WEEK 5- IT'S A GREAT DAY TO SAVE LIVES!

Hi from SALEM, VIRGINIA!

Wow it's been a crazy week but here is the rundown...

On Tuesday night we had an amazing devotional and got to listen to Neil L Andersen who is one of the 12 apostles and his wife talk. We also listened to Brother Taylor who is a member of the seventy and I'm mainly mentioning him because he looked like Matthew

Mcconaughey. Anyway it was the perfect way to end my MTC experience. I sang in the choir and it was so cool. I felt like a little angel surrounded by a bunch of other little angels (over 1000 actually) and we were all so proud to be singing praises to God. It was so cute after Elder Andersen was done he came down and shook a lot of hands and sent his cute grandkids around to shake hands and thank all the missionaries. Elder Andersen truly emulated Christ. I felt the spirit in abundance that night and was able to learn so many new things!

We left the MTC at 3:45 the next morning. So we only got like two hours of sleep unfortunately but that's okay. We got on a few trains and a few planes and finally arrived in Charleston West Virginia that night. We were met at the airport by our awesome mission president and his wife and we went to his house to eat dinner and go through orientation. Apparently I'm what they call a Class B driver so fingers crossed I get to drive within the next 18 months. Something about too many tickets? Weird;) Anyway the next day I got assigned to my area, Salem, with my trainer, Sister Neilson. We are very different. She is a city girl from Cali so I give her a lot of crap about that but we are both super chill, like naps, and like to roll down the windows with that gospel music blasting so we get along really well. I'm very grateful for her.

These last couple of days I have met a lot of the people in the ward. They are amazing. All so nice and so cool. And Salem is gorgeous. The humidity doesn't bug me that bad and all this moisture is working wonders for my skin. Very hydrated. But yeah I've never seen so many trees and so many brick houses. I love it.

As far as missionary work goes, they just had a few baptisms so we are starting fresh and we have a lot of work to do. I never thought I would like telling random people about God and Jesus and stuff but honestly every house we pass and every person we see that's all I want to do! I just want everyone in Salem to know how much God loves them and how happy they can be if they will follow him. Weird. I know.

Last night we met with the Fergusons. Neilson didn't tell me she knew these people I thought it was just a random door we were knocking so when they opened the door in overalls screaming at us I was terrified. Almost cried. Turns out they have a tradition where they scare every new missionary. *nervous laugh* But for real they are so cool. Sister Ferguson isn't a member so she said we could share a thought with her. The spirit was so strong in that house during our mini lesson and I asked her if she wanted to start taking lessons with us. She said yes! She has been learning about the church for almost a year but has never committed to lessons so that's a big deal. I am so excited to teach her all about the restored gospel and watch her grow closer to Christ!

Like McDreamy says, "It's a great day to save lives." I've adopted that as my new motto. Not just to save lives but to make them more full of the happiness and joy that God intends us to have. That's my full time job now and I am so beyond blessed.

I send my thoughts and prayers to the Thomas and Pugsley families.

3 Nephi 17:21

"And when he had said these words he wept, and the multitude bare record of it and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them."

Jesus cries and prays for us. He knows the struggles we have because he already endured all the pain and heartache we feel. He loves every child and those that have passed are safely in his arms. We never have to be alone. Let him lift you.

I hope all is well. Count your blessings and remember God loves ya!

kloveyoubye

Sister Fisher