Sister Syd: 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