letter #28 I hope

Letter #28 I hope
Sunday May 22, 2011
Mission Home Office

Dearest of all dear families,

Oh I feel so much love and gratitude this morning! Why? Because we did not have to get up and race off somewhere, and I had some time to think, to pray, to meditate about all that I have been blessed with and every time I do that I get this way. I have been so blessed and I know our Father in Heaven is watching over each of you as ONLY HE CAN.

This week I have been thinking a lot about two things  prayer and trails. The reason I have been thinking about these subjects is because we are speaking at the Chomeday Branch today and I felt very strongly that I should speak about prayer and how prayers are answered. And secondly, I have been thinking about trials because of a talk Elder Per Malm  of the second quorum of the 70, asked us to read before his visit next week. It is a talk given by Elder D. Todd Christofferson in the April 2009 conference.  In that talk, one sentence stuck out in my mind. He said "In times of distress, let your covenants be PARAMOUNT, and let your OBEDIENCE  be EXACT" I of course add the caps and as you kids always tell me, when I cap things that means I am yelling. I would like to think I am simply drawing attention to certian particular words. So that has been on my mind this week. May I share a few thoughts about all this?

 All this thinking, in particular about prayer,  took me back to a favorite class I took at the University of Utah. It was a communications class, and more specifically, Interpersonal Communication. I will never forget the first day of class as our professor walked in, stood before us in a somewhat small setting and said these words, "Is communication (in any form) the MOST important thing?" Then he walked out and class was over...that was it. I have a tendency to come to conclusions very quickly and this was one of those times. My first thought was NO, we need air, food and water, love, shelter etc. And then my next thought was yippeeeee, we don't have class, the tennis courts were next door and who could I find to play tennis. However as this class unfolded, day after day, my initial conclusion transformed into a complete about face. And by the end of the class I could answer that introductory query. I came to the conclusion that communication IS INDEED the most important thing. Think about it. If you can't communicate you are hurt, hungry, or you love someone, or you need something or anything else for that matter....you can accomplish nothing. There would be no reading, texting, radio, music, signing, photos, writing etc. It is amazing to think about. Almost everything we do, is communicate in some form or another. I, soon after, in NYC, learned an even more important lesson about communication. I learned this because I was so lonely there, I missed the associations of family and friends. I worked 6 days a week as a nanny all day til 8 at night. Then I was excused to go to my room without TV, cell phone, computer or books. I would sit in my room alone every night. I am ashamed to say that it was then and only then that I made an attempt to reach out to God. I had never done that before. I had no need. I am ashamed that He was a last resort when He should have been my first priority. But in that time of desperation, and reaching out, I learned in my very awkward way of praying, that there was and indeed is a Father in Heaven who knows us and loves us so much. He is there every minute of the day, at our beck and call. That is the MOST important communication, that sweet communion we can have with God. It is life sustaining for me. As I have felt of His unrestrained, limitless love it has made me want to be in His presence. Because if feeling of His love is this wonderful here on this earth when I can't see Him, think of what it will be like to BE in His presence. Anyway, I am grateful for the ways in which He answers prayers, through an impression, a thought, a feeling, another person, a feeling and thought simultaneously that cause an ahhhhahhah moment, through scriptures, or the written word. So many ways He answers our prayers. We but have to listen and acknowledge those answers, even if they are not what we wanted to hear. Prayers are answered in His own time and according to His will. This is what we should come to expect. He knows our needs better than we do. He wants us to be happy, so we just need to listen. Ok enough of that.

And trials, I will make this short. That is what I will be giving my training on at our Conference with Elder Malm this week as we have so many missionaries who are having trials and difficult times in their families. Trials...we ALL have them. We are supposed to have them. We grow from them. They are what makes or breaks us. Trials make us feel alive. I can't say I am one who prays for trials but I would like to think I am one who will never give up. I pray I am one who has learned that some things  must be handed over to the Lord and hope that I might have enough  faith to know that HE will take care of things. I love the 100th section of the D&C (by the way Pres. Monson calls this the Canada section as this is the only time Joseph Smith visited a foreign mission, in Canada, where he baptized 14 people) where Joseph Smith and his partner are very worried about their families. The Lord basically tells them, you get to work, do as I have asked you and I will take care of the rest. They are in My hands. He tells them they are well and He is in charge. Don't worry just get to work. That is what I try to do here when I worry about my family. I find great peace in this. Please know you are in my prayers every day. I love and miss you but the time is passing so quickly and I want to do all I can, and all I should be doing. This is a very special, sacred time to be serving the Lord. And a privilege to be serving with these missionaries.

Ok I am really done now. I did not even tell you what we have been doing.We finished visiting most of the missionary apartments and talking with our wonderful servants of the Lord.  I did go to NYC for LIBBY's graduation from NYU Nursing school, for two days. Wynn and Acadia were there too. Mark was an Angel to tolerate it all. It was wonderful to be there. Congratulations NURSE Libby, We are so proud of you dear.

We are gearing up for a General Authority visit on Wednesday, Elder Per Malm and his wife will be here for three days. I have to go plan my training and menus right now.

After that on Saturday I am speaking at a R. S. Stake meeting, and Sunday we speak at a YSA, young single adult ward on unity. So I will sign out for now.

I love love love you all,

mom, Shir, Mema, Grammah, Soeur Cannon

Pictures Libby graduation NYC Hard Rock Cafe Time Square/Wynn, Acadia and Lib and three or our WONDERFUL missionaries who we love.

Click below to see more pictures of the mission if you like:

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

Soeur Shirin Cannon

Sister Shirin Cannon
    

Please read, if even just highlighted stuff love you.... Driving In Heavy Rain...A MUST READ!!!

Driving in the rain -- this may save your life. GOOD VISION IN A DOWNPOUR How to achieve good vision while driving during a heavy downpour. We are not sure why it is so effective; just try this method when it rains heavily. A method used by Canadian Military Drivers for years. Most of the motorists turn on HIGH or FASTEST SPEED of the wipers during heavy downpour, yet the visibility in front of the windshield is still bad......  Just try your SUN GLASSES (any model will do), and miracle! All of a sudden, your visibility in front of your windshield is perfectly clear, as if there is no rain. Try it yourself and share it with your friends! Amazing, you still see the drops on the windshield, but not the sheet of rain falling. You can see where the rain bounces off the road. It works to eliminate the "blindness" from passing semi's spraying you too. Or the "kickup" if you are following a semi or car in the rain. They ought to teach that little tip in driver's training. It really does work.. And for a similar reason, why "Fog" lights must make WHITE light, or else are useless in FOG Those YELLOW "FOG"lights are great in those blinding night SNOWstorms, and those big snowflakes become virtually invisible. But YELLOW is useless in RAIN, FOG. This next warning is a another good one! I wonder how many people know about this: A 36 year old female had an accident several weeks ago and totaled her car. A resident of Kinburn , Ontario was traveling between Kinburn & Ottawa. It was raining, though not excessively, when her car suddenly began to hydro-plane and literally flew through the air.. She was not seriously injured but very stunned at the sudden occurrence! When she explained to the OPP Officer what had happened he told her something that every driver should know - NEVER DRIVE IN THE RAIN WITH YOUR CRUISE CONTROL ON .. She thought she was being cautious by setting the cruise control and maintaining a safe consistent speed in the rain. But the Officer told her that if the cruise control is on when your car begins to hydro-plane and your tires lose contact with the pavement, your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed making you take off like an airplane. She told the OPP Officer that was exactly what had occurred. The Officer said this warning should be listed, on the driver's seat sun-visor - NEVER USETHE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR ICY, along with the airbag warning. We tell our teenagers to set the cruise control and drive a safe speed - but we don't tell them to use the cruise control only when the pavement is dry.

--
Soeur Shirin Cannon

Sister Shirin Cannon
    

letter # 27 from mom/Shirin

Letter # 27

Mission Home Office

May 1, 2011

 

Bonjour ma famille sa va?

 

Can it be…that I am in Montreal and the weather is this glorious? YES!!! Hello and how is everyone? Can it be that the end of June we have been here a year? CWAZY !!! We are doing very well considering we have just emerged from a VERY CWAZY month and look forward to another, back to back.  But c'est la vie here in Quebec and we still LOVE it.

 

In April we received a new "VISA waiting" Sister from Quebec. I may have mentioned her previously. Her name is Soeur Emilie Levesque. She will be going to St. George and will serve in the Visitors Center there. If you are ever there, please stop by and give her a greeting and hug from us. We love her dearly. She is so solid and is a missionary for all the right reasons. Her dad died a few years ago, her brother is not a member and she has only her mother. She saved up to pay for her mission and is such a gem. We are so blessed to have her.

 

Speaking of her, we also received three new missionaries. One, we have been waiting for, for over six months. He had some stuff to work out but he is here and is the sweetest, most mature, genuine young man.  We are grateful he is here and with us. The other we have also been waiting for over six months. I wrote about him when he broke his leg here in Quebec. His brake was so bad they sent him home for surgery and intensive care. Usually the missionaries are not assigned to go back to the previous mission but again, we were blessed to get Elder Mendoza back. He looks great, he is strong, his leg is healed and he is SO ready to work. We wept when he returned. We love this young man so much. And the third wonderful missionary we received is Elder  Reid. He is a sandy blonde, tall young man who used to do a lot of competitive swimming. He is a delight and we look forward to getting to know him. We are so blessed with the most wonderful Elders and Sisters. LOVE, Love, love them.

 

And CONGRATULATIONS is in order to Libby. Libby dear, we are so happy for you. When I received that text saying "I'd like to tell everyone that I am OFFICIALLY DONE WITH NURSING SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!"  I jumped for joy. And nice going on the straight A"s dear. We are so proud of you and very happy for your success. I am grateful you are finished with the books after ALL these years. Congrats Libbit.

 

So, I think I wrote at Easter, but Easter was so wonderful for so many reasons. First and foremost  I was feeling extraordinarily  grateful for my many blessings. And on top of that, the Resurrection was on my mind and I felt great gratitude for that and on top of all of that, Wynn, James and the baby came to see us. That was the icing on the cake. Thank you again for coming and making our home a bit of heaven for a few days. It was so kind of you to make the trek, incur the expenses, and take the time to come and visit grammah and grammpah. I think that is who we are to Acadia. We loved having you and enjoyed every minute of your company. We love you all so much.

 

I heard that  Sos, Mormor, Bedstemor is going in for a full knee replacement on her other knee on May 11.  I  know the family will be there for her. It is a very difficult and painful surgery. I know from mom's last surgery how tough it was. I will pray for Dr. Rosenberg and for mom.

 

I also heard Babajun will be going in on May 9^th for some more eye surgery to clear up some remaining cataract in his good eye. We must all pray for his Dr. and for dad. I know all will be well with both mom and day. Prayer is a VERY powerful blessing we have been granted in this life. Best of luck mom and dad. I love you both so much!!!

 

We also heard some VERY exciting news, that Emy is coming here to Montreal to visit ALONE. Yes, we get Em all to ourselves. Ben, this is right up there with the time you brought Clara for a day. That was the BEST. And now your wife. You are so wonderful. Thank You Benjamin from the bottom of my heart. We will sorely miss you and Eli and Clara and know you will have your hands full. So thanks Em and thanks Ben for this wonderful Father's and Mother's Day GIFT!!!! We can't wait to see you Em.

 

We have just come out of Zone Conferences for the entire mission,  Stake Conferences, A mission Presidents Seminar as I spoke of in the last letter, a visit from the Stewarts, and right into Transfers for three days then right into Zone Counsil, and another Stake Conference. Next week we head into a month long schedule of interviews at each individual missionaries apartments. This serves many purposes. First, a quiet, intimate, unhurried atmosphere for Nels to interview each missionary and I get to spend time with the other missionary while he interviews the companion. This is a treat for me as I really get to know them. They chat about their families, any health problems , the folks they are teaching, the hard times, the funny things that happen to them, and anything else they may feel like talking about. I usually shine shoes if I can find them, sew any small holes or buttons on, have them write a paragraph of gratitude to their companion and I of course offer them red licorice from Costco and a snack/breakfast bar. I love these young men and women for who they are and what they go out and do every day, day in and day out. The week we finish interviews we have a General Authority from the church coming to stay with us for three days. His name is Elder Per Malm and his wife, from Sweden. We are to feed them, house them, and take them around to our missionaries in order that they might teach them. We also will teach along with them. Then another (final) week of interviews and the week after that is transfer again. Then comes the bonus, the reward of our long schedule…..Emy comes! Yippeeee!

 

I want to tell you a little about our experience picking up our missionaries at the airport. It is a very fun and unique to Quebec experience. It is tradition that when people arrive here, they are greeted with either (and mostly) flowers or balloons.

I must admit, in any airport I have ever been to, have I seen nor heard more dogs and wailing cats than I have in Montreal's Trudeau Airport. They are in carriers , adorned with little skirts, collars, sweaters and bows. They are large and small. They are in crates, howling and barking away. The Quebecqois, love their chicken, Poutine, cars, flowers, meat pie, meat sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, AND their dogs/pets. They walk them constantly. They are every where. This is definitely a very dog friendly city. It is great. I have also seen other types of animals of which I was unable to discern their "make," walking down the street. I really do love this people. Back to the airport. You can tell ALLLLL those, and I mean ALL, who have been to Florida and back. They are adorned with dark faces and legs, puka shells (do they still wear those), large sun glasses, Disney shirts, Mickey Mouse stuffed animals, sun BURNED skin, skimpy strapless dresses, shorts, t-shirts, bizarre hats, and flip flops or strappy sandals while the rest of us are waiting for the arrival of those arriving, wearing light jackets, sweaters and some in hats and boots. I love the airport. It is a wonderful place to watch people greet those they love. The reunions make me cry every time we go. We usually wait from some time for our missionaries as the Canadian customs can be a BEAR. It took us THREE hours to get out. We apparently look like terrorists. They went through every single pocket, sock, zipper and bag. So  I love having the time to stand and watch as these loving reunions go on and on and on. It is wonderful. The other thing I think I have mentioned before, but when you greet someone here, you greet them by kissing both cheeks. The problem is knowing which way to go first. Do you go left first or right. I have crashed faces with many a woman here in Quebec. They all do it differently. And the men do it with the women and visa versa except with the missionaries. Most men do not give me the two kiss and most women do not give dad the two kiss. The thing that mystifies me is when I see them do three and some four. How on earth do you know. I guess, I just need to stay relaxed and stay loose, and let them take the lead. I can be ready for anything. That is the way it is done her in Quebec. I love this place.

 

I just realized I am on my third page. Sorry about that. It is so pleasant right now. It is about 5:10 in the p.m. and the sun is heading down. It is that timeless part of the day when everything seems still and so beautiful in the rose colored light. I love this time of day. I should go shoot some pictures but alas  I must work on a few talks. We are scheduled for six talks in the near future.

 

Please know how much I love each and every single one of you. I think of you often and know you are living good lives. I am so grateful for that. I am one blessed mama. And I am so happy to be here with dad, serving in Quebec. It is a privilege and honor to be here. I love this work. It is true. Where would I be without it? I know not.

 

Make it a productive, happy, loving week and I will do the same. I love you,

 

Mom, Shir, Soeur Cannon Mema, Grammah

PICTURES OF THE MISSION ETC. CLICK BELOW: First two pictures are of DAD and I when we were "young" missionaries and the third one is of our baby getting some driving time in. See more at:

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

Soeur Shirin Cannon

Sister Shirin Cannon