Influence of the Deceased

“The night the [Missionaries] left a Book of Mormon with me, I was thrilled... I stayed up reading until I came to Mosiah 18, where Alma invites the people to be baptized: ‘Behold, here are the waters of Mormon … and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, … what have you against being baptized?’” (Mosiah 18:8, 10).” 

“I fell asleep reading those words, and I had a dream. I was standing near a beautiful body of water like the Waters of Mormon. On the other side of the water stood people dressed in white—my family! My husband, who had been killed in the war, was smiling and beckoning me to be baptized.” 

Wouldn't it be awesome if everyone that met missionaries could have a similar experience? 

Well this week we almost had that experience. As I have been serving in the same area that my Grandmother (whom I have never met in this life) lived and first was introduced to the church, I have been more attentive to moments she could be present. 

The town where my grandmother was born

In the small community that she grew up in, we met a lady that we told we were sharing a message on eternal families. She said we could come back Wednesday. On the return visit we taught her about the Plan of Salvation. She told us that it brought so much comfort and joy, especially as she had recently lost a son. She told us that our meeting was timely, and got emotional. We all three felt the Holy Ghost very strongly. I testified to her that we not only were feeling God's love, but we were also feeling the love and joy of her deceased loved ones. She might not have recognized it, but I know that they were present in that brief moment. 

We met some Catholic Sisters 

I know that angels walk beside us, and that those that can't yet can still influence us and their loved ones in this glorious path back to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, that we might dwell with them and our families in the Celestial Kingdom. As Elder Cook has said: "Don’t underestimate the influence of the deceased in assisting your efforts and the joy of ultimately meeting those you serve".

Lot of love!
Sister Tatjana Zumbach

Reason to Give Thanks

Bonjour! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I hope everyone had a great weekend! It was a great time to reflect on what I am grateful for in life.. which includes all of you!  

Moi and Peace River 

dance party with the Travelling Sisters

We had exchanges with the Travelling Sisters in our mission, Sister C and Sister H, Tuesday evening. Wednesday they gave us some training on member missionary work. Which is a great help to missionaries and brings about many blessings! 

Friday we had the chance to watch Elder Robert D. Hales' funeral. What a powerful service it was, with messages given by his fellow brethren who truly love him and honour him. I know that they are all called of God, and how thankful I am to Heavenly Father to call Prophets and Apostles and other church leaders to lead and guide His church.

Sunday we did this fun activity of counting our blessings. Can you name a 100 things you're grateful for? I know you can if we break it down to 10 categories: Write 10 living people you are grateful for.   Write 10 people who have died you are grateful for.   Write 10 physical abilities you are grateful for.   Write 10 material possessions you are grateful for.   Write 10 things about nature you are grateful for.   Write 10 things about today you are grateful for.   Write 10 places on earth you are grateful for.   Write 10 modern-day inventions you are grateful for.   Write 10 foods you are grateful for.   Write 10 things about the gospel you are grateful for. Literally counting our blessings increases our emotional health!

Yesterday concluded the long weekend. We had the opportunity to teach the Plan of Salvation lesson twice. As we taught this Plan, it was a great opportunity to bear my testimony of and gratitude for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that He suffered pain, afflictions and death, to then rise again, so that we may all be resurrected also, to live with Him, our Father in Heaven, and our families forever; if we choose to have faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repent, are baptized and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost by someone holding the Priesthood, and as we endure to the end. I am so grateful that this is my calling as a missionary, to invite others to come unto Christ. To teach them His Gospel.

Lots of love!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

A Special Witness of Jesus Christ

Bonjour!

There is so much to tell! 

First it was transfers! Big surprise, I was transferred to Peace River and my follow-up trainer and I are washing the area!! Sister Young and I drove down to Edmonton, where I met up with my new companion, Sister Machado. She is from Texas and likes to be active!

Sister Young and her new companions with me & Sister Machado

We stayed in Edmonton Wednesday through Friday as we had a Special Sisters Training! So. Much. FUN! It was awesome to be gathered with the 52 other Sisters that I serve with in the Edmonton Mission!  We started the event with a clothing exchange Thursday with dinner. Friday morning started off with a group workout, led by an older lady who knew how to make us sweat! After showers, we had uplifting messages and workshops. Again, so awesome to be surrounded by other Sisters with the desire to serve the Lord and be a special witness of Him.

Sister Machado and I drove our 7-hour drive up to Peace River... long yet beautiful drive! We haven't had much time to explore the area, and meet people as we had an amazing weekend with General Conference!!! IF YOU DID NOT WATCH IT, REPENT, AND GO WATCH ALL FOUR SESSIONS! Elder Neil L. Andersen gave a powerful talk at the very end of Conference. It was an amazing talk to sum up Conference, and encourage us to listen and take to heart what we have learned and to apply what we were encourage to do. 

Please let me know what was your favourite part of Conference! Here is the link if you missed it or need to review the talks: General Conference

I know we are led by a Prophet today who is called of God to lead Christ's church on the earth today. I know that the Prophet's Counsellors and the 12 Apostles are also called of God to be special witnesses of His son, Jesus Christ. What an honour it is to be a missionary with the same sacred calling to be a witness of Him who is our Saviour and Redeemer. I know it is by developing faith in Him and following His example that we are able to live as families forever in the presence of God, our Heavenly Father, and His son, Christ. How grateful I am to a loving God that like times of old has called Prophets and restored the Priesthood to perform these saving ordinances.

Have a great week! 

Love,

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

Come listen...

Bonjour!

It was a great week! Sister Young and I had many adventures!

Last Tuesday evening we picked up a member for a lesson in Cold Lake North; as we were getting into the car I said hello to this guy walking by (I wanted to give him a card, but we were getting into the car), as I turned the car around and drove by him, I told Sister Young we need to give him a card, so I pulled the car over and we rolled  the windows down. As she gave him the card he said he had one just like it on his fridge! He said he had seen the church because he lives in Cherry Grove. We talked to him for a good couple more minutes before driving off to our lesson. 

Saturday was General Conference kick-off with the General Women's Broadcast! Ladies, if you didn't get a chance to listen to it here is a link! It was fantastic! It was so good that walking into church the following day, someone had already illustrated President Uchtdorf's talk!!

Tracting Sunday evening was awesome, a lot of people asked us to come back and talk more about Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. We also did a Book of Mormon Map with a man who was really impressed that we knew that Jesus Christ had visited the Americas. After we had left his house he came out to the street to ask us where he could find the Book of Mormon to share with his mother.

We visited our investigators in Bonnyville yesterday, and helped them all set up General Conference on their computers so they could watch it on line this coming Saturday and Sunday! 

I encourage all of you to take time to listen to one of the sessions of General Conference. How blessed we are to hear from the Prophet, apostles and other leaders of the church! What marvellous counsel, advice and inspiration they give us! I know that I always get something out of watching these chosen men and women speak to us. I would encourage all of you to attend or watch it on line, and to do so with a question (Is Thomas S. Monson a Prophet? How can I help My family be more unified? How can I find comfort in troubled times?). I know that if you sincerely ask you will get the answer. 

I would love to get emails next week telling me which was your favourite part of Conference, something that inspired you, or a quote you really liked!

Love you all!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

He sends Angels

Bonjour! 

I wanted to start off with this thought that President Pattison sent as part of his message at the beginning of the month. "President Kimball said many years ago, 'it is usually through another person that [God] meets our needs.' God sent an angel to His son Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane to strengthen Him... Today He is calling you to strengthen others of His children that He loves and wants to save, so they can fulfil their purpose. It will be through you that lives are changed. I promise you that as you reach out and touch another, you will feel God’s hand touch you."

We have been doing lots of tracting in the evening recently. Due to our evenings spent walking door to door it is apparent that the sun has started to set earlier and it becomes dark out, the sky being navy blue as early as a half hour before we go in for the night. This change sometimes brings a winding down feeling which could slow down the work. Thankfully, Sister Young loves tracting and her enthusiasm for it rubs off on me. It has been several nights in a row now where we have been out knocking on doors, and people might not be interested yet are polite about it. However, every night there has been someone that we talk with longer then the others.

One night we talked to a man who has had many things happen in his life and thought God was having a good laughs. We shared with him that bad things happen to good people and that Heavenly Father allowed things to happen to us to be able to learn and grow.

The following night, at the last house we knocked on, we met a man who let us in. We talked to him about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which he was really interested in the pamphlet and the Articles of Faith. As he has questions about things he is currently reading in Revelation, he has asked if we could answer them, as he is seeking to understand the scriptures. We will be meeting later this week. 

Last night, again the last lady we talked to had heard of and had a copy of the Book of Mormon but had never heard that Jesus Christ had visited the people living in the Americas. Sister Young shared a scripture from her studies, which brought the Spirit in great abundance and we all felt it.

Lastly, last night, first lady we talked with we showed her and her daughter the Book of Mormon Map. They were really interested in it, and asked if she could read it on line! We also gave them the map and she suggested to her daughter could show it to her father! How awesome! A couple doors after, a lady said to come back Wednesday, because it was her day off, another guy asked us to come back tomorrow as he was putting his kids to bed. Several houses later, and the last one we ended up knocking on last night, a young father opened it and let us in from the cold, darkening night. He is seeking to find more knowledge. He was really interested when we talked about having prophets in biblical times and now today. He invited us to come again to talk more.

So we have seen all these different scenarios of evening tracting that have been rewarding in the end, even if we might not see some of those people we talked to again. We know that we were in the right places, speaking to Heavenly Father's children and bring them His love and peace. I know Heavenly Father loves all of us and often sends His help through others. 

Love you all!
Sister Tatjana Zumbach

The Book of Mormon - READ IT!!!

Bonjour!

So Wednesday was Zone Conference! It was amazing! We learned this awesome way of sharing the gospel with people! It is called the Book of Mormon Map! 

There is so much power in the Book of Mormon! I recently read Lehi talking to his son's about the house of Israel being scattered upon the face of the earth. "Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth." 

Christ has talked about His other sheep who also would have the gospel. It was so important that when Lehi and his family travelled across the ocean and landed in the Americas, they recorded their history. How blessed we are to have the Old Testament, the New Testament, and Another Testament of Jesus Christ!!! 

We read some short stories on the Book of Mormon helping and blessing people at church a couple weeks ago! You can find them in Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Gorden B. Hinckley, Chapter 16: The Power of the Book of Mormon, 5 The Book of Mormon has the power to change our lives and our perspective or by following this link: <https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-gordon-b-hinckley/chapter-16-the-power-of-the-book-of-mormon?lang=eng&_r=1> 

Please let me know what you think of them!!!

I know as we read from the scriptures, we can come closer to Jesus Christ and desire to be more like Him. I have seen it in my own life and in my family's life that as we turn to the Book of Mormon, miracles happen!

Lots of love! 

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

Heart, Might, Mind & Strength

Hello from Edmonton City!!!!  

Sister Y and I have been doing lots of tracting (knocking on doors), this past week. We were super excited to come to the city Sunday afternoon for our exchanges with Sister G and Sister D!!!! I was able to spend the last 24 hours or so, with Sister G and learned some amazing things together!!!!! 

As the study topic for our exchange, I picked serving with all your heart, might, mind and strength. I will share what I have learned including some experiences.

I learned that serving with your heart is to be focused on my missionary purpose, to love the people, and the message I share with them. Sister G and I got lost on our way to a lesson yesterday. We eventually made it to our destination but we didn't find the lady were going to meet. As we were walking around, we saw this man walking in our direction. I stopped to say hi and then Sister G gave him a Book of Mormon, we all sat down and talked more about it. He had walked a long way (Lac La Biche) and we had been the only ones to talk to him!

Serving with your might has a lot to do with physical strength. As we give it our all, we should come home each day exhausted. We need to look at each day with new eyes.

Serving with all your mind means being creative (singing a rap about the Book of Mormon to a random person on the street–Sister G did that, wished I had filmed it!), or asking questions, or studying the scriptures. 

Sister G made me look at serving with all your strength in a new way. To me it now means that you use your talents and gifts in your service. I am surprised at how many times I spoke French to others in the city! 

I have one cool experience I want to share from our day of adventure before closing. We were headed back to the apartment, and passed by this guy that Sister G had talked to before. I did not know this and as we walked by he was thrusting his head backwards, into the ground... I called out, "Having a rough day...". Immediately he got up and started charging me. Sister G told me afterwards how panicked she had felt at the situation. I admit that my heart accelerated but became instantly calm. He got pretty close to me but suddenly stopped. He ran off in a different direction. Sister G and I can only describe it as angels creating a barrier between me and him. I am thankful for the protection that comes from serving the Lord, and from the faithful prayers of friends and family.

With much love, and gratitude,

Sister Tatjana Zumbach