Sister Syd: Canada Week 78: My cup runneth over!

To all my wonderful friends and family who have been there and supported me through this wild, amazing roller coaster journey of a mission - I want to say THANK YOU! I cannot believe this is my last weekly email I will ever write as a full time missionary for the Lord. This last week was special and hard all in the same breath, but my heart is full, and "my cup runneth over" with love and gratitude for so many things.

This week was the same as any other week - we taught lessons, had teaching appointments, performed services, ate our suppers, and went for walks - but this week was a little different and will always hold a special place in my heart. This was the week that Tyler took the step of baptism. He chose to follow his Heavenly Father and Savior. It was a very sacred, special experience that I will forever cherish and hold close to my heart. I may not have been there from the beginning, but I am overfilled with joy and gratitude that God allowed for me to be a small part of his journey towards Him and His son, Jesus Christ. Tyler is such an amazing example to me of truly humbling yourself and allowing Christ to help change you for the better, and accepting that through Christ our sins CAN be forgiven. I will never forget the joy on Tyler's face as he was baptized. He was bursting with light and happiness and it was the sweetest thing. He has come such a long way and I only saw part of his growth. He chose to give up things he loves for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, who he has come to love even more than those things. The spirit that filled the room as he was baptized was beautiful. I am so grateful for a gospel that has such a special feeling about it that allows for these beautiful moments to occur. I am truly grateful and humbled for this opportunity I have had to serve in the Canada Edmonton Mission and to be part of so many people's lives.

I have had so many thoughts shuffling around in my head about what I wanted to share in my last missionary email. It all keeps coming back to the very simple understanding and testimony that I have grown to have and hold near to me. I could be here all day long listing the lessons I have learned, the ways I have grown, the many beautiful and not so beautiful moments, and the endless amount of people that have made this experience everything and more to me. My mission has been the wildest ride. It has been one of the most sacred experiences that I have been a part of in my life so far. There were many bright wonderful days, and there were many dark days I had never anticipated. My heart will always have a special place for the memories, the endless moments, the people, the lessons, my growth and everything in between that has all worked together to create the mission I had, and the mission that God knew I needed. Jesus Christ truly is our Savior. He is our older brother and and our friend. I am truly humbled and grateful to say that I KNOW Christ lives and loves us and is always there for us. I know God is there and is always listening no matter how silent. I have had dark moments where it truly felt like heaven was closed, but I can testify that as I persevered and pushed through the light would shine again. The light will always shine. It may be little by little, and come in the simplest of moments, but it WILL come. This work is beautiful, and it has been the most incredible thing to feel the love God has for His children, through me.

It will be bittersweet to go. A little piece of my heart will always be in Canada. I will be forever grateful for the experiences and memories I have made here. This wild and amazing adventure I have been on for the past 18 1/2 months in the Great White North has been unforgettable! ♡

Much love to you all! I will see you very soon!

Love, Sister Merrill