I can't think of what I should call this email. Hi :)

Hi there,

So this has been a big adjusting week. It always is with a new companion. It's good though. I can definitely see how this is going to be another growing transfer. It was hard not having Hna. Millet - a powerhouse missionary. But I know that as Hna. Prestgard and I adjust to each other and strive to be unified, we'll show the Lord we're ready for miracles and that He can trust us with His children.

We taught the 10 commandments with Georgi (returning member) and she walked through her whole house with us and took down all the crosses and saints! Even all the family heirlooms from deceased grandparents that mean a lot to her. It was amazing. Then she came on an appointment with us and was INCREDIBLE. It was her first time and she was so good! She's going to be a ward missionary! So excited for that. She is going to do so much good for the Lord.

Connie! She was praying a lot this week and has decided to be baptized on Nov. 23! She is so solid. I am so excited for her. She is the sweetest little lady. Her tight hugs squeeze all her grandmotherly love into me. I love her so much. She said she's going to come out to Utah when Hna. Millet and I get married and she will have gone through the temple by then - so sweet!

Dane got a calling! Sunday School Secretary. And he got home teachers! And he came to 3 ward activities this week! Yay! Those are going to help him keep going strong in the church. He's looking for a job and we're all praying he can find one that doesn't require that he work on Sunday.

Robert, our super solid ward missionary who comes on like all our appointments and is amazing had his farewell and is leaving this Saturday to enter the MTC the following Wednesday! We're losing a good soldier. It'll be hard without him and Hna. Millet :( They are both the greatest missionaries ever, but they're going to do great things in Argentina and the Philippines!

I am grateful for experiences the Lord gives me to teach me to trust in Him. I know that through the both redemptive and enabling power of the atonement I can endure any trial with patience and with a glad heart. I know that the Lord is so merciful to let us be part of His work. I am grateful to be of service to Him in any way I can, whether it's enjoyable or not. Even so, there are always many things to be happy about. We just have to trust in the Lord, accept His will, be patient, look for the blessings and the miracles.

Grateful to be a missionary,
Hna. Cannon

Staying in Solvang!

Well, I am staying another transfer in Solvang! Hna. Millet got her visa to Argentina so she will be leaving! It was perfect timing with transfers. I am so so sad she's leaving but I'm excited for her. She is the best companion ever. Oh my goodness. I have learned so much from her. It was so fun just tearing it up with her. We were a powerful pair. But she is going to go do so much to build up the wards in Argentina. So excited for her! But will miss her like crazy! I've really had to work on trusting in the Lord. I was a little scared this morning about handling this area without Hna. Millet. But I know if the Lord trusts me to do it, I can trust in Him, and He will help us to do His work in His way.

I have finally graduated from the 12 week training program! This will be my first transfer in the mission not training or being trained. My new companion is going to be Hna. Prestgard! I know her already. This will be her fourth transfer in the mission. We're going to go get her at transfer meeting tomorrow! It'll be crazy to have an extra hour of proselyting every day!

So, I spent a ton of the time at the dentist this week. Turns out there were a bunch of stuff our old dentist should have caught, and this sweet member fixed it all for free and saved me from a root canal! It was so kind and generous. And we got to share the gospel with his dental hygienists so he was excited about that :)

This is a shout out to my sweet cousin Katie Cannon Wilkie! I loved reading in her letter about everything she is doing to be a member missionary. The field is white and we all can take part in the harvest! Thanks for your awesome example Katie!

Connie is doing so well! She is praying this week about getting baptized on Nov. 23. I think she will because she already asked Bro. Nash to baptize her! So exciting!!!

We had an awesome lessons with these 2 new investigators this week. Alisa (50 yrs.) and her daughter Ashley (24 yrs). We taught the plan of salvation to just Alisa and when we explained the spirit world she was like, "That's what I believe!" She said nobody's ever explained it to her that way but that's what she's always thought. We asked if once she investigates our church and comes to know if it's true if she would like to be baptized, and she said Yes! very matter-of-factly.

This area is doing so well! So many miracles all the time. I love it here so much and am so grateful the Lord is letting me be here to see all of these incredibly prepared people change their lives. Part of why He sent me here was not only to help them, but so that I could see their incredible examples of faith, that strengthens my faith and is going to stay with me for the rest of my life.

The Lord loves us a lot.

I love you!
Hna. Cannon

Went to the dentist 3 days in a row this week. This super nice member is a dentist and gave me fillings for free! So so nice. This was when my face was numb. I promise I am doing all I can to smile. This was the best I could do.

This is what got me through this week. Halls is the greatest ever. They give me messages about pressing forward. So kind of them while I am sick.

We helped make tamales with all these Spanish ladies for a school fundraiser! Super fun. I will make you tamales one day cause I know how now!

Here is our ward mission team! Everyone except the missionaries from left to right: Robert (ward missionary, going to the Philipinnes in 2 weeks!), Lizzie (ward missionary, going to Russia in December!), Bro. Liljenquist (ward mission leader), Chandler (working on his papers). These people are amazing! They do so much for us. We're all laboring in the vineyard together!

Last dinner together with the hermanas at Burrito Loco! It is our favorite place. Hna. Millet and Hna. Tokailangi (closest to you) will be going to Argentina this week! Hna. Wright is staying and is going to be a sister training leader!!!!

Look at this hilarious scarecrow! It's at the firestation as you can see. Haha. We loved it. This town is so cute. They're having a scarecrow contest! All the businesses here have scarecrows that are super fun.

This is Carl and Woody! They are the greatest ever. Our little miracle family. Love them so much!

Best week ever?!

Hello!

Well, this has been an exciting week. Dane got baptized! Circumstances led him to decide to be baptized on the original Oct. 12 date. We are so excited for him. After the ordinance we all wrote down our testimonies for him and we're making it into a book :) He was confirmed in church yesterday and the ward did such a good job of welcoming him. After the 3 hour block he told us that he felt the spirit so strong that it was a little overwhelming. He said it was less at other churches, and here it was too strong. Haha he said he's going to have to start taking it in smaller doses. That was so cool to hear. He has the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide him now! Yay!

We had such a great lesson with Andy this week too. We were talking about prophets and out of nowhere he starts telling us the things holding him back from baptism. He said it's mainly smoking. But he's been drug free for 2 years, and he said he really wants to quit smoking and coffee too. He said he would pray about baptism for the next 2 weeks. All of that was his idea. He came to Dane's baptism and loved it! He keeps letting slip, "When I get baptized.." Haha. Andy is so amazing. He's one of the coolest people I've ever met. His story is incredible. So excited for him to receive the gospel in it's fullness one day! I'm sending you a picture of him!

Toni came to church too! She's a less active member we've been working with. Her life is super hard. But she came and she said it felt like she was coming home. She felt so uplifted and edified. We were so happy for her! It sounds like she's here to stay. Yay!

So, sometimes when you have to plan a baptism in 4 days, it's really stressful, and then you get really sick. Ha, I'm sick as a dog right now. But my companion is amazing. She is so solid. She got here 11 weeks ago? What? I am so grateful for her. There's no way this could have happened without her. She helped me so much and did more than here share of the planning. She is an incredible missionary and is going to continue to do wonderful things.

But guess what? When we are patient and faithful throughout our trials we can submit to them cheerfully and that brings hope and peace. That's what I'm learning right now. And you know what else? When I stop being a sick old grump I realize, hey, there's actually a ton of things to be happy about.

-I have the best companion ever.
-I am in the best area ever.
-This is the best ward ever.
-Dane got baptized.
-Every dinner appointment this week we're like, "I love that family! How come we have such awesome families every night this week? Oh wait, it's because every single family is wonderful and we love them. Yay."
-I got to go to the dentist for free today! Super nice ward member.
-Best weather ever.
-I have the best family ever.
-The Lord helps me with everything if I just trust in Him.
-He takes away all of my burdens if I just let him. He loves me and all of His children here. He is always leading us to the ones who are ready for the gospel. He has done so much incredible work in this area through us. I know I am meant to be in this area, with this companion, right now. The field is white. Fruit is practically falling into our laps.

Thanks for letting me tell you about ALL the things! That was fun.

I love you a lot a lot.
Hna. Cannon

His Burden is Light

Happy General Conference! Can you believe it's already been a year since they announced the age change? Crazy.

A lot of people in our area are heavy laden with the burdens of life right now. It is heart breaking to see some of their struggles. There were 6 people we were focusing on yesterday who are really having a hard time. It hurt my heart to see so many people in so much pain. I realized what it means to bear one another's burdens. I felt their pain. Compassion is a beautiful thing. I felt we were really representing the Savior when we were able to share their burdens for a moment, then turn them towards the One they could cast their burdens to - who invites them to be eternally yolked with Him.

Yesterday someone asked me what my favorite part of missionary work is. I answered that it's those small moments when you know you've helped someone. Those times when you can see that someone is brought closer to Christ because you were there. There is no greater joy than that, at least that I have experienced.

Connie has been praying about whether this is the path the Lord wants her to go, and this week she received her answer! She has been reading the Book of Mormon everyday. She always starts with a question then opens the book randomly. She did so this past week, and opened up to a chapter all about baptism. She said she knows it's God's will that she be baptized, and that is her answer! Now she is praying for the strength to accept God's will :)

On Saturday we got to go with Dane to the baptism of a 21 year old guy named Justin. Wow. That was such a beautiful baptism. When he came out of the water he said, "That was amazing." He said a few words to us, you can really tell he is such a sincere and worthy convert. A girl named Chloe spoke and said they'd been close friends for years. She said she never knew when she gave him a Book of Mormon a few years ago that it would lead to this. Miracles happen! We just have to have faith and take action. I loved what Elder Ballard said on Saturday that this is the time for members and missionaries to be yolked together. Look at what can happen when we do so!

Les quiero mucho,
Hna. Cannon

Who's excited for Conference?!

Hello there!

Oh man. So many fun things this week. We had interviews with President Castro and an awesome sisters' training. That was wonderful. The Relief Society Broadcast - how great was that? We had a couple investigators come and they loved it. I loved how it was all about covenants - that's exactly what they are trying to decide on right now! We had the primary program and it was so good! They make it such a huge deal here. Everyone invited their friends and the program is so well put together and just spectacular. My favorite part was the beginning when each child said, "My name is ________ and I am a _______" (dancer, pianist, skateboarder, etc.) Then the last child said, "But most importantly..." and then they all sang "I am a Child of God" It was so powerful. I, along with half the congregation, teared up at that. I was so glad because we had 9 investigators at church that day! They all loved it. It was fantastic. Then for fifth Sunday third hour Bishop gave this awesome presentation about missionary work. It was all about faith preceding miracles. Then he had us four sister missionaries do a portion for 15 minutes. We talked about how we, just like God did in creating the world (Moses 3:5), need to create things spiritually before physically by practicing. So we demonstrated how to share the gospel with their friends by inviting, then they practiced, and we discussed after. From their comments it looks like they learned a lot! It seems a lot of them want to share the gospel but don't know how. So it was perfect. It was such a fun week! I loved it.

Dane! Great lessons with him this week. He's still on track for getting baptized on Oct. 12! That's in like 2 weeks! Ah! He's really logical, but this week he's finally starting to recognize the spirit. He called it a "tingle" and then he said, "Oh that feels good, Thank you, God." Haha. It was so funny. But we were happy he's learning to recognize the spirit! We watched the Restoration and he loved it. He's really starting to believe Joseph Smith was a prophet, and he's excited for conference this week to hear the living prophets.

Who else is?? ME! I'm so excited. I can't even wait. General Conference! Yay!

Connie is also really looking forward to it. She is 78, we've been teaching her for a little over a month, but she's been coming to church with her sister for a year. She's never read the Book of Mormon before, and this week she read it every day! She's been asking the Lord to give her knowledge, to guide her to know if this is the path He wants her to go. I feel she's very close to receiving that answer. Conference is going to be huge for her. She came to the RS Broadcast and loved it.

No! I ran out of time! Okay fine.

I love you! Have an amazing week and enjoy conference!
Hna. Cannon