SO, story time. First off, we share the ward with our zone leaders, and they have been teaching Hermano E who had a baptismal date with his friend Hermano JM. Well, Hermano JM lives in our area, but the elders had been teaching him.. BUT last friday we received a phone call, and the elders told us that JM said he wanted to be taught in his own house because it was a lot easier. SOO.. that was just over a week ago, and then we had to teacher EVERYTHING to him in one week, well before friday so that he could be interviewed for his baptism on Saturday. I'm honestly not quite sure how we did it, because he is also a man we needed some hermanas to accompany us for every lesson. BUT we had a family who are members who offered their house for about 3 of the lessons.. and were great. So, he was baptized this past saturday with his friend. :) The best part of all, was how prepared he was to receive the Gospel. For every commitment, he accepted, and said he wanted to do more. We taught almost all of the commandments in one lesson, so we wrote down all of the commandments with a scripture and the commitment, and with all of the reading assignments (so basically every day) he read everything! And understood everything. We ran into a hiccup on tuesday.. but everything turned out fine, and we did it! The coolest part is how he also got introduced to the Gospel..
One day he was working in an old building, and he reached behind a desk, or wall or something and found the Book of Mormon. He asked the lady of the house if he could take it and she said of course (that was about 5 months ago). So he started to read it, and had a friend who he worked with who was a member, who invited him to hear more about the Gospel. Then, this past week during one of our lessons we were talking about some of the names of the kids of the family (because they are a little different), and JM asked what was the name of one of their sons. It turns out that the Book of Mormon that he found belonged to one of their sons! 3 years ago, before he left on his mission, this family lived in these apartments, and the night before he left to go on his mission he left his BoM in the house, and they just kind of forgot about it. So about 2.5 years later Hermano JM found this BoM and we taught him in the house of where the book came from!! Oh wow. I know that God really does prepare a way for people to find the Gospel.
In my study this week I have been reading a lot about the missionary work in D&C (I'm trying to read a chapter in the BoM, D&C, NT, and AT every day), and one day this week I was reading in D&C 31 I really loved this whole chapter.. soo...
1 Thomas, (Hermana Zimmerman, my daughter) (or any missionary) my son, blessed are you because of your faith in my work.
2 Behold, you have had many afflictions because of your family; nevertheless, I will bless you and your family, yea, your little ones; and the day cometh that they will believe and know the truth and be one with you in my church.
3 Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation.
4 You shall declare the things which have been revealed to my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun. You shall begin to preach from this time forth, yea, to reap in the field which is white already to be burned.
5 Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall live.
6 Behold, verily I say unto you, go from them only for a little time, and declare my word, and I will prepare a place for them.
7 Yea, I will open the hearts of the people, and they will receive you. And I will establish a church by your hand;
9 Be patient in afflictions, revile not against those that revile. Govern your house in meekness, and be steadfast.
10 Behold, I say unto you that you shall be a physician unto the church, but not unto the world, for they will not receive you.
Anyway, I just felt a lot of peace and comfort when I read this chapter. I know that this is the work of Salvation. That there are people prepared to hear the message of the Restored Gospel, we just have to 'dig a little deeper' ;) and really work hard, and the Lord will bless us.
Love you all! ¡Exito!
Hermana Zimmerman
p.s. today we went to go eat with an investigator so for a bit we were talking about our church, and the husband came out and said 'oh you're mormons??? the Mormons don't believe in anything, don't believe in God, or in Jesus Christ' So we explained about the real name of the church 'the Church of Jesus Christ...' and we left a Book of Momon with them. :) The ideas some people have.. haha
Baptism of Hermano JM and Hermano E (of the elders) and practically the whole ward. :)
Other photo from the baptism.
My attempt at making a tortilla... as you can tell it didn't quite turn out so well.. but hey, I still have 11 months to learn. ;)
Why not play with your food?
A cute little girl gave us these flowers... :)
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