Letter # 33
Sept. 6, 2011
Jewish Hospital, Montreal
Link to lots of mission pictures click here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/canadamontrealmission/
Dear noble and lovely family,
How has this day been for you so far? That is a new way to begin my letter. I always seem to ask you how you are doing, so I will attempt to try and come up with a new and exciting beginning to my letters…that is if I remember next time.
Today is a day of health and well being. I got up early as I do each day around 6:00 a.m. and went downstairs to the basement and exercised for 40 minutes with the Wii fit plus thing. I like to play the golf, tennis, baseball and bowling. And I like to do all the exercises that force me to focus on my core and balance. I have discovered I am very weak in the core and abdomen. Maybe that is why I have grown a little Buddha tummy while I have been here. But you girls, Em, Lib, Tracie and Wynn have inspired me by your svelte figures, healthy eating habits, exercise habits and how cute you look in your clothes. I might add Em inspired me with her no eating desserts and sweets while she was here. Wynn challenged us to watch the butter intake and that was a real eye opener. Also, to you Dane our very slim son and my remarkable sons in law, you have all been a great example of hiking, running, marathons, iron men, climbing, golf, tennis, skiing, walking Jesse and all the other things you do. You are all such a great examples to me. I want to improve greatly in this area of health, weight and exercise. I want to make you proud. I am working on it by taking baby steps at a time. It took me a year to become motivated as I have been exhausted by our first year, but I have arrived. My head is in the right place and I am committed family, I am committed to do better. I hope by the time I come home I will be very healthy, slightly thinner and have much energy to do good.
A few hours later……I am bored waiting for dad. So I brought my laptop. I am finished with my appointment and I am sitting out in the hallway in the basement of Jewish Hospital while two other conversations are going on around me. One conversation is a Dr. and a supervisor who are complaining about the hospital and how many patients they have to push through in a day. They are planning how to fight back. Wow, there are some very impassioned feelings flying around here. Now a man in black, black hat, tee shirt, pants shoes just walked up to the couple next to me viewing pictures on a laptop from a recent vacation, and said”hi.” The man showing the pictures was explaining a trip he had just taken to a place called Dolphins Cove. He is showing pix of dolphins, shark, his girl friend etc. He is saying the dolphins feel like soft, slimy leather. He was a little freaked out how his girl friend was kissing the dolphin. Maybe he doesn’t like fishy kisses. He was able to ride the dolphin and the dolphin somehow threw them up in the air, he loved it when his butler drew him a bath and brought him champagne….so on and so on. As this was going on and I was attempting to finish this letter, the man in black came up and said to the two viewing photos, “Do you know what a double whistle is” they replied, “no we don’t” so the man in black replied “first what are your names”….they exchanged names then he whistled “whewwwwwwwwwwwwwewwwwww” in one tone, then immediately he started whistling in two tones. He whistled three songs, one by Bach. It was LONG. WE all sat there listening and when he was done he asked them if they liked it. They said “oh yes we loved it”. The man in black asked” are you sure, were you impressed” and they answered in the positive. He then turned on his heel and walked away. No one knew him, he continued down the hall of the Jewish Hospital basement checking to see if every door was locked. A very odd, but strangely wonderful encounter. They made him happy because they liked his whistling. He brightened their day because he gave them a chance to be kind to one who is special, unique and definitely, his own person.
Going back to the health and well being. I had a physical today. The last one I had was 16 months ago so it was time to be poked, prodded, weighed, and questioned complete with the two tests I detest most of all, no not blood tests, but PAP and Mam. which I have scheduled for the end of this month. Just a reminder to any of you hmmm hmmmm who have not had these tests, I would encourage you to set up your appointments. I think you know who you are. I love our Dr. She is Dr. Myriam Abihkzar. She is in a practice with her father and sister. All of whom our missionaries have seen and been cared for. They are a wonderful bunch. They are Jewish and very active. I offered them lunch once when they came to give all of our missionaries flu shots but they kindly declined as they eat only Kosher food. I did not know that at the time. I have to get a blood test and come back and discuss how that turns out but other than that I think I am healthy. I feel great. But that is not all, the reason I am at Jewish Hospital is because we have a lovely dentist from the Philippines who is checking up on the teeth. Dad has to have a crown replaced and I have been brushing too hard so I have worn down the base of my teeth. She wanted to put little patches at the base of my teeth so I would not wear down the enamel and not my teeth. Novel idea. Or I could try brushing with less force and more finesse. I bought an electric tooth brush that stops when I press to hard so I will try that. I am grateful for the coverage the Church has provided for every mission pres. and his wife as they are out serving. I feel so happy to have this day over and have a stamp of good health and teeth. We are so blessed to have this care as I think of so many who have never even seen a Dr.
Speaking of seeing a Dr. As I was in the waiting room today, I noticed a sweet, loving family who I thought were from Haiti. I could tell by the mothers dress. We smiled back and forth at each other and the little girl kept waving at me and I waved back. I felt the very strong impression that I should go talk to them in that busy office and ask them if they had any desire to hear a message about Jesus Christ and His ways. I ended up waiting too late as they all jumped up and exited out the door. Before they left the father turned and waved at me. That was it. I reached for my purse, located a pass along card with my info and themormon.org website on it. I ran out the door to find them waiting, thankfully, at the elevator. I told them how impressed I was with the love they showed for each other and the kindness they exhibited to all in the office including the office staff. They were very good people I could tell. The dad said to me “hello mama, you have a light around your head”, “You are so nice mama” (all the Haitians call eachother) and I said “you are the family with the light and so much kindness, this is why I am running after you”. I explained that I was a missionary and what we did. I asked him if he was interested in what we had to share with him. We had a message about families and how they can be eternal, the purpose of life and that the truth has been restored to the earth. I told him that we can answer questions of the soul like where we came from, why we are here and where we are going. He said he was interested and gave me his phone number. I am so excited to call them and find out what area they live in. Maybe we will have them over for dinner. I am so happy. They were truly a special family. Without a doubt, I know that Heavenly Father sets up divinely orchestrated encounters. We must but go for it and open our mouths. Just ask, just talk with people. I am grateful for this opportunity I had to meet them. No matter what happens, they blessed my life by just meeting them. The Haitian people are a very kind and loving people who are open to the gospel. The same goes for the Africans. James, we finally get why you love these people so. P.S. I just called the family and the mom and dad work seven days a week from five in the morning til eleven. The dad never gets time off. But he called me twice today to give me his daughters phone number so we could set up an appointment. I am SOOOO excited. P.S. I just called this family and asked if our sisters could visit them. We have some sisters in their area of St. Leonard who will call and visit them in a few days. They are going to invite Jean Claude and his family to an Hochalaga Ward Corn Roast next Sat. I am very hopeful. There are tons of Haitians in that ward…. coincidence? I don’t think so.
I wanted to tell you about an experience I had yesterday when we were at Jean Talon market. This was a lesson in listening to the spirit or the still small voice/ impressions and whisperings of the spirit. Then in contrast to that experience, I had an episode where I did NOT listen. These events in my life, being obedient to the Holy Ghost and His guidance or not, have taught me much in the past 14 or so months . We were shopping at my favorite outdoor market, Jean Talon. It is the place all local farmers, cheese makers, maple harvesters, butchers, bakers, fish mongers and everyone else, sells their wares in a huge open market that it bigger than an outdoor Costco. We bought some peaches, maple hard candy, some fresh corn and corn relish for hamburgers, (I know, that’s different and it is dilled like a pickle) then ate at the local Del Taco place. As we were leaving, I had the nagging sense that I had forgotten something. I felt I had to do something there but could not figure it out. Dad said we had to go. I told him I felt I needed to do something else. He said he would get the car and drive around and I was to meet him out in front of the main doors. I walked all over but could not, for the life of me remember what it was I needed. So after exhausting all possibilities of purchases I headed out to the street. When I finally hooked up with dad, we started driving down the block and then it hit me….I remembered what it was I was going to purchase. But why the urgency??? It was a dish towel for our Bishop and his wife. They were kind enough to bake us a loaf of bread and they wrapped it in one of their towels. He makes bread for his family every day. Yes, that is right, HE makes bread for his three little girls and his wife daily. So rumor has it, I almost started a tiny fire in my Le Crueset and I had to douse the flames with a small wet towel. The first one I could lay my hands on was the Bishop’s towel…hence the new one. I asked Nels to go back to where we had just left as thee was a Cuizin store. He was very ready to go…but he humored me and drove around the block and dropped me off. I walked in and they were closing. Why was this so important that I get this towel NOW! I really felt an urgency. As I was in there I met a woman who asked me where I was from and I told her. I told her I was a missionary for our Church and explained what we did and what our missionaries did. She said “ Oh that just gives me chills, for some reason, that makes me so happy” she continued “ I believe you were supposed to come in here tonight so we could meet. I believe it was destiny that we are having this conversation”. She told me she was Catholic and had been involved with teaching the children of the Catholic Church for 6 years. But now she had to work on Sundays and was not able to teach. She felt sad she had to work on the Sabbath. I was very interested in her story, her faith and she also mentioned she is going through a divorce. She asked ME for my number and email and I got hers as well. We have been corresponding the last few days and I hope to simply have her over for dinner and get to know her. She seemed like a wonderful lady. She has two older kids who live with their dad because she did not want to tear up their lives by moving them out of the home they grew up in. She said that is one of the greatest sacrifices she has every made for them, but her love for them is greater than her desire to do what makes her happy. She seems like such a good and kind mother. Anyway, I feel that listening to that still small voice enabled me to have another divine rendezvous with Nickie. I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity.
Now on the other hand, NOT listening. I know, if I mention this I am fearful you will worry about me having dementia but I misplaced my phone again. On Saturday night we arrived home late. The couple living with us, the Mahaffey’s needed some help with getting around Quebec City so I sat down with her at my computer and we made out a list. While doing so, the phone rang and Elder Cherry from Quebec wanted to call and report a miracle. I had the phone that night. I don’t remember the rest of the night as we got to bed very late then woke up early as we had an early morning meeting. I could not find the phone so we left. We came home and I turned the house upside down. Dad helped…again, the Mahaffeys, looked, and then Nohemi looked on Monday. Still no phone. Now, during that time, I had the strangest impression….look on the porch. I completely dismissed that thought and argued that that was a waste of time, it was not there and I was not going to look on the porch. I had that impression twice. How deaf can I be? As we were looking I had the Mahaffeys call my phone. We had done this tons of times but could not hear it anywhere. But this time we heard a faint sound. We looked everywhere but could not find it. Finally, Sister Mahaffey, unlocked the front door and went out on the porch and lo and behold, there was my phone. It had been raining and the phone was a tiny bit wet but I had a cover on it so I was lucky. It had been there for a day. I cannot remember how it got there, but I as I went through my day, I recalled that night going out on the porch talking, while watering the plants. I must have laid it down to water or dead head the geraniums. Had I listened I would have saved a day of looking and agonizing about it. It humbled me. I realized, the help is there, I just need to hone my skills at listening better. I am grateful for the guidance of the Holy Ghost in my life. I am grateful for the love of a Father in Heaven for his forgetful, sometimes stubborn daughter. And I am grateful for my IPhone cover. All is well at 85 Henely Ave. Mont Royal QC.
This has turned out to be way toooooo long. I apologize family. Please know of my love and appreciation for each of you individually and collectively. I love you dear grandkids. Hello my precious Clara, Eli, Nora, Acadia and somewhere our little Andi.
Make it a great week and I will truly do my best to do the same.
I love you so,
Love,
Mom/Shir/mema/grahamah/Soeur Cannon
Pictures 1. Jean Talon Market, my favorite 2.Rustic Crusty bread without kneading. SO EASY, call me if you want the recipe but I think you girls may already make this 3.Talented and thrifty Elders Shen cutting and Elder Bell, being cut 4.There is beauty all around..
Soeur Shirin CannonNo-Knead Bread (2006)
Adapted from Jim Lahey of the Sullivan Street Bakery, this foolproof method of baking bread is striking on several levels. It requires no kneading. It uses no special ingredients, equipment or techniques. And it takes very little effort.
Ingredients
Time: About 1 1/2 hours plus 14 to 20 hours’ rising
3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.
Preparation
1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.
2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.
3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.
4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.
Yield: One 1 1/2-pound loaf.
