Semanas.. de Trabajo.‏

Muy buenas tardes a todos.

Estoy aqui.. haha I'll just get to it..

So this week I feel a little bad for our numbers.. but there is always room to improve.

Last week we had a special training for the leaders in the mission, but because my zone is the furthest from Guadalajara, our President decided that it would be more efficient to have them come to Lazaro, and teach our entire zone.  So it was pretty great, and I really learned a LOT.  We learned how to study more effectively, did a lot of practices- how we need to present and study the BoM, we practiced teaching the Creation, Fall of Adam and Even.. the Apostacy.. and it was all really great.  

We also had 2 sisters stay with us for two days, Hermanas Velluto and Rodriguez who are in Zihuatanejo.  It was really great staying with them, we had a few good chats in our house and went on divisions on thursday to make up more time. :) And I didn't get lost with my 3 weeks here!  haha. 

On Saturday the elders had another baptism, so we went and one of our investigators who has been listening to the missionaries for a really long time went!!  So that was really great, and she is now preparing for her baptism in a few weeks, I really hope all will go well. 

My ward here really is so great.  The people are always so welcoming and willing to work, and this week we have a few plans so that the hermanas can accompany us!  

I don't really have much else to say... but the work is progressing, I am learning more about how to be a better missionary, this ward will increase soon, we are all working hard, and... I'm gaining weight.  haha i need to work on that. 

News, last week or as of 2 weeks our Mission President decided that we can now have district-zone activities!!!!! the other district in my zone lives pretty far away, so we only had a district activity, but it wa pretty fun, and we all ate super well. :)  #LongLiveLazaro

Love,

Hermana Zimmerman

COKE!! In a bag. :)  #Mexico

 -DISTRICT ACTIVITY!!!! First one in 6 months. :)  We decided to all bring food and play volleyball.. you could say it was pretty successfull.  We had pizza, coke, Enchiladas rojos (my favorite here in mexico), quesadillas, moyete (bread with beans and cheese), and cake because it was our zone leaders birthdays today and last week). 

Sunsets here in Lazaro are really the best! 

 My Companion and Hermana Rodrigez

 In front of the church here in Lazaro

 this is how you kill a chicken..

So there's a flea market in my area every monday... so it's pretty great. :)

 

MILAGRO!!!!‏ (translation - Miracle)

Ok, so this week was pretty great, and I really feel SO blessed.  :)

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;

 8 And you shall strengthen them and prepare them against the time when they shall be gathered.

 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.

 11 Go your way whithersoever I will, and it shall be given you by the Comforter what you shall do and whither you shall go.

 12 Pray always, lest you enter into temptation and lose your reward.

 13 Be faithful unto the end, and lo, I am with you. These words are not of man nor of men, but of me, even Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, by the will of the Father. Amen.

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... :) 

Buenas tardes! :)

Buenas tardes!  :)

So this past week in my new area has been pretty different from Morelia.  Few differences are-

1-Lots of people aren't married.

2-The streets are new or something, and the people don't know what street they live on, and because the houses don't have numbers.

3-Fish.

4-Heat and Humidity.

Ok, so this past week we have been working to find more people to teach, and all the stuff that missionaries do, and it turns out the these 4 things are very true down here in Lazaro.  BUT, the ward here is great, and the members are so nice, and are some really great sisters who are willing to accompany us, and all.  

This past weekend was Stake Conference!  Haha my 3rd one here in the mission, and our stake center is actually pretty small.  But we had one of the Seventy come (Elder Hugo Montoya) and we had another counselor of our mission president come as well.  The conference was really great, they talked a lot about the family, how we focus a lot in other things in our lives, instead of the things that are the most important.  Elder Montoya also shared an experience that he had with one of his sons that served a mission.  They went back to one of his areas, that was a pretty little city.  After they had visited everyone is was almost night time, but his son wanted to go visit one more of his converts, a woman who lived about 15 or 20 minutes outside of the city, and was a little house by itself. The dad had said asked why his son had come all the way out there to teach someone..  When they finally got there it was already dark, but they knocked on the door and there she was.  At first she didn't recognize the Elder (not in his shirt and tie) but he said 'I'm Elder so-and-so', and she exclaimed, 'Oh, my son!'  and they had a very sweet, tenderhearted chat.  With the sister just saying over and over again that the elder had changed her life, and how grateful she was that he had brought her the Gospel.  Before they left the woman gave them a jar of fresh fruit (this part I don't remember too well.. haha) but said that she had bought it fresh that morning, and wanted the elder to have it. 

That story just goes to show, that we really do have an impact on the lives of the people here.  And that the people really do remember the missionaries.  

Also, I had to play the piano in Stake Conference... haha it did not go as well as it should have, but I was asked basically the day or 2 before, and had only time to practice before it started... 

This past friday we also receieved a call from the elders in our ward, giving us a reference.  They have an investigator who will be baptized this Saturday, and his friend was also listening to them, but he lives in our area, so he wanted us to teach him.  So we now have one week to teach him everything before this Saturday...... I hope all goes well :)  Wish us luck!  

Oh, and we really don't eat fish a lot, it was just one time this week. 

Besides all that, the work is coming along, this area is very beautiful I love it, and I am excited to work some miracles here. Also, I completed 7 months yesterday, so that was pretty weird. 

Love you all! 

Hermana Zimmerman 

 'Poisson!'  jk, enspañol 'Pescado!'

 Kind of blurry.. but a pic from one of my areas.  :)  PALM TREES!

 Just a part of the ward, I'm pretty sure this is in the area of the Elders.. 

 After our Zone Meeting we had to stop by Walmart to grab some food to eat with the Hermanas from Zihuatanejo! (disclaimer-walmart isn't in my area).

Smoking Kills.. 

LA PLAYA :)‏

HOLA!!!! :)

So, I have been transfered! My time in Morelia has ended (at least for now) and I have been sent south to Lazaro Cardenas. :)  haha so.. the beach. :)   I already asked my comp if we can see the sea and she said no. But, I did see a little bit during the bus ride here.

This last week in my old area was pretty good.  We ended up having a great lesson with a new family that we found (they are SO golden) and the lesson was perfect.  We taught them the Restoration, and asked them if they had already read a little bit in the Book of Mormon, and if they had prayed about it.  The mom had read and prayed a bit, but the Dad had forgotten (but the next day we called and he had prayed).  The mom had a few few questions and asked us how she could know for a surety which of all the churches is true.  So we explained more about prayer, and we asked her if she received an answer, and if she felt that the Book of Mormon was true.  She said, 'Well, yes, I can just feel it when I read the book.'  We could just feel the spirit really strong.  It was also pretty cool because sometimes when I speak spanish, I have to think a little hard to put the words together correctly, but in this lesson I didn't even think, just spoke.  Afterwards my comp.  commented that I spoke perfect spanish. :)  I give the credit to the Holy Ghost and the Gift of Tongues (they are real). 

I also had my last week there.. we weren't sure if I was going to be transferred, but it turns out that yup, mi toca salir. :)  I really enjoyed my last week, my comp and I had really worked hard to accomplish our goals, to have more lessons, and our teachings were more united.  It makes me kind of sad that I won't be there to continue to work with some of the great families I have found. 

Besides that-my new area!! It's one of the furthest parts of the mission, and what I have heard so far is that it is very hot, humid, and that a lot of people aren't married.  Haha so far it hasn't been too hot, but we will see. :)  My area (well, the really tiny part that i have seen so far) is very beautiful.  Lots of trees, and greenery, and I am very excited to work here. 

 

One last story- with my baptism of last week, Hermano V.  when we had taught him he told us that he is never going to pass the Sacrament, and not going to go on a mission.. BUT when we got to church on Sunday, there he was up front in a white shirt and tie blessing the Sacrament. :)  It was one of the coolest things I could have seen.  And I really hope in 1 year he has the chance to serve a mission.  It was honestly, just great!

 

Love you all!! And have a good week!!!

Hermana Zimmerman

 

saying goodbye to Hermana Contreras

One of the member families that are just super great :D

members from Tarimbaro

 New companion Hermana Enriquez

 a quick peek at my new casa :D

This food is called a 'Gringa' (its basically a sandwich but instead of bread, its tortillas)  so... 'Gringa with the Gringa' ;)

 

 

Best week ever!!!

Hola Todos!

So this week was pretty good!

To start off Wednesday... My birthday!! So this day actually pretty great.  We started out and had a great lesson with Hermana M.  She is just great, and told us the other day 'Hermanas, I just want you to know, that I want to be baptized.  I am ready!'  Her only problem is that she needs to either seperate from her boyfriend or marry him.. and every sunday she spends with her son, and right now he doesn't want to attend church, but she's working on him. :)   We later had 'lunch' with some members, and then they bought a cake!  Later in the evening the bishop wanted to celebrate so he invited us to his house before we went to our house before 9, but we didn't have time :(  So we ran to their house, were their for 5 minutes, and then ran to our house with more cake.  

The next few days were pretty busy, we had the baptismal interview for Hermano V, and because he is a man, we can only teach him if a sister accompanies us.  SO we were trying to find a member to come with us for about an hour, and at last, one Hermana A. who was baptized last week by the Elders came with us with our ward mission leader.  And she really was great, participated the entire time and shared her testimony, was perfect.  When our district leader came out of the interview with Hermano V they were all 'sad' and said he would be baptized in December (because that's been a joke, that Hermano V didn't want to be baptized until December) but he passed!!  

His baptism also went very well.  The daughter of Hermana A (who was baptized last week) was baptized with Hermano V.  

Story about Hermano V...  So, my first week here in Mexico, I'm pretty sure my first day proselyting we went to eat with a member family.  While we were there Hermano V. was there and my comp. was all 'How great!  He is a reference from the Hermana, and we need to teach him!'  so we taught him a lesson, and I invited him to be baptized, and he accepted.  Then for many weeks he assisted church (I'm pretty sure he assisted church at least 16 times) but kept on pushing off his baptismal date.  With my first comp he was pretty difficult as well, his answers always were 'who knows.. i don't know. '  always.  then as time progressed he started to answer with actual sentences, and the lessons became more of lessons.  With my 2nd comp. she wanted to drop him, because he just wasn't progessing like he should have.  BUT patience is a virtue. :)  And with my companion right now he finally accepted to be baptized and was baptized this past weekend.   And it turned out really well.  When he went into the water he was very serious, and I could honestly tell that he was ready to make this decision to be baptized.  It was just all around great. :)

This week we had a few other good lessons with new investigors-and one family that I am so happy about!  We contacted a family of 4, the parents, and their 2 kids, and another family memeber.. in the first lesson we were talking about prayer, and I was going to pray.  So we asked what was the name of the family (usually I don't share names BUT...)  they said Vazquez-Vallejo.  They also have family who are Mormons.. So of course I was thinking, 'oh!  I know a family who has the same last name of Vallejo, the dad is from Mexico, and they are my neighbors'.   Turns out that THEY ARE COUSINS!!!!  How crazy, to find a connection in Mexico??  So this family that I found in mexico has cousins who live 3 houses down from my house in Utah.  :) SAY WHAT??!  We have a lesson with them in about 45 minutes.

One last thing... this morning I was studying in 1 Nephi 18, and a few verses kind of hit me.. first off

 11 And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did take me andbind me with cords, and they did treat me with much harshness; nevertheless, the Lord did suffer it that he might show forth his power, unto the fulfilling of his word which he had spokenconcerning the wicked.

I like this scripture a lot, because even though Nephi had trials (like we all have)  the Lord didn't stop his enemies from hurting him.. haha well, what I like is that we can learn that God has a purpose.  Every challenge and trial that we face in our lives is for our benefit, or 'to show forth his power'.    and then..

 12 And it came to pass that after they had bound me insomuch that I could not move, the compass, which had been prepared of the Lord, did cease to work.

What is our 'Liahona'?  Well, I think it is the Holy Ghost.  Our guide in life whenever we need direction, BUT if we are not worthy, are not obedient, and don't listen, our 'liahona' doesn't work.  God has prepared a way for us to receive guidance in our life, but if we don't not live the commandments, and do the things that he asks, the Holy Ghost cannot be with us.  

Sorry this week's letter was pretty random.. But that's how life is.. :)  Oh and fun fact, this morning when I was washing my clothes, I received about 23 mosquito bites on my right leg and about 13 on my left leg.  #GraciasAMexico  

Have a great week everyone!  :)

Love,

Hermana Zimmerman

 

 Happy Birthday!  We ate with a member, and they bought me a cake :) #BestWardEver

 'Mordida!'  Haha they told me to take a bite of the cake... so I did and my comp shoved my face in the cake... :)

 Birthday cake with the bishop and his family!! :)  They are the best family ever. (besides mine)

 

 Happy Birthday "Miranda style":D

Baptism of Hermano V!!!! The Bishop baptized him. :) :)

Mis niñas!  These little girls are also my favorite.. SOO cute!

 

week 27

Querido Todos,

So, this week was pretty busy, with interviews with our Mission President, then Stake Conference (my second one here in the mission) and the baptism of the Elders.  

In this transfer I think the biggest thing I am learning right now is patience, and diligence..  And treating every day as a blessing.  These past few weeks we haven't been having as much success as one would like.. but- it all depends on 1-how is the work we are doing as a missionaries and also 2-the personal agency of the people we teach.  

Real quick I'll share a lesson that we had.  One day this past week we were walking in one of the neighborhoods, and we started talking with a woman, she was carrying her baby and a big bag, so we stopped to help her to her house with the bag, and of course started talking to her about the Gospel.  As we were walking she hadn't really heard anything about the LDS church, and when we got to her house she invited us in, and offered us glasses of water.  So we asked if we could share a message with her, and she said of course.  So we started the lesson, and as time went on we were about to invite her to be baptized when her husband came home.. We explained who we were, a little bit more about baptism, and then invited them both to be baptized.  The husband said 'no.  I don't feel like I need to repent of anything I did in my past, I don't feel any repentance.'  and his wife said 'yes'!  So we tried to put a baptismal date and the wife wanted to accept, but she said she would talk with her husband.  haha darn those husbands.. no just kidding, but at the end the husband offered the final prayer, and I feel like he opened up a little bit more.  We have a meeting with them today, so I hope all goes well!

Something that I learned this week in my study, was about prayer.  There is a section in Preach My Gospel, in Chapter 4, that talks about 'Pray with Faith'.  I was reading it these past few days, and really was an eye-opener.  Although I say it a lot, and we all say it as missionaries, is that prayer is the communication that we have with our Heavenly Father.  And literally, because this is the communication that we have with him, we can in a way 'chat' with him.  Explain what happed in our day, our worries and our happy moments.  We can say anything we want!  We can also ask him for guidance in our lives- In the night we can give thanks for all that we have, and we can also ask for guidance for the next day.  Another part of PMG said 'ask, search, call'  or something like that.. in spanish it's 'PIDA, BUSQUE, LLAME'.   Basically this is how I would like to sum up prayer with a scripture in DyC 9:8

 8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I willcause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

1-PIDA-  This means ask.  Whenever we want an answer from God, and we need a little bit of direction in our lives, we first need to ask God in prayer what he would have us do.  BUT most of the time He can't just tell us directly in our minds. So, this leads me to...

2-BUSQUE-  Search.  Heavenly Father didn't give us the scriptures just so that we could read a story.  The scriptures including the Bible and the Book of Mormon are literally THE WORD OF GOD, and are for us to use!!  Sometimes we forget that we have the word of God in our hands.  So, first we start with a prayer, then we search for the answers in the scriptures, and what we need to know will come to us through what we study.  then..

3-LLAME-  I consider this point, another prayer.  We need to confirm our answers with God.  Because sometimes we want something in our lives, but God has something else in plan for us.  We need to 'call' on God to confirm our actions.

One last thing.. when I had my interview with my Mission President, the first thing he asked me was 'Hermana Zimmerman.  How is your relationship with our Heavenly Father?'  So, I would like to ask you all the same thing... How is your relationship with YOUR Heavenly Father?  Is there anything that you should be doing, or could do that could strengthen your relationship with Him? 

Have a great week everyone! :)

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Zimmerman   

Baptism of Hermana A.  Hermana Moncada and I contacted her, and the Elders taught her.. :)  But she is such a sweet lady!  Really cool actually-  one of the members of our ward one day was on the bus and gave her a Book of Mormon, so when Hermana Moncada and I talked with her a few weeks ago and introduced us she said 'Yes, I have a Book of Mormon, and am reading it..'  and literally is perfect!  Then we found out she lived in the area of the Elders.. but we met her on sunday in front of our neighborhood and went to church the following sunday.. and she was baptized this past friday :)

Sunday Dinner... ;)