Sister Syd: Canada Week 48: I love God's creations!

Hello my beautiful, wonderful family and friends! I hope everyone reading this is doing well and staying safe and healthy! This week was full of adventure-filled FUN! We were blessed to do so many amazing things. Last Tuesday I finally got to go to Jasper National Park. It was soooooo beautiful! While I was there I couldn't help but feel so full of joy and gratitude for all of God's beautiful creations! It was so fun to explore some of the park and make memories. Holy moly - I didn't realize how much I missed the mountains until I was in them again. Another blessing this week was teaching seminary in SOUTH AFRICA! My heart has such a soft spot for that place now because of the miracle Mohapi family. We have the opportunity to teach seminary every week and I am so grateful for it. We also got to serve by helping clean a member's cabin and hang out with them and their cute kiddos!

At the end of the week we had the opportunity to go to Red Deer on EXCHANGES. It was great to be with the wonderful sisters there - especially Sister Crawford. She is one of my best friends who was a member of the YSA ward I served in when I first got to Canada. She is currently a Visa waiting missionary here in the CEM. It was such a blessing to serve with her and her cute companion. A highlight was playing Family Feud gospel edition live on their Facebook page

On top of these fun opportunities we had some awesome lessons. We were able to meet again with my favorite Bryanton kids. I love testifying of God's love! It is my most favorite thing as a missionary! We also taught another lesson to our friend who is really shy. He has politely declined saying the prayer every time, except this week! He said the closing prayer of our lesson and it was absolutely wonderful! I am so beyond grateful for the experiences and opportunities I have had and continue to have here as a missionary. God is amazing and provides so many wonderful tender mercies along our way.

I want to share some insights from my studies this week that stood out to me. One study in particular was on prayer. Prayer is something I have studied my whole mission. One thing I read this week was exactly what i needed to be reminded of. It is found in 3 Nephi 13:8, ".....your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him." God literally knows what we need - All the time! This is also much easier heard than applied like most things in life. I continually strive everyday to understand as I pray. I pray for help in understanding - and day by day, little by little, it becomes clearer in my mind. I can testify that we just need to hold on and trust God! Another study that touched my heart this week was on "light." One definition of light that I found and absolutely loved said, "to come to rest, settle." I applied this to what Christ has done for me in my times of need. When I have been overwhelmed, anxious, scared, or stressed I have thought of His sacrifice for me, and when I do I have been able to find rest EVERY TIME! Christ has the ability to help us because He knows what we are going through to perfection. He knows us to the point of perfection that enables Him to help us handle each situation EXACTLY how we need to. He will provide rest. I also studied many wonderful scriptures about light and a talk by Richard G. Scott called, "The Power of Scripture." He stated, "Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high." I love this! The scriptures truly can provide enlightenment in such a way that nothing else can! It may take time to learn, but we need to trust the process and be grateful for those moments when answers come and understanding clicks! We also need to be grateful for each opportunity we are given to study, ponder and pray.

I testify that God loves all of us perfectly and individually. You are a perfect beloved daughter or son of God with infinite worth and potential! Satan works hard on all of us, but we need to stick together and learn to defeat him! God is always on our side and has the power to help us accomplish anything!

I love and miss you all! Remember to smile! :)

Love, Sister Merrill