Canada week 2: God is SO Good!!!

HELLO!! I have officially survived 2 whole weeks in Canada!!! And hit my ONE MONTH MARK!!  It has been one crazy roller coaster of emotions and adjustments!  But man I am SO grateful for Heavenly Father and my personal Savior Jesus Christ!

MY FIRST LESSON!!!! God truly is a miracle worker! My area has been pretty slow and last week my companion and I went on splits with some Sisters in a nearby area. I got to go contacting and finding on the LRT which is the local train that runs through town.  We got dropped off at the LRT station next to the hospital.  We stopped in the hospital to take care of some tasks before heading to the train.  While walking through the hospital we actually met some really cool people!  One of them was super interested and we got her number and she texted us a few days ago.  She wanted us to come meet with her so she could learn more about God!!!!!  Soon after we met the Sisters we going to go on splits with.  I went with a Sister Smith - but not my MTC companion Sister Smith.  They told us they had an appointment with Valerie that we found at the hospital!!  I WAS SO ECSTATIC!!  This happened on Sunday.  I had been having a rough day and was just praying to see God's hand in my mission and that I could have the strength to get through the slow times and then boom -LESSON!!  It was outside of our area so we were both praying that the AP's would approve us to drive out there.  We called them and explained the situation and they were like of course!  But only on one condition - they told me we could go if I would call them after the lesson to tell them how it went.  SO WAHOO!!!  So many miracles!  We met up with the Elders serving in that area which ironically was with Elder Robbie Ballam - a guy I knew in middle school and high school.  It was so funny and awesome!  Valerie brought her son Tyler to the lesson.  She told us all about her struggles with temptation and the different stresses of her life.  She really got into the lesson.  She explained how when she sins she feels bad and then prays to her creator for repentance.  We taught her from the Book of Mormon about how good things come from God and bad comes from the devil.  We taught her how He can provide us with peace in our life.  I bore my testimony on the Book of Mormon and how it has helped me and provided me with peace and strength.  The spirit wad SO STRONG!  I am so grateful for these little miracles!   It was definitely the most exciting thing from this week.

I also went tracting with my Sister Training Leader.  We met a lady who blamed us for the trash political system and how we are the privileged youth that have caused the increase in unemployment.  It was actually pretty hilarious and we walked away laughing!  While walking we met these two boys on their way to the construction site they worked at. One of then was named Alex and he seemed a little interested in meeting with us.  His friend did not care to meet with us at all.  We got his number and taught him a little bit right there on the street!!  It was crazy!  So many tiny miracles - God is so Good!

I just want to share my testimony about the truthfulness of this gospel and the love that our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ have for us.  Their tender mercies are all over!!!  God is truly preparing people for us to teach.  It has been sooooo cool to see this in the different people I have had the opportunity to meet and talk to - especially in my first lesson this week.  I am grateful for the strength I receive daily from my Savior and for the enabling power of His atonement that enables me to do hard things.  God is so Good and I am so grateful to be a part of this work!!  I love you all so much and miss you everyday!  Keep on keeping on!

Love, Sister Merrill

One month down

Sister Swanger & Sister Merrill

Sister from her MTC distict

So wonderful to see a familiar face!

P-day fun at the mall!

Sister Smith, Sister Swanger, Sister Da Silva & Sister Merrill

Fuzzy pink wall at the mall

Sister Merrill's 1st mission apartment

- New Canadian Food -

Sydnee ate chocolate cake!  Crazy right?

"This blue slurpee looking thing is called a froster.

It has an icee type slush and ice cream - it's super good!"

Edmonton Canada

Sideways stoplights

Beautiful Canadian Sunsets

Healing Garden at the hospital -

Sister Syd did service here this week

Canada Week One!

Hello family and friends!!!!  Wow it has definitely been a week! It has been quite the adjustment for me and has felt pretty long but I am so excited to finally be out here doing the Lords work!!  A cool story to start off with actually happened on my flight from Seattle, Washington to Edmonton. Our flight groups tickets were random so we didn't sit with other missionaries.  I ended up sitting with this cute old lady named Audrey.  After take off I had the thought to talk to her and get to know her but was scared that it would segway into gospel topics so I honestly tried to avoid it for a minute.  I then realized that she is one of God's precious children who just wants to talk and be loved and I had a thought that the Lord was going to be with me and help me so there was no reason to fear!  So we got talking and she told me about her life and family.  She has lost both her husband and only son. Her husband was a baptist preacher and died about 10 years ago and her son was murdered when he was only 19 and I think that was before her husbands passing.  I immediately thought to tell her that God loves her and so does her Savior Jesus Christ and we talked about their love and the gift of eternal families and it was awesome!  Then towards the end of the flight I was reading my Book of Mormon while she read a magazine and she looked over and asked what I was reading so then we got talking about the Book of Mormon and it was so cool!! I could totally feel the spirit! She told me she totally believes in the afterlife and getting to see her family again.  She also told me that she knows how much God and Jesus Christ love her and how they love everyone and she loves and respects all people and religions!  She was the sweetest lady!  When we landed she told me how her original seat was in the back of the plane but it got switched to the middle and then proceeded to say that God knew she needed to sit by me and talk to me.  She thanked me for being loving and listening to her talk and it was incredible!  God is so good!!

I stayed at the Mission President's home Tuesday night.  We had a cool devotional about our Greenie read, which is reading the Book of Mormon by the end of our training, and our proselyting Book of Mormon copy.  I had an interview with President Cowley Wednesday morning.  After that we went to the church and got to know the Mission President and his family a little more and met out trainers.  My trainer is Sister Swanger and she is from Texas.  It has been an adjustment from the MTC and I really miss my MTC companion so its been a little hard.

I have been assigned to serve in a YSA and family ward in Whitemud Creek and Riverbend.  It has been super fun!  We do a lot of planning for them and a lot of member time. A huge focus of our mission is with the members which is a recent change.  We don't do a lot of tracting because the success rate is much higher when we get contacts through members and getting to know the members is just as important!  That was a huge lesson I have learned this past week.  Members need missionaries just as much as non-members and sometimes it's just to love them and be their friend!

This past week was actually pretty hard for me and I felt pretty homesick but God answered my prayers on Sunday! The talks at the YSA ward were all about comfort and trusting in the Lord. I also did some personal study that afternoon on comfort and strength and one scripture in particular that helped me that I want to share is in
D&C 101:14-16.  It reads -
14 "They who have mourned shall be comforted
15 "And all they who have given their lives for my name shall be crowned
16 "Therefore let your hearts be comforted...for all flesh is in my hands, be still and know that I am God"
This was such a profound and simple statement.  I am so grateful for the knowledge of this gospel and for the love Heavenly Father has for me!

Now for the fun things I have learned about Canada so far:
1- traffic lights are sideways
2- we say supper not dinner
3- bathrooms? absolutely not - they are called washrooms
4- speed limit is in kmph not mph
There are a few more but I'll save them for next time ;))

Overall, as hard as this week was for me, I truly am excited to be out here in the field doing the work and loving all of Gods children!

I hope all is well at home! Love you all!

Love, Sister Merrill

Sister Merrill with President & Sister Cowley

Sister Merrill with her trainer Sister Swanger

New missionaries that arrived in the 

Canada Edmonton Mission on September 10, 2019

New missionaries with their trainers at the Edmonton Temple

Sister Merrill saying farewell to Sister Smith.

They were blessed to be MTC Companions.

Sister Merrill ready to serve!!!

Sister Merrill with her new district in her new area

Sister Merrill with Sister Dalebout 

Sister Syd's Mission Email & Address

Sydnee.Merrill@missionary.org

Sister Sydnee Rae Merrill

Canada Edmonton Mission

305-8925 51 Ave NW

Edmonton AB  T6E 5J3

Canada

Off to Canada!!!

Hello family!! I am officially off to Canada! I have been experiencing many emotions and quite honestly am just going with the flow right now. Travel has been quite the adventure this morning.  I started my day about 4:00 am and God has been on my side because I honestly don't know how I have made it this far. I may have a few bruises but hey I made it! Following the group of missionaries was helpful ;) I walked from the MTC to the bus, took the bus to the Frontrunner, rode that for an hour to Trax and rode the Trax to the airport! Luggage is ROUGH to carry on and off those modes of transportation - holy moly! But good news is I got them checked and loaded and only have to worry about my carry on! 

Last night was a little bit of a scare. I suddenly got really dizzy and felt as though I was going to pass out and so all plans of final packing, cleaning and showering went out the window as I knelt to pray to my Heavenly Father to be with me, to bless me with health and strength so that I may travel well in the morning and then went to sleep. I woke up and felt better and asked for a priesthood blessing from the Elders in my district before I departed from the MTC.  All I have to say is God is so good and CONSTANTLY aware of us. 

A few other tender mercies from today are One - Sister McClenaghan grabbing some family pictures I accidentally left in the room as I rushed to grab everything and headed to get a blessing from the Elders. Two - An Elder heading to Boston helped me get my bags on and off the bus and another helped straighten them out as we walked between destinations. Three - security at the airport was smooth and quick and we got to talk to a few different people before flying out! 

My last week at the MTC was a good one. It wasn't much different than the other two spent there, but the spirit was stronger than ever before. I was so inspired by God to trust in Him and His work and trust that if I choose so and am worthy of it, the spirit will be there always to strengthen, uplift and help me in teaching those that God has prepared for me in Canada. I have better learned how to recognize the spirit and his presence and how he speaks to me. I have come to learn of my purpose as a missionary. I have learned that I can become a true follower of Christ. 

This work is so important. I have a testimony that Jesus is the Christ, He is my Savior and He suffered for me. I know we have a loving Heavenly Father. I know there is a plan for each and every one of us and that it is individual. I know we have a loving Savior who is personal and can be there for us always if we allow. I can't wait to go out and serve God's children and to truly convert myself to Him and this work as well!!

I wish everyone good luck with life and I'll talk to you next week! 

Love, Sister Merrill 

MTC Companions and new BFFs

Sister Merrill & Sister Smtih

Sister Merrill's MTC District

Peace & Love People!

4:45am - Canada here we come!

Seattle Airport lunch

Sister Smith & Sister Merrill ready to enter the mission field!