6 More Weeks in Bad Bentheim, Teaching Sunday School, and Sequoia!

October 26, 2015

Companion exchange pictures (from another missionary's blog)

   Everything is real good here in Germany. My companion and I are staying together for another transfer together in Bad Bentheim so that means that this is the first city where I am staying at least 3 transfers!! I am happy, happy, happy!  I am so happy too because I absolutely love this area that I am in right now.

   We usually teach the Youth Sunday School during church but this month we had an investigator at church so we had an investigator Sunday School class instead and that was good (Sunday School is only held once a month).

   As for the Bad Bentheim ward, most of the primary kids in our district (a group of wards and branches) are actual from our Ward and we have about 20 kids. We have a very young branch.

Another photo of missionaries (from the same missionary blog)

   There is not too much to report on but I did meet someone that went and visited the Sequoia National Park a few years ago and we had like a 20 minute conversation about where that person has been (mom note: Sequoia National Park is a favorite family vacation place). It was a good conversation and the person said to call and come by sometime and she would make us an apple crisp or something like that. It was a good day.

   We always hear things about the refugees from the Middle East coming to Germany but there are already a lot of people from the Middle East here in Germany so it isn't too noticeable I think.

   

   Since we have to be in our apartment by 6 pm on Halloween, I’m not too sure what are plans will be but I think we will probably do extra studying or weekly planning or something, not to sure right now.

   It is really weird seeing all these younger guys going on missions (mom note: Elder Fisher is turning 19 next week—and to hear him talk about the ‘younger guys’ is interesting!). It is truly a life changing experience. Do you actually have Elder A’s email address I would like to send him an email. J. is going to Canada?--that is cool, but it still isn't like the Germany Berlin mission.

   Scripture for the week 2 Chronicles 32: 7-8  "Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah."

   Quote of the week, "I am not a people person." By a husband a of a member of our Ward which made me think of my cousin J____ who said "I just don't like people"

   I pray for you guys every night. Love you mama. Love you dad and thanks for supporting me out here and being a good example for me too about what I ought to do.

Love

Elder Spencer Fisher

From the Germany Berlin Mission Blog: the Oldenburg zone during October Zone Conference

As a bonus, if you are a fan of The Piano Guys, they recently held a Worldwide Broadcast with music and conversation, you can watch the video online at this address:  The Piano Guys Face to Face

Learning Christ-like Love

October 19, 2015

   I am still doing good with the companion we are working. This past week, I went on companion exchange with Elder Williams from San Diego, California.  My German is good but I think I still sound like an American when I talk which isn't necessarily a bad thing but I want to get more of a German accent.  

   We just had zone training meeting and we learned about prayer and Book of Mormon and working with your Ward better and the next one will be in November (mom note: besides training, this is when they get all their mail and packages from the mission office).   I got the box and the chocolate was not melted and I love everything you sent with it too.

   Most humbling experience would probably have to be not one experience but a series of experiences. There are a lot of people from the Middle East and Africa here in Germany and in their culture it is custom to accept people into their home and offer them food, and it is always a humbling experience to see these people who only have so much and offer so much to make someone else feel comfortable in their home. It has really showed me how to be more Christ-like with my fellowmen.

   I have had to give several lessons in German and testimonies but never like a 15 minute talk but it isn't that nerve racking. Honestly I am more nervous to give talks and lessons in English now because I do not really do that so I am not used to it.  I was guided by the Spirit this past week when I gave a sick blessing to a little girl in the ward who has an injured leg right now and is on crutches right now.

   I do not think that I met anyone interesting this week but it was a slower week here but those aren't too common here so it's okay.

   You asked my advice for future missionaries:  I would say the biggest help would probably for a prospective missionary to go and help the missionaries with joint teaches to talk with them to just try to go out with missionaries as much as they can.

   In Germany, they do celebrate Halloween but Halloween is just a party event here and we have to be inside at 6 pm on Halloween so nothing bad happens.

   Scripture of the week 1 Nephi 22:31 "Wherefore, ye need not suppose that I and my father are the only ones that have testified, and also taught them. Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day. And thus it is. Amen." 

   Quote of the week: "Faith is not by chance but by choice." Neil L. Anderson

Love you mama and love ya dad. Have a good week.

Love,

Elder Spencer Fisher

Autumn, Visiting an International Border, and Missionary Work

October 12, 2015

Leaves changing colors in western Germany

   It's fall… I see the colors changing on the trees…but it is actually a little colder than fall.  Actually, I would say because it was below freezing Sunday and we had to scape ice off our car windshield yesterday I would say it is more like winter. There will be a little bit of snow it sounds like but nothing too crazy I do not think.

   The work is going but it could be better at times. No big complaints though. In this area we are able to contact a lot of people like less actives and former investigators that I wasn't really able to do in my other areas. The Bad Bentheim branch meets in a church building (compared to rented office space like in Halle).  As for branch leadership, we only have branch council once a month and we are always there.  The leaders are pretty good about helping with most things we do.

   We use members and sports to contact people and the sports we play are basketball and soccer.

Visiting the border of Germany & The Netherlands

Elder Fisher is showing his obedience to mission rules:
He is NOT stepping over the border
and out of mission boundaries

On P-days we sometimes go places, like last week we visited the border of The Netherlands since it is one of the borders of Bad Bentheim.

We made ice cream

   Germany celebrates Oktoberfest but is not really a very big deal where I am at and most of the parties for Oktoberfest are in September here.

   Thanks for the story about me--I really enjoyed it especially since this story told me I am the only child that was early. Even when I was a newborn I was early for everything.  I did get the package from “Z” and I told him that last week. I am picking up the box from you tomorrow because they gave me a slip today that I can pick it up on Tuesday at 10 am.

   Scripture for the week: 1 Nephi 14:7: “For the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will work a great and a marvelous work among the children of men; a work which shall be everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other—either to the convincing of them unto peace and life eternal, or unto the deliverance of them to the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds unto their being brought down into captivity, and also into destruction, both temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil, of which I have spoken.”

   Quote for the week: "hey Jack!" Uncle Si

   Love you and thanks for all the support that you give me and how much you love me. Have a great week. 

Love

Elder Spencer Fisher

Conference Weekend and Loving Germany

October 5, 2015

   I had a really good week and I am having so much fun out here it is ridiculous.  Germany is pretty good.  I love it here.  I am really looking forward to my first Christmas and birthday in Germany--I have heard that there is nothing like Christmas in Germany!!

   A lot has happened this week but it is too much to put into emails, we mostly saw a lot of blessings this past week and I think it is a direct result of us trying to be more obedient and to work harder as well.

   

   Conference weekend was really good! I haven’t watched the Sunday afternoon session yet but we are going to download it to our iPads and listen to it in our apartment and in the car. We watched the first session (Saturday morning) in another branch building because we wanted to have a TV to watch it on but we ended up having to watch it on one of our iPads anyways so that was pointless, but we went to a member’s house to watch two of the sessions yesterday (Sunday) in English and we ate at their house and we watched the Sunday morning session at our church building so it was a fun thing of conference for us. (Note: The Sunday morning session was on at 6 pm in Gemrany) I probably got the most from Elder Hales’ talk and I especially liked President Eyring’s talk in the priesthood session about how a pickup truck helped someone to do less active work--it made me realize that when I get back home I need a truck to help others in the church. We listened to all sessions in English . 

   On Mondays we have P-day and we go and buy the things we need and sometimes we do other cool stuff. On Monday nights we have FHE with a family in the ward usually and dinner there too.

   For lunch at the bakeries, I usually get a different sandwich every time but usually something with meat in the sandwich. My favorite German dessert is really hard to choose but I usually buy a different one every time too, most things with fruit I like to eat actually, I know that doesn't sound too much like me but yes. You asked about my weight since I am eating such great food--I gained weight in the MTC and then lost it during my first two transfers and now I have gained a little bit of weight back just because I am in a car area but for the most part I weigh the same as when I left home, and for 9 months in Germany, that ain't too shabby.

   My favorite way to contact people is through sports and through the members and those ways are also the easiest to do as well.  I do not believe I met anyone too interesting this past week but we did meet a less active family we have been trying to meet in a long time.

   I feel that the biggest way the Holy Ghost has helped me the most this week was telling us to change our plans to get in contact with people this past week and that is really a huge blessing.  

   Scripture for the week is Mosiah 18:9 (mom note: the following passage is Mosiah 18: 8-11) 

"And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?  And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.

   And the quote of the week is a poem:

          “World, O world, of muddled men,

          Seek the Peace of God again:

          In the humble faith that kneels,

          In the hallowed Word that heals;

          In the courage of a tree,

          In the rock’s integrity;

          In the hill that holds the sky,

          The star you pull your heart up by;

          In the laughter of a child,

          Altogether undefiled;

          In the hope that answers doubt,

          Love that drives the darkness out. …

          Frantic, frightened, foolish men,

          Take God by the hand again.”      --Joseph Auslander

I hope that you have a great week and help someone every day!

Love,

Elder Fisher