Off to Germany, calling home, and RC experiences!

Date: Febraury 19, 2009

Familie!

Well this is the last time I will email you from America! O meine gute! Plan on me calling home sometime on Monday before 8:00, probably between 6:30 and 7:30am. Unless something happens and I don't get to call you until 2:45 (3:45 for you) when we have a lay over in Texas. But I will try calling Monday morning before we leave. Um, I will get a calling card and call from there. So just answer the phone when it rings. :) And, uh, if it's someone besides me calling between 6:00 and 8:00 or 3:00 and 5:00 tell them you will call them back. :) That would be fun to talk to Candace and Evan, Sean and Kim, and Tara, but I don't know if that's allowed. I'll find out. I'll plan on calling the family in the morning and maybe Sean and Kim and Candace and Evan and Tara when I land in Texas. Sorry, that probably will be really hard to plan. Do whatever you think is best and if I get to call I'll call and maybe you'll be there (!!!) and maybe you won't. That sounds sad. Anyway, it will all work out and know that no matter what happens I love all of you!

Well yeah, I'll talk to you on Monday! Wahoo! Supe! Wunderbar! So on Wednesday, yesterday I was in the Referall Center again and a lady called in to order a Bible and I asked her why she wanted one and she said that she thinks Christ is coming again soon and wants to be prepared. I told her I thought that was great she wanted to get prepared. I asked if she had ever heard of the Book of Mormon, she said yes, I have one, but haven't really read it at all. I then asked if I could read a scripture from it, she agreed. So I read her Alma 34:32-34 about how this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God. . . and then she asked, well how do we know that it is Christ when he comes again so we won't be decieved. I read to her 3 Nephi 11 and said that Christ would have the nails in his hands and feet so we wouldn't be decieved and also that we would feel love and peace radiating from him. She said, I need to read this book, it sounds like it has more details than the Bible. :) I said, yes, then I explained why that is the reason we have the Book of Mormon. And I explained why certain things were lost in the Bible. She was really interested. She had so many questions and the Spirit was there and helped all her questions to be answered. Sometimes she would ask something and I would think, Oh what scripture could I show her, and I would flip to one that completly answered her question. It was so neat. By the end she committed to pray and ask God if He really knew her and if the Book of Mormon was true and if Joseph Smith was a true prophet and she would read Alma 32 and 34. I'm going to call her back on saturday to see how it went. At the end of our conversation she said, "Thanks so much for answering my questions. I've had these questions for a long time and no one has been able to answer them. I've have never felt so courageous pray to God and to find out the truth in my entire life." After that I just felt so strongly again how simple the gospel is and how everyone does just need to know the truth. It can help them so much! I tried calling the other guy from Chicago but I couldn't get a hold of him. I hope to get in touch with him before I leave too to find out how church went.

Well that's my exciting life here in the MTC this last week. Oh, no it's not. Really quick, another blessing from the Lord and a neat story. So we have to stay an extra week right? And the whole time I have been hoping that we would get to hear from an apostle for our last devotional. Well as we were walkign to the devotional I had this little inkling that it would be an Apostle. And what do you know, Elder Ballard came! It was so good. Also, mom I just wanted to thank you so much for always playing inspiring things for us kids all the time. Like hymns, primary songs, power tunes, and such. I was just thinking how when things get long or boring, or hard, I find myself singing in my head, "Oh it's your attitude, attitude that makes you do the things you do, attitude attitude that makes you who you are. . . ." and so on, or "work like a beaver be an acheiver. . ., " or, "I will be enthused (Yeehaw!) in eveything I do! . . ." And I am so grateful for that. Thanks mom and dad for being such good examples of good attitudes and hard workers! Elder Ballard spoke on that saying the way to penetrate the darkness of the world is to be Positive! Have a good Attitude! So I have you to thank. Thank you thank you thank you!

I love you all!

I CAN:T WAIT TO TALK TO YOU ON MONDAY!!!!

Love,
Sister Fitzgerald

Friends, Miracles, Missionary Work, Connections

Date: February 12, 2009

Familie!

Hi family! Mom could you forward this to Candace and Evan, and Sean and Kim? I can't remember their addresses. First of all, oh there is so much this week to tell!! I just saw Elder Lofthouse. He got here yesterday and it was fun to see him. I still can't believe Ritchie's friends are here. It's wonderful! Next, Dad you knew the Bangeter's in American Fork right? Well there is a Sister Bangeter from American Fork in our Branch and I thought you might know her dad Paulo? She is Julie Beck's niece, and you went to school with her right? Anyway, I was just wondering. Also, I don't know if I ever told you, but I am the Coordinating Sister for our Branch. I was called a couple weeks ago. It's fun. I'm kind of like the zone leader, but just for the sisters. Also, I don't know if I ever told you, but I accompanied one of the elders in the zone. He auditioned for one of the Musical numbers here and we performed a few weeks ago for the Senior Couple Opening meeting. Kind of like the one you dropped me off at, except it's just for Senior couples. It was fun. I always love to perform. I enjoyed it. Um, next interesting thing, every week in Relief Society they have one of the sisters who is a convert come and share her story. Well last week a Sister from Iraq shared her conversion story. It was pretty amazing. I just think, wow, the Lord does know His children and miracles never cease! A sister missionary from Iraq! and a sister missionary from Communist China (Sister Zhao in Tara, Jessica and my ward last year)! It just completely amazes me! Also, I don't know if I have told you that one of the counselors in my Branch Presidency is from Germany, East Germany before the wall fell. Over Christmas he was sharing some stories about how life was for them and it was incredible. They were able to escape at some point, but they lost a lot of things. Another of the wives is also from East Germany and she has some pretty amazing stories herself. Her family was also able to flee, but they also lost a lot of things. Everyone has an amazing story! There are so many incredible people that just live their life and it amazes me.

Ok, now for the best part of the week! Last Friday our district was in the RC and we were doing out bound calls (people call in and order stuff, then we call them back a couple weeks later and ask if they received it and ask if they want more). So I called a man in Chicago who had ordered a Bible. And he said he hadn't received it yet. So we started talking about the Bible and I asked if he had ever heard of the Book of Mormon. He said no, but he wanted to know more. He was searching for the truth. Anyway, he was really receptive and I was able to tell him about the restoration and committed him to go to church that Sunday and gave him the address. So this week I called him back and asked how church went. He said he had driven around for two hours trying to find the church but never found it. He had written down the address wrong, so I gave it to him again and made sure he had the right one. Then he asked me more questions about the Book of Mormon, and I got talking to him. And I decided I would teach him the 2nd lesson (Plan of Salvation) so I started telling him about Heavenly Father and how he was our Father in Heaven and then he asked, "Can I ask you a question?" I said, "Yes" He said, "This might stump you, no one else has been able to answer this question." I said, "Go ahead, questions are good." He said, "Ok, Do we have a Heavenly Mother? If God is our Heavenly Father shouldn't we have a Heavenly Mother?" I said, "Yes! Excellent question! We do! And we got talking about families and why we're on Earth and why it was created and what happens after we die." I started telling him about the kingdoms of glory and he how to live in the Celestial Kingdom with God, Jesus, and our families we needed to be baptized in Christs church and make covenants with Him. (And more) anyway, I said but that it had to be by the right authority, and he said, "Yeah, that makes sense, it has to be legal. Can't do anything illegal to get into heaven." I said, "Right! It has to be legal, it has to be done by the right authority, and that authority has to come from God." He said, "Yeah, that's right." Anyway, he had so many questions and through the Spirit they were all answered. Another thing he told me was how he had felt the Holy Spirit twice in his life. Once a couple years ago when he attended a church the Spirit told him that it was a good church, but that there was a better one and that he needed to find it. The other time was when I called last Friday, he said, "After you called last Friday I hung up the phone and I felt the Holy Spirit tell me that what you had said was true and that I needed to pay attention to what you said and ask you all my questions." At the end I asked committed him to pray about what I had said to him and to go to church again. He said, "Well I feel the Holy Spirit telling me it's true already but I'll pray about it too." Wow! What a prepared man! It was so incredible talking with him. He is so prepared to hear the truth! It was so neat, so neat!

Well I meant to answer more of your questions. Man. Um, I'll just say thanks for the Valentine letter Family! I came in the class and squealed when I saw the letter and my elders said, " I wish I got that excited when my family wrote me." And I just have the best family! Thank you so much for everything! Maybe I'll write a letter too since I haven't answered anything.

I love you all!

Sister Fitzgerald

Missions are wonderful! And this is why...

Date: Thu, Jan 29, 2009 at 3:49 PM

Familie!

I love you all so much! I cannot even describe how much that is true. The more I am here and the more I study the gospel the more I realize the importance of families and how much I LOVE mine!!! What a blessing it is to have a good family. This week I took notes on what I wanted to tell you, so you weren't always hearing the same thing. :) Well it might be the same but at least I took specific notes this time. :) So first of all I just want to thank you Mom and Dad for your examples in language, behavior, and testimony. I have such good parents that taught in the ways of truth in everything. Mom, you are so kind and loving, and caring, and non judgmental, and so charitable. Dad I am so grateful for your strict example with movies and music and behavior, and your strong righteous opinions and ways. I have been blessed with truly "good parents" just like Nephi. And little brothers, I love you so much! As I think of what it takes to be a missionary I think of each of you and how your personalities will bless so many different kinds of people. Keep it up. I was thinking this week about some mission tips. You probably get this all the time, but as a missionary I just want to tell you that what everyone says to prepare is probably true. :) So I'll just say that it will be a good thing for you to know your scriptures as well as you can. This is why, not only will you know the doctrines, but also if you have to learn a foreign language if you know the scriptures in English and you're looking for a scripture in a foreign language, you might not be able to read the scripture and understand it, but because of the reference you'll know what it's talking about and what it means and that helps a lot. And I know reading the scriptures will help you so much in your life. If you wonder what to do about friends, read the scriptures. Pray and say, "Heavenly Father I have a concern about this________ and if thou couldst show me a scripture to help me with it I would appreciate it." Obviously be sincere, but the Lord will help you. I know that is true, I have done that many times and He has ALWAYS shown me where my answer is in the scriptures.
Well this is the best time of my life. I can honestly say that. I could've never imagined how wonderful this experience could be before my mission. I can't wait for you younger brothers, missions are incredible, and I haven't even gotten to the really good part yet. However, the Referral Center where we call people and talk with them is amazing. Our District of 9 people were able to get 25 referrals in an hour! This is the Lords work and there are people prepared. So another funny thing. There is an elder in our branch going to Hamburg Germany and his Sister is coming in next week and she is going to Berlin Germany so they will get to be in the MTC together and the same branch. I was thinking how cool that would be if Ritchie got called to Germany. Wherever the Lord sends him of course will be awesome, but it would be fun to have someone to speak German with when I get home. Well mom, I didn't get your letter for this week. But I did get the letter you sent last week. Um, I'll try to respond accordingly, :) That is sad that Uncle PK died. But I am sure he is happy where he is. It's fun to hear about the family. Ritchie I'm sorry you're not in Men's chorus, but what classes are you taking? How are the mission papers coming? That's exciting that Chris was an escort for Jr. Miss. Go Chris! and I liked that Crozier gave the thing to Ritchie instead of Chris. ha ha. That's funny. And it sounds like Tara is dating a lot that is awesome! And that newsletter about Grandpa and his oboe student was really neat. I liked that a lot. Like I said My FAMILY IS AMAZING!! Immediate, Extended and all! That is so great Jason made the Basketball team. How is that going? And I'm glad Crozier has good friends. Um, I don't need the curling iron Kim has, but thanks for thinking of me. How are Kim and Sean doing? Is Kim feeling better? How is my new neice Analee?

Well I have 30 seconds left. So I love you once again. I love being a missionary.
Bye

The Lord blesses us always

Date: Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 4:06 PM

Familie!

Ich liebe sie! Ich werde immer liebe sie! (I love y'all! I will always love y'all!) We have such a great family. So I'll start off with a story about families first. On Tuesday we had a devotional and the speaker, Elder Mask, was talking about his mission. In his talk he talked about his grandfather and how he had served in Mexico City during the revolution and had left his wife and children to fulfill this mission. He went through a lot of trials, but he always told his grandson (Elder Mask) that it was worth it, and the Lord blessed him for his service. So he was really excited to go on a mission because of all the stories he heard his grandfather tell him. So he said he had been in Peru for two months and was still struggling with the language and had thoughts about going home, and the thing that finally did him in was some little neighborhood kids circled around him and started singing "Elder Maks can't talk, Elder Mask can't talk." He said "That was it. I broke through the circle went inside and started packing to go home. My companion said, "What are you doing?" I said, "I'm going home." His companion, "What will your dad say?" " He will yell and be mad, but after a few weeks he'll be OK." "What will your mom say?" "She'll be sad, but in a few days she'll be OK." "What would your grandfather say that served in Mexico city?" ". . . .. He would be ashamed. He went through a lot more than some neighborhood kids telling him he couldn't talk." Then I decided to stay, and you know what? It got better, I knew my grandfather was proud of me." When the speaker was saying this I thought I could really relate. I could imagine some German kids telling me I couldn't speak. Then I thought of our ancestors, the display hanging in my room quotes like, "I will fill this mission or die in the attempt." The day before we watched the Sweet Water Rescue clip and the quote by Brigham Young that David P. Kimball and the others had received Celestial glory for what they had done. I thought of the heritage I came from and decided, "yes, I will do this! I can do this!" Then I thought of Grandpa Fitzgerald and how maybe he is behind the scenes helping me with this mission. Well a few days later I still wondered if Grandpa Fitzgerald might be more a part of my mission than I realized and this Tuesday I went to the referral Center. And while there I saw a senior couple, Elder and Sister Fitzgerald. Elder Fitzgerald looked like Grandpa and Dad, but I figured I probably wasn't related because that is usually the case. Anyway, when he looked up and saw my last name he said," Sister Fitzgerald, who is your dad?" I said, "Griff Fitzgerald." He said, " I know him. Who is your grandfather?" I said, "Bliss Fitzgerald." And he said, "That is my brother. I'm Nephi." It was so great to make that connection! So for the next 30 minutes we talked and he gave me a lot of good ideas for how to teach and to a street contact. The whole time he was talking to me I couldn't help but think, "Wow, that is something Grandpa Fitzgerald would've said. . . . That's how Grandpa Fitzgerald would've responded." And he reminded me so much of dad too. I was just so amazed that I had been thinking of Grandpa Fitzgerald could be on the other side helping me, and he just happened to send me his brother to give me some elderly Fitzgerald advice, probably a lot of which he would've given me. He talked a lot about Grandpa Kimball and what a good man he was. It was such a tender mercy from the Lord. I was amazed. Great Uncle Nephi said he was going to try calling you mom and dad. So I'm not sure if he's done that yet, but he was really excited to have that chance. That experience just helped me realize that the Lord and others are very aware of us, always. Dad thanks so much for sharing your mission stories. Keep telling the boys all about your mission. There is nothing that gets you more excited to serve a mission than studying the atonement and hearing about successful missionaries.
Oh man! My time is almost gone. I need to to learn to type faster. I wanted to share an experience with you I had at the RC, but I'll do that later. Well, I talked with a man that wasn't interested in our message, but he didn't hang up, so I kept talking with him. And he kept saying that he only believed in the bible and that he prayed every night. Anyway, finally at the end I said, "Well I believe the Old Testament is the word of God, and that it was written for the people of Adam, Noah, Moses, and others. I also know that the New Testament is the word of God and that it was written for the people in Jerusalem, for the Galations, and the Ephesians, and others. I also know the Book of Mormon is the word of God written for us today and that we have living prophets. God spoke to His children in Bible times, and He speaks to us now because he loves us all." Anyway, I don't know if he was any more interested but I think he had a better understanding.
I also wanted to say my companion Sis. Zierneberg has left for Germany and I have two new companions. They are Sis. Kitterman from Flagstaff Arizona, and Sister Ronnberg from Finland. They are fun. Crozier is still my favorite companion! Thanks for being my first and favorite companion!

Bye!

A better understanding

Date: Thu, Jan 22, 2009 at 1:48 PM

Familie!

So, I just wrote an email but then I lost it, so I am going to write another one really fast. :) I can't even remember what I said in my other one, but I was in the middle of a neat story about how I was doing a "street approach" and pretty much the "investigator" (another elder in my district) could choose to be whoever he wanted, Christian or not, and have concerns about anything and we would have to address his needs and teach him the gospel all in German. Well I was really nervous because usually I teach with two other elders (since I'm a solo sister) and they were both gone to the doctor so it was just me. Anyway, the spirit was there and I was able to teach him in German all by myself! It was such a tender mercy from the Lord. I've been feeling so slow in learning German, but after doing that I had renewed faith and I know even more now than before that the Lord will help me in my time of need. We taught our first actual lesson auf Deutsch this week and that was nerve wracking, yet exciting. WE definitely can improve, but it went pretty well. Our teacher told us she was pleased with how well we were all doing. That made me feel better.

Anyway, my time is running out, but I also wanted to say that this morning I was thinking about sacrifice and consecration during personal study. I realized that we sacrifice a lot to come on a mission and our families sacrifice a lot (Thank you family for all you do for me and for all your support!!!!), but then once we are on a mission how we need to consecrate ourselves completely to the Lord. this is His work, on His timetable, with His children. This work is not about us whatsoever, it's all about bringing others to Christ and glorifying God. And I realized that now I belong to the Lord. Everything I do and say and think should reflect the Saviour. This time of my life is not a sacrifice, it's consecrated time to the Lord. The time I have here is not mine, but the Lords, and I need to truly and completely do as He would do. Our Branch President was telling us last week that we all need to repent, and in the MTC and in the field it's usually for not big things, but little things like sleeping in a few minutes late, or not going to bed right at 10:30, or thinking about friends and family back home and getting distracted. And I just thought wow this really is the Lords work, I need to put myself behind me and do whatever He would have me do. It was a great inspiration. I am grateful for the Spirit.

One last thought, Our devotional speaker last week (I forget who it was now) but He said how the Atonement is not just for the sinners but for the saints. It's not just a redeeming power, but also an enabling power. And we can call upon the Atonement in what ever our need, to be redeemed from sin or to be enabled to do what the Lord has called us to do. I loved that!

Bye! sis. Fitzgerald

Referral Center, Temple, TRC, and MTC life!

Date: Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 2:01 PM

Family!

Hello! We just got back from going through the temple and it was so incredible. The temple is such a holy place and the spirit so strong. While there I just thought to myself, "This is why I am on a mission, I have to teach people about the restored gospel so that they can experience that kind of peace and happiness for themselves." It's amazing all the insights you gain each time you go. That is one of the reasons why it is so important to keep going. Oh it is so wonderful.

Our district was able to go to the Referral Center yesterday for the first time and it was really neat. To be honest I was pretty nervous when we first got there, but after my first few calls it was so much fun. I have a lot to improve on, as far as being a more effective teacher, but I loved bearing my testimony to people and letting them know that the truth is on the earth and that they can find out for themselves through the Book of Mormon. We had a devotional a couple days ago about using the Book of Mormon more in our teaching and the speaker was so funny. He said that when we teach people about the restoration and tell them to ask of God we should bear our testimony and say, "Ask God if it's true. He was there!" I was like, "yeah, He was." I thought it was funny. There are so many good devotionals here and firesides. They are awesome. It's a complete spiritual feast. Our Branch President's wife in one of our District Meetings was saying how we need to treasure this time we have to study the scriptures and the doctrines of the kingdom, because after our missions we will not have that time ever again. We will have different responsibilities. This is the time to get to know the scriptures deeply and love them and learn from them and teach from them. I know that to be true.

Also we had our first "real" "pretend" investigator in the Teaching Resource Center a couple days ago. Because of all the holidays we haven't had volunteers so we've just been teaching other missionary companionships in our branch or our teachers. Though, it does provide good practice it was just so good to have an actual person there that didn't know you and didn't know exactly what you were going to teach. Before my mission I was pretty nervous about the whole teaching part of mission life (ha ha, yeah that's what missionaries do) and wasn't really nervous about the language part. But now after teaching so much I have gotten over that fear more and more. Teaching that "real" "pretend" investigator was really inspiring to me to. It really helped me see how far I had come, and what I can still work on. She was really nice and was actually from Japan. She's only been in the US for 5 months and her English is amazing. She didn't have any English before hand. That gave me hope for my German. I know I'm learning things all the time, but it's still hard to try to say something you want, but don't have the words at all to say it. It's coming though. I do understand more and more of what my teachers say, which is a blessing.

Mission life is great. I am so glad to be a missionary! I saw Elder Hansen from Lyman 2nd ward (?) yesterday and I welcomed him to the MTC. It was fun to see a face from Rexburg, but funny that kids I used to babysit are serving missions! It just made me so excited for Ritchie to come and join me in a few months. Ritchie, Chris, Jason, and Crozier I hope you are excited to serve missions because it is the best thing in the world. I haven't even got out into the field yet, but just being here preparing is so wonderful. Teaching is such a highlight and fills you with even more desire to teach. The gospel is true and I know that with all my heart. My very core wants to praise the Lord always for what He has given me and for having the gospel restored to us in the latter days.

I love you all! Sie sind miene Lieblings! (Y'all are my favorite!)

Love,
Sister Fitzgerald

P.S.
What is Tara, Sean and Kim's, Candace and Evan's email addresses?
You can respond with DearElder.com if you want ;) or a letter, or email works too. :) Love you! I'm sending you a letter too.

The scriptures, the spirit, and Apostles of the Lord!

Date: Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 12:44 PM

Familie!

Um, I haven't gotten your letter yet mom, but I am looking forward to it! I did get the package from you and Candace though and that was so exciting! I showed pretty much everyone I came in contact with the pictures of my brand new niece Analee! It was so much fun. The Elders in my District said that those butterscotch cookies need to come on a regular basis from now on. I have to admit, those were some really good cookies, I enjoyed them very much. It's so fun to hear about all the news! Wow, I have a great family. Before I forget, does Evan know an Angela Dexeheimer? She was one of my roommates (she just left for Frankfurt on Monday) and she is from Grantsville. Anyway, yeah there are so many connections here in the MTC. It is so funny. So how are things at home? How is everyone? I hope things are going well.

Things are going really well here. It's funny how things can totally change on you. Before my mission I wasn't nervous about the language at all (a little bit but not really), but teaching just scared me to death. And now I can handle teaching that's not too scary, but speaking German is a little nerve wracking. It's coming though. My compaion said that I am coming along really well, and she has seen a lot of improvement in me. That made me feel better. Also I was reading in 1st Nephi this morning auf Deutsch (in German) and I could understand what I was reading! It was the coolest thing ever. I was just reading along and was picking uot words I new trying to understand the grammar and the vocab and I got through a verse and realized I had understood it all! It was so exciting! Miracles happen. On Sunday I was talking with some other sisters and one of them was from Spain. She didn't speak English before she came to the MTC and when she got here she had to learn French in an English class. So she speaks Spanish gets to the MTC is placed in a class where they will teach her French in English. I don't know how to say it but you get the point. :) Her English is really good, and her French is to and she has been here for as long as I have. I was jsut so grateful I'm learning German and I have an English teacher. That is a huge blessing for me. Let's see, our Branch or Zone got doubled yesterday. 21 Elders came in and 6 new sisters. One of the sisters is from Finland and I was wondering if you could find out where John's wife Sonna is from, well which part of Finland she is from. It's fun to make connections.

Anyway, Elder Holland came and spoke to us on Tuesday and it was amazing. Pretty much he told us "for Pete's sake, be a missionary!" He, with the spirit said we needed to be doing all we could be doing and stop wasting time thinking about things that did not pertain to saving the souls of mankind. He said by the time we come home from our missions we should have given all our strength and energy to this work that we will have to give our homecoming talk from a stretcher. :) All our strength having been given to the Lord. It was really inspiring. Also he said an analogy, He asked us, "would you rather have Elder Russel M. Nelson operate on your mothers heart or M. Russel Ballard? Now, I love both these men, but if you know anything about their professions you would choose Elder Nelson, why? because he's been in there 10,000 times! He knows all about it. You need get in the scriptures, you need to know how to operate!" Meaning we need to know how to cure and heal every spiritual ailment. We are the doctors to spiritual sickness. We need to be ready for whatever comes at us behind the doors we knock on. Wow, study the scriptures! They are the cure to our natural man sickness! :) He also said concerning the scriptures, "the best blood that ever lived went into these scriptures. The least you can do is study it." It was pretty pointed, but we all got the hint. We cannot be lazy about scripture study. People died to give us the words of God! Salvation of our souls and of mankind are contained in them, the least we can do is study them. It was so good. The spirit was so strong! I love this work! It is so Wunderbar (Wonderful)!

Well I have to go, but I'll write a letter too. I never can fit everything I want to say with the time I have.

I love you!

Sister Fitzgerald