Guess Who's Back?

Mommy Time--May 12

Hello, hello! Wow... what a great day yesterday! HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all of the fabulous women that I love and adore, but especially to my #1 (MOMMY!) Dearest Mom, you are the greatest. Thank you for the love, light, and encouragement you give me daily. A girl could not have asked for a foxier mama than you! Truly, my mom is the best mom in the universe. Don't let anybody ever tell you otherwise! I love you!

So yesterday was a dream! It was crazy to see that my family is actually real and existing and living and breathing in some part of the world. WOW! It really won't be long at all till I'm back in your arms. What a glorious, weepy day that will be! I can't wait! But until then, I feel so sustained by our little chat on the phone. I'm glad that missionaries don't have to go complete gypsy like in the times of old and sever their family relationships completely to serve haha. It's nice to be permitted a phone call every once in awhile. ;)

Well, the saddest thing ever happened moments ago. I was just sitting here starting my emails when suddenly I received a call from the mission office. It was the call of all calls... they asked me which airport I would like to fly to when I go home. Gaaaaaaaah. WORST DAY EVER! It's REAL. They want me to LEAVE! Luckily though I'm about to have the best three months ever because....

WE GOT OUR TRANSFER CALLS! And get this... I'm a prophetess. So a few days before I was like... Yeah, Soeur Orozco is going to be my companion again. And then my companion was like, "I think Soeur Orozco is about to come replace me here in LaSalle." And I was like, "I didn't want to say anything, but yeah, it's happening." And oh guess what. IT HAPPENED!!!! Sister Orozco is going to kill me! I could not be HAPPIER! I love LaSalle and there are a million amazing things going on here right now. What better way to end things than with one of the best mamacitas in the CMM?! It's going to be a PARTAY!!! I may in fact see you all earlier than August ;) hee hee. No, we'll be good. I spent my summer with her a year ago, and I'm spending it with her again! What more could a girl possibly want? I am so terribly blessed.

This week was incredible. Good things are happening here! This Thursday I'm going to the TEMPLE to watch our less active who has been coming back to church receive her endowments! Such a beautiful, proud moment. She is amazing. Missionary work is the most rewarding, delightful thing on this planet. Everyone needs to be a missionary! You're missing out if you're not. ;)

In other news... SPRING IS HERE TO STAY! Saturday was the first legitimate day of spring. It has been a glorious weekend! We try to have all of our lessons outside if we can convince people haha. This week our bestie Jordan Morales practiced a Jenn Blosil EFY song on his guitar for us and then he and I sang it together alongside the St. Laurent river. Someone needs to get us a record deal! We are so flipping phenomenal. I'm going to TRY to send a video by Myldsmail might not be up to speed. You'll just have to wait till I get home to watch it. But my goodness was it ever a treat. The members here are just so COOL. I can't even explain. I wish I could make this my permanent home ward. But don't worry PV 4th, I still love you too. With ALL of my heart! Can't my heart just be big enough to embrace all of the wards that I love?

On Saturday we went and helped our amazing new investigator do yard work and we got to meet all of her kids! Including her son that lives far, far away that she hadn't seen since Christmas, and he showed up and surprised her in the middle of our visit. ....Awkward? I hate crashing beautiful family moments. Missionaries kind of have a knack for that, and since we're horribly awkward we make the awkward situation even worse. Haha... but it was fun. She's so cool, and it was nice to get to know her and her kids better.

Well, that was really the week that was! Not too much else to share, other than the fact that I miss you little ones like CRAYYYYZAYYY!!!! Don't worry, it won't be long now. My mission is giving me the boot in like twelve more weeks. It just doesn't seem real. We're going to have a big epluchette de ble d'Inde (that's Quebecois for barbeque) when I get back! Whooo! But until then, I love you all sooo very, very much. And miss the heck outta all of yous! Smooches and loves! Bises!

Love,

Sylvie Bear

Guess Who's Back--May 19

Back again... Cut-Co's back.... tell a friend! The dream team is back! And it is oh. so. GLORIOUS! My baby Hermana Orozco is back in my arms and my goodness... what a week it has been! I am one grateful child of God. So much gratitude in my heart right now. There's nothing better than serving with your best friend! It's going to be a great two transfers until the bitter end. I can feel it! Good things are happening in LaSalle, as always. :)

Last Monday I finally went and tried some of that FABULOUS Montreal smoked meat that everyone talks about with the elders and Jordan Morales. It was super fun. It's at a restaurant called Schwartz's. I felt like I was in New York City, Jews yelling at each other, mustard all over my hands. Haha. It was nice. A good cultural experience, at the very least. We all sat and talked about night terrors and Sister Sherwood embarrassed me by letting everyone know that I woke up screaming nearly ever night this transfer haha.

This week was transfer week, which meant STRESS to the max for the first three days. We are currently driving a rental car and are in fact the only team on the island of Montreal with a car besides the APs. So since our click limit is non-existent during this rental phase, we found ourselves literally driving the ENTIRE island of Montreal as a luggage service for transfers. NOT how I wanted to spend my last morning with Sister Sherwood, but we made it work. It was just such a GLORIOUS moment when Sister Orozco walked into the doors of the mission office and into my life again. We had a weepy goodbye with Sister Sherwood at the bus station (gonna miss that foxy one) and then... TROUBLE began. The girls are back! It's so great. I've been loving every dang minute of it.

On Thursday we went to the temple with our dear less active member's endowments. WOW. What a beautiful experience that was! I am so proud of her. She has made so many incredible changes in her life in less than a year. It has been amazing to watch the atonement work in the lives of the people I love and serve here. We drove with the LaHaches, one of my favorite families in the ward. We got out of our session SUPER late, and I found myself driving through downtown with their family late into the night. It was such a glorious experience, looking around and seeing all of the beautiful lights, out past my curfew, not a care in the world. A moment that I will never forget. The mission makes me feel indescribable happiness literally every single day.

Spring is HERE! It has been a beautiful week. We try to be outside as much as we can. Today for our P-Day we went to the annual interfaith service/community clean up again! I can't it has been a year since I was there last. A year ago Sister Varela and I were the only ones that attended. This year TONS of missionaries were there! It was just a huge trash clean up party. I always love going and serving in the community of Montreal. There are so many wonderful people from other faiths and backgrounds. The diversity is truly thrilling to me. I love getting to know people from all walks of life, serving together and taking care of the beautiful earth we have been entrusted with. It was just a MAGNIFICENTLY lovely day. I really can't put words to how I feel about Montreal in the spring. It has been a positive, happy week.

I think the real reason I'm so happy is because I was FINALLY able to get my eyebrows threaded... alright, so the truth comes out. I just feel like a new woman right now. Gah. Gotta love those Indian ladies. They do a great job. No more frumpster sister until August! I'll be a hairy, fat mess when I come back haha.

So that was the week that was! I'm truly happy right now, even if I'm hiding the fact that I'm jealous about my family being in Paris and London without me. No comment on the Paris trip... I'm sure you all made great memories together! I'm happy for you all. Truly. ...... Anyway. I love you all and miss you to DEATH! But it really won't be long, my friends. Not. Long. At. ALL! Time is hastening by. I'm making the most of EVERY moment, I assure you. Have a beautiful week, everyone! 

Love,

Syl

There's Nothing That the Road Cannot Heal

April 28, 2014

There's Nothing That the Road Cannot Heal

Hello, my little cute newts! How are you all doing during this beautiful spring season? I hope you're all having a grand time soaking in the sun, hiking, dancing in the rain, and ... oh, bashing around London? No comment, other than the fact that I am sick with jealousy of my family leaving for London without ME this week. Never mind that I'm only the biggest Anglophile on the planet, bawling my eyes out over the royal wedding, spending countless hours reading Austen novels, convulsively weeping over every single dang episode of Downton Abbey and BBC Masterpiece on the PLANET! I hope the trip is WORTH IT. For SHAME....

Alright, the rant is over. This week was just plain fabulous! We are seeing miracles GALORE out here! I don't really know what to do with myself at this point. My mission just keeps getting better and better, and I keep getting closer and closer to its grand finale. YIKES! Gotta make every moment count, eh? So this week we went on a sister exchange fiesta. Lots of driving, but it was SO worth it because we saved some of the best sisters for last. Well, they're all the best sisters, but these exchanges were especially exciting. Congratulations to ME, I got my International Drivers Permit renewed, which meant that I was able to DRIVE again for the first time in months! On Monday the dear sisters of Cornwall, Sister Rios and my grand baby Sister Gonzalez, drove down to Montreal to spend P-Day with us bashing around Vieux-Montreal, the closest I'm going to get to bashing around London. It was SO fun! We went to Chinatown and got *Mormon* bubble tea, and then spent the rest of a breezy, pleasant evening walking the streets of our historical city. Not as great as Vieux-Quebec, but I still love Montreal with all of my heart.

That night I got to cruise into Ontario and get to know my mission granddaughter. It turns out we're the same person! Good road trip conversations the whole way down. I got to spend the next day in Cornwall, which is so English that it frightens me. Not sure what I'm going to do when I get back and there are absolutely NO signs in French? Weird.

THEN on Thursday I had just about the most exciting exchange of my life. Sister Rebecca Smith of Vancouver Island came to LaSalle to spend the day with me, and oh my heavens. Did we ever have a riotous time! We may or may not have stayed up till 3 in the morning talking. She's pretty much the Canadian version of my best friend Ellie Parker, so you can imagine the glee and the joy and the sheer insanity that ensued when we were put together for twenty-four hours on an exchange. This is why I LOVE exchanges! Sometimes it's stressful hopping in and out of our area with new companions, but I have gotten to know so many fantastic girls that are serving around me. Biggest blessing of my mission by far!

Friday we had a big mission leadership council with some of the brethren from the missionary department. They talked about how we need to help people when we invite them to do something, not just hope that a miracle will happen. We've been stepping up our game now, trying to help people keep their commitments, but there's only so much you can do when personal agency comes into play. Still, it's a great way to love and serve others, and let's be honest... we all need a little (or in my case A LOT) of help enduring to the end.

Saturday we Zumba'd it up and now I am too sore/tired to even function, what with shimmying around and not getting any sleep this week, but I have had a wonderful April and am now looking forward to the glamorous month of MAY! It should be fabulous. Also.... speaking of April coming to a close... HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY to my dearest, loveliest. most fabulous, cheetah-licious BEST FRIEND CHRISTINE! I hope you know I love you with ALL of my heart and desperately wish I could be there to PARTAYYYYYY on your 21st! You are truly a ray of sunshine in my life, and I honestly have NO idea where I would be without you. Thank you for being a fantastic friend. SEE YOU SOON! Birthday rain check. We'll all be celebrating in just a few more months there!

Well, Have a great week, yous guys! I love you all infinitely and MISS you to the point of pain, but that's to be expected. Take care, stay safe, don't do anything I wouldn't do! :) Peace and blessings!

Love,

Sister Syl

May 5, 2014

Drowning in My Tears

Hello, beautiful family! The natural woman side of me was debating whether or not I should even write you today after reading about your fabulous first week in London. Luckily my companion didn't notice the sob fest I had moments ago sitting here reading my weekly emails. No comment. Just shear jealousy currently being unleashed in my heart like an untamed beast. Pure havoc to my soul, I tell you. Enjoy your stay!

Alright, let's talk about MY fabulous week. I may not be trouncing around London but I AM seeing miracles galore. It's a great time to be a missionary in Montreal! We have some sweet new investigators who have been so prepared to hear the message of the restored gospel. I have to remind myself daily that I am privileged to have spent the last fifteen, yes, FIFTEEN months of my life being a missionary.

So for starters... Sister Sherwood and I had to give a bunch of trainings this week as part of our sister training leader calling. We talked about the importance of helping people. We often think our job is to invite, which is true, but the second part of the missionary purpose is to actually help people do what we invite them to do. Aren't we all in need of a little help? Basically the missionary department came to the mission last week and told us plainly, "The reason people in your mission aren't getting baptized is because you're not HELPING them enough." OUCH? Don't people have free agency? Haha no, it was good to hear. We've been keeping ourselves plenty busy now as we've creatively searched for ways to "help" people honor their commitments. Missionary FUN!

On Tuesday we went on member exchanges, which are always fun because I separate from my companion and spend the evening with one of the groovy sisters in the LaSalle ward. I was with the Bishop's wife, Sister May, who was the perfect companion, because she is from London and mourned with me about my family being in London without me. It was nice to have someone sympathize with me. We had a fun night and I pretended that perhaps I too was in London as I let her talk the night away with her beautiful British accent. It's the closest thing I'll ever have to a real London experience, I suppose. Gah. I thought I had control over my vicious envyings... I'll stop now.

We went on exchanges this week as well. I FINALLY got to go with Sister Berry, a sister I knew in the MTC but haven't been able to serve with yet. She. Is. So. COOL! I found out that she too is a feminist, and so... we had long, heated, rants/discussions about everything that I love. Haha. It was a super fun day. I think they shipped all of those feminist Mormons out to the Canada Montreal mission. She was telling me about who all of the other underground Mormon feminists were in the mission, which is like half of the sisters here. Too great. This really is the mission meant for me!

On Friday we had TWO fabulous lessons with member referrals! Gotta love LaSalle. One was a sweet 17 year old girl that is friends with one of the young men in our ward. He courageously invited her to take the discussions, and she was FLOORED. I recited the first vision to her and she CRIED! It was a great experience for us all. She reminds me a lot of my sweet cousin Jessica. Super cool, super smart. She lives kind of far away from our area so we won't get to teach her for long, but it was great to meet a youth who had such a personal testimony of Heavenly Father's love for her and His willingness to answer prayer.

Our next lesson was with our investigator that we've been seeing for a few weeks now. We watched the #BecauseofHim video and invited her to be baptized! It was just a beautiful, powerful experience. She is an amazing woman and would be an incredible member of the church. Keep praying for these people! It's not easy to join the church. I'm amazed when people are able to give up everything they once knew and start a new life as a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Pray that these people will feel accepted, that their testimonies will grow, and that their faith will overcome doubts.

Well, that was the week that was! The APs told us that sisters and elders can't have P-Day activities together anymore... hmmm... wonder why that happened. So mad. BUT. After our training on Wednesday our zone leaders decided that "going out to lunch with our zone after a training meeting" was not a P-Day activity, so we went with a big gang of missionaries to Thai Express. Ha ha. Gotta love those zone leaders for bending the rules to their own liking. Then again with our other zone our other zone leader decided to treat us all to Wendy's because he has over $500 saved on his mission card. And even President got a Double and joined us for the event, so I say it's okay. ;)

Anyway, have a GREAT week! I love you all so much and miss you terribly. More than I can describe. We'll SEE if I decide to call on Mother's Day.... I'm a little sad right now. Meh. You won't notice. You're all having tons of fun without me. Well, take care! Bisou bisou!

Love,
Syl the Pill