Canada Week 55: Transfers, Kittens & God's Love

Hello hello hello!  When you read this I will be adventuring in Jasper National Park - ROUND 2!!!  So excited!!!  Expect some pictures of this beautiful place next week!  This really was a WEEK folks!  So many things happened, and so many changes occurred - and if you know me, you know change can be rough!  However GOD NEVER CEASES TO ASTOUND ME!  So many good things happened among the change, and I am SO grateful for His tender mercies and love!  I'm happy to report that Sister Petelo made it safely back home and that I have successfully made it through the first week with my cute, new companion. 

As for my week - it was crazy, exciting, eventful, and fun.  The first couple days we waited on news of Sister Petelo's flight plans back home.  We were then called to go into the city quicker than we planned, so we packed up and went and then stayed until transfers on Wednesday.  At tranfers I picked up my new companion, Sister Hill, and drove back to Drayton Valley.  God then began to work his magic and we had some amazing spur of the moment member visits and lessons.  We were again blessed to offer our service and helped move some solid wood doors around.  We also played with multiple kittens and gave last minute talks in church.  We continue to pray for and work with a couple of our investigators with the hope to get them on bapismal date soon.  I am so grateful that God provides me with countless opportunities to feel the love He has for His children.  It is truly one of my favorite things as a missionary.  Feeling His love for me and others has helped me feel closer to Him and my Savior.  It has also helped me gain a greater understanding of just how much He truly loves and cares for all of us!  Hint, it is A LOT!!!  ;) 

This week we had quite a few meetings due to my new assignment as STL (Sister Training Leader).  It was my first time being part of the Mission Leadership Council and Zone Leadership Council meetings.  It was very insightful and cool to be on the other side and witness the Lord's workings behind the scenes.  I felt so blessed to counsel with other leadership missionaries on how to lift and help those around us.  

I want to share some thoughts I've had during my missionary studies.  This week I studied the idea of communicating with God.  I love how Jacob 4 explains this beautifully.  This chapter in the Book of Mormon states that we should seek to take counsel from God rather than to counsel Him.  Often we present our plan to God not remembering that He also has a plan for us.  I have come to appreciate the word counsel.  God wants us to counsel with Him in all things.  This being said, He doesn't want to control and direct every tiny detail, but rather help us to make the best decisions that will provide us with the most blessings.  I have seen this a few times in my life.  I have found that I have pondered how I pray and present things to Him.  Our attitude is everything as well.  Our hearts need to be softened in order to accept counsel from God.  

I want you to know that I know God loves us with a strong, incomprehensible love!  You have a Savior who knows you and understands EXACTLY what you are feeling and what you need! 

Keep smiling!  God is always Good! 

Love, Sister Merrill  

Sister Hill and Sister Merrill

Canada Week 54: God is good all the time, and all the time God is good

Hey there!  Another week has somehow come and gone.  It was quite a crazy week but God always has a plan that is for sure!  We were kind of in limbo while my companion was waiting for some health news in her life.  All is well though.  We received transfer news today and I am sad to say that she is headed to the city.  I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to meet and train her, and for all of the fun moments and memories we have had here in Drayton Valley.  As for me - I will be staying here for a 5th transfer with a new companion, Sister Hill, beginning Wednesday.  I have also been called as a STL.  

Last Tuesday we went to Edmonton for some appointments.  We were able to spend a few days there with some sisters there and it was SO good!  I alway love seeing my MTC companion and friend, Sister Smith, and other mission friends.  We were also able to have supper with one of my most favorite families ever, THE SOROCHANS!  They are a famiy I grew to love in my very first area.  It was so great to see them and catch up.  The rest of our week was filled with visits, lessons, and as always - SERVICE!  We had an awesome lesson with our good friend Hans - he is doing so good!  The spirit was so strong and he is working hard towards setting a baptismal date!  My companion and I are hoping for good things for him.  We also were blessed to visit with the sweetest girl we found on a list of formers, people who had been previously taught, and it was awesome!  We found out that we have a lot of things in common and we are excited to keep visiting with her.  As for our service opportunities, we helped a member move and build shelving units in a storage room.  Super exciting!  We even got to play with cute little kittens in the process.

I just wanted to end by sharing a couple simple thoughts.  The first revolves around a saying from the movie "God's Not Dead" that says "God is good all the time, and all the time God is good."  For some reason this has been a constant thought the last few days, and I can't help but think how true it is.  Regardless of our different situations, circumstances and the trials we go through, God never ceases to be God, nor does He ever cease to be good!  While He doesn't neccesarily cause or plan for trials to occur in our lives, He allows for them to happen and uses them to teach us lessons we need to learn.  How amazing is that?!  Sometimes it is hard to remember that there really are things to learn from hard times, whether it is something we need to know now or in the next life.  I know that I have been able to see God's goodness as I take the time to ponder and reflect on various struggles that I have gone through - I know that you can too!  My next thought comes from a song called, "Even When You're Broken," by Julie Yardley.  It states, "Even when you're broken, you are loved. Open up, let Him reach into your soul, meet you where you are and He will make you whole."  I really love this!  This has particularly stood out to me lately as I have witnessed God meet me where I am.  I know He will meet me in any situation or progression level and make me WHOLE!  He has molded me into more than I ever could be on my own.  God is not waiting us to be perfect to come to Him, He just wants us to come as we are.  He wants us to love Him.  He wants us to try our best to invite Him into our lives.  He wants us to pray no matter how hard it may seem.  I testify God always there.  He loves you and He is intentfully listening to you.  God is so good!

I know that this church is true and that it is full of so much love!  I know that Christ is leading us, and that together with God they are rooting for us!  They love us more than we are ever going to know in this life, and they always want what is best for us.  We need to let God teach us in every situation and allow for Him to work in our lives.  We need to try and give our all to Him and just trust Him and love Him.  We are all worth so much and loved beyond words!  This is my favorite message to share as a missionary.  I hope everyone can receive a glimpse of the love both our Father in Heaven and Savior have for all of us! 

Keep going! Keep smiling! Keep loving!

Love, Sister Merrill 

District Council in Drayton

Fun in Edmonton!

Sisters Dalebout, Petelo, Simmons, Smith, Merrill & Swapp

Sister Merrill with Anna and Pam Sorochan

Sister Petelo and Sister Merrill with Lori

Canada Week 53: Just keep smiling!

Hello!  I hope everyone found a reason to smile this week.  Even though this past week seemed long at times, there was a lot of good and a lot of smiles.  Satan tends to work a little extra on us on our slower days, but we still found reasons to smile everyday.  

MISSION TOUR!  Mission tour was the absolute best!  All the words shared were so touching and brought peace to my heart.  I have always viewed success as our intent and desire, not just numbers.  This same concept was brought to light by Elder Jackson, of the seventy, and his wife.  They discussed this idea of our "expanded purpose" and the different groups of people we serve.  The majority of my mission has been spent building up the members and it has been my absolute favorite thing.  When I find myself feeling discouraged, I know it is because I've let the outside pressures of converting non-members become the definition of "success."  Elder Jackson and his wife explained this so beautifully.  We are not only serving non-members, but also the MEMBERS!  Actives, less-actives, inactives are ALL children of God, and God loves ALL of His children!  We are also here to serve our companions, leaders, family and friends back home, and OURSELVES!  It was exactly what I needed to hear.  It also reminded me that comparison truly is the thief of joy. 

This past week we were able to have some awesome visits and lessons with friends.  We have an incredible member here in the ward who loves missionary work and helps us set up lessons - it is the best!  He was able to set up lessons with a couple of his friends he has been wanting us to visit.  We were finally able to visit them and bear our testimonies.  I truly love being a missionary and helping others feel God's love for them.

I loved church yesterday.  The speaker shared words that were EXACTLY what I needed to hear.  He talked about how the Lord knows all people and all things. "He numbereth His sheep."  The Lord speaks to us and answers our prayers in such a way that is so personal that only we can recognize it.  My favorite part was that God isn't measuring us or comparing us to His other children.  He recognizes that we are progressing and growing at our own pace and in our own way.  I have heard this before and know this, but for some reason it just struck me!  I urge all of you to really establish and maintain a relationship with God and your Savior Jesus Christ. 

During my studies this week I was blessed with a really cool insight.  I came across a simple post on the church site called, "You're not messing up Gods plan for you."  It was so good.  Have you ever thought that the choices you were making were somehow screwing up Gods plan for you?  Have you ever been so worried about doing the "right" thing?  This story addressed those questions.  My favorite part stated, "God is much less a divine dictator who demands perfect compliance to a predetermined plan for our individual lives, and much more a co-creator with us of the kind of lives we want to live.  I’m learning that His plan for me is a lot less like a laser-crossed minefield and a lot more of a journey of coming to know myself and coming to know Him."  I thought this was pretty profound and impacted my perspective on Gods plan for each of us.  It makes total sense.  God is with us EVERY step of the way and urges us to involve him in our lives.  He has given us agency for a reason.  We may stumble, but it is OKAY!  It is okay to fall, because when we do - we learn.  God loves to watch us grow and progress. 

I want to bear my testimony that it is the simple assurances everyday that remind me of God's love for me individually.  His power helps me in every aspect of missionary work and in my life!  I testify that God is always there for YOU!  Sometimes it may not feel like it, and it may feel dark and lonely, but the light comes!  I promise it come!  Just hang on and just keep smiling!   

I love and miss you all! 

Love, Sister Merrill     

Canada Week 52: God loves YOU!

Hey again!  Here comes another email from your favorite Sister Merrill - even though not a lot has changed from my previous letters but here goes.  I know the spirit will always convey what we need to hear, even if words are never actually said. 

This week was full of surprises!  My companion and I have had a couple slower weeks, and then all everyone needed us all at once in a matter of 2 days!  It was crazy!  We were so happy to help and do what was needed representing God's hands here n Drayton Valley, so we accepted every opportunity that time would permit.  As the week ended we felt so blessed that it was full of missionary experiences!  We also had exchanges on Thursday and Friday.  I was able to serve with my cute MTC best friend companion Sister Smith and her wonderful companion Sister Dalebout.  

I have said it before and I will say it over and over again - I LOVE SERVICE!  Yes, everyday is full of service as a missionary, but I love getting to share the joyous message of the gospel with those I am blessed to serve a little extra.  We had a couple of those opportunities this week.  My favorite part of service opportunies are to just be there and talk and love that person.  I can't help but imagine my Savior as I serve others, and think about how many times He loved and served and went above and beyond what anyone could have ever asked for!  I love feeling closer to my Savior through service!  Smiling is probably one of my favorite things to do in hopes to brighten someones day.  Sharing laughter and smiles go so much further than I think any of us even know - it really is incredible!  It has been neat to notice the difference in my mood when I write a simple letter or sticky note for someone else.  True joy truly does come from loving and serving people around us.  

This week we taught some wonderful lessons and witnessed some of God's tender mercies.  His sweet tender mercies have become such a wonderful part of my mission.  We taught some wonderful people God has entrusted to us in this area and in His work.  Sometimes it can be quite difficult to meet with people, but we always keep trying when we know God wants us to.  One person we teach each week is a friend of one of the members here.  It has been really neat to see his progression and the change in him.  Even though his progress has been slow - truly line upon line - almost word upon word - the light in his eyes is faint, but it is there.  The love that fills the room as we read the Book of Mormon with him is incredible!  Another friend we have been teaching is the sweetest lady.  She also has the funnest dog we get to play with when we visit her.  She is so amazing and LOVES the Book of Mormon.  She recently asked us what some of our favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon are - it was truly a tender mercy.  She is so wonderful and we love talking with her and just being her friend.  I also love to bear my simple testimony of what I know with her.  We also got to visit my favorite little kiddos, the Bryantons, this week.  They are SO wonderful!  They are some of the smartest, sweetest, hardest working kids I have ever met.  My favorite thing about them is their sweet, firery spirts!  The light of Christ sure shines bright in their countenances and it blesses my life.  I will be forever grateful for all of the amazing, incredible, wonderful people I have met here in Canada.  I love loving and serving God's children! 

This past week my studies and pondering have been focused on the missionary Ammon.  I have grown to love the story of Ammon, and just Ammon himself, because he was always HIMSELF and he loved and served the best he could.  He never tried to be something else, nor did he try to convert the king or his people right away.  He just loved and served others as the Savior would.  Like Ammon, this too has been a favorite focus on my mission.  I don't want or need to mold myself in a specific way, or do missionary work the way it has always been done.  I have learned that I can truly rely on my Savior and His example, and to find peace in just doing the best that I can.  Ammon's confidence stemmed from the Lord and not his own abilities.  I have also reflected a lot on the different mission experiences of others in the Book of Mormon and how they are all different,   but they are all different with the same purpose. I think this applies to ALL aspects of life and not just missionary service for 18 months to 2 years.  I think a lot of times we get caught up in thinking life should be going a certain way, or that we should be doing something at a certain time.  One of my favorite quotes is from Henry B, Eyring.  He said,  "When you do your part, the Lord adds His power to your efforts."  We are not in this alone!  WE ARE NEVER ALONE!  God may be quiet more often than not, but I can promise you that He truly is there.  I have been one to struggle with this because I tend to like the loud, "Hello here is your answer, here is the direction you need to go, this is what to do, etc..."  As I have tried to look for God's hand in my life each and every day, I have been able to see Him more fully and witness His tender mercies everywhere.  I have learned that His answers more often than not are simple and not grand.  We can feel His love in a smile from someone, a hug, or something someoe says.  In life bumps are going to come, holes will appear, wrong turns will be taken, and sometimes we are going to feel stuck.  This also happened to so many people in the Book of Mormon.  They even got depressed (Alma 26:27).  I know it is sometimes hard to hang on, but we can, and we can learn from others.  We can learn from people in the scriptures, like Ammon, that if we continually put our trust in the Lord that strength will be added to our efforts, no matter how small, and we will be given help to endure! 

I have a testimony of our Savior and the strength He adds to our efforts and abilities to endure!  I have a testimony that God truly LOVES YOU!  I have felt it over and over again and I cherish that feeling every time!  I love each small opportunity God provides me with to be His hands! 

Look for the Lord's tender mercies and remember to always share a smile!  I love and miss you all!

Love, Sister Merrill  

Sister Merrill & Sister Petelo

Exchanges with Sister Dalebout & Sister Smith

Heather & the Sisters