I looked back at my last email and it was 43 days ago. The time has been flying here and there is so much that has happened and I don't have too many pictures from all of those days. But it has been beautiful seeing the Lord's hand in all that is going on. There have been ups and downs, Christmas has come and gone, a new year has begun, I've gotten a new companion (Sister Mugleston), and things have been so busy here. I have never felt so tired in all of my life, but all for a good cause. I would never trade it for anything.
I would like to share some thoughts from my scripture studies lately.
I have been trying to use the Come Follow Me manual and it has been so wonderful, such an inspired way of learning in the church. There was a part last week that stuck out to me it says,
"For whatever reasons, God’s timing meant that the blessing Elisabeth and Zacharias desired, to have a child, came much later than they expected. If you find yourself having to wait for a blessing, or if it seems that God isn’t hearing your prayers, the story of Elisabeth and Zacharias can be a reminder that He hasn’t forgotten you. He has a plan for you, and He always keeps His promises to His righteous Saints. As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland promised, “Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come”
Then there are 3 very beautiful questions:
How did Zacharias and Elisabeth remain faithful?
Do you find yourself waiting for a blessing?
What do you feel the Lord expects of you while you wait?
I love these questions! What is the Lord trying to teach us while we wait? We are all waiting for something and if we search for potential lessons we can learn, we will be able to go through our trials with happiness. President Nelson in his talks "Joy and Spiritual Survival" says.
When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation, which President Thomas S. Monson just taught us, and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy. We feel it at Christmastime when we sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.”9 And we can feel it all year round. For Latter-day Saints, Jesus Christ is joy!"
I want to testify that Jesus Christ is joy! When we are willing to wait for blessings or things to happen in our lives, we can be joyful. We can fill our lives with light and lasting peace that comes from The Godhead. I want to testify that the tools God has given us to find that joy are the scriptures, specifically the Book of Mormon, specific prayers from the heart, the ability to attend church and partake of the sacrament, a prophet to guide us "to the most fertile parts" (1 Nephi 16:16) of our lives, the priesthood authority to perform the ordinances so we can make covenants and return to live with our Heavenly Father, and temples to continue the covenant making process. I love this Gospel that Jesus Christ simply taught us. This Gospel brings me joy that I cannot fully express, joy that lasts.
I love all of you and hope that your week is marvelous!
Hermana Zimmerman
1. Sister Hill and I in the car
2. Sister Hill and I in the car again driving to Carrizo for an exchange
3. Jose went to the temple and did baptisms for the first time!!
4. Pants (with Sister Mugleston)!!
5. Last picture with Sister Duran
6. Me with a Tamarindo stick (this has become my new favorite Mexican candy!!)
7. Sister Casperson and I!
8. MLC picture
9. Sister Hill and I parting ways :(
10. Fun birds at the aquarium!
11. Sister Hill and her Tamarindo stick
12. us picking our own oranges!
13. The fun Christmas snowflake stickers we used to make our apartment a winter wonderland
14. Sister Felsted and I on an exchange in Carrizo
15. Sister Mugleston touching an alpaca!
