Sister Syd: Canada Week 22: There is always hope in God!

Hello my wonderful family and friends! I hope all is well with everyone. This was a super splendid week! One major thing I was able to learn is that the Lord truly does bless us in our efforts over time - in His time. The member work my companion and I have been working so hard on is starting to take flight! Things are still a little slow but the members in our ward are starting to catch the vision and have even thought of friends they could talk to and invite to different activities. We even got our first referral from one of our members that we are hoping to start teach soon!

There were some wonderful things that happened this week. We had Zone Conference on Thursday and it was so much fun. It was also a huge answer to my prayers because the entire focus of the conference was on member work and how to make it more approachable, effective and useful. They provided examples of activities and lessons we could use that would get members thinking about missionary work, The spirit there was so strong as we discussed this. The whole vision of finding others through the members just feels so right!

The most amazing tender mercy happened at Zone Conference and it made my whole week! An Elder in my zone came and asked me if I had met a certain lady at Walmart before and I told him yes I had. He then explained to me that she was attending some workshop and she got talking to him about these sister missionaries that had stopped and talked to her and listened to her right there in Walmart and how grateful she was for them and how they changed her life! HOW COOL IS THAT! GOD IS SO GOOD! I am so grateful for the little things God allows for us to see and take part in to feel of His love and mercy towards us.

I was blessed to attend a session at the Edmonton temple on Saturday and it was EXACTLY what I needed. The time we were assigned was actually the Spanish session so I didn't understand a whole lot (I did use an English headset) but it allowed for me to really focus on the spirit and the feelings of the session and it was really incredible!

We had an elder as a companion for a couple hours this week. We drive him to our missionary choir practice every Tuesday and Friday because there aren't elders close enough to drive him, and it takes him too long to bus, so our mission president gave permission for him to come with us. After our last practice we had to wait awhile for elders to come pick him up so we got to be his companions. We ended up sitting in our car for a while waiting so we decided to have a little picnic which was fun. It's not everyday you can say you were in a trio with an elder on your mission. :)

My studies this week were good. They mostly consisted of studying topics for the two talks I had to write. I had the wonderful opportunity of speaking in my family ward yesterday. It was actually a really neat experience writing the talk. I was overwhelmed with not having enough time to write a good talk, but I did my part and studied and prayed, and then God completed it and made my thoughts just flow. He helped me once again when I got up to speak. I was praying for Him to help calm my nerves and as soon as I opened my mouth all my nerves were gone! I am so grateful for the guidance of my Heavenly Father and for the blessings He bestows in my life! ♡ I studied and spoke on how we can turn to God in our weaknesses. This gave me the opportunity all week to acknowledge how I've turned to God in my weaknesses. I was able to reflect on my life, and my experiences, and even more so on my mission experiences and how I've turned and pleaded for God's help during those times. Looking back, God's hand is in ALL - even when we don't see or feel it! He is always there - He is always in the details! It was also amazing to study stories from the Book of Mormon as well that related to other figures in the book turning to God during times of weakness. I focused on 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." God strengthened Moroni's weakness and with His help he was able to write this beautiful passage of scripture. Similarly, Joseph Smith also had questions so he prayed. His humble prayer was answered, and with God's help he brought about the restoration of this amazing gospel! Neither of them were professionals or geniuses - yet they accomplished great things. The same is true with each of us - we don't need to be anything but faithful and willing to do our best and set fear aside because with God we can do ANYTHING!

MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH HERE ARE AWESOME! The spirit they have is so strong and so special and many of them have been immense examples to me on my mission. We have done a lot of member visits and they all are working so hard and have incredible stories! I have absolutely loved listening to their stories! There is a sweet woman in our ward who was in a bad accident about 10 years ago that left her paralyzed from the chest down. She uses this experience and write a blog to share how she has turned to God during hard times and how she has maintains hope in order to help others. She completely amazes me.

I am so grateful to be a part of this amazing work and for the opportunities God gives me to meet people, to touch people's lives, to help, and most importantly to just love those I come in contact with - and even those I don't. He is incredible and His perfect son, Jesus Christ, has become my best friend. I will be forever grateful for everything He has done and continues to do for me.

Love and miss you all!
Love, Sister Merrill :)