From: Jessica Fisher [mailto:jessica.fisher@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, October 14, 2013
Subject: Transfer 11, Week 6: Kiwi's, Sunshine in my soul, A Baptism, 100 Pushups and a Violin Dream come true

G'day, G'day family and friends!

"What a bizarre title!"   I know you're thinking, " Kiwis? In October?" Well transfers happened and my new comp is a Kiwi!!! She's not green.... she's just from New Zealand! (New Zealand-ers are called Kiwis). 
Her name is Sister M and she'll be in her fourth transfer.

Haha. My new p-day will be Wednesday--- so write me! :)

I'm still serving also in Relief Society, which I love, and no longer in Guest Services.

Sister S and I went to a BAPTISM!!!!!!! So exciting! First one we got to attend in a long time.  The funniest thing happened though, we came super early like we are supposed to, and the elders told us that their musical number cancelled on them last minute. Another baptism was happening (a nice problem to have-right?) and one of the elders was playing the violin for it, and actually he happened to be an elder I took an investigator lesson with last August 2012, at the beginning of both his and my mission, and he played the violin at that baptism which was my first baptism on my mission (way back with Sister C)!

So I said hi and he remembered me and we talked real fast, and then I asked if I could borrow it or he could come play for the baptism in 30 minutes.  But he just gave the violin to me and I just went in the hymn book and found a hymn and made up an arrangement (my theory teachers should be proud at this point) and BAM! Performed it at a baptism. :) I realized then and there that I had finally accomplished a dream of mine- to play violin/a musical number at one of my investigator's baptisms. Wow. That was cool.

The baptism was so fantastic. The young man's face after he was baptized was so neat. He just smiled so big and was just so full of light.

There was one talk given by one of the elders, who gave a story that really made me think. He was sitting in Youth Conference/EFY (Especially For Youth) in Australia, and he and about 20 people were all surrounded in a circle. The teacher held out a lot of chocolate and all of the teenagers were really excited to have some of it. The teacher then called on a large, strong rugby player young man in the circle to come to the center. The teacher told the conditions for everyone to have the chocolate that they wanted. "How many of you want chocolate?" All the hands went up in the air. "For each of you that want chocolate, this young man has to do 10 push ups." The young man looked confident but still half of the hands went down from the circle. 10 hands remained. Each person looked at their friend and thought- he can handle it. Besides I'll give him some of mine when he's finished. The teacher said, "Okay, do 100 push ups." The young man did the first 10. The first person got chocolate. Easy. No worries. He did 10 more. More chocolate given away. And 10 more. After the first 30, sweat started to form and his face started to tense. He was in pain. Several of the friends put their hands down. But the teacher said something interesting, "Whether you take the chocolate or not, it doesn't matter. The price is still 100 pushups." The friends in the circle watched as their brave friend, who was in a lot of pain slowly finished the pushups with tears coming from his eyes. Some of the friends in the circle asked if they could help him do the pushups, or if he could do the pushups from his knees for it to be easier. But the teacher said again, "It doesn't matter. The price is still 100 pushups."

At the end of the parable, the teacher got up and said: "Christ paid much more than 100 pushups for each one of us. But just like the chocolate, whether we accept His gift or not, He still had to pay our part for us."

 For me it was a shocking imagery of truth. It reminds me of D&C 19: 15-19:

"15. Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.

 16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

 17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

 18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

 19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men."

We either take Christ's gift, or we don't. But it's already been paid for. We can choose to pay justice ourselves all over again and suffer what Christ did, or we can learn from it, move on and move forward with love and gratitude for what Christ did for us so we don't have to, and simply repent.

We gave a tour today with two men. It was kind of an overcast day, cold and cloudy. The two men were high school friends, now 10 or 15 years later. One of them was a returned missionary and the other was his non-member friend who had always respected and admired him from afar. And they were at Temple Square. They were on their way from Los Angeles to see another of their friends in Idaho and made a stop there. The non-member friend had just agreed to hear the missionary lessons. At the end of the tour, we testified of Jesus Christ. As I was giving one of the most powerful testimonies on my mission to this man about how the gospel changes us because of the Atonement of Christ, through the window the clouds parted and the sun crept through, breaking through, bringing such bright sunshine on my face and on us as I testified. The Christus Statue was lit up with this sunlight that moment, too. It really was magical.

 I love this gospel so much. I know that Jesus Christ paid that price for me. He paid the "100 pushups" already. He didn't cheat it or give up or push it on someone else to do. He "paid it in absolute full" so that I could return to live with Him as a part of God's family again. He did the same thing for you too. It's something that I can hardly imagine, and yet it's something that I know.

Love,

Sister Fisher

 

From: Jessica Fisher [mailto:jessica.fisher@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, October 07, 2013
Subject: Transfer 11, Week 5: General Conference, Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith, 10 Brazilians, 3 new investigators, and 57 children of God later

 Dearest Friends and Family,

First I want to testify that this is the restored Church of Jesus Christ. He is the head of it. This is His work. This is His gospel. He hears all of our prayers, concerns, doubts, confusion and questions.

If you were able to listen to the General Conference talks last weekend given by His chosen Prophets, Seers, and Revelators, you would not deny that they addressed the issues that we are concerned about right now. Each General Conference is different. That's why we have it every 6 months, because our loving Heavenly Father cares so much that He wants us to be uplifted by receiving answers to our questions and concerns.

Many of you wonderful friends and family of mine prepared me this week with talks and quotes and scriptures to uplift me before Conference, specifically for any negative people that we would encounter. I am so happy to say that I did not meet a single one of them. A blessing. We had an absolutely marvelous and miraculous General Conference experience with the amazing members we met on the Square those 48 hours. . . .

 

As a woman in the church, as a Sister Missionary at Temple Square I just want to share my testimony:  I know that this is a divine work. I know that we do not and will not understand completely everything in this life. But I do know that our Heavenly Father loves us all so very much, He understands and knows us better than we know ourselves. I know that each child of God has infinite worth in His eyes. I know that no blessing will ever be denied any one of us, no necessary experience for our growth and progression and development will not be given, as long as we support our leaders, be obedient, live faithfully, keep the commandments and trust our Heavenly Father. As the Title Page of the Book of Mormon says,

"And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ."

I love this gospel. I love it. I know it is true. I know we don't have all the answers, but we must trust our leaders. We must trust our Heavenly Father. We must show compassion for those around us whose faith is being tried, who are tired, who are impatient with their limited understanding in this life, who do not understand fully their purpose and importance in the Plan. We must love them. We must acknowledge their concerns, and we must place our arms around their shoulders and if we don't know all the answers, we simply say, "I'm not sure. But I do know that your Father loves you and knows you, and knows what is best for you and that all things will be okay."

As Elder Holland has said for a year, and as President Uchtdorf addressed us on Saturday--- you should forever doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.

We set a high goal this General Conference for member referrals, so that we can work very hard the next 7 weeks teaching and spreading the Gospel. The Lord was so kind to us. We worked hard, harder than I've worked in a Conference before, but the miracles from the Lord were totally unrelated to our work. I am so grateful for those blessings. We got (with just me and Sister S) 57 referrals, 3 new investigators and  a few little miracles too!! (And I got to see and be uplifted by some of you whom I love so dearly!!!)

At the end of Conference, at about 5pm on Sunday afternoon, we were teaching this man who was in town for business and was shocked and amazed by how many members there were faithfully going to General Conference and were excited to hear a living Prophet today.  We kept teaching him. He told us he wants to be baptized into such a church. As we were doing so, a random lady saw Sister S's flag on her tag, and said "Brasileira!" and shuffled through her purse and pulled out what seemed to me was a grocery list, but on further investigation, it was a list of names and phone numbers of people she loved and knew in Brazil.....It was the answer to our prayer. We had prayed specifically all Conference weekend for Portuguese-speakers for Sister S to teach. What a miracle!

In Guest Services, when we covered there on Saturday, a man called in with questions and wanting his girlfriend to learn more. We will call her this week.

 

The work is moving forward. Nothing except our agency will stop the Lord's work from going forward.

Love you all,

Sister Fisher

From: Jessica Fisher [mailto:jessica.fisher@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2013
Subject: Transfer 11, Week 4: Pears from an Apple tree, By the voice of the Lord, Brazilian Miracles- 10 questions, Enrichment, and In the Strength of the Lord

 Hello family and friends!

The title of my email today is pretty mysterious and scattered- just like my week!

First, my roommate - Sister R  shared an experience that I just had never thought of with me this week. Her investigator is a faithful member, pays his tithing, attends all his meetings etc. The only problem? He's not actually a member yet. Why? Because he keeps saying he hasn't gotten an answer if this church is true from God. She finally asked him, "Well how did you know to marry your wife?"  He replied ,"Well, it just seemed like the right thing to do. I loved her, she's great and she makes me better."   "Okay. And how did you know to study your major in school?" He replied, "Well, it just seemed like the right thing to do- or the only fit for me. The only logical thing to do. It made sense."  She said, "Okay. So basically the way God has always shown you what to do in your life has been pretty much the same way- it seems like the right thing to do, the only fit, and what makes sense. So do you believe that when God has always shown you answers to your prayers one way, that He's going to all the sudden answer you in another way, when all along the way He's shown you has worked? Are you expecting a pear from an apple tree?"

I loved that!!! Think back, all of y'all.... How has God always answered you in times of need, in times of great anxiety and pressure.... For things really important. Has it been a pattern? So when you are seeking an answer for the current thing in your life that is causing you much anxiety--- are you expecting "a pear from an apple tree"? Are you expecting the Lord to show you or answer you in a completely different way than He has already done? He knows you the best, and knows what way to help you that you will respond the best to!

In my scripture study this week, I was reading in Enos in the Book of Mormon, and came across these verses, where he said:

4. And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.

 5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

While studying these verses, I concluded that God spoke to Enos and said those words because Enos was a prophet. Because he was special. I felt that that's not how God could communicate to me usually. I might hear a voice, but probably not, like the prophets do...or like Enos did.

But after I read what Enos says later:

"And while I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my mind again, saying..."

So question: Was God really talking through an actual voice? Or was it through thoughts of the Holy Spirit, through impressions, through feelings and emotions?

YES is the answer. "The voice of the Lord came into my mind again" AKA- how he had heard the Lord's voice previously.

I realized that most often God speaks to even his apostles and prophets the same way He speaks to you and me. Therefore--- PAY ATTENTION to the thoughts that you have. WRITE THEM DOWN! Ask God specific questions. You will get answers! Write them down. They are scripture received for YOU, from Him! Write them down. That is exactly how Enos received his answer from God! 

Brazilian miracles:

 Our Zone Leaders have us on this crazy and super amazing training program that their Mission President in their Outbound 12 weeks they had in another mission made them do. It's crazy, but it works:  Here it is -- All the amazing miracles I've shared the last 4 weeks, yep..... is because we sacrificed for the miracles. We prayed for the miracles. We asked for them. We studied miracles and faith and diligence and work for them. I almost wish I had studied this program my entire mission. But anyway.... One of the 23 things we have to do every single day is extend powerful commitments to all and promise specific blessings and pray to find and teach families. Another of those commitments is that we have to respond to giving every single tour request. Therefore, if we don't have a legitimate reason, then we have to drop whatever you're doing and give the tour anyway.

Miracle 1: We dropped what we were doing and gave an English tour in the middle of study time. We walked up the stairs and the sisters at the desk introduced us instead to a lovely couple from Brazil who had just walked in and requested a Portuguese tour (my comp speaks Portuguese fluently). It was amazing. Wow. They cried through God's Plan and wanted the Gospel for their children and grandchildren. They wanted a Book of Mormon. They wanted missionaries to teach them, and wanted us to keep in touch with them. Because of our 23 commitments each day, we promised specific blessings and prayed to find families- oddly enough!!!....we found a whole family TREE! They said they want this in their lives. 

Miracle 2: We were very busy that day, but we dropped what we were doing and took another Portuguese tour. When we walked to the West Gate where the visitor was waiting, we saw one man who had been standing in the cold waiting for 20 minutes for us to come. He had prepared a list of 10 questions that he had for us. He does business with the LDS and frequently comes to Salt Lake City.  He speaks fluent Portuguese and English, and yet he waited for us to come for 20 minutes, even though he could've had an English tour right away. I really know that God had prepared us to take him around. Every concern we had planned for in the last two weeks, were pretty much his questions.....Like, " Why do bad things happen to good people? How do I receive answers to my prayers? What is the difference between the LDS and the Catholic faith? How do I balance logic and faith? How do I balance my spiritual and education/professional lives? What does Christ expect of me?" etc. etc. He gave us his business card and told us that he would love to keep in touch with us within the first 5 minutes, without us asking. That has never happened in my whole mission--- someone else giving me their information before I ask. Turns out he's staying with an LDS family right now for a few weeks and they gave him a Book of Mormon three days before- and he's already in 2 Nephi! We gave him a Portuguese copy. The tour lasted for 2 hours. We played Elder Holland's last conference talk--- wow. It answered so many of his questions and concerns. SUPER MIRACLE.

We also had our Relief Society Enrichment which was a huge success. We were very blessed. We talked about the different aspects of stress-- physical, emotional, social, mental, spiritual. As a missionary, you are stretched in all of those ways simultaneously which is probably why growth happens in every area of your life for a solid 18 or 24 months. It was everything those sisters said they needed to hear.

Here are 21 generic ways to diminish stress. 

1. Pray fervently and often, alone and with your companion.
2. Recognize the hand of the Lord in all things (good & the bad)
3. Identify and memorize comforting scriptures
4. Focus on the needs of those you are serving
5. Sing
6. Remember what you’ve learned
7. Serve from your strengths
8. Befriend your companion
9. Examine your expectations- are they realistic? Is that what the Lord expects?
10. Exercise
11. Don’t try and control the things you cannot
12. Remember the importance of rest and relaxation
13. Take a short break
14. Be kind to yourself
15. Refocus on gratitude
16. Take one step at a time
17. Help someone else
18. Talk back to negative thinking
19. Focus on what needs to be decided right now
20. Remind yourself of what you do well
21. Ask “What am I supposed to learn from this?”

On from the temporal/physical devotional today to the spiritual one---
This week had been a bit hard for me. Not sure completely why, it was just hard. I was praying to know what to do because things just weren't helping. I even got sick Friday and Saturday, and being a sick missionary is just one of the hardest things that can happen--- you want to work but your body won't let you.

In our mission's study of the Book of Mormon, I came across these verses: (Mosiah 10:10-11)

"And it came to pass that we did go up in the strength of the Lord to battle...Now, the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, nor the strength of the Lord, therefore they depended upon their own strength."

The spirit whispered through these verses exactly what I needed, deep into my heart---- "Sister Fisher...Are you going to finish your mission in the strength of the Lord? Or are you going to depend on your own strength, on your own talents or skills or health or energy? Or are you going to learn the lesson you keep needing to be reminded of--- to rely on my grace. My enabling power. My grace is sufficient for all men?"

 This is the question I'd like to ask all of y'all today.... Are you going to try and endure to the end of life on your own strength? Or are you going to rely on the Lord? Guess who won that battle? The Nephites. Because the Lord's strength will always be greater than our own arm, our own abilities, our own skills, our own vision, our own capacity and our own energy and strength.

Don't wait until the end of your life "mission" to the learn that lesson.

Love you all tremendously. If you haven't written down your questions for General Conference - DO IT NOW!

Love,

Sister Jessica Fisher

 

 

From: Jessica Fisher [mailto:jessica.fisher@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, September 23, 2013
Subject: Transfer 11, Week 3: Beehive House Miracle, Color-Coded, Miracles with Israeli's/Indians/Japanese, and a story from Russia

 Family and Friends!

Color-Coded? Maybe you've heard of "the Color Code" personality test/philosophy. Everyone who knew me in college knows that I was obsessed with the "Code", and my roommates and I would analyze everyone with the Color Code according to our interests and motives. That was just for fun, but this time we learned more about it to effect our missionary work and relationships- It was awesome. Well we had the man who thought it all up come and visit our mission and bring new insights into our companionships! It was amazing. And hilarious. He identified accurately and precisely the strengths and the weaknesses of each color. And we all had a good laugh about it. My companion right now growing up was pretty solidly Red (26), White (14) and Blue (10). I'm Blue (25) and White (22). All the sudden it makes sense why sometimes we just don't see things the same! For example, in a really good tour we were analyzing what went well and I told Sister S, "Start thinking of experiences that you've had in your life that really impacted you and your testimony that you can share with the guests so then you can bridge to teaching doctrines and pioneer history".  And I remember that she just kind of looked at me confused and said, "I can't think of any experiences".  And I remember I was just dumbfounded because I thought it was so obvious and that I've had so many of those experiences in my life. Well "Reds" are all about getting from point A to point B  - energy/effectiveness/efficiency etc, and use facts and data and reasoning.  "Blues" are about how you feel and expound on things, and we talk a lot, and we use feeling words and imagery and not so much facts. EUREKA! Now I understand why we teach differently. It's not that my way is more effective, it's just different. We both have different strengths and weaknesses. The Color Code helped us a lot learn to balance and view the world a little different. It was an amazing experience. (Maybe by all of my emails it's apparent that I'm a "Blue" by how much I describe and how long they are....haha)

As for the Beehive House Miracle. . .  I'm not in the Beehive House this transfer so I thought it was so interesting that when we were on our way to the grocery store walking quickly during our dinner break to go grab a few things, this couple from England taps us on the shoulder and the man says, "My wife has a few questions, can you help us please?" (OF COURSE WE CAN!!! I've never had someone come up to me like that and ask if I can share the Gospel with them quite like this that happened today!) They asked questions about the missionaries, like why we go, how do we know where we go, do we get to choose where we go? And what do we do, etc. They explained that they are now in the end stages of their lives and are just "searching for answers".   We got to bear our testimonies that this Gospel had changed our lives so much, had blessed our families and helped us through hard times such that we wanted to share it with as many people as we could. I then felt prompted to just bluntly ask, "Have you ever met missionaries before?" And they said- "No."  "Would you like to?"  They looked at each other and said, "Sure!". So as the unprepared missionaries that we were on our way to the grocery store, all we had was a receipt to write on (no referral card or anything!) and we jotted down their phone number, address, email address etc. and said good bye, and that we were excited to call them in a few weeks to share more with them. We walked into the Beehive House to see which sisters took them around and told those sisters what happened! It was a neat experience.

The biggest miracle of all was this motorcoach that we took to host. We were taking just 5 people around Temple Square in 40 minutes. We planned to take them to the Handcart Monument, then the Assembly Hall (the church), then the Temple rock for a look at the Temple, and finally end at the Tabernacle. We planned to teach "Who is God?" It was amazing. These people were so prepared. It consisted of one young woman in her 20s from Japan, a couple from India, another couple and their 3 year old son from India/California. They were all delightful! I love them so much! (and not all motor coaches are quite that delightful all the time.) We took them to the Handcart to describe the pioneers, and they just flooded us with questions. Then we walked into the church and described how services are held and how the Bishop is a voluntary man from the congregation who assigns us topics to speak on each Sunday. I shared that the week before my grandfather unexpectedly passed away, I was asked to speak in church the last Sunday I was in Texas (before I flew back to school) on "Enduring through hard times."  I told them how that was totally inspired for what would happen the following weekend. The Spirit was so strong. We walked to the front of the Temple and testified that we knew that families would be together again and that I'd see my grandfather again and how my grandparents knew that they'd be together again in heaven as a husband and wife because of the Temple. (And thanks to some extra help on the other side from Papa.) The Spirit was so strong. We walked in the Tabernacle and almost on cue, they asked about the Book of Mormon and we got to share about it. I testified that it was written to help us overcome the challenges of our day and help our families! We shared this scripture: "Condemn me not because of mine ^aimperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been." in Mormon 9, and how Mormon saw our day and compiled the stories we would need to know and have in our day to get through this time period and not be destroyed like the Nephites were of old.

Then a change of plans happened and we walked quickly to end the tour at the Christus Statue. As we were walking there, another couple asked to join our tour and we of course said, "Sure!". We got to the Christus Statue and the Spirit there touched everyone, even though none of them believed in Christ originally. We testified of Christ and invited them to allow us to call them when they returned home, and to have the missionaries come visit them and share more with them about these things including a prophet today. They asked about the Book of Mormon and we gave each person a copy because they wanted to read it. The couple who joined asked more questions and we told them we could talk with them more at the end. We received the information from everyone on that motorcoach. It was a miracle. After we dropped them off at their bus, we turned around and started to talk to the other couple who had joined the tour on their own at the end...... and we then found out they were from Israel, JERUSALEM. OH BOY! (We're not allowed to teach doctrine/preach to people from countries like Israel who don't have religious freedom... we're only allowed to answer questions... But they had heard us giving the group tour to the other people at the Christus Statue -- before we knew who they were --  and then they had many questions.) It was really cool to see how the Lord sometimes plants people in our path even though we kept the rules and were legal about everything, but He still allowed them an opportunity to hear this glad message.

 Last story of all. The moral of it is this: The Lord knows better than we do. It's our job to just do what He asks, when He asks.

One sister who came back from her 12 week Outbound had a returned mission president and his wife tell her this story:

They received a mission call from the 12 apostles.  They had requested to go on a mission within the United States, but the mission call said that they were called to be a Mission President in {another country}. She said, "We did not want to go there, because we had specifically asked to be called to the United States, so we returned the call back to the Brethren. We received the exact same mission call in the mail again with a voice message afterwards saying, 'It is your choice whether to accept your mission call or not. However, it is not our choice where you ought to serve. There is no other place except that country where the Lord wants you to be. Ponder over these things and reply when you are ready.' So that's what they did. A few months later they accepted their mission call and a few months after that, they were on a plane to that country. Within the first month, they were asked to speak at a prison there in that country. Neither of them spoke the language, but an interpreter would be there with them. The Mission President's wife had to use the restroom before the meeting started, and on her way back from the restroom, she lost her way and forgot where in the prison she was supposed to be for the meeting. She opened what appeared to be a familiar looking door to the hallway that she needed,  but after walking forward for a while, it turned out to be the resting chambers of many of the inmates. They started yelling at her in their language, but she understood nothing they said. Noticing that this woman wasn't responding, one of the inmates went up to her to try and explain that she was not in the right room. He tapped her on the shoulder and tried to explain in English. When the woman turned around, she saw the face of her son! She hadn't seen him for 10 years, and had never heard from him, and did not know if he was dead or alive, and had prayed every day for 10 years to know and to be at peace. The Lord had led this man and woman to a far off country on their mission, to answer their prayers,  and it was their job to just trust Him.

I know that Heavenly Father loves us. He knows us. He knows our situations. He knows our challenges. He knows our personalities! (I believe that He is all of the strengths of each "Color"!)

It is just our job to develop our weaknesses into those strengths, rely on His Son's grace and strength, forgive ourselves for not being perfect, forgive those around us too, and lift all of those around us and trust in God.
(PS.  Only 11 days before General Conference! Do you have your list of questions that you're seeking revelation for ready? If not, think it out and write it down! That is how revelation is received.... BY ASKING QUESTIONS!)

Love,
Sister Fisher

P.S.S. We also had in Relief Society the head PR lady of the Church to come speak about professionalism and representing the Lord and how to answer hard questions for General Conference. It was awesome!  (P.S.S.S-if you didn't see it above---- 11 days before General Conference! Do you have your list of questions that you're seeking revelation for ready? If not- think it out and write it down! That is how revelation is received. ..BY ASKING QUESTIONS!)

 

From: Jessica Fisher [mailto:jessica.fisher@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2013
Transfer 11, Week 2: Can I have it? A Hindi Book of Mormon, Guest Services miracles, John Moyle's leg, and... The Way

Hello.... Hello! (Sing as if singing a primary children's song)

What a week!

Can I have it?:

So you're probably wondering why the title of this email is.... "Can I have it?"   No it's not our phone numbers (but I'm sure you'd like that too...haha) but it was actually a beautiful precious lady from India. Remember that one lady back in February who we showed the Hindi Book of Mormon to but we had to take it away from her because it was the Visitor Center display copy?  I've felt terrible about that ever since then every single time I look at the display. So anyway... Picture this: We're on the desk in the North Visitor's Center, and my comp yells "Sister Fisher!" (in her precious quiet Brazilian voice) and I look and see this Indian lady trying to take my comp's Portuguese Book of Mormon. She kept saying, "Book! Book! Book!" We then showed her a copy in English and she took that too, but then she walked away. Immediately the Spirit took me back to that day in February when I didn't give the Hindi copy to that Indian lady, and so now I thought- "I have to give this lady a copy she can read. I have to get that book for her!"

So some sisters took our desk assignment and we ran downstairs as fast as we could, grabbed the Hindi display copy of the Book of Mormon, and ran up stairs and to our surprise, there is that lady. We showed her the Hindi copy and she just flipped out and started rambling in Hindi or Farsi, and grabbed our wrists and took us with the Book of Mormon to her husband who also started rambling with great excitement and enthusiasm! We let them have the book and we saw just how much they appreciated it and wanted it. Then they walked away.

A huge smile crept on our faces and we then walked to Deseret Book across the street and bought a Hindi copy and had it engraved to replace the Visitor Center display copy we just gave away, and we then bought two more copies... just in case God sends more Hindi-speaking children of God our way in the next few months.

Hindi copy of the Book of Mormon: $2.50

Testimony and Salvation: Priceless

=====================

Guest Services miracle:

Here I am taking crazy calls, motor coaches, and scheduling nightmares, and transferring people all over the place for 2 hours, and then all the sudden, this lovely lady calls in and just wanted to compliment us on a wonderful tour she had at Temple Square. She said how wonderful the sisters were who took her around and what an amazing experience she had, how clean, kind, inspiring and educational the whole experience was. Then she wanted to make sure her friends who were coming this next week had the same wonderful experience. So we talked all about that and scheduling etc. and then we got into a discussion with her of Joseph Smith and the Gospel, and she became a NEW INVESTIGATOR!!! Wahoo! At the end of the conversation she asked, actually---- could you just take my friends on a tour? And I said, "Sure! Of course!" and we started scheduling it for her. She then asked, "What was your name again? And where were you from?" I replied, and she asked "Do you have long brown hair and bangs? And is your favorite spot on Temple Square the Christus, because that's where you feel the closest to God?" WOAH. I said "Yes...." And she said "Wait a second! YOU were the ones that took me around Temple Square!!!!" WOAH. What are the odds? We took this lovely lady around a month ago, and here I am in my 11th transfer, called back into Guest Services (which never happens usually) but I know why! I had to talk with this lady! Out of 200 sisters and BAM! She called me!
So neat. So we're taking her friends around Temple Square this week.

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John Moyle's Leg:

Here's President Uchtdorf's telling of John Moyle's story:
"John was a convert to the Church who left his home in England and traveled to the Salt Lake Valley as part of a handcart company. He built a home for his family in a small town a valley away from Salt Lake City. John was an accomplished stonecutter and, because of this skill, was asked to work on the Salt Lake Temple.

Every Monday John left home at two o’clock in the morning and walked six hours in order to be at his post on time. On Friday he would leave his work at five o’clock in the evening and walk almost until midnight before arriving home. He did this year after year.

One day, while he was doing his chores at home, a cow kicked him in the leg, causing a compound fracture. With limited medical resources, the only option was to amputate the broken leg. So John’s family and friends strapped him onto a door and, with a bucksaw, cut off his leg a few inches from the knee.

In spite of the crude surgery, the leg started to heal. Once John could sit up in bed, he began carving a wooden leg with an ingenious joint that served as an ankle to an artificial foot. Walking on this device was extremely painful, but John did not give up, building up his endurance until he could make the 22-mile (35-km) journey to the Salt Lake Temple each week, where he continued his work.

His hands carved the words “Holiness to the Lord” that stand today as a golden marker to all who visit the Salt Lake Temple."

So.....

We had Mission Zone Conference in the 'Daughters of Utah Pioneers' museum and we got to see John Moyle's wooden leg! Amazing, especially because we tell the story ALL the time to visitors!

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The Way:

We had to read this amazing talk this week and WOW.

I want it to be my last thought to y'all today, and it is my testimony too:

"The Lord’s way is not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel. “There is an opposition in all things,” ²¹ everywhere, for everyone. Life is hard for all of us, but life is also simple. We have only two choices. ²² We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with His power and have peace, light, strength, knowledge, confidence, love, and joy, or we can go some other way, any other way, whatever other way, and go it alone—without His support, without His power, without guidance, in darkness, turmoil, doubt, grief, and despair. And I ask, which way is easier?

He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; … and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” ²³

Life is hard, but life is simple. Get on the path and never, ever give up. You never give up. You just keep on going. You don’t quit, and you will make it.

There is only one way to happiness and fulfillment. Jesus Christ is the Way. Every other way, any other way, whatever other way is foolishness.

I bear record of Him, even Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of the living God, He is the Bread of Life, He is the Truth, He is the Resurrection and the Life, He is the Savior and the Light of the World. He is the Way, the only Way."

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2008/10/the-way?lang=eng

Love y'all so much.

Sister Fisher

 

 

From: Jessica Fisher [mailto:jessica.fisher@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, September 09, 2013
Transfer 11, Week 1: New Pday and John Bytheway and Relief So-ci-e-tayyyy

 Oi!

So transfers happened and surprise! I changed zones and P-days, so we practiced patience and waiting 11 days for our new p-day! But a lot has happened since!

John Bytheway came to speak to us for Transfer Conference and what a delight he was! But he shared this awesome story about the Lord's timing, and not always seeing results from our actions and patience.

He was a missionary in the Philippines and while he was there he tracked into a man and started teaching him the first discussion. But this man kept asking questions and interrupting the original rote memorized discussion with questions and concerns of his. Eventually Elder Bytheway and his companion realized they needed to be sharing the Plan of Salvation. As they asked the man the first three questions, and how the lesson will talk about them... "Why am I here?" and "Where did I come from?" and "What happens to me after I die?",  they saw the man had tears in his eyes. All the man could do was get his cane and get up and left the room. The elders  just stared at each other puzzled and confused. The man came back and gave him his personal journal. He told them to read the first page. It said "My Life Questions: 1. Where Did I Come From, 2. What Am I supposed to Accomplish Here, 3. Where Will I Go When I Die?"

He told them "I have been searching to find these answers for 30 years. And you 20 year old American boys have had it all along?".  They came back the next day and taught him again. They came back the day afterwards and he wasn't there. Every day after that until Elder Bytheway was transferred he went back to Johnny's house and couldn't find him there.

Fast forward 20 years later... Now, Brother Bytheway got a job teaching Book of Mormon to students preparing to serve missions at the SLC Center. He'd been teaching there for years when one day he received a letter from an Elder, with the address of his old area in the Philippines. Brother Bytheway wrote him back in a heartbeat and told him to go find Johnny.

Weeks passed and he gets another letter telling Brother Bytheway that Johnny had passed away in 1984, but that they found Johnny's brother and he told them all the information needed to do Johnny's temple work.

Recently, Brother Bytheway went into the Salt Lake City Temple and waited in line with a bunch of youth to be baptized for Johnny. He told us that doing Johnny's work was one of the most spiritual experiences of his life. He knew that Johnny was waiting on the other side, 20 more years and now would accept this gift he had done for him.

The moral of the story--- we don't always know. We don't always get to see how we effect people around us. We don't know how each story will end up. But what we do know is that all people, all of our Heavenly Father's children will receive equal chance and equal opportunity to receive the gospel. What's our job? To help them. The work of salvation on both ends, here and on the other side of the veil.

It's been really neat because we've received a lot of revelation for the Relief Society. Actually, I've been feeling this need for many months now in preparation for this calling. We talked about what we need to do for Enrichment, and my presidency agreed on it and are even enthusiastic about it! So we presented it to President and Sister Gillette and the Assistants, and they told us that our idea was inspired.... and said then that just recently, we received 200 booklets that THE CHURCH MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT has finally published and distributed to us for our use on physical, emotional, and spiritual stress and meeting the needs of the duties of being a missionary....which... was exactly our idea. So it's been neat to see how the Lord has just been preparing us to do what needs to be done right now for the women in the mission right now!

Anyway. I love this work so much.

Love all y'all too!

Sister Fisher

PS. I saw Sister Bingham (took an investigator lesson with her too!) and then the same night ran into recently RM-ed Sister Nelson, and in the same day met recently MRS-ed Mary Bennion! What a fun full day!

PSS. VIVA BRASIL! So it was Brazilian Day, AKA Brazil Independence Day on Saturday. That's why I'm in yellow/green/blue and dawning the Brazil flag, so I could support my companion. But it was suuuuuper funny. Usually I have my USA flag on and I'll say "Bonjour" to all the french tours and they'll say back "hi." But that day when I had my Brazil flag on, whenever I'd say "Bonjour!" they'd say super enthusiastically "Bonjour!!! Boa Targe" etc. etc. suuuuuuuuuuuper funny. Oh the French. Gotta love 'em! :)

 

From: Jessica Fisher [mailto:jessica.fisher@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Friday, August 30, 2013
Transfer 10, Week 6: Bountiful Temple, the top of Ensign Peak, Relief Society look out!

Hello Family and Friends,

Lots has happened this week!

Starting, we had a Relief Society Activity where we hiked up to Ensign Peak last Saturday afternoon. (Imagine - a mission of 200 women, and we don't go to a regular family ward, so we have only Sacrament Meeting on Sunday mornings..., with all of us sisters and the mission presidency, before we head off to the Square to open it.... A General Authority told us that we had to be organized in Relief Society because that is the Lord's way! And we are obedient, so we do it! We have Relief Society once a week before our assignments on Temple Square.)  The first two groups (we can't go all at the same time because someone has to be on the Square at all times, so only 2 zones at a time went ) went in the morning and we were the last group to go... The hike was to be symbolic of our lives, and to reach the very top to be welcomed by the other sisters up there was like making it finally to our heavenly home at the end of our journey. We joked that our last group was symbolic of the "last days" because there was actually a storm that blew in and made our hike a lot more tumultuous, rainy and windy. But we made it! We endured to the end.

Ensign Peak is actually where Brigham Young (in his sick bed), looked around the valley from up there and announced "this is the place." It was neat to finally see the view from up there - wow!

To be honest, that hike would be foreshadowing what my week would be like. I may have had physical rain and wind and turbulence during the hike, but this last week has been emotional and spiritual turbulence the whole week. It was rough. I was so tired and just on the edge emotionally, but my wonderful beautiful patient, kind, loving and compassionate companion just stuck with me through it all! Wow. The award goes to her. Just event after event happened. Appointments fell through.  And I haven't actually attended a baptism since last October (that's a long time for a missionary) and it'd be Sister S's first.  We taught time after time an investigator from one of the SLC missions who would be baptized on Saturday, and no matter what we said or hinted or how good the lesson was or how much we connected to the investigator, the Elders also teaching them didn't invite us. So that was hard too.

 

But at the time, I didn't realize that Satan was trying as much as he could to just effect my spirits and get me down. We just kept pushing through but by Wednesday, I just couldn't handle it any more. Too tired. Too wiped. Too much smiling, and too much testifying to too many people that just wanted to know where the restrooms were that week. Too many phone calls that went to voice mail.  And it all just kind of hit me and I couldn't let it bounce off anymore. I just felt like I had no enthusiasm for the work this week when last week I did...It was more than just "getting old" on the mission or "getting trunky".  I'm not trunky.... I love this work! I should've known that this is what Satan does whenever something GOOD is about to happen that He doesn't want to have happen, so I shouldn't have been surprised at all when my Mission President called Thursday morning for Sister S and I to come to his office.

So even though more announcements are to come on Sunday night during transfer conference for the new transfer,... this is what I know: I'm being called as the new Relief Society President of the mission, and Sister S is still my comp and will be the Secretary (thank goodness. She's a breeze to be with and is so loving and patient and sweet). And it was like when the words came out of Pres. Gillette's mouth, I just could relax again and breathe for the first time all week,... a blessing. Now I knew why the past week had been so hard.What a huge job though. I'll need to look  out for the temporal and spiritual and emotional welfare of 200 sister missionaries who are some of the most over worked women in the church. Uh - wow? Really? Are you sure that I can handle that? That's crazy. And then I realized why. Probably because I've had so many of the same challenges, realizations, lessons learned, companion drama, testimony crushing and building and growing and blossoming, and emotional challenges... and physical, too,... that I can relate to almost all of them. I've had to rely on the Savior so much through my entire mission, because I could not have made it through this far without Him. He had to carry most of the load, because I was not capable to do it. Who are the most important investigators for me for the next two transfers?-- These Sisters. They are my first priority. If Satan can get one missionary down,  how many can He leave untouched, or unaffected or unstrengthened? So many each day, especially a Temple Square missionary. The last two transfers for me will be a different kind of missionary work, and I really need all the prayers that all of you wonderful friends and family at home can give. Will you pray for our RS presidency and for the sisters we will work with? Thank you.

Last thing-- the Bountiful Temple! We were blessed to visit the Bountiful Temple this morning and go through a session. Wow. It was neat.
Temple work is so important!

I love this work. I want to testify to you that where we live right now is not home --- this is temporary. This earth life isn't and will never be everything we've ever wanted or desired. It's just a test. We just have to pass the test. Become a little bit better every day - that's what we have to do. We have a Heavenly Father. I know that. I know that He loves us and is aware of us and knows our needs. He knows what we can handle. One way He shows His love for us is by giving us His first-born Son --- Jesus Christ -- who is just waiting until we choose to ask Him for help to lift the burdens we carry. I know that we can ask our Heavenly Father for help, and even for a "hug" or a reminder of His love. He will show us that through the Spirit, through the words of the scriptures and the prophets, or through others around us. I know that. I know this is Jesus Christ's church on the earth. I know that sharing that knowledge to as many people as we can and helping them feel the Spirit is the most important and rewarding work we can do. (whether as a missionary or as a family member or ward member, or friend, it is the same. It is all our duty.)

Love,
Sister Fisher