Sister Syd: Canada Week 57: A grateful heart is a happy heart

Hello! I can't believe we are almost halfway through October! I hope everyone had a splendid week! It's Thanksgiving up here in the Great White North today. I am Thanksgiving fooded out! Our weekend was spent eating and eating, with a special fast in between, which was beautiful and wonderful! Being able to partake of the sacrament at church is one of my most favorite things ever! The added focus on my Savior and His sacrifice for me is such a special experience and the spirit is so strong. I am so grateful for my knowledge of Him and what He did, and what He continues to do, for me is very near and dear to my heart.

I have written in a gratitude journal for most of my mission. The speaker in church shared the message that only being extra grateful once a year isn't enough, and that it should be an all the time thing. While it is wonderful to give extra thanks on Thanksgiving, each day we need to open our eyes, open our hearts and open our arms. We can open our eyes by praying and asking for help to see the beauty around us. I would also add to see others deeply as was stated in General Conference. Each day we need to develop our Christlike attributes and be the best that we can be. A member I love dearly here reminded me of a wonderful quote by President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Try a little harder to be a little better everyday." What a simple and powerful reminder that takes that "be perfect" load off. This leads into opening our hearts. We can open our hearts to others by serving them, and in return this will open our hearts to God. We also need to be open to correction and humbling ourselves to be a little better everday. God will always help us become the best we can. Lastly, to open our arms. To me this means TO LOVE EVERYONE AS CHRIST DID! Developing Chistlike charity is one of the GREATEST things we can ever do. After all, the first two commandments are to LOVE God and LOVE our neighbor. This is a gospel all about LOVE! This was another focus that I loved about General Conference and felt so much love as I listened to the words spoken.

The rest of the week was full of service, wonderful lessons, visits and more. We helped a member release a skunk from their trap, and went hiking through the bush on their beautiful property. We also have a stellar member who did stop by visits with us. One visit was with a non-member famiy they knew. We were blessed to share a lesson on the plan of salvation hoping to ease the troubled mind of the boy who had just recently lost his father. The spirit was so strong. Talk about miracles! It was so beautiful to be a part of this, and I am so grateful I was able to testify of my Savior and the love He and God have for us as His children.

Each week we also enjoy some fun things as you can see in my pictures. We got to hang out and teach some of my favorite people on planet earth, THE BRYANTONS! They are seriously the cutest, sweetest spirits and I love them with my whole heart. This week I gave each of them their own copy of the Book of Mormon. I created each child their own special book with pictures of the Savior and my testimony. The reaction on their faces was unlike anything in this WOLRD! My little heart exploded with love! This week our district had a challenge on "wheeless Wednesday of who could find and take pictures with the most stop signs so that was fun! Also, those of you who know me know that I love sloths. A cute member gave us little gifts and mine was a sloth! I loved it! Oh, and baby kittens are just the cutest, tiniest things!

I am so grateful to be a missionary here in Canada. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to wear my Saviors name on my chest. Testifying of His love for each of us is unlike any other feeling I have ever felt and I have no words to express my gratitude. I hope and pray you all work everyday at building, strengthening, and deepening your relationship with your Savior Jesus Christ! HE LOVES YOU!

Have a wonderful week my beautiful friends and family! If you could, please add President Cowley, my mission president, to your prayers this week as he is dealing with some health issues. He and Sister Cowley are such a blessing in my life and I love them. I also love and miss you all immensely!

Love, Sister Merrill