The Plan of Salvation

I can honestly say that this week has been the hardest week of my mission, but yet the most rewarding. The Lord has taught me so much. I know He is there. I know His Plan of Salvation is real. I know that the Gospel is the only way to real happiness. I know that without a doubt. 

My first area in the mission was Kerrville, TX and the first baptism I had was Sonny Galindo. I had the blessing and opportunity to teach him from the very beginning of his journey with the missionaries. Well on Tuesday the sisters in Kerrville called me and told me that he had just passed away. When I heard the news I didn't know what to think. Sonny really had a big place in my heart. So many memories of my mission were connected to him, his dog, the lessons we had outside his house, his kindness, and his heart. He was so kind and was always so willing to help us and listen to us. This hit me really hard, but right when I heard the news, I got down on my knees to pray. I had to know that that Plan of Salvation that I had been teaching for 16 months was true. Right after my prayer I didn't feel a rush of peace or anything grand, but just a quiet feeling that everything would be okay. It was a beautiful to know that God was there watching over me and He cared about me. 

This transfer Sister Hill and I were assigned to be Sister Training Leaders and a lot of the responsibilities have been a lot for us to handle, but God has been there every step of the way. I don't know how to explain it, but I just know that God cares, He has been giving us feelings of peace and joy time and time again, even when everything seems to be going wrong. I have never worked as hard or been as busy in all of my mission but there have been so many miracles and blessings. 

I want you all to know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the church with everything we need to feel constant peace, lasting happiness, and a life full of purpose. I love you all so much and I hope you have an amazing week!

With all the love I have,

Hermana Zimmerman

Pictures: 

Sonny at the temple 

Sonny's Baptism

Pictures from Riverside a couple weeks ago before transfers

Exchange with Sister Casperson

Room for Jesus

So Sister Hill and I were having a really hard day so as we were eating dinner in our apartment we decided together to listen to the conference talk from the Women's Session called, "Divine Discontent". We had been feeling really overwhelmed and inadequate so as we were listening we were looking for so type of relief from these feelings. After the talk was over we went to the couch and talked about what stuck out to us and what we felt. We both came to the conclusion that we needed more faith. We needed to make more room for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in all we were doing and have faith that they could do more than we could do alone. So we both said an individual prayer and we were out the door. 

Flash back to a week earlier, Sister Hill had a thought to stop by this man named Leonardo she had met about 3 months ago, but we didn't have the time in the moment so we wrote his name down and said we would go by later. So as we were planning this Sunday we felt like we should go and visit him. 

Flash forward to Sunday evening we go to their front door and they let us right in. Her brother is a member and they had been greatly impacted by his influence and his experience with the Gospel. They had just said goodbye to their church yesterday, and they said they would be coming to church. It was just amazing! We had been having a challenging day, we made room for Christ, and he made a miracle. Amazing!

Then we got into the car, and the Spirit brought these verses in the Book of Mormon to my mind, (Mosiah 24:12-16)

"12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage."

God gave us this experience so that we could be personal witnesses that He does come to us when things are hard, and we feel like we are overwhelmed, his arm is always reaching out to us.

As of today we have less than a month for Christmas, I want to invite you all to make more room for Jesus in your life. Let him in to your conversations (like the prophet invited the women of the church to do), your your job, your friendships, your service, your music, your schooling, your family, and your heart. He is the only one who can really help us in hard times.

Con mucho amor 

Hermana Zimmerman

P.S. Sorry again for pictures. We have been going from place to place, lesson to lesson and we haven't had time to take pictures. But... I will repent and take more pictures this week, promise

President Nelson and Adams Hill

So this week President Nelson, Elder Bednar, Elder Ochoa, and all their wives came to San Antonio! Their messages were very beautiful and enlightening. 

The prophet spoke about the song, "It Is Well with My Soul" and shared how we all have many trials in our lives, but we can find peace amidst these hard times. He shared a story of the many who wrote "It Is Well with My Soul". He said the man had some hard economic time and so he thought it would be good to send his wife and 4 daughters to England and then he would follow after he did some pressing business, but as his family was crossing the Atlantic Ocean the ship sunk and only his wife was saved. As he sailed to go and meet his wife he wrote the lyrics to the song. I don't have the words but you should definitely look it up!

Then... Sister Nelson talked about what it has been like in their house since President Nelson was called to be a prophet. She talked about how at night she gets impressions to leave the room and so she does and when she comes back he has pages of notes written down. Something's during the night he slips out and goes to the closet to receive revelation and again come out with pages of notes. It was so interesting to hear her accounts. The Spirit was so strong and everyone just sat in awe about how President Nelson truly is the prophet!

Sister Bednar talked about 5 things she learned in Texas which was really fun! On things she said was that one day the Stake President called them in and asked them to help donate to the temple fund to build the Dallas temple. She said that they were struggling students and that the amount they were asked to pay was more than she thought they could do, but they said yes, and as they struggled even more, after the temple was finished she went inside the Dallas temple and she was so grateful. She knew that her contribution maybe helped to pay for a piece of trim or a door hinge. She said that when we sacrifice we have more love.

Elder Bednar talked about being "All in". What's funny is that in the Purpose Statement for our mission at the recovery end it says, "Every Sister every Elder, All in". But he talked about being all in in the gospel. He talked about how we should sacrifice all we have to serve the Lord.

Elder and Sister Ochoa talked about the Book of Mormon and how important it is to have a deep testimony of it. They also talked about humbling ourselves and seeing the blessings all around us every day. He referenced the song, "Because I Have Been Given Much" and talked about how we need to give back to others because God has given us so much.

It was so wonderful to hear from the Prophet and other leaders of our church. I am so grateful to be a member of this beautiful church that gives us all we need to have peace in this life. I am so grateful that we have a prophet and that he teaches us all we need to know to guide us through life. 

I hope you have an amazing week and a happy Thanksgiving!

Hermana Zimmerman 

P.S. sorry I have 0 pictures this week!

It Is Well with My Soul

Audrey Assad

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul

It is well
With my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

Songwriters: P P. Bliss / Gloria Roe

It Is Well with My Soul lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

November 5th, Our Way, Our Life, The Light

We were at a members house having a Family Home Evening with the Hernandez Family and Carolina, the daughter that just returned from her mission, shared a really great thought I wanted to share with you all.

Most of us are familiar with the Book of Mormon story about the Brother of Jared. The Lord needs them to sail across the sea, so the Brother of Jared builds 8 barges, has an amazing and revelatory experience with the Lord, and is able to make is across the sea because of the help the Lord provided and the work put forth by the Brother of Jared. This story also shows us the nature of God. 

One of the first things is shows us is that the Lord will provide a way. In Ether 2:24 it says, "For behold, ye shall be as a whale in the midst of the sea; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you. Nevertheless, I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea; for the winds have gone forth out of my mouth, and also the rains and the floods have I sent forth." The Lord said He would guide the Brother of Jared and his family to the promised land, and He did. He has promised that He will do the same for you. He will guide you across your ocean of sadness or fear or anger or depression. He will safely guide you through the winds and the waves because "the winds have gone forth out of [His] mouth." 

The Lord also has given us life. In this story the Brother of Jared asks about how they will have air and, "the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt make a hole in the top, and also in the bottom; and when thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and receive air. And if it be so that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the hole, that ye may not perish in the flood. And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did so, according as the Lord had commanded." (Ether 2:20-21) The Lord freely gave the Brother of Jared and his family the air they needed to live. He continually gives us life every day to grow and learn and to progress, what a blessing is that!  

But every day we must search for and diligently work for The Light.

"1 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared, (now the number of the vessels which had been prepared was eight) went forth unto the mount, which they called the mount Shelem, because of its exceeding height, and did molten out of a rock sixteen small stones; and they were white and clear, even as transparent glass; and he did carry them in his hands upon the top of the mount, and cried again unto the Lord.

4 And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.

6 And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear." (Ether 3:1,4,6)

The Light (capital "L"), or our Savior Jesus Christ, is something we cannot go without. We cannot expect to go alone through life happily without the Savior. WE must search for Him daily. We must prepare our stones by meaningful prayer, diligent scripture study, weekly and worthy Sacrament participation, and frequent temple attendance to obtain a frequent source of Light.

What will you do to have more Light in your life?

How can you bring that Light to others this week?

With Much Love,

Hermana Zimmerman

Pictures from ME!

Sorry, I didn't leave enough time to write a group email. This week I am just going to send some pictures

+ Swimming, Snorkeling, Scuba diving: this week Sister Durán and I did a training at Zone Conference about studying the scriptures deeply (scuba diving)

+ the white van: a new way to dry your towels

+Pumpkin Carving: the Longhorn one was mine and the Texas eyes was Sister Duran's

+at the ward trunk or treat, a cute baby in our ward named Dara dressed up as Raggedy Anne

+Some rocking chairs a cute man made for us

Abigail's Baptism

This week Abigail got baptized! She was so excited! She also looked like a princess in her white dress her grandma got for her. The baptism was not the most flawless baptism I have ever been to, but the Spirit was powerfully there to confirm to us each of us that this was the right step for Abigail to take. It was beautiful. After the baptism was over we realized that they hadn't had a chance to drain the font, so we decided to go on an adventure. We took off our shoes, and ventured into the font. When I took off my cardigan my magnetic name tag flew off and fell into the water! so we had to rescue my name tag and pull the plug to the font.

I went on exchanges with Sister Bingham and we got to eat dinner with the sweetest German lady who had the most beautiful German accent. She made us Minestrone soup and was just so happy and sweet. It really reminded me of my Great-Grandma that was from Germany. I never got to meet her, but I have heard some beautiful stories about her. It warmed my heart.

I hope you all have a great week! Always remember that Heavenly Father loves you and has given us a plan to make it back to Him. He is there listening to you and loves you. He is aware of you.

Hermana Zimmerman

P.S. Here is the link to a really cute, new video the church released

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2018-01-0120-songs-sung-and-unsung?lang=eng

Photos!

-The baptism (Abigail and her family, Abigail and the kids from the Primary that came to support her)

 

 

-A cute little girl named Lisa we met (with my name tag) 

-One of the "wiser" men in our ward makes rocking chairs and said he's going to make one for Sister Duran and I!

-Sister Duran and her box of candy from her family