Feliz Navidad!!

Feliz Navidad Everyone!!!

First of all, thank you to everyone who sent me packages, cards, presents. I really appreciate everything you all do to sustain me as a missionary. This was my first christmas away from family, and wow it was a change. It's hard being away from loved ones at this time but it is worth it I can bring the happiness my family has to others. Also Sacrifice brings blessings!!!

This week was an absolute miracle in terms of the new people we found to teach. We found 19 new investigators!! Throughout the entire week we didn't go one day without finding someone. Which is incredible because all of last week our entire zone only found 6 new investigators in total and we only found 1. I don't know why but heavenly father really blessed my companion and I this week and we have some thanking to do. I am super glad because we have been working our hearts out and were a little discourage. One thing we learned how to do better, is to listen to the small quiet promptings of the holy ghost. We would be driving to go try someone and then we would have a random thought to go somewhere else and we would end up finding a family that we could teach. We seemed to be in the right place at the right time many times this week. Part of the reason was probably the time of the year as well. People are always more receptive to hearing the gospel when the light of Christ is shining everywhere around them. 

One family we met is the Lezama family, we went early in the day to go see them, when we went we met the Mom out in front of the house busily decorating for christmas. That moment was not right to share the gospel with them. But we had the prompting to scrap our plans that night and set up an appointment with them instead for later. So we went and tried them later everyone was there, and they are an amazing family. We went in and share the plan of Salvation with their entire family. The coolest part was the spirit allowed us to teach to the needs of every member of the family. Even though there were young kids there we were able to keep them interested at the same time as teaching the parents. It was a super special lesson and the spirit was super strong. Moments like that, bringing our messages to families is one of my favorite parts of my mission. I really hope the families we met this week progress and can receive more happiness than ever before.

Lastly!!! My family was looking good on Skype this week. Wow, how I miss them!! They all look healthy, and happy. I can see the blessings in them that have come from me serving a mission. I'm so thankful for my family and love them so much.

But now!!! Back to work. Pray for these new families, pray for Nayeli and Josh that they can get baptised, pray that my companion and I can have energy and strength, thank you for all each of you do for me!!

Love Elder FUller

Big changes!

Family and Friends,

Saturday morning we get a call from our mission president, he tells us a place to go and meet him at 2 pm. So we go meet him and he brings us into the apartment that we met him at, he looks at my companion and says "Elder Nielsen, I am going to need you to go pack your bags. You will be leaving Monday to go up to Fresno as a Zone Leader." Then he looks at me and says "Elder Christensen needs a companion and he will be coming to Visalia with me." So long story short Elder Nielsen is leaving me and I will be finishing training Elder Christensen who's companion just ended his mission and is going home for Christmas. So yup, this is the biggest change I have experienced thus far on my mission. I feel like Nephi walking up to Jerusalem not knowing before hand the things which he should do. I have never experienced so much trust and responsibility in my life. HAHAH but hey, I will live. I know in whom I have trusted, I trust in my Savior Jesus Christ and his voluntad for me.

But this week was super fun, overall everyone is happier around this time of the year and I love it. I was thinking about it, and the reason is because of Christ. The source of all happiness and light. Last night my companion taught our last lesson together in which we taught Lehi's vision. We talking about how the tree represents the love of God and the love of God is Christ. As I look back on my life and reflect, I have realized that every moment of true joy in my life is because Christ was connected in some way. Our happiness does not depend on what happens around us and the changes that take place. It is all predicated on our commitment to letting Christ be a part of our life. That's why members of the church have so much happiness. It's not because our lives our perfect, its because regardless of what happens if we turn to Christ and he sheds forth joy into our lives. The fruit of the tree is what Christ is offering to us and it truly is "desirable" over all other things.

Family and Friends, I AM STRESSED hahah. But that is not a bad thing. My trust is in the will of Christ and I will find happiness in the Journey no matter what happens.

Love you all

Have a Merry Christmas!!

Elder Fuller

A Multitude of Lessons

Another week and a Multitude of lessons,

Where do I even begin. This week was jam packed of spiritual highs and spiritual lows. Let's start with the lows so we can end on the highs. This low is a really tough one and it breaks my heart. We got dropped by our most progressing investigator Adriana. We asked her if she was coming to church and she said "Truthfully, I think I am going to go back to attending the church I was going to before." this was over text. We then texted back. "Why? What changed? Do you remember everything you felt?" She never responded... My companion and I are honestly amazed. She was so solid, so choice, she felt in every way the spirit testify to her of the truthfulness of the restored gospel and then she denied it. Times like these as a missionary there is nothing you can do but fast and pray and that is what I have done a lot this week. We are struggling to find new investigators and people to teach. 

That was very hard to hear from Adriana. I had grown to think of her as one of my family members and I just want her to find the most happiness possible. I know the only way is through this gospel.

However hard that experience was I know that my companion and I did everything we could. We fulfilled our purpose as missionaries. 

Anyway, though we had that happen this week, we also had some amazing miracles happen. Notably, one afternoon we were walking down the street after seeing one of investigators and we saw a man out pruning his trees. We went up and started talking to him. Long story short he wanted us to come in and bless his house. His family has been struggling to get along, life is hard, and he just wants things to get better and to be closer with his family. I was able to offer that blessing, in which I felt the spirit confirm the blessing upon the house and the blessing the man was amazed. Then my companion shared John 14: 26-27 and the man became even more amazed. That man had just barely the day before read that scripture on a bill board. The spirit filled our hearts and testified that our message can help his family come closer together. We are planning to go see him again soon. 

We had a few other very spiritual experiences and miracles this week. But that is all have time to share today.

I love each and every one of you and I pray and plead with heaven father that you will all stay faithful to your testimonies. Live in a way that can bring joy to the lives of others. Bring the light to the world!! It is worth it, I promise! Its hard because we live in a crazy world but you can control your actions and choose to serve the One who will bring us home.

Love,

 Elder Fuller 

The Gift of the Holy Ghost

The Gift of the Holy Ghost,

So on a mission the adversary knows that you are trying as hard as you can to follow the will of the lord. So he pushes your buttons in every way he can. This week a thought popped in my head, I am certain it was from the adversary. "Elder Fuller, you don't even have the gift of the holy ghost, you can't do this work." So that thought troubled me for a little bit. For a couple moments I was doubting the gift of the holy ghost. I questioned, is it real? And what is the difference between the power of the the holy ghost and the gift. So I dedicated a personal study to figuring out this question I had. As I was studying I came to the sections in true to the faith about gives of the spirit, and then I read my patriarchal blessing and talked to my companion about the questions I had. It soon became clear. The Gift of the Holy ghost is inseparably connected to the Gifts of the spirit. You have to receive the gift of the holy ghost to receive gifts of the spirit. Also I looked back on my life, I have clearly seen the guidance of the holy ghost, and my doubt was swept away. I gained a new appreciation of the Holy Ghost because of this doubt that was put into my head by the adversary. I gained a new understanding of god plan. He allows to be tested so we come out stronger. I love the analogy of working out your muscles. You have to go through adversity to grow you muscles just like how you have to go through adversity to grow you spirit. It isn't easy, but you come out feeling stronger that ever!!

Anyway, this last week was a great one. We had 3 dinners on thanksgiving and wow, It was so hard to eat by the end of the 2nd dinner. My oh my, all of us missionaries in the ward, after the second dinner said a prayer that we would be able to eat the food at the 3rd. GOD ANSWERED OUR PRAYER. It took a while but we all finished our food and gained a lot of member trust hahahah. 

Our investigators are doing well, we are hoping we can baptize Adriana this week, we are not sure yet though. We haven't been able to see her alot this week, and we still need to teach her the word of wisdom. We are praying she wont have problems so we can baptise her as soon as possible. AHH I want to get my first baptism!!! We have potential for 5 baptisms this month if everything went perfect and it was the will of the Lord. I promise each of you I am working as hard as I can, and honestly I would love to baptize but I accept whatever heavenly father wants. My companion and I have come along way in helping strengthen the members and the people in this area and I know we have been successful. Numbers do not matter, the voluntad de Senior is the most important. I plan on fasting and praying a lot for Adriana, Josh, and the rest of our investigators so they desire and are ready and able to enter into the gate of baptism.

Love all of you

go light the world this Christmas!!!

Elder Fuller

Photos of Bowen's Apartment

Stay Humble, Stay Faithful!

Bowen asked for something for Christmas I need all of your help with. Here is what he said…
”My biggest want is to figure out how to follow the lord more and more. So anything you think to send me that will increase my testimony in any way that is what I want.”
Please write down the things that help you to follow the lord in your life and that have increased your testimony. You can mail them to him at (This is the mission home office so allow time for them to deliver to him please so he gets them for Christmas)
Elder Bowen Fuller
1814 N Echo Ave.
Fresno, CA 93704
 or email them to me at kfullermom@gmail.com  and I’ll print and mail them because he loves getting mail.

How is everyone doing!!!???
This week was a super good one. Transfers came this week and Elder Nielsen and I are staying together for another transfer!! Which I am super happy about because we have some unfinished business here in Visalia!!! We believe that very soon we will have some amazing people come into the fold.
This week we had 5 friends/ investigators come to church. I had a super sweet experience in sacrament meeting this week. So what happened was that we were sitting in sacrament meeting with our friends/ investigators that came to church, and the time came for the ward choir to sing. We have 7 missionaries in our ward and we all sing in the choir, making up most the choir. And as we were singing, I remember looking down at Julio, who is the son of our most progressing investigator. As I looked as him I and I saw him smiling up at me I felt the most amazing sense of happiness. I felt for a split second the love God had for Julio and his family. That was probably the best I have ever sung a song in my life, I was singing with the intent that I wanted our investigators/friends to feel the love that God had for them.
Family and Friends, I have the greatest desire to serve the lord.
I have found throughout the past 12 weeks of my training that there are two ways to be a missionary. You can either endure your mission, or you can gain love to enjoy your mission. Love is the key to joy in service and Joy comes from submitting to the will of our heavenly father. It's so crazy how all these doctrines and principles connect. It is a mystery that can only be solved through Jesus Christ, he is the key and the answer, and the more we know and become like him, the more capacity for joy and love we will gain. Mosiah 3:19
Also you better be ready for light the world this year!!!!!!! The video for this year’s campaign comes out on the 24th. I've already seen it and I felt the spirit so much during it.
Also this thanksgiving, sing thanks to our heavenly father like the Brother of Jared in Either 6:9
It's funny, I am gaining a big testimony of the power of song. We were at a member’s house for dinner and we sang a song to the family and the Mom started crying.
Anyway, this is probably the most I have felt the spirit in my life out here on my mission and I love it!!!
Stay humble, stay faithful, the lord will rain blessings upon you

Love,

Elder Fuller
Sorry if this email is scattered ha-ha
My Spanish is getting there too!

An AMAZING week!

EVERYONE!!!

THIS WEEK WAS AMAZING!!!!!

It started off awesome. We set a Baptismal goal with our friend Josh!! He is awesome, I remember in the lesson we were talking about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how it can lift us through struggles of life. He shared with us some things about his life and my companion and I also shared about our life's. We could see that he felt the spirit and was holding back tears. We committed him also to rely more on Jesus Christ in his life. We also warned him that sometimes when we strive to grow closer to Jesus Christ there is also opposition. However, that is no reason to fear because if we rely on Christ, he can literally lift us if needs be. Through Jesus Christ we can do all things.

We also had Zone Conference this week!! We had a general authority come and talk to us!! His name is Elder Echo Hawk and it was honestly one of the most spiritual meetings I have ever been apart of. My companion and I were also called upon to do a Role play in front of all the missionaries. Which is when one set of companions pretends to be investigators and my companion and I were the missionaries.  The goal of the role play was to introduce a message about light the world. Which is the churches campaign to bring the spirit of Christmas. It was way out of my confort zone hahaha but it was fun and it turned out good. At the end of the meeting Elder Echo Hawk opened up the meeting to testimonies and I went up and bore my testimony about how we can become more than we could ever imagine. We can even become as God.

And yesterday, was the most special thing of all. We had 5 friends come to church and we also set 4 baptismal dates. We set a baptismal date with Adriana and 3 kids. Wow, that was such a spiritual lesson! So what happened was we taught her the Restoration again and then we shared with her the end of the introduction of the Book of Mormon, which is when it says that if one is to read, ponder, and pray about the Book of Mormon they can know for themselves it is true. We then testified of the things we have taught are true. It was already powerful, but this is the most powerful part of all. After we were done testifying, she looked at us with tears in her eyes and said "I already know it's true" she also told us that she has been praying and thinking about baptism for a while, especially at sacrament meeting. Then she told us "I think this is something I should do." The cool thing also is that her son was able to participate in the primary program. It was a sweet experience for her to watch her son participate. So please pray that every thing will work out for Adriana and her family. We pray she will be prepared on December 2nd to enter into the gate of Baptism.

I love all of you so much and I thank you for all your prayers. I am trying to become a better person and missionary every day, not for me, but for God and for all of you. Stay close to the spirit this week and the spirit will stay close to you.

Love Elder Fuller

I can find peace

Hey Everyone!

This week was another full one. We have found many awesome people throughout my whole experience here in Visalia. The hardest thing is to get investigators too keep appointments. When we set an appointment it has fallen through many times. Part of the reason is because these people work so much! I admire how hard they work. I was reading something, I can't remember which of the missionary resources it was in, but it basically said that as missionaries we are tired a lot but we should take motivation from the fact that many people who we are teaching are tire as well, if not more tired than us. Part of the reason why God allows missionaries to be tired is so we can better understand how to succor our investigators. So next time we wake up tired in the morning, we should know it is for a reason and all things can work to our success in this great work. Anyway, Missionary work is up and down, one moment I think a baptism will come or I'm understanding the work and the language, other times it's slow and I feel slightly inadequate. But the most important thing is to continue putting my shoulder to the wheel.

And hey, even though the work is hard, I can find peace in the fact that I am giving it my all. I am willing to submit to the will of heavenly father. If I don't get a baptism my whole missionary I would be okay if that is the will of HF. 

It is insane to think that I only have 3 weeks left in training. It is exciting but stressful, having to change and adapt all the time. Just when you start to get the hang of things as a missionary, something get thrown at you so you can grow even more. 

 

One thing I was thinking about this week a lot was how important is to show our thanks for miracles in our lives. Luke 17 pay attention to the what happens after the 1 leper out of the 10 gives thanks.

12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

THATS SO COOL!!

The leper isn't completely made whole until after he gives thanks for the miracle in his life. So for us, when Miracles come in my life, no matter how big or small they are we absolutely always need to give thanks. Our heaven father promises us with fulfillment and wholeness if we do so. SO this week try to be more thankful:)

Love you all

Elder Fuller