Canada Week 68: Let go of expectation and have a Happy New Year!

Hello my friends and family on the last Monday of 2020!  HOW INSANE IS THAT?!  Hopefully somewhere among the crazy and different you all had a good Christmas celebration and are looking forward to the new year!  Our week was full of adventure and laughter - God for sure has a sense of humor.  We are so grateful to be spreading peace and love this time of year and always! 

Our week began with some fun member lessons centered on focusing on Christ for Christmas.  It has been so wonderful bringing an even greater focus on Him during this holiday season.  Due to Covid, most people have had a much quieter time this year than usual.  I think it has given each of us more time to think and reflect on our Savior and all that He is, and all that He does for us.  Our member's testimonies are amazing, and I am so grateful to be here teaching them and getting to know them.  As for God's sense of humor - this is because we have been given lasagna for supper almost everyday for the past 2 weeks.  This also happened last year - I just take it as a sign from Him to make me laugh during the hard times.  This week we served others with some 6 foot greetings as we dropped off Christmas gifts to some cute, older single ladies, some single moms, and one of a recent convert who is alone.  It was so fun to bring a smile to their faces even if it was just for a moment.  They are all wonderful!  

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day our awesome Mission President and wife put together a couple fun Zoom get togethers for all the missionaries.  Christmas Eve we watched part of a movie revolving around Christmas during World War One.  It gave me a new perspective as to how our Christmas looked a little this year.  We also learned more about Mary and Joseph as we watched some cool clips that shed light upon each of them and on the culture during that time.  They also gave me a stronger focus to their faith in the whole plan God had laid out for them.  This really strengthened my testimony in the details of Christ's birth.  Christmas day was good - different - but still good!  We had a mission Zoom party for a few hours.  We watched "It's a Wonderful Life," interacted with each other and focused on Christ.  That evening Sister Crowe and I went and walked around a path lit up with beautiful lights!  

My thoughts this week revolved a lot around expectation.  This has always been a struggle for me.  I question what things are "supposed to" look like, feel like, be like, sound like, etc...the list could go on and on.  Sometimes I find that it can be hard to just let it be, to just live in the moment with a heart full of trust.  To believe things will all work out, that things will be how God needs them to be as we do our best and trust in Him.  This has been a story in 2020.  We all had ideas and goals and expectations of what the year was supposed to be, and pretty sure not one of us expected a worldwide pandemic to join the party, but it did.  Somehow we all have learned how to live life in new and different ways.  Was everyday beautiful?  Probably not, but hopefully we were able to find some reasons to smile!  Most, if not all, of life is a choice.  We all have the choice of what we do each day, what path to take, what to make of ourselves, our attitude toward different situations and dealing with the unexpected things placed on our paths.  I testify that attitude and mindset make a huge difference in our lives.  We can't fill our minds with everything that isn't happening, or of things that we can't do, or what we aren't becoming.  I'm guilty of this way too often.  Satan thrives off of this stuff and we can't give him power.  We need to learn to flip it and choose optimism.  We need to choose to see what we can STILL do, even if it is different.  We must Choose Christ.  Christ makes everything possible.  Christ gives us hope.  Christ gives us light.  Christ gives us the opportunity to choose optimism and to choose joy.  I am well known for thinking way too much about every finite detail of everyday.  It is so easy to get wrapped up in expectations.  I have also learned about the thief that comparison within expectation can be.  It is a learning process every day in how to trust more in God - to trust Him to take the reigns, to just let things be, to learn as we go, and to just do our best and recognize that this truly is enough! 

The year 2020 taught me many things.  I could write pages.  What have you learned?  I simply want to state that 2020 was the year that I truly learned the value of Jesus Christ as my Savior, exemplar, friend and brother.  It was a year that I truly, without a doubt, felt eternally encircled the arms of my Heavenly Father's love.  It was the one and only entire year that I had one true focus every day as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  It was a year I loved God's children and felt the immense love God has His children, through me.  It was also a year full of distraction, distress, heartache, struggle and darkness - but everyday can't be roses and rainbows.  If we didn't have the bad days how would we appreciate the good days?  This past year I became more deeply converted to my Savior Jesus Christ, and because of this, I was given strength - through Him - to pick myself up each and everyday.  

I know that my Savior lives.  I know that He loves me.  I know that He loves you.  I know that His love is incomprehensible, but that we have the amazing ability to feel it.  We are each of great value so don't ever give up.  Just keep trying and keep going.  I promise the good that comes from God will outweigh the hardship at one point or another.  I am so grateful for Jesus Christ.  He truly is my Savior. 

I love and miss you all!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I hope the new year brings more peace and joy than turmoil to you all!   

Love, Sister Merrill 

Christmas Zoom Party!

Christmas tree from Grandma :)

Merry Christmas from Sister Merrill!

Spreading holiday cheer!

Lasagna ---- again ----

Canada Week 67: Be still and know that I am God

Hello hello friends and family!  Hopefully everyone had a great week.  I have been in my new area for about a week and am loving it so far.  I also love my new companion, Sister Crowe.  The work truly does move forward regardless of circumstance, and I'm excited to see what God has in store for me the last few months of my mission.  The people here are amazing and I can't wait to continue getting to know them.

TRANSFERS!  Transfers are always an adventure!  I got to see President and Sister Cowley and it just melted my heart.  I am so grateful they preside over the Canada Edmonton Mission.  They are so powerful and such sweet, loving humans.  I haven't seen them in person in a long time so good to see them again.  It was also fun to see other missionaries for a bit in the church parking lot.  We had to keep our eyes peeled for others watching because Alberta is fining people who are gathering with people outside their cohort//household!  So that was exciting!

On another exciting note - I have been a missionary for 16 months TODAY!  I cannot believe I have had the amazing opportunity to wear Christ's name upon my chest for so long!  I am so grateful I still have a few months left.  This has been the craziest ride I've ever been on thus far in my life.  It has had countless bumps, turns, twists, ups and downs.  It has also been full of so much love, peace, joy and gratitude.  I wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world.

For anyone who knows me, may also know that change is usually quite an adjustment - no matter how needed it is.  For me, change comes with a multitude of emotions, so the first week of a transfer tends to feel a little like a blur.  I usually get caught up in over thinking about almost everything.  I love the phrase found in Psalms 46:10 that says,  "Be still and know that I am God."  It is so simple.  I feel like we often forget to take time to be still.  I know I do.  The world is busy and there is always so much going on around us, and sometimes a lot can just be going on inside our heads.  Satan loves this - I know he sure loves this in my life.  It can be hard to block out the noises around us, but I know that it is so important to take time to be still and recognize God in our lives.  I hope this week you are able to take some time to be still and think about the goodness of God.  I really am excited to embrace this change and the adventure it entails. 

This week I was able to meet with a few of the members from each ward we serve.  We cover three wards so it will for sure provide a lot of opportunity to meet new people!  I am grateful for God's plan and for the experiences and opportunities He provides for me.  The lessons we shared with the members this week were super fun, and the spirit was so strong.  We were also able to teach a few lessons with some investigators in the area.  We included some members in these lessons and it was just incredible!  It is always so cool for me to see just how different everyones life is and the way they come to a knowledge of things.  This past weekend we were blessed to be a part of a couple different services.  We helped at the local food bank and at the bishops storehouse filling orders.  I have said it again and again, and will never NOT say it.  I LOVE SERVICE!  It just warms my whole heart in a special way knowing that I had a small part in brightening someones day.  We were also able to serve our Mission President by walking his cute dog Moose!  She is an Australian Sheppard and we love her!  We had some good, positive interaction with a lot of people while walking her, and the best part was that the approached us because of the cute dog!  Overall, this was a splendid week full of change, laughter, emotion, fun and more.  God is always there to strengthen us as we need! 

My closing thought today comes from reflecting on my mission thus far.  People's lives are all going to to look different.  Every missionary's experience is going to look different.  But I testify it will always be exactly what that person is in need of.  Each of us have to experience to learn different things in this life.  Another thing I have been pondering and trying to understand is that we can't be perfect, nor can we be perfectly converted.  I am learning that perfect people don't need a Savior.  My wonderful father shared with me that in the Topical Guide of the scriptures the word perfect means whole, complete, fully developed.  We just can't be those things without our Savior and His grace.  We can never be 100% this or that without Him.  We are going to fall short and make mistakes.  We are going to "miss the mark," but He will always be there to pick us up.  That is the beauty of free agency, and the beauty of every minute of every day.  We always have the opportunity to try again.  Christ did not die in vain or because He thought it would be fun.  He suffered and died for each of us BECAUSE He loves us.  He loves us so much that He wanted to open the way for us to have someone to run to, and to have the opportunity to TRY AGAIN!  It doesn't matter what we have done, or where we are at - we can always come back.  He will also meet us where we are if we need Him to.  We just need to do what we can with the understanding and ability we have now.  As we grow, learn, and progress each day, our ability and understanding will change.  It is easy to get down on ourselves, but don't worry!  Jesus Christ and His grace have your back!  

I am so grateful for my older brother, Jesus Christ.  I am grateful for His example, for His love, His strength, His patience, and His genuine care.  I am grateful for agency and for the opportunity to continually try again and again to be better, and do better, and to build a deeper relationship with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ! 

I love and miss you all!  I hope you have a wonderful week a very Merry Christmas!   

Love, Sister Merrill 

Sydnee & Moose

Sister Merrill & Sister Crowe

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2020!

Canada Week 66: Goodbye Drayton Valley

Hello hello my beautiful friends and family!  Another week has come and gone, but this one brings BIG NEWS!  I will be leaving my home here in Drayton Valley, and all the wonderful people who have become family the past 9 months.  Tomorrow afternoon I am headed to the Fort Saskatchewan, Cherry Grove, and Clarkdale area.  My new companion will be Sister Crowe.  I'm excited for this new adventure God has planned for me! 

My last week here with Sister Hill was another adventure.  We experienced Christmas snow globe "movie watching"(Christmas pictures & story slide show) in a member's yard with yummy popcorn and hot chocolate.  We had virtual exchanges with some Sisters we are over.  We enjoyed a 6 foot socially distant campfire supper right before Alberta shut down again due to Covid.  We were also blessed with more member lessons, new friends, lots of Christmas lights and an outdoor fridge!  Yep!  One of Canada's best kept secrets is that your balcony can become your fridge/freezer in the winter when you need some extra space!  Our church meetings were held via Zoom this week due to the rise in Covid cases here in Alberta and new restrictions.  I haven't attended Zoom church up until this point so it was an experience for sure.  I feel so grateful that we were still able to attend virtually rather than not at all.  

Little miracle of the week.  We were calling people who had been previously taught here in Drayton Valley, and someone answered and let us chat.  We got to know her and found out that her son passed away a few years ago, and she is still having a hard time with it.  We were able to share our knowledge and testimony of God's revealed truths of the Plan of Salvation He has for His children.  The spirit was so strong!  She thanked us for sharing this message and appreciated the comfort and peace she felt.  What a wonderful opportunity we are blessed with to provide others with the peace that can be felt from this true gospel! 

I really don't have more to say this week other than God is good!  I came across a saying that says, "Be the reason someone believes God is good."  It warmed my heart!  I feel this has been the motto of my mission.  There are always reasons around us that God is good.  I know He places us in situations, and with others, where we have the opportunity to be the reason for others to believe God is good!  This is apparent now more than ever with all the negativity in the world - so go make it known that God is good!  For the past 9 months I have felt God's goodness bless my life as He has given me the opportunity to serve in Drayton Valley for so long.  I am so grateful for all of the experiences, moments, and more that I have been a part of here.  I am especially grateful for the people that I have grown to love, and will cherish those I've grown close to.  I will forever remember the countless times I felt God's love as I bore testimony to those around me, and as I served them in simple ways.  I feel so blessed that I was able to be there for people in unique ways, and to simply be an example and share God's love with them.  Drayton will always hold a special place in my heart.  God truly ALWAYS knows what is best for us!

Remember to look for God's hand in your everyday life. I promise you it will bring great peace and comfort.  I testify that He loves you with an incomprehensible love and He will forever be by your side!  Stay strong!  I love and miss you all! 

Love, Sister Merrill 

Sister Hill & Sister Merrill

Zoom District Council

Plan of Salvation

Fire in 5 degrees!

Canada Week 65: Peace be still

Hello my wonderful friends and family!  It is December - I think it is super crazy!  Hopefully everyone is hanging in there and finding the simple in life that will make you smile! God is all around us despite what the world makes us feel. 

My week consisted of member lessons upon member lessons, a few investigator lessons, store contacting, virtual exchanges, playing with the cutest puppies, BEAUTIFUL skies, and Christmas tree hunting!  Some cute members let us pick out a tree on their property and then they cut it down and brought it to us.  They handed it to us over our balcony so we could be 6 feet apart with masks.  It was quite funny and awesome!  The lessons we have been able to teach have been wonderful.  The spirit is a beautiful thing!  God truly does inspire us to know who we should reach out to.  He knows who needs a little extra love, especially during the crazy times right now.  Everyone needs extra love - even if it is virtually! 

We had a combined District council this week and it was wonderful!  It was so inspired and so spirit led.  We discussed the talk "The Challenge to Become" by Elder Oaks in October 2000.  IT IS SUCH A GOOD TALK!  Give it a read!  He said that the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.  THIS IS SO TRUE!  God's whole purpose and plan is for us to grow and progress and we all have the opportunity and destiny to do so.  The part that impressed me the most was about the process of becoming.  It isn't easy - it isn't always fun - It is hard.  It is going through the refiners fire - changing from coal to a diamond.  Coal has to undergo a lot of pressure to become a diamond, likewise, God knows what we need to go through to become the diamonds He sees in us.  We are also all on a DIFFERENT journey - no two of us are on the same journey.  God has individual plans and ideas for each and everyone of us.  Satan also LOVES to feed off the negativity and comparison he puts into our minds.  We need to look from the inside out and recognize that our plan is different than others.  Our trials are different.  We are all on our own journey to become.  Thankfully our loving Heavenly Father will be there every step of the way helping each of us to create the life that's right in front of us.  

Another thought I want to share this week comes from a message that we got to be a part of with some members.  They do an advent candle activity, and this week the candle was peace.  Peace is something I have loved recognizing, reminiscing in, and remembering.  It is beautiful, and like the atonement, it is individual to each of us.  It touches us in unique ways, and helps us in ways that God knows will be best for us.  Peace comes in many shapes and forms, BUT Christ's peace passes all understanding and is unlike any other peace life offers.  It works from the inside out and then allows for us to find that peace in others and other things.  It helps us to see the good.  With our tranquil faith in Christ, we can feel that peace more abundantly in our everyday lives.  Others may see this and wonder how we are able to stay peaceful during turbulent times.  We can respond by bearing witness that we are not afraid because we have peace in Christ, and because we have peace in Christ, we can share it with others around us. One of my favorite scriptures illustrates this beautifully in John 14:27 --

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Thanks for all the prayers and support! I'm hanging in there and finding peace in Christ.  I hope you can too.  I love and miss you all!

Love, Sister Merrill 

Picking out a Christmas Tree

Cute puppies!