called to serve

Monday Sept 21st 2015

I opened up my mailbox and my call was finally there!! I was freaking out. That was the 4th time I had checked it. Waiting for a mission call is the worst guys! Anyways I had to open it right after my siblings got home from school cause of all their activities after school. So I had kaitlyn come over at 2:30. My siblings finally all came home. My grandparents couldn't come. So I called them and called grandma udell. I had my sister, hayley & the boys on skype. What was awesome was kelsey was emailing at the same time so kaitlyn was emailing her while I opened it. It was kind of like she was there with me! I just couldn't believe I was actually opening it. Obviously it took me forever to open the envelope...

"Dear Sister Fisher,

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Arizona Scottsdale Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Provo missionary Training Center on Wednesday, October 28, 2015. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language."

I am so excited to serve the Lord in Arizona! I know that is where I am supposed to be! I was not expecting Arizona at all! I was actually born there but only lived there a year. I don't know if I am ready for the heat...but at least I am only there one summer! Everything happened so fast! I got my mission papers in, in less than two weeks. And I am leaving in 27 days!! So crazy. I am feeling pretty overwhelmed of all the things I need to do. But I am feeling a lot better about everything. 

People keep asking me why I decided to serve a mission. That question is not one that I can easily answer in one sentence. It's been a long process. I remember sitting in general conference oct 2012 with my roommates. Kelsey on my left, Hayley on my right. It was saturday morning session. President Thomas S. Monson announces the new mission age for girls is 19 instead of 21. I look to my friends and we all gasp and are all very surprised. I was 18 at the time. I could be going on a mission within that next year. I hadn't thought much about missions because it was so far away from when I could go and who knows I could have been married by then. When the prophet said those words the spirit was so strong and I knew I need to serve a mission. I didn't know when. I was trying not to cry because I hate crying in front of people! I am pretty personal when it comes to my feelings.

Here I am 21. The original sister missionary age. Leaving this month. I have had many confirmations within these past three years to serve a mission. I was scared. I am not a very good teacher. I don't feel like I know much about the scriptures. I would be leaving my whole life! I know I need to overcome my fear by having faith. The past experiences I have had have prepared me to serve a mission. I have had such great examples in my life. I have had lots of friends serve missions. Some of my favorite church leaders served missions and are amazing women. I know I was not ready at 19. The Lord's timing is perfect. Arizona needs me at this time but more importantly I need them!

So why serve a mission? I only have a year left of school. I am going to miss a lot of my friends weddings. Missing my brother's graduation. I am serving a mission because I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church. I am serving a mission because I cannot deny that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. I am serving a mission because Heavenly Father has given me so much and I want to give back. I am serving a mission to help others come unto Christ. I am serving a mission for me and to strengthen my testimony. I am serving a mission because I know that Jesus Christ atoned for MY sins. I am serving a mission because my patriarchal blessing says I am going to be a missionary. I am serving a mission to be an example to my little siblings. I am serving a mission because I know I would regret it. I am serving a mission because I know it is what I am supposed to do in this time of my life. I am serving a mission because I want to share my happiness of this gospel with others.

I am grateful for everyone who has and is helping me with preparing for a mission! My bishop, parents, family, stake president, and friends. Thank you! I can feel all your love so deeply!

  

summertime sadness

I'm sad summer is over. Aren't we all. How did that happen so fast. I really had no expectations for summer. When I got home from Africa I felt so weird to be in America. Clean water!? I also had like two friends. Zander and Maddi. BUT a lot of people got off their missions or were getting home. I met a great group of people in the singles ward. I didn't hang out with them all the time but they were mostly fun. Zander and I had a lot of "dates" haha. Summer was all I hoped it could have been. I surprisingly went on a lot of dates. I really did meet a lot of people and came close friends with people that I didn't expect to. 

I started summer but going to Julene's wedding in New Mexico! We weren't there too long but it was fun. It was crazy seeing Julene so in love. I am so happy for her. I hadn't seen her in YEARS. Her wedding was so cute. Everything was perfect (well besides the quiet dance party lol). We also got to swim in the pool and take a gondola up the watermelon mountain. We were so high up! 

The only other trip I went on was to Utah for a family reunion. My grandma came with us and she can barely walk so that was interesting...but it was great to spend time with family and see extended family. My grandma bore her testimony at the lunch in and it was so cute and sweet. I got to hang out with Josh (friend from jeru) in the mountains! He took me shooting it was so fun. I am not too bad for a beginner if I say so myself. At least I'm okay at the shot gun and shot some pigeons. I got to see Brady Johnston! He had just gotten home so he was a bit awkward lol. But he is awesome. We went disco skating with brooke cause she works there so we got in for free. Brady really didn't want to go haha. I then went to provo and stayed with Melissa! It was great seeing her cause who knows when I'll see her again. I went to church with the Johnston's. They are so great. We also went to Lagoon with the girls and brian. Cannibal is the coolest ride ever! The water park isn't that great though. We shot some guns with the family and went out to dinner several times. I love utah food. Our last day there we hiked mt. timp! It was pretty hard. Not the hardest hike I've done but still it was longgg. Coming down felt like forever. But funny story. I went off with the girls and then they stopped and so I just kept going. I thought they were waiting for the fam. But they didn't and got lost. And I was trying to catch up to Paul cause he went up ahead. I get to the top expecting paul to be there but he wasn't! So I was freaking out a bit. I literally was on top of the mountain for like an hour before my family got there lol. It was nice though. I called my mom and they weren't too far away and I asked her if paul was there and he was! He took a wrong turn. They get up there and my mom is like where are the girls? I'm like what they aren't with you!? anyways they finally come after a little while. We were a little scared. They also took a wrong turn..lol I think our family learned something on this hike. Martha and Rose also came with us! So that was fun. Baha we get home and Grandma was not at their house..and brian and brittanys car was gone lol. And my grandma doesn't really have a phone and we had to leave for the airport like right then! Baha so brian goes to try to find her cause she left a note saying she went to the store. He finds her driving on the wrong side of the road! lol!

Anyways I posted a ton of pictures to describe my summer. It was really one of the best. Nothing like I was expecting. I went to a lot of concerts. LIKE TAYLOR SWIFT. best night of my life with my best friend! I also saw borns, bleachers, and charli xcx with ryan. That was way fun. Just last week I saw tokyo police club with tucker and carlin. That was a really fun night. We went to thai toms and then just wondered the city and found random stuff. oh and we ended up going to the cheese factory cause tucker had a gift card. that cheesecake is heavenly!!! We didn't finish it all so we gave it to some homeless men lol. I also went to bumpershoot with the family and henstroms! It was so fun! baha but we had to wait in will call because my dad lost the wristbands and the henstroms had to pick their up too. and it was POURING. luckily the rained stopped and we made all the bands that we wanted to see. I saw the weeknd so good! And I few more bands that I am just obsessed with. I went boating and hiking lots. The backpacking trip was unforgettable. So much fun haha even in the rain and hail and the boys got lost!! lol...but i love them. Also we went to portland for 3 hours..baha that was spontaneous and fun.

I'm really gonna miss those summer nights...I think I took them for granted...cause now I am just waiting for a mission call and need to find a job...but I am really excited for what the future holds!