The field is WHITE!

Hello!

So, we had a week of miracles!

First of all, zone conference was amazing. Second of all, I felt an earthquake! First one ever. So I can check that off my bucket list now.

Let me tell you about some of the AMAZING people we have taught this week.

Maria has a daughter in Mexico who's a member of the church, married in the temple and everything. Maria doesn't have family here and her daughter keeps telling her to look for the church. Maria didn't really know how and has just been hoping and waiting that missionaries would find her. The English elders happened upon her a few weeks ago and referred her to us! We've been teaching her for 2 weeks. She came to church last Sunday and the week before and loved it! She got done up all pretty and just had the biggest smile on her face all day. She asked one of the members to pray that her boss would give her Sundays off so she can stay for all 3 hours! She's been able to stay for 2 1/2 but want to stay the whole time :) she's amazing!

Felipe is SO elect. He's been going through a hard time, and Hno. Pinto invited him to a baptism a couple of week ago and introduced him to us there. He came to church last week and said he really liked everyone there and wants to keep coming. We had our first real lesson with him last Saturday. We taught the Restoration and he loved it and accepted everything. When we read Amos 8:11-12 about people hungering for the truth he was like, "That's how I feel! I want all of these things, but I need someone to guide me and help me find them." It was so cool. He talked about how he has this pain in his heart and he wants to be free from that. We testified how the Savior can ease any burden, and told him how our purpose is to help him get there. He readily agreed to baptism and said he wants to be clean. He so willing to act on the message, he wants to do whatever it takes to follow Jesus Christ and be clean again. When we taught about the Book of Mormon and gave him one, he received it as if we were giving him diamonds. He recognized how precious it is and he was so grateful. He is so prepared by the Lord! He is so grateful to have found this church and to be meeting with us. Felipe wanted the truth but just didn't know where to find it. Imagine if Hno. Pinto had never invited him to that baptism? You never know who of your friends the Lord is preparing. Invite! :)

Raquel is Ana's mom, (of Ana and Venancio who are preparing to be baptized this Saturday. *prayers please!!!!* the adversary's working hard on them). Raquel is visiting from Mexico and going back home on Tuesday. She said she's been wanting to come to the states to visit Ana for a while but it just hasn't been working out. She prayed to God that if He wanted her to come, that He would make everything possible so that she could come - and He did. She said that she knows the reason why now. She knows she was meant to come at this time to find the church. She said there should only be one flock and one shepherd. She's been reading the Book of Mormon and knows it's true. She said if she didn't have to go to Mexico she'd be baptized with Ana and Venancio this weekend! But she's going to contact the missionaries when she gets back to Mexico. Which is amazing because their whole family's there, and she's the grandma and the example to everyone, so she can share the gospel with all of them too! Amazing. The Lord is hastening his work so much. And it's all because a 16 year old member of the church invited Manny (Ana and Venancio's son) to mutual and seminary and he joined the church. Then his 14 year old sister Carolina got baptized, and now it's spreading to the whole family. Absolutely incredible.

Also this week I've been learning a lot about love and obedience. I've been told that I talk a lot about obedience in these letters - sorry if it gets old haha. But I've learned something new this week. I've learned that obedience should never get in the way of loving someone. Likewise, loving someone should never keep you from being obedient. Obedience has taken on a new meaning for me. The first commandment is to love. That's what is the very most important thing to God. If I am not obedient to that commandment, all of the other commandments don't mean as much. It was a really good lesson for me to refocus on what's most important. Love and obedience are one in the same, "if ye love me, keep my commandments." They should always go together.

I love you all so much! Have an amazing week!

Hna. Cannon

Here's some cute members we had dinner with at the park :)

The Way

Hello!

Well, in spite of how happy this email will probably sound - I have never struggled so much in my mission as I have this past week. I definitely never been through something as difficult as this in my mission. I didn't even know where I would get the strength to move forward. But after some wise counsel yesterday I feel SO much better. I love Pres. Castro. He is so amazing and so inspired and I am so grateful.

I will not get in to all the sad things, I will just tell you what I have learned.

Oh, and instead of sending me a new companion, they had Hna. Moure be my companion, and they brought in a new English sister for Sis. Stoker. We were shocked! We're adjusting.

I've learned how important it is to rest and not run faster than you have strength.

I've learned that we can always rely on obedience. Sometimes that's all we have. We need those blessings from the Lord. I needed them so desperately this week. The only way I am entitled to ask for them is if I am obedient. Obedience is what gets me through trials - every time. I am so grateful for those blessings from the Lord. He has granted me strength this past month. He has especially granted me strength this past week, as I have none left of my own. He will replenish us.

I've learned how important our personal growth is as missionaries. Our reason for serving a mission is for other people, but the reason the Lord has us serve a mission is for us. He can do His work on His own - but we are His work too, that's why He lets us be a part of it. He knows that we grow so much from learning to live for others. Because he that abaseth himself will be exalted, but he that exalteth himself will be abased. I've learned the true meaning of losing ourselves in the work. We do it for others, but our personal growth is essential. I must make sure I'm living the gospel in every sense. This is just as much for me as it is for them. That is a new concept for me.

I feel so much gratitude. The Lord is so merciful. He will always deliver us.

Redemption can come only in and through our Savior, Jesus Christ. His gospel is perfect. It is the way. All of the answers are in the gospel. No matter what you are going through, you will find all of the answers by coming to Christ through faith, repentance, baptism (and honoring your covenants, receive the Holy Ghost and following His promptings and all times, and enduring to the end.

I am so grateful these truths have been restored to the earth today. This church is the Lord's kingdom on the earth. I know by experience that all of this is true.

I love you :)

Hna. Cannon

Amanda with her new companion, Sister Moure from Texas, born in Mexico. She was a convert, baptized two years ago. She is a powerful missionary. She is doing so much good in this mission.

Last night with Sister Hamlin

Bowling with the district! Yay P day!

Our district! :)

Enduring Well :)

I don't really know how to start this email, but I will just tell you the news. My companion, Hna. Hamlin with be going home this week. She has been inside for four weeks and has not been able to recover. She is going to go home so that she can heal, and then come back out. I heard stories of this happening to people on their missions, and I never really thought it was a big deal. I see now how much of a trial that is for all the missionaries who go through it, as well as their companions. I am very sad to see Hna. Hamlin go. I will miss her very much. But I trust in the Lord and know it is His will. I know that everything happens for a reason. I can see the Lord's hand in me being here with Hna. Hamlin, and living with Sis. Moure and Sis. Hancock - then Hna. Hancock going home, and Sis. Stoker coming in. The Lord puts us in each other's lives right when it's needed.

 

He's taught me a lot this week about how to endure well. We are here as missionaries to lose ourselves in His service. In doing so, He takes care of us. He gives us investigators with needs that we ourselves may have. He lets us learn with them. This week we taught a single dad who's daughter has been in the hospital for 10 months and got a heart transplant this morning. He also has an autistic son. His positive attitude was outstanding. All he ever wants to talk about is how much God always answers his prayers and how much the Savior has changed and strengthened him. It was so uplifting for me to hear that. I have felt sort of like a single parent lately, as I have been single in my stewardship. But seeing his faith and trust strengthened mine. If he can be positive, cheerful, and patient in the face of adversity I know I can. This week involved a lot of fasting and prayer, and I feel redeemed from my struggles.

I know this is the Lord's work. There is no doubt about that. Throughout these struggles I have done my very best to take care of Hna. Hamlin as well as our area. The Lord knows I am doing all I can, and His grace is sufficient for me. It has been incredible to see the blessings and miracles in our area. It is such a testament that this is the Lord's work - He can do it on His own, and He will - if we consecrate ourselves to His service.

 

Our area is booming! The Lord is really taking care of this part of His vineyard. When we have appointments I either switch with the sisters we live with or have one member stay with Hna. Hamlin and one come out with me. Whenever I leave the apartment, it's just miracles the whole time. In order to make up for all the time I spend in the apartment with Hna. Hamlin, the Lord just makes the time I have out of the apartment be super super productive.

 

The Figueroa family is doing so well. Last Monday we taught the Gospel (faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost, ETTE -- that's Endure to the End) and invited Ana and Venancio to be baptized. They both said yes! Then we invited them to be baptized on Mar. 29. There were gasps, eye brow raises and huge smiles from the two kids who are already members. They thought it seemed soon, but we bore testimony and invited them to pray to know for themselves when God would have them be baptized. We all prayed together at the end of the lesson to know. It was powerful. They came to a Branch FHE that night where they taught the same lesson - the gospel - and they took that for their answer! Such a miracle. They all came to church again yesterday and it was great. Then on a later lesson this week Ana told us her mom is here from Mexico and is leaving on the 25th, and she wants her mom to be there for her baptism, so now they are thinking of being baptized a week sooner! So exciting. We will see what date they end up deciding.

 

Carina - we found her this week. She was babysitting for the kids of some of our other investigators who we stopped by to see. We started teaching her about how Jesus Christ's church has been restored to the earth. We talked about reading and praying and coming to church so she can know for herself if it's true, and preparing to be baptized. She said she wants to do all of that and she was actually already looking to be baptized! She already knows it's what she needs to do to follow Christ. So prepared by the Lord.

 

I love you all so much! Thank you for your support.

Hna. Cannon

What a week!

So here is a story about transfer meeting. We get there at about 10:40, thinking we'd have about 20 min. to wait and spiritually prepare. There were tons of cars and no one was outisde and we were really confused. We go in and they were in the middle of the meeting - turns out it had started at 10, and we were like, NO! It was super sad to miss so much of it, the testimonies of all the departing missionaries and everything. And, being late to any sort of mission thing is just about the biggest shame a missionary can have. So we sat in the foyer and listened to Pres. Castro's concluding comments. He was talking about adversity and the different things we go through on our missions. He talked about how we can still be steadfast and have the strength to conquer those trials. He said, "There is a missionary who's testimony I would like you all to hear. Hna. Cannon, will you please come up. Where is she?" I jumped up from the couch and headed in. He says, "Is Hna. Hamlin with you?" She comes in too and he has us walk up to the podium and tell our story of the past few weeks and share our testimonies. Haha it was such a big surprise. We definitely got caught from coming in late. But it was good to share our experience with all the missionaries. Afterwards many of them came up to us and told us it was just what the needed to hear, and helped them with what they're going through.

 

Hna. Hamlin is still recovering from surgery, and then BAM! She gets an awful throat infection and her throat is bleeding. She is super down. They gave her an anti-biotic then she started getting this awful pain in her appendix area. We're going to the doctor tomorrow to find out what it is. I really hope she doesn't have to get that out too - one surgery is hard enough. I know the Lord has a plan for her, but it's just like, really? Wow. Just so many trials all at once. She is definitely learning and growing though, but it is hard.

 

Meanwhile, I am taking care of my poor companion, and also trying to take care of our area by myself. She can't leave the apartment, so I do a lot of coordinating to find members or the sisters we live with to switch with us so I can work and someone can stay with Hna. Hamlin. The time we have to proselyte each day is very small. But even so, it is amazing the miracles we have seen. I have seen how the Lord can do His own work. We are giving all of our heart, might, mind, and strength, even if it's from the apartment. We are both fighting in our own ways. Because He knows we're doing all we can, He has blessed us so much. Here's some of the miracles we've seen this week:

 

We went to a baptism on Saturday and a member had brought two friends and introduced us to them. They both were in our area, loved the baptism, and agreed to let us visit them! Their names are Jorge and Felipe. We're excited to meet with them!

 

Figueroa Family - they ALL came to church on Sunday and brought 2 non member friends! So exciting. The gospel principles lesson was on the Holy Ghost and it was perfect for them. I was sitting next to Ana (the mom) during sacrament meeting and she was crying. After the meeting she said, "That was so beautiful. All of it. It's like they were saying in the first class today, sometimes you don't know what it is, but you can feel it. It's the spirit." So great. We are going to try to set them with a baptismal date tonight.

 

Savdi - 16 years old - AMAZING. We taught the Plan of Salvation and she loved it - she said it answered so many questions she had. She also said she loves how our church is the same wherever you go, she thinks it's really important that we have priesthood authority. She also thinks a prophet is really necessary in the world of today. She believes this church is true and wants to be baptized. The only problem is her parents are not supportive at all. We are praying they soften their hearts, and if they do she will be baptized on Mar. 29!

Ruben - is not a member and his wife is a returning member. They both want to come to church together. She was really sick on Sunday though, but he came anyway by himself! He loved it, and the members were so good at fellowshipping him. They're in their 60s, and after church Ruben said, "I loved church today. I feel like I've missed out on so much by not coming for so long. I am so grateful to be here at last." I'm sure he'll get baptized. He's amazing. What's also cool about him is that Elder Nalder, who was my District Leader in Solvang, taught him a year ago when he began his mission in Simi Valley. And E. Nalder just got transferred back here last week! So it was fun for he and Ruben to see each other at church.

 

Antonio - a new investigator. We met him last week and he said he'd read our pamphlet and if it was interesting to him we could come back and teach him. We went back this week and he read it and said he thought it was beautiful. I was holding a Book of Mormon and he said, what's that book? We told him and he asked if he could have one. Then he asked,"Is this about eternal life? Do you teach about how I can have eternal life?" We said yes and explained how you start by making promises with God like baptism. Then he said, "A ver cuando me bautice en tu iglesia." Which is basically, let's see when I get baptized in your church! So awesome.

 

Other kind of sad things: Our awesome Sanchez family we've been teaching just moved just outside of our area! So we can't teach them anymore :( we were heart broken. When I told them over the phone the wife said she and her family are so sad. But the elders will take care of them - they told us they'd make us proud :)

 

Also, Dora, a golden investigator in our area is ready to be baptized, but just moved into the elder's area. Haha.

It is sad but honestly, these people are so prepared and need to be baptized. The Lord knows we have too many investigators to handle right now, so He found a way to take care of them. It's all for the best.

 

Love you!

Hna. Cannon