Week 75

Hello Everyone!

Well, this week was pretty good and started off pretty busy!!  Monday evening and last night we were able to have some good Family Home Evening lessons with Mel, and that was exciting!  We hope to help him progress, he truly is such an amazing person!  Then on Tuesday I had the chance to go on an exchange with Sister Martinez and it was really fun!!  We got to do service in the morning, and that was fun as usual!  Then we had a really cool lesson that evening with a new investigator that they have in their YSA ward and he is so prepared!  It was really cool to be a part of that lesson.  Then on Wednesday we were able to to see a less-active that was in one of my old wards, but we never got to have a lesson with her before she moved over into one of my new wards!  I still think it's weird how I've followed some of these people over from my old area!  Anyway, she is a really sweet sister and we hope to help her to become active again!  Then we saw Jesse and Jessica, and we love them so much!!  They are less-active, and we were going to go over the lessons again with them, but we ended up talking about the Plan of Salvation which I just LOVE teaching!!  It was really cool and he told us that it really helped to solidify his testimony of the Plan of Salvation!! :)  Then on Thursday we were able to see Brent again and it was a really cool lesson!  We had been trying to see him earlier in the week because we didn't see him at church, but we finally got to him on Thursday, and his daughter was there who is also less-active.  We just taught a simple lesson on feeling of God's love as we read from the scriptures, and afterward his daughter told us that we stopped in at the perfect time to teach them, and that is just about the best thing you can hear on your mission! :)  Then we taught McKinley and she is doing well, she probably won't be able to be baptized for a while because her mom is having a baby in about a week, but she is progressing really well, so she should be really ready for when she gets baptized!  We then taught her cousin who is 10 and that was a good lesson, she's a really sweet girl.  Then we had a lesson with a 12-year old girl in the elder's area who had been referred to us because they requested sisters.  It was a really cool lesson, we asked her when she wanted to be baptized, and she blurted out "May 14th!"  so we are really excited for her!  We did ask again though if they would be okay with elders, and they said yes so the elders will pick up where we left off, but we are still excited for her!  Then we saw Jeff on Friday and he is doing really well!  He told us that he is on track to go to the temple in June so we are really excited for him!  Then this weekend I was sick, so we were in most of the weekend, but I did get out to do some service for a nonmember, although it probably made me worse, but I was happy that we go to do it!  Then on Friday and Saturday we got last minute calls to speak in two of our wards, so....I spoke in 2/3 wards yesterday, and Sister Call got to speak in all three wards because we had a previous assignment for one ward!  So yesterday was exciting and very long.  And of course if you know me, you won't be surprised that I started dosing off during our last sacrament meeting.....oh well people got a laugh out of it! :)  Anyway, it's been a great week and I hope that you all have a great week as well!!

Much love,

Sister Zimmerman

 The Girths!  I love this couple SO MUCH!!!  I got to see them on exchanges and it was so good!

Sister Martinez and I after exchanges!  Love this sister!  Oh, and the Girths gave us these necklaces after we left!  They are so sweet!!

Week 74

Hello Everyone!

So this week has been really good!!  It's been a little crazy, but it's been good!  Monday evening we were able to have a good FHE with Mel and it went really well!  He shared some good videos with us on pushing through the hard times.  We all shared some tears because it was just a really good message!  We saw him later this week as well and talked about overcoming fears and feeling worthless.  Then on Tuesday we saw McKinley and the lesson went well; they didn't come to church on Sunday so hopefully next week they come!  Then we did a few exchanges to cover different appointments and for Sister Flake to say goodbye to people.  But, we were able to see everyone that we needed to see!  Then on Wednesday we got a new investigator, Rylee!  She is 10 and hasn't been baptized yet, so we are excited to work with her!  She wants to be baptized, but wants to wait until her sister turns 8 for them to be baptized together.  But I am very excited to start working with her!  Then I was able to go to a transition lesson with the elders and Ashley, so I was excited about that!  Then we also contacted the Jones' who I taught in 9th ward, but moved over to 1st ward now, so I get to work with them again!  They are a part-member family, and the dad who isn't a member answered the door and he was actually really nice so I was happy about that!  We got to see them yesterday, and we asked their daughter, Braxton if she wanted to have the lessons because she is 9 and not baptized, and she said yes!  So we have another new investigator!  Then on Thursday we had some good lessons with less-actives.  Unfortunately none of them came to church yesterday, but hopefully next week! :)  Then we had a lesson with Nicole and it went well!  We talked about the Book of Mormon, which I love talking about!  The Book of Mormon is SO vital in conversion, so it was really fun to be able to cover the importance of it! Then on Saturday morning we helped out with a funeral all morning, and it turned out pretty well.  I was so happy that we were able to help out!  Then we went to Kilee's baptism in the afternoon!!!  I am so proud of her for making the decision to be baptized!!  She looked so happy and I was so happy to have been a part of her journey to baptism!!  We also stopped into a part-member family, the Toups and had a great visit!  We got in the door by bringing chocolate cookies :).  You learn little tricks like that after a while. ;)  Anyway, then yesterday we also contacted a new non-member family that recently moved in and hopefully we get to go back this week to visit them!  I hope that you all have a great week!!!

Love,

Sister Zimmerman

 This is Ashley, I love her so much!!  I will definitely miss her!

The Fabians!  I love them!! :)

Week 73

Hello Everyone!

Well, this weekend has been pretty good!!  It's been a little hectic getting settled into the new area and helping the missionaries in my old wards to get to know the people that I taught!  So on Thursday we had a lesson with a Recent Convert, Jeff.  He is a really neat guy!  He hits his year mark in May and has had different struggles this past year, but he is really trying to be good, and I'm really excited to get to work with him!  Then on Friday we had a short lesson with a less-active, Brent and that went pretty well.  It was a short stop-in because he got a phone call and had to leave, but he came to church yesterday for the second time in a few decades!!  I'm really excited to work with him as well because he finally has that desire to come back, now we just have to help him on his way! :)  Then we stopped by a former investigator, Alfonso, and he is a pretty cool guy!  I've actually met him a few times before, and he is just such a good guy!  He told Sister Flake that he came to church this past Sunday for her, so hopefully we can keep teaching him, but he says that he isn't too interested.  Then on Saturday I went out for a few hours with the sisters that took 3rd ward and we had a good afternoon!  We saw Brittany again, and they set up a return appointment, so I really hope that those sisters can get into that home!  She just seems like such a sweet lady and has a good family, I hope that they will accept the gospel in their lives!!!  Then yesterday was pretty crazy; my 3 new wards area at 9, 11 and 1 so we are at church almost all day long, it's pretty exciting!  Whoever says that 3 hours is long needs to try out church all day. :)  Anyway, then we visited a lot of people for Sister Flake to say goodbye, everyone has loved having her here because she was here for 9 months, so hopefully we can do a good job at filling her spot!  :)  So it's been a pretty good weekend, nothing too exciting though!  I hope that you all have a great week ahead of you!  I love you all!!

Love,

Sister Zimmerman

 ​Our trio!  Only two more days of this, but it's been a blast!! :)

This is my sweet Sarita, I love her! :)

Week 72

Hello Everyone!!

Well, it's my last transfer and if you're wondering, I still can't really comprehend it, and that's how I feel about it! ;)  Anyway, I am with a new companion, Sister Call, and she is so great!!!  I was actually in the same apartment with her for her first two transfers!!  So, I'm really excited!  I am also a Sister Training Leader, so that should be interesting!  Oh, and I am going to be serving in three new wards!  My old wards were given to three different sets of missionaries, so that was kind-of sad, but it will be good!  So, this past week was pretty good!  We were able to see the Fabians a few times and they are doing pretty good, we were able to watch some General Conference with them on Saturday morning, so that was fun!  We were also able to see Kilee this week and she is still on track for baptism!!!  I am soooo excited for her to be baptized!!!!  Then on Wednesday morning and this past Monday morning, we were able to wear scrubs in the temple and help move furniture so that they could get the carpets steamed!  Then we helped put it back, it was such a neat experience, and I was so grateful that I had that opportunity to serve in the temple in a different way!  Then Wednesday we had a lesson with Meghan and our elders joined us because they will be taking that ward now.  We were also able to help her rip up her carpet on Saturday with the elders so that was fun!  I love being able to do service projects!!! :)  Then we saw Ashley and she is doing so well, I'm so grateful for all that she has taught me!  She keeps going strong and is headed in the right direction!  Then Thursday evening I left with some sisters down to the valley for a special MLC.  That meeting was on Friday and it was really good!  We learned some good lessons to be applied in different aspects of missionary work!  Then we traveled back and had a transition lesson with a less-active couple and it went well!  Then Saturday and Sunday we were able to watch conference and I was so grateful that we were able to listen to our leaders in the church!  I absolutely loved the messages that we heard, and I hope that you were all able to receive revelation from our Heavenly Father!  Then on Sunday Sister Boss left to the valley with Sister Moser and I was with Sister Flake until Sister Call got here!  We mostly spent a lot of time getting ready for our areas to be white-washed and get her apartment cleaned up for the new sisters to move in!  But last night we were able to have a really cool lesson with a new part-member family that just moved in!  I hope that we can keep working with them!!  It's been a great week and I hope that you have all been able to watch and enjoy the BecauseOfHim video!  I love you all and hope that you have a great week!!

Love,

Sister Zimmerman

 My new companion Sis. Call :D

The Willis'!  I absolutely love these two!!  :)

Sister Moser is home now!  She was an awesome sister!

Week 71

Hello Everyone!!

This week was pretty good, not too exciting.  On Monday we were able to see a less-active family that we haven't been able to meet with for a couple of weeks, so that was really good!!  The Fabians are still doing really well, I really love that family, they are just such great people and I've been so grateful to be able to work with them!  Tuesday was a long day, I did an exchange in the morning with Sister Flake to get to know her area because next transfer I'll be taking over her wards, so that was helpful!  We did that Wednesday morning as well and it's been really helpful!  Then we had interviews and inspections which were really good!  I am so grateful for the mission president that I have been blessed to have, he always gives good counsel and is just wonderful!  He helped to resolve random concerns that I've been having. :)  Then that evening we went and saw another less-active that we haven't been able to contact in a couple of months, and I feel bad that we haven't been able to go back to see him.  When we pulled up he came out to greet us and we had a great discussion with him!  He has been less-active since he was 13 and he's in his 60s.  But, he seems to be really open so that's good!!  Then Wednesday we were able to see another less-active lady that we haven't visited since December because she hasn't answered or hasn't been feeling well, so it was really good to visit her!  Apparently a miracle happened and I'm a cat whisperer.  She's had this cat for about 6 years and it's been REALLY anti-social, as in it only allows one person to hold it.  Well, for about 10 minutes the cat snuggled on my lap!  The whole time she was in absolute aw that it was happening because the cat hates people.....so I'm really good with cats I guess? :)  I think it's being a missionary, because I'm telling you, this has happened a lot on my mission, animals can sense us being missionaries!!  Anyway, I thought that was funny!  Then we saw Kilee that evening and she is still doing pretty well!!  She is such a sweet girl and I am continually grateful for the opportunity that I've had to be able to work with her!  :)  Then Thursday evening we were able to have a neighborhood get-together at one of our ward mission leader's amphitheater!  It turned out to be a great evening and we had some less-active people that came and seemed to enjoy it!!  Then Saturday we were able to go help a less-active shovel manure and wheel it over to a garden area.  I'm sure if I did that before my mission I wouldn't have been so excited to do that, but I just love getting outside and working hard now, the mission sure does change you! :)  Then that evening we were able to visit a less-active that we haven't been able to meet since I've been here, and we had such a good visit with her!  She just needs some motivation to get coming to church, so hopefully we can keep visiting her and help her to become active again!!  Then yesterday we were able to teach our 5th Sunday lesson in one of our wards, and we hope that it went well.  Some people had a hard time hearing us because we were in the cultural hall and our voices aren't loud enough, but no one told us so we didn't know.  But, by the end a lot of our members realized that they really can participate in missionary work!  It was fun to teach. :)  Anyway, it's been a pretty good week and I hope that you all have a wonderful week and a wonderful Easter and that you can remember that it's #BecauseOfHim that our Heavenly Father's plan will allow us to return to Him.  I love you all!!

Love,

Sister Zimmerman

 We had some fun this morning taking pictures by the Taylor sign!!  I'm glad I finally got a picture there! :)

 This is seriously a town in between Taylor and Snowflake.

  was trying to be fancy with the camera, I thought this looked cool :)

                                                   

 

 

Week 70

 

Hello Everyone!!

It's been a pretty good week!!  So, on Tuesday we were able to teach one of our new investigators!  She is from the Philippines and has a Catholic background, so she was telling us about how she remembers missionaries as white boys on bikes that had tags and were always in twos. :)  The other memory was that no one let them in, so that was sad, but she said that her heart has been softened and she thinks that we are really great people!! :)  We had a long discussion about the Book of Mormon and the Bible, about the spirit world, and baptism to enter into the kingdom of God.  So, it was a very interesting lesson but she has a real desire to learn more, so I'm excited to work with her!  Then we taught Kilee and it went well.  We unfortunately had to post-pone her baptism due to a few different things, but she will be baptized on April 18th!!  So, at least she is still being baptized!  She is such a sweet girl and is really excited to be baptized, and now we can go a little slower on the lessons too!  Then we went out with a member to contact a former investigator.  She is a really sweet lady and had been investigating for a long time.  She said that she would love visits but that she is very busy so they won't be super frequent, and she wants to take things slow and not just go through the lessons.  So, we will work with that!  No worries there! :)  So that was just really cool because the member was also super helpful!  We love member missionaries!! :)  Then Wednesday night we saw Ashley again and she is doing so well!  I love working with her!!!  She is progressing well still, so that's fun!  Then we finally saw Sarita again and she is doing well, we didn't share a message but it was still fun to visit with her!  Then we saw the Willis' and they are still doing well, I sure do love that family!!  Then on Friday we had another first lesson with our other new investigator!!!!!!  His name is Carson and he is 8 and is in the process of being adopted by our ward mission leader.  He is really excited about taking the lessons and he really wants to be baptized!!!  So we just have to go through the lessons with him and make sure that he understands everything and then he can be baptized!!  Then yesterday we had a pretty good lesson with a girl named Nikki and she is really sweet.  She is unfortunately moving today, but we went over the importance of the Book of Mormon so that she will have a good start with taking the lessons since it is so vital in our church!  It's been a pretty good week and we hope for another great week ahead of us! 

Love,

Sister Zimmerman

Well, long story short I took Sister Flake to Walmart to get some medication because she tore the ligaments in her foot and ankle.  So, we had to take a selfie. :)

 

 I finally took pictures of some of the blankets I've crocheted recently :)

 

Week 69

Hello everyone!

So, this week was AMAZING!!!!  I cannot express the gratitude that I feel right now for the miracles that we have had this past week.  So, after Tuesday we actually got working because we had P-day and meetings all day Tuesday, but Wednesday started great things!  So, we got to help Meghan paint finally!!  So that was really exciting, she seemed so much happier after coming to church this past Sunday!  I just love her so much, and she is progressing so well!  I hope that I get to see her go through the temple one day, especially with a man that will treat her as she deserves!  Then we had a lesson with Kilee and it went really well, we are almost done with her lessons, but she had her baptismal interview and passed with flying colors!!  She is so ready and so excited about her baptism, I can't believe it's going to be this Saturday!!  Then Thursday we had another really good week!  We had a lesson with a less-active that we haven't been able to actually meet yet, and we found out that she was actually just baptized this past November!  I couldn't believe it!  So we are now aware of her and will help her get back on track in this ward.  Then we had a lesson with Stephanie and taught her the Plan of Salvation and it went really well!  We talked about baptism and she said that she wants to wait until she moves, which they plan on doing at the end of April.  She would also have to get married, so we are just going to go through the lessons with her and prepare her for baptism, then we can pass her off to her new missionaries when she moves!  She is just such a sweetheart and it was so neat to walk through Heavenly Father's plan for us because she hadn't known it before since she was raised Catholic.  Anyway, I hope that she continues to progress and she can be baptized in the near future.  Then that evening we had dinner with an older couple and after our message they gave us a referral for their neighbors a few doors down.  We turned around and invited them to come with us to contact them and they were surprised that we would want them to come with us, but they agreed and we set a time to contact them.  Well, the end of that story is so good!  We went with them just last night after dinner and we walked over with them with a plate of cookies and they received us well!  We talked to the father and he works at a prison with a lot of other members, so they have been a good influence on him which is great!  They have three little girls, and they aren't practicing any religion but said that they would be interested in us teaching them!  Heavenly Father answered our prayer to find a prepared a family!  On Saturday we contacted a girl who is living with some friends that are members.  We invited her to take the missionary lessons and she said she would love to!  So, yesterday we set up a lesson over text for Tuesday!  So there's another potential investigator.  Then, we went to one of our ward mission leader's homes to correlate, and they just got a son that they are in the process of adopting, and he is 8 and wants to be baptized!!!!  So we have ANOTHER appointment with a new investigator!  Then on Sunday, oh it was the best day of my life!  We were in 3rd ward and there is a lady that is staying with some members right now and she has come to church a couple of times and before Relief Society she talked to us and said she just wants to be a part of this church, and we have an appointment with her to start the lessons because she wants to be baptized!!!!!!  THEN, after lunch we went to contact another referral, and they were home and it is a young FAMILY!!  She was really sweet and said that they would be interested in hearing our message and we exchanged information and will hopefully start teaching them soon!!  So, this week has been the greatest blessing ever!  I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father to have been able to find so many prepared people!  And, it's such a blessing considering how dry the area was before we came, it's just so neat to see how Heavenly Father works.  Anyway, I know that our Heavenly Father is aware of us and our needs, and that he answers prayers!  I hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Sister Zimmerman

 Painting with Meghan!!! I love her so much!

 Temple Trip :D It was a beautiful day to go to the Temple!