pictures to go with letter #24

1. Our dear Nohemi Palma Garcia who helps out at the mission home.

2. Our wonderful Assistants Elders Mongillo and Magre cleaning up after breakfast after our weekly Monday morning p-day meeting.
3. A funky picture of me at the baptismal font

4. Nels (President) and I at a recent baptism for an amazing woman, Marie 
Soeur Shirin Cannon

Sister Shirin Cannon
    

letter #24 I think mom/Shir

Letter #24

March 11, 2011

Mission Home Office

 

Dear one and all who I love,

 

As I sit here, it is raining. It has been a blizzard for a few days and today it rains. Crazy weather. Ten hours ago a mammoth earthquake in China, horrid-8.9 in Japan along with a Tsunami. Fires, floods, so much loss of life, dictators killing their own people, uprisings for want of democracy, senseless killing….wow is it me or does anyone else out there think it is high time to do some big time repenting. I need to really clean up my life. Is the Lord is happy with His children? Is He trying to get our attention? Are we supposed to figure out what is REALLY important in this life? I think so, that is just my opinion. We can all do better as a people. I can do better. That is where it needs to start, with me, myself and I. That was heavy. Sorry about that, I am just so sad for all those dear people and the turmoil they are in right now. Same goes for Libya. One feels helpless at times of disaster that occurs so far away. I pray for all of them. There is hope in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, that is what we cling to at times like these.

 

We are SO happy for Tay and Jackie. I hope you know how overjoyed we are for you. Have a wonderful time at the Open House. Thanks for the invite. We were so happy to be invited. Know of our love and support. Jackie we look forward to meeting you. Maybe we can Skype sometime Tay. Hint hint! That was so kind of you, Maj and Kel to host the open house. And thanks to all who helped with food etc. Sorry I was not there to help. I was thinking of you all gathered together that night, wishing I could sneak in for a couple of hours. I love my family so much. Mom heard your Baklava was superb…as always!

 

Just talked to Libby and she was eating a piece of homemade bread. I viewed Wynn's blog and saw three loaves of bread cooling in the background, I talked with Dane, and Tracie was making her famous cookies or lemon bars, Emy was making bread…and James with his famous pies…I am so amazed by the culinary skills in this family. Thank you for cultivating yourselves in so many ways. I love you and am so proud of you, every single one of you. I welcome any and all recipes that you love. I don't like making the same thing twice as cooking becomes too mundane and boring. So help your mama spice things up in the mission by submitting any recipe you discover that you love. Gracias, thank you and merci!

 

March 29, 2011

Well, I never had a chance to finish this letter and I think I sent an email out without the attachment.  That seems to be par for the course these days. Sorry about that. I will attempt to finish this short letter and send it off today. I have great NEWS.

 

The saga of a "helper" in the mission home continues. As you may know, we hired another lady by the name of Michele Chardonnay. She was really wonderful. She speaks Spanish, French and English perfectly. She is a French cook and is sooo nice. She worked for us a couple of weeks before her son departed on a mission to Uruguay. As she was cooking for her son's friends she was using a Cuisinart and had not set the blade correctly. She turned it on and the whole thing came flying at her. Luckily she put her hands up to her face and neck and the blade sliced her fingers. Good thing as the Dr. said it would have cut her throat. It was such a freak accident. She was or course not able to work for three weeks.

 

 In that three weeks we had a special Sisters Conference with 15 sisters sleeping over and eating breakfast and a huge lunch. Lots of food and lots of washing of sheet and towels after, not to mentions bathrooms etc. We had a Missionary couple stay over night and had a big dinner for them before they departed from the mission, the Hawkers who we love and will miss. A few days later came transfers which lasts for three days. We had to say goodbye to our dear Elder Corbett who has been an Assistant for 6 months. He is a stellar missionary and young man. We will miss all of the outgoing. After that, being last week, we had two huge trainings for all of our District Leaders and then two days later a huge Zone Counsil. Twenty for big lunch/dinner on Tuesday and Friday.

 

Michele tried to come back and work one day but I could see she was having difficulty. We talked and she told me she was not able to work. I asked her what she would suggest.  She told me she may be required to have surgery and it may take some time. I seriously needed help so I suggested we find someone else to work at the Mission Home. This was hard for me to tell her but she almost seemed relieved. I was very hopeful that Nohemi Palma Garcia (I will include a picture) had not found a job. She was a candidate for the job who we interviewed along with Michele. I wanted her to work here but the man hiring suggested Michele. Nohemi is the dearest, kindest, hard working woman I have ever met. She is from Chihuahua, Mexico. She is a Dentist, specializing in Orthodontics for children. I am humbled by the fact that this wonderful woman is here helping me in the house. She is unable to work here in Quebec as a Dr. as they don't recognize her degree. They don't recognize anyone's degree no matter where they were educated. She is married, very active in the Church, has 4 children. She will be such a blessing to me but she says we are a blessing to her as she has been praying for a job that is flexible for her family and she has been praying for a way to learn English as part of what she is required to learn in order for her to be able to practice in Quebec. She knows French too so we can help each other. Our Father in Heaven hears and answers our prayers. I am grateful.

 

Speaking of prayers being answered. Dad and I were asked, as we often are to speak at a Fireside to a group of youth (about 20) about Missionary work and how to share the Gospel with others. It was in St. Lazare about an hour away. We met at the Branch Presidents home, a big beautiful home in the woods. I have met his wife Amy, for lunch before as they are from Ca. where the Harrisons live. They know our dear friends the Harrisons and we were able to catch up with what is going on with them. Small world. They had us over for dinner with a recent convert, Belinda who was introduced to the Church by a co-worker she admires. It took a year but she wanted to be sure about what she was doing. This is the woman I may have mentioned in a letter who took her kids on a cruise and when they came back, it had snowed so much they could not locate their home. The snow was so high and heavy the porch caved in. Anyway, we had a lovely dinner together with their two cute, crazy dogs running around. It was so nice to be with a family eating dinner. After, I had the thought that I should set up the CD just to make sure I knew what I was doing. I brushed it aside. Once again, I had the thought, go set up the CD but ignored it again. For the last time I had the same thought again so I grabbed the CD case to set it up and found that the CD was NOT in the case. I was basing my 20 minutes of instruction on two clips from this video. A Sister, Krista, who was also at the dinner said she had a copy of the CD at her home. It was 15 minutes away. We had just enough time to go there, retrieve her CD and get back for the fireside. Dad said in the event we were late he could go first. Off we went. A beautiful drive to a tiny town. She got a hold of the CD and as we were headed back her phone rang. Three of the kids who were dressed and ready to attend the Fireside, were stranded at their house as their parents had just been blessed with a flat tire and were not able to drive them. They really wanted to come and had something special they needed to give us. So we asked permission to pick them up 10 minutes further down the road. Izzy (Israel who is preparing for a mission at the ripe ol age of 14), Katie and Natasha, three of 12 kids in this family. Wonderful kids. They were so grateful we could pick them up. After the Fireside, Natasha, the oldest, came up to me and said "Sister Cannon my dad has been preparing for this for a long time. He wanted me to give these to you and President." Her father in his work place had become acquainted with four wonderful co-workers who he shared his beliefs with. All four of them wanted to know more. He had written his testimony in each of the four Books of Mormon, included the name, address and phone number of his friends along with his contact info so the missionaries could get back to him. This is such a great thing for this man to do. He has been friends with these people for some time. Our Assistants will be the missionaries to contact them as they all live in their area. I am so grateful for wonderful members who share what they know to be true with those they care about. This Gospel blesses the lives of all who embrace it. It is a privilege to be serving here. This was an answer to the prayers of this good and faithful member. The Lord works in mysterious ways indeed. Things happen for a reason. I LOVE this work.

 

Well, one more item. I always have so much to write about then I sit down at the computer and my mind goes blank. I am SO excited for General Conference. It is so sweet to see how excited all the members are to hear from a living prophet, apostle, 70's etc. They all meet at the Stake Centers all around, bring food, watch the first session on both Sat. and Sunday and share food together for the two hours in between. They hang out and talk. This is a BIG deal here. We are so blessed to be able to hear from our leaders this week. We are attending our ward, the Montreal Ward and will stay with the members between sessions. I love visiting with the members and getting to know them better. Saturday night during the Priesthood session I am having all the Sisters on the Island and the Senior sisters over for a Pot Luck Dinner. Should be good as the younger Sisters don't know all of the Senior Sisters. We will have them out of here on time.

 

Well, I love you all. I think of you each day. Know you are in my prayers constantly. We feel of your love and support. Thank you so much for that. I love this work and feel it is the Church's best kept secret. How fun it is to serve along side these great missionaries every day. It is a precious experience.

 

Dad is leading these missionaries in a way that blesses their lives. He is inspired to say and do things that I know are from God. He has been blessed with wisdom that stuns me. He is valiant and forthright in his efforts. WE are all blessed to have him as the President of the CMM.

To see my pictures, and I will put more on there in the future, click on the link below. Thanks James!

 http://flickr.com/gp/canadamontrealmission/5PNoj2

Much love,

 

Mom,Shir, Soeur Cannon, Mema

Soeur Shirin Cannon

Sister Shirin Cannon
    

I could not help myself, I must pass this on, thanks Steph I'm a man. I can fix that ......

There are few things I forward these days...but when something makes me laugh as hard as President Cannon and I did....I must pass it on! I actually think the paper clip idea is pretty ingenious.

These are too  funny…..

 

 

                                                    Don't have a spoon?

I can fix that!

Seatbelt broken?

I can fix that!

(Is that a neck brace you have on?)

New TV too big for the old cabinet?

I can fix that!

No bottle opener?

I can fix that!

Room too dark using compact fluorescents?

I can fix that!

Electrical problem?

I can fix that!

Car stereo stolen?

I can fix that!

Bookshelf cracking under the weight?

I can fix that!

No ice chest?

I can fix that!

Can't read the ATM screen?

I can fix that!

Car imported from the wrong country?

I can fix that!

Satellite go out in the rain?

I can fix that!

Electric stove broken and can't heat coffee?

I can fix that.

Wiper motor burned out?

I can fix that!

WTF?

Display rack falling over?

I can fix that!

Desk overloaded?

I can fix that!

Car can't be ordered with the "Woody" option?

I can fix that!

Exhaust pipe dragging?

I can fix that!

Gotta feed the baby AND do the laundry?

I can fix that!

Cables falling behind the desk?
I can fix that!

No skate park in town?

I can fix that!

and - last but not least - - - -

Out of diapers?

I can fix that!

 

__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 5750 (20101231) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com

--
Soeur Shirin Cannon

Sister Shirin Cannon
    

OK last time, this one really works, thanks James

Dear Family, please go to this link below, click on it mom and dad, if you want to see pictures from the mission. I love you all, and thanks James.
love, mom, Shir,

Click below for picture!

http://flickr.com/gp/canadamontrealmission/5PNoj2


Soeur Shirin Cannon

Sister Shirin Cannon
    

I heard the link to my pictures did not work from a very reliable source

So, I will try again. Please let me know if you can't get intis the site. It is flicker. I will put up pix every week or so.

Sorry about another email.

love,

mom,Shir, mema

http://www.flickr.com/photos/canadamontrealmission/

 

Click here and see if this works?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/canadamontrealmission/



Sister Shirin Cannon
    

-

Letter #23 Started 2/17/11 mom/Shir

Letter #23 2/17/11
3/6/11
Mission Office

Dear Famliy,

Happy Birthday Grandpa Cannon, we love you and hope your day with the family was extra pleasant.
I know you don't like fussing so I will stop there.

2/27/11Here I sit at the office desk. I got up way early today and thought I would go down and walk on the tread mill when I noticed it was 4:20 a.m. So I decided to see if my bed was still beckoning to me and it was. I was still tired. Usually if I wake up at that time, I find it difficult to fall asleep again but this morning, sleep came easily. The reason I mention this is because I had a dream so vivid and clear that I woke up thinking there was a puppy at the house. I mean the house in S.L. I dreamt we were home with Dane and Tracie. It was time to go to bed and I was the last one up. I was doing a few chores in the basement when I noticed a huge, magnificent, beautiful German Shepherd at the back door of the basement. I turned on the light and noticed she had a tiny puppy with her. That got my attention. The mom looked hungry and I could not resist feeding her so she could feed her baby. So I ran and got (I guess it was Jessie's food) a large bag of dog food and poured it along the grass. The Shepherd came back with that adorable, shy puppy and started eating. As I watched them, I noticed there was another dog that looked kind of like Jesse but smaller. And with them were about twenty tiny little puppies. One had stripes on his neck like a Zebra. They were all eating. Then I realized they needed water. But as I came back all the food was gone along with the dogs except for the German Shepherd and the first tiny, shy puppy. She seemed to want to leave the puppy. She turned to leave and I was going to open the door to get the puppy and as I did the last thing I remember before I got the dog was, I wonder how Jesse will get along with this new puppy? Anyway, that was my dream. So Dane and Tracie, watch out for German Shepherds in the neighborhood and if you see one, don't feed it unless you want a new puppy. Dreams for me are so elusive. They are like smoke that dissipates so quickly I NEVER remember them. I am lucky if I am granted three or four a year that I remember in their entirety. I so rarely remember anything so when I do, I wonder why I remember that particular one. Well, well, for what it is worth, that was my dream for the quarter. If any of you out there care to interpret my dream, feel free. Dad and I always play that game. However we are not as good at it, as Joseph of old.....

 I so often write of the miracle hot line in the CMM mission. Once again, it is when the missionaries call me as they have a miracle they feel like sharing. This of course is optional and often they don't have time to make that call. However yesterday, I received a call from one of our missionaries who is way up North. He and his companion had an amazing miracle to tell me. There is a new member of about 6 months. He is married to a very dear young woman. Dad and I had the pleasure of getting to know them because of a series of interviews, they came to the house once and we had dinner with them as well. Anyway the Elders get a call from this new convert. He said a lady called him to ask if she could bring her husband over for a blessing and neither of them are members but she was taught by some missionaries a long time ago. She wanted to be baptized but her husband would not allow it. Her husband became very ill. He went to the hospital and he was diagnosed with a form of or a complication with Diabetes that had become so severe that they simply sent him home to die. She was beside herself. So she remembered the Elders and blessings on those who are sick and called this member, Israel. He called the Elders to come to his house so they could administer the blessing there. The man was completely out of it. He was breathing heavily he could not respond and his eyes were closed. When the Elders arrived they were freaked out, literally those were the words used to describe their feelings when they walked in the door. They were afraid the man was going to die while they were there. They anointed his head with the consecrated oil which is blessed for the purpose of giving blessings to those who are sick. This means they dropped a tiny drop of oil on his head then rubbed it in. A prayer was offered. Then a second prayer is given. That is when those holding the Priesthood listen for those things Heavenly Father wants to pronounce upon this man. Blessings have much to do with the faith of he who is being blessed and he who is giving the blessing. In this case it was the great faith of the wife, the Elders and Israel. When it came time bless the sick man, all three had their hands on his head and Israel said to our Elder, "What do I do now" and the Elder, responded "Bless him to be healed". He was caught off guard and did not have time to tutor Israel in the matter. So Israel blessed this man, he told him he would be healed, said he would be fine. After it was over, the Elders gave a short message about the Plan of Salvation, Christ and the hereafter I think. They left. that was the last they heard of this man. The next week at Church they were waiting for an investigator to arrive and they wanted to be sure to be there to greet him. As they watched, their jaws dropped, as the man they had given the blessing to, his wife and their little daughter came walking up the sidewalk. He was completely fine. He was beaming. He was so anxious to attend Church with his wife and child. This was on of those miracles that defies explanation other than there is a God in Heaven who is omnipotent. At His will, He can heal anyone at any time. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have that He lives. That His Son lives. They love each of us and know who we are and what our needs are every moment of the day. All He asks of us is to reach out to Him in prayer and keep His commandments. He had given us so much. We can never repay the debt. Those Elders learned a lifelong lesson that day. The Priesthood is the authority of God to act in His name. It is the means by which God blesses His children. I am so grateful to have received that call on the miracle hot line. I am one lucky girl.

3/6/11 I will make another attempt at finishing off this letter. I have had trouble attaching files/pictures as they always fail. Don't know what is going on but something has happened. So I will instead give you a site you can go on at the end that will enable you to view a few pictures if you choose. James taught me how to do this when he was here. I think this might work. If not I will check out Picasa again. Thanks as well for the reply Ben.

I had a bit of a miracle this week in the department of health. I am sure it is a result of all of your prayers. When I get a cold, a bad cold, it usually travels down to my lungs and stays there for four to six weeks. I cough all day long and it is really bothersome. However, and I think it is because I have been taking Norwegian fish oil each day, this time it lasted only three days. It started out badly for two days. My body felt like lead. Moving was a chore. My voice sounded like Ella Fitzgerald, which by the way isn't all bad as it is fun singing bass, for a short while anyway. I actually stayed in for a day. I drank lots of water with honey, lemon juice and gargled with salt water. For me this was amazing, it lasted only a few short days. I am so grateful as we have a huge three weeks coming up and there is no way I could have done what I need to do in the condition I was in. I admit I don't like the taste of the fish oil when I burp. BUT, look what it does for those hearty, lovely Norwegians. I will stick with the a.m. fish oil.

This is a very silly FYI thing, but another thing I have noticed about the people here as opposed to those back home. And this does not relate to everyone at home. But, I have noticed when in a store, any store, you ask someone to show you where something is, they take off so fast and walk so rapidly that I can hardly keep up. Granted I am not in the best of shape, but I have always thought I was a very fast walker. They seriously turbo walk here. I love it. It is because they are a society who walks everywhere. Check it out the next time you find yourself in a store in Quebec. Turbo walk. Maybe I should try it.

OK I just tried uploading three pix again and it worked this time but I will still put a link to a happy place I keep some of my 45,000 photos. And that is not a joke. The first picture is of a ward we just went to. See the size of that mountain of snow? Well, we are getting more. For the next two days. It has been snowing all day. But I still don't mind it. It is so pretty out. The temps are dropping rapidly however and I don't much care for that. The next picture is of our Assistants, Elders Corbett on the right and Magre on the left. Some say Elder Corbett looks like "Jacob" or something from the vampire show. Guess we are missing out huh? What do you think? And last but OH SO NOT LEAST. Look who came to visit us for three blissful days! James, Wynn and Miss Precious. I was stunned by her potty training. I still am. How do they do it? She was so adorable. Smiles and cute sounds. Waving and kicking her fat little "legginged" legs, and now pulling off the tiny booties Wynn crocheted for her. We loved every minute of having you here. Thanks James for driving and you too Wynn. Thanks Acadia for making them come. We love and miss you. That goes for the rest of you too.

We are headed out to attend a fireside in the cold and blizzard conditions. We may as well be mail carriers because not rain, nor wind, nor storm nor blizzard seems to stop us from doing anything. Well, I love you and hope this letter finds you all well and happy. Dianne, Ham and family, please know you are always in our thoughts and prayers. Hope your mom is faring. We love you and hope time will take the edge off of sorrow.

And my Clara girl? How is the potty training going? You are doing such a great job Clara. Mema and Pepa are so proud of you. Call me when you are all finished OK? I love you and tell Eli I love him too. Hey let's Skype sometime soon. I want you to read a book to me. Yes, I would love it.

Just returned home from the Missionary Fireside. It was presented by two young men who served their missions  around 2005. They are home and married now but one went to Ghana but was transferred three other times because of war, splits in missions etc. and the other one served in Madagascar. After some of the stories they told, I was very grateful to be here in Quebec with running water, no reptiles crawling on the walls to stave off insects, constant floods, being fearful of daily muggings, having all my packages stolen and eating dog, kitty, goat, grasshoppers, varmints, crocodile, caterpillars and the list goes on. Does any of this sound familiar James? They had a ton of photos along with the presentation. It was really wonderful to hear how other missions run and how great the members are all over the world. They are so good to the missionaries. And so are the Senior Couples. Go Senior Couples, here is a plug for anyone who knows anyone who wants to serve as a Senior Couple. YOU will love it and you will make some of the greatest memories and lasting friends on the mission. We sure love all of our Senior Couples. We are so sad as the Hawkers left a few days ago. We had them stay with us the last night of their mission. It was a pleasure to spend time with them. They will be missed.

Ok I am going to bed. I love you all, sleep tight if you read this in the p.m.

much love,

mom/Shir/Mema

Here is the link to the photos, click below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/canadamontrealmission/

Soeur Shirin Cannon

Sister Shirin Cannon