Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Hello Family!
We (our zone) just got done playing a Turkey bowl football game for Thanksgiving. :) It was raining and it was muddy, and now we are here doing emails, so I am still a little wet and muddy. But it was really fun. It felt so good just to get out and play a game. I felt like I really needed it. To be able to just put a lot of things behind me and just have fun was very helpful.
But anyway, Ritchie: I love getting your emails. They make me more excited about the work. I can tell that you love your mission, and the work that God has called you to do. I can also sense your humility. You are learning from the Lord and I can see that in your emails home each week. Thank you for your example to me, I really appreciate your emails. That is so neat you were able to hear from Elder Bednar. I remember my first week here I was able to hear from Elder Oaks and it was an amazing experience. Keep it up Elder Fitzgerald. I am so happy to call you my brother.
Chris: What kind of surgery did you have? What happened to cause the need for a surgery? How are you feeling now after the fact?
Jason: How is basketball going? Are you enjoying it? Hopefully. :) What else is happening?
Crozier: How did you like being in the play? Is it fun performing and being in the spotlight? I would love to hear all about it. Mom said you did a really good job.
Candace and Evan: That is so neat you were all able to be in Utah for Mom and Dads anniversary. It sounds like it was really special. And you got to go back to Idaho. That is so cool.
Tara: Thanks for your email. I will respond accordingly, when I have the time. :) Thank you for your letter too, I just got that the other day. IT was such a treasure to recieve. Thank you so much. You were inspired to say everything you did, and to include that article about Gladys Night. I really appreciated it.
Sean and Kim: How are you all doing? Any new updates on whether or not you´re going to Texas? How is everything going?
Mom and Dad: It sounds like your anniversary went well. That makes me so happy. I am so glad that the family could all get together and be there for that special occasion. Families are where it´s at. Dad, have you been able to get that Priesthood line of authority? Will that be in my Christmas package? That would be great. Mom, you asked what I wanted in my package and I would love to have everyones testimonies on Christ. Also, I have realized a need for a new scripture case. I have my normal sized quad and my last case broke, so if I could get another one that would be wonderful. Just the most simple looking case you can find, no extra pockets would be great, but if so that´s OK too. I just need a case to put them in. Wow, and you are in the Stake Relief Society Presidency. That is wonderful. I will be praying for you and your new calling.
This week was good. Tara asked about Shiresh, Alexander, Tara, and Etti. Well I am sad to say that all of our investigators but 2 are gone. Etti is still with us and Brother Himioben. Shiresh said he liked meeting with us, he felt good when he met with us, but his friends have told him to beware of us. And so he said he just wants to think about things for now. I hope he comes back. He was great. A few other of our progressing investigators have also left us and that has been difficult. I feel that has happened so much on my mission and I just don´t know what more I can do to help them understand that this is where it is at. I know everyone has their agency, and that someday they may return, and that brings me joy. For now I would just like to know how I can improve so that I can be better at keeping our investigaotrs progressing towards baptism so they can have the joy of the gospel.
Anyway, there are miracles that happen with all of this too. :) The other day we were contacting and we talked to this lady that said, "God is always with me and I don´t need you." And then walked away. And we kept going down the street. A few minutes later this same lady finds us on the street and says, "I thought about it and maybe God sent you to me. What do you do?" We were very happy to tell her and we made an appointment for when we could meet and talk more. It was such a miracle. Sister Ley and I were both shocked. I know Heavenly Father is very aware of us and all of His children. As we continue to do His work, we continue to see His miracles. His miracles are big and small, for all things are possible with Him. And He works with us according to our faith. I need to have more faith. But I am so grateful for His loving watchful care. I know He is there, and blesses us. I can´t count how many times He helps me everyday.
I love you family!
Sincerley,
Sister Fitzgerald
P.S.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
And ye shall testify of me, that I was, that I am , and that I am to come
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Hallo Familie!
Happy Late anniversary Mom and Dad! I was writing a date down yesterday and it hit me it was your anniversary. So I hope it was wonderful! What did you do for it?
Mom in the last email you asked me if I was ok with eye stuff and I am. And eye stuff is pretty cheap here if I need anything. But thanks for thinking of it. You also said you wanted to know more about my companion. Well Sister Ley comes from Alabama. Hee dad is in the military so they have moved around a lot. She also goes to BYU and is a Psych major. She is a really great missionary. She really cares about the people here. Mainz is her one and only city she has served in so far. :) She has been here for 7 months. She´s not sick of it though and works really hard. It is going very well.
As for Mainz itself, it is going pretty well. A lot of our investigators got sick, so we haven´t been able to meet with them. But we have been able to meet with other people and that has been good. Shiresh, our best investigator, tschüssed us this week. We were really sad about that. He said he just needed time. We told him we´d call him this week to see how he was doing. We have been praying for him a lot. On the other hand, Etti, one of our other investigators met with us yesterday. While we were planning for her we felt that she just really needed to know who God is. She doesn´t really believe in anything. So as we taught the Plan of Salvation we read scriptures that brought out Gods love and mercy. How he loved the world so much he gave us his Son Jesus Christ. She asked the question, "What should Christ mean to me in my life?" As I bore my testimony I just felt the spirit so strongly testifying that it was true. It was such a neat experience. She still has a lot of questions, but she said she wants faith to believe. So we gave her Alma 32 to read and told her we would talk about how we develop faith next time. I love the Spirit. He truly is the convincing evidence that this gospel is true. It´s real. The scriptures are true for they truly testify of Christ and bring peace in our lives. Also, I love how logical the gospel is. I realize that it takes the spirit to understand spiritual things, that is why it is important to have the spirit so we can gain more knowledge about God´s plan. So hearing of the gospel for the first time might not make total sense at first, but it feels good, it feels right. Then as we exercise our faith, we have the spirit with us and are able to learn those mysteries of the kingdom that God has prepared for us to find, if we would just follow the spirit.
Well life is wonderful here in Mainz. It has been raining a lot, and I am scared that Winter has begun. :) Hopefully we´ll see a few more good days before December.
Family I love you, family I do!
Love,
Sister Melinda Fitzgerald
Hallo Familie!
Happy Late anniversary Mom and Dad! I was writing a date down yesterday and it hit me it was your anniversary. So I hope it was wonderful! What did you do for it?
Mom in the last email you asked me if I was ok with eye stuff and I am. And eye stuff is pretty cheap here if I need anything. But thanks for thinking of it. You also said you wanted to know more about my companion. Well Sister Ley comes from Alabama. Hee dad is in the military so they have moved around a lot. She also goes to BYU and is a Psych major. She is a really great missionary. She really cares about the people here. Mainz is her one and only city she has served in so far. :) She has been here for 7 months. She´s not sick of it though and works really hard. It is going very well.
As for Mainz itself, it is going pretty well. A lot of our investigators got sick, so we haven´t been able to meet with them. But we have been able to meet with other people and that has been good. Shiresh, our best investigator, tschüssed us this week. We were really sad about that. He said he just needed time. We told him we´d call him this week to see how he was doing. We have been praying for him a lot. On the other hand, Etti, one of our other investigators met with us yesterday. While we were planning for her we felt that she just really needed to know who God is. She doesn´t really believe in anything. So as we taught the Plan of Salvation we read scriptures that brought out Gods love and mercy. How he loved the world so much he gave us his Son Jesus Christ. She asked the question, "What should Christ mean to me in my life?" As I bore my testimony I just felt the spirit so strongly testifying that it was true. It was such a neat experience. She still has a lot of questions, but she said she wants faith to believe. So we gave her Alma 32 to read and told her we would talk about how we develop faith next time. I love the Spirit. He truly is the convincing evidence that this gospel is true. It´s real. The scriptures are true for they truly testify of Christ and bring peace in our lives. Also, I love how logical the gospel is. I realize that it takes the spirit to understand spiritual things, that is why it is important to have the spirit so we can gain more knowledge about God´s plan. So hearing of the gospel for the first time might not make total sense at first, but it feels good, it feels right. Then as we exercise our faith, we have the spirit with us and are able to learn those mysteries of the kingdom that God has prepared for us to find, if we would just follow the spirit.
Well life is wonderful here in Mainz. It has been raining a lot, and I am scared that Winter has begun. :) Hopefully we´ll see a few more good days before December.
Family I love you, family I do!
Love,
Sister Melinda Fitzgerald
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Stewardship and Parenthood, more investigators!
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Hello Family!
Sorry I don´t have very much time today. But I just want to thank you all again for your support. I can´t even tell you how much it strengthens me every week to hear from you. How you´re doing, you´re insights, the news and details of your life. So thank you very much.
I will just get right into this past week. I wanted to start off with saying Mom and Dad I am so impressed with your skills and abilities to take care of 8 children. This past week we have been working with more investigators than I have ever worked with before in my mission and as we were planning for the week my companion Sister Ley said, "I don´t know how parents do it." All of a sudden it hit me, parents are amazing! More amazing than I even knew before. We are working with about 7 "progressing" investigators, and planning for all their different individual needs and questions and concerns is a little mind boggling. It is such a blessing and I love it! The more the better, but it is a lot of stewardship. So yes we got a few more new investigators this week and that has been wonderful. One of the best parts of the week was fast Sunday (we had it last Sunday because of Stake Conference the Sunday before). Our investigator Alexander has been having trouble believing what we are teaching him but he agreed to come to church. So that is what I fasted for, that he would have a good experience there and feel the spirit. Well my prayers were answered. When we got to church we learned that Priesthood and Relief Society would be held together because our Stake President, President Leimar (I think he was quoted in one of the Ensigns a while ago about the international ward in Frankfurt, He is amazing!) would be talking with us. Well before church President Leimar came up to Alexander and shook his hand and everything. Then during the lesson, he singled Alexander out and told him that he was about his age when he first started meeting with the missionaries and how it changed and improved his life more than he could have imagined. It was really neat. After the lesson he came down and talked with Alexander again. The ward was also very good to him and one of the young single adults also sat by him and answered his questions and after church they talked for a long time. It was great. I was so happy.
This past week really has been amazing. There have been so many miracles I just don´t even know where to begin. I know this church really is the church of Jesus Christ. When people choose to accept the truth and live it in their lives, their lives do change for the better. They do prosper just like the scriptures say (Mosiah2:41), they are better people more like Jesus Christ. I do know that the commandments are simply instructions from a loving Heavenly Father for a happy life now, and a map to Eternal life. Wisdom lies in obedience to God and his commandments.
I love you family! In Idaho, Arizona, Utah, and Uruguay!
Love,
Sister Melinda Fitzgerald
Hello Family!
Sorry I don´t have very much time today. But I just want to thank you all again for your support. I can´t even tell you how much it strengthens me every week to hear from you. How you´re doing, you´re insights, the news and details of your life. So thank you very much.
I will just get right into this past week. I wanted to start off with saying Mom and Dad I am so impressed with your skills and abilities to take care of 8 children. This past week we have been working with more investigators than I have ever worked with before in my mission and as we were planning for the week my companion Sister Ley said, "I don´t know how parents do it." All of a sudden it hit me, parents are amazing! More amazing than I even knew before. We are working with about 7 "progressing" investigators, and planning for all their different individual needs and questions and concerns is a little mind boggling. It is such a blessing and I love it! The more the better, but it is a lot of stewardship. So yes we got a few more new investigators this week and that has been wonderful. One of the best parts of the week was fast Sunday (we had it last Sunday because of Stake Conference the Sunday before). Our investigator Alexander has been having trouble believing what we are teaching him but he agreed to come to church. So that is what I fasted for, that he would have a good experience there and feel the spirit. Well my prayers were answered. When we got to church we learned that Priesthood and Relief Society would be held together because our Stake President, President Leimar (I think he was quoted in one of the Ensigns a while ago about the international ward in Frankfurt, He is amazing!) would be talking with us. Well before church President Leimar came up to Alexander and shook his hand and everything. Then during the lesson, he singled Alexander out and told him that he was about his age when he first started meeting with the missionaries and how it changed and improved his life more than he could have imagined. It was really neat. After the lesson he came down and talked with Alexander again. The ward was also very good to him and one of the young single adults also sat by him and answered his questions and after church they talked for a long time. It was great. I was so happy.
This past week really has been amazing. There have been so many miracles I just don´t even know where to begin. I know this church really is the church of Jesus Christ. When people choose to accept the truth and live it in their lives, their lives do change for the better. They do prosper just like the scriptures say (Mosiah2:41), they are better people more like Jesus Christ. I do know that the commandments are simply instructions from a loving Heavenly Father for a happy life now, and a map to Eternal life. Wisdom lies in obedience to God and his commandments.
I love you family! In Idaho, Arizona, Utah, and Uruguay!
Love,
Sister Melinda Fitzgerald
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Transfers...
Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Hello Family!!!
Well, I have the news you have all been waiting for. . . :) just kidding, I´m sure you are really anxious to hear where Ritchie is. :) But my mission president has decided to leave me and my companion, Sister Ley, together in Mainz. We were both so happy! We had Stake Conference this last week and Elder Texiara (I don´t know how to spell his name) from the 1st Quorum of the Seventy (in the area presidency for Europe) said that Germany was going to see more growth than ever before in Europe's history and it would begin in our Frankfurt Stake. It was really powerful. His wife spoke too and said that the days are over of South America getting more baptisms than in Europe, and it will be because of the members and the missionaries working together and joining their efforts. My companion and I felt a lot of responsibility on our shoulders but then as we did doors that night we talked about how we could develop better relationships with the members and get them more involved in missionary work. WE got so excited thinking of ideas. Then when we found out we would stay together we were really happy.
Oh mission life is great! Mainz is as beautiful as ever and we are finding so many new people and they are all younger people! Which means they can get baptized and raise their families in the church! Hurray! We had a lesson the other day with one of our new investigators. We taught him the first three lessons and started teaching him the commandment of following a prophet. As we were teaching him and as we showed him a picture of the prophet and the apostles he said, "Oh, you mean a prophet. Like God has called a man to be a prophet just like Moses." We said yes. Towards the end he said, "When I first met you I was just trying to decide if it was a good church or not. Now I see that I need to find out if it´s the right church." We said yes. It has been so awesome! We have also found other students and it has been truly amazing. God lives! and has a church with all the truth in it for us where we can learn about him and his plan and what wonderful things lay in store for those who keep the commandments.
A funny thing that happened this past week was Halloween. We heard it wasn´t a big thing in Germany at the beginning of October so we just never really thought about it since. Anyway, October 31st comes around and we had just chosen the best place to do doors and were happy and ready to do them. When we got off the bus we were a little surprised to see groups of children in scary costumes walking around. We were a little confused then realized, "It´s Halloween! Little kids are going door to door to get candy. And we are going to try to do missionary work." We tried a few doors and it didn´t work out so well, so we decided to go back into the city and contact there. But it was a funny realization to come to. Missionary work is funny sometimes.
Well Family there is so much to say, but also not enough time. I just love you all so much and hope that one day I can tell you all the stories. They are terrific. "Miracles every day, waiting just to be found. Out the door so much more, keep your feet on the ground. . . " (Thank you Tara).
I am excited to hear where Elder Fitzgerald ends up in Uruguay. One of the students we are teaching lived in Paraguay for 7 years. So that was fun to make that connection with him.
Last but not least, our mission president told us to send casual pictures to him of us for something. Anyway, so here is the fruit of that labor. This picture was taken this morning. :) Beautiful Mainz in the Fall is in the background. And I am sitting on some ancient Roman ruins. There are a lot of ancient Roman ruins here. It is really pretty.
I love you all family! Have a wonderful day today, and a wonderful week this week. And I look forward to hearing from you again.
Love,
Sister Melinda Fitzgerald
P.S.
Mom I haven´t gotten those pictures from Arthella. Did they get mailed back to her? Did she mail them to the office or to my apartment?
Oh as for 30th wedding anniversary, I say take a second honeymoon. Go to San Francisco and stay in a hotel on the beach. :) You can try to find the $50 deal again ;)
Hello Family!!!
Well, I have the news you have all been waiting for. . . :) just kidding, I´m sure you are really anxious to hear where Ritchie is. :) But my mission president has decided to leave me and my companion, Sister Ley, together in Mainz. We were both so happy! We had Stake Conference this last week and Elder Texiara (I don´t know how to spell his name) from the 1st Quorum of the Seventy (in the area presidency for Europe) said that Germany was going to see more growth than ever before in Europe's history and it would begin in our Frankfurt Stake. It was really powerful. His wife spoke too and said that the days are over of South America getting more baptisms than in Europe, and it will be because of the members and the missionaries working together and joining their efforts. My companion and I felt a lot of responsibility on our shoulders but then as we did doors that night we talked about how we could develop better relationships with the members and get them more involved in missionary work. WE got so excited thinking of ideas. Then when we found out we would stay together we were really happy.
Oh mission life is great! Mainz is as beautiful as ever and we are finding so many new people and they are all younger people! Which means they can get baptized and raise their families in the church! Hurray! We had a lesson the other day with one of our new investigators. We taught him the first three lessons and started teaching him the commandment of following a prophet. As we were teaching him and as we showed him a picture of the prophet and the apostles he said, "Oh, you mean a prophet. Like God has called a man to be a prophet just like Moses." We said yes. Towards the end he said, "When I first met you I was just trying to decide if it was a good church or not. Now I see that I need to find out if it´s the right church." We said yes. It has been so awesome! We have also found other students and it has been truly amazing. God lives! and has a church with all the truth in it for us where we can learn about him and his plan and what wonderful things lay in store for those who keep the commandments.
A funny thing that happened this past week was Halloween. We heard it wasn´t a big thing in Germany at the beginning of October so we just never really thought about it since. Anyway, October 31st comes around and we had just chosen the best place to do doors and were happy and ready to do them. When we got off the bus we were a little surprised to see groups of children in scary costumes walking around. We were a little confused then realized, "It´s Halloween! Little kids are going door to door to get candy. And we are going to try to do missionary work." We tried a few doors and it didn´t work out so well, so we decided to go back into the city and contact there. But it was a funny realization to come to. Missionary work is funny sometimes.
Well Family there is so much to say, but also not enough time. I just love you all so much and hope that one day I can tell you all the stories. They are terrific. "Miracles every day, waiting just to be found. Out the door so much more, keep your feet on the ground. . . " (Thank you Tara).
I am excited to hear where Elder Fitzgerald ends up in Uruguay. One of the students we are teaching lived in Paraguay for 7 years. So that was fun to make that connection with him.
Last but not least, our mission president told us to send casual pictures to him of us for something. Anyway, so here is the fruit of that labor. This picture was taken this morning. :) Beautiful Mainz in the Fall is in the background. And I am sitting on some ancient Roman ruins. There are a lot of ancient Roman ruins here. It is really pretty.
I love you all family! Have a wonderful day today, and a wonderful week this week. And I look forward to hearing from you again.
Love,
Sister Melinda Fitzgerald
P.S.
Mom I haven´t gotten those pictures from Arthella. Did they get mailed back to her? Did she mail them to the office or to my apartment?
Oh as for 30th wedding anniversary, I say take a second honeymoon. Go to San Francisco and stay in a hotel on the beach. :) You can try to find the $50 deal again ;)
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