Week 98

"I love the branch so much. I love the people that we are teaching even more. This will definitely be my favorite area in Swaziland and one of my favorites of my whole mission."

Monday, June 5th, 2017

Me with Sister Josephine.

Hey Everyone,

This week has been pretty wild. Elder Alvarado and I worked extremely hard this week. We even pushed Enoch and his family's baptism forward a week.

We met some terrific new people, like Nokwanda, who are searching for guidance in their lives and humbly look to the Lord for said guidance. We see a lot of success in the future weeks and months here in Sidwashini.

The Mission tour and/or Zone Conference with Elder and Sister Palmer was super good. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting one of our Area Seventy and his wife. I am so excited for the work. 

There are some photos of me with some members. We should have had a baptism this week but the Branch President cancelled it. I was more than upset but the important thing is that there is always next week. 

I bought a bunch of chocolate and candies for the members because the Branch President also cancelled the American BBQ that the missionaries had planned. So many people showed up and were upset to see that the activity was cancelled earlier that morning. I wanted to give them something to help them feel less disappointed.

I love the branch so much. I love the people that we are teaching even more. This will definitely be my favorite area in Swaziland and one of my favorites of my whole mission.

I love you all,

Elder Nimmo

She's such a sweet woman.

Selfie with Sister Palmer, the wife of our Area Seventy.

We discovered that we're both close friends with the Rollins Family!

Girls in the branch who are friends with our investigator Candy.

Selfie with Candy, she'll be baptized soon.

Week 97

"I know He will be with each of us as we strive to be more like Him, through our service and yes even through, especially through our sufferings."

Monday, May 29th, 2017

"ANGINASITSA" or "I HAVE NO ENEMY"

Hey Everyone!

This week has been a good one. My new companion, Elder Alvarado, likes to work hard, so this week we have been doing a lot of it! He is a nice guy, 26 years old, and is one transfer behind me. We went to a museum today and came back to do the internet and now I'm writing to all of you. 

In Acts 17:27 we are told by Paul that “He is not far from each one of us.” Each of us! All people can enjoy God’s presence. But there are many who don’t, and yes even in the church there are many who don’t. I think we tend to go through life sometimes as if our only strength is our own and the solutions are to come from within us. That if we could just being more obedient, or study the scriptures more, or do our own kind of spiritual workout ……sometimes we get so caught up in the things to do that it tricks us into thinking that is what saves us, that if we just hold on to all the good we do we can hold onto that, that instead of clinging to Jesus Christ. 

It was in my hardest moments that I found out that Jesus is with me, it was when I struggled and had nowhere else to turn that I would get that little whisper telling me He was with me and I wasn’t alone. I found out that Jesus is real for myself. He is my Savior and my Redeemer and my friend… someone who will never leave me or forsake me even when I don’t think He’s paying any attention to me. I guess I knew this all along, but it would be so easy to get lost in all the good that I do, that I could miss the Savior all together. 

I pray that all of you will use all the tools at our disposal like the scriptures and our Prophet and Apostles and our leaders at church and even the teachers and speakers to help guide us to Christ and keep Him at the front of all we do. It was when I was focused on others and forgot about myself that I truly felt that I was becoming more like Christ. In Philippians, Paul says that we should be confident that "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” I know He will be with each of us as we strive to be more like Him, through our service and yes even through, especially through our sufferings. 

Love you all,

Elder Nimmo

Museum visit on our P-day.

Shields and spears.

Little drummer boy?

King Sobhuza II

Week 96

"I love the fact that I feel this great love. I believe it will be the thing I miss the most from the mission, feeling God's love for His wonderful children."

Monday, May 22nd, 2017

Swaziland Zone Conference - I'm back row/center

Hey Everyone!

Last Transfer!!!!! Wow! 

So I will "die" in Sidwashini (that's a missionary slang term for last area before leaving the mission) and my last companion will be Elder Alvarado. We actually lived together in the same house during my second transfer of my mission. 

I am so excited! We have people preparing for baptism, a fun activity planned for June 3rd, and on June 2nd a mission tour with Elder Palmer, a Seventy and counselor in the Southeast Africa Area Presidency. I feel this last transfer will go by very fast.

This week I don't have a whole lot to share. Elder Guilherme is gone with many other missionaries and I stayed with Elder Nelson, Elder Morris and now I am currently with Elder Nery waiting for our new companions. It feels very odd because I know that working hard for these last few weeks and then leaving everything behind will be very hard. 

My thought for this week isn't a scripture but just some personal reflection. Just yesterday I felt so much love for the people I have taught and I am currently teaching. And in just six short weeks I have felt my love for the people of Swaziland grow so much. For that same reason I'm so happy to be staying in my area. 

I love the fact that I feel this great love. I believe it will be the thing I miss the most from the mission, feeling God's love for His wonderful children. I feel happy when I testify of that love, God's love for His sons and daughters. I can testify of that pure love which God has for every one of them, and it gives me joy when they can feel that love. There are so many people here who have recognized that beautiful feeling as we have taught them and I have seen their joy increase.

I love the Lord, I praise my Eternal Father, and I express a longing gratitude for His everlasting love and mercy.

I love you all - have a great week.

Elder Nimmo

Goodbye to Elder Morris -

Goodbye to Elder Nelson -

Sister Tsela with my old companion. Said goodbye to Elder Guilherme.

Week 95

"I'm hopeful that my final weeks will end well and I'll return home to the family and the land that I love so very much."

Monday, May 15th, 2017

The many faces of my sweet missionary. What a wonderful Mother's Day Skype with my son!

(Brandi Nimmo)

Hey Everyone!

Long time no see. However I did see my family yesterday for Mother's Day and that was the best! My parents, grandparents and my four sisters were all together through the miracle of technology. Despite the stormy weather that was happening both in Swaziland and New Hampshire, we were fortunate to still get a great amount of Skype time with each other. Some missionaries weren't as lucky.

I don't have a lot of time left on my mission but my goal is to keep working hard and go out strong. Me and my companion are teaching a great family and I'm excited to see their progression. I'm hopeful that my final weeks will end well and I'll return home to the family and the land that I love so very much.

So I have just finished the book of Jacob in the Book of Mormon and I really enjoyed chapter 4, mainly because it talks of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

In Chapter 4:9-11 it reads:

9 For behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth, which earth was created by the power of his word. Wherefore, if God being able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then, why not able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure?

10 Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works.

11 Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.

When I read these words written by Jacob I think of the knowledge and power God has and how we should align our will to His. I love how much the Book of Mormon talks about the Atonement. In verse 11 he tells us that it is through Christ we are redeemed and are "reconciled unto him... before he manifesteth himself in the flesh."

I know that the only way to be happy in this life is to reconcile with God for our faults and our lack of self control. I know Christ lives. He loves us!

Have a great week everyone!

Elder Nimmo

My great family!

And a great family that I'm currently teaching.

Smile!

Say hello to my little friend - tiny tree frog.

Week 94

"I feel like the time I have left here will go by very quickly. Knowing there is a lot of work to be done before I leave the mission, I feel an urgency to get as much done as possible." 

Monday, May 8th, 2017

Me and Elder Francis at the conference.

Hey Everyone! 

Time is winding down but we are actually having a lot of success here in Sidwashini. We didn't get to the area a whole lot this week due to our travel to Maputo to meet our new mission president and wife. During the conference we had with opportunity to talk with President Senna, I'm happy we got to know him better. He is very nice, he's an extremely caring man and you can feel that he is with the Spirit. 

I feel like the time I have left here will go by very quickly. Knowing there is a lot of work to be done before I leave the mission, I feel an urgency to get as much done as possible. The branch is great and we are already planning fun missionary activities. We found a wonderful family who have been coming to church and we hope that they continue in preparation for their baptisms. 

Today I finished the Book of Mormon again. And I just wanted to bare a simple testimony about this book: 

I know that God loves us and that the Book of Mormon is evidence that He has not forgotten us. I know that it contains the word of God and that it always testifies of Christ. I learn more every time I read it and it enlightens my mind and soul. It has taught me a lot about the atonement and I testify that Christ died for us and that He overcame that death so that we can as well. I love this book and I invite all of you to read it daily. It will bless your lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Have a great week everyone!

Elder Nimmo

The mission hood.

Throwback photo to the first dinner after arriving Africa - September 2017.

Photo of these three Greenies courtesy Sister Koch.

Throwback mission selfie during Christmas party 2016.

Last throwback.

Passing the torch: President and Sister Koch welcome the new mission couple, 

President and Sister Senna from Brazil.

President Koch was released to be a called as a General Authority, a Seventy. 

He was called this week as the Second Counselor to the Africa Southeast Area Presidency.

I don't always eat chicken, rice and beans.

But when I do have something sweet, I love it so much that I take a photo of it.

Week 93

"I have really embraced the changes I've experienced in this new country. I really love the nature and beauty of Swaziland."

Monday, May 1st, 2017

"High on the mountain top, a banner is unfurled..."

Hey Everyone,

This week was interesting. I officially have a new mission president. I said goodbye to my old mission president through Skype. It has been an incredible experience having the stewardship of President and Sister Koch. I have learned a lot from their leadership and I have felt their love. They will be missed greatly by the entire mission and by the church members that knew and loved them.

The work here is going well. We have people coming to church and we think they will be baptized in the upcoming months. 

I have really embraced the changes I've experienced in this new country. I really love the nature and beauty of Swaziland. It gets a little cold but I know it doesn't compare to the cold in New England. Swaziland is beautiful but I do miss the people of Mozambique.

As my mission begins to wrap up I hope to continue to be better myself. It's a challenge to think of something I haven't already written about so I'm just going to share something that I think is important. People in our lives will see us and will choose to do three things; treat us well, spite us, or do nothing at all. We should all realize this easy enough. However I want to share a scripture that talks about what we should do with those who aren't too fond of us, our beliefs, our message, etc.

Matthew 5:39-44

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

This is no easy feat. However I know we will be blessed and we will bless the lives of so many if we can live these principles which Christ has taught us.

I know He lives. He loves us. 

Have a great week!

Elder Nimmo

P.S. Sorry for the photo overload

On our P-day, a member took us on a hike -

That tiny guy in the white shirt is my companion.

"There's always going to be another mountain,"

"I'm always going to want to make it move,"

"Always gonna be an uphill battle,"

"Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose,"

"Ain't about how fast I get there,"

"Ain't about what's waiting on the other side,"

"It's the climb." 

(Thanks Miley Cyrus)

Then a rest...

and a dab!

It's not like climbing Mt. Washington in NH, 

but then again I don't usually wear a tie when I hike.

I kept the promise to my mom,

when she asked me if I would send her some name tag photos.

You're welcome.

Cheese.

The weather changed

on our way

back  home.

The chapel in Manzini.

Thug life.