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
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