If you thought last week was exciting...

So remember how last week my companion had to get her gall bladder taken out? And that we've been switching out with the sisters we live with? Well, last Thursday morning one of those sisters went home - leaving us in a tripanionship for the rest of the transfer. We were all so sad that day - we miss her so much. She was an amazing missionary and was such a fighter will everything she's had to face. We were all heart broken to see her go, but we felt a lot of peace about it and we knew it was right.

 

So we were a tripan! It was SO fun. Oh my goodness. I love LOVE both of my companions, Hna. Hamlin and Sis. Moure. We had such a great time together. Our personalities, strengths, and weaknesses just go so well together and we just help each other be at our best.

 

It's been amazing to see the Lord's hand in it. The way that everything worked out - you cannot deny that it was in God's plans all along. Sis. Moure is Mexican and she was called English speaking. That is so rare in the mission. It was a miracle having her with us. We would have a member stay with Hna. Hamlin while she recovered, and Sis. Moure and I would go out and cover two area - both hers and mine. It was insane. We had appointments and scheduled things all day long. And when there were schedule conflicts, the Lord just made everything work out in the end. We've been doing everything we can, even though we've been limited. The Lord knows we've only gotten to put in half the time in each area - so He has really been taking care of our area for us. We've seen more miracles this week than any other week of the transfer.

 

The Figueroa family is a part member family we've been teaching. With Sis. Moure, everything just finally clicked with them, and they are doing so well now! We've had 3 great lessons with them this week. At the end of the first, the dad (investigator) said the prayer and started to cry. The spirit was so strong. We were also able to connect with the wife. She needs a lot of support right now. We've got such a great fellowshipper that is such a great friend to her - and we are all having lunch together this week. Then the whole fmaily came to a baptism yesterday! The oldest son is 16 and a recent convert, along with his 14 year old sister, and he bore his testimony. It was so great to have them there and have them having fun afterwards and talking with the members. The 2 kids think both of their parents will be baptized this transfer. Let's hope so! They're getting there, and doing so well.

 

The Sanchez family is another part member we're working with. The dad (investigator) is doing so well! He's been coming to church for years and sees it's a good thing. He told his wife he wants his kids to go on missions and get married in the temple. So she asked him, "And what are you going to do, wait outside?" Haha. So now he's taking the lessons, and wants to know for himself whether it's true. He said he'll be baptized once he does.

 

Savdi - an amazing member referral! She is 16 yrs old, best friends with a member. We had such a great restoration lesson with her. She is so smart, and has so much real intent. When we invited her to be baptized if she knew it were true she agreed without hesitation. She loves what she's seen about our church, how it's the same everywhere, and how everyone is like a fmaily. The only problem is that her family is not supportive. But hopefully that will change. When we gave her the BOM she looked so hungry for it - she immediately started flipping through it. We are excited for her!

 

Jorge and Alma - Alma is amazing! She is so prepared. She is so sensitive to the spirit and really wants to know the truth. She wants to be part of Jesus Christ's true church. Jorge is more learning for curiosity - but hopefully the spirit will touch his heart too.

 

This is going to be a great transfer! I'm excited to get to stay here with Hna. Hamlin. Pres. Castro told me he had other plans for me, but he sees the Lord had something else in mind. I have such a strong testimony that the Lord spiritually creates our missions - and lives. Everything happens exactly the way it needs to. He puts us all in each others lives right when we're needed.

 

I love you! Have a great week!

Hna. Cannon

"Tripanionship" Sister Hamlin, Amanda & Sister Moure

All the missionaries in Amanda's branch in Simi Valley, plus a few members.

Did this all really happen in one week?

How do I even begin to talk about this week - there is so much. Well, about 2 weeks ago my companion, Hna. Hamlin began to feel a sharp pain in her side. It was getting worse, and on Tuesday this week it was horrible - I ended up taking her to the ER. Turns out it was her gall bladder, and she had to get emergency surgery. She was in so much pain, and it was very hard for her to be going through this away from her family. She had to do the surgery and recover here because it wasn't safe for her to travel.

The day she got the surgery the two sisters we live with (Sis. Moure and Sis. Hancock) and I all fasted for her. I prayed specifically that the Lord would send her His angels and His Spirit to bear her up. She said that even while she was in so much pain, she felt the love and Spirit of the Lord wrap her up like a warm blanket. I was so grateful for that.

I took her to the ER on Tuesday, and again on Wednesday, they did the surgery that night, and she stayed in the hospital until Friday morning. Then Friday morning we went to live with a member of the English ward until today to help me take care of her.

President and Sister Castro came to visit, as did various ward members and missionaries. They brought us meals and took such good care of us. We really felt everyone's love. I think love is the greatest principle I've learned about this week. - kind of ironic with it being Valentine's Day and all.

On Thursday President Castro had me switch out with some Sister Training Leaders. I went with Hna. Lindford - who I know and love. She is the most loving missionary I know. I was pretty exhausted physically, emotionally, and mentally, and she just fixed me. It was just hard for me to see my companion in so much pain, because I love her so much. But Hna. Lindford's love healed me, strengthened me and helped me to be able to do everything I need to. It felt so good to go out and do some missionary work. I tell you what, I am SO grateful to be a missionary. Sharing the light of the gospel just brings light into your own life. It felt so good to get out and work. It was just what I needed.

Pres. Castro has had us switch out with the sisters we live with and work in our area for a couple hours each day while Hna. Hamlin recovers.

Okay, this email sounds really depressing. I'm going to change my tone now haha.

Going out with Sis. Moure has been so fun! She is an incredible missionary. She and I are so close and are in the same situation - as are our companions. So the way this switching out has been working is so good for all of us. Our companions are both struggling so it's been good for them to rest together and have fun talking - while Hna. Moure have so much fun together going out and teaching! We both run really fast paced so it's so fun to go out with her and just work. I LOVE teaching with her. She has only been a member for 2 years and has such a powerful testimony. We teach so well together. It's great.

It was fun living with that English Sister too - her name is Sis. Doucette. She was an elderly woman who lives alone and works in the temple. She loved having us. I prepared a message for her and she just loved it. I really felt the Lord speaking through me and giving her exactly what she needed in her life. While Hna. Hamlin rested I did studies like normal, then during the day helped Sis. Doucette around the house, picked her oranges, and moved some boxes for her. I was glad we were staying with her. I think I would have gone crazy just at the apartment without having anyone to help. Of course I help Hna. Hamlin with whatever she needs - but she's asleep most of the time. I love all the studying I get to do - but when you study for 8 hours every day you just start to go a little crazy. So it was good getting to help her.

I definitely feel the enabling power of the Atonement helping me to do everything I need to. It's only through Christ that I've been able to take care of my companion, and take care of our area by myself. But I don't feel alone at all. I feel the Savior and the Spirit right by my side. I feel the love and support of our mission president and his wife, the sisters we live with, and the members here.

I know this is happening for a reason. The Lord has a plan for her. Even though it's so hard I know it will become a blessing in her life and in her mission. I know my knee surgery was a big turn around point for me. If you could all please pray for Hna. Hamlin I would really appreciate it. She is looking better every day. It's still hard, but I think the worst of it is over.

Okay sorry this email was so long and not organized at all. And probably a little bit of a downer. It was hard to figure out how to tell the story of this whole week.

But all is well. We are learning and growing. I really love being a missionary. It's the greatest joy there is. I am more grateful for it now than ever.

I love you! Thank you for everything!

Hna. Cannon

Plant the seeds and hope for Rain!

Hello!

 

We've had a great week with lots of miracles! Elder Garns, our area seventy, asked that we all pray and fast for rain last fast Sunday. It rained all week! It was such a miracle.

 

We also found lots of great people to teach.

 

Jorge and Alma - we found Jorge out walking and set an appointment to come visit him and his family. They were amazing! They were so involved and just asking questions left and right. They loved the message of the Restoration and wanted to find out for themselves if it's true. They said they would read from the Book of Mormon, pray about it, and come to church this week!

 

Adrian, Sherise, and Gracie - oh my goodness, the cutest little family. They were so nice to let us in and sat down to have a lesson with us. We shared the Restoration, and throughout it cute little 4 year old Gracie kept giving us little presents. We are now each the proud owners of a decorative green bunny, two water bottles, a fruit cup, and some cookies from Costa Rica. She was the cutest thing ever. She said the closing prayer and said, "Dear God, thank you for these beautiful people, because I love them. In Jesus' name, amen." It was adorable. They're not sure yet about some of the things we taught but they invited us to have dinner with them next week! And they are way way interested in family history! They said they really liked us and are excited to meet again. The Lord uses us to touch hearts in various ways - I'm excited to see them hopefully feel the spirit and come to accept the message one day :) when we started to walk outside little Gracie yelled, "Wait! I want another hug!" Cutest child ever.

 

Saul - here's a fun one. We had a wrong number call us, he was looking for some business or other. I said, "Sorry I think you have the wrong number. But we are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and we teach people about the gospel of Jesus Christ." We started talking and he said he lives in Oxnard. I asked if he'd like missionaries from our church to come visit him and he said, "You know, the Lord works in mysterious ways. I had no idea I'd be calling missionaries today, but I would actually love some people from your church to come talk to me about it." Then he gave me is information and we passed it along to have the missionaries come visit him! So that was a fun little opportunity :)

 

Ana - our first or second week here we visited her on the day she was going to have surgery (I think maybe I told you this story?) On her teaching record it said "The wife is the key." We've met her husband as well, it turns out she is a member and he is not. We had a great meeting with her this week and she said that day we came she decided to postpone the surgery because she just didn't feel good about it. She remembered that we prayed with her, and she felt it was the spirit guiding her. We shared a message from 1 Nephi 8:20-24 about the iron rod. It talked about some going astray but coming back. She read it and said, "I am coming to church next week." That will be the first time in 40 years. She is so excited. She said she is going to bring her husband and grandson, neither of whom are members. She said she feels like it's her time, and God is calling her back home. It is so fun to be a part of that. The Lord send us to bring His children back.

 

So those are some of the miracles we've seen this week.

 

Hope you all have a great week! Pray for miracles! With faith in the Savior we can do anything! 1 Nephi 7:12

 

Hna. Cannon

"If you mess up, get on your knees, say a prayer, and keep going." -Hna. Romero

Hello!

 

So, this week has been intense. We had two huge spiritual experiences from exchanges and interviews. The sisters we live with had exchanges too so that was fun. I have really seen the Lord's hand in our lives this week. We learned so much from exchanges and interviews (which includes a training), and then immediately after trials hit our apartment. I can't remember if I told you that we're both whitewash training. So, our junior companions were both really struggling this weekend. My companion got really sick with the flu or something similar, and the other junior companion was just having a really hard time adjusting to missionary life and having some emotional struggles. It was such a tough time for them, but it did so much to unify our apartment. Us two senior companions got to talk a lot while our companions were sleeping about how Pres. Castro told both of us in interviews that it is so huge that we are the first sisters in Simi. We have a lot entrusted to us and a big responsibility to be good examples. Pres. Castro said that we are setting the tone for sisters in Simi Vally for a long time - our example right now is so critical. So we strengthened each other a lot in that, just served and supported our companions and each other's companions all weekend. It was so good for all of us. This is the most unified apartment ever! There is just love all over the place. We all get along so amazingly well, and any tiny tension that ever happens within companionships is quickly dissipated when we get to talk to the other sisters. I love all these sisters so much. We grew a lot together this week. Definitely can see the Lord's hand as He built us up spiritually before the huge trials of this weekend.

 

I'm learning a lot about repentance and how to be a better Preach My Gospel missionary. More change and growing!

 

I am so grateful for the Savior's infinite Atonement that redeems us from our sins, mistakes, and weaknesses, and enables us to face trials and achieve more than we ever could on our own. I am so grateful for the plan God has given us to teach us how to apply the Atonement in our lives. It is called the gospel of Jesus Christ and consists of faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. We are only able to enjoy the full blessing of the gospel because in the year 1820, God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith. As they spoke with him, their brightness and glory defied all description. This began the restoration of the gospel. I have come to know for myself that this truly did happen. I firmly believe that anyone who wants to know can humble themself before God and investigate this truth through study, prayer, and obedience. Once they do so, they can ask God sincerely, with every intention of living in accordance with the answer they receive, if it be right. They will receive an answer. I encourage all of you reading this to do so, even if you've done it before, and gain or renew your testimony of this truth.

 

I love you :)

Hna. Cannon

This is my beautiful companion Hna. Hamlin! She is a Native American and from New Mexico. She went to the Mexico MTC and arrived in the field 3 weeks ago. She is really athletic and plays volleyball and softball.