#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

#48 - Conferencia General y La Pascua (General Conference & Easter)

HAPPY EASTER! HE IS RISEN!

This week was so awesome!

We passed out food at the center de viejitos in Selma, and I realized that I've met so many people here! We ate lunch with some people between Saturday sessions and they joked that I'm actually just part of the branch now. Then we had intercambios and I got to be with Sister Fjord here in Selma! We had a really fun day and got to do service with them in Farmersville cleaning someone's yard.

Welcome to Selma sign

intercambios (exchanges)

Then we helped organize this lady's tupperware drawers and I felt like I was back home, that was always my job haha! We got a call Thursday afternoon from our zone leaders asking if we could give a training on diligence the next morning at interviews. We ended up staying up late finishing it and were pretty exhausted all weekend, but it was really fun. I learned a lot about giving everything to God, and I would recommend reading Henry B. Eyering's "Acting in all diligence" talk - SO GOOD!

CONFERENCE!! I LOVED IT SO MUCH!!! 

Sustaining a new prophet was such an incredible experience. I know that we have a living prophet called of God today. Also, I understood the spanish sessions, which was my 6 month language goal since last October's conference! We had some random street contacts show up to conference too, so awesome. I'm really excited to put in to practice what we learned, especially focusing on the Spirit and personal revelation. And I'm going to start listening to the talks all over again- I invite you all to reflect on conference and all the invitations we received and act on them! Especially Elder Ballard's invitation to write down your thoughts during the solemn assembly.

Also, rereading Matthew 28 this week was a great reminder of why we celebrate Easter. I know the Savior lives!

When you try to make eggs and it just doesn't work so Sister harris is sad

Easter, wearing new blouse from mom

*****You might see me on facebook this week, we get our smart phones friday!*****

LOVE YOU!

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704