!?. August 6th 2018

The title is a little funky, but it has a deeper meaning. This week we got to go to a baptism of 2 other men in another ward and we brought some of the people we are teaching with us. During The baptism the ward mission leader gave a talk about the Holy Ghost and he used this analogy, he said, "There are 3 different voices on your head Satan, your own voice, and the voice of the Spirit. Satan is like an exclamation mark. With Satan he says, 'It's a only 1 time! Go back to bed! You can do it later! They'll think your weird!, and other sentences like that. Then there's a your own voice. Your own voice is like a question mark. You say, 'Should I really do that? Why me? Why is this so hard? Is this really really true? How is God going to help me?'. And the Spirit is like a period. He says 'Pray. Study your scriptures. Go to church. Pick up that paper. Bring an umbrella. Stay home. Share that.', and many more things." 

When he said that, I just sat there listening. I had never thought of it that way before. And honestly that's what it's like sometimes for me. I have noticed over time, for me, that the promptings of the Spirit are quiet thoughts to my mind, and subtle feelings in my heart. That's how I have come to know the Spirit's voice.

What does that voice sound like for you?

Here are 3 links to 3 of my favorite videos. It is a sequence that talks about the way we receive direction from God. I want to invite you to take about 10 minutes to watch these videos and then watch how the Spirit is spwaking to you, and I promise that you'll come to know over time that He speaks to you and is guiding you more than you realize.

Part 1: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-010-patterns-of-light-the-light-of-christ?lang=eng

Part 2: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-011-patterns-of-light-discerning-light?lang=eng

Part 3: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-012-patterns-of-light-spirit-of-revelation?lang=eng

"Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.

Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will 'grow into the principle of revelation.'"

-President Nelson

Hermana Zimmerman 

P.S. let me know if the links don't work!

P.P.S.- Thank you all so much for the Birthday wishes this week!

Pictures:

1-3. Sister Durán y yo

5. The Andreason family surprised me after church! It was the nicest thing! I was just going about my missionary business and BAM! There they were! Such a good birthday surprise!

4. Gordough's Doughnuts!

6. Bad quality photo of me opening birthday gifts!

July 30th 2018 Choose The Right!

Today we went to the Capitol building and it was so fun! We got a fun tour from one of the members who pretty much knows everything about Austin and we just had so much fun!

This week has been a good one. We are still trying to get a hold of the area and I am still learning Spanish. It's one things to study, but speaking requires a lot of practice, quick thinking, and relying on the Spirit especially when you are teaching a lesson to someone. But it is just a great big learning experience! Also, our investigator Eva had her baby! Her baby is the cutest little thing!

As I was studying this week I came upon this quote:

"God will facilitate, but He will not force.

Righteous desires need to be relentless, therefore, because, said President Brigham Young, 'the men and women, who desire to obtain seats in the celestial kingdom, will find that they must battle every day'".

I like this. God is going to allow us every possible way to choose the right, but in the end it is up to us. He is not going to force us to live with Him again, but He will give us all the chances we need to do it. Agency is so important! We are always free to choose.

Choose the Right!

Hermana Zimmerman 

July 23rd, 2018- Spanish, Rocks, and the Book of Mormon

Wow! What a crazy 2 weeks! 

This is the first time I have really spoke Spanish on my missions. Almost 1 year in and I am just now speaking Spanish! It's been fun for sure. Speaking another language is quite a challenge... buy it's okay I am learning so much.

Also, I only have a couple more chapters until I finish the Book of Mormon! So I am learning a lot.

2 things I am learning:

1. God prepares the way-

Moroni says in Mormon 9:32-34,

"32 And now, behold, we have written this record according to our knowledge, in the characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of speech.

33 And if our plates had been sufficiently large we should have written in Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by us also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no imperfection in our record.

34 But the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and also that none other people knoweth our language; and because that none other people knoweth our language, therefore he hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof."

If I could have chosen, I would have chosen to speak English so there would have been "no imperfection" in my teaching (well I'm not perfect ;) but you know what I mean). When I speak Spanish it's broken, but it's my best. But... the Lord has "prepared means for the interpretation thereof". Through the Spirit, the feelings of my heart and the general message can be delivered into their hearts.

2. I can only give my best-

In Ether 2 and 3 it talks about the Brother of Jared and how he is building barges so him and his family can sail across the ocean. We'll, the Brother of Jared needs light so he can see (something very important). We'll in Ether 3:1 it says, 

"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..."

He needed light so he made some clear rocks... The Brother of Jared made some rocks... That's how I feel about my Spanish and sometimes my mission. I do my best and it only amounts yo come clear rocks. But, in Ether 3:4 he says, 

"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."

The Brother of Jared had faith that God could give them light. So in verse 6 it says that, "the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger..." and the stones were given light! The Lord made the stones better than they were before, he made them shine! That's how I feel about my Spanish and my mission, I give my best, which actually turn out to be stones, but He makes them even better. He uses them to bring light to others, even when I don't see it most of the time.

I hope you all have a great week!

⛰Hermana Zimmerman

P.s. Amelia (McBee) Henriksen and Miranda Andreason both live in my area! Cool hugh!?