Discussing the Wedding, the Mini-Missionary, and Learning Something Important.

February 16, 2016

    Well, I guess that was quite the shindig! Judging from the pictures, the weather didn't damper anyone's spirits for Z & N’s wedding! It sounds like you all had quite the “to do” there in Utah and it sounds like everyone had lots of fun. I am happy that so much of the family was able to come and enjoy the wedding in some way or another. I enjoyed the pictures and I would agree with dad that J and LA had a little too much fun with the “Flat Elder Fisher” thing. haha. I must admit it hit me Friday night that my brother is getting married but when I realized he was actually married it was cool! The only thing I wished is that I could have been there but it is good, I rejoice in the fact Z & N got married in the temple. I don't really have much else to say concerning the wedding but I guess I am the next one to get married. Eh, I got time, I do not have to think about that.

Since Elder Fisher is in Germany serving a mission,
his family had a "Flat Elder Fisher" made so he could
be in the family pictures.  This is Flat Elder Fisher with his siblings

Some of the fun things the siblings did with the cutout of
"Flat Elder Fisher" (if you look closely, he's in every picture)

    The mini missionary got here last Monday and he will be leaving on Wednesday afternoon. The school here in Germany is different than America and it is hard to explain so I can do that when I get home—the mini missionary did what we would call vocational school or professional training and now he is furthering his education and his school starts again on March 1.  He is 21 years old and he is from Berlin.  He has a back problem so he did this mini mission to find out if he can even serve a full time mission and sadly the answer is that he cannot, but he isn't getting down on that because he now wants to do more with the missionaries and do more missionary work so it is pretty cool. His mini mission is like what Elder C. did before his mission for a week, it’s mostly just spend a week with the missionaries to see what it is like and try it out. 

    This week I met a person named Gregory who is from Haiti.  He’s met with the missionaries before and in the lesson we taught we asked if he would come to church this week and, when he knew that this gospel is true, if he would be baptized.  He said yes to both and he came to church and we are meeting with him on Tuesday and are planning a baptismal date with him. (mom note: if a young adult is unable to serve a full time mission, there are a lot of other missionary opportunities in the Young Church-Service Mission program.  For more information, please go to this website: Young Church Service Missionaries)

    One thing I studied this week that caught my attention is really how much the prophets of the past and present really do care and worry for EVERY PERSON ON THE WORLD!!!! I thought that was really cool--I already KNEW that I guess but this week I UNDERSTOOD that.

    Scripture of week: Matthew 16:19  "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Quote of the week: "I am single ready to mingle (in a year)"

I love you and I hope that you have a great week!

Love your last single son,

Elder Fisher

Photo from Hannover and Oldenburg Zone Conference on February 10, 2016

Two Weeks in One!! and "Elder Fisher" arrives for a wedding.

(This week’s blog is two weeks’ worth of letters—sometimes life gets away from you and you realize that you forgot to blog!!!)

February 1, 2016

   Thank you for the thoughts on the subject [about my major]. I really do not know if I really want to do that but I thought I would ask. Back home I felt like I always had a plan of what I wanted to study and do in life but since I have gotten on my mission I haven't had a solid plan or been sure of studying something--it isn't necessarily stressing me out but it is just something that I am for sure not used to having. Mom gave some good suggestions on it.

That is pretty cool that Elder D. is home now, I didn't realize that he was a year longer on his mission than I was--I thought he came home pretty soon after I had left but I guess I was wrong.

   My favorite thing to do this week was probably visiting less actives and meeting with them and getting to know them a little more. We were able to teach a lot of less active and inactive members of the church and it was really interesting to meet all of them and how many of them still have testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel--but they just would like the opportunity to be brought back. We did not have an investigator at church this past week or any less actives that I know about.

   We had district meeting this past week and we learned about missions and why we are on missions and stuff like that.

   My companion does most of the cooking but we do not eat at home all that often so it doesn't really matter all that much who does the cooking I guess.

   My favorite scripture right now is the war chapters in Alma and seeing how everything that Moroni does really does go back to the gospel of Jesus Christ and all the preparations he takes and all the strategy he makes—he counsels with the Lord on what he should do or the High Priest of the church. It is a good scripture. So the scripture of the week is Alma 46:12: “And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took apiece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.”

   Quote of the week: "In our blessed day we do not ask the kind of severe sacrifice this missionary family offered, but our generation has been the beneficiary of earlier generations who did sacrifice so very much in serving the missionary cause we declare. We can all do just a little more to pass that tradition on to those who follow us." Jefferey R. Holland

   That was my week this week--it was a good week. I love you and I hope that you have a great week as well and that you have some good experiences this week.

Love,

Elder Spencer Fisher

February 8, 2016

   I had a good week, it was a little rainy but other than that nothing too crazy happened.   I have been able to keep dry, plus it doesn't rain here nearly as much as it did in Bad Bentheim so it isn't so bad, plus the weather is out of my control so there is no point making a fuss about it, we just need to adjust the way we work a little bit that is all.  Fun news: we are getting a mini missionary for 2 weeks. Just thought you would like to know. (a ‘mini-missionary’ is a young man who stays with the elders for about 2 weeks and gets to experience mission life)

   You asked about our service projects: Most of our service we plan out with members a few weeks in advance but we do random stuff the next day sometimes too. I would say give the missionaries something to do once in a while, they love doing it usually. At least the missionaries in Europe do.

   We were able to teach a few lessons this week. We taught a person who is a friend of a member in the ward and she is pretty serious about learning the gospel. She has 2 daughters so it is really cool to meet with her.  She doesn't really have a lot of time to meet but she is almost done with 2 Nephi and she has been coming to church for the past 3 weeks so that is really cool. The work in the area is going good, I think a part of my mission is building up better relations between the members and the missionaries because since I have gotten here the members seem to invite us over more and try talking to us more. It is really cool.

   I met someone from Rhode Island this week that is about to start an internship soon, he had no interest but I thought it was funny to meet more people from Rhode island in Germany than in America. I haven't been able to visit the VW plant yet but one day I will. I will write a few stories next week for you.

   My companion did most of the cooking the first 2 weeks and then realized I am a good cook when I made something so I have been cooking since. I have realized that most elders think that cooking at a higher temperature is better because it gets done faster but it really never tastes good. I am not a fan of that theory. This area I would have to say does not have a food specialty but we do tend to have pizza for a lot of our eating appointments. I like it! but pizza here is different than the pizza in America so it isn't as good here but pizza is pizza.

   I got the box and I liked it and my companion liked the cookies, too. I loved the whoppers and I will be looking forward to eating the mac and cheese. I hope dad got some of the cookies, too, because I know how mom is with giving all of your sweets away. (mom note: family joke)

   Scripture of the week, Alma 58:39-40 “And those sons of the people of Ammon, of whom I have so highly spoken, are with me in the city of Manti; and the Lord has supported them, yea, and kept them from falling by the sword, insomuch that even one soul has not been slain.  But behold, they have received many wounds; nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come.”

   Quote of the week "Then I went into the cattle business and got married, I mean I got married and then went into debt" J Golden Kimball

   Well, sounds like you guys got your week all planned out already. I am looking forward to all of the pictures of the wedding with all of the family and everyone else. I hope the weather cooperates with the wedding.  

   I hope that you have a wonderful week, that you all have fun, and that you stay warm in Utah and everyone gets there safely.  I ask you to spread my love for everyone, especially Zack. Tell everyone I love them and that the cut out of me will have to do for now. This time next week, I will be the last single member of the family. Woohoo!

Love

Elder Spencer Fisher

Elder Fisher wanted to be in the pictures for the wedding
and he "arrived" at Z's apartment this week!  Looking good
Elder Fisher! (and you too, Zack!)