Goodbye Pres. and Sister Camarillo

Hi everyone!!!!

Ok, lots happened this week... here we go:

Last tuesday we had our last zone conference with Pte. and Sis. Camarillo and it was great.  We focused a lot on the book of mormon, how we need to use it in the work.  Also pte. asked all of us to sack out the BoM that we had brought with us, and only a few of us had them, luckily I was one of the few.  On a spiritual note-So.. you should always be prepared with a Book of Mormon in hand, because you never know when you are going to run into someone and the spirit tells you to give one to them.  I also focused a lot last week looking up and using scriptures in the BoM instead of the Bible, because really the BoM is the key to our religion, and the key to conversion.  I made a lesson plan about tithing with using onlyscriptures from the BoM and it turned out to be a great lesson.  

Bye presidente Camarillo... bienvenido Pte. Eggington!!! 

On saturday we had the batism of Hna. G!!! I know I've already talked about her.. but to refresh.. the first saturday here we visited her daughter who is a recent convert of last year, and on sunday she came to church (hadn't been in a while) and brought her mom!  When we visited her the next week she told us that last year she wasn't ready, but when we got there she knew it was now her time.  For all of her assignments she wrote a little summary, and wow.  She is the best.  After her baptism she grabbed my hand and told my comp and I- 'thank you so much for guiding me to this point.'  I felt soo... wonderful, and blessed.. and it was just a great feeling.  Also seeing her daughter give her a hug (who isn't baptized) and hearing them crying and saying how blessed they are and how happy they felt, and hopefully the daughter will have the opportunity to be baptized soon as well. 

After that we went to the temple!!!! WOOHOO!!! After 14 months of not going... no we couldn't enter, but being outside with our investigators and recent onvert and less actives, it was great.  

One of our investigators Hno. M. got sick last week, but was able to listen to the CD's we gave him of the Book of Mormon, and said he felt the spirit when he listened to them.  Last sunday he almost got asked to work but he told his friend, 'no, I will go to church.' 

I read 2 talks from gen. conf. that I want to invite you to read.. sorry I don't know what they are called in english, so look them up... 'Ser Genuinos' and 'La generacion mas grandiosa de jovenes adultos' or something like that... they are from the Priesthood Session.  Especially if you a serving a mission, want to serve, or have served, READ THEM!  They helped me a lot. 

Well today we receive our new president, I don't know when we will get to meet him, but I will miss Pte. Camarillo and his wife and daughter a lot... 

Yesterday was also a great day, we did 2 splits with members to cover appointments, and in the night our meetings got canceled.  So I went with the bishop's wife to visit a less active family that we hadn't met, and had a lesson  with the daughter who is 15 yrs. old (well, thursday..).  I can't explain much, but it was a powerful lesson.. with tears.. but tears are good. :)

I will finish with the questions that came in one of the talks, he explains that this is a personal invterview, so I invite you all to take this personal interview, and let it help you change anything that you feel that you lack, that you want to change, or even just to make yourself better than you already are.

1. 1. 
   Do you search the scriptures regularly?
2. 2. 
   Do you kneel in prayer to talk with your HeavenlyFather each morning and each night?
3. 3. 
   Do you fast and donate a fast offering each month—even if you are a poor, struggling student who can’tafford to donate much?
4. 4. 
   Do you think deeply about the Savior and Hisatoning sacrifice for you when you are asked toprepare, bless, pass, or partake of the sacrament?
5. 5. 
   Do you attend your meetings and strive to keep theSabbath day holy?
6. 6. 
   Are you honest at home, school, church, and work?
7. 7. 
   Are you mentally and spiritually clean? Do youavoid viewing pornography or looking at websites,magazines, movies, or apps, including Tinder andSnapchat photos, that would embarrass you if yourparents, Church leaders, or the Savior Himself sawyou?
8. 8. 
   Are you careful with your time—avoidinginappropriate technology and social media, includingvideo games, which can dull your spi itual sensitivity?
9. 9. 
   Is there anything in your life you need to changeand fix, beginning tonight?

This next week are transfers... we will see what happens!  

love you all, have a great week!!!

Hermana Zimmerman

 Goodbye to Pres. and Sister Camarillo and their daughter (on the left) They will be missed!

 Silly faces :D

 Baptism of Hna. G!  And her daughter on the left. 

 Super happy- we made it to the temple!!!! 

pic in front of the temple with a few of the people we are teaching. :)

 

 

Hey :D

Hi everyone,

So the past few weeks we have had a few conferences in the ward and stake, but everything is going well.  The area is great, my comp is great, the investigators are progressing... I hope I don't jinx that... But we do need to find more people to teach. 

We had a great day on Sunday, we had a few investigators at church, the best part was that usually getting our investigators to come to church is a little bit difficult, but everything went super smoothly yesterday. Woohoo! 

We are working with a less active Hna. S. and she referred us to her friend a few weeks ago, and is already doing a great job being her friend (hermandando) and already has 3 weeks in a row coming to church!  We hope to be working with her family soon because none of them are members. 

Today I was reading in Alma 8 about missionary work, and how Alma went to visit the people of Ammonihah..  8 And it came to pass that when Alma had come to thecity of Ammonihah he began to preach the word of Godunto them.

 9 Now Satan had gotten great hold upon the hearts of thepeople of the city of Ammonihah; therefore they wouldnot hearken unto the words of Alma.

 10 Nevertheless Alma labored much in the spirit,wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pourout his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that hewould also grant that he might baptize them untorepentance.

.  And as he worked the Lord told him- 15 Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head andrejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hastbeen faithful in keeping the commandments of God fromthe time which thou receivedst thy first message from him.Behold, I am he that delivered it unto you.

Missionary work can sometimes be hard, disappointing, and frustrating.  But I know that as we are diligent in the Lord's work, we will feel like we are doing our part. 

Have a great week!

Hermana Zimmerman

 we went to help a sister get ready to leave on her mission.  We knew that her fam would be a little stressed out, today she gets set apart, and then leaves tomorrow morning, so we made cakes. :)

 I also made lunch today... that is hot dogs in tortilla with cheese, and agua de guayaba. :)

 Shout out to Hna. MJ!  She leaves on her mission TOMORROW! Chihuahua look out.

Splits with a cute sister M. :) 

 

Miracle

Hey everyone!

So this week was great!  To sum it up, we went on divisions.. or splits? with the STL and i went to the center of Guadalajara.  I think I like my area more.. but I was there 2 days, and the second day we literally walked about 7 or more hours.. but welcome to Mexico. But at the end of the day we had a lesson and about 3 members came to teach with us.  And we had to teach Lesson 5 completely plus about 5 commandments from the lesson 4.  But we did it!  and everything turned out well, the investigators accepted everything and got baptized on saturday.  

When I got back to my area we were able to do more visits with a few investigators, and the best part was that a man we have been teaching for a while and has come to church now for 5 weeks in a row, accepted a baptism date!  When we went to visit him on about Friday, he said he wanted to share what he has felt with the other members- in testimony meeting (because we that was the past sunday).  But yay! 

Then on sunday was stake conference.  And we make super good plans so that everyone could come, because the conference center isn't even in our stake boundaries.. but we got up early, went on splits with some sisters, and when we got to pass for the investigators basically they all didn't feel good.  And didn't want to come.  So I was a little frustrated, but said a prayer in my heart that they would have the desire to go.  So we passed by a few times at each of the 3 houses, and one by one they decided to go.  Prayers of faith do work.  And also an investigator we have been trying to get to church for a couple weeks made it as well! Anyway, everything at the end turned out well, and the conference was also very good.  

Our stake pres. lives in our area, so we got to eat with them and did a few practices on how to share the Gospel, with their kids.  It was pretty funny.. actually the kids remind me of my little sister and cousins.  So on sunday the pres. shared about the pure gospel, and that after a year and a half of being president, he now understood his role.  And all of our roles.. is to share the gospel, because it is pure.  And the gospel is what brings us together as a family.  

Scripture- last week I was reading in Alma, and liked this one.. Alma 22:

 15 And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.

What are we willing to give to receive this joy? 

Have a great week!

Hermana Zimmerman

 so it hailed this week, luckily not in our neighborhood, but at an investigator's house, and the kids saved the hail.  sooo big

 A sister who did visits with us on sunday, #testimony

the rain has started... 

 

Reflection Week

Hey everyone!! So this past week was probably my favorite of my entire mission.. so here we go..

First off we had a ton of success with our lessons with members!! We did a few divisiones with some sisters, but the most special part was seeing how the members and their experiences helped our investigadors.  On tuesday i went to visit Hna. G. with her daughter, and a sister, and my comp went to visit our elderly investigators, with an elderly sister. In my lesson we taught the law of chastity, and basically they are also passing for a few difficulties in their family. But at the end of the lesson, Hna. D. said the prayer, asking that Heavenly Father would help her out, because she really wants to be baptized. True intent is everything.. and my comp went and visited like I said our favorite elderly couple, who was baptized in another church and still haven't quite accepted baptism, but for the past 4 weeks the husband has came to church with us!  What I loved most about this week was that the members who came with us were able to share with our investigators exactly what they needed. 

Then on friday we had a zone meeting that also was definitely something that I needed.  We read a few scriptures that I would like to share.. Alma 4

 19 And this he did that he himself might go forth amonghis people, or among the people of Nephi, that he mightpreach the word of God unto them, to stir them up inremembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down,by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all thecontentions which were among his people, seeing no waythat he might reclaim them save it were in bearing downin pure testimony against them.

I love this scirpture at the end that talks about how we shoudl have a pure testimony.  And this week in my personal study I was remembered that to teach, a missionary doesn't have to be the best speaker, or have all of the intelligence, but the most important is to have a testimony of this gospel.  

and also Luke 22:

54 ¶Then took they him, and led him, and brought himinto the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off.

 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of thehall, and were set down together, Peter sat down amongthem.

 56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, andearnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was alsowith him.

 57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

 58 And after a little while another saw him, and said,Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

 59 And about the space of one hour after anotherconfidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also waswith him: for he is a Galilæan.

 60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest.And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

 61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. AndPeter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had saidunto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

 62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

Our ZL taught us that we can change the story.  The story of Peter has now passed, as he denied Christ 3 times.  But as we change the story it now says basically.. -when the people said that peter was with christ- 'Yes, I was with Him. I know Him.  And I will tesitify of Him.'  We all have the opportunity to testify of Christ, we do not need to be afraid, to stand as witnesses of Christ.  I invite you all to alwayss stand as a witness of Christ, and don't every deny Him. 

On thursday we had a ward mission activity that the Elders came up with, we set up 2 tables with pamphlets, and basically talked with everyone we could in the street!  I had a cool experience with a sister who is leaving on a mission in 2 weeks, we talked with a lady in the street and as she left she said 'how great it was that i stopped by here today, and that I was able to talk to you two.' ahhh, GOLDEN!  The only thing is that she doesn't live in our area... but she was prepared to find us that day, and we will pass the reference to the other missionaries. And we also found a less active and his family, and we are going to visit them today!

On saturday we went to each with a sister.. and basically it was an eye opener to me.  She has also had a lot of trials in the past year, as I am learning I feel like we all have trials- and in our own way our own trials are very strong, and we don't know how to overcome them, or even understand them.  But I loved what she said, basically- 'I will not let what happend pull me down.  I will make my way out of this hole I am in, because I will not storp trying, the adversary will not win.' haha basically that... 

But I also had a moment to remember who I have become as a missionary.  I was brought back to my first months in the mission.  How I had felt, -I didn't know Spanish, I hardly knew the doctrine, I was a little scared, and didn't know how to be a missionary.  Over the 14 months of my mission so far I have had various comps, a few areas, but more than anything experiences that have helped me know.. who I want to be.  Clearly right now I am not perfect, but I can now say that I can now speak spanish, I understand and can teacht the doctrine... there are so many things that I have learned in the mission, I can't see my life without these months I have been here serving.  I know I only have a little time left, and this time shall not be wasted.  It's kind of funny.. because now I feel prepared and ready to be a missionary.  And I now have 4 months left.. 

I know that there are a lot of people at home thinking about going on missions, and I know that even though I still haven't finished my mission, I have been so blessed for the opportunity to serve one.  

Que tengan una buena semana a todos, les quiero mucho, se que Dios vive y siempre les va a ayudar en cualquier cosas que necesiten, si su deseo es sincero, y Dios juzga prudente.

Les quiero MUCHO,

Hermana Zimmerman

 14 months in the mission :D

Missionary Activity!! Basically all JAS (YSA) us the missionaries, and our ward leader mission. SUCCESS!

 My mission buddy- shout out she leaves to Chihuaha in 2 weeks! WAH

Food from Paraguay-- YUM. Everything is so good here..