week 74: God is merciful

Monday, March 27th, 2017

hello!

Who's excited for general conference?! I am!! I have been seriously counting down the months/ weeks/ days. My week was good! The weeks are flying by and it's crazy to think my 17 month mark is tomorrow.

Monday we got to contact a family, we talked to the dad and his friend for a while. The friend is a member and went on a mission but it not active. They are both tattoo artists. The dad did seem interested and we set a time to come back and then the wife came into the room and she told us they weren't interested. Sad. They seem like a really nice family. It's just so hard to see that because you know it would bless their family so much. We then had a lesson with the Ramirez family.

Tuesday pretty much not much happened. A lot of people weren't home and it's all kind of a blur on what happened. We invited a lot of families to do the 40 day fast.

Wednesday we had district meeting, it was our first one this transfer haha. We then had district lunch at DQ (we get it free). I finally got inspiration on my mission knock! It only took this long...we then went to see this old woman named Georgie who lives in an old folks home cause someone asked us to go see her. Sadly she isn't in our area but their ward mission leader wanted us to go see her. She was so sweet. It was a really cool experience to see her light up when we talked about God loving her and prayer and about Jesus Christ. She doesn't really know anything about them. I told her we were the missionaries, and she asked "mormon? I've been working on being a Mormon." Haha she is so cute. She asked us how she could feel God. She is just so prepared. I wish I could teach her! We then had a lesson with the Cole family. They have been reading their Book of Mormon!! We then called a referral and we asked him when we could meet and he was like you can come to native (a restaurant). So we go over but I was worried he was going to be in the bar section haha but luckily we got there and a woman was with him who is actually a member called us over. We taught him a little bit about the plan of salvation because his grandpa just passed away. He wanted to know more about Joseph Smith and I said we can set up a time to talk about that but he wasn't really into it cause he already goes to a church.

Thursday we saw Hillary (less-active) and her nonmember fiancé. Yep they are getting married in May. They are total hippies and are so funny. They were excited to watch general conference! They even put it on the calendar! We had a lesson with Zach on the Atonement. He didn't know Jesus Christ suffered for him in the garden of gethsemane which I was really surprised about because I know we have talked about it before and at church. But it was really good and we were definitely inspired to teach that.

Friday we had a really good lesson with Clarice! Our member was amazing! She is our new ward missionary and I'm super excited about it. She related so well to her, Clarice had never been so talkative. We talked about a lot of her concerns, and we invited her to the women's broadcast and our member even bought her a skirt! But she didn't end up coming cause it was her son's birthday party. But she was so excited to go! She really needs to be reading the Book of Mormon everyday. She isn't really putting her all into it. She has a desire to believe though. We then had a lesson with Noah. It was good. He is adorable and loves the gospel. I get there and he asks if he could use my plan of salvation cut outs to test if he can do it. He told us of a cool story on how his prayer was answered. I asked him how he could prepare for general conference and he said "buy popcorn." Lol. We had a lesson with the Sotos and they kept making me try Mexican candy that has pepper on it haha. It's not very good. We then had a lesson with Molly.

Saturday we had breakfast with the stake president. We then went to a relief society service project and tied quilts. We then had a lesson with the Raymonds, we printed our bingo cards for them and they are so excited for conference. We were invited to the Cole's daughter's birthday party and Jackie's parents were going to be there who aren't members so we decided to stop by. Well it was at an aquatics center so we were two missionaries surrounded by people in swimming suits haha it was a bit awkward. We then went to the women's broadcast and it was good of course. I liked how sister McConkie talked about holiness and how it is a gift from the Spirit and that it is often the sacrifices we make to keep our covenants that make us holy. I also loved President Eyring's talk and how he talked about how weaknesses humble us - so true. I've seen that so much on my mission.

Sunday was good, a super less-active that hasn't come to church in so long came!! That was a miracle. Noah passed the sacrament for the first time! He was so nervous before. We then contacted some referrals and formers. None of them were interested but we had a good conversations with them. Bearing testimony really is so powerful & they can't deny it. Our calling as missionaries is so powerful. I love being a missionary a lot. We then had cookies with Bishop and President Williams spoke at that. We then had a lesson with the Ramirez family and then the Mcpeak family.

Something that our stake presidents wife said to us which I love is "success is representing the Savior well." It's not about how many baptisms you have or how many lessons you have. It's crazy how many people we talk to everyday, and we don't know who lives we are touching. Being a missionary is very humbling, it's the best thing I could ever be doing.

"True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.” - President Boyd K. Packer

I finished the Book of Mormon this week, I can't get enough of that book. The Book of Mormon truly is a sign of God's love for us.

Alma 26:16 "Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel."

This scripture is exactly how I feel. God is omnipotent and His love for us is always there. We can also feel this love as we watch conference!

Happy general conference!

--xo: sista fisha

district lunch at DQ

Zach's family McDonald meal

my favorite tree in show low

the stake missionaries at the Williams

The Williams

hikin w/ my sistas

the best grilled cheese at Annie's

The Pattersons

week 73: watch for elk

Monday, March 20th, 2017

Hello friends!

My week was good! It seriously feels like summer here. Or at least what summer feels like in Seattle. We have been working hard! I'm so tired though haha.

Monday we had a lesson with Trista. Her mom and friend were both there who aren't members. We taught them the plan of salvation, it was a really good lesson. Both the girls had lost their fathers and the nonmember started crying & it was really sweet. I love teaching the gospel to those who don't know it.

Tuesday we had a mini missionary named Makyla. We had a lot of fun. It was kind of a crazy day...so that morning Sister Clipp started throwing up so I was like ahh what do we do?! Cause we had a mini missionary with us. We finally figured stuff out and had Sister Whatcott come and stay with her. We had a lesson with the Williamsons. It was good. Aidan doesn't really seem too interested though. We had a lesson with Clarise on the word of wisdom and committed her to quit coffee! We then saw Kirby and it wasn't very good...he just wanted to argue so basically I told him we will come back when he wants to know more.

Wednesday we had a lesson that morning with Rebecca. I told her we only had 30 mins and we only were there 40 mins! Miracle! But basically she just isn't ready so we dropped her. Gotta find the prepared people! The rest of the day is kind of a blur. We visited lots of members to invite them to do the 40 day fast. We went to go see Nancy in the hospital. We finally had a lesson with Addi and her family! She is 11 & is pretty much not baptized because of her dad which is sad. But our lesson was really good. The Spirit was super strong- they are a neat family. I asked how Addi knew that God loved her and she started crying and she said her family and that God has sent us here to her. It's moments like that, that make going on a mission so worth it. Makyla then left. Before she didn't really know if she wanted to go on a mission, now she does want to go (for the most part) so that is also super cool.

Thursday we had zone conference. It was good. It's always good to be reminded about things and to see President! There is this one road in our area and for the past week or so this house had been standing out to me and that we should go knock on the door. So we finally did! Three older kids answered the door, their parents weren't home, they had just moved here from California. They said that they would be interested. The only problem is the parents are never home I guess. I'll let you know if anything happens with them! We the had a lesson with Zach & read the Book of Mormon with him.

Friday we had interviews with president. So I only have one transfer left and I was trying to convince President for him to let me stay! And then he was like but you would be so good in Phoenix, you would be so good in YSA work & I was just like noooo so we will see. We then got another mini missionary named Kylah! We had fun too. We had a lesson with Joanna and it was good. She still won't come to church. She doesn't want to ruin her relationship with Mikey. I think we need to stop seeing Joanna. It's hard because she is progressing but not at the same time. We saw Noah and he is doing good! He is the cutest. We had a lesson with the Raymonds and it was good. Kylah talked to them about girls camp. We stopped by the Hills and they are still interested! We then had a St Patrick's day/Irish meal at the Moores!

Saturday we found out that a family that we referred the elders to were getting baptized that night! Sadly we couldn't go though. But it's cool to think we totally had an influence in it. I feel like I always find people for other missionaries to teach. Oh well it's all the same work! We had a really good lesson with the Price family- but they didn't come to church. They are an awesome family though, super funny. We then had a lesson with the Cole family and Robert! It went super well! We put them on date for May 13th! Of course they have to be married though. We are working on that. We went to Molly's birthday party at the house. That was fun.

Sunday Robert and Jackie came with their kids to all three hours of church! I'm so impressed with them!! Also Chris and Cyndell randomly came! So that was cool. Noah got the priesthood and his temple recommend!!

I finished a book this week called The Infinite Atonement. That book is truly amazing. I want to read it over and over again. I don't know how I could ever summarize that book. Y'all need to read it for yourselves. But I am truly grateful for the Atonement. I can't speak lightly of it for it truly is the most sacred and important event in eternity. I have a testimony that the Atonement is infinite.

Isaiah 54: 3-5 "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

"The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature." - President Benson

I love that. I know that we can only change because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We really can become like God as we submit our will to His. Elder Grow said, "Your agency is the one thing that is truly yours that you can give as an offering to God. By volunteering your will to His will, you will become like Him."

Have an amazing week! God is cheering you on!

--xo: sista fisha

Makyla

Zone Conference

St. Patrick's Day 🍀

Kylah

🦌

hike to cave

week 72: happy are the people

Monday, March 13th, 2017

Hiiii.

This week was good! The weather is sooo nice. The mornings and nights are still a bit cold but we have been starting to run in the mornings, so that's been nice! I'm so out of shape tho... we did find 3 new investigators this week!!

Monday we had a lesson with the Raymonds. Sister Lewis came with us and so that was really gooood. We then drove to Eagar for exchanges!!!

Tuesday I was with Sister Fukushima in Eagar. It wasn't my old area except Milligan Valley, which I only had for a transfer but it was still so good to be back in that town. I love it there. Sister Fukushima is awesome and we had such a fun time together. She is from Japan and we go home the same day! I got to see Nancy Ward again! We did some service for her. We sang at the beehive - which is an old folks place. We met some pretty awesome members. We had a lesson with the Bennalleys! It was really good seeing them. And then I had to go see the Gilliams! That was so fun surprising them and see them! I love that family.

Wednesday we had another lesson with Rebecca - it was okay. She still won't commit to anything & gets off topic a lot in the lessons. So we aren't really sure if she is ready, we are going to teach her one more time. Oh and when I was in Eagar, they are doing a 40 day fast as a stake for missionary work, and anyways I really wanted to do it in our wards. So we didn't have anyone to fast and it started on Wednesday and goes 40 days until Easter. So me and my companion fasted on Wednesday. We have been getting members to fast and it's been really good. We remind them the day before and then report the night that they fasted on all of the miracles we have seen because of the fast. We then had a lesson with Molly, she is doing good. She fasted on Thursday which was a huge miracle cause we didn't have anyone to do it haha.

Thursday we got to go to the temple  it's always really nice to go. Not much really happened besides visiting members and inviting them to do the 40 day fast. We did knock on a former's door and they are interested!

Friday we had weekly planning and then all of our appointments canceled. We did visit some members. And then at night was weird....because someone in a truck was following us for a good 10 minutes. So that was slightly terrifying. But we lost them finally! Tiwi (device that checks our speed) totally yelled at me a few times but that's okay!

Saturday's are lunch with Papa Phill! And we had an awesome lesson with the family that showed up to church last week! His name is Robert (less-active) & her name is Jackie. They aren't married and they have a baby together. Jackie's two kids live there who are 10 and almost 8 (at the end of this month). Anyways we taught them the restoration and it went so well! Jackie is wanting to gain a stronger relationship with Christ. All of them said yes to baptism! We didn't put them on date because they need to be married - I did ask them about it and they have that as a goal in the near future! Wahoo! I have a good feeling about them, they are such a cute family. We then went to Noah's 12th birthday party! Yay he can go to the temple now!

Sunday was good. Jackie and Robert came to all three hours of church! Noah had his interview with bishop for the priesthood. The Ramirez started temple prep! And they got their patriarchal blessing last night! We gave a Book of Mormon out to a guy named Norman - he was pretty cool. He took seminary as a kid. He is Native American and he thinks it's really cool that he is a Lamanite.

I was reading in Jacob 5 & verse 71 stood out to me. "And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come."

It just made me realize that I don't have much time left. I really want to put my all in these last 2 months and to not waste any time! This time is so precious and this work is so special to me.

Elder Cook said last conference, "Missionary work is not just one of the 88 keys on a piano that is occasionally played; it is a major chord in a compelling melody that needs to be played continuously throughout our lives if we are to remain in harmony with our commitment to Christianity and the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

I'm grateful I get to do missionary work for the rest of my life! Oh & another really good quote:

"Please don’t see your efforts to share the love of the Savior with another as a pass/fail test with your grade determined by how positively your friends respond to your feelings or invitation to meet the missionaries. With our mortal eyes, we cannot judge the effect of our efforts, nor can we establish the timetable. When you share the love of the Savior with another, your grade is always an A+." - Elder Anderson

It's true! So just keep loving others and opening your mouth! Because no effort is wasted! Even if I'm out here for just one person - I know that is enough and my Heavenly Father is proud. One person can effect thousands. This gospel brings me so much happiness! I love you guys have an awesome week!

--xo: sista fisha

Captain Moroni on their house...#somormon

The temple!

it's summmma

Photo booth with Emeri

week 71: the book is true and blue

Monday, March 6th, 2017

Hello!

It's been a good week here in show low! It's all kind of a blur. It's super windy here but is warming up finally! It snowed once this last week but I'm praying that's the last time it will snow.

Monday we had dinner with the Lewises and Deanna was there. I asked her if she wanted to meet with us again, she said no :( it's so sad seeing people accept our message, and then reject it.

Tuesday we had a lesson with Emma - we read the Book of Mormon with her since she hadn't read. It's hard because she can't read so she needs her mom to help her but her mom is not going to. We then had a lesson with the Raymonds and it was really good! We also read the Book of Mormon with them and the whole family was there! We then had a lesson with Kirby and his fiancé Shannon who isn't a member joined in!

Wednesday we had our first lesson with Rebecca. Honestly it didn't go as well as I would have liked. She has a lot of concerns- she has already been baptized, she won't pray in front of us, she won't read the Book of Mormon, and she had a bad past experience at church. A missionary's worst nightmare! We then had a lesson with Tewana, I think it was our last lesson with her since she is pretty active now. We then had a really good lesson with Joanna. She has been reading the Book of Mormon! We then had a lesson with the Tsosies. We then went to mutual for Show Low Ward and taught the youth how to teach the first discussion. It was so fun. I had two beehives and they were the cutest.

Thursday we had ZTM and I gave a training on teaching for commitment. It went well. I did it by myself. We then had a lesson with Zach. He won't get married for a while so who knows when he will get baptized! I want to be there though!

Friday was a long weekly planning because we really went in depth on getting people to church. We then had a lesson with Emma and it was actually pretty good. Sister Redmond came with us and the mom actually sat in on it. They said they would come to church but they didn't. We then had a lesson with Clarise. We resolved a lot of her concerns. It's hard cause she doesn't need to get married but she isn't ready for it she says. We then had a lesson with Aidan Williamson. We brought the 11 yr old cub scouts leader and so we could try to get Aidan to go. He still doesn't want to go to scouts.

Saturday we had no lessons...it can be a hard day to have lessons because everyone is busy. We knocked on lots of doors. We are struggling to find people to teach- I know they are hereeeee. We then had correlation with our ward mission leaders.

Sunday none of our investigators came to church...BUT. God totally still blessed our efforts. This family randomly showed up to church. The dad is not active and hasn't been since he was 14 & his wife isn't a member and they have three kids. We are teaching them on Saturday and I am so excited! Also another nonmember came to church with his wife! We had a lesson with the Ramirez family, they didn't read so we read with them. That family is so awesome. We then had a lesson with the Tsosies about temples.

Here are some quotes that are from last conference about the Book of Mormon:

"We should never make reading the Book of Mormon seem like an onerous duty, like the gulping of nasty medicine to be swallowed quickly and then checked off with finality.” - President Nelson

"Every time I open the Book of Mormon, it is like turning on a switch--the Spirit flows into my heart and soul." - Elder Curtis Jr

"I am unaware of anyone who is diligently reading the Book of Mormon each day with pure intent and with faith in Christ who has lost their testimony and fallen away." - Elder Nattress

I'm so grateful for this book. I'm grateful for the sacrifice that was put into it. I'm grateful for Joseph Smith & for the faith & confidence that he had in Christ.

D&C 84:20-21 says "Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh."

I like this scripture and I know there is so much power in making and keeping covenants. Without these ordinances we wouldn't fully be able to access the Atonement of Christ.

I love it here and I love this work! Have a great week

--xo: sista fisha

Shenia & Tewana

Matching sisters

COMPANION

Brother Ramirez ready to read the scriptures

Show Low Museum