Consecrate ALL the things!

Okay, let me just tell you about these 9 days that I am in the middle of. Oh boy has this week been exciting! We have had SO many opportunities for growth. We have definitely felt the Lord's trust and confidence in us. This is what we are doing/have done in these 9 days.

- Lead an EDPEP for district meeting (which is a method for training missionaries)

-Speak in Sacrament meeting

-Lead and EDPEP in front of the whole ward (everyone but primary) for combined 5th Sunday 3rd hour

-Plan Carl's baptism and speak at it

-Give a talk in district meeting, the district leader asked us to inspire the missionaries because some of them are struggling

Then, last night the assistants called me and said that we are going to have a language training conference this Friday, the first he's known of since being in his mission. And President Castro has asked that I give a 45 minute training by myself on how to create a language study plan. The people doing the conference will be President and Sister Castro, the assistants, and me. Yep, not intimidating at all. Right. Really though, I am excited for the opportunity. It feels good to know the Lord trusts us with so much.

I'm really glad the Lord has taught me to rely on him, because there is no way I could do any of this on my own. I definitely have seen how the Lord is always preparing us for something greater. He is always enlarging our vision and stretching us beyond our own capacities. As I learn to trust Him, I feel His trust in me. That enables me to accomplish wonders through him.

Quick update on Andy, he was able to quit smoking for 24 hours. Thank you so much for your prayers. This was a really humbling experience for him. He didn't realize it would be so hard. He always thought smoking was just a bad habit of his, but this brought him to admit that he is addicted. He is learning to trust in the Lord to an even greater degree. I know that in the Lord's way and time, he will enable Andy to quit smoking. He is making Andy to an instrument right now, and I know his experiences now will bless so many people.

I love you!

Hna. Cannon

What can we give to Him?

Merry Christmas!!!! I hope you all have a wonderful day and season to celebrate the Savior. I always thought it was nice when people said to remember the true meaning of Christmas. It is not until now that I have come to fully understand what that means. I think before I tried to do both - enjoy the material side as well as celebrate Christ. Now, the material aspects just doesn't matter at all. We give gifts to one another to express our love. The best thing we can do to celebrate Christmas is to do what Christ would do. Serve one another, do something to lift someone else. There's a lot of people who are sad and lonely this time of year. What a wonderful opportunity to help them remember that they have a Savior.

I love the incredible members of the church who exemplify Christ's love. I get a little teary because I am just so amazed at all the people here do for our investigators! It is amazing. They know what it means to represent Christ for others. Last week we helped our investigator Carl move into his new house, but because of his arms and back disability he couldn't unpack. So we brought a bunch of sisters from the Relief Society and went to town! They are SO good at organizing. When we showed up it was a disaster, and by the end it looked amazing! I loved their example of consecrating their talents to the Lord. Sometimes we don't even realize what talents we have to give, but these sisters were able to use theirs to fulfill a great need - for which Carl was so grateful. As sisters in Zion, we all worked together! It was so much fun to help Carl have some peace this Christmas and remove some stress. They brought him a tree too :) I know we can all use our talents to lift up the hands that hang down. That is what Christmas is about.

I've seen the power of God manifest this week as He continues to answer my prayers. I continue to see the blessings that come from obedience. This week He has taught me to be submissive, grateful, and full of love. I love the patience He has with us. I am grateful for the power of the atonement that enables us to improve each day.

Yesterday we started the LDS Stop Smoking Program with Andy! It's a great program. We're all really excited about it. He hasn't had a cigarette since 9:00 am yesterday! We've got a family fellowshipping him and each person is praying for him each day. Could you pray for him too? I know he can do this, and I know through faith and the atonement he can quit. He is so close. He is AMAZING. He is going to be such a great member of the church and inspire so many people with his example.

I love you so much!

Hna. Cannon

P.S. from Vida: We had a great visit with Amanda on the phone on Christmas day. She sounds great! She said a prayer for us and we really felt the spirit bless our lives. Tears of joy :) She's so awesome!!

The Spirit of Christ(mas)!

Such a fun time to be a missionary! I love how there's no hustle and bustle and it's all just 100% about Christ. This is one of the most meaningful Christmas's I've had. I love this time of year. I love the special opportunity I have to teach and testify of the Savior as we celebrate him. Speaking of which, I get to call you! When should I call? It can be any time between like 3:00 and 9:00 your time. Let me know!

This week I've re-learned the lesson of forgetting myself and going to work. I've really seen how the greatest happiness comes when you just lose yourself in the Lord's service. I love helping others, especially when I'm having a hard time. (Like spending 7 hours in the dentist chair getting root canals :)

I love the example the members here give of Christlike service. They give so freely of themselves. It's amazing. There are so many true followers of Jesus Christ in our church. They've helped Carl out so much. We moved him into his new house this week! It's a miracle that he found one so soon and in his price range. After that he had no more money - so the members have been so generous in providing him with food and other household essentials to get by for the month. I'm sure they'll get him and Woody some Christmas gifts as well. They are amazing. It has touched Carl's heart so much and helped him to feel part of the church.

Especially during Christmas time, I think about how much the Lord gives us. He really gives us everything - right down to the words to speak. He did that many times for me this past week. Yesterday the other hermanas' awesome investigator Eric came to church! He is amazing, and speaks only Spanish. And I got to translate sacrament meeting for him! I've never translated in real time before, so that was a really neat experience. Then after the opening prayer in gospel principles we found out we were teaching the lesson. (The ward mission leader and ward missionaries usually rotate). We jumped up and were excited for the opportunity. The Lord filled our mouths with the words to speak. The spirit was so powerful. The prospect of doing something like that used to terrify me. It's really fun to see how much I've grown and changed. When we rely on the Lord, we can do anything!

Have a great week!

Hna. Cannon

p.s. from Vida: Amanda had to get a 2nd root canal this week! Pray for her speedy recovery :)

Be like Nephi!

Hello family! I love you!

I have learned so much this week. I know God answers prayers. I cannot begin to tell you all of the experiences I have had this week of Him doing so. One day, He changed my heart in an instant. Another day I was seeking revelation for one of our investigators, and He answered me immediately through the scriptures. My testimony of that truth has grown so much this week.

I want to be like Nephi. He has been such an example to me in my mission. I read Mosiah 10:13 this week. I learned that when we are faithful, the Lord answers our prayers, and calls upon us to be leaders. It struck me a lot this week that the Lord needs me to be a leader. I have been in the mission longer than anyone in my district, and it really struck me this week that they are looking to me as an example. They are watching, and noticing what I do. It is my responsibility to make sure what they see will inspire them to be better. We are all representatives of Jesus Christ. Not only for our areas, but for each other. There were so many solid missionaries I looked up to at the beginning of my mission, that really influenced who I am as a missionary now. I realized it is time for me to be that for other missionaries. It's definitely another opportunity for growth.

I want to tell you about this incredible elder. If any of you have doubts about the capacities of 18-year-old missionaries, let the example of Elder Lee change your mind. He began his mission when I got here to Solvang. He was trained for 6 weeks, then began training a new missionary immediately after. His 3rd transfer he and that new missionary trained each other for the 2nd half of the 12 week program. On top of that, for the last half of the transfer they had a 3rd missionary join their companionship. Now, Elder Lee's 4th transfer in the mission, he is our district leader! This elder is incredible. He has had so much expected of him at so early in his mission, and he has excelled. He is so humble, relies on the Lord, loves those he serves. He is a true representative of Jesus Christ. That just strengthens my testimony so much of this being the Lord's work. He chooses the weak and simple, but when we rely on him, we can make miracles happen.

I LOVE seeing this work roll forth! It is my favorite thing. My very favorite thing. Ever.

Hna. Cannon

 

Last P-day with Hermanas Wright and Bartschi.

My district

 

Happy December!

Hello sweet family and friends!

This week I've learned a lot about grace. It is something you cannot fully understand until experiencing it for yourself. It is by grace that we are saved after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23). If we want to experience Christ's grace, the atonement, miracles, we have to push ourselves beyond our own capacity. That is the only way. That is when those miracles come. This week there were a few days where my strength was completely depleted, and I knew it would be impossible for me to press forward on my own. I plead for grace, and was carried to be able to do things I did not have the strength to do. I know that it is in the realm of grace that we can make a difference, because it is not us making the difference. The way to do that is to push beyond our own capacities.

Super happy thing I love: seeing Dane bless the sacrament every week. He is growing so much! His prayers and comments have become so much more sincere and focused. He's doing well in his calling and continues to come to church activities and all 3 hours of the block. He came up to me after church yesterday and said, "Today I felt the spirit twice!" Haha. So sweet.

Thanksgiving was great! I loved having a whole day to focus purely on thanking God for everything He has given us. Such a good holiday. We have so much to be grateful for! I love gratitude. It helps me so much to conquer things. That day we anticipated that nobody would really want to talk to us, and most investigators wouldn't want to meet. So we prepared brief Thanksgiving messages that could lead into the Restoration. We were so excited. People weren't as receptive as we would have hoped, but we feel like we did our part. And the Lord blessed us with miracles for it. We were able to meet with Carl that day and it was a miracle that we were able to get a member last minute to come teach him at the church with us. Another miracle was when we had Thanksgiving dinner with some members. Their less active son and non-member daughter in law came from Louisiana. They were smart and seated us right next to them. It was way natural and the perfect situation and we got to talk to her about her religious background and our message for most of the dinner conversation. We were able to give her 2 pamphlets and she said she's thinking about contacting the missionaries back in Louisiana! Then the dinner message went so well. It was perfect. The family was super grateful.

Time just ran out! I love you!

Hna. Cannon