Sister Syd: Canada Week 15: Be still and know that I am God

Hello! Missions are roller coasters...ups and downs...yet so full of blessings and miracles and fun! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season! This is my favorite time of year because I love the focus on Christ - He truly is the reason for the season! :)

God has allowed for me to experience some really low lows, but He has also blessed me with many highs and miracles. He never lets us suffer and go through trials without keeping His promises. One of my favorite scriptures is John 14:18, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." God allows us to experience hardships and trials because He sees the bigger picture. He uses those experiences to shape us into the person that He sees we can become. He promises that He won't leave us comfortless or alone. I know this to be true and I could not be more grateful for my Savior and for the comfort and strength I receive from Him. One thing I have been thinking about is how our Savior is the ultimate healer. Even thought He could take away our pains and afflictions, most of the time He doesn't take anything away 100% - He shoulders it with us. Matthew 11:29 says, "take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls." The things we feel and go through in life give us experience and mold us into what God needs us to become. And when the road we are on is rough He teaches us and "will take the burden upon Himself" and help us through!

This past week was really fun! Tuesday we were blessed to go Christmas caroling around the hospital to help brighten the day of others experiencing hard times during the holidays. We had some people request for us to visit their family members so we did. I am so grateful for opportunities like this to share love and joy with others! We were able to get permission to go sing in the children and infant units as well and that was one of the biggest tender mercies I have received. Children hold such a special place in my heart - they always have! They were so cute and they loved hearing the songs. It was such an awesome opportunity! On Wednesday we had a couple lessons fall through and an almost 2 hour bus ride home - yet God blessed us with an opportunity to meet a couple new people and to have a lesson with someone we are teaching over face time. The highs ALWAYS seem to outweigh the lows! That night we had 5 girls come stay with us making it 7 in total. It was crazy - and 1 bathroom for 7 girls was a fun adventure! Missions are so full of random fun adventures! Thursday we had our Christmas mission zone conference and it was SOOOO FUN!!! At the church we were able to visit many different rooms with things to do. One room focused on mental health and realizing God is taking care of us and that we have a Savior who walks with us and understands our struggles and hardships. Another room we got to play games and get to know all the missionaries better. We also had a white elephant gift exchange, a wonderful lunch and a big talent show! It really was SO MUCH FUN! Friday we got to go Christmas caroling again - this time at an old folks home where we volunteer. People are THE BEST! I love getting to love and serve everyone around me!

The title of my email this week has been on my mind A LOT lately - "Be still and know that I am God." I have gone through more hard things these past few months than I ever could have imagined for myself. The biggest lesson I have learned is to be still and know that God is taking care of me. I don't and won't always understand how or why He does things the way that He does, but I know I can be still and trust Him with all my heart. He has never ever failed me and I know He never will. This thought has been a repeated impression I have had from God. I have felt Him give me big spiritual hugs and strength. The peace He has brought to my heart overwhelms me with joy and I couldn't be more grateful. I came across a quote that I love this week by Cheko Okazaki that reads, " The Spirit of Christ is not a luxury to be enjoyed only when we achieve an ideal environment. It is the essential transforming power that can lift and strengthen us amid the trials of real life, even when our situations are far from perfect." I know that CHRIST'S POWER IS ALWAYS THERE FOR US!

I want to bear my testimony of my Savior this Christmas week. He is my rock and my salvation. He is my light and my best friend. He is my favorite leader and my favorite teacher and I believe with my whole heart that He can heal any and everything we lay at his feet. He will carry us through our hard times. He will cheer us on during the good times and will walk with us always. I hope we can all find some way to come closer to our Savior as we celebrate Christmas this year. Always remember all that He has given to you and be grateful. I love you all so much! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Love, Sister Sydnee Merrill