Fear & Disappointment

Bonjour! 

Lots and lots of snow happening here! 

Staying warm during studies

We are staying warm so that is no worries. It sometimes means that the work is slower and that we do on-line proselyting instead of going door-to-door or street contacting. Sometimes it is scary to send a message to a random person but it gets easier because the message I have to share is something that I love and because I love it, it makes it easier.

Sister Jones and I matched without planning it!

Sunday was a big disappointment. We had three people tell us they were coming to church and were determined to get there... Up until that morning. Justine's son got sick, Ernie's appointment at the hospital took longer than anticipated, and Hector did not show up and we did not hear from him for the past 2 days! I was really feeling discouraged and disappointed. It was also hard not knowing where Hector was. He is making such big changes in his life that it is hard for him to stay anchored in what he is learning to be true. 

The winds of the adversary are blowing, stronger and wilder. My prayer is that we all stay anchored to the Saviour. Hold on to the rod. Build your foundation on the rock. Stay on the right side of the line. There is peace and relief in Christ from the turmoil around us. 

Sister Training Leader exchange (Sister Dearden & Sister Ard)

District meeting! Woot, woot!

Be on Christ's side.

Lots of love,

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

Commandments Are AWESOME!

Bonjour!

It was a busy week studying and teaching about obedience and commandments.

Our friend Hector is getting ready to get baptized in a couple weeks. We taught him about the health law that was revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith way before any studies came out about what is good for our bodies and what is harmful. Hector has great faith and has accepted to live this commandment.

We took another road trip this week, only this time it was to Fairview, and we are currently in GP! We were able to do lots of work in Fairview and had a couple lessons planned. 

We came down to Grand Prairie Sunday night for exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders! I went with Sister Dearden who was Sister Paxmen's trainer. She is awesome! She was a great example of talking to everyone and working hard with the time we have. 

Yesterday we had the chance to teach someone from Rwanda! That was a super cool lesson! He had lots of questions including if we smoke and drink alcohol, which we told him no, and to which he said: "That's good!" !!! He also asked if we give money to God and we explained that we do, in fact we give ten percent of our income to the Lord. He was really impressed by that too, and was happy that we did because he does that too! He also offered a prayer at the end in his native tongue, Swahili, and I believe I heard some French words which he also speaks French and likes French soup haha!

With all my studies of God's commandments this week and with each teaching opportunity, my gratitude has increased for them. What a wise, kind, loving Heavenly Father for giving us direction and protecting us from harm. 

I would invite you all to watch this video, it is such a great one! I know how much peace and blessings come from keeping the commandments of the Lord.

Blessed and happy are those who keep the commandments of God

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Lots of love and best wishes!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

Words from the Lord's Servant

Bonjour!

This week was filled with inspired words from many different leaders and the Lord's servants. These included the Prophet, Apostles, and General Authorities of the church, President Pattison, Assistants to the President (APs), Zone Leaders (ZLs), Sister Training Leaders (STL's), and fellow missionaries.

Sister Jones and I spent part of the week in Edmonton–so fun! This was because we had the new missionaries training and had Zone Conference at the same time! I got to see Sister Young and Sister Machado again! 

President Pattison along with the APs, ZLs and STLs gave great training at Zone Conference and the followup trainer trainee meeting the next day. 

Friday we were privileged to watch and listen to President Monson's funeral. What a beautiful service it was.

This morning we were able to watch the Message from the First Presidency as well as the First Presidency News Conference. 

What blessing it is to have faithful men and women that serve the Lord. The Lord has said: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you" (John 15:16). God honour His servants' faith and action. 

I am grateful that I can serve the Lord and for the guides He has called and chosen. I am grateful for their service. As the new President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints exclaimed this morning: "I know Them, I love Them, I serve Them".

May we all come to know our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ as we follow their teachings found in scriptures of old and the world's of modern day prophets. May we love Them and show are devotion by keeping the commandments. May we serve Them as we serve our fellow brothers and sisters here on Earth. 

Lots of love!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

Remembering President Monson

Bonjour!

It's cold outside...

It was warmer last week and it is due to get cold again this week. So again lots of layers! And lots of snow!

New fashion

We have had several teaching visits with new people, and are now teaching 5-6 people. A couple of them are praying about baptism dates, which is awesome! 

One of the reasons why they are progressing, is due to member friends and the support members offer them. Which is great because that is the way it should be. One of my favourite quotes about this comes from President Monson. He has said: 

"Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord's vineyards to bring souls unto Him."

In person District Meeting this week (the Bennetts, Elder Higham and Elder Ripley, Sister Oakeson and Sister Hall)

One other factor is that they are reading the Book of Mormon. In his last address to the World in Conference last spring, President Monson said:

"This morning I speak about the power of the Book of Mormon and the critical need we have ... to study, ponder, and apply its teachings in our lives." 

He concluded his talk by saying:

"... I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. I so testify with all my heart in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I add my testimony to his. I know that the Book of Mormon has power beyond our ability to fully comprehend. It has brought peace in troubled times, comfort when fears arise and guidance when I have been lost. 

I am so grateful for President Thomas S. Monson. I know he is a man of God. I know that he was chosen to by Heavenly Father to be His mouthpiece and serve His children (each one of us!). I am so thankful for all he did as a servant of God. 

I look forward to sustaining our new Prophet and two new Apostles. They are all chosen and called of God to do His work. I invite you all to go review President Monson's last talk: The Power of the Book of Mormon It will change your life for the better if you follow its counsel.

Hope you have great week!

Love you all lots!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

A Goal This Year

HAPPY 2018!!!

We got to -43°C with the windchill! But we are surviving... haha.. barely. No, for real, we are asked to not stay out too long when it does get to about -30°C. The other day we went out to knock on some doors and Sister Jones' goal last week was not to freeze to death. I ended up joining her in this goal as I had 4 layers on my legs, plus my slip and my skirt. Had two scarves, three pairs of socks on my feet and cardboard in the bottom of my shoes, and had to resort to putting socks on my hands because I left my nice pair of mitts in Edmonton and won't get them until next week... So yeah. As a member told us this week "Many are chosen but few are frozen"! So we survived, and we are enjoying the now -8°C of this week.

Apart from it being cold, Peace River is really nice with the snow, frost and ice–except when we both slip, slide, fall!!

As missionaries, we email every week, generally speaking; however we don't see or speak to our family or friends for the year and a half to two years that we are out. The only exceptions being for two video/phone calls home per year (so Christmas and Mother's day). So New Year's Eve I was able to Skype my family! It was great to see how all my sisters are getting older but are still pretty much the same–I love each one so much!

As I start this year as a missionary, as a servant of God, and a witness of Jesus Christ, I look forward to all the things I will accomplish, the things I can work on, and the closer I can become to my Saviour as I serve for this entire year. I would invite everyone, as the time has again come for us to set goals, that we consider a goal that will help us show our love and appreciation for the One that has done so much to "succor His people" (Alma 7:12). Could you give more time to a loved one? Could you make a meal every month to give to someone in need? Could you include the one that is always left out? Could you talk more face to face with others? We all have talents and strengths. Let us use them to not only make the world a better place, but to make our relationship with the Savour more significant.

That you feel His love and guidance in your life is my wish and prayer.

Lots of love!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach