Daily Bread

I was watching some videos on the LDS Media Library for our investigators and I came across these videos again by Elder Christofferson that I really loved. They taught me some perspective altering lessons. Before you watch these videos think of something that you are currently going through, some weakness you are trying your best to strengthen. Once you have that in mind watch the videos and then come back and read the rest of the email. The videos take all of 9 minutes and 5 seconds 

1. Daily Bread: Pattern (https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-08-012-daily-bread-pattern?lang=eng)

2. Daily Bread: Experience (https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-08-013-daily-bread-experience?lang=eng)

3.Daily Bread: Change (https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-08-014-daily-bread-change?lang=eng)

I love these videos because it shows us our true relationship with the Lord in all phases of our life. In the Addiction Recovery Program Booklet, it says, "often we do not connect our personal struggles with our need for God’s power in our lives." Our personal weaknesses and struggles have a direct correlation to receiving God's help in our lives. He has given us these struggles really as opportunities to turn to Him and receive help. There is only so much we can do for ourselves before we realize that we needed God all along. We need to find Him DAY BY DAY in our struggles and in the good times. I really love in the last video how it says, "Just as I learned not to expect immediate deliverance from a problem, He's also saying, 'I am patient with your progress. I'll just help you along day by day' and all of that does add up to a truly dramatic change, an eternal difference." We need Him. We won't be delivered or saved from our problems immediately, but as we look and ask for Christ's help, we can be given his strength to overcome with time. I love this! I love the Gospel! It is only here to help us. I know that God loves us and wants the best for us. I know that God lives and is there for us. I love my family, and I love the Lord.

🤠Hermana Zimmerman

1. Some hot chocolate Hermana Thompson's dad sent us (he had a tradition on his mission to drink hot chocolate with all of his companions during personal or companionship study. Let's just say it's a good tradition)

2. Picture from last week: Raquel and some Valentine's decorations we made for her.

3. Picture from last week: Girls CTR club

4. Hermana Thompson and 

5. Picture from last week: Valentine's Day cookies

6. Picture from last week: Boys CTR club

Stars

This week was amazing! The sun is shining, there is warm weather (80° every day), and the work is moving forward! We are working with a lot of people right now and we are trying to help them find the truth. 

I read this story this week and just loved it! The lesson inside was just perfect for me at this time of my life and my mission. I hope you can glean something tailored to you.

"I learned the importance of real intent when I was a young seminary student. Our teacher challenged us to read the Book of Mormon. To keep track of our progress, he created a chart with our names down one side and the books listed across the top. Each time we read a book, a star was placed by our name. At first, I didn’t put much effort into reading, and it wasn’t long before I found myself getting further and further behind. Spurred by a sense of embarrassment and my innate competitive spirit, I started reading. Every time I got a star, I felt good. And the more stars  I got, the more motivated I was to read—between classes, after school, in every spare minute.

This would be a great story if I could tell you I finished first in the class—but I didn’t. (I wasn’t last either, by the way.) But do you know what I did get by reading the Book of Mormon? I know you are thinking “a testimony,” aren’t you? But I didn’t. I got stars. I got stars because that was why I was reading. That was my real intent.

Moroni was clear when he described how to find out if the Book of Mormon is true: “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 10:4; emphasis added).

Looking back, I can see that the Lord was totally fair with me. Why should I have expected to find anything other than what I was looking for? I never really stopped and asked myself why I was reading the Book of Mormon. I was drifting, letting worldly motivations guide me, only to find out that I had read the right book for the wrong reason. Real intent, is doing the right thing for the right reason.

It wasn’t until years later when I was struggling to decide whether or not to go on a mission, that I read the Book of Mormon with real intent. If I was going to spend two years bearing testimony of the book, I first needed to have a testimony.

I know that the Book of Mormon fulfills its divine purpose of testifying of the life and mission of Jesus Christ because I have read it with real intent." (Living with Purpose: The Importance of “Real Intent", Randall L. Ridd, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults, January 11, 2015, Brigham Young University–Idaho)

What are you looking for?

As I read this talk I thought about why I am even on a mission. Did I do the right thing for the wrong reason? Did I go because it was just the "right thing to do"? Or was it because everyone else was doing it? Was it because I wanted to speak Spanish an show off my language skills? Or was it because I really wanted to serve the Lord? When our intent is genuine, and we do the RIGHT thing for the RIGHT reason we gain a lot more knowledge and blessings from Heavenly Father than we even deserve. 

But, sometimes we find ourselves doing the RIGHT for the WRONG reason. Some examples are reading our scriptures to check it off the list, saying our prayers just to say them, blessing our food just to talk over our food, going to church just because our parents want is to, etc. There are millions of examples. But, sadly, those kinds of desires and motives will only get us so far. We cannot go forward in life and expect to gain a deep and lasting testimony. Motives like that cause people to go less active and inactive. We have to do the RIGHT thing for the RIGHT reason.When we read the scriptures we need to really study them, think about what they are saying, apply them to our own lives and share them with others. When we pray we need to really talk to God, really thank Him for things you are grateful for right then and there, and not say things we don't mean. When we go to church we need to really think about the covenants we are renewing and not just go for friends and socializing. Like it says in Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Hermana Zimmerman

1. Valentine's Cookies!

2. The CTR boys club 

3. Raquel! We got to decorate her room 

4. The CTR girls club 

On Being Better

We got a weekly email from our mission president and I thought his words were very fitting and relate to a lot of what I am thinking about right now. He said,

" A lot of missionaries have been asking me, 'What can I do to be a better missionary?'
A thought came to mind. What if instead of asking me, those missionaries had the opportunity to travel to Salt Lake City to meet with the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve? Imagine being in a room with those we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators able to ask the same question. 
What do you imagine they would say? 
What would they suggest that you do to be the best missionary possible? 
May I suggest that you already know how they would answer that question. They are trying their best to answer that question for all missionaries. It is not feasible to do it individually for each missionary, but they are striving to share the wealth of their experience with all missionaries collectively. 
In what ways do they do that? 
What materials or means of communications do they use? 
How much do we value their guidance? How fully do we apply their advice?
Now let us imagine that we could have a private audience with the Savior himself and ask the same question! What guidance do you think the Lord of the Vineyard would give? 
Can we expect Him to guide us in His work? 
'And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.' (D&C 84:88)
'And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their might; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.' (Jacob 5:72)"

I love this thought! Maybe sometimes you ask, "What can I do to be a better mother or father?" or "What can I do to be a better friend?" or "What can I do to be a better student?" or "What can I do to be a better member of the church?". The gospel has all the answers! There is no need to search anywhere else! 

"True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior." -Boyd K. Packer

Study the gospel to find your answers! The Savior's chosen servants will guide you and tell you the way and give you the answers you seek. 

Do you value the words or the prophets and apostles? 

Have you truly applied in your life the things that were taught last October?

Our leaders give us inspired words that will change us ONLY IF we choose to apply them in our lives. They have given us the map. We just need to use it.

Hermana Zimmerman

P.S. one of our recent convert Kris Poff named her new lambs after the missionaries who taught her, so.... I have a lamb named Zimm that is 2 weeks old!!!

P.S.S we biked this week, it was fund but interesting in a skirt...

1. A sign coming into a nearby city

2. Us showing a video to come cute boys. We have a standing appointment at the picnic table on Saturday at 7pm :)

3. Cookie we made for a sick investigator

4. Us biking because we don't have too many miles this month

5. Really great Mexican food from Miguelitos

1. Kathy, our investigator with new baby kittens! Her cat had babies this week!

2. Kris feeding root beer to her donkey named Tuff

3. Me with the lamb named Zimm!

4. Me with the lamb named Hale

Priesthood Blessing Miracles!

I don't have too much time this week but I do have a miracle!

We have an investigator named José who is the dad of all the daughters below in the pictures. All of his daughters and His wife are members but he was not baptized with them because he was in prison at the time. So this week his wife got sick and she hurt her ankle so we went with the Branch President and gave her a blessing. José watched and after the blessing, he was all teary and just sat and was so grateful. It was so beautiful to see how touching that blessing was for him. We then told him that he could have that same power from God to bless his own family and he was so excited and is working towards baptism! It was just so beautiful to see God's power in action! Really it is just amazing!

See ya later alligator!

Hermana Zimmerman

1. Arrabella with my huge bag!

2.  Hermana Thompson and Isabel's daughters

3.  A beautiful 70° evening with an equally beautiful sunset

4. Homemade hot chocolate!

5.  THE BORDER! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that is Mexico right there!