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.

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

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.

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!