This week has been a week of changes. Our Granddaughter Cami turned 18, our son Nate’s Heaven day the same day his daughter Brooklyn was released from her mission after 18 months. Elder Davis’ Uncle Glenn’s funeral was this week in Utah. 9 missionaries went home from our mission and 21 new missionaries joined us here in Indiana.
As you can imagine it has been a week of all kinds of emotions. Grief and gratitude for lives well lived as family members remembered and honor them.
Missionaries sad to leave. Missionaries nervous to come. The big influx of missionaries effected 78 of the 104 companionships in one way or another!
I love these pictures above. I watched for the first time how companionships are called. Our President has interviewed each new missionary and through inspiration knows who their “Trainer” will be. A trainer is an Elder or Sister who is a seasoned missionary who again through inspiration has been invited to work with a new missionary. This is a big responsibility because how they train their junior companion, how they treat their junior companion can determine how that missionary loves his or her mission.
Elders and Sisters who have been told they will be training stand in a big circle with the new missionaries and one by one the new missionary’s name is called and then the Trainer. You could feel the electricity in the room of anticipation.
When the missionary finds out who they will be serving with they walk over and great each other with a smile, handshake and hug then stand together in the circle side by side. 3 times the Trainer and new missionary were already standing side by side and didn’t even know it😊 President would laugh and say “That’s companion unity right there!”
When all missionaries have gotten their assignment, President and Sister Matheson invite them into the chapel for a devotional. I watched as these amazing trainers turn to their new companion and begin to get to know them as they walk to the chapel.
It reminded me of a saying…
“ No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
For the next hour and half the President and Sister Matheson shared their love and counsel to these new companionships.
Counsel that could very well apply to all of us as they talk about 1 plus 1 and unity.
Stay in site and sound of your companion at all times.
Treat each other with kindness and respect.
Put the Savior in the middle of the middle of your lives. He is the source of all light.
Link arms with your companion and the Lord and you will witness miracles.
We’re all going to have no good terrible really bad days they come to every one of us. If you feel like you are in a dark hole don’t do it alone. Reach out, reach up. We’ll jump in with you and we know the way out.
So when we move forward together and do it the savior’s way together that’s when this becomes an adventure of a lifetime. And I hope you are ready for the adventure because the worth of souls is great in the eyes of the savior. We don’t talk about the numbers in this mission. We talk about the numbered because that’s what it is all about.
Now let me caution you about what we call the blender. That is when you may feel like you are not good enough, smart enough, knowledgeable enough etc. STOP! That is Satans words. YOU are enough! You have unique talents the Lord has blessed you with and with a willing heart and a desire to follow Him you and your companion can work miracles!
Never underestimate the power of an inspired invitation it changes lives.
Remember simplicity is powerful, complexity is dangerous. The adversary is the master of complexity. Jesus Christ is the Master of Simplicity. I invite you to breathe deep, and with covenant confidence stay within the strength and safety of the Savior’s framework!
When the devotional is done, pictures are taken of each new missionary with their companion and President and Sister Matheson that will be sent home to parents and then they head to their cars or head to Elder Davis to get bikes (missionaries buy a bike and send it or ones heading home donate), bus passes, gas cards or any other vehicle related items.
The parking lot is a buzz full of suitcases, packing, conversations, connections and then goodbyes as they head to their areas with their new companions… 2 by 2.
The time spent in the temple on February 5 of this week was a tender opportunity to be close to heaven and think of our Nate.💕 Grateful we can link arms with our Savior 1 by 1 and remember we are stronger together.
We LOVE you ALL!
❣️Skittles❣️Elder and Sister Davis
This is so sweet!! Love you!!