Monday, December 19, 2016

Week 74


"...through one single act we see a portion of the immense love God has for each one of us."


Monday, December 19th, 2016







Hello Everyone!

I can't believe it's only 6 days until Christmas!!! 

This week has been pretty hectic with tithing settlement. However we are doing our best. It will be nice to leave Maxixe after 15 weeks without leaving. I will be spending Christmas at a Zone Conference down in Maputo for a couple of days.

We had a pretty normal week in terms of teaching. A lot of our investigators are beginning to waiver however I have faith that after Christmas everything will be alright again. 

We went to Tofo today! And it was so beautiful! It was the largest amount of non-locals I have ever seen there... (Holidays)

I just want to talk about God and His infinite love and mercy for us. My mind and heart are drawn to this fact every Christmas. 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."      John 3:16

How simple is that, through one single act we see a portion of the immense love God has for each one of us. I am at a loss of words. 

Everyone's favorite sacramental hymn here is #112 Assombro me Causa, I Stand All Amazed. And I continue being amazed by His love. I know that Jesus lives and loves us. I know that the love God has for us is exponentially infinite. I know that through Christ and the miracle of His birth, atonement, and resurrection all men are redeemed if we believeth in Him. I pray that His redeeming love will be all around us this special season. That is my prayer. 

Merry Christmas,


Elder Nimmo


The beautiful beach.

Giant lobster at Tofo.

Carlos, our investigator, Elder Green and me leaving Tofo.



Monday, December 12, 2016

Week 73

"If spiritual growth is not a priority in our lives, if we are not on a course of steady improvement, we will miss out on the important experiences that God wants to give us."

Elder Larry R. Lawrence


Monday, December 12th, 2016


My last Christmas at home.


Hey Everyone!!

I hope you are all having a great start to your week! This has been a Super Busy Week!!!! I found out that I will be flying to Maputo on the 22nd - 26th spending Christmas at a Zone Conference with President and Sister Koch and the missionaries in that area.  

I really don't have a lot of time but I just want to reinforce the message from last week! If you didn't get a chance, go back and read it. I also want to share a little bit from Elder Larry R. Lawrence's talk from General Conference October 2015, "What Lack I Yet?"

"The journey of discipleship is not an easy one. It has been called a "course of steady improvement." As we travel along that strait and narrow path, the Spirit continually challenges us to be better and to climb higher. The Holy Ghost makes an ideal traveling companion. If we are humble and teachable, He will take us by the hand and lead us home."

"However, we need to ask the Lord for directions along the way. We have to ask some difficult questions, like "What do I need to change?" "How can I improve?" "What weakness needs strengthening?"
Elder Lawrence continues on in his address quoting Elder Bednar, "The atoning sacrifice of the Savior is what makes perfection or sanctification possible. We could never do it on our own, but God's grace is sufficient to help us. As Elder David A. Bednar once observed: 'Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints - for good men and women who are obedient, worthy, and conscientious and who are striving to become better.'"
Elder Lawrence then challenges us to humbly ask the Lord in prayer "What is keeping me from progressing?" In other words, "What Lack I Yet?" Then wait for a response. "If you are sincere," states Lawrence, "the answer will soon become clear. It will be revelation intended just for you."

If you get a chance, read the whole talk. I challenge you to humbly pray and to wait for an answer, to be open to the Holy Spirit to let your heart know what you  need to do to move forward. Perhaps you need to forgive someone, or you need to ask someone for their forgiveness. Be open to the answer and prepared to act on it. The Spirit can show us our weaknesses but He can also make known our strengths.

What greater gift can the Lord give to us than the knowledge of how we can improve upon ourselves so that we may be prepared to be with Him again. Our gift to The Savior this Christmas season can be our willingness to prioritize our personal improvement and spiritual growth, to be better, to climb higher, to be more like Him.


I love you all so much!!

Elder Nimmo



 "climb higher"

"And he saith unto them, Follow me,


and I will make you fishers of men." 
Matthew 4:19



Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Week 72

"...I know and promise that we will be happier and feel the love of He who is Love." 


Monday, December 5th, 2016



Here's what's happening outside my window! 

                                                         
Hello Everyone,

Transfers came!!!

I am staying in Maxixe! WOAH! 

I am very happy. I love Maxixe. I know I will be ready for new experiences next transfer.

Christmas is coming!!! I love Christmas music so much!!! And I think I will share a little line from a Christmas hymn with you all this week!

Oh, come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels;

Oh, come, let us adore him;
Oh, come, let us adore him;
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord. 

I think this hymn is perfect to describe what we should all be doing this Christmas season. We must all try to remember that Christ is the reason and the center of this holiday. Many of us have already promised to "Always Remember Him", and we should do exactly that. My invititation for all of us is to focus as soon as possible and as much as possible on our Savior and Redeemer. 

As we do this I know and promise that we will be happier and feel the love of He who is loved. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week!


Elder Nimmo


Come on in!

Since I'm staying in Maxixe, I thought you deserved a tour of our home.

Living room.
















Kitchen.























My bed with the flower blanket.

My desk.

Spare bedroom houses my ties.














My closet.



Elder Green's stuff.

Bathroom with washing machine.

I hope you enjoyed the tour. Thumbs up for a new haircut.


Thursday, December 1, 2016

Week 71

"However if we pray and ask God, our Eternal Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, searching for the light and having the faith to find it, the truth it will be revealed."


Monday, November 28th, 2016



I hope, whether I stay in Maxixe or go somewhere else, 
my work will continue as it has been these past few weeks!



Hey Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were able to celebrate in the way that brought you closer one to another.

We had a good week! We baptized two children of a part member family in preparation for their parents to be baptized in the coming weeks. Sorry no photos of that.

But the biggest news is that the branch of Maxixe finally has a Branch Presidency! Brother Irmao Paldino was called as President, I was called and set apart to be his first counselor, and my companion, Elder Green, will be his second counselor. I am extremely excited because now our area can only grow and become better. 

I still don't know what will happen next week due to transfers but whatever happens I am happy to go where I am called. I hope that my work can continue how it has been these past weeks in whichever area I serve.

This week I just wanted to talk about prayer. In Mosiah 23:10 it reads:

"Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of his truth."

We have encountered a hurdle for one of our investigators who claims that they know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and that our church is true. 

However, they do not think they truly need to be baptized again. After explaining very thoroughly the authority of God and its pivotal role in baptism, our investigator still had doubts. 

We invited her to pray. That is the only way the darkness and confusion in our lives can be cleared out. At times we blind ourselves to the truth because of pride, fear, or plain ignorance. These things will not bring happiness. 

However if we pray and ask God, our Eternal Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, searching for the light and having the faith to find it, the truth it will be revealed. 

I love you all so much and it is my prayer that we pray always, to conquer evil and the things that impede our happiness.

I hope you all have a great week full of prayerful inspiration.

Love,


Elder Nimmo


We had a good week!

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Week 70

"I just want to invite everyone to honor and cherish their mothers and fathers and to build strong ties with siblings, grandparents and relatives."


Monday, November 21st, 2016



Helping people change their lives.



Hey so this week was great!

We had another baptism! And we plan to keep doing it weekly! I really love the people who are changing their lives through the Gospel. I got to baptize just off the beach so that was kind of cool!

It's my birthday today so that's a plus! I'm 21!!! So to celebrate I made a cake, two layers with two types of frosting! Super good! And we are having a super fun Family Night tonight so I'll send photos next week! 

Who knows where I'll be for Christmas, it could be Swaziland or I could be staying in Maxixe. 

I just wanted to share a quick spiritual thought, due to time and things we still need to do today.

First off, I feel so much love and support, especially from my parents. They sent me some very special emails today and I appreciated each of them greatly. I just want to invite everyone to honor and cherish their mothers and fathers and to build strong ties with siblings, grandparents and relatives. I am more than happy to live with these people for the rest of eternity and I want all families to be like mine. Now, my family is not ideal, but for me my family is perfect and I love them. 

I hope everyone, during this Thanksgiving holiday, can take advantage of the time that we have with those we love the most.

Have a marvelous week!

And thank you to all who wished me a Happy Birthday!

Love,


Elder Nimmo

What a great group!

Thumbs up, Anizio, me and Eudencia.

Striking a pose.

Brother and sister.

Thumbs up for Elder Green, Anizio and me.


Mosiah 18:8 "...as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;



This is a great birthday gift!




I will always remember where I was and what I was doing when I turned 21. 

Baking skills.


Happy Birthday to me!




Monday, November 21, 2016

Week 69

"I often ponder which gifts God has blessed me with and which I have yet to develop. I know that these gifts are blessings from our Heavenly Father who loves us in order so that we may become perfect 'Even as I am perfect'."


Monday, November 14th, 2016


Making memories in Mozambique!




Hello Everyone!

So this week was pretty great! It was pretty strange as well. 

Something happened to me this week that Tyler Cook told me happens to every missionary. "And if it doesn't happen you aren't a missionary". I know he wasn't 100% serious but it happens to a good amount. I'll let you all ask Ty for the response. 

I found out that Donald Trump is the President-Elect. Lots of natives thought we knew the results but we didn't. They asked us what we thought and we had no opinions to give. And from what I have heard it is better off that we are somewhat oblivious to it all. 

We had a zone training through Skype and had some really good lessons this week. 

On Friday Night we had a Family Night, cake provided by yours truly. Besides the cake being a tiny bit hard everyone liked it. It wasn't bad, I surprised myself. We played some great games and had fun learning about the 10 Commandments!

It was a really great week! And to top it all off a young man named Paulo was baptized. So many struggles to help him get there but he finally did it!

There was a portion of the ocean that was cutting into the land and it wasn't deep enough to baptize so we ended up having to walk out there in our church clothes to be witnesses for his Baptism. 

Really fun memory!

After that we had some little fiascos going to and from Inhambane to visit with Balbina. But besides that no other problems.

And that was my week! Also we an encounter with a couple of people who are with the Peace Corps. Super weird speaking English with them. But it was a really nice chat. 

This week I want to talk about the gifts of the Spirit. 

In sacred works including, The New Testament, The Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants, we are taught of these spirtual gifts. 

Among all the passages I especially enjoy the passage in 1 Corinthians 13,

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

While the Apostle Paul focuses heavily on the gift of charity he accounts several other spiritual gifts.

In verse 13 he says "The greatest of these is charity". Is it not our right to seek out these gifts? We are taught in Moroni 10 that we should seek out the very best of all the gifts of the spirit. 

I often ponder which gifts God has blessed me with and which I have yet to develop. I know that these gifts are blessings from our Heavenly Father who loves us in order so that we may become perfect "Even as I am perfect". I know these are given to us because of Him who suffered for us. 

I hope we can all pray to God and diligently seek these gifts so that we might come closer to Him and His presence. 

Have a great week!


Elder Nimmo

P.S. Photo overload - get ready!

Baptism!!!! Paulo on the right closest to me was baptized.

The first in his family to join the church.

Can I get a witness! The water on the beach was super far out so in order to be a witness of the baptism, we had to go through a patch of water.

And yeah, this happened! What started off as a good idea...

...ended with some good laughs! 

Rain (I'm soaked, look at my hair)

or Shine - we never gave up on Paulo!

I made a cake - 

to take for our Family Night -

Can you tell I'm proud of my cake!

A tiny bit hard -

but they liked it!

I'm trying to play piano in the church. I wish I'd practiced more.

National Geographic photographer, capturing the wildlife near an investigator's home.

Flamingos.

 Jelly fish.

Crab.

Feisty crab.

Photogenic crab.


Kids on the beach near our investigator's home. 
I'm doing some magic tricks for them, thanks Dad!

Calling to confirm our appointment.

Eudencia was the only member in her family but now her brother Anizio is a member. 

Doing service at a new investigator's house. Yes, they rake their dirt.


Another family we are teaching, here are their kids. 

We had a scavenger hunt -

the prize they were searching for was just a little Mickey Mouse notebook.

This sharp guy found it, it's so easy to make these kids happy.


Dinner at KFC, it's so easy to make this big kid happy.


A new day,


a new African adventure,

and a quick interesting story that I'll have to share later.



Just another fire to put out as the Branch President. hahaha!
Actually, it's just someone burning trash behind their house near the church building.




The roads






and farmlands

as we traveled to and from Inhambane.


I don't get to ride in cars very much.














A different kind of beautiful -

but still beautiful.