Another Great Week in Kerrville!

Another marvelous week in Kerrville! 
Transfers came, and I get to stay here! I am so glad because Kerrville is so beautiful. The people are so kind, missionary work is starting to take off, and I am learning so much! 

Pat-

Technology is something that is fairly new to missionary work, and my mission has the ability to use Facebook. So we have been trying to come up with "outside the box" ideas in using Facebook with our investigators. So one day we were sitting outside making some calls and I had a thought that we should have a video chat with Pat. We both had never done this before, and a sister Taylor was hesitant, but we thought we would give it a try. So we did and it was amazing! It was an amazing success! She was on and we were able to talk to her about her experience praying to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet and if the Book of Mormon is true. She prayed and her doubts and fears went away and she knew it was true! It was amazing! Heavenly Father made it so that she would be on, we would have that idea, and we would have the means of talking to her over the internet! It was such a miracle, and it took place from our apartment in about 20 minutes.

Joe-

We had an appointment with a potential investigator so we knocked on his door but his wife said he wasn't home, and just previously all of our plans for the evening had fallen through. So we were left his house and got in the car. As we were sitting in the car, almost about to drive off we had the prompting to talk to this man across the street getting things out of his car. As we went up and began to talk to him he said, "Oh I know your church, I was a member when I was 15." What!? He was another member that had been lost and we were the ones to find him and show him that God is reaching out to him.

I think it is so amazing that God reaches out to His children through us, as missionaries and normal people alike. He tells us to go and talk to someone, or make some cookies and give them to others, or just say hello. Isn't it so magnificent to be a part of the plan God has for His children? We are able to help all those around us.

I want to end this week with a scripture in 2 Timothy 1:7-9

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began

 Hermana Zimmerman

Beautify the Garden

We went out on a buggy ride with a member, Sister Reed. It was so fun! We saw horses, ducks, played with their dog, and enjoyed the beautiful view accompanied by the breeze. It was so peaceful.

I am just amazed at how beautiful the Earth is and guess what? God made it for you! The trees, mountains, fields, rivers, oceans, forests, are all for you to enjoy. It's like a canvas that God painted on for us. He has given you everything and He only asks that you try your very best to follow Him and do as He asks. It's just amazing to me. Every day I see how Heavenly Father is blessing me by giving me all of the people around me, the experiences every day, and the opportunity to see His hand in my life and the lives of others. What a blessing! 

I have found that God has placed us, just like the mountains, trees, and rivers, just where we need to be. He has given us the opportunity to beautify the garden where we are. We do this by trying our very best to help our family members, friends, and members of our community. We go out of our way to help others, we try our best to be our best, and we follow what God wants for us. By doing this we beautify our spot in the garden, pulling the weeds and replacing them with flowers.

I hope you all have a fantastic week! Try to see Gods hand around you this week. Take one minute to step outside and just take it all in. Enjoy it! Think about why God placed you where you are, and choose to take part in beautifying the garden!

Hermana Zimmerman

1. Our "garden"

2.  Kerrville

3. A beautiful night by the bridge

4-10 the buggy ride

We Are But Tools In His Hands

Me with President & Sis. Polley 

Another amazing week in Kerrville! We have seen so many miracles and blessings this week! None of this has been out of our own work, but the ability for God to use us as tools in His hands to bless His children. It's a beautiful opportunity to see how Heavenly Father is using us to bless, teach, and help others.

Jennifer and Children-

We went over to Jennifer's house to just check up and see how she was doing and when we walked in we saw that she was watching a lot of her grandchildren. We talked for a bit but the kids wanted to watch a video. So we opened to the Bible video where Christ heals the man waiting at the edge of the Pool of Bethesda. As we shared the video I was explaining to one of the boys what was going on. I said, "That man's legs don't work, he can't walk. Jesus is healing that man. He's making that man's legs work. Look! He can walk now." When I said those simple words, explaining the story, my eyes filled with tears. Jesus really did heal that man and He has the power to heal me of all of my sicknesses and weaknesses too. It was a powerful manifestation of the truth to me, that Jesus lives and loves me and has the power to heal all.

Joe and Horacio-

We were driving to go and see someone named Cynthia who had been interested in our message in the past when we missed the turn to the house. We went all the way up the hill and had to churn around to try and find the house number. On our way down we saw these 2 men outside talking and so we thought we would stop and ask where the house was. When we got talking to them Joe said that Cynthia was not only his wife, but he had been baptized! He hadn't gone to church in 29 years and his record had been lost and He wanted to come back to church! It was truly amazing. As we got to talking more with them Joe's friend Horacio started asking questions and seemed very interested in our message! It was such a miracle-filled night! It really showed me that to God, no sheep is ever lost. Joe's records may have been lost to the church, but God knew where he lived and what he needed and sent us there to bring him back home.

Pat-

So I am a fairly new missionary and have been learning a lot by watching what my trainer does and trying it out myself. So we were at Pat's house teaching her a lesson and it began to get sidetracked by stories and Sister Taylor and I didn't really know what to say so I just listened. As I was sitting there listening I just opened up my mouth and the words just flowed. The Spirit was telling me all that I should say and eventually, the Spirit filled the room and I was able to bear firm testimony of baptism, faith leads to action, and our purpose as missionaries. It was so wonderful to be used by Heavenly Father to say what He needed me to say and what Pat needed to hear from Him.

We are but tools in His hands to help others. As we open ourselves by our obedience to being used, He will pick us up and use us to help others amidst their trials and sorrow.

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Breaking News: 

We had a popped tire! We were riding on this beautiful bike ride on preparation day and 3 miles in Sister Taylor's bike tube popped and so we had a long scenic walk back to our apartment. Along the way, we knocked on some doors for a pump (because we didn't know if it was popped or just flat) and we met a really nice man named Rusty and He was so kind to get out his electric pump and pump it up to find that it was totally shot. We told him we were missionaries and that we were on our preparation day. He wasn't super interested, but we planted a seed! That popped tire and a 3 mile walk happened just for him. God needed him to see us and talk with us for some reason I don't see now, but God knows why.

-Hermana Zimmerman 

More of the Big Blue Texas sky

Me and my mission president and his wife (President and Sister Polley)

P.S. sorry for all of the sky pictures, but it's just so beautiful to me and you can no never get too much sky ya know?

Your Box and the Savior

Another great week in Texas!

Sonny-

He is one of our investigators that we have been teaching for a while but has been working and couldn't go to church, but HE CAME TO CHURCH! It was so exciting! He came at the end and got to meet a lot of people in the ward. He loved it and is planning on getting baptized on November 4th. I am so excited for him. He has been working so hard to be able to be baptized on that date.

Judy- 

About 2 weeks ago I was working in Kerrville with a sister that had just come into the mission with me 2 weeks ago. We didn't really know what else we were doing all evening, but we found Judy. Judy has a 20-year-old son that is disabled. She has cared for him for a long time and has taught him sign language so they can communicate and she has been a great mother to him. Well, we went back to teach her and her son the Plan of Salvation. When we taught her about how her son would have a perfected body and would be able to speak after he died, tears filled her eyes and at that moment when I taught that principle, I knew it was true. I got chills on my body and it affirmed to me that what I was teaching is true. 

..................

I was talking to my trainer and she said that she was talking to another sister (she has really bad anxiety and went home for 9 months and then came back) and she said that every night she gets on her knees and puts all of her concerns and fears and anger and sadness and heartache in a  box and gives it to the Savior. She lets Him have it. Through Christ's Atonement, we really can do that. You can give all of the things you worry about and give them to the Savior and He will take them away and ease the burden. I have seen that this week. I have been noticing the many things that I need to improve and it seems overwhelming sometimes, but the Savior will help me through and will do the same to you.

Have a fantastic week!

-Hermana Zimmerman 

A praying mantis we found by our apartment

My Zone

Me and My Companion

The Beautiful Texas Sky!

Me and My Companion!

The Power of the Book of Mormon

This week I had an amazing experience with a recent convert named Emma. She is such an amazing woman! She works hard and is so sweet and humble. Hermana Taylor and I went to go to see how she was doing and as we were talking to her she said that she was having trouble reading the scriptures but had a great desire to know what was in them. We had her get her phone and we downloaded the scriptures on her phone so she could listen to them rather than read them. Once it was downloaded, we started the scriptures in 1 Nephi. When we pressed play, she began to weep. She was overcome with joy that she would be able to listen to the scriptures and hear the word of God. It was an amazing experience and testified to me that the Book of Mormon really does have the power to bring happiness to our lives and fill us with lasting joy. 

I wondered to myself if I really cherished the Book of Mormon as much as I should. It is a book with great power that can only be found and used as we read it. When we read from its pages and pray to God, we can find all the peace we seek. If you haven't read the Book of Mormon, please do. All of the holes in your life will be filled and I promise that you will find greater peace and know the truth. And if you have already read it, read it again! The insights and power and strength that comes from the book is unparalleled. 

Have a great week!

-Hermana Zimmerman

Welcome to Texas Everybody!- September 20th 2017

On September 19th, there was an 8.2 earth quack in Mexico city.  Elyssa had finished eating and was helping in the kitchen when the earthquake occurred.  She said the building shook violently and was the craziest thing she has experienced.  We were so grateful she was protected.  That evening the airport was closed due to the earthquake and all of the missionaries that were to arrive were rerouted to the Provo MTC.  Ellyssa was concerned that she would not be able to fly out in the morning the following day but to her surprise, they ended up opening the airport and she arrived safely in San Antonio Texas.  Her new address is ...

Hermana Zimmerman
1350 Bandera Highway Unit #0715
Kerrville, Texas 78028

Welcome to Texas, Everybody! 

Wow, it has been a week! I flew from Mexico to Texas and was warmly greeted by the mission president and his wife. The Polley's are amazing people. They are both so peaceful and very very obedient. I know that this is one of the many reasons I was sent here to San Antonio was to be one of their missionaries. They are such great examples of the Savior to me.

So, cool story! I got to the building where the missionaries all convene and met my trainer Hermana Taylor, and together we are serving in the Kerrville, Texas area. She is super nice and I'm excited to learn from her. She is an AMAZING photographer and is beautiful. 

So we met and went to go and get my luggage, but it had been sent to Austin, Texas rather than staying in San Antonio! So we waited together and got to know each other. Well later that night we were talking and she said that President Polley was going to send me to Austin with a different trainer, but last minute he swapped me to be with Sister Taylor in Kerrville and that's why my luggage went the wrong direction. How amazing! It was definitely divine revelation to have that switch and I'm excited to see what happens here in Kerrville. Also, another cool side story, there haven't been Sisters in Kerrville for about 7 years and I am the 3rd Sister to serve here since they put sisters in about 6 weeks ago! Kerrville is an all English area, so not many opportunities to speak Spanish, but I'm practicing. So super exciting though! Kerrville is a retirement area so it is full of "seasoned" people and it has been so cute to be around them, they truly spice up life.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-062-jesus-heals-a-lame-man-on-the-sabbath?lang=eng (2 min. 30 sec.)

This link is to an amazing video about Jesus healing a man that is waiting by the Pool of Bethezda. Watch the video and then read the rest of the email.

This pool was said to heal the first man that entered when the pool was troubled by an angel. But the man in the video had no one to help him in when the water moved. He was always too slow to make it in first and was never healed,  ut patiently waited. I love this because the Savior knew that the man didn't need the pool to heal him, he only needed faith and that He himself, the Savior, could heal him through the priesthood. I think that this is similar to us sometimes. We think we need other people or material things to "heal" us, but in reality, we only need the Savior and His love, and His power. He can help us when we feel lost. He can help us when we feel sad. We need to come to Him and receive the peace that He freely gives to those who have faith. I know that he can heal us without having to put us in the pool. He is to pool of healing. 

-Hermana Zimmerman

Pictures:

1. Me with a baby kitten that was at a members house.

2. The big Texas sky

3. Me and my trainer Sister Taylor

4. Me and Sister Hopkins playing a church hymn mas-up together

5. A beautiful Texas sunset