Tuesday, September 25, 2012 

Transfer 2: Week 4 General Conference in less than TWO WEEKS!!!!!

Wow,  where to even start.

So much has happened this week.

We've had an organ demonstration of the Tabernacle organ (got it on video-- no worries Mama),

 

These are all pictures of the organ demostration. The wood and ...are the actual construction on the inside of the largest organ pipes!!! They are all made out of WOOD! :)

 

And we had a special morning side this morning with the head Public Affairs Rep for the Church (who was a news anchor woman for 6 different channels and she taught us interesting things like how to present ourselves as the face of the Church and how to be NICE: neighborly, informative, conversational, and enthusiastic) and we got to watch the Brigham City Temple dedication in the Tabernacle and so many other things.

BUT--- as for the work, which is actually the most rewarding part of all....

 I don't know why, but we seem to run into all the Jewish people that visit Temple Square. A family who lives an hour from Jerusalem, another family who lives IN Jerusalem (with kids who all speak Hebrew = SO SO CUTE), a traveler from Jerusalem asking for directions, a girl who called up wanting to hear more about our Church when I was in the Teachiing Center who happens to be from a Jewish background, and of course L and J (who went to church this weekend!!! YAY!!). Wow. It's amazing. The Book of Mormon really was meant to be written to both the Jew and the Gentile that Jesus is the Christ and as it says in Nephi 13:40 "These ^alast records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall ^bestablish the truth of the ^cfirst, which are of the ^dtwelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the ^eSavior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved."

So cool. Right after the Temple Dedication we taught a lesson on the phone. The Dedication was really neat, the Spirit was there and don't get me wrong- it was memorable. BUT, it was in such contrast to me, because the Lesson we taught we felt the Spirit even more powerfully than it was in the Temple Dedication- it was literally there testifying of the words which we said, and I felt it--the chills up from my feet all the way to my head in a way I can't forget it. The investigator just said "Wow". There are moments which words can't describe, and it's hard for me to hear people, some of my investigators too, who just cannot ALLOW themselves to accept these thigns, and to open their hearts so they can feel the power and the awe too. We have one right now who just breaks my heart because he's not willing to allow himself to accept it, and he himself says is just not happy. It's just heart wrenching. Another, R, was humbled, but now feels like she doesn't need to be baptized or attend church because her life is just fine. She is well aware of all of the blessings she could have, but just doesn't want to do it. She basically flat out said, "I'm just not willing to do it." It is just the hardest thing for a missionary, to love someone along and then teach them, have the Spirit testify, and they feel it too, but they just don't want it. They "partake of the fruit" and turn away.

 Anyway. We were at desk this week too, and a man from TRINIDAD came up to us-- dreadlocks all the way past his waist dressed clearly not from this country. It was neat talking to him! He said something that I won't forget "I have visited all over the world, and I have never been in a place where there are so many people smiling! It's nice!" Wow. There really is something unique about Temple Square.

We were on chat yesterday and we got this chat from this 23 year old in India who's name is Tyril. He wants to learn more but when he self referred himself on mormon.org, the manager had to call him and tell himi that the nearest branch is 2000 MILES FROM HIM. Wow. So we decided that we would call him on the phone and teach him that way. So we did... and we are... and we will be! Wow. There are still so many areas of the world that aren't opened up for the work. Please keep them in your prayers? Ask the Lord to open the areas of the world that are locked right now so that His precious children can find what many of them are searching for!!!

 So, I did learn something from the movie "The Best Two Years," because this week I was in the Vsitor's Center and I heard someone speaking somehting like Dutch (at least what I had heard before from the movie) and so I approached them and said "Oooh Duh Dock Moo Frow.....Moneer!" (pardon the terrible spelling-- there was a woman AND a man!) AND THEY UNDERSTOOD AND RESPONDED!!! WOW! So that was cool. I also got hugged and kissed on both cheeks by about 30 Italians the otther day-- Sister Lui said that's just normal, don't be offended. So... I wasn't haha. I can say quite a few words in Italian now! Bonjourno!!! Sono Sorella Fisher! Ciao!!!  etc. etc. BellisOMO!!

One highlight is when we were taking 8pm dinner one night this past week, we came how to make dinner and Sister L and I sang opera at the top of our lungs... in Italian of course. And hymns in between, too, of course :) I felt very Italian then. Haha.

 The Church is true. It's true. I know it is true, not just by the spiritual experiences I've had but by the evidence I have seen as I see it change people's lives! The Church's stance when people ask what we think, like about the anti-religious broadway musical that is currently out, the Church response is, "The musical may attempt to entertain for one evening, but the actual Book of Mormon will change your life."

That is true. I have seen it (change people's lives).

I love this work. It's a hard but well worth it work.

Love,

Sister Fisher

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 Transfer 2: Week....2? or 3? Don't even know anymore.... time FLIES! Conference in 25 days!!!!

Dearest Family and Friends,

D IS BAPTIZED!!!!

We are super thrilled about that for sure. We've been exceedingly blessed this transfer already. We taught 99 lessons this week. Yeah. That's a LOT of people. Wow. I'm still amazed by that. The Lord really put them into our path for sure. We've met people just this transfer from: the Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Korea, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Italy (of course), Romania, Vietnam, Hungary, Finland, Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway and China. It's amazing. On the phone this morning I called people from Nepal, who only speak Nepali.... unfortunately we don't have anyone who speaks that here, but there's a small branch in SLC that are all Nepali. I know! --- Who knew!

It's amazing being a part of the work. We're tired, but immensely blessed. I know that each night as we finish by walking up the stairs to our apartment, if I'm tired, then I did good that day. It's so true. Yesterday we had 5 tours in 4.5 hours. We taught constantly for all those hours. Amazing. We had a wonderful man from Georgia and his family who cried and really felt the Spirit as we walked through the New Testament paintings, and then at the Christus statue, he felt the Spirit even more. The other thing that made that tour really neat, was that a recently returned sister missionary (served in the U.K.) was also there and could also support with her testimony and witness all that we said. Powerful for us. The next tour everyone was from TEXAS (woot woot!) and they were just fantastic. That tour was funny because as we went around, more random couples began to just join in our tour to the point where we had 10 people there listening to us by the end.... that's never happened before.

Our next group was a couple from New York (Palmyra to be exact), and next by another group (I don't remember where from), and the others I can't even remember either. In the moment, I really was amazed that I felt the Spirit testify as I opened my mouth, the Spirit really did send tingles from my feet up and shivers down my spine as I stood and declared that the Heavens are not closed, that Heavenly Father still speaks to us today, that He answers prayers, and has a Plan for each one of His children. What an amazing feeling, being able to share truth with people who ALL are open hearts and wanting to know and extremely intent on every word you say. A MIRACLE for us.

The evening was followed by a neat miracle too. When we had the desk assignment (where we stand and greet, answer questions, say goodbye etc. to everyone who passes by) there was this woman who walked in looking a little lost. I said hello to her (luckily) and she told me that she had been recently baptized a month ago. She said that she comes to the Temple each Wednesday morning and so she didn't know why she felt like she was supposed to come here this time on a Monday evening after work. She kept stressing, "I don't know why I'm supposed to be here." For some reason, a small, insignificant (at the time), and very normal feeling thought just came to my mind as she started to walk up to me. I thought, "Maybe she hasn't seen God's Plan" (a short INCREDIBLE 15 minutes video presentation about the family) So I ask her, "Have you seen God's Plan?" and she just looks at me, puzzled and says, "How did you know I'm going through family problems right now?".......... wow is the Spirit cool. So often on Temple Square we don't get to see the end result of following promptings or saying those things which fill our mind as we are the Lord's mouthpiece, so it was really neat to see a miracle this time. Very reassuring.

Thought for the week:

Alma 56:5-9, 39-56, Alma 57:19-27 (in The Book Of Mormon  https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng )

The verses above are the condensed story of the 2000 Stripling Warriors. I think it is interesting that the Lord still allowed them to suffer, trials, afflictions, the loss of blood, even fainting from their wounds---- YET, not ONE of them died. He absolutely strengthens us to be able to do miracles. He does not, however, prevent us from going through trials and challenges (or losses). Yet He still loves us so much. One of my favorite songs says referring to this love of the Father: "Your heart breaks when my heart is breaking, Because You've been down this road before....When You desperately want to rush in and help, You know I need to learn these lessons for myself...Just like a Father would..."

There's a quote given by the head of the missionary department who came to speak to us at our Sacrament Meeting. He said : "I don't know why our Father in Heaven gives one child one set of challenges, situations, problems, strengths, blessings and gifts and another child a different set, but all I know is that Heavenly Father has given us the set that we personally need, to prepare us for our exaltation."

I know this is His work. It's a hard work, but as Elder Holland says, "Exaltation and Salvation wasn't a cheap or easy experience for the Savior - the perfect blemish free lamb, so why should it be for us, or the people we work with?" It is true. The gospel blesses families, improves our lives, strengthens and encourages us to become better. He truly does answer our prayers, and those things which we are concerned about, He is as well.

As the pioneers said in the midst of affliction and darkness and uncertainty: "All is Well. All is Well."

For we know, this life is temporary and that there is a greater plan for us all. All is well.

I love you all so much and appreciate all of your letters, words or support and prayers,

Sister Fisher

More pictures on Temple Square

 

 

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Transfer 2: week 1... miracles, miracles, miracles

Family and Friends,

 I am ultra pressed for time today, but I want to write two miraculous events that happened this week.

D

I don't know how much I've written about him. This was in my 2nd week of the field. He was a 20 year old stopping by with his LDS girlfriend who wanted to come into our God's Plan for the family, while we were taking another family through. He was very touched by it, very choked up. Turns out he nearly passed away a few years ago, but had an experience that his grandfather told him his time isn't yet, but that he still has work to do on earth. So he turned closer to God and totally felt the Spirit that day. We found him sitting on the planters outside, and stopped our busy schedule to talk to him about it, and then had courage to ask him if he'd like to learn more and have us call him when he returns home to California. He did, so we began calling him each week, sometimes multiple times in the week. He received the message we shared each time whole heartedly  He would text back how much he loved his scripture reading that we gave him, and eventually the missionaries came and started teaching him some more in California. Turns out, this Saturday (he told us Friday) he is going to be baptized, and then in a month, he and his girlfriend are going to get married, and eagerly wait until they can be sealed in a year. Wow the miracles. He also looks forward to being able to do the work for his grandfather and many of his other family who have passed on.  His mother will attend church for the first time this Sunday too. The influence of one person is amazing. 

 L

L is my miracle of my mission, and after what I will tell you, you will see that it is the miracle of my WHOLE mission to come too. Her 16 year old son has been dying from cancer, and on Thursday (I found out last night) he passed away. Sister C and I sent her a small package with a CD of LDS songs and some pictures and a card last Monday.  She told us that he died listening to our CD, and that it will be played at his funeral tomorrow. So very humbling. Her 13 year old son told her that M (the 16 year old) wanted to be a member of the church, because he knew it was true. He knew that the Book of Mormon was true and that the things the missionaries taught their mom on the phone (us sisters) was true. J (the 13 year old) now told L that he wants to be baptized because he feels good when they read it and when they pray. He knows it is the religion that is right. 

Then L told us that she wants to be baptized too, because she knows that it is true, she knows the peace she feels from the spirit, and she knows that the Plan of Salvation is true, (this part is what shocked and inspired me because she is originally Jewish) and she now knows that "Jesus is the Christ, and that He is the Messiah." She says "He is the only reason why I am getting through this hard time right now. Anyone who does not know Jesus Christ, GET Him in your life! He has changed me." Very humbling. That was one of the most powerful testimonies of the Savior for me that I have heard. In a year, they look forward to becoming a "forever family" as she is sealed to her husband who has passed, and her children, and also to her parents. She also told me that we came right during the hardest part of her life, and that the GOSPEL is the only thing that could helped her through. They are going to be baptized on September 29. I told her how she was my very first phone call on my mission in the field, and that this truly was the inspired timing of the Lord. Wow is the Lord aware. His plan is a magnificent plan that sometimes is worked in mysterious ways. 

 That is three investigators in one week that have decided to be baptized. And many many more on the other side who will have that opportunity as well. These experiences show how important missionary work is.

 I know that this Gospel changes lives. I know that God is our Heavenly Father, and that His Son Jesus Christ, is our Redeemer and is our Savior. I know that the Gospel brings peace, and vision and purpose into our lives here and the life to come. 

I feel very humbled, and am even more aware that this is HIS work, all I am is in His hands, when I am in tune and listening. These are wonderful children of God, who He loves so much. Could you please pray for L and J, as they go through an extremely hard time? 

 You are always in my prayers.

Love,

Sister Fisher

P.S.We took 5 Italian tours already: "Bonjourno!!! Sono Sorella Fisher!" :) 

 

1st few weeks on Temple Square!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Transfer 1, Week 6: Wow new transfer is right around the corner... and CONFERENCE!

Family and Friends!

This week as been a week of comfort and miracles and I have definitely learned how important it is to be patient, and wait on the Lord and His timing!

So at 6:15AM Monday morning all 160 sister missionaries walked down to Temple Square for TRANSFER CONFERENCE.  Unlike many other missions where only those being transferred come, all the  mission is invited for an early morning of festivities, squealing and celebrating (all while the world is still sleeping around us!)

Sister I (from Japan) who is also in her first transfer, her trainer is being sent on her outbound to Arizona, and her new companion is my trainer-- Sister C! Which is cool because Sister C speaks fluently Japanese, so that'll be neat for her.  As for me, my new companion will return from her outbound (Alabama) and her name is Sister L from ITALY! Wow! So I will be with an ITALIAN (a dream come true really) and we'll be doing a ton of Italian tours and meeting people from Italy all the time. I'm really excited! Change is ever abroad in the mission field!

I don't have a ton of time to write today (because we have to move) but these are some of the tender mercies I experienced this week:

 1. There was this woman from Russia who was referred her on the Square by her friend who I've tried to call 4-5 times in the last month and on Friday.  She never picked up the phone any of the times or returned any of my messages. I said a prayer and told Heavenly Father that this call is the last time I could call her and that if she wouldn't pick up, I'd never get to share with her the gospel. So I dialed the number again with hope that'd she'd be there, and on the second ring I finally talked to T. She is a beautiful daughter of God who wants to learn more.  Such a miracle for me. 

 2. That same night I received a call from an Atheist man who was rather argumentative. It was hard at first to listen to, but I just calmed down and asked for strength and patience. My voice was calm the entire 30 minutes and when he realized that I wouldn't argue with him but instead admit that "I don't know everything" he really calmed down and actually wanted to listen to what I had to say.  He didn't want to learn anymore, but we had a nice conversation and I think he will think about the truth that I taught him all because Heavenly Father blessed me with strength in that moment and charity towards this very confused man. It was neat to hear the silence that he had as I bore my testimony to him that I know that God lives.  I know that he is a child of our Heavenly Father who loves him. Powerful moment.

 3. I called the next day a wonderful girl (who had been in the middle of the missionary discussions and stopped) who I managed to contact once before, and have written, texted, called so many times since the beginning of the transfer. I prayed for her each day. She never picked up the phone or returned our calls or texts. I called her on Saturday and knew that it would be the last time I could call her according to mission rules. I was so sad. I really wanted to share with her the message that I knew would bless her life. When she answered the phone, I wanted to cry. We talked for an hour and she is interested in learning more and for me calling her again. She told me that the only reason why she was able to answer the phone today was because she felt like she should, and because she was in a car accident this morning which prohibited her from going to work all that afternoon and evening.

 4. I was talking to L (because we didn't get a hold of her on Saturday) on Sunday morning and just seeing how she's doing. Her son who is battling cancer, is not doing very well right now and I know it has added a lot of pressure on her.  So I was checking up on her and the entire time I felt a nagging from the spirit to encourage her to go to church again this Sunday.... but I really didn't want to add anymore pressure to her in this rough time, for her to be doing more in her life, etc. So we said goodbye and I hung up. The nagging feeling was still there. I felt terrible.  I thought to myself, well if she *really* needs to go to church someone else will call her. Then it hit me like a lightening bolt: "That's why YOU ARE THERE Sister Fisher. You are here to invite others to come unto Christ and YOU are there to follow the spirit." And--- going to church isn't a hassle, it's a privilege. It will HELP her in this hard time. And so, I awkwardly called her back on the phone to her surprise and told her that I felt really prompted to encourage her to go to church today, which she said to my surprise, "I really felt like I should this morning too, but I was debating back and forth if I should or not until you called this morning. Now I know for sure that that is something I need to do today! I will go for sure!" It's amazing how the Lord includes us in the process, and we learn so much from being included.

5. I ran into wonderful people RIGHT in the moment when things were particularly difficult, tiring, discouraging etc.  It was so absolutely exquisitely wonderful to see those who I saw this week.  Thank you for following promptings and saying exactly what I needed to hear, and be where I needed you to be so we could run into each other.

 What have I learned this week? Patience in the Lord's timing. Yes Mom, I learned PATIENCE this week :) The Lord has a funny way of teaching us what we need to learn. Definitely an inspired way for sure though.  This is HIS work. I am absolutely positive of it now.  He is aware, and sometimes He has to show us that it is His work, and remind us that it is not according to our timetables, but according to the timing and needs of those wonderful children's plans that He has for them. I love this work. I love being able to testify to people and show them what God has in store for them, not just here, but in the whole lives that they have to come. He has a beautiful plan for each one of us. I feel privileged in begin able to play a small role in helping others find out theirs. VIVA ITALIA!!! :) 

I love you all,

Sister Fisher

 P.S. THANK YOU FOR YOU LETTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

MTC June/July