Sister Syd: Canada Week 45: Little assurances are all around us!

Hello hello my beautiful friends and family! I hope everyone was able to smile at something this week, no matter how small! I can't believe another week has gone by. Our week was once again up and down, but it was oh so good! We were able to do service, teach awesome lessons, find new people to teach, laugh a lot and make amazing memories! I even got to hold a baby bunny and feed a bottle to a cute little baby goat.

I found myself thinking about a few things this week. The main one was the idea of really getting fo know God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I read a talk by Robert D. Hales that had some great insight on this. I loved that he said, "The light of belief is within you, waiting to be awakened and intensified by the Spirit of God." I think we can too often get caught up in the "big" spiritual moments and experiences, and then feel let down when we are not having them. I have learned time and time again that the spirit is felt more often in the small and quiet moments - in the little assurances that keep us going and adding light into our lives. I know if we have faith and put our trust and focus in God and in Jesus Christ, that we will strengthen our testimony and belief. Another part I wanted to share from this talk is about the strength and peace we can have from knowing God. Elder Hales said, "Do not be afraid of ridicule. The strength and peace that comes from knowing God and having the comforting companionship of His Spirit will make your efforts eternally worthwhile. Even more, with your own testimony of God, you will be able to bless your family, your posterity, your friends, your own life—all those you love. Your personal knowledge of God is not only the greatest gift you will ever give, but it will bring you the greatest joy you will ever have." HOW AMAZING IS THAT?! I loved this. I know that we can truly experience great love, great peace, great strength, great understanding and much more from our knowledge of our Heavenly Father! I also know that all of this isn't easy. It is hard to fully comprehend what God is and what God can do, but through small and simple assurances we can get through anything with Him by our side. He will help us strengthen our faith in Him and His abilities regardless of what we understand.

Another talk I studied this week was called, "The Immediate Goodness of God," by Elder Kyle S. McKay. He said, "Even while we are patiently waiting upon the Lord, there are certain blessings that come to us immediately." This struck me this week as I studied about blessings from the Lord. We may not always receive an answer when we want it, but once again, little assurances and tender mercies are all along the way if we just look for then. I know that the Lord blesses me with an endless amount of little assurances and blessings. I have seen them in each and every day of my life. I can always find them when I look back on situations and experiences I have had and how God has blessed me. I testify that He is all around us all the time. Sometimes we just need to adjust our "mortal glasses" here and there and realign our thinking with His, and we will find Him and feel of His love for us.

My companion and I were blessed to bear testimony of God's love for His children in our lessons this week. There truly is nothing better than this! I love being able to testify of His love and of our Savior's love for us. Even though their love can be incomprehensible - it is always there and it can always be felt. I can't speak for others, but I can speak for myself from my own experiences. His love can be shown to us in so many ways. I also know He also speaks to us in a way that we will understand. I testify that His love IS there! I just know that it is!

I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and for my Father in Heaven who watch over my family and I each and everyday. I can't fully express what their love means to me. I hope this week you can all find at least one way God has shown His love and that you can find one thing to smile at! I love and miss you all! Have an amazing week!

Love, Sister Merrill