True Friends

This past weekend I took a trip with family and had not internet service. This gave me lots of reflecting time. One thing that I thought a lot about was friendship. I haven't lived very long but, I've lived long enough to watch friends come and go. Some have a special place in your heart and then they break it by leaving. Some always stay there even when you may try to leave them. Others have a mutual friendship that never ends. What causes these differences in friendships? Why do some not last and others last a life time? The answer I have come to think of is

change.

from google images

When someone changes, things around them change. I'm not the same person I was when I was in middle school. I am not in the same place. This has led to changes in me and in my friend circle. Even in the past 3 years of my college life friends have changed. I now have many friends in Ogden, UT and other places across the globe. I may pass an old friend on campus who no longer is such a close friend and we may acknowledge the other, we may not. Because I think a lot about the past and reflect on what people think of me, this has led to personal struggles of 'what did I do wrong?' 'why do we not talk?' 'how can I fix this?' but, frankly, it does not mean things have gone bad for either side, but rather, change has occurred. Maybe one day those friendships will come back, maybe not. The important thing is that we keep bettering ourselves and coming closer to Christ. He is who we want to become like and who understands us completely. He will never leave us. Only we can further ourselves from Him. He is the ultimate friend and brother who will never let us down. So, don't give up on Him because He is there to heal your broken heart when you feel it is too late. He is always there.

In the eyes of a people-pleasing perfectionist

Hello again to everyone! I have returned from Ogden and have returned to college life. Before dive into life now I have a few confessions, or realizations, that I have come to about myself that I feel should be shared to maybe help someone out:

I am a...
-People Pleaser
-Perfectionist
-Slight Neat Freak
-Someone who see all my faults and tries to hide them from others

Now what does all this mean? Just like every other person, I have struggles and have to overcome them.

For me, I have come to find there are some benefits to my problems:

They are...
-People are generally happy around me
-I can see things that could potentially upset people
-I enjoy time alone because it is a time when I can find myself
-I enjoy watching people to see patterns
-I am good at learning quickly through watching

It is not easy to accept struggles, or worse, let others see them but, I now realize that all struggles can be overcome. There is a scripture found in The Book of Mormon, in Ether 12:27, which reads, 

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." 

It's a lot to take in but, basically, this scripture talks is saying that if we come unto God, He will show us our weaknesses but, if we will be humble and have faith, He will make them become strengths. I know this to be true. Those weaknesses I listed at the top are not perfect- probably never will be. However, I know that they are become better through the help of God and His son, Jesus Christ. How do I know this? Because I have seen it. The past 18 months of my life were hard but, I was able to enjoy them and see the blessings and change because of the truthfulness of this scripture. Life still is hard. I still have to battle with my own personal struggles every day but, I do know that God lives. I know He does. He loves us. All of us. And He will help us. The mission I served changed my life forever. I can never fully repay the Lord for the wonderful blessing I had to be an instrument in His hands and to wear His name every day for 18 months. A special part of my heart lies with the people of Ogden, Utah and I am so grateful to them, along with the Lord, for the impact made on my heart, and life, forever. 

New Mission Blog

I am serving my mission still but, we are allowed to use the internet. Every once in awhile, I post something on a new blog:

http://thoughtsfrompescadora.blogspot.com/

I would like to invite you to follow me there and learn more about what I believe as I share my testimony with others. You can also see my profile at mormon.org at:

http://mormon.org/me/782Y

Keep smiling! God is always there for us.

~Hermana Fisher AKA "Pescadora" :)

Leaving for a Year and a Half

Well, I am signing off for a year and a half on Monday and I am not sure if I'll be back on here before then so, here is me saying good-bye. I am off to serve a mission for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Utah Ogden Mission, Spanish speaking for a year and a half. I know my Redeemer lives and that this is His gospel. I cannot wait to serve my fellow brothers and sisters in Utah and help bring them closer to Christ.

My weekly emails will be posted to a different, private blog that my family will be taking care of. However, if you would like to send me a little note once in awhile, I would not be opposed. Here will be my address from July 9th (once I reach Ogden) until the end of my mission:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sister Chelsey Fisher

4380 S Orchard Ave

South Ogden, UT 84403

USA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for following with me on life's journey thus far. Keep smiling and moving forward. The Lord loves each of you so much. Just turn to Him when life gets you down. See ya in a year and a half world!

My Favorite Day

Well, it's official. I never thought I'd say this but, Monday is now my favorite day of the week. Why you ask? because of one simple thing: missionary emails. Recently, the email policy for missionaries changed and they can now email other people than just family. At first, I thought this would create no change for me because I like writing letters and, most of the people I keep in contact with are in the states so, what would be the point? Well, I forgot that I had several close guy friends who were outside the USA who sent me their email addresses. There were also a few friends in-state who asked for my email to forward their home emails to me. What a fun twist to my Monday. I wake up to a couple emails from those out of the country and then, as the day progresses, I get a couple more from all over the world. It's such a miracle to be able to keep in contact with close friends who are out serving the Lord for a year and a half to two years. And, hopefully, this will allow me to be able to keep better contact with them when I head out to serve a mission in.... (DUN DUN DUNNNN) 22 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!! I am so nervous but, extremely excited to serve the people of Ogden and to learn how to talk about one of my favorite things in Spanish (church). I know my Redeemer lives and that this is His will for me and I cannot wait to give my all for Him.

Letter Writers for my Mission??? Please??? hehe

I came across this little gem online and thought I'd post it here because it made me laugh so much. :) When I leave on my mission, please write! :)

The First Epistle of the Elders to the Dead Letter Writers:
By: Unknown
Chapter 1:
1. In the beginning was the mailbox and the mailbox was void of letters.
2. And the missionaries said, Let the mailbox be filled and the box was not filled.
3. And the missionaries beheld the continuing void and were not pleased. 
4. And lo, it was the first day of the week and there was no mail delivered, but this was good.
5. But on the second day mail was delivered, yet the mailbox remained empty.
6. Yea, even from the second day unto the seventh was the mail delivered.
7. Even so the box retained its void.
8. And yea, great mists of darkness spread forth from the void and enshroud the Missionaries. Yea and did bring much sadness to their otherwise cheery days.
9.  Even the long hours of fruitless tracting, being chased by the fowls of the air, and being pursued by the beast of the field were not as disheartening as the lack of sacred objects known as letters.
10. Yet they persisted.
Chapter 2:
1. And, lo, on the second day of the second week the mists still encircled the sacred mailbox.
2. And on the third day, from within the depths of the void was a single postcard.
3. And this postcard put forth a single ray of light which did pierce the darkness and did overcome the mists.
4. And the Missionaries were well pleased and there was much rejoicing.
5. But, alas, their joy was not to last. For the mailbeast had made a mistake and the postcard was for someone else. 
6. But if their joy was so exceedingly great over someone else's mail, how great would be their joy at partaking of their own mail.
Chapter 3:
1. And we give unto you the parable of the Two Letter Writers.
2. At the hour of noon a certain scribe sat down to write a letter.
3. And the scribe did think of many things to write, but, he spent so much time thinking that he did not write.
4. Nevertheless he felt good because he had great intentions.
5. At the same hour a publican sat down and wrote a few words as he ate.
6. Yet he felt guilty at not writing enough.
7. And, lo, the 24 months passed and the Missionary returned home and passed by the scribes' house.
8. Yea, he went even unto the house of the publican and did visit the publican.
9. Verily a letter is like unto a prize in a Cheerios box; the which if a man knows it is in there he selleth all that he has that he may buy a case of Cheerios that he may obtain it.
Chapter 4:
1. Even more blessed than the Missionary receiving mail is a friend of relative writing letters.
2. And if you should spend 5 minutes writing a letter how great shall be your joy.
3. And if your joy be great with one letter, how great shall it be with many letters in the mailbox of a missionary.
4. Else why do they build Post Offices if letters are written not at all; why then do they build Post Offices.
5. Yea, though I speak with the tongue of men and angels, and write not letters, I am nothing.
6. Letters never faileth; but if there be good thoughts they shall fail; whether there be unsent mail it shall vanish.
7. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child.
8. Even as I have put away my childish things, ye must replace them with unchildish mail.
9. And now abideth thoughts, intentions, mail; these three. But the greatest of these is mail.
10. Yea, if thou lovest me, write me letters.
Chapter 5:
1. But some will say, a letter, a letter, we have already written a letter. We have no need to write anymore letters.
2. Know ye not that there are more days than one. And more events than one in a day. Why think ye that these events need not to be reported.
3. Yea, and ye need not worry that your letter will go unanswered.
4. But you should say, I will go and write the letter that a missionary requests. For I know he giveth no request except he be prepared to respond.
5.  And we give unto you the parable of the Self Addressed Envelopes.
6. When the missionary departed into the far off land he gave a certain number of self-addressed stamped envelopes to his friends.
7. Unto one he gave 5, unto another he gave 2, and unto the third he gave 1.
8. And while he was gone he that was given the 5 envelopes write 5 letters. Then, in his zeal wrote 5 letters more.
9. The same with him that had 2 envelopes; he wrote 2 letters and then 2 letters more.
10. He that was given the self addressed envelope became slothful and careless. And he lost the envelope, even that which he was given.
11. When the missionary came home he went unto his friends. And he that had written 10 letters was warmly greeted. 
12. The same with him that had written 4.
13. But he that had written none at all was given nothing more than a Fishy-Whimp like handshake.
Chapter 6: 
1. And it has been said; blessed are the letter writers for they shall receive mail in return.
2. Blessed are they that keep in touch with a missionary for they shall know all that happens to him.
3. Ye and your letter are the light of a missionaries' day.
4. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
5. Neither do men write letters and put them in a desk but in an envelope that it giveth light unto all that are around the missionary.
6. Let your letters so be read by missionaries that they may see your good works and show and increased love to you.
7. And we give unto you the parable of the Prodigal Letter Writer.
8. A missionary had two friends while he was laboring in the field. 
9. One was faithful and wrote every week to the missionary.
10. Meanwhile,  the other friend spent his stamp money on riotous living and wrote no letters.
11. But after 23 1/2 months he felt deep sorrow and did write a letter unto the missionary.
12. Who when he received it did go and kill the fatted Macaroni and Cheese box and did feast and was merry.
13. For it was meet that he should make merry for the letter writer which was lost and was now found.
Chapter 7:
1. Unto you is given some stationary, and some paper, and some envelopes, and some pens and pencils.
2. For the writing of the letters, for the cheering up of the missionary, for the improving of your English skills. 
3. Till the missionary return home, till we all come to be together again in the bond of friendship.
4. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose.
5. A time to contemplate writing and a time to write. 
6. A time to put letters in the envelopes and a time to stamp the envelopes.
7. A time to mail the letters and a time to start the whole process over again.
8. Now we beseech you brethren concerning the coming home of our missionary and our gathering together to meet him.
9. That you be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled neither by word nor by any letter from us that the return missionary is at hand.
10. Let no one deceive you by any means for that day shall not come unless there first be an abundance of letters; and the man of mail be revealed, a true friend.
Chapter 8:
1. And the missionary said unto his friend, lovest thou me?
2. And the friend said, of course I love thee.
3. He saith a second time, Friend, lovest thou me? and the friend said, thou knowest that I love thee. He then said, Feed my mailbox.
4. He then spake a third time saying, lovest thou me? and the friend said, thou knowest all things, thou knowest I love thee.
5. Then the missionary said, stuffest my mailbox.
6. And the vision is become unto all as the words of a letter which is sealed in the envelope that the men deliver to one who is not serving a mission saying, read this, I pray thee; and he saith I cannot for it is not mine.
7. And the letter is delivered to him that is serving a mission saying, read this I pray thee; and he saith, why sure.
8. Therefore you should proceed to do a marvelous work among a missionary, even a marvelous work and a wonder by writing a letter.
Chapter 9:
1. And the word of the  Missionary came unto his friend saying,
2. Moreover, thou friend of mine, take thee one piece of paper and write it for a missionary and for the house of the Mexico City North Mission, his companions; and then take an envelope and write upon it  for a missionary and for the house of the Mexico City North Mission, his companions.
3. And join them one to another into a letter and they shall become one in the and of the mailman.
4. For what doth it profit a man if he say he hath thought, but write no letter? Can thoughts save him?
5. If a brother or sister have a birthday,
6. And you say unto him, Happy Birthday, notwithstanding you give them not a cake with candles upon it. What doth it profit?
7. Even so, thoughts without letters are dead, being alone. 
8. But if we say we have no thoughts, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9. Therefore, since ye have thoughts, write ye letters.
Chapter 10:
1. And now we wish to tell you the story of the Anti-letter-writer.
2. And there dwelt in the land at the time a certain Anti-letter-writer who went about convincing the people that there was no need to write letters.
3. Indeed so persuasive were his arguments that many people did cease to write letters to missionaries.
4. Then the returned missionary did confront the Anti-letter-writer and didst dispute his arguments.
5. Then it came to pass that the Anti-letter-writer did ask for a sign that letters should be sent, then would he believe.
6. Then the returned missionary said, just as assuredly as letters are to be sent so wilt thou be struct down.
7. And at that moment the Anti-letter-writer was run over by a mail truck and was dragged even unto the Post Office, where he was subsequently mailed to Zimbabwe.
8. Now when the general public saw this they were priced in their hearts and said, Men and brethren what shall we do?
9. Then the returned missionary said, repent, every one of you and write ten letters unto each missionary that he may forgive thee of thy thoughtlessness.
10. So now we leave you. Be of good cheer, and remember this last vision.
11. For I saw the dead, small and great stand before the judgment bar, and another book was opened which was the book of letters;  and the dead were judged by the letters (or lack thereof) that they had written to the missionaries.
12. So now we ask, what manner of men ought ye to be? ye ought to be letter writers. 

Saw someone sell something like this for missionaries and decided I wanted to make one for myself. :)