#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