This week was wild and once again full of so many emotions! To start I finally got to GO TO THE TEMPLE and see cute Sister Smith - my MTC companion. That was such a blessing and I am so grateful for the peaceful spirit that is only felt in the temple!! I really miss being able to go all the time but there is work here for the living to be done that the Lord needs me for :)
I have had some low moments this week. We had our trainer-trainee follow up meeting on Friday after attending the temple. I got to see all my friends I came out with, but it was hard to hear about all the cool stories they had, all the lessons they've taught and the baptisms they've gotten to attend, and how incredible their trainers are and all the things they have been learning from them. I got really discouraged because I have only had 2 official lessons in 4 weeks and have met less than 10 people.....I felt like I was missing out on the real mission experiences and opportunities and that got me down in the dumps. I was able to talk to my cute mission presidents wife though and that really helped a ton. They say more often times than not that you are called to mission presidents and not the actual place - that couldn't ring more true with me!
Things have still been pretty slow, but on Wednesday I got my trainer to take us to the LRT (train) station so we could do some finding! We got there and split up to talk and find people. She sat alone and didn't talk to anyone. I tried my best to find a couple people and I did! The first was a guy I found was named Isah! He told me that he is an atheist but that his name means Jesus in his language! He was either from Serbia or Siberia - I can't remember. We got talking and he asked how people know there is a God, what signs or proof do we have. I immediately remembered the scripture in Alma that states that all things denote there is a God! I had studied it just a couple days before and had been praying to find someone and BOOM God placed Isah in my path! I was able to share what I studied and knew and he seemed to understand. He then wanted to know why God reveals himself to some people but not to to others. He asked why people in Utah know who He is but someone in Somalia has no idea. I tried to explain faith and prayer but he didn't like the idea that he has to reach out first. He wants God to reveal himself before he puts forth effort. He then had to get off at his stop so I gave him a pass along card with our number on it but didn't get the chance to get his number so I don't know what will happen with him. I am just grateful for God's hand in my life.
GENERAL CONFERENCE!! How amazing was it?!?! SO GOOD!! As always! My major take away from the conference is that I am a beloved daughter of a divine being with infinite potential and that if I put Christ at the center of my life and put all my trust in Him, He will work miracles and I can be the instrument He needs in His hands. I felt so much love as the prophet and apostles spoke! They are truly inspired of God! I hope you all enjoyed it just as much as me!
A few more highlights of my week happened yesterday. I had been in a funk all morning and was having a hard time. I was praying to find people and to find strength in my Savior and wasn't feeling much. I kept doing my studies and still not a whole lot came to me. Luckily we had a meeting with someone we had reached out to using a list we had gotten of prospective Elders at church scheduled for 1:00. So after lunch we headed to meet him. I was a little nervous because we didn't prepare anything to teach him and had never met him. We got there and he just started to spill his whole life story to us. He told us he felt comfortable talking to us. I was surprised that a lot of the struggles and questions he had are the same ones I have had! I was so excited to relate to him and help! He told us that life had been really hard and he had been praying but wasn't understanding why God wasn't making it easier. He was trying to overcome weaknesses and was praying for strength. I immediately was impressed so share Ether 12:27 with him one of my favorite scriptures. Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. He said that was exactly what he needed and asked if I could send it to him so I did and he set it as his phone home screen!! It was incredible to then bear my testimony to him of the love our Savior has for us and the perfect plan that God has for us and how we have to go through hard things so the Lord can shape us into what he needs us to be! It was awesome!
We then left and headed to do service at the hospital. We rode the LRT over there and I then met this cute lady named Sarah. She is from Nigeria and works in home health care. It was so cool to talk to her about it because I did similar care before my mission working as a CNA! She was raised Christian and wanted to know what set my church apart from the others. I taught her a little bit about the restoration of the gospel and the Book of Mormon! She asked where she could get a book so I got her number and gave her a free Book of Mormon download pass a long card in the meantime. It was so awesome! We then got to the hospital and did our service which is THE BEST! We were headed to put our stuff away to head home when I saw this girl sitting at a desk. She looked a little frazzled and in a hurry but I felt like I should say hello, but didn't because I didn't want to bother her. She them yelled after us and said, "hey are you guys missionaries?" I immediately turned around and shouted, "YES!!" We then proceeded to talk to her. She told us she had just moved to Edmonton from Lethbridge and had been pretty lonely. She wanted to make a friends and was wondering what ward she could go to and if we could help. She also told us that she has had a hard time because recently someone really close to her had passed away and their last interaction she wasn't nice and she felt guilty and ashamed. She didn't know about an afterlife so she didn't think she would ever see them again and she hated how she left things. I got to teach her on the spot about our Savior and the sacrifice He made for us and how through Him those feelings can be taken away. told her a little bit about the afterlife and what we believe. She started to cry a little and thanked me for sharing the words I did and for being so nice! We got her information and left.
GOD IS SO GOOD!!! I know He is always listening to us and is aware of what we want and need in our lives. He knows what is best and is constantly preparing and placing people in our paths. I know He knows me and understands what I am feeling. I love him and this work so much! There is always a rainbow on the other side of hard times!
Keep the faith! Love you all and wish you the best week!
Love, Sister Merrill
Sister Merrill and Sister Sophie Smith together again!
1 month in Canada! (almost)
Sister Merrill and Sister Swanger
General Conference fun with the Sorochan Family
Sydnee LOVES the sky!
There is always a rainbow on the other side! :)
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