It's Transfer Time...and saying good-bye to Minden

Pictures from a district Pday a few weeks ago.

August 15, 2016

   It is transfer time, and I am transferred and after almost six months, I will be leaving. A part of my heart will stay here as well as in all of my areas, but I was really ready for a change to happen. I will miss the members here in Minden the most, I really just feel like I am part of the ward here.  I will be getting transferred to a place called Lauenburg, there are about 10,000 residents and it is a car area, the only problem is that neither of us have a German driver’s license, so we will see how this works out. My companion will be Elder Riggs, he is from the same town my current companion is from. 

   You were saying how hot it was but I could do for some heat right now.  We do not have any of it really, it just feels like we had summer for 2 weeks and it is already fall again, and it will be colder in my next area as well.

   This week was okay but I also got into a bicycle accident Sunday morning going to church.  Before you ask, I am okay for the most part, the seat on the bike was kinda wiggly and it fell off on the way to church and then I followed it down. I landed on my knee and my hand, I am okay. I got out with only a couple scraps and a bruise.  However, my suit pants are not okay, they are a little beyond repair. I might need to get a new suit in the coming weeks or at least find the pants that match my suit coat. The bike will be getting repaired. 

   Well, today since I got a little hurt yesterday, and it hurts a little bit to walk, we decided it best to kind of relax a little bit.

   I studied a lot about money this week and handling emotions a lot I guess, it might not sound super spiritual but it was interesting and was spiritual.

The Bielefeld District

   Scripture of the week: Alma 36: 30 “But behold, my son, this is not all; for ye ought to know as I do know, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land; and ye ought to know also, that inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God, ye shall be cut off from his presence. Now this is according to his word.”

   Quote of the week: "The important thing is that you qualify to be useful workers in society." Gordon B. Hinkley

   

Elder Fisher with the Branch President's Parents

Elder Fisher with the Branch President and his wife

The District

I hope that you have a good week and that you guys will be safe up there in the mountains and have lots of fun with the trees. There will be more things to write in the coming week but for now I will sign off.

Love,

Elder Spencer Fisher

Zone Conference, Cold Summer Weather, P-day Plans

August 8, 2016

   Well that is interesting about the weather (mom note: we were having a heat wave), I have been tempted to turn the heater on at night here a couple times now.

   That is cool about Elder Hefner (knowing his return date) that means you guys will probably get my flight plans next month! Exciting stuff!

   This week we had a conference in Hamburg, and there was a member of the Third Quorum of the Seventy there. It was good. We stayed the night with elders serving in an area that my companion has served in before. We mostly learned about how we can just reach a little bit more and trying to reach our full potential. It was pretty good, I took a few notes while we were there.

   We actually did not have any service this past week, we did teach the young mother with the baby again and it was good, however the baby just runs around the whole time and he can be distracting.  We also met a former investigator from Bangladesh his week and he seemed pretty cool, he is a younger guy that can speak like 4 languages!

   For breakfast I usually eat a slice of bread, nice bread from the bakery, with cream cheese smeared on top, then a slice of cheese and a type of sliced meat on top. Then a hard boiled egg, I usually would make them for the week. We usually go shopping at a local grocery store called Penny, we wear church clothes on Pday as well...it's wonderful.  We are going to Bielefeld for Pday again, we will go and do stuff there and then we will have companion exchanges again.

   There is are different types of festivals almost every week, quite honestly though, it is mostly an excuse to drink and party excessively. So we do not go to most of them.

   This coming Saturday we have our transfer calls, and I am really hoping for a change (mom note—Elder Fisher has been in Minden almost 6 months).

   Scripture of the week: Alma 40:23 “The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.”

   Quote of the week: "we ain't pacing, we racin" (a companions old track coach)

   Well I hope you have a good week and are able to enjoy the vacation coming up. I hope for pictures as well.

Love you Mom and Dad. Hope you have a good week, and safe drives.

Love,

Elder Spencer Fisher

Mini-golf, Visiting a Castle, and P-day activities

August 1, 2016

   We are still pretty low temperatures here in Germany, but the members say that the weather is not completely normal for this part of Germany.

   This week we had a lot of appointments fall out, which was kind of a bummer but we have to keep going forward. I haven't had to speak since Father's Day but my companion and I will be giving a Sunday school lesson this coming Sunday.

   Last Saturday, we were able to go mini-golfing (it was the ward activity_, sadly there weren't as many less actives there as I thought there would be and no friends of anyone came, so it was kind of just a let down and I didn't really want to be there but we stayed because we were already paid for and we talked to the guy that owned the mini-golfing place a little bit, so it wasn't a total loss I guess.

   I usually check the mission blog on P-days when we actually get over to the church. It is pretty much the only way to know where my friends in the mission are. For P-day, we usually get all of our shopping done but sometimes we forget to buy something then we have to go and get it during the week. The P-days in Germany can also get boring fast if you don't plan to go and see anything. This past week, we went to a castle tower thing in Bielefeld with the district, it was fun, I forgot to get pictures from the other missionaries though.

   The people in Minden are excited about the remodeling (of the Frieberg temple), but a lot are not going there because it takes five hours just to drive there, and that means they have to rent a hotel room, so it is just a lot of money.

   Mom mentioned cleaning out the refrigerator and I can understand why cleaning the refrigerator is so important after being on a mission for so long, because you get to some of these elders apartments and there can be jam that has been sitting there for six months and no one cleans it, or a sauce that went bad two years ago but no one throws it out!! I do not understand elders sometimes!!!

   I have gotten more optimistic on the mission, not to say difficulties are not there anymore, but I have learned to enjoy a lot more of the little things in life on the mission, especially when I am in situations that I do not want to be in at all.

   We are used to teaching lessons in the street but it doesn't make it any less awkward though, you could always offer our house to teach an investigator though, then it is almost always a good setting, for example, have the missionaries and the investigator over for dinner, and then after dinner, you can teach the investigator! It is the dream for me to have that kind of appointment on my mission.

   Scripture of the week: Alma 24: 23-24 “Now when the Lamanites saw that their brethren would not flee from the sword, neither would they turn aside to the right hand or to the left, but that they would lie down and perish, and praised God even in the very act of perishing under the sword--Now when the Lamanites saw this they did forbear from slaying them; and there were many whose hearts had swollen in them for those of their brethren who had fallen under the sword, for they repented of the things which they had done.”

   Quote of the week Neal A. Maxwell "Involve newcomers quickly in the Lord’s work. They have been called to his vineyard not just to admire but to perspire--not to “ooh” and “aah” but to “hoe and saw.” Let us make of them friends--not celebrities; colleagues--not competitors. Let us use their precious enthusiasm to beckon still others to come within."

I hope that you have a great week and that you enjoy the summer, since you actually get one.

Love,

Elder Spencer Fisher

Safety Guidelines, Summer in Germany, Freiberg Temple Open House

July 25, 2016

   It has been hot here the past few days as well, finally, the middle of July and we are finally getting our summer for like a month!  It is also summer vacation right now in Germany, so a lot of people are out of town.

   Yes, I have heard about the terrorist attacks that have been happening recently in Germany as well, I know it is scary but I feel comforted by the Lord that I will be okay, and besides that, there is always terrorism in the world somewhere, sometimes it is a little closer than other times.

   This week like I said it was pretty hot, but we had a few appointments that we got to participate in, we also have another new investigator who is a younger mother and her son is pretty energetic. We also went to an eating appointment and they have bumble bees that live underneath their porch, and I thought that was really cool. I think I might want to keep bees in the future. (mom note: this is interesting because at one time he really didn’t like bees because he was constantly getting stung)

   We had Zone Training Meeting this past week and it was good, the president doesn't come to all of the Zone Training Meetings, but he does come to all of the Zone Conferences. We had to travel about an hour with train. I think there are about 10 or so zones in the mission.

Questions and answers:

1) What are the safety guidelines the missionaries have for keeping safe? (mom note: The mission president sent an e-mail to all the parents on July 19^th after the train attack in Germany and told us he had reminded all the missionaries)  The safety guidelines have to do with teaching people from certain countries, or being inside at 9 at night or 9:30 if we have an appointment, being obedient, and stuff like that. Pretty much the guideline is to be smart. 

2)  Does Minden have a lot of apartment buildings? or mostly houses?  So everywhere in Germany has a lot of apartment buildings compared to America, but Minden does have many house as well.

3)  When you have district p-day, do you have lunch together?  do you pack a lunch or buy lunch?  Today we went for a 10 kilometer hike, I will probably send pictures next week when we have more time. We usually eat lunch together.

4)  Have you noticed if your teaching style is the same as when you arrived on your mission or has it changed as you have become more comfortable in teaching?  My teaching has, of course, gotten better, but my style is my style and I shouldn't really change it, because that is me and that is how I will connect with certain people.

5)  Did they feed you for zone conference?  This was a zone training meeting, not a zone conference. We had to feed ourselves.

6)  I saw that the Freiberg temple Open House start next month and that the re-dedication will happen in September....will they have a satellite system set up so people can watch who aren't close to the temple?  Yes, we get to watch it through satellite transmission, we even get a special temple recommend for it. (Frieberg Open House and Dedication)

   Scripture of the week:  Alma 17:35  “Therefore they did not fear Ammon, for they supposed that one of their men could slay him according to their pleasure, for they knew not that the Lord had promised Mosiah that he would deliver his sons out of their hands; neither did they know anything concerning the Lord; therefore they delighted in the destruction of their brethren; and for this cause they stood to scatter the flocks of the king.”

Quote of the week "come what may and love it" Joseph B. Worthlin

   Well I hope that you have a great next week and enjoy the last week in July! I cannot believe that it is already here!! Time flies I guess. Love you and wish you the best.

Love,

Elder Spencer Fisher

The Minden Branch, Pulling Weeds, and District P-Day

Elder Fisher's District

July 18, 2016

   Sounds like you have had quite the week there. Good to hear that the weather is staying relatively cool. I sent some pictures as soon as I read your email.

District P-day in Bad Oeynhausen--a park

   I am really becoming a member of the Minden Branch, it is really funny, by the time the next transfer comes I will have been in Minden 6 months.  My companion is really shy and doesn't really talk with the members unless I really encourage him so I get to talk with the members a lot, which is good for my relationship with them. If I were to someday have the means to return to Germany I would definitely come to visit this ward on a Sunday so that I could see everyone.

   The members in Germany do not celebrate Pioneer Pay, but we do happen to have a ward mini golf activity on Pioneer Day.

Another picture of the district
--without the big plant hiding the elder

   Finding service projects to do is not always easy to find and with Germans they are stubborn and want to do things on their own as well, but we do get service projects usually once a week. This past week we pulled out weeds for like 4 hours at a member’s house. I hate weeds. By the way, Germans have lots of little knick knack things in their yards. But most of them are organized for the most part.

   My favorite way to find people new people to teach is by talking to people on buses and at train stations and stuff like that. I am not a fan of talking with people on the streets. My favorite lesson was with a less active lady from Mexico she has some interesting ideas but she is nice.

The palace in Bad Oeynhausen

   There are 8 missionaries in my mission district. We usually meet once a week unless there is a zone meeting, like this coming week then we meet with the rest of the missionaries in the zone as well. The next Zone training meeting is this coming Wednesday. 

   My apartment does have a washer and a drier, I have not actually had an apartment without a washer and a drier combo.

Another view of the palace in Bad Oeynhausen

   Scripture for the week : Alma 16: 21 :And now after the church had been established throughout all the land—having got the victory over the devil, and the word of God being preached in its purity in all the land, and the Lord pouring out his blessings upon the people—thus ended the fourteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.”

   Quote for the week: "John, Let it go, nothing you do will bring her back, anything you do will make it worse, John let it go" Boyd K. Packer

I love you and hope that you have a great week. Love you.

Love

Elder Fisher called this a "mansion house"
in Bad Oeynhausen

Elder Spencer Fisher

A garden mosaic

The German People, Missionary Service, and the Benefits of a long Stay in one Branch

July 11, 2016

   The weather is also pretty nice for the most part as well. For 4^th of July) I ate this huge plate with corn on the cob, shrimp, steak, and chicken and salad, and fries. Wasn't actually very Mexican for my food but it tasted really good. We found knockoff root beer at a supermarket, and yes most Europeans do not like root beer, they say it tastes like tooth paste.

   My favorite thing to see in Minden so far is probably the Kaiser Wilhelm Monument. It was really cool to see, also we see it on the top of the hill everyday whenever we go outside pretty much.

   We talked about the spirit this past week at district meeting and setting district goals, of what we want to accomplish in the coming transfer.

   Most members in the ward are German, there is a member from Peru, a member from Jamaica, a couple from Nigeria, and I believe that is it.  We met with a long time investigator this past week and that was pretty cool because we read a chapter in the Book of Mormon and he realized that the Book of Mormon really just talks of Christ and his mercy towards us and that we can be saved through the atonement of Jesus Christ, that was really cool to see and experience someone realize that at one time.

(mom note: the following are some specific question’s for Elder Fisher and his answers)

What do you like about the German People?  I like the way a lot of them do business and take care of thing. Also most are very clean and have spotless houses, I like that a lot.

What customs, traditions, personality traits do you like?  I like Christmas here a lot, kinda sad I do not get to celebrate it here again, culture-the bakeries are really good, also that art is very important to them, Personality traits-They are honest and for the most part do not beat around the bush, I have learned to really like that and picked it up myself to not beat around the bush.

What do Ward members do that help the missionaries?  They give us service a lot which helps us to get to know them better and to help someone as well.

And, what do you wish they did, or did better?  I wish they would do their home and visiting teaching.

What do you like about serving a long time in one area, and what do you not like?   I love knowing the members so good and I feel like I am actually a part of the ward now. I feel like I know most of the people on the streets or at least recognize them from finding or just going around the city.

(mom note: back to his regular letter)

   I got some much needed clothing and I was able to get the shoes repaired as well, I bought these shoes like a year ago in Germany but when you walk every day for several hours, it makes the shoe kind of fall apart. However, I got them fixed completely for 25 euro so no need to worry.

   How many refugees are coming into the US? I think I heard at one time that the US took in about 10000 or so but I am not sure. We see refugees almost every day walking around and a lot of the times they just seem so sad and we cannot really give them any comfort because they do not speak German or English, anything you do can make a difference though, I know that. 

    (mom note: If you would like ideas on how to help refugees in your community, please visit I Was A Stranger--there are videos and lists of ideas on how to reach out to help those who are refugees or in crisis in your community. You can also view: I Was a Stranger: Love One Another.  

   Scripture of the week: Alma 12 :8 “And Zeezrom began to inquire of them diligently, that he might know more concerning the kingdom of God. And he said unto Alma: What does this mean which Amulek hath spoken concerning the resurrection of the dead, that all shall rise from the dead, both the just and the unjust, and are brought to stand before God to be judged according to their works?”

   Quote of the week "it [joining the church] will bring you into the greatest fraternity in the   world"-Gordon B. Hinckley

Love ya,

Elder Spencer Fisher

Fourth of July in Germany and Missionary Service Projects

July 4, 2016

   Thank you for the wish Fourth of July wish, I wish you a happy Fourth of July. For the 4th of July celebration we made root beer floats and ate at a good, relatively speaking, Mexican restaurant.

   This is transfer week this week, and Elder Illum and I are staying together for a 3rd and this will be my fourth transfer here in Minden. The work has been slow the last few weeks but it is a brighter future.

   This past week we ate at our Branch president’s house and had tacos, we also ate at an older member’s house this past week and she made us stuffed peppers.

   We have district meeting this coming week.   In Minden we usually write emails from the church.

   There is probably more farms in our area than houses, the farms are mostly corn, wheat, and raps plants.

   Mom said the sister missionaries want you to ask someone to the house to be taught.  I have been trying my whole mission to get such an appointment without success. I sympathize with those sisters. Something you could also have the sisters do that they will like is invite them to do service, either at our house or at a home teaching family’s house or something, the missionaries love doing that, as you may remember from your mission.

   Scripture of the week: Alma 4:4, “And they began to establish the church more fully; yea, and many were baptized in the waters of Sidon and were joined to the church of God; yea, they were baptized by the hand of Alma, who had been consecrated the high priest over the people of the church, by the hand of his father Alma.

   Quote of the week is: "One nation under God." The Pledge of Allegiance

   I liked the quote you that you sent me, I hope that you have a good week.   (The quote he is talking about:   Alma 31: 5, "And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just--yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them--therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God."….the word of God was more powerful than the sword for leading people to do the right thing--because it is as Joseph Smith said, "I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves" rather than forcing people because then it not done by their own learning and agency.

Love you.

Love,

Elder Spencer Fisher

A Heat Wave in Germany, Grocery Shopping, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son

June 27, 2016

   It sounds like the heat has come to visit you guys too (we were having temperatures of 105+ Farenheit), it was hot for a few days here as well, but it has cooled off as well.  

   On Father's Day, I talked about faith in Jesus Christ, the 'Father's Day' (it is just called Man Day) in Germany is on May 5th and everyone in Germany just drinks a lot of beer that day.

We met a younger mother this week that has interest in eternal families. This past week we also had companion exchanges and I went to Bielefeld with the district leader Elder Casperson from Inkom, Idaho. Yes, there are sisters in my district and they work in Bielefeld. For district meeting this past week, we learned about humility. Today we went to a town called Bad Oeynhausen for district P-day and we saw a palace and played ultimate Frisbee.  Transfers are this next week and we will be finding out this weekend what will be happening, I could stay, or possible go to the last area on my mission. We will see what happens.

   For our grocery shopping, there is usually just one big store in Minden, pretty similar to a Stater Bros. actually. There are smaller (specialty) stores but we are not rich enough to go there so we take the cheaper route. I miss eating at Senor Campos, although I do not remember how it exactly tastes, I remember that it tasted good and it is good Mexican food.

   I read the story of the prodigal son this week in personal study this week, that is probably one of my favorite parable if not my favorite parables in the New Testament, it shows us that no matter what we have done even "which hath devoured thy living with harlots" as it says "But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." It shows how much love our Heavenly Father has for each and every one of us.

   Scripture for the week: Luke 15:21-24  “And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”

   Quote for the week: "Es gibt nicht Gutes, außer man tut es" (Google translate says this means: There are not good, unless you do it.”  (mom note: I'm sure there's a better translation out there)  UPDATE:  better translation--"there's nothing good unless you do it"--and an even better translation "actions speak louder than words"  Thank you, Natalie!

   It's unbelievable how fast the time is going. 4th of July is next Pday and we are excited to celebrate.

Love,

Elder Spencer Fisher

The week before Father's Day and missionary work

Market square in Minden.

June 19, 2016

Happy Father's Day!! I will say it on the actual day next year. Sounds like dad had a good Father's Day as well (even if he did have to speak in church), or at least a good dinner. If it is any consolation for him, I had to speak on Father's Day as well.

The weather here is weird, and all of the members say that this weather is not normal, it will rain really hard for like 1 hour and then it will be very sunny and hot for 2 and then rain again. It makes missionary work difficult sometimes.

I am doing good, I am healthy, happy and frustrated sometimes, the mission can be an emotional roller coaster but for the most part I am happy and I am having fun. It really is not an easy thing to be on a mission and every mission has its own difficulties I guess. Sometimes the days feel like they do not end and that the weeks feel like years, but it is all worth it. Just have to keep going.

The church Elder Fisher visited

This past week we went finding, had exchanges with the elders in Bielefeld, we helped another member with computer problems (I played with the dog because my companion loves to do stuff with computers), ate nachos for one of our lunches, we had Zone Training meeting and interviews with President Fingerle, we had a family home evening with the ward and we also met someone from Jamaica. It was a good week.

Today we went to an old church here in Minden and that was interesting.  I took some pictures that I will be sending.

During church on Sunday, we usually help with translation, sometimes teaching a class, and give talks in sacrament meeting monthly, but not always the case.

I studied the story of Abinadi this week and that was good, to see how someone can be both bold and loving with missionary work.

The organ!!

The interviews with President Fingerle went well I guess. Nothing too different happened in the interviews but it was good to just talk with him. I had a good week. This coming week we do not have a lot of appointments, but it will be okay, we will try doing surprise visits with the members.

Scripture of the week: 1 Nephi 21:15, “For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Quote of the week "Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyways." John Wayne.

Hope that you have a good week and know that I love you too!

The description on the card tells that
"even though there was death, there is life"

Love,

Elder Spencer Fisher

Mary and Jesus

Elder Fisher said the stain glass depicts knights

The Hannover Zone!!

Investigators, Rain, and Plans for the Coming Week

June 13, 2016

   This week for us was a little slower, the investigator that was making really good progress decided that he did not have any interest anymore and doesn't want us to contact him anymore. Sad but I hope that he opens his heart again later in the future and makes the covenants with our Heavenly Father and all of that good stuff. Other than that we had a few member appointments this week and met with some people who like us but aren’t making a whole lot of progress but they were at least nice. 

   For P-day, we are doing nothing today because it is raining and when it rains here, we do not usually ride the bikes, we ride with the buses. It is a lot drier.

   My favorite thing to cook is chicken quesadilla wraps. They taste really good. My companion likes to cook goulash.

   We have not had any ward activities lately but we usually do stuff with ward members all the time so it feels like we always have some sort of a ward activity.

   This week we were not able to meet anyone too interesting but we were able to get a church headquarters referral on Saturday so hopefully we will meet someone interesting this coming week. We also have a few service projects this week, a few member appointments, companionship exchanges, and later this week we have a Zone Training Meeting.  We also have interviews with President Fingerle, we will see what he has to say about life so it should be a good week. Other than that there is not too much to report on.

   My favorite thing to study this week were older Ensign articles, sometimes they have some pretty interesting stuff in them about other religions or older issues relating to the church, they were interesting to read.

   Scripture for the week: Genesis 1:26--a good one to remember, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

Quote for the week "it takes a big dog to way a ton" (mom note: favorite family saying)

Love you and hope that you have a good week,

Love,

Elder Spencer Fisher

Chocolate Factory, Missionary Teaching, and P-day activities

June 6, 2016

   We had a regional stake conference yesterday so fast and testimony meeting was a week ago, but they were both very good.

   Last p-day, we went to the outlet center for the chocolate factory, so all of the chocolate that broke in the factory or didn't look so pretty they sell there, The actually factory was about a 30 minute walk so we didn't want to walk it. This Pday we have a little bit of service projects and then baking cookies at the end of the day.

   My companion and I share the cooking, cleaning I do more of, but I look at it as a way to serve my companion and I have become a lot cleaner on the mission, and cannot put up with dirty apartments anymore.

   This week we met with our investigator 2 times, he wants to be baptized and is trying to keep the commandments that we are teaching him as well, he is really good. Yesterday we walked around in a park with an old lady who wanted to know more about us and our church, it was for about 30 minutes I think so that was pretty cool. This coming week should be pretty busy for us if all of our appointments work out and do not fall out. We hope and pray for that.

   In summer, it is sometimes hard to not think of California beaches and other fun stuff like that but we just keep moving along and staying focused.

   I am making lists of all of the commandments and things we are encouraged to do and things that we are warned not to do in the scriptures so that is very interesting to study.

Scripture for the week: Jacob 2:18 “But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God."

   Quote of the week "Sometimes it is easier for us to help a stranger than to help someone who's history and character we know" (approximately) Elder Kearon

   I do not need anything else right now but I will let you know if anything comes up.

Love,

Elder Spencer Fisher

Zone Conference, Bielefeld, Herford, and Service Projects

May 30, 2016

   I cannot believe that school is already out for the year! That is ridiculous! It never went by that fast when I was going to high school, but I am doing something a lot better know so that is probably why it is going by a lot faster and more enjoyable.  Thanks for the list of seniors and where they are going, and you can tell C. & D. that I thank them as well. Looks like a lot of them will be heading out to BYU Idaho. It will be cool to see a few of them at school.

   It was transfer day last Wednesday but I’m not moving for transfers and I am staying in Minden with my current companion.

   For P-day last week, we went to Bielefeld.  We saw the city and I got a few more short sleeve shirts and then went to a city called Herford and bought some really good chocolate from a chocolate factory.

   For service this week we didn't help in the garden but we are helping a member with their future apartment and getting it ready for new wiring and piping and everything.

   Yesterday at our eating appointment we got hot dogs which were really good but we ate a lot of food and we do not really want to eat hot dogs for a while now.

   The one appointment fell out and the other one went good and he said he wanted to be baptized! but the actually baptismal date will come a little latter.

   This past week we had Zone Conference, it was really good, but we did not hear anything about the new missionary dress code at all (the sunglasses and hats new rule) so I think our mission will probably not change our rules. In our mission we do not really need them, at least not like they do in South America or Africa or Pacific Islands or something.  (mom note: whenever we check the weather where Elder Fisher is serving, it is raining about 50% of the time).

   Scripture for the week: Jacob 1: 19 “And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.”

   Quote of the week: "I teach them the principles and then they govern themselves" (approximately) Joseph Smith

   That is about it but I am ready for June and hopefully some warmer weather will come with it as well. I love you guys and hope that you have a good week too!

Love,

Elder Spencer Fisher

Hannover Zone, Germany Berlin Mission, week of May 23, 2016
(if you click on the picture, it will enlarge it for easier viewing)

Tornado, new Missionary Clothing guidelines, and Blessings

May 23, 2016

   Well, it is sort of well in Germany, there was a tornado in Minden yesterday (May 22^nd). No big deal though (Video posted of Tornado)  (mom note: if you Google Minden tornado, there are a few pictures online).

   My companion and I either share the cooking now, or help prepare stuff.  And we ride the bikes a lot still.

   I did not here about the missionary wear but we have Zone Conference this week so maybe we will hear something. We haven't heard anything about this new rule for the sunglasses and hat thing, but maybe at zone conference even they will say something. (another mom note: missionaries can now wear hats and sunglasses on warm, sunny days)

   This past week we found a new investigator that we will be meeting with Tuesday and a referral that we will be meeting with on Wednesday so it should be a good week from what we have planned this week.

   My favorite thing to do (on P-day) is going to the church and playing football with our branch president. Today we are going to Bielefeld, a big city, for P-day to go exploring.

I was reading Psalms this past week and really realized how much the Lord gives to us.

   Scripture of the week Psalms 23:3-4:  “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

   Quote of the week: "I am going to take out my watch and give you five minutes to name me a better man (than the prophet of God)"--J. Golden Kimball

Love you and hope that you guys have a good week too!

Elder Spencer Fisher