#24 - New area, New companion, New miracles!

Saying goodbye to my companions ( I didn't go to transfer Hub, they just dropped me off in Fresno with the other sisters)

Sister Morse and Sister Kelly! Sister Morse and I have now been half companions 3 times, when we came out together, my second day when we randomly crashed a funeral, and this week

Biggest news of the week was transfers! For two days I stayed with some English sisters near Fresno while waiting for my new companion. It was so weird because I ate English food and afterwards I was actually hungry because I was so used to eating rice, beans, and meat every night at dinner haha! Sister Kelly and Sister Morse are awesome, and we loved being in a trio. 

Our 'Squad' of missionaries: T-shirts say Tacocat spelled backwards is tacocat

Wednesday was a really fun birthday! I got to go to the temple, which was so incredible, and we taught lots of lessons (So weird teaching in English all day), and this family made homemade pizzas that night for us. Then we went home and baked a cake and brought it over to a different family, who actually isn't even in these Sisters' ward because of weird boundaries, but is their neighbor in this apartment complex, and just sort of had a birthday party with them! I have never celebrated with complete strangers before but it was so much fun. They were a young couple and had met on their missions and were so funny!

Baking a cake for members

Hermana Oldroyd!

Thursday I went to the mission office and we had some trainings, then we met our new companions! We walked in and sang to them and then president called up different groups and had us all move around. My companion is Hermana Oldroyd! She's from Orem, she went to BYU this past year as well and stayed in Heritage (but we never met). She's super sweet and fun. I also got to see Elder Israelson from Naperville and we took a Chicago picture. Then we were given a set of keys and an address and headed over to Selma! (We had to walk around the parking lot seeing which car would light up). We sort of drove past the apartment a few times, but we figured some things out. It's definitely different being doubled in (When you're both new to an area) but we're learning together! The branch is so sweet here, immediately people were offering to help us out. .They haven't had sister missionaries in over 6 years! They were so excited that we came. So there's an English ward the the English elders cover, and then there's a spanish branch, which is pretty much the entire Hanford stake. So we cover Selma and Kingsburg, and the other spanish elders cover Parlier and some other cities. 

Chicago taking Fresno by Storm! Elder Mederos, Elder Israelson, and I

I was suddenly very grateful for a district meeting where we role played getting doubled into an area. We went through the book and planned, and went out and taught lots of people that night! We met lots of members and investigators, there's definitely a lot of work to do here. 

Sunday was stake conference, and I realized that I didn't know almost any of the missionaries there, I've been up north in Fresno West for so long it's crazy!

We shared with a lot of people the message of the Good Samaritan, specifically how the man came down from Jerusalem to Jericho (on the map it's up a mountain) and how Christ always comes down to us to build us up. When we help people, we can't always pull them up with a rope, but we need to go down to where they are and be with them every step, because that's what Christ did. I just really loved that, that's how we really show that Christlike Charity.

#23 - This week we hit a wall (literally)

It was actually a pretty great week!

Probably the best package I could have ever gotten- Love you Mom and Dad!
[BTW-It's all fortune cookies!]

First off- Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes!!!

Harry Potter scar

The title comes from our adventure Saturday night, transfer calls came after lights out, (I'M GETTING TRANSFERRED!) so we were sitting in the dark and I went up to check if the door was locked and I ran into the corner of the wall. My forehead started  bleeding and we were worried that I needed to go get stitches, but we called the nurse and it actually wasn't that  bad. And it doesn't hurt anymore, I just look like Harry Potter, I already have my Halloween Costume! We also called President because we thought that we were going to the hospital, but he didn't pick up. So then he called back the next morning and said he would just tell me then that I'm going to Selma and training!! It's going to be quite the adventure but I'm so excited! Sister Feldman said it was like the Nanny Mcphee quote that when they want you but no longer need you you have to leave, I'm going to miss Madera so much! We also found out that the other elders are staying zone leaders but training in a trio,  and they're sending two more elders to Madera 3, so there will be 7 missionaries in this ward! 

So we Tortilla'd the other missionaries' apartment, and then they tortilla'd it back, but they were nice and numbered all of them.

Finally ate an Elote! (or Pelote, still don't know exactly what they're called, but it's so good!)

Yesterday at church was such a miracle! Joanna came!! For the first time since I've been here!! She's so cute. Then we taught Young Women's about Christlike attributes. There's this great talk called the Character of Christ that we heard at the MTC. We shared a story about a lady who right after hearing about the death of her daughter, she reached out to other people to make sure that their families were taken care of. When our first instinct is to look outward instead of inward, that's when we're acting like Christ, and it's a way of living, not just "doing" good things. It was  a good lesson for all of us, I absolutely loved studying for it. Christ is the perfect example of love, and I'd encourage you all to look for ways to reach out to others this week like he would. 

#22 - The biggest game of connect the dots...

Happy Monday!

Found the Young Women values in a thrift store.

Someone's trunky...[This is funny because trunky typically means you're feeling lazy
and are ready to go home from your mission.]

This week our Sister Training leaders who are in Los Banos had some extra miles, so they decided to do an extra exchange with us and the Valentine Sisters, so Sister Malpica stayed with the three of us, and Sister Whitney went with Valentine. It was kind of funny to go around teaching as 4 missionaries, but it was good! When we all met up in the afternoon so they could drive back, we had some people in our apartment, some next door at the Valentine sister's apartment, and some outside. But we could all see and hear another missionary, so we called it a big game of connect the dots :)

Conference was amazing! And in between this family in the English Madera ward fed all the missionaries in our district lunch, they were so sweet! As missionaries, we decided to do our special thank you song that we always do at zone conferences for people who make food for us. We brought in the piano and sang called to serve with lots of enthusiasm! Then the elders had a baptism for Lorena, this sweet, older lady who could not stop smiling the whole weekend. We taught the interlude at the baptism about being truly converted, continuing to be humble and repent even after baptism. And the Mackays came again too. Two of their daughters were there for the weekend and we got to meet them. I translated one of the talks for Sister Mackay, but that was a little rough, still working on the Spanish!

Making memes missionary style

Yesterday, Adilene wanted to come to church, but her older brother's car isn't working, and she didn't want a ride from some random person in the ward. So we left early, put two of our bikes on the bike rack, fit a third in the back (Still have no idea how we did that!) And drove to her house. Then her bike wasn't working, so we used this little kid scooter and alternated who biked, who used the scooter, and who ran along side on the way to church. Super fun, and we were only 15 minutes late. There were so many bikes at the church during conference. Pretty much everyone in the district ran out of miles on Saturday, so everyone biked!

When no one has miles...

On Tuesday, President Mackay came with us to teach Chuy- it was so incredible! He talked about the Prodigal son, and how we all feel unworthy to come back to God, but He always welcomes us back with open arms. Chuy needed it, and I know that I needed it too, I love our mission president so much!

My take away from General Conference was definitely that the Book of Mormon is true, and that we have a living prophet today on the earth. Both of those seem like simple truths, and they're what we teach every day, but it's staying true to the simple truths that truly helps us stay converted to Jesus Christ. We were sorry to hear about Elder Hales' passing, and are praying for his family. 

Cabellos en la calle

Have a great week! Love ya!

Spanish words:

Buho - owl

Espanta Pajaros- Scarec row

Estrella Fugas- falling star

Pantunflas - slippers

--

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704

#21 - Saturday Saints....

Hello!!!

This guy we met this week gave us chicken and said he wanted to be a Saturday Saint (Latter Day saint). He's pretty cool! But he prefers english, so we had to pass him over to the English elders. 

Luis #2 who gave us BBQ chicken! (Saturday Saint)

This guy is the best member ever, he's the one who baptized Luis, and 20 years ago he was in a wheelchair and paralyzed, and now he can do hand stands.. I don't know how!

Most of what we did this week is in my recording! But the highlight was definitely Manuel's baptism!!!!! (I'll send pictures next week) It was so sweet, and so many people from the ward came, and President Mackay came too! He's going to come teaching with us so we're really excited.

Met a lady who was 93 the other day, and she stood up to say a prayer!

I wanted to share a scripture in John 4 that talks about member missionary work that the English bishop shared with us yesterday

 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

The missionaries are the reapers, and the members are the sowers. I realized that before my mission I didn't do a lot of sowing. I definitely could have done a lot more to share the light of Jesus Christ with others. So I'd like to invite you all this week to find some way to reach out to someone that needs that light and to share it. 

Some guy gave us flowers, and then we gave them to Luis #2 

Love you all!

#20 - Exchanges, An Apostle, Temple Trip, Miracles!

Hello!!

Exchages with other sister missionaries

Fresno West 'Best Zone' at the temple

This week was so much fun! So much packed into one week.

First off, we had exchanges with Hermana Malpica and Hermana Whitney, who are serving in Los Banos. We got a picture with a whole bunch of sisters too :)

Then we had a temple trip on Friday. We only get to go once a quarter, so it's a really special experience. I love just going to the temple and feeling so much peace. Afterwords, we went to Chick-fil-a, and this person offered to pay for our lunch, and the assistant manager is a member and gave us coupons for free milkshakes, everyone was just so sweet and we felt really blessed. On the way back, we stopped by and visited our Bishop's wife, since they live all the way in Fresno near the temple, and we're not over there very often. She said she almost never gets visitors, and we had a really sweet experience with her singing "I believe in Christ" and sharing Mosiah 4:9, which says to believe in God, and believe that He is, and we can't comprehend everything that He can do. Faith may seem so simple, but it's what begins all of our actions and character.

Then Sunday was Stake Conference, and Elder Quentin L. Cook came! He's one of the 12 apostles, like with Elder Renlund came to the MTC. The interesting thing is though, I don't really know what Elder Cook said exactly, and that ended up not being the highlight of the day. I know you're probably all thinking, what can top an apostle coming to speak? But our investigator Chuy did! He's never been to church, although we've been teaching him for two months, because he feels like he can't change what he's done in the past. He drove all the way to Fresno, then called us when he got to the church and said there were too many people and he couldn't do it. We ran out the building and down the street after him, and after 30 minutes outside, singing hymns, praying, and telling him he could do it, he FINALLY CAME!!! We were going to stay in the main congregation and listen, but because he was there, we went to the Spanish translation room, and so I wasn't completely sure what was said. But afterwords he said he wanted to meet the Mackays (our mission president) who had spoken. When we introduced them, President Mackay just gave him a huge hug and we were all crying. He finally got the strength to overcome his fear, and we know he felt the Spirit so strong. Afterwords we walked around the temple, and explained how he could go there someday, and it really touched him. Such a miracle!!!

From what I gathered, Elder Cook and Elder Pingree of the Seventy talked about the importance of the little things. They both talked about reading our scriptures, praying. One quote we learned from the Valentine sisters later was, "If you don't read your scriptures or pray, you've made your choice". It's pretty direct, but it's true. They explained how important the temple is, how we need to go. We can experience grand miracles in life, but it's the daily things that strengthen us and are really going to help us on our way.

Also, this week we switched to the early (Normal) missionary schedule, being in at 9, or 9:30 if you're in a lesson. It's been kind of weird. I've actually had a moment to breathe at night. I realized this week that I can't be trying to do everything at once, we accomplish things by doing one thing at once.

I hope you all have a fantastic week, I love you all!!

#19 - And then there were 3!

Hello!!!

 Biggest news of the week - we're in a trio now! On Wednesday we had interviews with President Mackay and most of our interview was discussing whether or not our apartment could fit 3 missionaries. One of the other sisters in the mission was having some health problems, so her companion, Hermana Balls, is going to be with us the rest of the transfer! It's super fun being in a tri-panionship. President called us during dinner Thursday to ask if we could spend the night in the mission home with her. I feel really lucky because you usually only spend two nights in the mission home: You're first night in the mission and you're last. It was really fun though. Because it was so last minute, we had permission to finish up our appointments and just drive over to Fresno when we were done. We got there at 10:30, which is lights out on the early schedule. Driving down California 99  at 10 o'clock at night is pretty fun! The next morning President and Sister Mackay had taken the other sister to the airport so we just went exploring during our morning run, got ready, and headed out after 7:55 prayer.

Elders messing with our apartment, turning stuff upside down and crazy.

When we got back to the apartment the elders had just dropped off a third mattress, we went inside to find everything upside down, and the soap in the freezer...thanks elders! 

Other news, we got a new bishop yesterday in Madera! Obispo Pereyra. He's really awesome and we're really excited to work with him! He shared a sweet testimony about how after he went to go talk to the Stake President, he just felt really overwhelmed, and all the doors were locked so he couldn't go back into the church to take a breather. But that church building is right next to the temple, and he went in and told us about how much peace he felt. Temples are incredible, and I'm so grateful we have the opportunity to go this week!

Last week a friend asked me about how we can feel God's love when it seems like there's a lot of destruction and bad in the world. I want to share with you all a verse I read this week in Doctrine and Covenants (Which is another book of scripture that contains the writings of modern prophets)

1 Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks; 2 Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted. 3 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.

I really like this scripture, because it explains just how much God, our Heavenly Father, treasures every single one of our prayers. It can be really easy to lose hope when there's destruction all around. But we can always pray, and He always hears us. Trials often come to make us stronger, all of our afflictions "work together for our good". First there was the hurricane and then this week we heard about the Earthquake in Mexico. Madera is little Oaxaca, and all of the members here, and all the people we're teaching have family right there where it happened. But they are such good examples of hope to me. Luis told us yesterday that is daughter's house fell apart, but he was so grateful to God for keeping his family safe. Even when there's hard times, there's still miracles, and God is still looking out for us. This week I'd like to invite you all to look for ways that God is there and loves you. He hears and answers every single one of our prayers, in any situation, experience, or language. Love you all!

Sorry one of the pictures is really fuzzy - but meet Hermana Balls! She's holding one of Chuy's chickens in one of the pictures. 

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704

#18 - More Adventures!

Hello everybody! Sorry for forgetting pictures last week.

This week was crazy! On Wednesday we did the Pisca de Uvas, or grape harvesting to turn them into raisins! The church has a huge vineyard here in Madera, and every year during the harvest, all of the 8 stakes here help out to harvest the grapes. I've heard about this my whole life from my dad and was so excited to get to do it! Things I learned:
1) It's very messy, I was completely covered in dust

2) It takes a lot of skill. All of our recent converts and two of our investigators came and they did probably 20 tablas (sheets of raisins) in the time I did 3.

3) SO MUCH FUN!

I am amazed at how humble and sweet everyone here is. They all wake up at 3 in the morning to work in the fields every day, and then they came back at 4 in the afternoon to work for another 3-4 hours just to serve and help people who don't have food all around the world. 

On Saturday Hermana Feldman was sick, so I called a whole bunch of people in the ward so we could go on splits, so she could stay and rest and I could go out and teach. She ended up staying with our friend Maria, and I went out and taught with Hna Sierra, who hasn't been to church in a while, but we've been teaching her grandkids. She had never gone out with missionaries before and it was such a sweet experience for her! We also took one of the young women out with us, and she's preparing to go on a mission. She doesn't speak a lot of spanish, but I translated for her and I could just feel how strong her testimony was as I repeated what she said. We had a miracle too. The key to our car is a bit finicky at times, and usually when it doesn't work, we know we have to talk to one more person. This happened saturday, and we kept knocking on other  doors but the car still wouldn't open. Finally I said we should pray and the four of us all prayed together and then immediately when I pushed the button the door opened!! Prayer works, I'm telling you all! And it was so sweet for those two to have the experience of seeing miracles of missionary work.

Also, this month is going to be crazy. They counted up each companionship goal in our zone for baptisms, and our goal as a zone is 33. And last month we had 4. Our leaders said that this is going to be the month that changes the rest of our missions. We all fasted together yesterday and every night every companionship is praying for every single one of those 33 people by name. We're going to be exactly obedient, sacrifice, pray, and work with members to accomplish this goal. We're so excited!

We had transfers Tuesday. We got a new elder in Madera 3 - Elder Nelson who's from Virginia. So every night at dinner it's two missionaries from Chicago (I don't know if I ever mentioned this but Elder Mederos went to Naperville Central, but we never met before), and two from Virginia. YSA also got a new sister, Sister Buchanan, who's from Utah and is super sweet! We really enjoy having them next door now. 

Wednesday we cleaned a member's yard and afterwords they fed us lunch, but the elders couldn't go in because there wasn't a guy there, so we had a picnic outside. Super fun!

Pictures: bertoldo's baptism, Marinelo cookies, our picnic, the American missionary cars (red, white, and blue), and Grape harvesting!

Love you all!

--

Hermana Marin Fisher

California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704