Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Hello Familie!
Wow, it sounds like last week was a pretty big week. How wonderful. I guess I will hear more about it when I receive those letters. Thanks everyone! I will look forward to getting those. Sorry I don't write very many letters, the postage here in Germany is double what it is in the US and we have to use our own money. So I try to at least send a letter for everyones birthday, and I do want to send you some German chocolate one of these days. And yes, I am still in Dusseldorf so you can send mail to that address. Mom, I hope you get to go to Womens Conference. Those are always such fun ;) and so inspiring. Dad I am glad you got to be with all your cute grand daughters last weekend. I was thinking how you must have more time now that you sold your vending business. Is that true? How is that all going?
Candace and Evan thanks for the announcement. It was so fun to see a picture of your little family! I can't believe how much Clara has grown already, and Analee has obviously grown since the last picture I saw of her. Congratulations Evan! That is quite an accomplishment. It is so fun to get the news.
Speaking of news before I forget. I get to talk with you on Mother's Day (Sunday May 10th)! I guess that's not really news, but the information is as follows: If you could call this number: 0049-17618300817 (0049 is the country code we think, then the rest of it 17618300817 is our cell phone) at 7:30 am (in the morning) your time that would be great. We have an hour to talk. I am looking forward to that.
Life here in Germany is beautiful. I don't know if I have said it yet but it is so beautiful! There are many reasons why I was meant to come to Germany. One was that, that it is so beautiful and I love it! Another is their chocolate. :) A lot of the streets are called Bach, Mozart, Schubert, etc. it's so cool. I could go on, but more importantly I want to talk about something really neat. 1st of all we have an investigator from Ghana who is really a great guy. He is very religious and he always has so many questions during our lessons. It is great! Then the other day he said he was at the Bahn station and saw two Elder's who came up to him and started talking to him about the church and he said "Well actually I am already trying to become a member of your church." When he told us that me and my companion got so excited! He wants to get baptized but wants to learn more first and he is going to Ghana for 20 days starting next week. But he said his grandfather who he will be staying with is also taking lessons from the missionaries. So hopefully they will support eachother while they are together. But he says he talks to all his friends about what he is learning, and they ask him questions and he says, "Well that's all I know right now, but I when they tell me more I'll tell you." IT is so cool! We also are teaching another man from Germany. Who when we first started teaching him didn't really think truth even existed, well he had never really thought about what a truth might be. It was kind of funny, but we have been teaching him and he has been really stressed out with work. But as we meet with him he says that as he prays and as he reads in the Book of Mormon he feels at peace. That is so wonderful! That is the blessing the gospel brings. Peace into our lives, no matter what is happening everywhere else, inside we know God lives and loves us, and has a plan for our happiness and is always there to help us. That is such strength. The Philipino lady we have teaching says it is amazing that we know so much at such a young age (21, and 23), and I was thinking, wow, the church is so wonderful and the doctirne so simple because I knew this in Primary. It is so amazing. The doctrine is so simple that anyone can understand it, and yet we can still dig deeper and deeper into spirituality as we study the scriptures and seek to know our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ even better. IT is pretty incredible. I was studying in Jacob 5 today and I didn't even get half way done. If you want an exciting study session, read Jacob 5 looking at all the footnotes. IT is so cool! I didn't want to stop. Just like I don't want to stop this email, but I must. :)
I love you all family! It sounds like things are going well and I hope that continues.
Love,Sister Fitzgerald
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Lessons learned, blessings uncountable, life forever more
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Familie!
Thanks again for writing to me. I always look so forward to hearing from my family. You are all just so wonderful!
Mom and Dad: Thanks for being such great examples. I am so grateful to you. That´s fun to hear the family was quizing everyone on their Book of Mormon knowledge. There is a lot to know, but it is also very simply put. If I could give any advice to Ritchie, Chris, Jason and Crozier it would be to get to really know the Book of Mormon before you go on your missions. Memorize the scripture masteries or at least know where they are and what they talk about and you will be so grateful to yourself. I promise. Also take the time to do the activities in Preach My Gospel. My favorite ones are in Chapter 4 and 5 (my favorite ones are the ones at the end of the chapter in the Personal Study section). Pick out the ones that sound fun and say a prayer and dive in. It is so cool. I have gotten so much more out of scripture study that way. Try it, you´ll like it. :)
Candace and Evan: Thanks for the email Candace! Congratulations Evan! I hope all goes well. I will be praying for work opportunities for you. I look forward to getting that detailed email or letter you mentioned. I love you so much.
Tara:Thanks for the email! How are you Tara? I guess you said you will send me letter so I´ll hear soon enough. But it sounds like a lot of fun things are happening for you right now. I am so happy for you!
Sean and Kim: Kim, I hear your mom is going to Provo to help out for a while. That is so wonderful. Tell her hello from me. How is the baby doing? How are you all doing? Sean, I am sending your birthday letter soon. So, I hope you have a good birthday!
Ritchie: Your papers are officially in!!! And in your Stake President interview he asked you to talk in Stake Conference. That is awesome. I am so happy for you! I just can´t wait to find out where you´re going and to here about all your experiences. Oh that is so exciting!
Chris: That is exciting you have started to work. And I hear you are getting stronger and stronger. That is great. Have you read Beleiving Christ? I think you´d like it, he talks a lot about working out and applying those analogies to the gospel. It´s really good and helped me understand the scriptures better. I think it´s down in my room if you want to read it.
Jason: That is pretty neat you will be starting on the Varsity Football team as a sophmore. Congratulations! That is so cool. And I am so happy to hear that your are still loving to read the scriptures and other books. Keep it up!
Crozier: That is so cool you are getting your arrow of light! Have fun in scouts. You get to do a lot of cool things there. Also, have fun in church!
As for missionary work, it is going really well. We are meeting with quite a few people right now which is so wonderful. Some are progressing, others are still there, but not progressing, and others have now gone away. But it is still so good. The other day we ran into an old Jewish lady while we were street contacting. We asked her if she believed in God and she said ever since the war she stopped believing in God. I can understand how she could feel like that. I can´t imagine what her life must´ve been like during that time. It´s amaying to me to have read so many books about Germany and Jews escaping and hiding and to now be in Germany meet Jews and soldiers alike during that time and know that it really happened. These people were there and were in it a par tof it. We met another man that wasn´t interested in the gospel, but he did believe in God and had some amazing stories of when God had saved his life. He said once as a child he was playing with his friend in a sand bar thing and he said at one time he heard a voice say, 'Gehe züruck' but it wasn´t his friends voice, but he decided to listen and just as he went back the sand bar collpased and he would have died. He had some other amazing stories, and he had a firm testimony of God and Jesus Christ. He cried as he told us of his mother and how she would tell him to read the Bible every day and God would protect him. (He also had some experiences in the 2nd World War). He said that was true, God had spared his life many times. It´s amazing the lives people live. I think of President Uchtdorf´s talk in conference about the refugee lady and her faith, and the faith of this man we talked to. The Jewish lady, I don´t know her full story, but I do know that we can choose to have faith, or we can choose to doubt. I love the line in the Joseph Smith movie about how he says he does not allow himself to think if God asks too much. Everything that happens to us is for our good, we just need to trust and have faith in God. Life is so amazing and so precious. God blesses us so much. I was thinking about it the other day and realized that my blessings out number the stars in the sky. Heavenly Father is so good to us. This morning I studied Alma 33:1-12 and 34 17-29, 38. See what Alma says about how to get more faith. It is so great. (The activity is in PMG Ch. 4). Since I have been on a mission, my eyes have been opened to so many more blessings I didn´t even realize or fully recognize. ´There is so much to learn from the people we meet everyday, the scriptures, and the experiences we have in this life. May we thank God for all things. He is so good. Let us put our trust in him, now more than ever.
I love you family! And I know God loves you too and is aware of each of your circumstances and wants to help you. Have faith in him!
Love,Sister Ftizgerald
Familie!
Thanks again for writing to me. I always look so forward to hearing from my family. You are all just so wonderful!
Mom and Dad: Thanks for being such great examples. I am so grateful to you. That´s fun to hear the family was quizing everyone on their Book of Mormon knowledge. There is a lot to know, but it is also very simply put. If I could give any advice to Ritchie, Chris, Jason and Crozier it would be to get to really know the Book of Mormon before you go on your missions. Memorize the scripture masteries or at least know where they are and what they talk about and you will be so grateful to yourself. I promise. Also take the time to do the activities in Preach My Gospel. My favorite ones are in Chapter 4 and 5 (my favorite ones are the ones at the end of the chapter in the Personal Study section). Pick out the ones that sound fun and say a prayer and dive in. It is so cool. I have gotten so much more out of scripture study that way. Try it, you´ll like it. :)
Candace and Evan: Thanks for the email Candace! Congratulations Evan! I hope all goes well. I will be praying for work opportunities for you. I look forward to getting that detailed email or letter you mentioned. I love you so much.
Tara:Thanks for the email! How are you Tara? I guess you said you will send me letter so I´ll hear soon enough. But it sounds like a lot of fun things are happening for you right now. I am so happy for you!
Sean and Kim: Kim, I hear your mom is going to Provo to help out for a while. That is so wonderful. Tell her hello from me. How is the baby doing? How are you all doing? Sean, I am sending your birthday letter soon. So, I hope you have a good birthday!
Ritchie: Your papers are officially in!!! And in your Stake President interview he asked you to talk in Stake Conference. That is awesome. I am so happy for you! I just can´t wait to find out where you´re going and to here about all your experiences. Oh that is so exciting!
Chris: That is exciting you have started to work. And I hear you are getting stronger and stronger. That is great. Have you read Beleiving Christ? I think you´d like it, he talks a lot about working out and applying those analogies to the gospel. It´s really good and helped me understand the scriptures better. I think it´s down in my room if you want to read it.
Jason: That is pretty neat you will be starting on the Varsity Football team as a sophmore. Congratulations! That is so cool. And I am so happy to hear that your are still loving to read the scriptures and other books. Keep it up!
Crozier: That is so cool you are getting your arrow of light! Have fun in scouts. You get to do a lot of cool things there. Also, have fun in church!
As for missionary work, it is going really well. We are meeting with quite a few people right now which is so wonderful. Some are progressing, others are still there, but not progressing, and others have now gone away. But it is still so good. The other day we ran into an old Jewish lady while we were street contacting. We asked her if she believed in God and she said ever since the war she stopped believing in God. I can understand how she could feel like that. I can´t imagine what her life must´ve been like during that time. It´s amaying to me to have read so many books about Germany and Jews escaping and hiding and to now be in Germany meet Jews and soldiers alike during that time and know that it really happened. These people were there and were in it a par tof it. We met another man that wasn´t interested in the gospel, but he did believe in God and had some amazing stories of when God had saved his life. He said once as a child he was playing with his friend in a sand bar thing and he said at one time he heard a voice say, 'Gehe züruck' but it wasn´t his friends voice, but he decided to listen and just as he went back the sand bar collpased and he would have died. He had some other amazing stories, and he had a firm testimony of God and Jesus Christ. He cried as he told us of his mother and how she would tell him to read the Bible every day and God would protect him. (He also had some experiences in the 2nd World War). He said that was true, God had spared his life many times. It´s amazing the lives people live. I think of President Uchtdorf´s talk in conference about the refugee lady and her faith, and the faith of this man we talked to. The Jewish lady, I don´t know her full story, but I do know that we can choose to have faith, or we can choose to doubt. I love the line in the Joseph Smith movie about how he says he does not allow himself to think if God asks too much. Everything that happens to us is for our good, we just need to trust and have faith in God. Life is so amazing and so precious. God blesses us so much. I was thinking about it the other day and realized that my blessings out number the stars in the sky. Heavenly Father is so good to us. This morning I studied Alma 33:1-12 and 34 17-29, 38. See what Alma says about how to get more faith. It is so great. (The activity is in PMG Ch. 4). Since I have been on a mission, my eyes have been opened to so many more blessings I didn´t even realize or fully recognize. ´There is so much to learn from the people we meet everyday, the scriptures, and the experiences we have in this life. May we thank God for all things. He is so good. Let us put our trust in him, now more than ever.
I love you family! And I know God loves you too and is aware of each of your circumstances and wants to help you. Have faith in him!
Love,Sister Ftizgerald
Friday, April 17, 2009
Do Miracles Cease? Nay!
Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Familie!
Thanks little brothers for writing to me!! It means so much to here from you, even just a couple sentences is so helpful. Thanks so much. Ritchie thank you so much for sharing your testimony about the Savior. And mom too. That is so special to read your testimonies. We had a really neat experience yesturday. There is a disabled lady in our ward that wanted to go to her mothers grave yesturday. She is not able to get around very easy so we went with her. While we were there we gave a little lesson on the resurection and there was such a special feeling there in the cemetary. I really enjoy going to cemetaries, I feel a lot closer to the other side when I'm there, and I know God has a plan for us. Well some of you asked about Easter in Germany. It's pretty big. Everything is closed from Good Friday through Easter Monday. And no one was on the streets. A lot of them were in church, which is a good thing, except for the fact that we wanted to teach them even more truth. :) They do have an Easter bunny here too. Although they might've gotten that from America, I don't know. Oh, and the church bells ring here. It was so fun to walk around the cobblestone streets with huge cathedrals with the bells ringing throughout the city. It was so cool.
To answer more questions, Ritchie: Klingling is a German thing, yes. :) There are a lot of apartment buildlings and the front doors are locked, but there are little speakers on the outside so you can klingle on the person you want to talk to (all of them Ü) then when they say, "Hallo." You say, "Guten Tag! Wir sind missionaren . . ." That is so cool your papers are almost in! Where do you think you'll get called?
Crozier: The chocolate is soon to come. :) I gotta try them all so I can be sure to send you my favorite one. :) But the chocolate is really good. I hope you're excited.
Jason: Did you get my letter yet? It's not a book or a CD, it's a card about why the church is true! :) I hope being 15 is even better than being 14. I hope every year just continues to get a little bit better. I am understanding a lot more German now, which is very helpful.
Chris: I am really enjoying Germany. It's kind of like being in America, except German style, language and culture. :) That is so cool you got accepted into ES! I think you'll really like it. Sounds like your life is pretty exciting right now. Enjoy!
Tara: I hear some good things are happening, so what exactly is happening? Mom and Crozier led a little into it, but how are you doing these days? Anything new and exciting, or just something you think I might like to know. ;)
Sean and Kim: I am glad Miriam was born in time to watch Conference with you so you didn't have to worry about going into labour during it. The Lord blesses us so much. It is amazing! How are you doing? How is the baby?
Candace and Evan: How is it having two little children now? Wow, I just thought is Evan graduated with his masters now that it is April? Oh my goodness. That is really exciting!
Mom and Dad: Dad, that is so neat that you received a confirmation from the Lord about your business. How is everything working out with that? How is Winco, and your calling and everything? Mom, thanks again for your testimony and for sharing the family news. It is so good to hear how everyone is doing. I just thank the Lord everyday for the good wonderful family I have been given. As for the Easter package thing, you don't really need to send one. I actually prefer the German chocolate over the American chocolate. It's just good to hear from you. Oh, if you wanted you could send some pictures of the family. I don't know if we have any pictures of the whole family with Miriam and Analee yet, but if we do, those would be cool. If not, really its just good enough to hear from you.
OK, so we had a really neat lesson the other day! We ran into this lady at a bus stop and we started talking with her. She is from the Phillipines, and is very faithful. We set up an appointment and taught her a first lesson. AFter the lesson we asked her if she would give the prayer and in her prayer she said, "Heavenly Father thank you for sending these sister's to me. Bless me with the faith to believe what they are teaching me because I want to believe." I started crying during the prayer. Miracles happen! I read a quote today by Elder Holland that said, "We are the church that dream dreams. . . that have visions. We are the church that believes in miracles. . . Go to the edge where miracles happen! where you say, "Heavenly Father without your help I will fall, help me fly." I know that as we have that faith God will help us fly, and miracles will happen.
I want to share one last experience. This week my companion and I were studying about faith and how when we really have to rely on the Savior more. I decided I needed to exercise more faith in learning the language. So I decided over Easter weekend that if Christ sacraficed his life for us I could at least sacrafice something little in return, I would give up my English. For the weekend I didn't speak any English, except for when it was necessary (English teaching appointments). Well, we went to a German members home for Easter dinner and at the end the lady I guess told my companion that my German had improved a lot and I was doing much better. That meant so much to me. It was a little sacfrafice, but the Lord still blessed me! He is so anxious to bless us we just need to have faith in him.
I love you!
Sister Fitzgerald
Familie!
Thanks little brothers for writing to me!! It means so much to here from you, even just a couple sentences is so helpful. Thanks so much. Ritchie thank you so much for sharing your testimony about the Savior. And mom too. That is so special to read your testimonies. We had a really neat experience yesturday. There is a disabled lady in our ward that wanted to go to her mothers grave yesturday. She is not able to get around very easy so we went with her. While we were there we gave a little lesson on the resurection and there was such a special feeling there in the cemetary. I really enjoy going to cemetaries, I feel a lot closer to the other side when I'm there, and I know God has a plan for us. Well some of you asked about Easter in Germany. It's pretty big. Everything is closed from Good Friday through Easter Monday. And no one was on the streets. A lot of them were in church, which is a good thing, except for the fact that we wanted to teach them even more truth. :) They do have an Easter bunny here too. Although they might've gotten that from America, I don't know. Oh, and the church bells ring here. It was so fun to walk around the cobblestone streets with huge cathedrals with the bells ringing throughout the city. It was so cool.
To answer more questions, Ritchie: Klingling is a German thing, yes. :) There are a lot of apartment buildlings and the front doors are locked, but there are little speakers on the outside so you can klingle on the person you want to talk to (all of them Ü) then when they say, "Hallo." You say, "Guten Tag! Wir sind missionaren . . ." That is so cool your papers are almost in! Where do you think you'll get called?
Crozier: The chocolate is soon to come. :) I gotta try them all so I can be sure to send you my favorite one. :) But the chocolate is really good. I hope you're excited.
Jason: Did you get my letter yet? It's not a book or a CD, it's a card about why the church is true! :) I hope being 15 is even better than being 14. I hope every year just continues to get a little bit better. I am understanding a lot more German now, which is very helpful.
Chris: I am really enjoying Germany. It's kind of like being in America, except German style, language and culture. :) That is so cool you got accepted into ES! I think you'll really like it. Sounds like your life is pretty exciting right now. Enjoy!
Tara: I hear some good things are happening, so what exactly is happening? Mom and Crozier led a little into it, but how are you doing these days? Anything new and exciting, or just something you think I might like to know. ;)
Sean and Kim: I am glad Miriam was born in time to watch Conference with you so you didn't have to worry about going into labour during it. The Lord blesses us so much. It is amazing! How are you doing? How is the baby?
Candace and Evan: How is it having two little children now? Wow, I just thought is Evan graduated with his masters now that it is April? Oh my goodness. That is really exciting!
Mom and Dad: Dad, that is so neat that you received a confirmation from the Lord about your business. How is everything working out with that? How is Winco, and your calling and everything? Mom, thanks again for your testimony and for sharing the family news. It is so good to hear how everyone is doing. I just thank the Lord everyday for the good wonderful family I have been given. As for the Easter package thing, you don't really need to send one. I actually prefer the German chocolate over the American chocolate. It's just good to hear from you. Oh, if you wanted you could send some pictures of the family. I don't know if we have any pictures of the whole family with Miriam and Analee yet, but if we do, those would be cool. If not, really its just good enough to hear from you.
OK, so we had a really neat lesson the other day! We ran into this lady at a bus stop and we started talking with her. She is from the Phillipines, and is very faithful. We set up an appointment and taught her a first lesson. AFter the lesson we asked her if she would give the prayer and in her prayer she said, "Heavenly Father thank you for sending these sister's to me. Bless me with the faith to believe what they are teaching me because I want to believe." I started crying during the prayer. Miracles happen! I read a quote today by Elder Holland that said, "We are the church that dream dreams. . . that have visions. We are the church that believes in miracles. . . Go to the edge where miracles happen! where you say, "Heavenly Father without your help I will fall, help me fly." I know that as we have that faith God will help us fly, and miracles will happen.
I want to share one last experience. This week my companion and I were studying about faith and how when we really have to rely on the Savior more. I decided I needed to exercise more faith in learning the language. So I decided over Easter weekend that if Christ sacraficed his life for us I could at least sacrafice something little in return, I would give up my English. For the weekend I didn't speak any English, except for when it was necessary (English teaching appointments). Well, we went to a German members home for Easter dinner and at the end the lady I guess told my companion that my German had improved a lot and I was doing much better. That meant so much to me. It was a little sacfrafice, but the Lord still blessed me! He is so anxious to bless us we just need to have faith in him.
I love you!
Sister Fitzgerald
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Wonder of Wonders Miracle of Miracles
Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Family,
It was good to hear from you mom. I am glad to hear the Pittsenbargers are doing well. They are a wonderful family. There is so much work to be done and I am sure Braydon was needed on the other side. He and his sister will be great missionaries. Braydon was a really neat kid. I´m sure it helps both the Walkers and the Pittensbargers to have eachother in the ward. They both know what it is like to have children pass away. My prayers are with them and with Sister Telford. Well I hope Miriam is OK. Has she been home yet? What exactly is happening with her? Chris congratulations on taking the ACT! I hope it went well. I am impressed that you weren´t nervous. Also congratulations on winning a Student Body office again! That is so cool. You are such a great guy. That´ll be fun for Jason to go into highschool with his name already known for the good. I remember my sophmore year with Sean as a senior was so fun. I hope it can be like that for you two next year! Also that is great that you got a job at Broulums. Siblings help us so much ;) (that´s a wink). Candace helped me, Ritchie helped Chris. :) It´s just a blessing to have siblings that give the family a good name for when we need jobs and such. ha ha. Ritchie! So I heard you have put your papers in and I wanted to put in my guess before you get your call. I guess somewhere in Africa, or Brazil. Do those guesses count. I know one is a continent and one is a country, but I can imagine you going to either one of those places. Jason and Crozier how are you? I hope you are doing so wonderful. I am sure you are. I also hope all is well with rest of you. Whenever I think of you and wonder how you´re doing a warm peaceful feeling comes over me and I know Heavenly Father is aware of all of you and is taking care of all of us.
Well this week was a wonder of wonders and miracles of miracles because we had some neat experiences. 1st of all General Conference was amazing. It was like 20 Christmases combined. Oh it was so wonderful. During the 1st session I felt like a dry sponge just soaking in everything, the words, the music, the spirit, the feelings. Oh it was just amazing. We watched the first session live (allthough 6:00pm) our time then Sunday we watched the Saturday afternoon session in the morning and the Sunday morning session live again (though at 6:00pm). We still have one more session to go next week during church they will broadcast it! I am so excited. The first session left me feeling like "Calling all Christians, calling all Christians! The Lords kingdom is at hand! Come and be saved!" Then on Sunday after President Monsons talk I felt like I was in heaven. I really think that is what heaven will be like. I felt so at peace, and so reassured, and so much love from Heavenly Father for the prophet, for me, for this church, for this work, and for this gospel. After that I wanted to just wanted to be more tender and really let people know God loves them and wants their happiness. between sessions on Sunday my companion and I had the impression to go visit this family that we had been meeting with, but we called to make another appointment and they told us they didn´t want to meet anymore. Anyway, so we had the impression to go meet with them , not really knowing why, but we went. They were going on vacation for two weeks and we decided to just write them a letter while we were on the train and give them a Proclamation to the World on the Family. Well when we got there (usually they are not there when we have gone by) we klingled and the wife was there and let us in. We just dropped off the letter and hoped they would have fun on their vacation and she said that she had more questions there was a misunderstanding and really did want to meet with us again! It was so neat! Then on Saturday, before conference we were doing doors and we knocked on this one door and no one came so we started to leave and the parents came out on their bikes so we talked to them. They were nice but not interested. So we went to the next door and after a few minutes a teeange boy came out at the door we had just knocked at with the parents. He saw us and asked if we had just klingled on his door we said yes and told him that we had already talked to his parents. He said OK and went back in. We were about to leave for the next door down, but right then he opened the door again (after a few minutes) and said "Well what are you doing? What are you talking to people about?" We told him and he had more questions, we answered, he had more. We asked him if we could teach him right then. He said yes, so we sat down on the steps outside and taught him. He had so many good questions! He was really thinking about what we were telling him. At the end he asked us how we knew it was true, and we both shared our experiences. He said it was really neat and wanted to learn more! It was such a miracle. Heavenly Father planned the timing just perfectly. He is good at that. :)
Well I better go, Heavenly Father is so aware of us. I want you all to know. I love you!
Sister Fitzgerald
Family,
It was good to hear from you mom. I am glad to hear the Pittsenbargers are doing well. They are a wonderful family. There is so much work to be done and I am sure Braydon was needed on the other side. He and his sister will be great missionaries. Braydon was a really neat kid. I´m sure it helps both the Walkers and the Pittensbargers to have eachother in the ward. They both know what it is like to have children pass away. My prayers are with them and with Sister Telford. Well I hope Miriam is OK. Has she been home yet? What exactly is happening with her? Chris congratulations on taking the ACT! I hope it went well. I am impressed that you weren´t nervous. Also congratulations on winning a Student Body office again! That is so cool. You are such a great guy. That´ll be fun for Jason to go into highschool with his name already known for the good. I remember my sophmore year with Sean as a senior was so fun. I hope it can be like that for you two next year! Also that is great that you got a job at Broulums. Siblings help us so much ;) (that´s a wink). Candace helped me, Ritchie helped Chris. :) It´s just a blessing to have siblings that give the family a good name for when we need jobs and such. ha ha. Ritchie! So I heard you have put your papers in and I wanted to put in my guess before you get your call. I guess somewhere in Africa, or Brazil. Do those guesses count. I know one is a continent and one is a country, but I can imagine you going to either one of those places. Jason and Crozier how are you? I hope you are doing so wonderful. I am sure you are. I also hope all is well with rest of you. Whenever I think of you and wonder how you´re doing a warm peaceful feeling comes over me and I know Heavenly Father is aware of all of you and is taking care of all of us.
Well this week was a wonder of wonders and miracles of miracles because we had some neat experiences. 1st of all General Conference was amazing. It was like 20 Christmases combined. Oh it was so wonderful. During the 1st session I felt like a dry sponge just soaking in everything, the words, the music, the spirit, the feelings. Oh it was just amazing. We watched the first session live (allthough 6:00pm) our time then Sunday we watched the Saturday afternoon session in the morning and the Sunday morning session live again (though at 6:00pm). We still have one more session to go next week during church they will broadcast it! I am so excited. The first session left me feeling like "Calling all Christians, calling all Christians! The Lords kingdom is at hand! Come and be saved!" Then on Sunday after President Monsons talk I felt like I was in heaven. I really think that is what heaven will be like. I felt so at peace, and so reassured, and so much love from Heavenly Father for the prophet, for me, for this church, for this work, and for this gospel. After that I wanted to just wanted to be more tender and really let people know God loves them and wants their happiness. between sessions on Sunday my companion and I had the impression to go visit this family that we had been meeting with, but we called to make another appointment and they told us they didn´t want to meet anymore. Anyway, so we had the impression to go meet with them , not really knowing why, but we went. They were going on vacation for two weeks and we decided to just write them a letter while we were on the train and give them a Proclamation to the World on the Family. Well when we got there (usually they are not there when we have gone by) we klingled and the wife was there and let us in. We just dropped off the letter and hoped they would have fun on their vacation and she said that she had more questions there was a misunderstanding and really did want to meet with us again! It was so neat! Then on Saturday, before conference we were doing doors and we knocked on this one door and no one came so we started to leave and the parents came out on their bikes so we talked to them. They were nice but not interested. So we went to the next door and after a few minutes a teeange boy came out at the door we had just knocked at with the parents. He saw us and asked if we had just klingled on his door we said yes and told him that we had already talked to his parents. He said OK and went back in. We were about to leave for the next door down, but right then he opened the door again (after a few minutes) and said "Well what are you doing? What are you talking to people about?" We told him and he had more questions, we answered, he had more. We asked him if we could teach him right then. He said yes, so we sat down on the steps outside and taught him. He had so many good questions! He was really thinking about what we were telling him. At the end he asked us how we knew it was true, and we both shared our experiences. He said it was really neat and wanted to learn more! It was such a miracle. Heavenly Father planned the timing just perfectly. He is good at that. :)
Well I better go, Heavenly Father is so aware of us. I want you all to know. I love you!
Sister Fitzgerald
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The Farmer in the Dell
Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Familie!!!
Wow, another niece!!! I am so happy! Sean thanks for sending the pictures. Miriam is so precious. She is just beautiful. wow, I can hardly believe that Sean is a dad and Kim is a mom. That is so wonderful! Congratualtions Sean and Kim! How is it to be parents? And Candace and Evan how are Clara and Analee doing? How are you doing? Tara thanks for your email alst week! I really appreciated it. It is always good to hear how everyone is doing. Your RS thing sounded really neat and your IRish FHE. That is so cool. Your German is really good as well. And it sounds like things are going pretty well in Rexburg. That is so exciting dad sold his business! How does he feel about that? And Ritchie is almost done with his papers? wow! Ritchie I can't wait to find out where you're going! I have a surprise for you that I am working on. Well it's actually for all the boys. It's a work in progress but Ritchie will be the first one to test it out. It's a missionary surprise. :) And Chris wants to be Spirit Leader. That doesn't surprise me. Go Chris! That is so awesome! You will have to tell me how campaigning and everything goes. Jason, how are you? Have you finished the Work and the Glory yet? You read so fast, it would'nt surprise me if that were the case. And Crozier you are almost a boy scout? Holy smokes. That is so cool. Are you pretty excited for that? Wow, you are just getting so old.
Well it's great to hear from everyone. I am doing well. This week was good. We are teaching a few English speakers, more than German speakers. :) It's kind of funny. But they are all really neat people. We have run into a lot of Russian people in the last week. It's kind of surprising. One lady we were teacing said she grew up in the Soviet Union and she knew the bible really well because they would study it and critique it in school to prove that it wasn't true. So when we were teaching her she said it was just hard to accept because she would critique everything. It just made me so sad to think about people that strive so hard to teach little children to not believe and to learn to critique scripture to try to prove it's invalidity. We have taught families from America, Russia, Gana, India, Burma, and Germany, since I have been here. It's fun. So the reason my email is titled the way it is is because we went on a walk today with the senior couple Elder and Sister Niederhauser through the wood and around this farm. It was so pretty! I have never seen such huge rolling hills, and humongous trees taller and wider and older than I have ever seen before, and such a old farm. The family lives above in the house, then the cows live in the basement. It's a German\Swiss thing. It's pretty interesting. But as we were on the top of the hill and looked down and saw this farm it really did look like a farmer in the dell. And Sister Niederhauser knows how to Yodel so she yodelded for us and it felt like a Swiss experience in Germany. :) It was terriffic. I loved it. Germnay is so beautiful.
Oh and mom before I forget, thanks for the letter, the very first one you sent and for your emails every week, and for getting the cell phone thing figured out. Do you need anything else from me?
Well family I love you all! Even the ones I haven't met (Miriam and Analee). I am very excited for conference this weekend. We talk to people on the street and say "Hi what are you doing next weekend? Because the prophet of God and his Apostels will be speaking to us this week. what they will tell us will change your life for the better. will you come and learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?" Probably not what people are expecting, but that is why we are on earth is to follow the prophet and keep the commandments. Oh the church is true!!! God lives and loves us. He has a plan for our happiness, individually and as a whole. Christ is the center and foundation of that plan.
Well I lost part of my email again. I guess I don't know how to work computers anymore. the main last part of it was to help others. It is so important to help others. Help others in a way that you can. That is what life is about. God is always helping us, and we want to become like Him.
Love sister Fitzgerald
Familie!!!
Wow, another niece!!! I am so happy! Sean thanks for sending the pictures. Miriam is so precious. She is just beautiful. wow, I can hardly believe that Sean is a dad and Kim is a mom. That is so wonderful! Congratualtions Sean and Kim! How is it to be parents? And Candace and Evan how are Clara and Analee doing? How are you doing? Tara thanks for your email alst week! I really appreciated it. It is always good to hear how everyone is doing. Your RS thing sounded really neat and your IRish FHE. That is so cool. Your German is really good as well. And it sounds like things are going pretty well in Rexburg. That is so exciting dad sold his business! How does he feel about that? And Ritchie is almost done with his papers? wow! Ritchie I can't wait to find out where you're going! I have a surprise for you that I am working on. Well it's actually for all the boys. It's a work in progress but Ritchie will be the first one to test it out. It's a missionary surprise. :) And Chris wants to be Spirit Leader. That doesn't surprise me. Go Chris! That is so awesome! You will have to tell me how campaigning and everything goes. Jason, how are you? Have you finished the Work and the Glory yet? You read so fast, it would'nt surprise me if that were the case. And Crozier you are almost a boy scout? Holy smokes. That is so cool. Are you pretty excited for that? Wow, you are just getting so old.
Well it's great to hear from everyone. I am doing well. This week was good. We are teaching a few English speakers, more than German speakers. :) It's kind of funny. But they are all really neat people. We have run into a lot of Russian people in the last week. It's kind of surprising. One lady we were teacing said she grew up in the Soviet Union and she knew the bible really well because they would study it and critique it in school to prove that it wasn't true. So when we were teaching her she said it was just hard to accept because she would critique everything. It just made me so sad to think about people that strive so hard to teach little children to not believe and to learn to critique scripture to try to prove it's invalidity. We have taught families from America, Russia, Gana, India, Burma, and Germany, since I have been here. It's fun. So the reason my email is titled the way it is is because we went on a walk today with the senior couple Elder and Sister Niederhauser through the wood and around this farm. It was so pretty! I have never seen such huge rolling hills, and humongous trees taller and wider and older than I have ever seen before, and such a old farm. The family lives above in the house, then the cows live in the basement. It's a German\Swiss thing. It's pretty interesting. But as we were on the top of the hill and looked down and saw this farm it really did look like a farmer in the dell. And Sister Niederhauser knows how to Yodel so she yodelded for us and it felt like a Swiss experience in Germany. :) It was terriffic. I loved it. Germnay is so beautiful.
Oh and mom before I forget, thanks for the letter, the very first one you sent and for your emails every week, and for getting the cell phone thing figured out. Do you need anything else from me?
Well family I love you all! Even the ones I haven't met (Miriam and Analee). I am very excited for conference this weekend. We talk to people on the street and say "Hi what are you doing next weekend? Because the prophet of God and his Apostels will be speaking to us this week. what they will tell us will change your life for the better. will you come and learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?" Probably not what people are expecting, but that is why we are on earth is to follow the prophet and keep the commandments. Oh the church is true!!! God lives and loves us. He has a plan for our happiness, individually and as a whole. Christ is the center and foundation of that plan.
Well I lost part of my email again. I guess I don't know how to work computers anymore. the main last part of it was to help others. It is so important to help others. Help others in a way that you can. That is what life is about. God is always helping us, and we want to become like Him.
Love sister Fitzgerald
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