God Speaks to Prophets & Us!

Bonjour!

 Sister Z ×2 - X2

Well, Canada is Canada mes amis! Or Alberta is Alberta, home of the crazy seasons! Yep, we had the most beautiful weekend to date, and then yesterday we get followed by big wet snow flakes... I'm telling Sister Zazymko it's all for her! haha

This week has been a week of studying words of Prophets, both old and modern! I love the scripture in Amos 3: "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

How grateful I am to a loving Heavenly Father to send us Prophets, that walk with us back to our Heavenly home above. How grateful I am for my growing love for scriptures! As I study scriptures from the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, I understand and see God's hand in my life. I receive personal revelation. 

Teaching the story about the Book of Mormon : A story about LOVE

I'm also very grateful for our Prophet today, President Nelson. The scriptures declare that the Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. I am so grateful for this truth. I love to read what they have to to share on behalf of the Lord. I studied the world's of Elder Wilson, "Take the Holy Spirit as Your Guide", and President Nelson, "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives".

So grateful that although we have their inspired words they invite us to seek our own revelation for our person lives. I know that we can receive spiritual guidance from the Lord, as we seek for it. The answer may come through reading the scriptures, listening to a General Conference talk, or in one of many other ways! But He will and does direct His children!

Lots of love!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

Mustard Seed Faith

Bonjour!

This past week we have seen several MIRACLES! 

Despite the cold weather (yes winter is dragging on and it's unpleasant), we were out a lot this past week, because we didn't have anyone to teach. 

Tuesday night we were out and we talked with three different people that said we could come back, so we set it up for Thursday.

Wednesday, we had Zone Conference! So refreshing! We talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and sacrifice. We reviewed how to to teach people how to fish (meaning how to find answers in the Book of Mormon or other scriptures on their own), and how to expose the syrup! [Grandpa's elucidation: they had "compared missionary work to the process of making maple syrup".] Aka how to ask questions and listen to others' needs.

Following Zone Conference, we had exchanges with the Travelling Sisters until Thursday night! 

Exchange with Sister Hall - She and I were both trained by Sister Young!!!

It's an unspoken fact that there are exchange miracles, so of course, there were a bunch of miracles! I will try to explain all in summary form.

• Before getting out of the car to go tracting Wednesday night, I prayed that we would find someone that would be interested and that we could set up a return appointment with. We get out, and first house we knock on exactly that happens! 

• Wednesday morning we went on a referral scavenger hunt! We would knock on a door and they would tell us of someone down the street, or a block over that would be interested in what we were sharing, so we would go to them, they would give us a name as well, and so it went on!

• The talk I had picked while reading ahead of time two weeks ago, was exactly what I needed to read for the exchange!

• We were able to talk to all three of the people we met Thursday, Thursday night! We will also be in contact with two of them in the coming week!

• We went tracting Thursday, and the first house lets us in from the cold–I told myself that morning that someone would let us in!

• Last door we knocked at Thursday night,  the man lets us in and we start talking about the Book of Mormon with him, and he was really interested in it! It was really cool (miraculous!) because his wife who was in the Philippines would have yelled at us at the door apparently...

• We shared stories when back at the apartment Thursday night, and the other Sisters tell us of a family who let them in and they want us to come back to teach their family more about being a child of God and His great plan for us, and have an appointment set up! 

We also had a District Lunch for District unity!

I loved President Ballard's words from Conference:

"If we have faith as small as a mustard seed, the Lord can help us remove the mountains of discouragement and doubt in the tasks ahead of us as we serve with God’s children, including family members, Church members, and those who are not yet members of the Church.

"Brothers and sisters, life can be filled with faith, joy, happiness, hope, and love when we exercise the smallest amount of real faith in Christ—even a mustard seed of faith."

I know as we pray for specific things with sincere faith, Heavenly Father will grant them to us when the time is right!

Lots of love!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

Our Easter Gift

Bonjour!

Happy Easter!! I pray we all were able to feel a renewal of hope and peace as we commemorated the suffering, crucifixion, death and resurrection of our Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. To sum up, I hope you were able to reflect on His great gift to us, His Atonement.

Poisson d'Avril!

We would have no Easter to celebrate without Christmas, and no Christmas to celebrate without Easter. Why? Because if He was not born we would not celebrate his great sacrifice for us. Without His great sacrifice, He would simply be another baby born into the world. This is why He is so great!

I testify that He lives! That He rose again on the third day, that He, and He alone, could and did conquer death. He loves us. He showed that love with what He not only suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, but also afterwards. Because of His suffering, He knows our deepest sorrows, our hardest trials, and immeasurable guilt. He turns each one into joy, experience, and peace.

My prayer is that we turn to Him. Not yearly, not monthly, not weekly, but daily! One of my favourite Hymns says: “I need thee every hour, in joy or pain.” (Hymns, 98). He is our Master, He is our Teacher, He is our Healer, He is our Friend. Let Him be in your life every day, for the good, for the bad and for the in-between. I'm grateful that I'm able to rely on His help each day.

Lots of love!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

We have an artist in Tofield who painted this! It looks even better in person!

 the crazy Elders in our District (they all matched for Easter)

Christ Lives!

Bonjour!

Well nothing too exciting in this part of Canada. After being a beautiful day yesterday (we took advantage and walked to many of our destinations), it started to snow. Lightly at first and then more and more came down and it has been pretty steady from the time we got up this morning that I had to dust off the car 5 times before 11... yep. 

So... Canadians might live in igloos...

Moving a mattress

This week was hard. The young lady we were teaching has a lot of things happening in her life at this time and asked to take a break from the lessons. That brings our teaching pool to about 0. This means that Sister Zazymko and I have done lots of FINDing. It has been said: "Nothing happens in missionary work until you find someone to teach" (Preach My Gospel, 156). 

Exchanges with Sister Giles (and Sister Ard)

Despite all the challenges, we are still able to find positives such as going to Tofield and Vegreville this weekend (it was so nice to be in a Branch again!), our District meeting and lunch, I had a great exchange with Sister Giles last week, and we are having dinner with the members so I am slowly getting to know people, watching Handel's Messiah by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square and guest soloists.

The Sacrament Service for Vegreville residence

I am really excited for this coming weekend, not only is it Easter (and April Fools/Poisson d'Avril), but it is General Conference !!!!!!

Friend and family, please take the time to watch and listen to what Heavenly Father has inspired these wonderful men and women to say to us. I look forward to sustaining our new Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, along with the two new Apostles! What a wonderful way to commemorate the suffering, death and resurrection of our Saviour by listening to the testimony and witness of his chosen Prophet, Apostles and other leaders of these latter days. I know they are called of God. 

I know that I have been called of God to bear record of Jesus Christ, the Son of the God. That He was, that He is and that He is to come.

Lots of love!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

New Everything!

Bonjour!!!!! Happy Spring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Well, what a busy week! Sister Jones and I managed to pack up the car and drive safely to Edmonton for transfer the following day. 

I was able to see all my past companions! Sister Paxmen was assigned a different area, I was able to say 'bye to Sister Young who is now home after serving her 18 months, and Sister Machado is going to be one of Sister Jones' new companions! So that was all fun and exciting! 

 Sister Jones with her new companions, and me and Sister Z

Celebrated my 9 months!! Half way to go!

Now for what you're waiting for....

Sister Zazymko & Sister Zumbach = the Z team!

My new companion is awesome (but don't tell her I said so because she doesn't like that word haha)!!! Her name is Sister Zazymko! We are Sisters Z & Z! She has one transfer left so she will be flying home to Ukraine on my birthday... Not sure what I deserved to have that as a birthday present but, I'm excited for what I can learn from my fellow Z Sister... not only because she has her entire mission experience but because she also has life experiences! She will celebrate her 35th birthday a month after her return home. So yeah, it's been a blast and we are learning English together as fellow European citizens haha! 

Celebrating Sister Z 17 months

Now for my new area. We cover two areas (again). ? The Fort Saskatchewan Ward, and the Tofield Branch. This has been an adjustment, as I have been used to the small Branches in my last two areas. However, I have been able to meet quite a few of the members already and they are great! Another adjustment is that we share the Fort SK Ward with a set of Elders. I have not served with other missionaries so close, let alone in the same area! So far so good, we also have 7 companionships in our District instead of my last District that had 4 companionships  and our senior couple. We also meet in person with 5 out of the 7 companionships weekly (the other 2 companionships skype in), which is a little stressful but it will allow me to meet more of the missionaries in my Mission.   

We don't have that many people that we are teaching, so it means we are out doing some finding. We do have a young adult that we are teaching and she is going to be baptised in a couple of weeks, so that is exciting! 

For all departing missionaries, the last transfer of their mission they have to work on something called My Plan. Basically it makes them reflect on what their mission has taught them and what their plan is to continue applying the things they have learned and the skills they have developed. As I've been helping Sister Z with some of the questions, one has stood out to me. What has Jesus Christ done for me and how will I continue to use His Atonement? 

doing some studies

With Easter in just two weeks, I thought it was fitting that I would reflect on what my Saviour and Redeemer has done for me. I know that my mission has brought me closer to Him. I understand better how to draw upon His Atonement. We are all unique and He has gone through it all so that He may know how to succor us. So that we may be made clean and new though Him, enabling us to live with Him and our Heavenly Father for eternity.

I would invite you to read Alma 7 in the Book of Mormon, then ask yourself: What has Jesus Christ done for me and how will I continue to use His Atonement everyday?  

Lots of love!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

Peace In Christ

Bonjour! 

All right, so I don't have much time because we are hitting the road down to Edmonton in a couple hours! 

This week was crazy filled with amazing last moment in the blessed land of Peace River. Saying goodbye is always hard; however, I feel peace in knowing that I worked hard in the area and have work to do elsewhere.

The highlight of the week was Audrey not only finishing her read of the Book of Mormon for the first time but she also picked a baptism day! Although it won't be until the summer it has been amazing to see the way the gospel is blessing her. She has great faith in Christ and has been able to find joy and peace in greater abundance with our message of Him. 

If serving in Peace River has taught me one thing, it is how to find comfort and peace in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

I would encourage everyone to listen to the worlds of this song. How has Christ brought peace to your life?

Lots of love!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

Everyday Miracles

Bonjour!

What a week! Half of it was in Grand Prairie and half of it in Peace River. Sister Larsen and I finished our exchange Wednesday.

What a fun time! We had a couple teaching appointments, shovelled someone's walkway, and talked to some awesome people as we went finding. ☺

Driving back from Peace River Sister Jones and I had dinner in Fairview with some awesome Cowboys at a Chinese Restaurant. We are still eating the left overs! Haha 

 Dinner with the Cowboys!

The last few days have been the same missionary work as always here in Peace River, however looking at all the every-day activities as miracles. Like being invited over for dinner after a long working day. Talking back-to-back with some mothers that were interested in our message. Reading the Book of Mormon with Audrey! She is almost done!! Finding someone who could help us with a lady's move. I could go on and on. My point is even if these seem like small, insignificant things, our lives have Heavenly Fathers finger all over! He desires to give us the blessing that we don't always notice at first as a blessing. 

Sister Jones celebrated 3 Months!

P-day Pictures from last week.

More P-day Pictures from last week... please do not try this at home!

Locked ourselves out of our apartment Saturday... Oops! 

I would encourage all of you write down every day one way you saw Heavenly Father's hand in your day. Have have been doing this from the beginning of my mission and it makes me appreciate the small details in my life. May He always watch over all of you.

Lots of love!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach