week 68: happy galentine's day

Monday, February 13th, 2017

Hiiiiiii!!!iii

Yes today is galentines day (day before Valentine's Day), if you watch parks & rec you know what I am talking about.

Still here in Show Low. I've been in the mountains foreverrrr, it has been way nice weather here though. Like warm, like I don't need to wear tights. Someone told me this week though that my legs need to see some sun...so that was nice. But yeah I am white. It's what being on a mission does to you. I can't really think of anything exciting that happened this week so I will try not to bore you.

Monday we saw the Raymonds and Trista Brewer. We found out today though that she isn't in any of our wards though...struggle.

Tuesday we dropped Jesse, which was sad. We will still see him at church though. It's just all on his timing though. We visited Tewana, we are gonna see her less cause she is pretty active now which is awesome. Clarise canceled...so we saw the Shields. They really just aren't ready to come back to church sadly.

Wednesday we saw Joanna. She didn't read the Book of Mormon so we read with her. She has some pretty good fellowship which is good. We also saw Molly. She went to the valley this weekend to tell her parents she got baptized so I hope that all goes well. She is awesome.

Thursday I was on exchanges with Sister Israelsen! So that was fun. Lots of knocking doors and no one answering. We had some good adventures though. We did see Jessica, I think we are seeing her this week before she moves as well. We showed up to Emma's lesson with a member but she wasn't home...we then had a lesson with Zach, he is doing well!

Friday was a good day. We saw the Williamsons and Aidan is cute and really smart. He liked the Book of Mormon, he was like yeah I already know it is true! We then saw the Slade kids and Sister Willis came with us.

Saturday we saw a guy named Kirby. He was a member referral so we thought he wasn't a member. Turns out he is! Haha welcome to Arizona. He doesn't remember anything though really. We taught him the restoration, he really liked our visit. We had a good conversation. His fiancé isn't a member and he just got out of rehab. He has totally changed his life around. We had a valentines dance in Show Low Ward, so we helped them with that. It was way fun and there were some nonmembers!

Sunday we gave talks in church! On charity/missionary work. It went well I think. Kirby and his fiancé came!! It was so awesome! I think he really liked it! Idk about her though. I'm really excited to work with Kirby. He really likes us, he says people have been trying to get him to church for years, but we are the only ones who have got him here.

Since it's Valentine's Day tomorrow here is a quote about love!

“Love … is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Yet it is more than the end of the rainbow. Love is at the beginning also, and from it springs the beauty that arches across the sky on a stormy day. Love is the security for which children weep, the yearning of youth, the adhesive that binds marriage, and the lubricant that prevents devastating friction in the home; it is the peace of old age, the sunlight of hope shining through death. How rich are those who enjoy it in their associations with family, friends, church, and neighbors.” - President Hinckley

In Matthew 22:36- 39 one of the Pharisees asked Christ, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Loving Him is the first great commandment. When we love Him, we will want to keep His Commandments. We share the gospel because we love Him. When we love Him - we will keep the 2nd greatest commandment as well.

I love my Savior & my Heavenly Father. I feel like the least I can do is share His message with others. God has given me so much, it's why I am here, because I love Him, His love motivates me every day.

Have an amazing week & happy Valentine's Day! I love you all ️

"For God so loVed the world
          that he gAve
               his onLy begotten Son

      that whosoEver believeth
                        iN him
        should noT
                     perIsh but
  have everlastiNg
                       lifE"
-John 3:16

--xo: sista fisha

Hitchcocks

exchanges w/ sis israelsen

valentines dance

ELK

galentine's day

week 67: day469

Monday, February 6th, 2017

Hello everyone!!

This week was good! Noah got baptized!! Not much else really happened, same old same old! We had interviews with president this morning & got donuts so that was good. Also I've got 99 more days on my mission...double digits 

Monday we visited the Raymonds, we are trying to help them get active & strengthen their faith. We also visited Sister Lambdin - a less-active. We read the Book of Mormon with her.

Tuesday was taco tuesdayyyy. Like always. We can only go for 30 mins now though. Which is better anyways. We knocked on lots of doors, no answers. Afternoons are hard. We had a lesson with Joanna! She said yes to getting baptized! We still need to work on some things with her though. She doesn't get the organization of the church - we really want to focus her on reading the Book of Mormon. She loved Molly's baptism and a lady in our ward talked to her for a while and really related with her. Basically she just needs to be an example to her kids, hopefully her husband will follow. We had a relief society activity in Show Low Ward - wow they are hilarious.

Wednesday I was on exchanges with Sister Hanson! It was a fun day with her. We taught Jesse - I think he needs time so we are probably going to drop him this week. I keep feeling like it's what we need to do. We had the best lesson with Noah - he is sooo cute. It was on temples and he was soooo excited. It was so cute. We showed him the baptismal font and he was like "it looks like a royal bath!" And at the close of the lesson he said "after this & after I get done with my homework I am going to read the whole Book of Mormon." Haha he loves the gospel. We then had a lesson with Molly. She is awesome - she got her temple recommend yesterday! And she bore her testimony during the sacrament, as well as her 7 yr old daughter. So cute!

Thursday morning we went to the Whipple's & had biscuits &gravy for groundhogs day. They do it every year and the whole town is invited. So it is a huge deal. We then had ZTM & Sis Israelsen & I did our trainings, it went well. We then had to drive all the way over to Taylor to get our phone...haha Sister Hanson took it to Taylor on accident. We had another lesson with Noah. We had a lesson with Zach - it was good. He really wants to get baptized. He is becoming more converted that's for sure.

Friday - weekly planning! We saw Jessica Mejia. She is moving to Tucson soon. She came to church with her kids this week so that was awesome. We then had a lesson with the Slade kids. We then had some trouble with scheduling of things for Noah's baptism but it all worked out. It was very stressful though.

Saturday we were asked to go to the pinewood derby. It was so intense - I'd never been to one before. We then did service for the nonmember and her daughter. Her daughter actually had taken the discussions before. They are both willing to meet with missionaries! So that was cool. They aren't in our area though. We went to lunch with Brother Phil and Jackie. And then Noah got baptized!!! It was stressful before but once I got to the church it was so peaceful. I think it was one of the most peaceful baptisms I had been to. It was small - people still came to support Noah & his brother though. It was pretty perfect, Noah had been waiting for this moment for a while. His confirmation blessing was very cool - I hope he goes on a mission one day! We had eaten so muchhhhh that day that after dinner we had to go home because my companion thought she was going to throw up, she didn't but it was close. Things we have to suffer as missionaries - food.

Sunday was good. Normal day pretty much. It was rough with everyone watching the super bowl but we did get into a few houses. People are so crazy on this day!

I started Jesus the Christ last week. I've been wanting to read it for so long but was so hesitant because it's so long & hard to understand. But I really like it!! I'm going to try to read it before general conference. (Side note I can't wait for gc!!)

Last conference, Elder Renlund said, “We may be perfected by repeatedly and iteratively exercising faith in Christ, repenting, partaking of the sacrament to renew the covenants and blessings of baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost as a constant companion to a greater degree. As we do so, we become more like Christ and are able to endure to the end, with all that that entails.”

I'm so grateful for the doctrine of Christ & that I have a knowledge of it because of the restoration. At the missionary broadcast Elder Bednar really talked about how it's not just a checklist. They are all gathered together in one. And when they are tied together, there is power & lasting conversion.

A scripture I came across this week that I like:

"O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ. Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee” (Alma 31:34–35)

I love this gospel & that I have a chance to bring precious souls unto Christ every day. Have a happy week! Love you all 

--xo: sista fisha

my baby

Exchanges with Sister Hanson

Jessica

Girl Scout cookies

Noah's baptism 

week 66: 15 months down - 15 weeks to go

Monday, January 30th, 2017

Hello again!

This week was really good & really cold. But I think I am just used to the cold so it doesn't bother me anymore. There is still tons of snow on the ground. It was just another busy week!

Monday we went to the Hill's to set up an appointment cause they keep canceling. The mom is way less-active and does wicken. So there are like potions in her house and a witches broom. So that's a little strange, but she is normal and I really like their family! Ah I just want to start teaching them!

Tuesday we had a lesson with Jesse. We talked about the Holy Ghost & receiving revelation, asked him lots of questions. I actually tried to put him on date. He wasn't having it. He is so stubborn. He thinks we were being pushy...even though I cried in the lesson...oh Jesse. Sister Hitchcock did text us after and said that he is praying more sincerely before they read so that's good. We taught Noah. He is so cute.

Wednesday we had the missionary broadcast!! It was really good. I felt like they actually talked a lot about what our mission has been talking about - our mission President is so inspired. I learned a lot how to become a better missionary. One thing that did stand out to me that Elder Oaks said was that we are called to establish the church. And when we teach the doctrine of Christ & are doing all that we can - that is assisting to establish the church. And that our plans for the day isn't my agenda - it's the Lords agenda. They talked about how we have similar callings to Apostles - we both are witnesses of Christ. I want to try my best to represent the Savior in all I do - thoughts, words and actions. That is how I can be a witness of Christ. Oh and the brethren also announced the new schedule! So my apartment has been doing it this whole transfer - President waned us to trial it. I really like it! Basically it gives us more agency & rest as well. Oh and we have longer pdays! So some pdays I might email later so don't be surprised if I email at night. And they also got rid of 5 key indicators! - now we only have 4 #blessed. It will help us focus more on our purpose. And we don't have to do daily goals. Weird. We went to Sister Gentry's house & made snow ice cream, like ice cream made out of snow. So that was pretty cool. All 3 of our appointments canceled...sad. But we did see a less-active couple, the Shields. And she is starting to work for the Moores!

Thursday I was on exchanges with Sister Lawrence! It was a fun exchange - love her. We had a lesson with Tewana and Shenia on missionary work. It was good. We met a less-active family named the Raymonds. They are awesome & want to come back to church. It was cool cause she said that we came at the perfect time - the Lord's timing is perfect. We had a lesson with Zach. We had him teach us the plan of salvation - he got it mostly right... haha.

Friday was MLC! It was a really good MLC. We talked a lot about repentance and how to teach it. I realized that I think my favorite thing to teach is repentance. We talked about how we need to be repenting ourselves. President at the end gave a powerful testimony. Love that man. So that took all day cause we went to Payson. We did ZTM planning with the Elders then. We had a lesson with a less-active family, the Williamsons. Their son isn't a member so we are starting to teach him, he is 10 & cannot concentrate. So that's rough haha.

Saturday we had breakfast at President William's with all the missionaries in the stake. Love that family. AND Molly got baptized!!! We was such a great day! Lots of people from the ward came. Even the stake president! It was funny cause an hour before the baptism she called us and she was like "don't worry I am not canceling!" The talks were good and Joanna (investigator) came with her boys! Us and Molly walked to the baptismal font & Molly was literally jumping with joy she is so cute. The water was so low...cause it was also the 8 yr old stake baptism day. And so she had to get dunked twice. In the missionary broadcast they said "when standing in a baptismal font - we are looking at the temple." I love this. That's what I was thinking when she was standing there. I'm excited to go to the temple with her! Sister clipp & I taught the restoration while she was getting ready & we did an awesome job, just saying. We have cookies &milk afterwards. It was a good day, the Spirit was strong. The Moores bought her scriptures which I was so happy about! We had two dinners that night, the second one was with Daniel & Teara. She is not a member, he is a less-active. Anyways we asked her if she would be interested in meeting with us & she was really hesitant. She started opening up when we asked her questions. Her brother was murdered 6 months ago & it felt right to teach the plan of salvation instead of the restoration so we did. The Spirit was so strong the whole time and Teara's face was lighting up more as we taught. When we told her she chose Christ before this life, she smiled big. The truths we speak really do touch their heart to help them remember from earlier days. At the end we asked if she wanted to meet with us and she said yes 

Sunday was good, Molly got confirmed!! We went to Show Low Ward right after cause the Raymonds were coming and we wanted to be there for them. We also taught sharing time in primary. That was fun. Noah had his baptismal interview & totally passed! Noah was sooo loud and outgoing in primary, which was good cause normally he is quiet. We contacted the Munoz-Arroya family. They are a PMF. We are going to start teaching them! 

I read a book this week called Power to Become by Elder Bednar. It was way good. He got the phrase from D&C 11:30 that says, "But verily, verily, I say unto you, that as many as receive me, to them will I give power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on my name. Amen." Elder Bednar at the missionary broadcast actually said some things that were also in his book. He said "The power of godliness is manifest by priesthood ordinances. Get this in your head and you will not be scared to invite someone to be baptized." I loved reading this chapter. I know that we do need to enter into the gate of baptism to really gain full access to Christ's atonement & to press forward in life, having joy.

The Book reminded me of a couple quotes:

"The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts--what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts--what we have become." - Elder Oaks

“It is one thing to know about God and another to know him. We know about him when we learn that he is a personal being in whose image man is created; when we learn that the Son is in the express image of his Father’s person; when we learn that both the Father and the Son possess certain specified attributes and powers. But we know them, in the sense of gaining eternal life, when we enjoy and experience the same things they do. To know God is to think what he thinks, to feel what he feels, to have the power he possesses, to comprehend the truths he understands, and to do what he does. Those who know God become like him, and have his kind of life, which is eternal life.” - Elder Mcconkie

I know we wouldn't be able to become like God if it wasn't for the Atonement. Elder Scott said, "He gave His life so that you can change your life." so true so true.

And Elder Holland says it best, "however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made. I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.”

Remember you CAN change. Choose to change & let the Atonement change you. Have an awesome week! Love all of you!

--xo: sista fisha

Zone conference

icicles

snow ice cream

Exchanges with Sister Lawrence

Molly's baptism!!

week 65: I MET AN APOSTLE OF THE LORD

Monday, January 23rd, 2017

Hello Everyone!

Oh man this week has been amazing...definitely one of the most memorable weeks on my mission cause I got to meet Elder Dallin H. Oaks!!!! It's been a crazy week so here we go.

Monday we had dinner with the Ruberts, they aren't in our ward anymore but they wanted to feed us. I love them. We then saw the Slade kids. We had a good lesson with them and brought a laurel with us. They just need to come to church! The kids prayers are always the best. We got a call from Jessica and basically she went to the valley for a bit because her husband is in jail...so that's sad.

Tuesday was good. We had a lesson with Tewana and Shenia on ways to study our scriptures. I totally made Shenia cry. We went tracting in the apartments because my companion needs practice with TTIs and such. She hates talking to people, it's actually pretty funny. We did meet a potential and we also met a less-active that wants to meet with us! We then went by some less-actives to make an appointment.

Wednesday we saw Jesse. I don't know how to get through to him! I asked him a lot of questions and he gets defensive and stubborn fast. I feel like he is fighting the Spirit or something. We had a lesson with Joanna and she read some of the Book of Mormon! We taught her the plan of salvation. She is progressing but her husband is totally holding her back which is sad. Molly then had her baptismal interview and totally passed!! She is awesome. She is keeping all of her commitments and even paid tithing on Sunday and is doing laundry and other things on Saturday to keep the sabbath day holy! She is such an example to me.

Thursday we drove to the valley a couple days early because show low was going to get a huge snow storm so President wanted us to leave early. And it's true they got like 10 inches I think. So we drove down there - & went straight to chick fil a duh! And then we had an amazing opportunity to go to the Gilbert temple!!!  it was so beautiful and amazing! The temple was just what I needed. But really I felt like a queen in that temple because it looked like a castle. Then we went to get cafe rio with some sisters. Then we went proselyting with some sisters that we were staying with - Sister Johnson & Woolbert. They were great hosts. They are serving in Scottsdale YSA. It was weird going to nice houses & apartments again! I feel like I'm just so use to trailer parks now.

Friday we had zone conference! It was really good & I learned/ was reminded a lot. We practiced teaching the restoration & it was helpful. We also talked about the Holy Ghost. What would we do without the Holy Ghost, I am not sure at all. President read John 14:16 & it stood out to me. "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever." Abide means to continue without fasting or being lost. We can have the influence of the Spirit to be with us always & to not fade but be there just like He was the day we got confirmed. It rained like all Friday which I loved. At night we contacted in old town in the rain. It was a lot of fun, I was with Sister Woolbert. She is also from Seattle area!

Saturday the whole mission got together to meet Elder Oaks! Note that this is the first time our whole mission has been together since I have been out so it was really exciting. Elder Wickman of the 70 also joined him. So we were all in the gym waiting for him to come in to take a picture with him. We were singing songs to prepare. As we were singing "Called to Serve," Elder Oaks walks in & I just felt the Spirit his me so hard. I could believe there was an apostle of the Lord standing right in front of us! We then all got to shake his hand! I was smiling so big when I did! He later told us that as he did that he was looking into our eyes and that there is something in us that shines into our countenance that shows our obedience and dedication. I thought that was really cool & a huge compliment to our mission. We sang "How Firm a Foundation" to him & I could see him the whole time singing a lot with us. He was so cute! It was truly an amazing experience being able to receive counsel from an apostle. It was so inspiring. I can't put into words everything he said but I want to share some of the most inspiring for me! First he did talk about religious freedom & that if we don't have democracy then we don't have religious freedom. He talked about how this is not our mission but His mission. It's so true, it is His work according to His own time table. I know that God has been preparing me to serve His mission to help His children. He left 45 minutes for questions. Something that stood out to me is how simple the gospel is; Elder Oaks made it so simple. I think we were all looking for huge insights & answers but they were all so simple. God doesn't keep mysteries for us. He doesn't leave us alone in the dark. He said to keep your covenants and keep the commandments & you'll grow into what He wants you to become. He told us to partake of the sacrament worthily and humbly. And I love that he said love overrides everything. Charity is not what we do but what we become. Elder Oaks is so converted and dedicated. You can see & feel it. I could feel His calling & that he was a man called by God. Also I didn't realize how funny Elder Oaks is. Here are some funny quotes I have to share:

"Bald is beautiful"

"Make your questions general because I am a general authority"

"Psalm of Solomon is biblical trash"

"I can't hear women, don't put that on the internet!"

Later that day we contacted at the lake. It was such a nice day. The valley is so nice. Also I tried running after a goose - I don't recommend doing that because I almost died! I had to literally run for my life! We then went to dinner at Lo Los and had chicken and waffles. And Kari from Jerusalem ate with us! It was so fun seeing her!! We then went all the way to cave creek to proselyte.

Sunday was awesome because Sister Gulley and I got to go to our old ward for sacrament - Larkspur Ward! It was so fun seeing everyone! It honestly didn't even feel like I had left. And it was a total miracle because the Debeckendorffs were there!! We used to teach them. I guess they moved away but just moved back & they decided to come to church. It's no coincidence that we were both here! We introduced them to the missionaries serving there. God's timing truly is perfect. We drove back up the mountain & it is such a pretty drive! We had a lesson with Molly on temples. She is so cute and wants to get endowed in the salt lake temple - I'm totally going to be there. We also found 3 new investigators last night, the Martinez family! They are pretty solid & we are excited to start teaching them!

In D&C 88:67 it says, “And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.” To have your eye single to the glory of God means to have your focus completely on God's purpose. This is also my purpose as a missionary which is pretty cool.

Oh & I finished the New Testament last night!! I have come to know my Savior more & I am so grateful for Him. Brother Ashton said, "The doctrine of Christ on the other hand is the means--the only means--by which we can obtain all of the blessings made available to us through Jesus’s Atonement. It is the doctrine of Christ that allows us to access the spiritual power that will lift us from our current spiritual state to a state where we can become perfected like the Savior." The doctrine of Christ is how we can access the atonement fully & to eventually live with Heavenly Father again which is the greatest gift.

I'm grateful for my mission. Every day on my mission is a monumental day. There is nothing I'd rather be doing. I hope you all have a blessed week!

--xo: sista fisha

Gilbert Temple

Elder Oaks & whole mission

Contacting around a lake

chicken & waffles w/ kari

racing a lamborghini

Scottsdale sunrise

Reunited with the Debeckendorffs