From: Elder Jonathan Fischer
Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 7:54 AM

Querida Família,

New Vitoria Mission address for mailing packages:
Rua João Batista Parra, 633 Sala 1501
Enseada do Suá
Vitória-ES-29050-330 Brazil

Another week flew bye. I got your missionties.com thanks!! They were great. I cant believe that Brock is off on the mission already. And the e-mail from Talmage was really great. Wow were all so old.

Well there isn't too much that's new with me. We have been teaching this 12 year girl that hás been going to church with her mom. Her mother was baptized in '98 I think or '94... but it was a long time ago. She had been feeling like something was missing in her life; even though she was going to another church. It's interesting because she would go to church and her husband would tell her it didn't even seem like they went because they would all come home yelling and arguing. But she came to church 2 Sundays ago, and to say the least, she remembered that there is a true church. She broke down saying how good Sunday was. She knows that going to church can save her family. And the girl we have been teaching, Linara, she is so intelligent. I was shocked. She would ask questions like why did Jesus get baptized if He was perfect? Or what is virtue? Wow, she is great. It's interesting because the first time she went to church (2 weeks ago) she said that she wanted to baptized that day. Her mom said that the only time she went was when she was in a stroller. She wondered if we thought that their early experience then might have had an influence on her now? It's crazy. Really the Lord hás His hand in this work. We have been blessed a lot.

Everything hás a purpose, and the Field really is White. Jesus is the Christ and taught the truth. This truth is being taught again throughout the world. All over Brasil (shout to Bryan), to Florida (shout out to Kevin), all the way to Belgium (shout out to Tad) ha-ha!!

This is the marvelous work and Wonder that is happening that was prophesied. And we have the power and authority of God on the Earth again. We have the truth. Nothing is going to stop us. Only our wrong choices will weaken us. We must stay firm, we must fight. This is an eternal battle, and we are the defenders of truth.

Let us be an example. Let us show the world that we have something different in our lives, that we live the way the Lord taught, and that we are members of His Church.

I hope that you all have a great week. It sounds like your all doing great. I pray that it continuesJ Keep sending me updates in mission ties J I Love hearing from you guys. It looks like it takes about 7-8 days for me to get them.

Com Amor, Elder Fischer

Another Day in the Mission Field

From: Elder Jonathan Fischer
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 6:54 AM
Querida Familia,

Well this week has gone by again. That was interesting to hear about Dads job offer. What a blessing for you guys. There was so not too much that happened this week. But we did meet a less active at church and she brought her daughter. It was a huge blessing because her daughter said that she wanted to get baptized! Blessing. But ya there isn’t too much going on. Except for this past Saturday we had a family night at the bishop’s house. It was so good. The spirit was so strong. It was great to feel the power of the Holy Ghost. It was a message about I think Wilford Woodroof and how he came to know the church. How he was searching for the truth. And finally two missionaries showed up at his door. It was a powerful message and was actually a film we watched that was produced by the church (I think). It was excellent. Its experiences like this that truly makes the mission.

Oh, and today, the mission did the last transfer before the mission change. How sad. I guess a lot of people were crying in the Rio bus station because they didn’t want to leave Sister and Presidente Picket. And guess who got transferred to Rio? Justin. It’s sad, but like the president said everything was done under the will of God.

Really I know that God is our Father. He loves us. He wants the best. This week I was reading an article by Bruce R. Mckonkie. He was telling of how our Father is really just that, our Father. He as a Father wants to counsel with us. That really hit me. When I read that I just felt the truth in that saying. He loves us. He wants to hear from us. I was touched because I have passed some hard times in my life. I know He was there listening, and still is.

Well I hope you all have a great week. Remember to talk to our Father in Heaven. He's there, He lives.

Com Amor,Elder Fischer

GREETINGS

From: Elder Jonathan Fischer
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 6:45 AM
To: Fischer, Sheila
Subject: Re: Greetings


Querida Familia,
First of all yes, I received my contacts. Thank you. :):):):) It sounds like everything is pretty normal.

This week also, was pretty normal here in Brazil. Me and my companion have just been trying to work as much possible with the members because our mission has decided to make this the focus in doing the work. I'm actually really excited because really the members do make the difference. Actually I have a cool story about a recent convert that taught with us this week.

Her name is Jacqueline. So how did she come to know the church? Well it started when her mom had breached the United States border and decided to make a living there. Along with many of her other family members, (brother, aunt (I think step dad)) she desired to make a run for the United States too. So she began her journey as she paid 9,000 reais ($4500 dollars). She travelled through Honduras, Belize, Mexico, using boats, planes, trains, and everything that moves. She was almost in the place she needed to be as she was heading to Boston or in that area, when the people that were traveling with her on this excursion turned them all in. So what happened she got thrown in prison? There she began the other part of the journey. She was moved from prison to prison as the U.S. could not hold an illegal immigrant in one prison for more than 3 months. So she travelled to Texas, Oklahoma, and other places finally ending in Virginia. There in that prison she met the person that changed her life. An Asian lady who was of Chinese descent that was from Brazil. She spoke 4 different languages. This lady had even a sadder story of why she was there. She had married a man in the U.S., in the temple actually. But she later faced divorce. She didn’t want to divorce because they were married in the temple. But they ended up doing so anyway. Then the man wanted more child rights. So she let her child visit him. Then he wanted full custody but she wouldn’t allow it. Then her grandmother became sick in China and so she decided to visit her and take her child with her to visit the grandmother before she died. The husband agreed. Except when she went to the airport the police were waiting for her. I'm guessing the husband probably lied, saying that she was trying to kidnap their child. She was thrown into prison. I think Jacqueline said she was in prison for 5 or 7 years, don’t remember, but she is now free in the U.S. (with a green card I think she can’t live there forever) and she is trying to get her child. But..

Returning to the story; The Asian woman taught her about the church and even started helping her read in English the gospel principles book. She completed it. Then the Asian told her that she needed to pray. At first she didn’t want to pray she thought the lady was crazy. But after it all she prayed and received an answer. The Asian told her to look for the missionaries when she went home. When she came back she passed the church but was afraid to go in. Then one day 2 missionaries were trying to develop a photo but they couldn’t find a place. One elder wanted to go up to a studio because he felt like he should. The other was telling him that there would not be a place there. But when they arrived, there was Jacqueline. And she had told them that she new about them. They wrote down her address. They taught her and she was baptized! What a story. I don’t have all the details but its crazy huh?

Really God knows everyone of us. He loves us. He uses others so that we can come closer to our Heavenly Father. I know that each of us as members, have this potential and responsibility. We must learn to develop this tool of listening to the Holy Ghost and we too, can become the servants of the Lord helping others obtain salvation. (Alma 18 I think..) I hope you all have a great week!

Elder Fischer

Espirito Santo




From: Elder Jonathan Fischer
Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 7:52 AM

Querida Familia,

Well another flew bye!! The time is just going by so fast. Now that I have a week in my area it's been great to get to know people from my ward. Actually my ward has a huge chapel. I have attached some pictures of it. And we have some great people in my ward, the bishop is way cool and his wife. But ya, this area is not very pretty but I'm glad I'm here in Espirito Santo. The people are so nice here and open which is completely different than in Rio. And there was conference yesterday. It was so great. I got to see so many people from my district from the MTC. Justin was there. It was cool. I didn't bring my camera but he did and I told him to post the photos on his blog or send them to mom. Keep an eye out for them mom. But ya, the conference was really good. We talked on the importance of teaching with members. Our mission has been taking a new approach. We are trying to utilize the members, because really the baptisms that are referred from the members stay active. It's proven.

My week was good. Today I Will have my interview with Presidente, which is always really good. Besides this there isn´t tôo much happening. My companion is pretty cool. He use to be the secreatary for the Mission; President likes this kid a lot. So I'm hoping we will work good together.

Oh about the Portuguese in your last letter mom; that was awesome getting paragraphs in Portuguese from your co-worker. There were some words that were out of my vocabulary, but I understood it. It was great. I Love Portuguese. It's funny because in Portuguese they write so much more formal than they speak.
It sounds like you guys are all doing great. Aaron sounds like He hás been blessed a lot. Thats awesome. And casey also, wow. What a great job experience it would be. Oh following up about the conference. We had it in vitoria it was great. That city is Nice. The chapel is minutes from this great beach. It's cool because it looks like a smaller Rio or at least I think. Mom, ask your coworker about it. Haha

Well I hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy those pictures I sent. This lan house we use is the best I have ever seen in Brazil. Blessing! Keep me updated.

Com Amor,
Elder Fischer

Hey here's my address:
Rua: Vicente Santorio, 37
Campo Grande
Itaquari, Espírito Santo
29146-470 Brazil