Dear Family,

Thank you so much for all the wonderful Christmas packages!! I felt so loved. I received Ellie's, Nichole's and your package all the same night! We are having so much fun decorating our little house for Christmas and listening to Christmas CDs. THANK YOU!! I will write each of them and let them know how much I appreciate it! Do you have Nichole and Ellie's addresses? I seemed to have misplaced them!

This week has been one of the best! We ate "dinner" (aka the South's lunch)  with Brother and Sister Weatherford for Thanksgiving. It was so good! I even tried this thing called "gibblets." I'll spare you the details as to what is in it, but it tastes pretty good! My favorite dish was the sweet potato soufflé. Where has that been all my life?!

I just love the holidays! Everyone is so much more open to listen to our message. On Thanksgiving, we gained four new investigators in the first hour of proselyting and the day just kept getting better! We had such a tender moment in one of our lessons. We had knocked into the Eady family and began to teach. The children were enthralled, asking such inspired questions. They answered our questions with such sweet, sincere responses. Their mother wasn't so open. She said that she and her family had been led by God to their new church and that they were not interested in going to a different one. We just asked questions about her and her beliefs and she just opened up to us. The more we talked to each other, the more her whole demeanor shifted from suspicious to loving. She noticed that Sister Gearheart and my nametags were different. We explained and she asked us to say something in Portuguese. We both said our testimonies in Portuguese and then repeated them in English. The Spirit was SO STRONG. Then with tears in her eyes, Sister Brown bore her testimony in English. During this whole part of the lesson, the mother was just crying and at the end she gave us all a hug and said she would be at our church! It was such a tender mercy of the Lord that I got to be a part of that. It felt like I was walking on sacred ground in her humble trailer--the Spirit was that strong!

I love being a missionary! I am just so happy all the time! I have always been rather stingy with my love and more than a little prickly, but I am learning every day how to love and how to accept love. I have learned that I do not accept love very easily! Especially, to those who are not my family, but I am learning. I am also learning that I have a lot of love to give! My companions and those I go on exchanges with always comment on how much love and charity I have for the people. They say it is one of my strengths! I don't know if I quite agree with that, but I know that I have changed. I have changed so much, because I do love the people and I think they can sense it. The walls of suspicion they have built around their hearts melt away as we speak and as we listen and as we pray. It is so incredible!

I love you all so much! Not a day goes by that I don't pray for you all. I am so glad that you were able to use something from my letters in your lesson! I am so excited for the Christmas card and to open my Christmas packages! I am so proud of you Pops for being worthy to receive your new calling! You are going to do an amazing job! Make sure you email me your talks so I can read them to! 

Love you!

Sister Daniels

Dear family,

 

I haven't received my visa yet, which means that I will be in South Carolina for the next 6 weeks! If it comes any time during the next six weeks--which I think it will--I will be leaving for Brazil after the six weeks are up. The best part: I get to stay here for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

 

We also got a phone call from President Holm and he asked Sister Brown and I to be sister training leaders. AHH! I am so nervous. I don't feel like I am at all ready for this. I just finished being trained and feel like I have so much more to learn before being put in any kind of leadership position. Sister training leaders go on exchanges every week with other sisters and are supposed to help and encourage them. They teach by example. They also do trainings in front of huge groups of missionaries. I feel so inadequate! I know that God has called me to this position and He will strengthen me, but it still scary. Sister Brown has been a sister training leader before and has given me a lot of advice. I also studied various leaders in the scriptures and what made them good leaders. King Benjamin helped me a lot! I think it all comes down to just loving those missionaries and making them feel important. If you have any advice on being a good and loving leader, I would really appreciate it! President Holm also told us that Sister Gearheart, another Brazil visa waiter, will be joining Sister Brown and me! We will be a threesome. I am a little bit nervous to be in a trio again, because it is so much harder than just having the two of us. I am excited, too, because Sister Gearheart was with me in the MTC! Her Portuguese is really good, so hopefully she will prepare me for Brazil!

 

The Lord really blessed us this week. I had a strong impression to knock one particular house. We knocked it twice and rang the doorbell, but no one came. We walked away and were halfway down the street when we heard the door open. We waved and she shut the door, which made us think that she wasn't too interested. We thought, "Oh well," and kept walking, but the impression to knock it again just wouldn't leave me, so we turned around. We knocked again and rang the doorbell and thank goodness we did! This sweet woman opened the door and she knew one of the members of our branch, Sister Weathford. Sister Weatherford had completely changed the life of this woman's daughter and she was so grateful. She wanted to learn more about the church that such a kind person belonged to! God is truly preparing people. Our example softens the hearts of the people around us to hear the message of the restored gospel. We also helped a woman rake her yard. This small act of service really opened her heart. She introduced us to all of her neighbors, who invited us to come and teach them. Miracles!

 

Another miracle: We had planned to knock a certain area, but we got a little turned around. We ended up in a totally different area! It turned out to exactly where we needed to be. At the very first house that we knocked on, we met a wonderful couple. They are Baptists and had so many wonderful questions. We introduced the Book of Mormon and talked about modern-day prophets. The woman was suprised to see us so happy and excited about our message and really wanted to read the Book of Mormon to see what all this happiness was about!

 

We were teaching a woman and she had the funniest analogy. She said, "People are microwaves, but we serve a crock pot God." We want things NOW. We seek instant gratification, but God doesn't always work that way. It is all about His timing. Often trials come and they last a long time, and we can't understand why, but God is turning us into someone so much greater, someone so much more refined. We can be so much more than a microwave dinner :) I just thought this analogy was so funny, especially before she explained it! 

 

The world is such a small place! Elder Corbridge is the father of the son who is dating my old companion, Sister Houston. He wrote, "The Fourth Missionary," which has changed my whole attitude about my mission and being a missionary. Fun fact: he really likes Disney world.

 

I love you all so much! I hope you have fun at Grandma's house this Thanksgiving. I am so grateful to be born of such goodly parents! I hope I get your packages tomorrow. I'm really, really excited for it :)

 

Love y'all!

Sister Daniels

Dear family,

This has been a pretty incredible week! We saw so many miracles. One happened just today! The computers in the library were all being used, so we went to get my fingerprints done before emailing (also the reason I called the mission office to call you because I didn't get the email yet). (if she had read the email first she would not have gone to do her fingerprints, no coincidences!)  I know that is exactly where the Lord wanted us to go! We really needed to meet the woman who did my fingerprints. Her mother had recently passed and the preacher of her church was very unsupportive, which left a bad taste in her mouth of church. We got to share a message with her! God truly puts people in our paths that need the gospel. We just have to be willing to open our mouths and share it!

The best of this week: Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came to visit the South Carolina mission! Not only did I get to be in the same chapel as an apostle, but I got to shake hands with him!! We had a three hour discussion with him and it was truly one of the best moments of my life. I had fasted and prayed that this meeting would change me and that I would walk out of that meeting a changed person. And I think I did! I came into the meeting expecting a lecture or talk with maybe a little Q&A at the end, but the entire thing was Q&A with the missionaries--for the most part--asking and answering the questions. It was incredible to watch Elder Bednar help others come to their own answers and conclusions by asking them questions in return that guided them to their own answer. He was showing us by example the way we should teach our investigators. He didn't come in with anything prepared. We picked the subject and topics by the questions we asked. I had never seen anything like it. I learned as much form my fellow missionaries as I did from the apostle! The Spirit in that chapel was so strong. I don't even have the words to describe it. I usually get a warm, burning feeling in my heart or a sense of peace when I feel the Spirit, but this was different. It felt more tangible somehow; it made everything so clear. I know I am not doing it justice at all, but it was exactly what I had prayed for: life-changing. Elder Bednar focused a lot on the story of Peter walking on water to get to Christ. It took so much faith for Peter to leave the safety and security of the boat--the thing he knew and understood, the thing his very livelihood depended. But he did! He wasn't completely successful. He didn't run elegantly to the Savior. He took a few steps tottering towards the Savior before he became distracted by the monstrous waves and started to sink. As he started to sink--and this I think is a key point-- he did not turn back to the boat. He did not turn back! He looked to Jesus Christ to save him. We all have our own boats--things that we cling to and depend on--but we will never reach the Savior unless we leave the boat. We may falter, but Christ will be there to grasp our struggling hands and pull us back up. I got to thinking, "What is my boat? What are my waves? What is keeping me from trusting only on the Savior? What is distracting me from Him?" I won't go into any details about what I came up with, but I believe my boat and the waves will be different at different stages of my life. I think it is something we should all ask ourselves, to help us evaluate where our priorities are. Elder Bednar focused more on, "JUMP OUT OF THE BOAT." The boat he referred to for us is "the script." We rely too much on the lessons, on the bells & whistles, and the cute little hand outs. These things are all nice, but they are not the most important thing. Teaching by the Spirit is of far greater value, and in order to do that we have to leave the boat of perfectly planned lessons and speak as the Spirit directs. That is the only way for us and our investigators to take those steps towards the Savior!

We had a companion exchange this week. I went up to Conway to work with Sister Andersen. It was really wonderful opportunity to learn what I need to do to improve. On the exchange, I got to meet Sister Whitesides, who served a mission in Brazil and speaks Portuguese!!!!! She helped me so much with pronunciation and other questions that I had. She bore her testimony in Portuguese and I understood most of it! I taught a brief lesson and said the prayer in Portuguese. I was a little rusty! She also talked about Brazil and her experiences there. It got me really excited, which is something I needed. I love South Carolina. I didn't want to leave. I was actually praying that my visa would not come! But this conversation changed my whole outlook. It made me excited to go to Brazil. I am not so nervous. I know that God will place me where He needs me and I was so blessed to be needed in the two best missions on earth: South Carolina and Brazil!

I find out on Friday if I received my visa! If I did not, I will be guaranteed to stay in South Carolina for at least 6 more weeks!

Tell the boys, "Good luck on their games" for me!

I love your Christmas box idea! You spoil me, but I'm not complaining at all :) If it isn't too much trouble, would you mind including a CD or two of Christmas songs and some Christmas decorations? It just doesn't feel like Christmas when Christmas songs haven't been playing since September ;)

Love you guys so much!

Sister Daniels

Daniels' in the Lions' Den

(this letter was actually two weeks ago)

Thanks for all the pictures! Sorry I don't have any this week. It is a constant struggle to remember my camera! You guys look so great!  Lexi is gorgeous! It is making me nervous: she isn't going to make it 18 months before getting hitched! :) Would it be horribly inconvenient if you sent me a physical copy of those pictures? Especially the family ones and Lexi's photoshoot? I have a collage of photos in my room and I would love to add those to it! And congratulations on doing so well on your test Dad! That lady with the allergies sounded hilarious! We have met a few crazies down here too :)

We witnessed so many miracles this week. The Lord has truly protected us. While we were driving a whole herd of deer appeared out of nowhere. Seriously, one second there was nary a deer on the road and the next the entire herd! Sister Brown slammed on the brakes and the weirest thing happened. The car didn't squeak or squeal as the brakes grinded to a stop. It was so calm and peaceful! Despite our previous speed and our sudden stop, I wasn't launched forward or affected in any way! My heart rate didn't quicken at all. The coolest thing was the fact that we didn't hit a single deer. We must have missed the last one by an inch! That same night we came across this huge dog guarding his house. Although it was barking and snarling furiously at us, we just kept walking towards the house and he ran away! This instance happened twice! I felt like Daniel--Daniels in this case-- in the lion's den!

We met a woman named Elizabeth this week. She really opened up to us about her religious beliefs and her many trials. She has had many family members die in the past few years and one was brutally murdered. As I sat there--a 20 year old girl whose life hasn't been marred by evil---and all I could think is: "What am I doing here? How in the world can I relate to her? To console her when I have ansolutely no idea what that feels like?" I talk to people on a daily basis who have suffered true horrors and unimaginable pains. Pains that come in all forms: some physical, others spiritual or emotional. And I sit there--a girl whose greatest sorrow is the fact that she isn't a size 2 anymore--and listen to these sons and daughters of God who have suffered real pains yet believe in Christ and God with all of their hearts. I feel completely inadequate! What can I say to the aunt whose nephew was bludgeoned to death? What can I say to the mother whose son committed suicide and who later found his body? What can I say to the grandmother who is about to lose her grandkids because she can't pay her electricity bill? As I see all the pain in the hearts of men everywhere, the Atonement suddenly becomes far more real to me. Jesus Christ has felt the pains of the whole world. He is the Great Empathizer, and He knows how best to succor His people. And I, I get to talk of Him! I cannot fix their problems or heal their many wound, but Christ can and I have the privilege of representing Him.

We were checking on an investigator this week, when her neighbor came out and said that she needed us. It turns out that she was contemplating suicide and was praying for help. Then we turned up. She kept saying things like: "I know God loves me, because He sent these two girls when I prayed for help" and similar variations. It was just a simple thing. We just had to show up. We didn't even need to say anything. Just the fact that God sent two of His representatives was enough. Isn't that incredible? We hadn't even gone to that neighborhood for her, but God knew that she was hurting and wanted to help her... and He used us! He truly does use the "small and simple things" to bring to pass His work!

One of the funny instances of the week occurred with the mailman. He was delivering packages to one of our investigators when we pulled up. He came over--all four feet five inches of him-- in his perfectly pressed pants, polished shoes, and tailored button down and said, "I am going to tell you something that you probably aren't going to like." All I could think was, "Oh no here it comes." I was expecting something about the gay movement or at the very least ppolygamy. I was not expecting praise about our skirts as he proudly proclaimed, "It is nice to see young women wearing dresses." He then marched off to his little mail car, leaving Sister Brown and me holding back laughter. Little does he know that I am ditching these dresses in approximately 15 months!

We have really become a part of the town here, and I love it. EVERY ONE knows us: the postmaster, the mailman, the grocery stocker, all fifteen policemen, etc. I feel like a Gilmore girl in Stars Hollow!

Are we from the South? Daniels is one of the most common names down here! People keep trying to figure out if we are related!

Love you guys!

Sister Daniels

Dear family,

 

Since yesterday was Veteran's day, the library was closed and I couldn't email you.I hope you didn't get too worried! I'm sorry about the visa fiasco. Especially since I'm not there to help! It may not seem like it, but the fact that they are asking for another police report is a good sign. Everyone who has gotten their visa was asked to submit another police report. It means that they are working on my visa! I love South Carolina, but I also really want to go to Brazil. It is my mission too so hopefully I can manage to get there!

 

I am so proud of Caden! That must have been so hard. What a trooper! His predicament had me crying in the library. I don't think anyone noticed though... His attitude about the whole thing was just incredible. I look up to him more than I'm sure he ever looked up to me! There is a reason he is our little Nephi :) Tell him I love him and am so proud of him!

 

Our little home has been taken over...by LADY BUGS! They are on the floor, on the walls, on the windows, and on the ceiling! We have no idea what is going on. It's better than the massive-centipede that nearly fell on me in the shower. I am pleased to report that I did not scream as this disgusting creature fell from the ceiling to join me in the shower. This mission is making me one tough cookie :)    

Although it makes one wonder what awaits me in Brazil, if THIS is what is in South Carolina!

 

On a more serious note: we had one of our recent converts pass away. He was baptized a couple of weeks before I got here, but we spent a lot of time with him and I had gotten to know him really well. His name was Brother Laddie Barr. It was so hard to continue doing missionary work the night we found out. I really just wanted to curl up in a ball on my bed and have a good cry, but we couldn't. We stayed out knocking doors despite the tearstained faces. Missions are sometimes really hard, but the good moments far outweigh the bad. President Harvey had requested that we ask his mother for permission to do his temple work. Terrifying? A daunting task? YES! We were so nervous, since she isn't a member. This had eternal significance and we were terrified that we would mess it up! We prayed a lot and practiced what we wanted to say. We went to her house and it was packed full of family and friends. I got even more nervous. How were we supposed to ask and explain in front of all these people?! God was helping us though as we explained briefly and simply about the temple. We mostly stated it was a continuation of the promises we made at baptism and left it at that! The best part is that all his sisters and his mother gave their permission! What a miracle! The Spirit was so strong as we talked about temples. The whole house just quieted down and Sister Barr even reached over and held Sister Brown's hand. The Spirit brings miracles every time!

 

We had the opportunity to participate in "Cooks for Christ," a local charity that raises money for someone in the community who desperately needs it. We helped dish our the chicken bog, a South Carolina "delicacy" that I actually like quite a bit! It was so much fun. We got to meet a lot of people and tell them who we were and who we represent. It was wonderful to see the hearts of the people in Latta just open up to us! We are becoming known throughout the community, and more and more people are inviting us into their homes!

 

I love you guys so much! I pray for y'all morning and night and often during the day, too! Can you tell Dean and his family, Ellie, Grandma Daniels, and Grandma Merrill that I got their letters and that they should receive one from me within the next couple weeks? And that I was really grateful for every single one of them! Can you send me Lexi's address? I have her birthday package, but have no idea where to send it too! I did buy a coat and gloves, so I should be good! I couldn't find any boots that I liked, but those hideous brown practical shoes should work just fine :) Oh and the blog is fine. I was thinking more about it this week and it's good with me, as long as it is private and the list of people who can see it is very limited!

 

Love,

Sister Daniels

Week Seven

Dear family,

 

Yesterday was my first Sunday in my new branch. It is tiny. It makes our ward in Rosepine look huge! I love it though. It has a lot of personality. We had a Fall Festival on Saturday, which we got to go to! It was a great way to get to know the people in the ward and the members took President Monson's challenge to heart and brought nonmember friends!

 

Sister Brown, my new companion, is fantastic! She is such a hard-worker and has really helped me improve as a missionary. She really loves exercise, so she drags me out to run nearly every morning. We run around a graveyard! I keep envisioning the convict from Great Expectations to appear, but alas he and his money are refusing to make an appearance ;)

 

We had a heart-breaking moment this week. The Horne family dropped us. I was completely devastated. They seemed so elect! I didn't know it would hurt so bad to be dropped. I had loved that family and envisioned them all dressed in white at the baptism and at the temple. I know how important this is for salvation and to hear someone say that "We aren't interested" is the worst thing that has happened on my mission so far. I was so dejected all night--thinking about what I could have done or said differently. I know I shouldn't but I couldn't help but think it was my fault. Sister Brown cheered me up though. I am so lucky to have her! The Lord blessed us with a miracle moment the next night. We had already made plans to visit another city in Lake View, but the Lord had a different idea! He sent over Sister Weatherford, who was positively certain that she made a dinner appointment with us (she didn't!), so we scratched our plans and decided to stay here so we could do out with the Weatherfords. We had the most amazing lesson with Dottie and Larry Walter! We met them after being chased by that dog, remember? We taught them the Restoration. Larry who was reclined and appeared to be only partially paying attention at the beginning of the lesson was at the edge of the couch by the time we got to the First Vision! Dottie said the prayer, asking if Joseph Smith was a prophet. She said she wanted to know with "all her heart, mind, and soul!" The Spirit was so strong during that lesson! I think I felt the Spirit more strongly in this lesson than in any other lesson on my mission and I think they felt it too!

 

Sister Weatherford is the Relief Society president, who lives right down the road. She takes care of us missionaries! Our phone wasn't working this week. It wouldn't receive texts or calls and we couldn't call or text anyone. I guess the Elders got worried and called Sister Weatherford, who rushed to our house immediately to make sure we were okay. She even gave us her husband's phone to use, until ours was fixed! I just thought I would share this in case Mom ever gets worried about me :)

 

I loved Lexi's video! I am glad that she is having so much fun. Gosh, I miss that girl!

 

Pops, I loved the poem, "If." It is one of my favorites. I am quite the fan of Rudyard Kipling :) I am glad your job is a little more relaxing!

 

Mom, I love personality tests! I remember that mine changed in college, but I can't remember which one it is. Introvert was definitely a part of my personality both times :) It hasn't gotten in the way of being a missionary. I know the Lord has strengthened me in order to bear the mantle of being a missionary! I don't get nervous to talk to people or anything! Now that is a miracle!

 

Love you all!

Sister Daniels

Week Six

Hello family!

 

This has been one crazy week, but I think it has been the best one so far! Every Friday before transfers President Holm looks to see if we attained our visas and then he calls those that did. I think I was the only missionary in the state of South Carolina that didn't get their visa to Brazil! I'm secretly grateful. I just love South Carolina. I love my new area and I love my new companion. I think that God is keeping me here for a reason. Hopefully, I can discover just what that reason is! I think this will be my last transfer here though, because I got an email from Church Headquarters saying my visa is almost complete!

 

I don't even know where to start... Yesterday, we had planned to Jessica, James, and their family, but they were not home. We knew that God must have led us to their neighborhood for a reason. Sister Brown had already knocked every house on the street, but she asked me if there was one that I really felt inspired to visit again. I prayed and felt the impression to visit the house across the street. There was a kind, elderly man there who said that he believed in Christ and that he had already been saved. (This is a huge problem in the South. People do not understand "works" or "priesthood authority.") He was nice, but definitely not interested. As we were walking down the street towards the car, I kept feeling like we should go back and knock his house again! I kept brushing it off. I mean we had already knocked his housetwice and he wasn't interested either time. I tried so hard to ignore it, but it wouldn't go away. I voiced my concern to Sister Brown and she said that she was feeling the same way! We prayed to know what to do. We didn't want to give him a bad taste for Mormon missionaries, but the Spirit was rather forcefully telling us we should go back and talk to him. I think the Lord was really trying to make a point. He even put a huge dog in the middle of the road, blocking us from going anywhere but back towards his house! Taking it for a sign, we walked back. We stood outside his door for what seemed like an eternity. I was never more scared to do anything in my whole life! It took everything I had just to knock that door. I waited anxiously for him to come to the door and give us a barrage of verbal abuse, but he was really nice about it! I explained everything--how we felt that God wanted us to come back and even about that gigantic dog. I also shared a quick message about prophets being called today. He was really nice and seemed more open to us. He suggested that we go through his yard and take another street to get to our car. We did and guess what? We met the most amazing family! They are looking for a new church, since they just moved here. We would have never found them! We wouldn't have knocked that area again for a long time, but God wanted us to find the Walters. It was so amazing to see the hand of the Lord guiding this work, and I think I learned a powerful lesson. I think God was testing us to see if we would follow Him even if what He asked was hard. He did it with Abraham and his son, and I think--in a much smaller scale-- He did it with us. It was terrifying, but so rewarding at the same time!

 

I live in Latta now. It is a small town that reminds me a little of Salado. There is a total of three restaurants- none of which are known franchises. I am still mustering up the courage to check out "Little Tokyo." Somehow South Carolina and Japanese food do not seem to go together!

 

Oh, I almost forgot! We got stopped by the police!! We were knocking late at night and someone, I guess, thought we were prowlers. It was all very exciting. He asked to see our IDs and then called "headquarters" to check our records. He didn't bring out the handcuffs, which is really too bad. Think of the photo opportunities! We did end up sharing a message with him and giving him a pass-along card, which is admittably even better than a possible mug shot :)

 

Love you guys so much! I hope everything is going well.

 

Congratulate the boys for me on cross country! Looks like we got some demon dogs in the making :) Good luck with school and being Relief Society president and being a mom! Thanks so much for the poem, Pops! I love it!! I love that you are going on splits. We are in a branch and it is super hard to get members to come out with us, but it makes all the difference to the investigators.

 

Love,

Sister Daniels

My new companion and district! We got to do a session!

 Here I am picking okra! Never heard of it before, but people down here are crazy for these funny looking "greens." I felt like a bonafide South Carolinian.

Our house! Well, technically it is more of a trailer, but it is darn cute!