Sister Syd: Canada Week 42: Miracles, Transfers and Love

HELLO!!! Crazy another week has come and gone. I hope everyone had a good week - if not, I hope this one is better! :)

So many miracles happened this week. The first miracle is WE GOT TO GO BACK TO CHURCH! What a beautiful blessing! Our Drayton Valley ward had a trial run with members who are part of the ward council and their families. It was so good to be there. It was different to see everyone wearing masks and sit socially distanced in the pews, but it was so worth the special spirit we all got to feel from being gathered together again! Our bishop shared some insights that Elder Bednar recently shared about our right to gather and worship. It was a wonderful message and a cool insight. I am so grateful for the opportunity we had to be gathered together at church and to partake of the sacrament. The second miracle was talking to and teaching the cute Mohapi family in South Africa! I LOVE THEM! What an incredible family! We taught a lesson about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the steps we must take to progress in this life to prepare to meet Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They asked us about baptism and how they could be baptized again if they were already baptized into another church. We are hoping and praying to have another lesson with them soon about baptism. They are super sweet and have blessed my life. God is so good!

Last night the Canada Edmonton Mission was blessed to have a Facebook live with Brother David Butler. It was amazing! He began the live by talking about "divine manifestation" and asked us what divine manifestation led us to be missionaries. I thought about my experience with the sister missionaries on USU campus one afternoon that was a direct answer to my prayers. Brother Butler taught that we need to have full confidence that we will continue to have divine manifestations on our missions and throughout our lives. He told us that we as missionaries are messengers sent by God and that God has a work for each of us to do. This work is for the whole world and we need to share it. Sometimes it is hard to see the great work that God is doing behind the scenes, but we just need to continue to have faith in Him and in His work and serve Him. ALL of our efforts are counted! God never gives up and neither should we. We are all a manifestation that God doesn't give up - that He cares for each of us. I know that God cares about me and all of the people here in Canada. I know I have been sent here by God to bring people hope and to love them. I am learning to look for opportunities, find them and seize them! I know that Jesus Christ loves me. I feel His love every day as I wear the tag. I need to always remember this love and to share it with EVERYONE! God can use me for good. He is using me for good. I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity to serve him as a missionary in Canada. There is nothing that prepares the heart more than gratitude does.

This week I studied a really good talk by F. Enzio Busche called, "Freedom From or Freedom To." It teaches about free agency. He explains the difference between having a freedom from something is the absence of malice, pain or suppression, and having freedom to do something is the ability to act in the dignity of our own choice. Everything we do, and even say or think has consequences. It made me really think. I have always heard that our thoughts lead to actions and our actions lead to habits. If we have a negative thinking pattern, we will have a negative outlook and may not say positive things about what is around us or even about ourselves. This feeds Satan. How we think is OUR CHOICE. In the talk He shared a scripture I really like in John 8:32, "and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." I know that we can gain a greater understanding of things in this life when we open our hearts to learn about God's word. Knowing the truth ultimately sets us free because as we come to know the truth and know what is good, the less and less we feed Satan power. He stated, "We are beginning to become alive as we take, knowingly full responsibility for our own life and as we stop blaming circumstances." This teaches us that we become more alive as we take responsibility. He also makes a point that Christ WANTS to empower our lives! This is one of the many gifts of the atonement. Christ's atonement enables each of us with power and strength to overcome whatever is necessary. I know and can testify of this power in my own life. I am so grateful for Christ's sacrifice and for the strength it has brought into my life. This strength has helped me overcome difficult times in my life. I am so grateful for this beautiful gift.

This week we had some crazy experiences - including the weather. The weather here in Canada is bipolar almost everyday. Some days it can't decide if it wants to rain, be windy, or have the sun shine. It sure has made for some fun walks and adventures. We even got to experience some meals with members in the rain. On Wednesday Sister Smith and Sister Walton came to visit and do a home inspection. I always LOVE seeing Sister Smith! While they were here we went to one of our member's farms to see and play with the baby animals. It was so fun! This week we were also blessed to teach some wonderful lessons. We had some people express concerns regarding our beliefs in the church. It really opened my eyes as to what is truly important in someone's understanding of the gospel. I am so grateful for the opportunities and experiences God provides me with here everyday!

This Wednesday - July 1st - is Canada Day! It is also transfer day. Last night I received my transfer call from President Cowley. He told me I will be staying in Drayton Valley and that I will be training a brand new missionary! I am so excited and grateful for the opportunity to train again. I am sad to see Sister Poore go, but I know God has big plans for her. I've learned that God always has bigger and better plans for our lives than we do. I am forever grateful for His understanding of everything!

I have a testimony of this Gospel. I know it can and will work miracles in our lives. There is so much to learn, and as we remember and count the small things we learn everyday, we will continue to grow and progress! We will also strengthen our knowledge and personal testimony of Heavenly Father and of our Savior Jesus Christ!

I hope everyone has the most amazing week! I love and miss you all!

Love, Sister Merrill