alma 26:27...actually I love that whole chapter. I think I need to apply that verse to my life. When things get hard I need to keep going and be patient. Being patient is not easy but I love what the end of that verse says, "bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." I know this is true, how else would I have been able to memorize the things I memorized if I had not been patient? I know that when we work hard, are humble, and patient then we can do great things and learn more then we think we are capable of learning.

Well, I think thats about it. I guess I will share a quick testimony in Portuguese... Eu sei que O Livro de Mormon e verdadeiro. Translation... I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I am learning so much and I am so grateful for the chance to be a missionary and serve our Heavenly Father. I hope everyone has a great week...keep on smiling :)

Eu amo voces!

 -Sister Kaycee Davis

Week 3

May 3, 2013

Oi!

 Tudo Bem?! (I think thats spelled right ha haha). So this week has been a little different. For one, we got new schedules this week so our P-day got moved to Friday. Our new schedule is great for the most part, except on one or two days we have language study (without a teacher) from 7:45-9. Last night we had language study at that time and I am pretty sure only 4 of us in the 14 people in my district were trying to study...that included me. I made a break through with Portuguese this week...well actually I realized that I am probably going to have to memorize everything I want to say because my brain just wont form sentences in Portuguese yet. You would think it would be the big words in a sentence that would mess me up, but no, its actually all the little words that I just cant remember. Its definitely a little frustrating but I have decided that this week I am going to work harder than ever so I can learn more Portuguese...wish me luck :)

 This morning was actually very crazy. One of the elders in my district had been called to the travel office 2 or 3 times and then this morning all of us sisters where in the laundry room when some of the elders run in and say- "Elder Perez got his visa and he is leaving in an hour and a half!" It was all so sudden and unexpected. Our district has gotten pretty close and its hard for all of us to think that someone wont be there anymore. I have had several people ask me if my visa is going to be here in time and chances are it wont. It seems like around 90% of missionaries going to Brazil are getting reassigned to another mission. So basically only 1 person from each district actually gets their visa. I find out my reassignment in about 2 weeks I think.

 Some of the highlights of my week were seeing some people I know from Las Cruces! In case your wondering who I saw I will tell you :) I saw Angelica Perez, twice, and she is doing great. I saw Amber Perez too. I had forgotten when Karli King was getting to the MTC so that was a great surprise when I saw her. And I saw Jeff Parry, who served his mission where I live. Seeing people I know makes me so happy, it really can make a bad day get better :) Oh, and by the way, thank you for all the letters. Getting mail is so great...I will write you back if you write to me. Another highlight this week was Baylee and I accidently dressed alike 3 times. It was a complete accident everytime ha ha. It confuses so many people, but i'ts so fun for us :)

 In choir this week the director said something interesting that has stuck with me- "If you think you can't do it, you are wrong. If you think you can't do it alone, you are right." So hopefully that helps someone, or makes you think. I really don't have time to explain why I liked that, but it has made me realize that I can't serve a mission or do anything without Heavenly Fathers help. He is always there to help us, even when we think no one is. That has brought me a lot of comfort to know that someone is always going to be there for me and I am never alone, and neither are you.

 So to sum up everything...I am doing well. Serving a mission is hard and I'm still just in the MTC but I am definitely where I am suppose to be and I cant imagine being any where else right now! I hope everyone has a great week! Keep on smiling :)

 

Eu amo voces, (I love you all)

 Sister Kaycee Davis

Week 2

April 23, 2013

Ola!

 So this week was crazy, so much happened. On Saturday I turned 20! Yep...no longer a teenager...so weird! The biggest surprise that day was getting a package with a cake in it! That was probably the best part of my day. And I would like to thank my family for all the cards and letters, I loved them all! My district also tried to make sure I had a good day. The elders kept saying- hey sister Davis. Me- what?. Them- Happy Birthday!!! Ha ha they are great. My district also sang to me in Portuguese, I didnt really understand it but still it was fun.

 

The biggest thing that happened was last Tuesday, for devotional Richard G. Scott came and spoke to us. But before I talk about that, let me mention that I was in the choir and as we were singing- "Nearer my God to Thee" I looked right behind the director and an older man (ok, so he was probaby 50) was fighting to hold back tears. It was such a tender moment for me to see how much a simple song can affect someone and I am so grateful that I got to see that. Richard G. Scott's talk was amazing! He talked a lot about how he loved seeing so many sister missionaries. He also talked about learning a language and prayer. I feel like this talk was kind of meant for me and it has really helped me this week in realizing that I can do this. He said something that I really like- "sometimes what is best is not expedient for you." That really hit me. So learning Portuguese quickly in the MTC would be amazing and I wish it would happen but maybe that is not what is best for me right now. I am definitely learning patience with trying to learn Portuguese, it is so hard! It was also crazy because Elder Scott finished his talk and we sang a hymn then right before a sister missionary said the prayer he ran back up to the podium and said- "remember you have been called and He will fit the task to your capabilities." I need to remember that. Heavenly Father knows us and I know that he would never make me do something I cannot do. I just need to have more faith that things will work out :)

 

 The first Sunday I was here in the MTC my district leader told all of us that he could give us blessings of comfort if we wanted one. So I kind of stuck that in the back of my mind. Then Tuesday (I think) I had the feeling that I should ask if I could get a blessing and I put that thought off for a little while. Then my district leader kept asking me questions and it seemed really weird to me that he was talking to me so much. But then I remembered that I had been feeling like I should get a blessing and so I asked him and I ended up getting a blessing the next day. It also turns out that he had been praying for ways to help members of our district and had been wondering how he could help me. Getting a blessing was the best thing I could do and I feel so much better. So if you are ever in doubt that you should get a blessing, just get one, it will help.

 

 I am learning so much here and I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission. My life has already been changed and its only been almost 2 weeks. Going on a mission really makes you realize how much help you really do need from Heavenly Father and also how He is always ready and willing to help. Heres my short testimony in Portuguese- Eu sei que Jesus Cristo meu salvador. Ok, thats all I've got right now, but I do know this gospel is true and that through faith we can do anything! Have a great week everyone!

 

Love,

 Sister Kaycee Davis