WEEK 6 ---So much work, joy, love, faith and moving forward and BECOMING!
So I went on splits this week for half a day so my trainer Sister
C could have a training meeting, and one of the sisters I served
with is Sister H from Taiwan.... who asked me if I knew an Elder Fisher? Which
I happened to, which she said that he served in her home ward when she was
still home. So HI!!! from Sister H! :) And I feel so so so
sorry/glad for all the Mandarin speaking sisters here on Temple Square because
they are giving Mandarin tours, LITERALLY ALL the DAY LONG. It's insanely busy (but in a good way).
We take their information and give them a mandarin Book of Mormon (which
we constantly have to order because we give hundreds away every day)
and tell them we'll call them. Which we don't because we cant proselyte
in mainland China. However, we take their information and keep it on
hold, for one day when the country opens up. The work will move insanely
fast there. They are SO prepared and want the gospel! Pray that all
the areas in the world that aren't opened up will be opened- okay everyone?
As for sleep/rest/fatigue... It's getting better! I have
energy, and when I get 8 hours of sleep and really work out for 30min and
really follow the white handbook and am obedient, when I'm tired, I just pray
and tell Heavenly Father that I have been exactly obedient and that I need
energy to be able to function, and BAM. I can stay awake. I might have to read
while I'm standing up, but I'm willing to sacrifice. Sacrifice is what
brings forth the blessings of Heaven... which sounds great to me! But honestly
I feel a lot better. I've really sunken into the groove and habit of the
mission. I'm great! (I did sleep talk the other day and say in my sleep
"So, tell me about the Second Coming"--- the sisters I live with were
DYING laughing)
Leah, our Jewish friend from last week, has made some amazing
progress! (ALL IN 13 DAYS!) This week we told her about Priesthood
blessings for her son and herself. (Her son is dying from cancer) When we
taught about that, which she told us that a coworker already asked her if she
wanted one, and who she believes is LDS. We prayed all week that that would be
true. I was so nervous!
Yesterday night, we called her and she told us that her
coworker IS LDS and that the coworker and two members of the ward came to their
home on Friday night and gave both L, and her son (who has cancer)
Priesthood blessings.
She said that it was an experience like none other. She said that
has prayed before many times, but she had never felt that immensity of peace
and calming feelings like she felt during the blessing. She even told us
later after Sister C asked an inspired question, that she had felt the
presence of her parents and husband, who have passed away, and that she
sincerely felt that the impression she witnessed was for her 'to keep on, in
this path, that this is good, and that what we're teaching her is right'.
She proceeded to tell us about how her coworker's brother died on his mission
when he was 21, and how her coworker told her that he is just preaching the gospel
to people on the other side. She told us that she felt that her coworker's
brother, or at least someone else, was teaching her husband and her parents in
the Spirit World the same things she was learning from us here.
The only thing holding her back right now is the fact that it has
been only 13 days since our first lesson with her, and that she wants to make
sure that the immense peaceful and happy feelings actually last and are real,
which I can respect. What a neat experience for the Lord to let us be His hands
for. She was my FIRST call I made in the mission field after I was so
scared. Sister C and I said a prayer and then Sister C counted
down, 5,4,3,2,1! And then I just did it --- I called Leah, and VOILA!
The Lord blesses us when we are obedient. He really does fill our
mouths with the words to say! The thing she is really praying for this week is
whether Jesus is the Christ. Please pray for her. I know she will
get an answer!
We've taught so many other people. It's amazing. My
favorite part is hearing their first uttered prayer. They are so beautiful,
full of faith and sincerity. It's amazing. The work is so hard, but so
worth it!
Besides teaching all the time here on Temple Square, I also get to
do something pretty cool- talk to members all the time and learn from them and
their families.
I met this amazing family who has a 9 year old boy, 12 and 13 year
boys. They read the book of Mormon every school day all year long every
school year, and when they finish they do something as a family to celebrate
the end. They scream the last word "amen" down a roller
coaster, or around a huge tree in a national park, or up a water park ride etc.
every year. The boys knew their scripture stories, the 9 year old read a verse
for us, and they were so spiritually interested, polite, responded to our
questions and gave incredible insights. They glowed with the gospel! In
contrast, while I was working at the Beehive house this weekend, we took a
family around who had a 10 year old, 14 and 18 year old. They were nice,
but the kids weren't interested in what we had to say, not responsive to our
questions, and just looked pretty bored. When we asked the family what
reading the scriptures has blessed their family, every single child passed the
buck, and didn't respond besides shrugging their shoulders. Then the
Father of the family responded "Well I guess that means we should read the
scriptures more often.." I seriously was able to see in the results
of members the importance of the little things. The little things are
what converts. I saw the sacrifice of a family that read a chapter every
day with their kids, no matter what their age, and the difference that made as
a result. THE HUGE difference it made. HUGE! My challenge for everyone
who reads this (that's what I'm going to do with my future family) is to start
now, and not miss a day, reading a chapter with your family every day from the
Book of Mormon. Even if they're really young and cant pronounce or read
any of the words and you have to speak it and them repeat it. IT IS SOOOO
IMPORTANT! I was stunned.
Obedience is essential to us. Obedience is what changes our
hearts, allows us to throw off the natural man, and to find peace and joy and
confidence in this life! I love this quote from Elder Oaks:
- Elder Oaks, Conference 2000
-------------------------------Sister Fisher
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