Sneaky Mail

A little part of Chelsey's day is checking the mail. After waiting for the mail man to leave, she snatches the mail key and stalks down to the mailbox to look to see if today is a lucky day or not. Usually, there is not something there but, it is all the more fun when there is a letter, or two, from missionary friends. One thing that not fun is getting the ads. The "ad days" are the worst because you go down to the mailbox and open up. You see some sort of paper product inside and get SUPER excited just to find out it is only a little packet of pages telling you all the "great sales" everyone is having. You pick it up, throw it in the nearest trash can ('cause no one in your apartment uses them) and sludge back up to the third floor to put the key back in the drawer  and continue on with you life until tomorrow at about the same time. For this reason, this morning, I decided ads are "sneaky mail" because you think you have something and then, you do not and they sit there laughing at you. That's why I throw them straight into the trash can. Yes, I'm probably missing some great deal but, at this point of the semester, I do not need anything else so I won't be using them and I know my roommates do not so why leave the laughing pages sitting on my table to continue to laugh at how they tricked me again? It does not seem quite reasonable. Oh well, time to go get the mail and see if the ads are hiding any real mail beneath them. haha

Just what I Needed

This morning I awoke quite exhausted because I stayed up late doing dishes. I was stressed and was struggling with all the stuff I had to do. The day slowly got better but, it wasn't quite right. Then, I went with a friend to the temple and, after, I was sitting outside waiting for her to finish and enjoyed the beautiful sunset. As the light slipped behind the mountains, a group of 12-14 year old young women climbed up to the front of the temple. They began to hand out cookies and quotes to those who left the temple and said, "Thank you for serving in the temple." It was so sweet to watch these young girl's faces light up as they served and watch the faces of those receiving the treats. Everyone seemed to glow and it made my heart swell to watch this. It was beautiful. Service is such a beautiful thing and youth serving others can be quite touching. Suddenly, my day was perfect.

I love to see the Temple. I went inside that day.

I realized I did not post anything about this on my blog, only facebook. Well, this is about to change.

On Friday the 15th, I flew home to Chicago to go through the temple there. It was beautiful. For sacredness reasons, I won't go into details but, I will say it was wonderful to be with family and to be able to go inside a building I have longed to enter for many years. For those who do not quite understand what I am talking about, the temple is a place of great sacredness and anyone can enter if they are a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints if they have a recommend and this event does not typically happen unless a member is about to get married or go on a mission. Since I will be leaving on my mission in a few weeks, I took the opportunity to go home and go through with my parents. A temple is, as I said, a sacred place for worship. We make covenants, or two-way promises. It is a place of peace and comfort. It is where we can be sealed as families for all eternity. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had and cannot wait to continue to learn and grow.

My daddy & I outside the Chicago temple.

64 days until I report to the MTC [Missionary Training Center] for my mission!!!

Where Can I Turn for Peace?

Yesterday, my aunt, Heather Buss, passed away. It came as quite a shock. We were fasting for her but, thought we had a few more months with her. As I saw the text after church letting me know, I was in complete shock. I was quite a wreck for the rest of the evening, off and on. I had not really known anyone who had passed on, personally. Heather's passing reminded me of how fragile this life is and the importance of the gospel in my life. Yes, I had believed that families were forever through the sealing power of the temple but, this let me really reflect on this testimony I had. I still believe families are forever, and this is where I have drawn a lot of comfort from, but, if anything, that testimony has been strengthened. It makes me want to work harder to be able to return to live with my Heavenly Father again so that I can see my sweet aunt again. To see her in a perfect body and to have every hair restored to her head. I gain comfort in imagining the reunion with her in heaven. Another part that has been hard to deal with is picturing my two little cousins who, now, have no mother. They are young so they may forget the memories as they grow older. I cannot imagine not having my mommy with me to help me through this life. Any time I imagined my cousins, I broke down into heavy sobs because I ache for them. Then, last night, I posted on facebook asking for prayers for them. One friend responded with, "Those children now have a most dedicated Angel watching over them. We will be praying for them, her husband, and you and your family." I was so touched as I realized, yes, my cousins may not have their mother in their home with them physically but, she will always be watching over them, spiritually. That brings me so much peace to think of it in that way. 

When I was told my aunt's cancer had come back, I immediately thought of the lyrics to "Where can I Turn for Peace?" since we were singing it that night at our choir concert. In the actual concert, I found the lyrics piercing my soul and testifying to me of their truth. Yesterday, during my church's testimony meeting, I got up and talked about this experience. As a side note, I do not typically bring up personal things in any sort of public setting and especially not over a pulpit. Well, I talked about this experience so, when I heard my aunt had passed away, these lyrics were still fresh in my mind. They have been such a sweet blessing to me as I keep moving forward. It is hard but, I know I will see her again and that, if we am faithful, we will all live together in Heaven again. I know my Savior lives and loves us. I know temples seal families forever. I know the Savior knows what I am going through and can help me, and my uncle and cousins, and extended family, feel at peace and comforted through this hard time.

Where Can I Turn for Peace?

1. Where can I turn for peace?

Where is my solace

When other sources cease to make me whole?

When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,

I draw myself apart,

Searching my soul?

2. Where, when my aching grows,

Where, when I languish,

Where, in my need to know, where can I run?

Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?

Who, who can understand?

He, only One.

3. He answers privately,

Reaches my reaching

In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.

Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.

Constant he is and kind,

Love without end.

Text: Emma Loud Thayne

Music: Joleen G. Meredith

Finally, the Mission Call Opening Video!!!!

The Mission Update

The day had finally come. A white envelope had arrived to the silver box outside Chelsey Fisher’s apartment the Evening of February 7^th, 2013. The rest of her classes seemed to consume her life, and the little patience she had still, as she waited for the time to come when she could open this packet that would change her life, as she knew it, forever. For weeks, maybe even years, she had been waiting for this day to come, and now, the only thing keeping her from knowing was Time.

Friends and family gathered at 7:50 in the living room and kitchen of Chelsey’s apartment. The love of those present was quite a comfort to the girl who, all day, had not been able to contain her excitement. The immediate family, and best friend, Hilary Harris, gathered back home in Aurora, Illinois around a computer screen and webcam to use a video chat through Skype to communicate with those gathered in cold Provo, Utah.

Finally, the time had come. With letter opener and letter in hand, Chelsey began to open the corner of the white envelope. The room was silent, as the letter opener sliced through that paper product. Now, the document was exposed to the extra carbon dioxide that, a second earlier, had been filling the apartment air. Then, the pages were torn from the comfort of the white heaven and covered so as not to reveal the answer it concealed.

The reading began, “Dear Sister Fisher…” Chelsey had thought she would cry but, pindrops of diamonds gathered in the corner of her eyes. She continued reading, “You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Utah Ogden Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. You should report to the Provo Mission Training Center on Wednesday May 29, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish Language.”

The room erupted with sounds that were inaudible to any human ear as Chelsey just died laughing and continually repeated, “I’m going Spanish speaking!” and “The Lord has a sense of humor!” All sentences clamored together and hands clasped together and Chelsey just laughed. Hugs were shared. It was done and Chelsey felt excited and at peace. The world would have to see if she slept until her report date arrived. As the crowd dispersed and Chelsey had a chance to catch her breath, she was so grateful for the opportunities which had befallen her so that she could go out and serve the Lord and help bring others to her Savior, Jesus Christ.