week 60: I'll be home next christmas...

Monday, December 19th, 2016

merry christmas everyone! 

I can't believe it is that time of year again. Like where did this year go?? It's a special time to serve my Lord. Except right now everyone is busy and canceling and sick. So it's a bit rough but the members are so awesome.

Monday we showed up to the Lewis's to have a lesson with Deanna. We get there at the same time as her and she is talking to me and Carol and all of a sudden she just says I can't do this anymore... she is holding her Book of Mormon, ensign, gospel principles book and all the pamphlets we gave to her. And she hands them to me and says someone else can use them. I was like no keep them I can't take them and I gave them back to her. It was like an ex giving back all your things to you after a breakup. Oh my heart. It was just so shocking & she didn't say much of why. She said she had been talking to her kids and they are pretty anti. Carol said she thinks someone at work has been talking to her about it as well. Man Satan is the worst. She was doing SO well. Like amazing. She was progressing so well. She quit drinking coffee and she was in Mosiah! I know she has a testimony. She will come back eventually. We ate dinner with the Lewis's but it was so sad. To cheer up Carol we decorated her house with her. We then taught Zach about the priesthood, it was good.

Tuesday we had a lesson with Tewana. Shenia and her boyfriend was there. They are all so funny. We then and some conference with all of the mountains. We had lunch there - bread bowls, the best. Zone conference was good. We mainly talked about our doctrine of Christ reading from the Book of Mormon and what we learned. It's really cool to read over the highlighted parts. I have learned so much about the doctrine of Christ. President told us to read it whenever we need a desire to share the gospel because the doctrine of Christ and applying it to our lives helps us to have that desire. I know that the doctrine of Christ does change us. It is how we can become more like Christ and access the atonement. We had a lesson with Jesse. We got to teach it this time. We got to ask him questions and read the Book of Mormon with him.

Wednesday we got to go to the temple! Highlight of my week! We then saw the Mcpeaks, the kids are active but the parents aren't, sad. We had dinner with the Guevaras. Love them. They made sourdough waffles. We shared the light the world message with a less-active couple named the Shields. Oh we had to saw goodbye to Sister Zabariza this morning :(

Thursday was exhausting but productive. I was with a mini missionary named Makenna. She is going to Honduras on her mission in a month. She is awesome!! We saw Sister Mejia. She said she hasn't smoked in 6 days! She hadn't read the Book of Mormon so we read with her. We then went to Sister Bliss who is an older lady. We saw Hillary Freestone who is a less-active. She is very hippy and so awesome haha. She is living with a nonmember. We met with Joanna. Her husband wasn't there and her kids were being crazy but when we shared a video they were all really quiet. And they said their family prayers every night that week! I was so proud!! She said there was more peace in their home. Our lesson that night canceled and Makenna was really bumbed because she wanted to teach the restoration. But it was a miracle because our dinner gave us a referral for the managers at this sketchy motel. So we go and meet Rachael. Her husband didn't seem too interested and he was busy working. We meet her and she says okay I want to know everything haha. So we are like okay. We teach her the restoration but it took sooo long because she talks a lot. She was really interested and understood everything. She was excited to read the Book of Mormon. It was cool because she would ask a question that would lead into the next principle we were gonna teach. It's going to be hard because she can't really leave work...and she needs to come to church. We just hope she doesn't think our meetings will count as church. She told us about how God told her that she needs to move west but she didn't know why and she still doesn't know why.

Friday it rained all day and I secretly liked it. We had a lesson with Noah, he is so cute!!!! I love him. He has such a sweet spirit about him. We told Noah we weren't perfect and that we make mistakes everyday, he was like "really?" We had a lesson with the Slade kids. Three of them need to be baptized. The family is not active. We get there and the parents are in the kitchen and don't even acknowledge us and don't come in for the lesson. So we teach 8 kids the restoration and it was crazy and so loud. The kids who want to get baptized are so cute, especially Henry. He just eats it all up. We just aren't sure what to do because we want the family to be active and we don't think the parents will take their kids to church after they are baptized.

Saturday morning we had breakfast with santa. It was combined with old first ward so it was fun to see everyone. We had FIVE appointments that day but they ALL canceled...struggle. We went around invited everyone we could to the Show Low Ward Christmas party. We went over before to help the relief society decorate. The party was fun and a lot of people came.

Sunday was good. We go on splits and I show up to Paloma Ward and Jessica Mejia is there! She wanted to surprise us! She was so excited, super cute. And she has been smoke free for 9 days!

Scriptures I have been thinking about is Matthew 4: 18-20...

"And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him."

Coming on a mission I did have to leave my nets. But I am grateful I did. I have learned to truly follow Him.

"Peace can come to all who choose to walk in the ways of the Master. His invitation is expressed in three loving words: 'come, follow me." - Russell M. Nelson

I know that as we follow him we will gain the peace that comes from Him. He is the Prince of Peace. The true source of Peace. And it is awesome with the light the world initiative because when we are doing it, we are following Him in His footsteps.

It reminds me of this quote, "an interesting thing happens whenever you attempt to place your feet in Christ's footsteps. if you really concentrate on trying to walk the way he walked--loving, caring, serving, and obeying each step of the way--one day you'll look up and discover that his path has led you directly to the throne of God. For that is and ever has been his great purpose and mission: to lead us to our Heavenly Father so we can dwell with him in his heavenly home".

I'm grateful for this Christmas season, that I have to learn of Him and follow Him. I love reading the New Testament. Every time Christ speaks, I see His divinity. I'm so grateful He was born and that I know why He was born. I know He loves you and me. Have an amazing Christmas!! 

--xo: sista fisha

Deanna

professional tree decorator

Zach and Channa arguing

!!!!

idk

The Jex's

zone conference

temple

my mini missionary makenna

santa!

sugar all day everyday

imma smell bae

week 59: getting lost in the service of others

Monday, December 12th, 2016

Hola amigos

This week has been pretty good. Holidays are hard though and everyone is getting sick and canceling. Pray we don't get sick.

Monday was pretty crazy. I found out my last companion went home :( and then we found out Sister Szewczyk is going home, she left on Tuesday. So sad. So Sister Gulley is going to have mini missionaries til the transfer ends. For right now Sister Zabariza is with her til she leaves to go back to the Philippines on Wednesday! It's been fun having her. We had dinner with Bishop Genet and got his vision and such. We then had a lesson with Zach. Oh he is hilarious. He isn't getting baptized til April cause that's when he is getting married.

Tuesday we had a lesson with Shel and her kids. It was crazy though cause we got there and she wanted us to move her cabinet that was in the room with bed bugs and it was so heavy. We had a laurel with us and for Shel to sit down and have a lesson was if our laurel made them dinner. Haha Shel is a bit crazy. But we had a good lesson and got to know them better. She says she has seen a difference in her life by meeting with the missionaries. We then had a lesson with Deanna and taught her the law of chastity. She hasn't drank any coffee!!

Wednesday we had ZTM and it was really good. We talked a lot about recognizing the Holy Ghost. It was cool to discuss the ways we can receive the Holy Ghost. There was another training on our purpose and it was so good. We talked a lot about our authority and power, our calling gives us authority and keeping covenants gives us power. We talked about how our authority comes directly from God and it's really cool to think about. We had a lesson with Jesse Hitchcock with the Jex's. We watched the restoration video. He has read the Book of Mormon twice. He doesn't understand Joseph Smith. So I'm not really sure why we are there but the Jex's want us to be there. I love Jesse though!

Thursday I had to go to another ZTM because my companion is STL in two zones. We met with Tewana and she is doing good. We then had a lesson with Zach on temples. They really want to get sealed in a year. I'm totally going.

Friday we had a lesson with Jessica Mejia. She didn't smoke for two days and then had a cig. I don't think she was really doing all the 15 steps but she said she was going to try again. She was really excited she didn't smoke those two days. We then had a lesson with Sister Bottoms, I love her. We then had a lesson with Shel and she was really late. So we read a little bit of the Book of Mormon with her. We then had a lesson with a part member family named the Williams. They aren't actually married, the mom is the nonmember, her name is Joanna and I love them. She said she didn't want to take the lessons, that she wasn't ready for that but that we could come teach their family. So that's what we did. We talked about God, prayer and family. They were crying like the whole time and were so emotional. They really opened up and talked about how they were meth abusers and their kids saved their life. I'm excited to start teaching them and hope Joanna's hearts softens. We then had the Ward Christmas party in Paloma Ward. There were so many people there, it was a lot of fun. They had a live band and it was so loud. Haha for us missionaries, it was really weird. I feel like it's been so long since I have been a normal person. We had a few investigators there so that was good!

Saturday we went to lunch with Brother Phil at R&R, it's a pizza place. So good. We had a lesson with Clarise. Sister Macnielle came with us. When we introduced what the lesson was (the law of chastity), she was like hold on my husband needs to hear this. Haha. They aren't married. So Calvin came and it was really good. We were really bold but loving. We were like basically you need to get married before your baptism date. So we had them pray about it. Clarise was really serious about it but idk about Calvin. Clarise went and put her baptism date on the calender, it was cute. We then had ward correlations and made ward mission plans with our ward mission leaders, it was really good.

Sunday my companion and I gave talks in Paloma Ward about inviting others to come unto Christ. It went well I think. I mainly talked about how to get a desire to do missionary work and where that desire comes from. I shared this quote by Howard W. Hunter. "What does the atonement have to do with missionary work? Any time we experience the blessings of the atonement in our lives, we cannot help but have a concern for the welfare of others." So it is the atonement that motivates us to do missionary work. We need to be experiencing the atonement in our life. A scripture that I thought of when people had this concern for the welfare of others is when Alma and the sons of mosiah repent and experience the atonement in their life. After this change of heart Mosiah 28:3 says "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble." They knew what it felt like to have that guilt and to not know Christ and they didn't not want that for anyone else. To gain this desire we need to experience the atonement everyday, we need to repent daily. This repentance will change us and it will begin to be natural to want to share it with others. Howard W. Hunter then says, "A great indication of ones personal conversion is the desire to share the gospel with others". We then went caroling with the Macneilles and Butlers, it was way fun. We went to a couple of our investigators as well. We then knocked on a less-actives door named the Williamsons. We had a good lesson with them. We think the youngest who is 10 isn't baptized.

Starting the first of December I started reading the New Testament. I'm reading the four gospels before Christmas, so a book a week. I'm in Luke now. It's been pretty awesome. I really want to get to know my Savior more. It's the most important thing to know on our mission. A scripture I like that I read this week was in Mark.

Mark 8:34-35, "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it."

This is one of my favorite scriptures. I know that we will find Christ if we do serve Him. And I love this is what the Christmas initiative is about, service. I'm grateful for my Savior and the example He set.

I love you all!!

--xo: sista fisha

Zach telling us how to say investigator

Rose

show low zone

Dinner at the Adams

comp

happy birthday dad️ 

caroling

week 58: #LIGHTtheWORLD

Monday, December 5th, 2016

Hellooooo

Me again!! This week went by so fastttt. Even though it seems like everyone is canceling our lessons! Hey but we have four people on date! There was zero when I got here!

Monday night we had a lesson with Deanna at the Lewis'. They are so awesome. They bought us Thai food! The Spirit is so strong in her lessons. We had a lesson with Zach, it was good he opened up more. We tried to put him on date for feb 18 but he told us he would tell us in the morning...so he decided march, which is so far!! Idk we need to figure it out more.

Tuesday we had a lesson with a less-active named Sister Williams. She isn't quite ready to come to church though. We had a lesson with Tewana and Shenia. They are cute girls. We had a lesson with Jesse Hitchcock, he is a investigator kind of, well it's a part member family and the Jex's (senior couple) were teaching him. He has been going to church for years and years. The Jex's wanted us to come so we did. He is a cute man and he says he needs to figure some things, so idk how ready he is but we are seeing him again this week.

Wednesday all four of our lessons fell through...ah. But we met this part member family, Joana is the nonmember and she is super cute and they have 3 kids together but aren't married. She says she isn't ready to take the lessons but that we can go over and do like FHE's. We ate dinner with Sister Macgregor, ah I love her. We contacted this referral and all she wanted to do was Bible bash...I was like no...

Thursday we went to lunch with Brother Phil and Jackie to Annie's. Holy moly best grilled cheese sandwiches that I have ever had. We then had a lesson with the Ramirez family. We then had a lesson with Zach and it was crazy cause everyone was there but it was good. He just needs to live the law of chastity!!

Friday (happy birthday Sarah!) I was with Sister Szewczyk most of the day. Our companions went to MLC. It was good. We taught Jessica Mejia the 15 step program to stop smoking and it went really well! She really does have a desire to quit so I just hope she does it!! We then did service for a couple hours and made bread bowls for this community event called feast of carols. We then had a lesson with Clarise and it was so good!! She is progressing so well!! She says she is going to church but in Linden with her friend. We put her on date for Feb 4! And then after the lesson with find out she isn't actually married to Calvin... I'm like oh she needs to get married. We then had a really good lesson with Deanna! Ah it was so good. It was on the word of wisdom. And I really felt like we should put her on date so I asked her for Jan 28 and she accepted! Like immediately! The Spirit was so strong. I'm so grateful for it. The happiest times on my mission is when I can feel myself being an instrument in his hands.

Saturday morning we had breakfast with our stake president, President Williams. All the missionaries in the stake came and that was really good. We then helped some members in our ward move. All of our appointments canceled again! Haha but that's okay. And then we had meetings so it wasn't super eventful.

Sunday was fast sundayyyy, it was good. I ate bear at the Bairds last night. It was actually really good. Everyone goes hunting here so I get lots of meat. Nothing too eventful except the first presidency Christmas devotional! It was so good, I loved it. All the talks hit me hard. Serving a mission during Christmas is pretty magical. This is what I am doing, I'm telling others that Christ lives and because he lives we can have happiness! The most precious gift is Jesus Christ himself. I loved the talk on the Holy Ghost and spiritual gifts. I know that God has given all of us spiritual gifts and as we use them can be partakers of divine nature. And of course President Eyring's talk was amazing. Everyone wants peace in their life. And everyone can have it! The Savior birth & atonement is what gives us peace in this life. I'm grateful to be serving the Lord in this short time in my life and to be a messenger of peace.

& remember to do the 25 acts of service this Christmas!

john 8:12 says, "then spake jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." A quote that I like from President Monson, he says "if you want to give a light to others, you have to glow yourself." The more we let Christ into our lives, the more his light will shine through us!

Have a blessed week & go to church

--xo: sista fisha

 

our chapel has a light house

Decorating the Robert's Christmas tree

bored in the car

week 57: snow in arizona...

Monday, November 28th, 2016

Hello everyone!

Aghhh so it started snowing yesterday!! I know awful. It's so cold I'm going to perish. When I got called to Arizona I never thought I would have to deal with snow.

Monday we had our first lesson with Noah, who is being adopted by some members in our ward. He is 11 and is so cute. I'm excited to teach him! We followed up and he said he has been reading his Book of Mormon!

Tuesday we had a lesson with Sister Tuetken, who isn't in our ward anymore so we had a hand off lesson with the Elders but they didn't come...but we still had a good lesson with her and got to say goodbye. Pretty much the rest of the day we met investigators and less-actives and members in Paloma Ward. Our ward mission leader, Brother Moore came out with us at night. He is so funny. He shows no emotion, he probably thinks us sisters are crazy.

Wednesday we had district meeting and we are in a district with all Elders...so let's just say that "doppest" was said a lot in the trainings...lol. We then had a lesson with a girl named Cheyenne in Paloma Ward. She is 16 and doesn't go to church that much. We are going to help her get to church. We then had a lesson with the Tsosie family, they are in Paloma Ward. They are recent converts/less-actives. They have some disabilities and don't comprehend a lot that we are saying. They are a cute family though. We met Sister Reidhead, her family isn't active. We had a little lesson with her. They have been meeting with the missionaries for a lot time but doesn't seem like they have progressed.

Thursday was thanksgiving!! It was a good day! We volunteered at the love kitchen and served thanksgiving food. It was way fun! On our way home, our truck got a flat tire...lol. We had to call the Elders and they helped us change it. We then had our first dinner at the Nikolaus' and the Halls were over there too. We then went to the Bairds for a second dinner. And then we went to Linden with the Tregaskes for our third dinner. LOL. SO MUCH FOOD. I never knew I could eat so much. But it was a good day and I'm grateful for all the families who fed us. The thanksgiving message I shared at dinner was by Sister Reeves. She said, "To me, the greatest miracles in life are not the parting of the Red Sea, the moving of mountains, or even the healing of the body. The greatest miracle happens when we humbly approach our Father in Heaven in prayer, fervently plead to be forgiven, and then are cleansed of those sins through the atoning sacrifice of our Savior." I love this, it really is the greatest blessing/miracles that we need to be grateful for. I'm so grateful that we can change and repent to be more like our Savior.

Friday we saw Sister Mejia, she is a less-active who wants to get back to church. It's sad because so many people have social concerns about church. We then had a lesson with the Diromas, they just went through the temple and are awesome! We saw Sister Bottoms, she looks so much better than last time, she is reading the Book of Mormon everyday! Which is so awesome. We found some unbaptized kids that we are going to start teaching!

Saturday was rough cause all our appointments canceled. We did have progress and did meet a lot people. A lot of people weren't home cause of thanksgiving weekend.

Sunday all of our appointments canceled as well!! Haha no one likes us. Well we did have one lesson with the Tsosies. They had bed bugs...so that's worrisome. Pray we don't get bed bugs.

This morning I finished the Book of Mormon again!! Man I love that book. I read in less than two months, I've never read it that fast. It was for the doctrine of Christ reading that our whole mission did. I loved it. I learned so much about the doctrine of Christ on a deeper level. I know that we can be cleansed from sin as we apply the doctrine of Christ to our lives. We have everything we need to get back to our Heavenly Father & I'm so grateful for that. We can become holy, without spot because of Christ. This reading reminded me of a quote from women's conference:

"We need women who have a bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Christ." - Pres Nelson

Also when I read the Book of Mormon I have gained a stronger testimony and I noticed I was able to testify more of that blue book to others. This quote by President Benson below is so true. If you don't read that book everyday or have never read it from cover to cover, I recommend you do! It's never too late to start.

“There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path.” - president benson

ALSO. there is the new Christmas initiative video called #lighttheworld. You can find it at: mormon.org

I'm excited to serve these next 25 days in 25 ways!! Yay Christmas time!!

I hope you all have a great week! Stay warm! ️

--xo: sista fisha

Tuetkens!

Changing the tire...

thanksgiving!!

coca cola

cutest boy

first snow

SNOW