Snow in Alabama?!?!

Hi y'all!

So, I'm sorry if my subject is a little deceiving...there isn't actual snow but the cotton is blooming and being harvested everywhere and it sure looks like snow! It’s beautiful :)

This week has been a good one. I can’t believe I’ve almost been on my mission for five months...time is such a crazy thing. So a couple cool things happened this week.  We were at our investigator Monir's house, teaching him out on the porch and about 45 minutes into the lesson when we were wrapping things up, a guy came and pulled in his driveway. He says: "Monir, man! how are you??....Oh sorry, I’ll let you guys get back to church." We laughed and said, "Hey, what’s your name?" He said: "Dewayne, I used to meet with y’all a few months back!" (side note- I have heard ALL about Dewayne and read his teaching record multiple times but he changed his address and phone number a while back and the sisters who used to teach him lost contact with him). Anyways, then he asked us to come over the next day and said right then and there that he would come to church next week. It was so awesome! The Lord definitely leads us and puts us where we need to be, all you gotta do is listen to the Spirit.

I was able to throw the football with some kids on the street which then led to meeting their moms and getting return appointments. Football softens hearts, guys :))  We went to the Daphne High School football game to direct parking and it was so fun! We got to go in and see the half-time show and a little part of the game.  It brought back so many memories from high school and cheer, good times :')

We had stake conference this week too, and Elder Gaverette from The Seventy came to speak to us!  That afternoon, three of the recent converts in our ward were ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood. It was such a special experience to be there!

I just wanted to say how true this gospel is, and how true the Book of Mormon is. It will bring you closer to God than ANY other book! I have seen it in investigator's lives, and I have seen it in my own. I love you all so much :) Have a great week!

Our cute friend, Alliyah :)

Derriya!

Cotton fields

Football game

Bill

Sister Mills at a
Relief Society activity

Sister Pete and me

One of my favorite members here,
Kimberly, (middle) went to Utah this week
and visited with my two aunts,
Karlene (right) and Kim (left).

Pumpkin Spice EVERYTHING!

Hey everybody! Fall is coming here in the south and I am too excited about it :))

This week has been so awesome. So I have been reflecting a lot on change and how amazing it really is. When I filled out my mission papers in January, never did I think I would be where I am or who I am today; being here in Bama, learning what I have learned, is nothing I expected it to be. You always hear about how much people change on a mission, but I thought it was a different kind of change. Being here for over four months, I'm still the same, sarcastic, crazy Marissa, but, I'm a more mature, loving, and understanding Sister Fletcher, with bigger hopes, dreams and goals, and a much more eternal perspective than before. It’s truly amazing, change. I have learned that if you give God your weaknesses and all your shortcomings, you are stripped bare for a while and it’s painful but soon, after much prayer and pleading, something incredible starts to happen. God literally begins to mold you into someone you never thought possible you could become. You start to love much deeper, you start to desire for others needs above your own, you begin to apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ much more in your life. Your patience with others and yourself grows and you become much more motivated to work as hard as you possibly can to help God's children. You truly come to learn that living this gospel of Jesus Christ brings more happiness than anything else because you've seen the difference in the lives of those you teach. God loves his children, God loves YOU and I. SO, welcome change. Change is beautiful. God wants us to change because he sees our potential and knows our worth. It may seem overwhelming at times, and trust me, learning to change and become more like Christ is a lifetime pursuit but one action and decision at a time, we can become more like Him.

All right, my rant is over. I'm just so grateful for my mission so far, man.  A general authority, Elder Sitati, came to our mission for a conference this past Friday and it was great! I was fortunate to be one of the missionaries to have an interview with him. He is such a faithful, inspiring man and I was able to learn a lot more about the Atonement of Jesus Christ during that conference and to see lots of my mission friends!

My favorite recent convert here, Linda, celebrated her birthday this week. My companion and I and the elders threw her a party and it was lots of fun! Things kept spilling everywhere and it was pretty hilarious, like the blender exploded in the middle of making a smoothie and one of the elders dropped a liter of coke all over the floor....sorry random side note, it was just hilarious.

So our investigator Angela is still set to get baptized but her date is now officially November 19th. Cool story, so Linda comes out with us to a lot of her lessons and she loves Angela a lot because she reminds her of her daughter who passed away at the age of 17. Linda's daughter was born on November 19th so we thought it would be so cool to have Angela's baptism that day, a rebirth for her, on the same day as Linda's daughter's birthday :)  Also, Linda's husband, Doug who is like my second dad, is baptizing Angela, and side note, he is getting the Melchizedek priesthood this week. I have never met someone so excited to receive it.  It truly is so humbling. November 19th will be a beautiful day!

Well that's about it. I love you all! I hope you guys have a great week and I'm so grateful for this gospel in my life! Man I love my life :)

xoxo,

sister fletcher

Me holding an alligator! 

Elder Sitati

Sister Jackson and me

Alligator Alley

Check it out!

Beautiful Alabama!

Mamma Quinnelly 

Sister P and me 

The art walk with Linda and Doug

Barefoot in Bama

This week has been a good one :) Lots of fun, lots of lessons, lots of meeting new people. If you are wondering why my title is what it is, I just wanted to mention that one thing I have really noticed here in Bama is that everyone walks around everywhere barefoot. I love it so much hahaha. Life is so great here!

So, we have an investigator named Angela who missionaries have been visiting for a quite a while. She told us the most amazing news this week. She said: "You guys, all I want is to be baptized!" Her eyes lit up and so did mine. We are planning it for October 29th, and I know God will prepare her to be ready for that date. 

We have done lots of service this week! Service is so fun, especially when it’s unplanned. We mowed a few lawns, moved a few beds, and hung some Halloween decorations. We also would just do little things like fill up an older man's gas tank for him, or bring all the carts in at Walmart. I have grown to love serving so much more since coming out on my mission and I know that doing acts of service will be something I try to do much more of when I come home! Serving simply makes you feel good because you are making someone else feel good :)

So my companion has a ukulele and I have had so much fun playing it this past week. The elders in my district know how to play too, so we’ve been playing lots today! We’ve been learning church hymns so we can play during lessons and stuff :)

Well, I hope y'all had a chance to watch conference this past weekend! It was amazing. I have always heard watching it as a missionary is the best, and it truly is. You watch with such a different perspective and you watch with not just yourself in mind, but also your investigators. It was so cool how many thoughts from the spirit came to my mind about our investigators and their needs. All the talks were great, but I would have to say my favorite was Elder Russell M. Nelsons'. He taught us about joy, and how saints can choose to be happy under any circumstance; it simply has to do with the focus in our lives. Jesus Christ IS joy, that joy comes from and because of Him and we can learn and gain a better understanding of how to suffer with joy, because our suffering can be swallowed up in the joy of Christ. This does not mean that all our problems will disappear and that we will not have trials and hard times ahead but we can control how we react to them, that we can ultimately choose our happiness during every situation. 

I love you all so much! Have a great week and send me a quick hello if y’all have time :)

lots of love,

sister fletcher

 

Me and Sister P

When members love you!

Damaris, one of our investigators

Facial party!

Watching conference

Eva <33

What A Week!

So this week has been crazy. We drove up to Tallahassee on Tuesday night and stayed at some of the sisters' apartments. The next day, Sister Jackson and I got our new companions! I really love Sister Jackson and I’m going to miss her so much but this transfer will be good :) I am now with Sister Peterson! We are very different but that makes things fun. I know I have a lot to learn from her and it’s going to be a good time. 

We went to the General Women’s Conference broadcast in Mobile on Saturday night and it was awesome! In one of the talks, this was said about Jesus Christ: "He will do anything to take this from you; in fact, He already has." I LOVE THAT! I have been learning a lot about deliverance this week. The Book of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon is all about deliverance and I have really been studying it. Before my mission, when I was having a really hard time, I would go to my mom or dad, my best friends, my siblings. and THEN I would turn to Heavenly Father in prayer. It is so cool, because out on your mission, all you have is God. He is all you can turn to so it kinda forces you to turn to Him and then from that experience, it really teaches you that He is truly the best source. He can deliver you from anything, but only HE can do that. 

Mosiah 23:23 ~ "For behold I will show unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God." 

This week one of our investigators, Jhemarial came to church. It was the best! She is 16 years old and so mature and so prepared for this gospel. The ward was so welcoming and nice and she is coming back next week to bring her sisters. We are going back over to her home tomorrow to teach them the plan of salvation. 

A lady named Emma asked for a Bible on mormon.org, so on Thursday we went to her home to deliver it. We got to talking and as we were about to hand her the Bible, she said: “No, what I really want is a Book of Mormon. That has to be what I am missing in my life.” It was SO COOL! We are coming back to teach her this week so I’ll keep y’all posted :) 

Ah, miracles are happening guys. Life is good when you truly turn to God and let Him guide you 100%. I love you all! Thanks for reading my emails and for all the prayers and support. I pray for you guys all the time!

so much love,

sister fletcher

My last day with Sis J

Our awesome district!

Doug and Linda,
my grandparents!

The day Sis J and I parted...
and her new cute companion!

My love sista house!

Me in front of a pretty gate

Sister Peterson

Times Fun When You're Having Flies

HI! This week has been so crazy and I have no time, SO I am going to send a bunch of pictures to sum it up and fill y'all in more next week :)  btw, I'm getting a new companion on Wednesday! Transfer calls were Saturday morning and a new sister is coming to Fairhope so tomorrow Sister Jackson and I are going up to Tallahassee to stay the night at the FSU campus.  We will then pick up our new comps the next day. It's gunna be awesome :) 

I just wanted to say how true this gospel is! and how grateful I am to be serving a mission! There is truly no place I'd rather be :) I love you all! Have a great week!

much love,

sister fletcher

Angela
(one of my fav investigators)

Linda at sewing activity

Sister Masi!!!!
(We had exchanges this week in Monroeville...
a town two hours from Fairhope...
It was so fun spending the day with her! She's my favorite ever!!)

Typical adorable Alabama boys

Beachin it today!

Fort Morgan

Beach!!

100 + Days of Being a Missionary!

100 + Days of Being a Missionary                                                              

Hey guys! How has everyone's week been? I miss you all! This has been such a great week. Last Tuesday on our p-day, we had a huge zone activity in Mobile and played dodgeball with the elders. There were only four of us sisters who played with 35 + elders. It was so intense but so fun! Today, we played basketball and football with the elders in our district and that’s so fun too! Sports are just so fun, especially out on a mission haha. 

We have had a super productive and eventful week and were able to meet lots of new people to teach the gospel to. On Thursday, we dropped by a home of a girl named Alliyah who requested a Bible on Mormon.org. Turns out, she is 13 and lives with her grandma. I just wanna say that never have I felt so much love for a person as quickly as I did with her. She is one of the most pure and precious young girls I have ever met. Instantly, before we even went inside, I felt the Spirit, as well as some of the direct love God has for her. Her grandmother invited us in and we taught them the restoration of the gospel. I am so excited about this little family. They are SO humble and SO prepared by God to receive this perfect gospel. 

We have had so many beautiful experiences and I wish I could share them all but I just don't have enough time :( I will tell y'all when I get home next year! 

I just wanna close this email by sharing one of my new favorite scriptures that I’ve really been studying lately - Galatians 2:20:  I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I live. Yet, not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

I hope you guys have a great week! I love and miss you all :))

with so much love,

sister fletcher

 

Pretty view during weekly planning
one evening

Literally the only picture
I took this week!

The Zone!

Blessings on Blessings!!

HI! :) I don't have a lot of time today because we have a zone activity in Mobile soon, but I wanted to touch on a few amazing things that happened this week.

Last Monday we were able to go to the beach with a member and an investigator. It was so awesome! I miss the beach so much, man. Here, the sand is SO WHITE! and the water is warm. We taught a lesson on the beach and it was great :)

We did tons of service this week including cleaning out a lady's attic where the floor was nowhere to be found!!!, serving food at a Young Single Adult activity, yard work, and painting. Service is always so much fun!

President Smith came to our church meeting this week so that was awesome. He and his wife actually drove Sis Jackson and I home. It’s so amazing to see how much they love their missionaries. They are both such selfless and inspired people.

Fairhope holds an Art Walk every first Friday of the month so we were able to go this week. It was the PERFECT place to contact and meet people. We met three women who came out from Mobile who completely made my day with their kindness, energy, and pure love for God. We got their information so the missionaries out in Mobile can teach them and grow upon their foundation of Jesus Christ.

Yesterday we had Zone Conference which lasted from 9:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.. It was a long day but I learned so much! Mobile is such an awesome zone! These people are already some of my best friends! After the conference, we had a huge finding activity where we broke off in companionships and knocked on doors or talked to people around Mobile. We were supposed to all meet back at the church at 7:00 p.m. Sis J and I found a lot of awesome people out there. Then we were about to head back to the church but decided to knock on one last door which we both felt really prompted to do. Inside was an African American family consisting of a younger husband and wife and their two little daughters. After being invited in and talking for a while, the Spirit directed us to share the message of the Restoration of the gospel with them. Even though we were way past time to meet back at the church, we knew that was what was needed. They were so receptive to the message and so excited to read the Book of Mormon as a family. We promised them that if they read with faith and asked God if it was true with a sincere desire, they will know through the Holy Ghost that it is. Tears came to the wife's eyes, and she said: “I can see the passion you feel about this gospel and the love you both have for it so why would I not want to read this book? Why would I give up the invitation y’all gave me because I just want the Spirit you do! It was such a tender and touching moment. It made me sad leaving and realizing we can’t teach them because they are out of our area,(the elders in Mobile will) but I know they will have this true gospel no matter what, and that's such a blessing. Anyways, afterwards all the sisters came back to our apartment and we had a sleepover and now we are all together today!

I just wanted to end by touching on something I have been studying a lot lately. I've realized more fully that there is a difference between having a testimony and being converted. Elder Bednar once said, "If a testimony is what you know to be true by the witness of the Spirit, then conversion is consistently being true to what you know." Having a testimony does take work, it is something you need to consistently try and grow, but being converted is LIVING the gospel everyday. Conversion is what we should really strive for, being Christ-like, emulating His light in us. In the Book of Mormon, in Alma 23:6, it says: "And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophesy, and the power of God working miracles in them. Yea I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did they fall away."

I can testify that if we are truly converted to Christ, we will never fall away. He will walk by our side through it all.  I hope you all have a great week! Thanks for reading my emails. You are all in my prayers!

so much love,

sister fletcher

Blurry me with a letter
because I love letters!

Walking to the pier this morning

Me

Sis J and me

The Gulf Shore

The Hangout

The beach at night

We thought this sign was funny!

The awesome ladies we met
at the art walk

The Art Walk with
our recent convert Linda

Another from the beach