Sprinting to the Finish Line

Bonjour!

We are headed to the Temple at 3 pm today, and I am soooooooo excited!! It has undergone some renovations for the last 6 months and many missionaries haven't been able to go to the Temple since arriving in the Mission so everyone is super excited when the time and day comes for them to go! 

The week has been crazy busy--once again! FIRST, I CELEBRATED MY 18 MONTHS!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!! We did some more carolling, 

District carolling

we had a YSA Missionary meeting, helped at Roxy's, 

Roxy, her kids and us 

we helped with Santas Anonymous, and taught Shima (one of our members' co-workers) she is the sweetest! She came to the Stake Carol Festival--which was amazing!-- and loved it! She said she felt really good afterwards so I was able to tell her that it was the Holy Ghost! We are meeting again this week. We also had CHRISTMAS CONFERENCE! 

CHRISTMAS CONFERENCE!

It was a blast, I got to see all but one of my companions who are still in the field, plus many other Elders and Sisters that have been part of my journey! We played games, including a gift exchange, scripture jeopardy, pictionary with Christmas songs, and an escape room, which was super fun! We also had a talent show and it was the best! At the end of the conference all departing missionaries (that means ME!) were invited up to bear their testimonies. I would like to share it again here:

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" - anonymous  

I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission in Canada Edmonton. I've learned many things, including to love the Book of Mormon, how to more fully use the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and 

Throughout my mission I've been blessed with companions who have had a great love for the Book of Mormon. I have seen them diligently reading day after day, which has helped me to also develop a greater interest in taking time to do the same. I know that the Book of Mormon is true! I know that Joseph Smith, with only a 3rd grade education, could not have translated the Book of Mormon if it wasn't for the gift and power of God. 

I know that Christ lives. I love Him because He has done for me what no one else can ever do. Through His sacrifice, I have felt comfort, I have had peace, my storms have ceased, my burdens have been lifted, my tears wiped away. He is the Healer of our souls, if only we allow Him in. He helps us fight the battles until they are won! He is my Saviour. I am forever indebted to Him for what he has done for me.

Lastly, I am so grateful for the opportunity to have grown spiritually on my mission. At many times, we are directly guided to places and spots that show no immediate reward - people slamming doors, or no one home, etc. It could be very easy to say it wasn't a prompting, get discouraged, and become negative. However we know we were guided there. I know that in those times, as we choose to be humble, submissive, hopeful, meek, faithful, selfless, charitable the Lords builds us up, and prepares us for higher, holier work. It is in those hard times that He tests our hearts and when we respond positively, He knows He will be able to trust us.

Lots of love!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

Light the Neighbourhood!

Bonjour! 

Well it has been a busy week. Just want to let every one know that my last two P-days are Wednesday 19th, 2018 and Monday 24th, 2018! 

Here are many pictures from this week!

We had exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders: Sister Moon & Sister Ballas.

Sister Ballas and I were together for the 24 hours and when we went tracting Wednesday we chanced on this very nice spot for pictures! We also went LRTing and took a selfie.

Sister Clegg and I have been having fun lighting the community this week! However this guy did a way better job than us.. lol hahaha his house is basically an attraction, complete with flamingos, palm trees and a crocodile! 

We have done a decent job though finding was to be out in the community. We went singing as a District at the Ronald McDonald House; they have cute lights on the front.

At Ronald McDonald House

 We did did a hot chocolate stand on Saturday- a lady gave us $2 even though we were obviously giving them out for free, and she didn't even want one! It was handy because we gave it to a homeless man we saw later that day! We also went singing at the hospital yesterday and were able to help lots of people feel the spirit of Christ as we asked them for their favourites and then sang them!

Singing at the hospital

I hope everyone is excited for Christmas in just two weeks!!! It is a great time to reflect why I am serving. That is because I love this gospel. It is who I am! I love my Heavenly family as well as my Earthly family, and want everyone to receive the same joy and love and happiness and peace and comfort the gospel of Jesus Christ has brought me!

Lots of Christmas cheer!!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

Oh What Fun it is To Run!

Bonjour!

What. A. WEEK! Yes we did quite a lot of running around as we are always running to a bus stop to make the bus on time... which in the past couple days we gave up on running for a couple reasons: 1) There is snow on the ground (like 2 feet of snow everywhere) and we don't want to slip and fall - Have nearly done that too many times to count... 2) The bus is late to the stop because they haven't cleaned the roads and everyone is driving at snail pace. I was a little scared Sunday because I thought the bus was going to tip over... Sister Clegg would have sandwiched me between the window.. I wish ai was mocking haha ?

Shovelling snow on our Balcony

Well why have we been running everywhere? There is so much to do and so little time, I'll share some highlights!

We had a feast this week ... and discover the Italian shop right across the street from DQ which is a nice 3 minute walk from our suite

We took a picture with Santa

We had a great District Council Thursday along with a late American Thanksgiving Dinner or early Christmas dinner with a beautifully cooked turkey cooked by our one and only District Leader Elder Kay! We had fun cleaning up the kitchen and brushing our teeth together afterwards!

Brushing teeth as a District

TURKEY!

* Friday afternoon we helped out at Roxy's house. We met her a couple weeks ago and offered to help her with some house cleaning. She has the cutest little boy! 

* That night we went to the hospital so we could visit one of the people we are teaching, Daphine. Some of her family was there too and they all have a belief in Christ! We were talking a little bit about Africa and I mentioned that I want to go there so bad and really want a traditional dress from there. Well, Daphine then takes off her giraffe scarf that she has only worn twice and gives it to me...! I nearly cried and it was a very tender moment.

* Saturday.. that was one crazy day! We went up to Clareview by bus and LRT. We were hoping to meet someone that Sister Clegg had met last transfer who speaks French, however they weren't home so we started shovelling the sidewalks in the neighbourhood– am may have taken a mini photo shoot lol 

Shovelling snow photo shoot

Joseph (from Grande Prairie) got baptised Saturday!!! So awesome! Picture at the bottom!

Joseph got baptised

Sunday night we had the opportunity to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional! It was so awesome!!! We had dinner at a family's home and we were able to invite Vincent, whom we are teaching. We all had a great time! We took a picture with Vincent afterwards.

Selfie with Vincent

* We had Hospital singing Monday, and it is so fun to be able to sing lots of songs either about Christ, or about Christmas... which are about Christ haha so it is great to sing songs about the Saviour and help others get into the reason for the season.

Hospital singing

So one of my favourite things said during the Devotional was the African proverb: "If you think you're too small to make a difference, then you haven't spent the night with a mosquito." 

This Christmas I know we can all make a difference in one way or another! Pick something you can do this week or each day to make a difference in the world! Watch this video for ideas! Light the World

Lots of love,

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

There Was CHRIST

Bonjour! 

What a week! So transfers were Wednesday and I left the Great White North also known as Grande Prairie! I'm in Edmonton for my last couple weeks and with an awesome companion named Sister Clegg!

Me and Sister Clegg

Happy American Thanksgiving

Doing a hot chocolate stand

She came out with Sister Hathaway and Sister Eckton so she is now the third companion from that same transfer or generation of missionaries. 

Me, Sister Larsen, Sister Paxman, and Sister Ball

So where in Edmonton? Well, I'm back in the Mount Pleasant YSA! Crazy I know! So I'm familiar with the area, however the Ward has a lot of new faces, we have a different (nicer may I add) apartment, and we are also sharing a car and bus passes with the Elders in our Ward. So that makes for crazy hectic days at times! 

Face masks after a long day

Me, Lellow, and Sister Clegg

We have been meeting with lots of the members to achieve our "one lesson a day" mission goal, since we aren't teaching anyone right now. It has really helped to get to know the members better. 

It has been so fun being in the city, there are so many lights, specifically Christmas lights! 

Edmonton at night

It is really exciting because #LIGHTtheWORLD starts this week with a world-wide day of Service on the 1st of December!! Go check it out because it is different this year with a theme each week which helps you get more personal each week!!! It is such a fun time to be a missionary to share with others the true meaning of Christmas!!

Because before there was Christmas morning, before there was Christmas shopping, there was CHRIST! I hope everyone can watch the the First Presidency message this Sunday! 

Lots of love!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

17/18 Months

Bonjour!

So yes crazy to believe it is already that time! I celebrated my 17 months and that leaves me with one more to go!! 

We did many fun things this week:

* We had District Council in Dawson Creek (#roadtrip!) 

Our "Relief Society" District

So I have now been to three provinces on my mission so that is pretty cool!

Elder Kinikini, me, Sister Eckton, and Elder Mattson

It was such an amazing meeting, with the spiritual part as well as the goofy part where Elder Kinikini acted out Laban from the Book of Mormon and dropped "dead"– we all died laughing!

* We went over to Angie's house lots, to help her with some Christmas decorations. Her six year old is the cutest child ever!

Decorating the tree with six-year-old Devon

* We had a fun time shovel tracting this week with a fresh fall of snow, and then it all melted this past weekend! One lady we offered to shovel the driveway for invited us in for hot chocolate and asked us how we had picked her house. We told her we had prayed this morning somewhere to go and upon arriving to that street we selected her home because of the amount of snow in the driveway. She said we had been sent by angels and were angels ourselves!

Snow Angel!

 She sent us home with some homemade Indian Currie, cookies and chocolate! 

* We had 10 lessons this week, one with James at Tim's, another at Tim's with Joseph, one with Yamuna, and more! 

Sister Eckton, James, and me

Yamuna, me, and Sister Eckton

We had a Family Home Evening lesson with the Wrays they are just the best!

The Wrays, Sister Eckton, and me

 Chuan and I took a picture together as we had matching berets!

Matching berets!

* We had four people come to church today James, Joseph, Zhen Zhen and Sandy! 

Me, Zhen Zhen, Sister Eckton, and some treats

Sandy and me

Me and Mel at Giant Tiger

Which was so awesome! I recognized that by small and simple things great things come to pass. As we take the first step (opening our mouths to share the Gospel with others), and teach with love, power and confidence, others will recognize the difference within us, and within themselves. 

Have a great week!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

POWER HOUR

Bonjour! The week flew by! And the months! Tomorrow is my 17 months mark! Crazy to think I have one month left, but I don't think about it so there you go haha

 Breakfast at Cora

17 fingers for our 17 months--with Sister Larsen

Monday through to Wednesday, the Travelling Sisters were with us, Sister Larsen and Sister Stastny.

Exchanges with Sister Stastny

We did lots of teaching and FINDing and it honestly felt like we did a lot of running around...! Cool story from Wednesday night: We did a POWER HOUR!

At the end of one of our suppers we asked the members to pick a street where we would go FINDing for the next hour. They picked 110 Ave. Upon arriving both companionships went different ways down the street. 

Sister Larsen and I knocked on the first door, he asked who sent us, and when Sister Larsen replied "God", he slammed the door. The second door didn't even open however they talked to us through it, the third door the man was nice but not interested. Fourth door, a nice young adult opened and she let us in to share with her the Book of Mormon Map! One lesson later, we knock on the fifth house, we meet sweet single mother who sets up a return appointment with us! Sixth door we meet another single who gave us her number to contact her when she is back in town next week! 

As for the other Sisters they also had the opportunity to talk to many people and found a father of a 6-week-old baby who also set a return visit for next weekend even though he had no religious background!

Sister Eckton and I had the opportunity to teach the first single mom I had met Friday! She said she wanted to start meeting weekly to get comfortable with us before she comes out to church. We felt the Holy Ghost the strongest when we talked about following Jesus Christ through Baptism. We are so excited to keep teaching her and start teaching her kids as well!

We've been able to do the POWER HOUR several times this week and have gotten some really good results! There are so many ways we can work with members! When we ask them to exercise their faith in missionary work, miracles can happen! 

We nearly reached all our goals this week!

Hope you all have a great week! 

Lots of love!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach