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

Feeling the Holy Ghost

Bonjour!

This week was great! We had in person District Meeting, Zone conference

and started our exchange! I also gave two talks in the last 48 hours.

My talk Sunday was the way we can share the Gospel more easily with the use of technology. 

A few questions that I encouraged others to ponder are:

Do you share that latest Mormon message?

Do you call someone and sing a hymn to them?

Do you share a picture quote on your Facebook profile page?

Do you share that scripture you read this morning with others?

Do you find something that you have in common with others?

Do you create activity events over Facebook?

Do you involve the Spirit and act right away?

Do you bear simple, yet powerful testimony to others?

Do you send heartfelt “thinking of you” texts to others?

Do you tailor the message to a specific person’s needs?

Do you pray for opportunities to be given you each day, then act on them when they come?

Do you ask “Who needs me today?” ?

Then Zone Conference yesterday!!! It. Was. AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We received awesome training, had awesome food,

Tried BISON for the first time... it was all right

and everyone said I gave an awesome talk. You have to understand that we are given two topics to write two talks on. Then at Zone Conference, President Pattison chooses a Sister and an Elder to give those talks. Since I was called on first and had had a nosebleed that morning,

Conducting music with my nosebleed

President Pattison let me choose the topic. I gave my talk about the role of the Holy Ghost in conversion.  

Although everyone has a different conversion story, whether you grew up in the church or not, the Holy Ghost is one of the keys in anyone’s progress, enduring to the end and obtaining eternal life in the next life. We must first be open to hearing His whispers, feeling His promptings and receiving the given revelation. Then we must act. Whether this means baptism, stopping a bad habit or picking up a new good one, as we act in faith we will again feel His influence in our lives. Our roots will grow stronger and become firmer in the soil of Christ, Who is our foundation.

I love my mission and all the experiences that have made me grow, learn, stretch, and reach higher than ever before. 

Lots of love from Grand Prairie!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

Family Day

Bonjour! 

I hope everyone had a great Family Day weekend - where applicable!

It was a quite week, ending with the awesome Family Day activity planned, with the help of the Branch members. 

We started by served pancakes at lunch time. One of the members decided to bring sausages... You all have to understand that there was a debate about serving sausages in our Branch Council, with the final decision that the invitations said serving pancakes so we didn't have to serve anything else... You would've had to be there to truly understand how funny the situation was...

After pancakes, we had a little talk about why family is so important to us and a little bit about Family History. There were then break-out rooms: games in the gym, crafts in the Primary room, and an awesome balloon pit in a class room for kids!

There was also our Family History workshop, in which we sat in–our Family History consultant does amazing things!!

However a disappointing 13 people that were non-members came to the activity - 6 of the children under age of 10. So apart from 3 of those kids staying the entirety of our activity, Paul, whom we had met at the Chilly Cook off, stayed the entire time and enjoyed the Family History workshop!

We matched 2 days in a row!! 

We matched 2 days in a row!! 

I am so grateful for my family and the opportunity I have to bring others' families closer together as I serve my mission. I know that God's Plan of Happiness blesses everyone, but we make the choice of where we will end up in the end. 

Valentine's Day picture with Audrey

Lots of Love!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

PS: I realized that St Patrick's day isn't for another month so scratch that from last week Haha!

Heart Broken

So this was a heartbreaking week. 

Hector decided that we couldn't help him the way he wanted (giving him rides [which we can't do for safety reasons and he has never asked us for a ride in the two and a half months I have known him], the church giving him money [again some misunderstandings because the church doesn't just give money out to people. We have programs that can help you become more self-reliant, and the food storage if you are in need]...) so he told us he was giving up and going to the church across the street...

Big stab in the heart.

I can only imagine what Christ has felt for us. What Heavenly Father feels when His children give up on Him...

This experience was a tender mercy; to be allowed to understand what our Heavenly Parents, Jesus Christ, and at times those around us feel when we lose our way, when we reject their help.

"32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

"33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

3 Nephi 13:32-33 

If we go to the Lord with a broken heart and contrite spirit, seeking first His kingdom, He will bless us with the temporal things we need.

District Meeting in person

Have a happy Valentine's day and St Patrick's day!! ❤♧

Lots of love!

Sister Tatjana Zumbach

At a Chilly Cook off!

Making Cards

Making some treats for District Meeting