Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Transfer 6, Week 3: Germany, Elder Bednar, and Lemon Pie

Awesome week. S, our Tennessee friend is moving right along!!! Pray for M though. We haven’t heard from him. :(

Here’s S’s testimony in 30 words that he wrote at church this Sunday. It brought chills and tears to us!  "God is our Heavenly Father. He sent his Son, Christ, to die for our sins and revealed the Restored Gospel, ancient scriptures, and the Priesthood to the Prophet Joseph Smith." Amen. That’s all I can say.  He’s so excited to be baptized next week, and wishes he could sooner so that he could go to the Temple with the ward this weekend. But all in good time, S! What an incredible son of God! 

He also gave us some pie recipes from his Mama, and then her phone number so that “we could call her and tell her how it went.” ‘wink’ ‘wink’ J We’re looking forward to making one today so we can report to her how it went tomorrow…. And share some more with her and invite her to his baptism. We’ll see….. :)

We had a neat experience this week with a guy named S. He’s from Germany/Austria. We were just on the desk when he just came in and started talking with us. 

We got on the topic of the Book of Mormon.  It was neat because I got to share the experience of my Opa in Germany first learning about the church and “feeling something that he had never felt before in any other place”. (I hope I got the story right - He was in a movie theater and this other lady next to him laughed at all the same parts he did so they started talking and she invited him to church, and he came and felt something, and kept coming each week and BAM! Read the Book of Mormon and the rest is history…right?) That really touched S. 

He wanted to feel something that he hasn’t felt yet. We gave him a German copy of the Book of Mormon and will call him in the next few days to follow up.  He was really excited to read it on the plane home! It was neat because it was sort of like a homage to the lady who introduced the gospel to Opa, and now I get to do it for another German! Kind of neat!

 

 

 

Another huge part of my week was watching the March CES fireside given by Elder David A. Bednar. It was on faith and the Lord’s will. Go watch that on lds.org if you haven’t. We all need this message. It made me reflect on my mission and life, and what I teach people every day. The message of the gospel is:  Follow God’s plan. It’s the easiest, most fail-proof, guaranteed happiness than anything else in this world. The commandments and believing and doing is the easiest way. We make it more complicated by not following it like we should--- Loving our job, or money, or having more than our neighbor, or vacations more than God, doesn’t bring happiness. The world’s happiness is fleeting because it’s an addiction --- you always have to have more. You are never satisfied. It’s a downward spiral to despair. God’s plan is simple. Love him. Love your neighbor. Love your family and spouse, and you can be with them for eternity. 

He’s given us his son Jesus Christ, and also Prophets and ancient Prophets who help show us how to do this and avoid Satan’s snares. Follow them. They are there because God loves us enough to show us the way. Ignore your fear of the future. That will take care of itself. As long as you follow God’s path for you, you will find joy, you will be the most successful that you can be here, and you will most importantly find the peace that the whole world is seeking and not knowing it--- the peace that comes in confidence before God.  Take an inventory of your life and throw out all the extras- the things that don’t bring happiness. Focus on the things that actually do.

You don’t have to have it all to be happy.  We don’t find joy in the journey, because we don’t need to. Finding means it’s not there and we have to go search for it until we finally do find it. But we don’t need to. It’s already there, all around us. We just need the time and awareness to recognize it. We don’t find it, we make it. We make joy in the journey. As President Uchtdorf says, “The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy.” ( http://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/president-uchtdorf-reminds-sisters-of-five-things-to-forget-not?lang=eng )

2 Nephi 9:51-52 (in the Book of Mormon.  See scriptures on www.lds.org)

“ Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your ^alabor for that which cannot ^bsatisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and ^cfeast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.

Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give ^athanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts ^brejoice.”

 

I love y’all so much.

 

Sister Fisher

Here's the recipe that we're trying today:

Lemon Ice Box Pie # 2
2 cans (14oz. each) sweetened condensed milk
¾ cup (fresh) lemon juice
1 tsp grated lemon peel
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, combine milk, lemon jucie and lemon peel. Mix until just blended. Piur into a 9-inch graham cracker crust . Bake 15 minutes. Cool and refrigerate at least two hours before serving or overnight. Top with whipped cream when serving.

 You can try it along with us too! 

(Readers:  If you would like a free copy of The Book of Mormon that Jessica refers often to, just request one on www.mormon.org or ask one of your Mormon friends for one.)

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 
Transfer 6, Week 2: Awesome things
 
Hi Family and Friends! 

We had an incredible thing happen. A few actually.

So our friend S, the Baptist from Tennessee from last week who quit drinking coffee and started reading the Book of Mormon?! ....

 I'll just insert the clip of text from our teaching report:

"So we talked with S tonight and MAN is he on fire!!! He’s been reading the Book of Mormon (and we texted him a scripture from Mosiah 4, and he said “That’s where I am in the Book of Mormon right now!!!!” .  So cool!)

Anyway, and he said that the Book of Mormon should be titled, "A testament of Jesus Christ" or "THE testament of Jesus Christ" because he thought it talks more about Christ THAN THE BIBLE DOES! (We love and use the Bible equally, of course, though.)  But he happened to be reading the Book of Mormon during school and his PE teacher came in and told him he shouldn't read it- haha! And he said, "Why?" And she didn't have a good answer.  He met with missionaries on Monday night. The missionaries talked about baptism and he thought it was great, too. And he will be going to church on Sunday, even though he lives 45 minutes from the nearest ward, and will stay for the full 3 hours, and wants to wear a white shirt and tie to “look like the missionaries do”.

 

He has been steadfast with quitting coffee!!! The first day, he had a huge headache, but on the second day- nothing. Hasn't had coffee since Sunday! He said that he feels like coffee might have actually affected his sleep patterns, and maybe it gets him a kick in the morning but he has a big low the rest of the day. Since he’s quit coffee this week, he feels clarity. His outlook of the day is different. He feels like he gets a better rested night sleep. Say, "I'm not tired throughout the day."

We asked about how avoiding profanity has been. He said “Changing bad thoughts and bad words have been harder. I've really been watching as I've talked, typed, chatted, texted. It's been something I've had to think about. Has there been a change? Yes. By not writing it, I'm not saying it.”

He says, “Through all of these changes, I feel very ready to just live a good life, very ready to just be in constant communication. I don’t want to just stop reading and studying, but continue always to lead a righteous life and serve a purpose of God and do whatever I can to build His Kingdom and upon the earth.” It’s cool that he said this because our plans were to teach him about Enduring to the End. So neat that he fulfilled our plans without us trying to teach about it!  He thinks that Enduring to the End is the best concept of the Church. There are so many people that are just satisfied with being 'saved already' but are they doing terrible things each weekend. This is what's being taught those people, by saying you can do whatever you want because they think that by "grace you are saved" already, and this is what is being produced, so what is being taught then?"  (Faith without works is dead, as it says in the Bible.)

He's incredible. He will be baptized March 15th. (Another cool thing is that he gave us his friend who told him he should look into our

church.  The friend is an atheist- but believes the Mormons would have to be the most 'true' of Christianity, to call and be taught by... So should be exciting!)

Another cool thing, was we have been focusing on planning this week...Planning for miracles and having the faith that, like the Brother of Jared in the Book of Mormon, the Lord will consecrate our plans, or "touch those stones/rocks" we bring before Him (our not miraculous plans thought of by our minds) and make them miraculous.  As we diligently follow our plans, set those goals of not "how many people we want to teach", but instead, committing to the Lord how many people we will be accountible for teaching that day, and follow what plans we have in the day, that He will send those who need what we have planned to share.  IT WORKS. 

 

On Thursday, we planned for 10-11am, focusing on the question of the soul --  "Why do bad things happen to good people"  --  and sharing 1 Peter 1:7, and 2 Nephi 2:2- all about how God will consecrate our trials for our gain and benefit.  We talked with a lady who was still bitter her husband left her, and she really needed what we shared. Also in that hour, we talked with a teary sister who has wayward children, and we were able to testify and share those scriptures and the message we had prepared- and it was exactly what she needed too! (and of course we hugged her a few times too.) Aww.

God loves His children so much.  If only we, "His hands" were more courageous, willing and sensitive to His Spirit to do those things He needs us to. Pray for those opportunities, the courage to act, the sensitivity to listen and ability to do.

 So we're kind of spoiled in our mission, too. We have cool people come speak to us!  The 1st counselor of the Relief Society General Presidency came and spoke to us. That was cool too.  Then our Mission President surprised us AGAIN (he loves doing that), and Elder Hinckley of the seventy and his wife spoke to us at church on Sunday.  Glad we were there early that morning.  It was incredible. He talked about the Sacrament and about God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost--- the most important doctrine, and the most unique that we have.  The nature of who God is.

It's so true. If God isn't our father and doesn't love us, why would we come here in the first place? Why would there be a plan? Jesus Christ wouldn't have to be a part of the plan, and there would be no need for a restoration or commandments or even this earth life.  BUT God loves us so much. And wanted us to come here for a little 'internship' on earth, to learn and grow. And there is a plan, there is a path shown by Christ, and dictated by a Prophet today, and all the prophets on the earth, and God does what us to come back and live with Him as part of His family. So cool.

But anyway.... that's not the story I wanted to share.  The story is about Elder Richard G. Hinckley (yes, he is the son of the late President Gordon B Hinckley) who went on a trip with the then 95 year old President Hinckley, who was the Prophet at that time.  President Hinckley felt he didn't need to bring anyone along to help him in his 11 day travel around the world, but the Brethern asked that he would need to, so he invited his son Richard G. Hinckley to come with him.  But just as they crossed over Alaska, about to land in Russia, Elder Richard Hinckley's eye was hit with something in the airplane (I dont remember exactly what happened... think it was hit by an exercise band) and everything to Richard's sight went dark. He said they turned around and landed in Anchorage Alaska and went into the hospital.  When President Hinckley realized there was nothing else he could do for his son, and Richard's wife was there and the doctors and such, Pres. Hinckley then said goodbye and continued on his 11 day trip, dedicating buildings and speaking to the children of God around the world (at 95 years old!). But he called every single day to check on his son, Richard, though, no matter where he was in the world. 

At the end of the 11 days, Elder Richard Hinckley would be going into surgery, and President Hinckley told him he  unfortunately would miss the operation by a few hours and wouldn't be able to make it.  But just as Elder Richard Hinckley had predicted (by the nature of the man who was his father, and also the Prophet of God at the time), there was a phone call right before they started surgery, that told the doctors to stop and everyone to pause because the Prophet would be flying in to give Elder Richard Hinckley and the Doctors a blessing. President Hinckley had gotten up around 3:00am that morning, just so that he could make it there to give his son, Richard, and the doctors a blessing.

 I just really liked that story.  It shows the character President Hinckley had.  There is a work to do. There are sacrifices to be made. There are people to lift, and bless and help. We are God's hands. We are here to do His work. Let's do it. There are too many things we are associated with in our lives that "have no life" as Mormon described the time and day that we live in, as Christ showed it to Him to know what to put in the Book of Mormon that we would need. Those things that don't matter, that waste the precious time we have here on earth, that don't fulfill us.

Mormon, in the Book of Mormon, says of our time:

"37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.

38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?

39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?"

 

Well as Elder Holland talked about in his talk in General Conference, "“If ye love me, keep my commandments,” Jesus said. So, we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord. We can’t quit and we can’t go back. After an encounter with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it was before."

 
I love y'all. Keep going forward with the good that you do.  Minimize the things that you do that "have no life".  Go through all your activities and priorities and throw out the "time fillers" and "time wasters".

As my Grandpa Fisher would say "If you are not coming closer to Christ and bringing someone else along, you're wasting your time and the Lord's time."

 
Sister Fisher

 

Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Transfer 6, Week 1:
I'M TRAINING!.......AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH:)
 

Dear Family and Friends,

So I found out last week that BOTH Sister S and I would be TRAINING a new missionary FROM THE MTC!  I should've known that my life already reflected/mirrored Hermana J. B's life before the mission, that on the mission I'd mirror her too... haha. She's training as well. I ran into her last week on an investigator lesson--- she looks great and is such a light to all around her. Grateful for her friendship in my life.

So excited.  We also found out that we would be moving. Somehow (due to miracles of course) we finished teaching and committing D to baptism (he got baptized this last Friday and told us the minute he was in the water he felt the past 50 years of mistakes/guilt/build up all wash away-- SO COOL), packed, moved in the little time we had in between assignments and snow, and voila. Ready for Wednesday morning!

My new companion is Sister O from Las Vegas, New Mexico!!!!! She is an angel, and an absolutely incredible missionary already. She finds it so easy to call people, approach people, testify of truth, and commit people to act. Wow. If only every missionary came prepared with that toolbox. Most of us have to learn it the hard way..... on the job training. :) We're already great friends. She has so much faith and it is very refreshing for me as a *slightly* older missionary.

Funny thing my investigator from Croatia said to us "It's like you, Sister Fisher, are a Fisher of men!! And I'm your little fish!!"  Hahahaha!  Thank you, Dad, for the good last name, and great application in the scriptures.
I was reading in Jesus the Christ book (the other personal study), and it spoke of the miracle of the exact amount of tax money found in the first fish that Peter would find in the river.
Matthew 17:27 "Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of ^amoney: that take, and ^bgive unto them for me and thee."
God has the power to take care of us. He does. He has the power as we put Him first in our lives, to make all things work out for our good. Financial, physical, emotional, spiritual--- you name it. Let us have faith to put Him first in our lives. All things will work together for our good. As we seek first the Kingdom of Heaven, all things will fall into place according to God's plan, which is the best plan.

Cool story of the week--- our friend S, a searching for truth Baptist from Tennessee (also a music educator haah) was here on Temple Square last Saturday, and my companion and I at the time approached him and talked with him. He was applying to the U's graduate program, and at Temple Square, has met missionaries before etc. etc. BUT what was different this time? His heart was open. After he spoke with us for about an hour and a half, he went and BOUGHT his own quad combination set of scriptures. We've spoken with him a few times since then, and he told us that he's read so much about the Book of Mormon, that it was finally time to read it. And this time, not to prove it incorrect, but to really ask if this was God's word, if it was something that would bring him closer to Christ. So with Sister O, we've been teaching him as well. He's incredible. Since he has been reading it with those intentions he loves it. He feels enlightened by it. He said he feels closer to God. He plans on finishing the Book of Mormon in the next two weeks! He said that since he spoke with us at Temple Square, and as he's read the Book of Mormon, sentences that form in his head that would have profanity in it that he would normally say, he re-thinks it, and it comes out a more pleasant way. We testified to him that the Spirit is already changing him and bringing him closer to Christ. That's the beautiful thing about the Gospel--- it changes us. Usually from the inside out. We taught him about the Word of Wisdom and a few other commandments, and when we spoke of a few things that we would commit him to change in his life to feel even closer to God, he said "Well hold on real quick- let me get a piece of paper and something to write with". Haha! He wanted them ALL!!! :) He's going to church this Sunday for the first time and has been avoiding drinking coffee all week.  Pray for him to have the strength to quit those.

I love my mission. Three of the sisters in my class all got sent for their 4 "Outbound" months this transfer (San Jose CA, Chicago and somewhere else....?)--- eeeeek! It's coming up. Yikes. Hope I get to stay with Sister O for a whole 12 weeks though- and April General Conference! But we will see. The Lord knows best, and that's all I want---- what He wants.

Love y'all so much,
Sister Fisher

PS.  The bear picture is the exact replica for how I feel at 6:30AM when I have to wake up in the morning. haahah!

Friday, February 08, 2013
Transfer 5: Week 5!!!
Aye Yih Yihhhh!!!!!!!
(as all the Latina sisters say)

Hello dearest family and friends!

Wow the transfer is almost over. It's terrifying. On Monday we'll find out what's happening for my 6th transfer--- the middle of my mission. EEEEEEEKKK!!! 

Also this week was a week of miracles.

Cool thing. Remember last week we met M? The guy from Texas?  Well we called him last weekend and we were going to talk about the Word of Wisdom and right as we talked about it and read the scriptures about not drinking or coffee or smoking etc.  He told us that he just felt like he should do that after the first time we met him.  AND HE QUIT SMOKING since his visit at Temple Square!!! Wow.  It's amazing when the spirit just works through people what they feel and the changes they automatically make.  He said he realized after he was at Temple Square that he wanted to smoke more than he wanted to read the scriptures and that that wasn't right. So he threw away his last box and hasn't smoked since. Wow.   Awesome miracle.

 I also met an amazing lady named L who read "The Mormon Way of Doing Business" and has began to change all of her life because the book impressed/inspired her so much. So cool. She now wants to go to church, already gave up alcohol, and scheduled the missionaries to come over tomorrow and we will call her then and share more about the Book of Mormon then. Wow. Such prepared people!!!

Other cool thing--- we had a zone activity at a Senior Couple's sister's cabin.  It was so beautiful and peaceful and was a nice retreat for a few hours.  As a zone, we ate waffles and watched Lion King.  There's a quote from Mufasa that is so inspiring and I wanted to include it here.  President Monson actually has used it a few times in some talks too!

Imagine it coming from your Heavenly Father. Referencing an exchange between Simba and his departed father, Mufasa, from Disney’s movie, “The Lion King,” President Monson said, “Look inside yourself. You are more than what you have become. Remember who you are.”

He continued by saying, “You are a son or daughter of our Heavenly Father. You came from His presence to live on this earth for a season, and to live in such a way that you are an example of the believers and a true light to the world.”

“Just think of how much good can come to the world through our collective lights and let the gospel radiate through us,” President Monson said.

And now I will include the rest of my 38 pieces missionary advice of what I've learned so far on my mission (continuation from last week’s email):

#21 The Holy Spirit doesn’t testify or confirm every truth every single time to us, every time we need a pat on the back reassurance, or just for ‘maintenance’.  The Spirit confirms things or testifies of truth when we need it to.  If we always have a confirmation, then it is not faith, or trusting in what we have felt before. (D&C 6:22-24)

#22 At some point, you will be backed up to the wall of faith and there must make a stand: because you will never have 100% surety or proof or “a perfect knowledge.” If there is no room for doubt, there is no room for faith.  Choose to believe anyway. (Alma 32:21,26)

#23 The sun will come up tomorrow.  Even the darkest nights or storms always end with sunlight. It may seem hopeless right now, but that is because the miracle is right around the corner.  (D&C 103:12, D&C 78:18, D&C 61:36-37, D&C 58:2-4)

#24 Your purpose is to invite others unto Christ, no matter where they are on the path. They could be in the middle and you just help them come to church, or at the very beginning and you help them feel God’s love for them, or they could be at the end of the path, prepared over time for you to lead them into the waters of baptism. All parts of the path of conversion are equally as important. You fulfill your purpose even when people decline or accept the gospel. Your purpose is to just help each child of God that He puts in your path get to where they need to be on the path to conversion, according to God’s plan for them.  (D&C 101:16, D&C 88:41, D&C 64:31-33)

#25 The Gospel is true and it truly works.  Every part and piece of it is true.  It is the solution to every problem of all races, genders, ages, cultures, family situations, addictions, orientations, questions, weaknesses, doubts, or limitations any child of God faces.  The restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is the solution to all the problems the world faces.

#26  Your best is different every day and in every circumstance. Don’t expect to fly as high and fast in stormy weather as you did in the sunshine.

#27  “There’s no growth in your comfort zone, and no comfort in your growth zone.” Allow the Lord to burn that dross in you - that excess imperfections. Let Him refine you and burn out your impurities. How does He do this? Through the trial of our faith, the fiery furnace of affliction and trials and difficulties that stretch us. (D&C 122:7-9, 1 Peter 1:7, Isaiah 48:10, 3 Ne 24:2, Hymn #85 verse #5)

#28 It’s a lot easier to work hard when you see results in other’s actions or ‘evidence’ of your hard work.  It’s a lot harder to keep going when you don’t.  Try hard and work hard anyway. (D&C 121:7-10, D&C 103:12, D&C 98:2-3, D&C 64:31-33)

#29 Let the Spirit, your logic, wisdom, and perceptions, and your investigator’s reactions determine how long you keep working with them, so you can keep moving forward and find those that are prepared and ready to progress.

#30 Be the result of your decisions, not your conditions. (D&C 58:26-*28)

#31 When the Lord withholds answers or guidance, it is because He trusts that we will make a “just fine” decision on our own. Confirmations of our good choices come later, after we act.

#32 Service/Leadership positions in the mission aren’t a statement of “How good a missionary you are”, but are only the place Heavenly Father needs you at the time to accomplish His plan (which most often includes you, growing and developing).

#33 Even the most horrible problems can all be fixed or cured after a prayer, an oreo, an expression of love/gratitude to your companion, and a good night’s sleep. (Matthew 8:24)

#34 Coincidences are when Heavenly Father chooses to be anonymous. If you meet them twice, it is not chance.

#35 When you don’t want to, are too tired, depressed, angry, sad, mad, frustrated, sick or glad prayer is always the answer.

#36 Testimonies are found in the bearing of them. Testimonies come and are strengthened as we testify of those things we hope to be true that are then confirmed to us as we act on our faith and testify of them. (Jacob 4:6) the Spirit often waits until you are bearing testimony before it confirms.

#37 Because each child of God is different, Heavenly Father has a unique and different plan for each child that may include or exclude certain opportunities or experiences, but is perfect in the fact that it is formulated exactly for what that child needs to obtain exaltation. Don’t complain that your life is different or harder or whatever than “so-and-so’s”, and don’t ask “why me?”. Trust in the Lord.

#38  “The testing that a wise Heavenly Father determines is needed even when you are living a worthy, righteous life and are obedient to His commandments. Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more. He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain. When you face adversity, you can be led to ask many questions. Some serve a useful purpose; others do not. To ask, Why does this have to happen to me? Why do I have to suffer this, now? What have I done to cause this? will lead you into blind alleys. It really does no good to ask questions that reflect opposition to the will of God. Rather ask, What am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience? What am I to change? Whom am I to help?”- Elder Richard G. Scott   https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1995/10/trust-in-the-lord?lang=eng

Love,

Sister Fisher

 Friday, February 01, 2013
Transfer 5, Week 4: Wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

We had two really awesome miracles this week:We taught a man who has lots of LDS friends, who is non religious himself, with a Jewish background (of course… I always meet Jewish people or Baptists) who had a problem with prayer, we found out later.  He wanted to see what we believed.  We told him about the Restoration and how Joseph Smith asked questions, and we all  must too and be willing to pray about them and will receive an answer.  We then taught about a modern Prophet and apostles today, and at the kiosk, he randomly pushed President Monson’s picture to hear a snippet from his last General Conference talk.  At first, I was really nervous because we had no idea what snippet or from what talk it would be from.  It was neat because this was a clip from “Consider the Blessings” = THE ONLY TALK IN CONFERENCE directly ABOUT PRAYER.  It was so cool to see how inspired and how the Lord teaches His children exactly what they need, not necessarily what we the missionaries had planned to teach. 

I had a man from FLOWERMOUND randomly come up to us at the desk on Sunday.  He’s 24, and has been listening to the Book of Mormon on tape in his truck as he’s been truck driving around the country.  He’s ready to leave it all behind and change.  He said, “I want to give it all up. All that I have, am, everything. I want to quit truck driving and do whatever God wants me to.”  He wants to be baptized.  He knows the Church is true.  He wants the Priesthood and an eternal family.  He told me the story of how he was led to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:  At one point, he knew he needed to change and that he wasn’t happy.  He prayed and told God that he would do whatever He wanted him too, but he wanted to change his life, but didn’t know what church to go to.  He asked that God would show him where to go and what to do, and that he would be lead to the right church.  THE NEXT church he found on the road that Sunday was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He’s awesome.  So prepared.  We’re going to teach him over the phone and see miracles happen for this young man who has such righteous desires.

The other thing that I wanted to share, is something that I have been really thinking about lately.  It is 38 pieces of Advice that I have learned about missionary work for other missionaries.  I know that it still applies to any other member’s lives too.  Here are the first 20 things of what I have learned so far on my mission:

1.       The answer to every problem, concern, or doubt you have is this:  “Forget yourself, and go to work.” You didn’t come out here to think about you, anyway.

2.       Forget about your concerns, weaknesses, or insecurities- focus on your investigators and companion.  You didn’t come out here to think about yourself anyway.

3.       We may need to drop people (from our call list if they don’t respond etc), but God never will.  People all have their agency.  But God has a plan for each one of them to come back to Him. (D&C 138)

4.     If they want to argue, walk away or hang up.  You won’t and can’t prove anything to them because the converter is the Spirit- not you, and the Spirit won’t be in a place of contention.  (No matter how many Bible verses you can give) see D&C 43:15, 10:63, 18:20

5.       As long as you think about yourself, you’ll be miserable and as long as you think about others you’ll be happy.  (see Mormon 9:14)

6.       Assume the good and doubt the bad in your companion. If they annoy, frustrate or offend you, you probably don’t understand where they’re coming from or their point of view or intentions.  They came out here for the same reason you did.

 

7.       Everything that your trainer, companion or leader says to you (or Mission President) aren’t meant to pick on you, but instead shows how much they love you and want you to be a better missionary than they were. (D&C 121:43)

8.       Don’t waste your precious time wondering or worrying if the Spirit is with you, - just do it our say it anyway. Because He is with you.  We get kinda numb to what feeling the Spirit feels like because it is around us 99% of the time all day long on our mission here.  We recognize it when it changes or leaves. (D&C 121:46, 99:2, and 3 Ne 9:20)

9.       Whatever the reason or excuse, be obedient anyway. (no matter how legitimate the excuse may be)  It is not worth Heavenly Father withholding a miracle from you.  It doesn’t matter WHAT the Lord or our leaders as us to do or obey, but instead that we are willing to do it. Obedience isn’t about the action, but about the attitude.(D&C 82:10, 130:21, 6:20 and Mosiah 2:41)

10.   Make the sacrifice (sleep, time, eating whatever) and write in your journal anyway. (It’s the way you record the Lord’s hand in your life, and when you record it, you recognize and remember it, and He is more likely to bless you again)

11.   Your leaders aren’t and never will be in this life perfect, so don’t expect them to be.

12.   God doesn’t want you to be an exact copy of your zone leader.  He called YOU on a mission, and all He wants is the best YOU that you can be (not 100 clones of your District Leader).

13.   Preach My Gospel is perfect. Use it. Don’t dilute the doctrines in there, TEACH them.  It’s important to personalize lessons, and teach people- but we must still teach lessons. That is what will convert them. (The difference between being someone’s counselor and being their missionary is whether they keep commitments or not.)

14.   Happiness is a choice.  It is also a commandment. (2 Ne 2:25) It’s really hard to teach the Plan of Salvation, or the Plan of Happiness if you are not happy yourself.  (Come what may and love it. Smile, especially when you don’t want to.)

15.   It doesn’t matter who says it (your companion, the investigator or the member), as long as it gets said. You don’t need the credit.

16.   Saying what you want to say isn’t as important as companionship unity.  Backing up, clarifying, illustrating or testifying or giving a commitment after what your companion has just said is more powerful than you changing the topic or stating your opinion or how you would’ve said it.

17.   Don’t focus on so many people that you are too stretched, because then  nothin and no one gets affected. (D&C 123:17, Mosiah 5:27, D&C 10:4, D&C 50:40-41, D&C 10:4)

18. . You can only convert someone as much as they want and choose to be. But don’t worry, the Lord does have a plan for them.

19.    The Holy Spirit converts. Not anything you do or say. (D&C 50:17-22)

20.    If you ever doubt something or have questions, it’s okay. Be patient. Your answers will come in their own time and way. (And probably not like the big bang sort of revelation your investigator receives because they need that in order to change their life, you already know and don’t need it. Yours probably will be a still and small voice.)

Well, I’m out of time for today.  The next 18-20 pieces of what I learned will come next week. 

Love y’all so much,

Sister Fisher

Friday, January 25, 2013

Transfer 5, Week 3: wonderful week of weirdness!

 
Hello Family and Friends!

 To answer everyone's question:  Yes, Temple Square was actually closed yesterday because of the freezing rain that caused 100s of accidents across Salt Lake City.  Weirdness.  They never have this kind of weird weather. And yes Mom, I slipped three times (Sister S says it was more...hahah) and my tailbone is bruised, but it's okay  …I'm sure it'll heal.

 When we were at the store last week for Pday, this random lady comes up to us and of course starts speaking Portuguese to us (they all recognize Sister S's flag from a mile away) and gave us her phone number and begged us to come to her house for dinner on a Pday so that her 6 year old son can meet some missionaries. We asked our Mission President--- AND HE SAID YES!!! :) So that was fun. 

 Also, the biggest news on Temple Square is this huge Musical Fireside/concert called "Music From Around The World by the Temple Square Sister Missionaries", put on by the whole Missionary Department in March, in the Assembly Hall.  In my interview with President, he asked about my family, my companion, and then asked me to play at the concert, and that "we are representing the whole Church". Ah. Wow. I don't think I have ever had that much expectations put on me in a performance.  For BYU Music School Juries, who am I representing? Me, my grades, reputation and scholarship. All selfish things. haha. When I have a name tag on and a violin in hand, who am I representing?  My family and the Lord. Wow do I love that.  So it's a big deal.  The Sister Missionary Choir, for those of us that are in it, is our assignment and we need to take it much more seriously.  So yeah. The Christmas concerts were cool, but this is a much bigger deal.   So that's been neat.  Neat to be able to use what I spent my childhood/teenage-hood doing and developing to now help carry out the work. 

It was neat… we had Elder Whitney N. Clayton (spelling?) from the Seventy and his wife come speak to us as our speakers at church on Sunday.  Wow are we spoiled.  It was so neat. Great to hear from them and the Spirit they brought. 

 It was cool because we totally ran into Sister S's old boss in Brazil who now lives in Utah (he's American) who brought his friend from college who is Swiss (I think?) to the Square to explain something. We said hi and talked for a bit, but then had an assignment to bring something to the Assistants, and then it was dinner time.  But Sister S said "No, we have to go get a Book of Mormon and go find them!!!"  So we grabbed a Book of Mormon and went and searched for them.  In the second place, we literally almost ran INTO them.  He was so surprised that we would give him a gift.  We were in such a rush that we had no chance to write anything in it.  But when we gave it to him, he asked, "Is it allowed for you to write your names and the date in the book?"  Oh it is allowed! Then the member (Sister S's old boss) asked if we'd show them the God's Plan presentation. Sure. We can do that ;) 

So all during the God's Plan (a 15 minute movie presentation) while they were watching it, we wrote our testimonies and some scriptures (and our names and the date of course) in the Book of Mormon for them! We testified at the end of everything, and he was very touched.  He said that he would show this to his children because they are still young and have a lot of things to figure out too.  It was cool.  When we run into someone in the world twice, it is not coincidence.  The Lord put us in their path for some purpose. Out of the whole world where they could be, of the billions of people, and you run into them twice by chance? I think not. The Lord works in mysterious ways!

 Another miracle of the week was one of our friends who we are teaching (I like putting it that way, it sounds a lot more natural than 'investigator'-- sounds like a crime scene).  I was about to email her again for the 3rd time w/o response the last few weeks, but then felt like I should call her.  So...I did.  You just follow what your head says because as a missionary, it's almost always the Spirit. Miraculously, she picked up the phone.  She told me that she had dropped her IPad and that it shattered and hadn't been able to get on the internet to check her email in a few weeks, and then she had misplaced our phone number so she didn't have a way to contact us!  And to think we were panicking because we thought some terrible thing caused her to change her mind. Tender mercy. 

The strangest thought for me is that there are only 2.5 weeks left of the transfer, and then I will be in my 6th transfer- which is when people start going Outbound. AH!!!! (But I know that I probably won’t [unless the missionary department says otherwise] because my Mission President assigned me to play in the concert in March). Oh and “Outbound” is when sister missionaries on Temple Square have the opportunity to serve in another mission, by another divinely inspired mission call, usually in other states for 1-3 transfers.  I've heard of people going to California, Seattle, Tennessee, Texas (a sister from Texas last transfer got assigned to another Texas mission..woot!!!) or D.C, or Florida or Mississippi.... anywhere the Lord wants you to be. Exciting and scary too!  We don't ever know until two days before the new transfer at Transfer Conference. You will have a short phone call home, and then you pack your bags and fly out a day or two later! ah!!! :)

Oh.....And.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY Grandma!!

Hope it is filled with joy.

Thanks to all who are still sending me cards and wishes!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!!

 Love,

Sister Fisher!

 

 

 

  Friday, January 18, 2013
Transfer 5, Week 2... or 3? I don't even know!

 Well friends and family!

 A crazy week. But awesome one. I just got off the phone with Sister M's investigator who she gave me before she left to go home, who is from Malawi in Africa. What a need experience. He will be baptized soon! Lots of faith even when there is few  members in Malawi!

  I called pretty much my entire contacts. Come on America! They either aren't interested, too busy, or didn't answer... so I will call back later. They don't realize that it's really hot outside and this is the “glass of cold water” that they want and are looking for!!!

Anyway, so we were working hard and Sister S of course was calling people in Brazil, and we get a text, 4 Portuguese at Eternal Families.

We take it. Another absolutely golden family ready for the Gospel and to be a Family Together Forever, and want missionaries in Brazil. 

Wow. It's amazing. Sufficiently humbled. Ready to learn, hearts open and minds too. What a blessing.

It's cool because I speak absolutely hardly no Portuguese at all (except a few expressions in French or Italian that I recognize) and it was neat because in these tours, I just feel the Spirit and sometimes I get ideas and then I start speaking and I bear my testimony and Sister S afterwards says, "That was exactly what was needed for them to hear!"  Neat how that works. Neat to be a part of it and it is the greatest feeling to be able to show someone that “glass of water” that they have been thirsty for all of their life. Wonderful to be able to tell someone that they will see their family again and be with their loved ones forever.

 As events this transfer, we take Youth Conferences, too!

We had a huge Youth Conference on Tuesday and it was really neat and successful.

 You can use this idea and do it in your ward-- it worked really well!

The theme was the Come Follow Me month theme = The Godhead.

 We split the group into three groups and gave them each a member of the Godhead: Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. 

 Then we all worked together and brainstormed and wrote down as many answers or responses or thoughts to the follow questions as we could. It was amazing. These youth, no matter how young, came up with incredible, insightful answers.

1. Who is He (each member of the Godhead)

2. What is His part in the Plan?

3. How, or in what ways does He show His love for you? 

4. How can He help you in your life here on Earth?

5. What experiences have you had with Him?

6. What ways can you better listen what He has to say to you?

(#6 was cool because each group came up with "Stand in Holy Places" which is actually the Church's Youth theme of the year!!!)

Next, the youth came up and presented what they learned.

We all benefited from this experience. It was incredible. 

 I 100% endorse the Come Follow Me new teaching method. It is so much more effective because the youth are teaching, and learning and supervising and working together and presenting! Now they don't wait until they're in the MTC to learn how to communicate spiritual/gospel topics and ask questions and check for their audiences' understanding! They're practicing it at church each Sunday!

 Use this idea in your next Family Home Evening (you could even invite another family or two over and make larger groups) or Youth activity. 

In  some of the chats online this week, I love the one that says "I want to know truth. I think everyone does." 

Yes. Everyone does. They just aren't sure where to find it.  

The last one was so sad to me because they don't know how to hear answers from heaven. They said, "I've learned not to ask questions because I don't get answers...."

That's why there's question #6 in the exercise above. We must be listening, we must be worthy, we must be seeking, asking and doing. That is when we will receive in the Lord's time of course. 

 I love you all. This work is true! Keep going forward each day one step at a time in faith. Listen to President Uchtdorf's recent CES fireside on "Truth". It is powerful. https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2013/01/what-is-truth?lang=eng

 Love,

Sister Fisher

 P.S. Thank you so much for all the letters, packages and support. It means a lot to me and is always a joy.