#62 - Coming Home

On Friday I returned home from serving as  a missionary. I got a lot worse since my last email and we thought that it would be best for me to come home and recover. I'm extremely weak, really shaky, and it's difficult for me to move around without getting a shortness of breath.

Monday I crashed during district council and we spent the night at the mission home since I had a doctor's appointment the next day in Fresno. 4 other sisters ended up spending the night and it was fun to see everyone, I was completely exhausted though. Tuesday I went to the doctor and got some more blood work done. Around 2 we started heading back to Los Banos but I felt awful and had to lay down the whole car ride. I didn't get any energy back until 8:30 that night. Wednesday we texted the mission president's wife and told her that I was getting progressively worse. President Mackay called and suggested that I come back down to Fresno to be close by if anything were to happen. We were all really worried that I would have to be hospitalized. I came in and immediately had to sit down. I talked to Sister Mackay and we discussed how the doctor didn't really know what was up and it would probably take a while to recover, that it was probably time to go home.

Thursday I woke up and could run for 5 minutes but then felt awful again. I spent most of the day on the couch, but everyone was so sweet. There were a few sisters  in the area who stopped by to say bye, and a few others were sick. So at one point there was a party of 8 sisters at the Mackay's house. We were all just sitting on the couches saying, "What even is today? What even is this transfer?". Even with all the sickness and sadness, we were laughing, and I know that we can find joy in every situation! Even on the ride down to Fresno we were blasting Mormon tabernacle Choir and laughing.

I got to talk to President and have a last interview with him, and then I got to cut a tie. The Kerman hermanas came to spend the night since Hermana Reid was going to stay with them for a few days. The next morning we got up and I went to the airport. After a day of travel I made it home to my family.Everyone was there, even Chelsey had flown in from Utah. 

I'm still not really sure what's wrong, my symptoms haven't really changed in the last couple of days, but I'm going to the doctor again today. I just want to share with you all how much peace I feel right now. I don't know God's plan perfectly, but I know that I completed the mission that He gave me. I know that I still have a life full of service ahead. I know that my Savior lives and loves us. The gospel is true, the Book of Mormon is true. If you pray, Heavenly Father will hear your prayers. and if you read the scriptures, you will receive His answers for you. I am so grateful that God gave me the opportunity to serve, it has changed my life forever. Thank you all for you love and support!

Sincerely,

Marin Fisher

My new email is 2.mfisher@gmail.com

My phone number is 6308009793

#61 - This week was pretty weird!

Sorry that I didn't send pictures last week!

Harbor Freight, Dad!
[Her father enjoys this store]

This brother in the ward who invites
us over to eat ice cream outside

Fourth of July bom-pops

So you all might have heard, I have not been feeling well. I'm just really exhausted (more than a normal missionary) and we're not really sure what's up. Because of that I was in a lot this week. But we still saw miracles!

Meeting Modesto Sisters

On Monday, we visited this man who had shown up as a nearby potential on the area book planner app. We had contacted him once briefly before. He had read the title page, introduction, testimony of 3 and 8 witnesses, and the testimony of joseph smith in the book of mormon!! And he just wants to learn. I have never seen anyone with such a desire to learn truth. That same evening, this lady called asking us to come help, and then another friend called wanting us to come over. She ended up telling us that she had found another church for her mom and her, but she really wants to keep reading the book of mormon and talking to us. She's going to get baptized one day!

Burger King (Thank you mom!)
[I found out Los Banos has BK, KFC, Wendy's, McDonald's
A&W, and Taco Bell, so sent her a couple gift cards]

I know the Book of Mormon is true. If you're not reading it everyday, do it. It will change your life. There are so many big things that we try to change in our lives to be better, but it comes from the 

small daily decisions to read and pray.

Best Ward mission leader ever gets us 7/11 free slurpees

This Tongan family invites us over for dinner, we did not know that it was a birthday party.
Tongan birthday party= cooking a whole pig!

I love you all so much! Thank you so much for the prayers!

--

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704

#60 - Happy 4th of July!

Sorry I totally ran out of time today! But highlights

Received this pic from my sister, whose friend's parents are serving in Fresno,
and took Marin and her companion to lunch on the 4th.

4th of July- Los banos does no city fireworks so a bunch of people just do illegal ones and we sat on our back porch and watched them. And we went to a BBQ with some members and it was so much fun!

Friday- Met some missionaries from Modesto! We carpooled with a few sisters from Turlock. In their mission they had to wear cardigans to every meeting, I'm very grateful that we don't have to haha. They are so cool! And we'll get to know them more tomorrow at zone conference.

I've been a bit sick this week so hopefully I'll have more to say next week.

Love you all!!

--

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704

[Also good news: one of Marin's mission delays was because they discovered she had low platelet count, but today she found out it's much higher!]

#59 - Putting miles on the car

Time in the car

 In ward council on Sunday we just told everyone that we weren't in Los Banos this week! We went to Kerman, Chowchilla twice, Merced twice, and Selma! I realized that long drives make me sleepy. We had exchanges, and then we needed to pick up our license plate, and Rosalia got baptized!! We drove to Fresno yesterday and President Mackay let us use his car to drive the rest of the way to Selma. That was a fun experience!

Rosalia's baptism! Hermana Salguero, Hermana deLeon, and Elder Lopez

Rosalia was so cute! She was first taught by the elders before Hermana Oldroyd and I got there. We taught her, and then stopped teaching her for a bit, and then started teaching her again right before I left. It was so incredible to see just how God prepared her, how it was finally her time to make that promise. She has such a strong testimony. She has had some health problems, but every trial just shows her how much God loves her and how she needs to endure. I love her so much! And I got to see the Selma crew again and direct the music.

Buying artichockes

Exchanges! I got to be with Sister Cate who was in my BYU ward! She's an english missionary, but she took spanish in high school and they got put into a ward that has spanish members in it, so she's been learning it and she's doing great! It was super fun to reconnect. Also, her old area has a couple in it who served in our ward mission leader's mission with him. And he had been meaning to reach out to them recently. I love how God just directs everything, no coincidences, just divine design!

Exchanges!

This week I learned a lot about ministering to others. Often we think of missionary work as leaving the apartment at 11 each day, teaching and talking to people, and returning at 9 pm. But God is in the business of saving people, not just teaching them or doing administrative things. We had the opportunity to really reach out to some people this week and help them feel God's love. If a whole day is spent and we only feel like we touched one person, that's ok. It's like the story of the star fish. A man going along the shore throws a few starfish that are starting to dry up back into the ocean. Another man asks, "Why do you do that? You can't save all of them!". Throwing one in, the first man replies, "I know, but it means the world to that one". This week try to find someone everyday who you can really touch. Sunday School was about prayer and how we can be answers to others' prayers. If you're willing to listen and act, God is going to tell you who needs you today.

We went to the Michoacana store and they took the picture of Jesus on the Plan of Salvation pamphlets and changed it up a bit, it's kind of weird.

 --

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704

#58 - LOS BOM-OS

This week we focused a TON on the Book of Mormon. We were invited to read "Small and Simple things" from April 1990 General Conference, and we realized that honestly, we can do fun activities and try to do lots of stuff to keep people converted, but real conversion comes from reading the scriptures and praying everyday. I am convinced that if you read the Book of Mormon everyday and pray, you will not fall away.  There is so much power in this book. If you are going through ANYTHING in your life right now, pick it up (or go to mormon.org and request a free one) and open it up to any page. It was written for you, today. We're going to work on the Book of Mormon with everyone here, hence the name change from Los Banos to Los BOM-os (Book Of Mormon). We were talking to our ward mission leader about a plan the other day and his whole family was getting super excited about reading it and doing family history. I'm so excited to see this area just explode!

Other than that we had another car miracle: We were driving to Panda for dinner with a member, and we saw a mini van roll about 10 yards ahead of us. They ran a red and in trying to swerve they lost control. Luckily, it didn't hit any other vehicles, and there was an ambulance right behind us, there before anyone could even call 9-1-1. God is looking out for all of us children! Thank you again for all of your prayers!

Sorry for not a ton of pictures: This is the Dinosaur that Hermana Reid and Hermana Oldroyd got for having the cleanest car at zone conference. We gave him a marker and post its to write down miracles and quotes

Also, we learned how to make tortillas this week:
amazar- to knead

se infla - It's inflating (the tortilla

Un tortillador- tortilla press

This member took a video of me explaining how to make them, we'll see if I can get a copy.

Love you!!

--

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704

#57 - WELCOME TO LOS BANOS

Saying goodbye to Selma!

I LOVE THIS TOWN!! I've just felt so loved already. The first day I was here we got a text from the Bishop's wife asking when we would be coming by so that they could meet me, and the people here are incredible. It's so different though! I asked Hermana Reid how much Spanish/ English it was and she said, 95% English and 5% Tongan with some Spanish thrown in. Haha I love it so much. I sang a hymn in english on sunday, and I gave a talk in english, and I ate food from ...well Tonga! But we've also been teaching a bunch of people in spanish here, they're hoping to start a spanish branch. 

Hermana Reid!

Also, we live in a house? And on the way back from transfer hub our car had reached the mileage limit so we got a brand new one. I feel super duper spoiled.

We live in a house!!!

It's super fun too, because my cousin Sister Jeppeson served in Los Banos a little over a year ago! And it's been fun putting in records and seeing all that has happened. 

Miracles: we went to see a potential, and we got out of the car and met this man named Jesse, and we had such a good discussion with him and he wants to teach his nephew. We just really felt that we were guided by the Spirit this week.

I met Sister Laguna, and she said, is this the famous Sister Fisher?? Her son in law trained my dad when he started his mission!!

The world is small, and I love it. I know that our Savior, Jesus Christ lives. And I am grateful for our Heavenly Father who works everyday to mold us into who He wants us to be. Love you all!

 -- 

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704

#56 - I'm actually leaving SELMA!!!

 [Hermana Fisher's grammar and spelling is getting worse! LOL!]

Saying goodbye to the YW

I'm going to Los Baños!!! It's the northern part of our mission (at least until Modesto joins with us in July). I'm super excited. It's really bittersweet, because Selma has literally become my home. This week all the seniors graduated, and I realized that I'd been here pretty much the entire school year. I' ve come to love so many people here, but I know that God needs me to love and serve people in another part of Fresno. Last Tuesday, President Mackay came with us to teach someone, and afterwords he let us know about transfers early- but then we had to wait to tell everyone until last night when we got them officially! We had a really great lesson with him and this man about family history, and yesterday he started putting together the names of his parents to go do baptisms for them!

Car selfie!

this week was CRAZY! We went to Farmersville on Tuesday, and then we went to Hanford on Wednesday to fix our car. there was this weird ticking noise, but we got to drive the pepboys lady around to show her and while we were on a test drive, we had a great conversation about the bible, mini missionary moment! haha when we were younger we used to talk about missionary experience like they only happened every once in a while, but I've realized being a missionary, that every time that we talk to someone it is an opportunity to share the gospel and help them feel God's love.

All things denote there is a God

MIRACLES! So last summer BEFORE I got to Selma, the elders were teaching this lady named Rosalia. Hermana Oldroyd and I taught her daughters for a few months, but then we stopped teaching them. We came back every once in a while, but it wasn't really there time yet. She knows a recent convert and she came to church with her two weeks back so we came by and invited her to be baptized June 30th, really boldly. She said she'd think about it and then the same recent convert went over with the elders and she just said, "I'm getting baptized June 30th, I haven't even told my family or the hermanas yet". AHHH!!!! And she came to church yesterday!!!! MILAGROS!!! I know that people are ready in their own time and I'm so excited.

Other transfer news: Hermana Harris is going to Farmersville, where she'll actually serve in her aunt's ward, and Hermana deLeon is staying in Selma with Hermana Salguero. I'll be with Hermana Reid!

I hope you all have a fantastic week!

-- 

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704

#55 - Elephants

BUENAS TARDES!!

[These are Marin's photo shoot in a walker]

Wednesday we went to Visalia and Farmersville and did a little day exchange! MIRACLE this man that just got baptized in Visalia had a bunch of seizures this past weekend and ended up in the hospital. But while we were there visiting him, he got his results back and there is absolutely NO SIGN of brain damage. And his dad was praying for him to get better and said that if he did, he would start going to church, so now he wants to hear from the missionaries!! 

So on Thursday, we were completely out of miles and it was the last day of the month. So we got a ride up to Selma from the Brandts, and then we walked around all day to all of our appointments! And we saw so many miracles from it. We ran into a bunch of people who were interested in learning more, and there was a nice breeze, and we could tell that God was blessing us for not going over miles. 

Exchanges!!

Friday we had a meeting in Fresno and we talked a lot about being genuinely energetic and optimistic. Not just a fake "pep rally" kind of optimism, but a true joy that comes from a knowledge of the doctrine of Christ. We broke it down into how teaching people simple truths, like prayer, helps them find joy. I encourage you all to find true joy this week. Reflect on the doctrine of Christ, (Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End), and how it brings you lasting happiness.

Elder Zornes' birthday dinner at the Brandts

We got to watch the "Be One" devotional on Friday and the youth devotional on Sunday. If you haven't watched them, please do! They were so good. I was really inspired by how this gospel truth is really being carried all over the world. God loves all of His children no matter what.

Juice box quote

Love you all!!

Spanish phrase for the week:

Siga adelante como el elefante

(Keep going like the elephant) Elephants can only walk forward, so it means to keep looking forward and living and improving, not focusing on the past.

Equation for how to be senior missionary

decorating the car​

--

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704

#54 - Memorial Day

Setting up flags for memorial day

 Setting up flags.

I realized that this was my first "normal" memorial day. [That means no marching in a parade!]   It's in the 90s and is supposed to be in the 100s this week. Welcome to Fresno! 

This week had intercambios! And I learned to FOLLOW THE SPIRIT. SIEMPRE!!!

Last week, because Hermana deLeon was in Corcoran, we went ahead and did our normal exchanges and decided to do another one this week so she could go with Hermana Vergara. We went down to Farmersville and did studies. Then we went to leave and we couldn't find Hermana deLeon's tiwi (And ID card needed to drive) anywhere. We prayed and searched and finally we remembered that it was in Corcoran, so God answered our prayer in finding it! But we were in Visalia and Hermana Vergara also didn't have a tiwi. We then started to realize that 1) we never prayed to confirm that we had made the right exchanges decisions and 2) We had all had some sort of little thought that morning like, "Maybe I should bring extra clothes just in case" or "maybe exchanges should be different". But none of us listened! The Spirit chastized us..... So we decided that I would stay in Farmersville since I had my tiwi. And that time, we prayed, and looked up a verse in the Book of Mormon, and we felt good about it. That just meant that I got to wear Hermana Smith's clothes to zone conference! Moral of the story though: ALWAYS FOLLOW THE SPIRIT. Since then, in our companionship, we've been sharing every thought that comes to mind, even if you don't know if it's the Spirit, if it's good it probably is. FOLLOW IT.

Sister Cate (From my freshmen BYU ward) and Sister Buchanan at zone conference

Zone Conference was incredible! For the first time, we split off into English and Spanish for a few trainings. It was really cool to talk about spanish specific things and use our mission language. And we got a ride from President and Sister Mackay on the way down!

-- 

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704

#53 - HELLO EVERYONE!

HELLO EVERYONE!!

We went up to this apartment complex, and Hermana Harris felt that we shouldn't knock on this one door, so we skipped it and talked to some other people. As we were walking back, we ran into two guys and talked to them about the Book of Mormon, and they said that we could come back on Sunday. Then they walked into that apartment that we had been in and we were all a bit confused why we were prompted NOT to knock on it. We came back yesterday and while we were there teaching the two guys, there was another woman cooking and she came out for a bit and had some great questions. We think that she was the only one there before, and she is very set in her religion and probably would have rejected us if we knocked. But when she was just there listening to us teaching about Christ, she was really open to it. And then they offered us dinner afterwords and we have some new friends! God works in mysterious ways!

Also, we had a meeting in Fresno on Friday and I got to see Hermana Oldroyd again! Sorry I didn't take any other pictures, I'll repent and get better haha!

Love you all!

--

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704

#52 - HAPPY SUMMER!

HAPPY SUMMER!!!!

President Mackay bookmarks [He's their mission president]

It got up to the 90s this week- we're all getting ready for summer! 

This week we went on a little exchange with the sisters in Visalia - Sister Ferrell and Sister Morse. We talked to this really cool guy named Ralph, who took lessons from missionaries 15 years ago after his wife passed away. He writes poems and was going to write us all limericks. He shared a quote - I won't borrow from tomorrow, I won't be downcast about the past, I'll just saw WOW for now- He taught me that day. Just give everything you have now and don't worry about the past or future, it's all in God's hands.

exchanges

We went out to Caruthers and had a sweet experience with a family. The parents are both return missionaries that got back a few years ago. We shared Jacob 5:72 and then without even asking them the husband said, "You know, I haven't been doing as much missionary work since I got home, and I really feel like I should call Rosa". Then they texted us an hour later and said that they had called her and she wanted to listen! Missionary work works!! I'm so grateful that we followed the prompting to go and visit them.

We also did service for the "Selma Beautification Day". I hadn't been that dirty in  a long time. We weeded and planted flowers (I've learned more about yard work on my mission that in my whole life) and then cleaned out this barn from 1906. Super fun!

We knocked on this random door and asked to use this lady's bathroom, and she had this picture in her front room - it looks just like the First Vision! We shared the experience with her and it was pretty cool!

I started reading the Book of Mormon this week again, and we've been really focusing on it recently with all of the members. There's this one couple where the husband can't read very well since he didn't go to school at all growing up. It was really sweet to watch the wife help him out, and we promised him that if he read the book of Mormon everyday that his reading would improve. I would encourage you all to read the Book of Mormon. If you're already in it, keep reading, and if you haven't picked it up in a while, start again, and if you've never read it or don't have one, go to mormon.org and request a free one! I know that this book is true. And without it I would not have the peace and knowledge that I have of my Savior and His love.

And transfer calls came......We're all staying! I keep telling people that I'm never leaving Selma haha!

*correction, no coffee is the best coffee on the interstate

Love you all!!

--

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704

#51 - Just a normal missionary day/Everyone knows Bob

So Saturday:

We started off by serving at the Kingsburg Auto Show. We felt like we were in the 50s, all these classic cars and old music that we were trying not to listen to, it was fun to see everything and serve!

Then we went to the temple with the branch. A whole bunch of recent converts got to do baptisms for the first time, and there was such a peaceful feeling inside. Lots of primary kids stayed outside and colored pictures of the temple and talked about it. If you haven't been to the temple recently, I encourage you to go, and to bring your kids as well so they can feel the spirit of the temple from outside and have a goal of where to go one day.

Then we were informed that our investigator Moses was in critical condition in the hospital. We called up the elders serving nearby and asked them to give him a blessing. He ended up passing away while they were in the waiting room. But they were able to be there with the family and give him a blessing. They shared with us that it was a very sweet experience. I know that missionary work continues on the other side, our job here is to prepare people to come to Christ, and even after we pass away we still have the opportunity to learn and progress and become more like God.

Then afterwords we met up with our other friend and he wanted to play basketball while we taught. He stopped after a rebound, paused, and said, "I want to follow God, I'm going to do it. I'm going to get baptized".  SUCH A MIRACLE!! I've seen so many changes in him already, and I'm so excited for him to get baptized and start over following Christ.

And all of that happened in one day...we came home and crashed that night. I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week!

I'll send some pictures next week, I think I put my phone on overload trying to upload, still trying to figure it out!

Hermana Marin Fisher & Elder Dietrich

p.s. At the temple on Saturday, there was a group of Vietnamese members from San Jose. Part of the group was a senior missionary, Elder Dietrich (Not vietnamese) who started talking to the senior couple serving in my branch. ( The Brandts, who used to live near Naperville). They told him to talk to me and he asked, "Sister Fisher, do you know Bob?". I started laughing and said, "Everyone knows Bob!". He got baptized into the Fox Valley Ward 38 years ago, just a few months after Grandpa became stake president. Small world!

--

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704

#50 - Raisin Capital of the World

[Note from Marin's Mom: You may have noticed that Marin's English, particularly spelling, is getting worse.  This is normal for missionaries who learn another language.  I purposely try to not correct her grammatical/spelling errors so you may see the change.]

Looks like she got a mangonada, yum!

 This week we had exchanges. We went down to Visalia and had some great experiences teaching some people. Zone conference was all about technology and  being ministers. Our job is to help others come unto Christ, reaching out to ALL whom we see.

our little group that came in together!

We've been teaching this man named Fernando everyday. He has some great questions and we've learned a lot about planning for people and their needs. At first, he said that he'd never opened the bible and wouldn't pray. But last time he prayed and wanted to keep reading in the Book of Mormon. Change and the atonement of Jesus Christ is real!

Last Monday we went to the Sun-Maid raisin gift store! We literally live in the raising capital of the world and when will you ever have the chance to see the biggest raising box in the world again?

Also Update on Facebook: We're still a bit confused on whether or not we can can message people we knew before hand (family/friends). President explained a bit about teaching those we knew from home, and we've read that we can do so if our companions are also on the chat. Our purpose is to help people prepare to meet the local missionaries. We're still figuring it out, so if I don't respond that's why.

-- 

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704

#49 - Hermana Fisher doesn't know how to use a smartphone....

Us at the mission office

So on Friday we got smartphones! And like the title suggests, I have no idea how to use it haha. We were setting them up and I told everyone that I'd never had one and they all just looked confused.  The way it works is that one of the phones in the companionship has the SIM card and can call and use data, and the others are more like tablets than can use wifi. MISSIONARY WORK IS SO COOL WITH TECHNOLOGY!! There's all these interactive apps that we can use for teaching and showing videos, it's way easier to contact people that work a lot, and it just shows how God is hastening His work, and He wants us to be creative in spreading the gospel. In the push in our mission to be Agents unto Ourselves, our mission president didn't give a lot of guidelines, just the standards of the church and Safeguard for Using Technology. We'll be able to go on Facebook (not for just chatting back and forth, but if  you have questions about Christ or what we do as missionaries feel free to ask!).

Us and Sister Grammar and Sister Cate - Sorry we're all squinting, but Sister Cate was in my BYU freshmen ward!!

For about 2 months we've been preparing for technology by learning more about our purpose as missionaries and safeguards. One of my favorite lines was Elder Bednar saying that when we have something to do, turn the device on, and when you've finished that purpose, turn it off. I know that before my mission I would just scroll through Facebook or Pinterest, and waste a lot of time. I'd encourage you all to look at how much you use technology and if you're always being effective while you're on, we can really bring  a lot of light to people using technology!

When you have 5 types of jellies in your fridge...

Stake Conference Milagros: We tried out our ward mission leader's neighbor a few months ago, but they weren't really interested. Then we went to walk with his wife one morning and we saw a man outside and started talking to him. He's a son who just moved in recently. We had a great conversation with him and showed him "Wrong Roads" (One of my favorite mormon messages) and have taught him twice. Here's a link to the video: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-09-016-wrong-roads?lang=eng

His nephew was there for one of the lessons and he showed up at stake conference on Sunday! And a less active brought a recent convert. So awesome!

I know that this really is God's work, and what we share as missionaries is more important than anything else in the world. Love you all!

--

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704