Monday, December 29, 2008

Kirtland Here I Come!

(Posted by Stephs's Dad 12-29-08)

Hi everyone!

I hope this fine morning finds you happy and healthy. I’m just getting ready to head over to the Crystal Clinic but they bumped back the surgery to 2:30 so I had some time this morning to actually write.

I did find out from one of our investigators that Crystal Clinic is one of the top surgical centers in Ohio—so I guess I’ll be well taken care of.

This past week was really great—we experienced a lot of opposition but the blessings just kept flowing. I know that the adversary works really hard to frustrate the work in order to debilitate and distract us as missionaries. Well, he didn’t succeed! We had a really great week and were able to see a lot of miracles.

We finished up delivering our Joy to the World referrals and I loved being able to go into homes of members’ friends and help them to feel of the spirit. We’re going to try to stop by a few of them again and I’m excited for it.

We were able to teach Emily again this week and she talked about how she’s finally beginning to be comfortable with prayer. We asked her if she’d prayed about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, to which she replied yes and that she knows that it’s true. I wanted to commit her right then and there! But we’ve been getting a vibe from her mom that we need to take things slow and give her opportunity to make the decision in her own time and way. I love seeing her progress though and I’m sad that I’ll miss out on her appointment this week!

We were able to teach a husband and wife named Dave and Sue. They are FANTASTIC and are planning on coming to church this next Sunday. They had great, probing questions and the spirit was really strong as we watched the Restoration DVD with them. Sister Van Meter said that she could picture the two of them as senior missionaries! Love it. We also have an appointment with them this week and I look forward to hearing how that goes as well.

So it’s true—I’m heading in for my surgery today. Sister Zirker, from Idaho Falls, Idaho, will be coming down with President and Sister Peterson today and will be with Sister Van Meter for the week. I’m way excited for them because Heavenly Father totally packed our week full of appointments and assignments from the PEC. I am really excited for Sister Van Meter and Sister Zirker to tear it up while I’m gone!

Not much else to report or say…I hope that you have a wonderful new year and that it’s everything you could ask for and more. I hope that the winding down of the holidays go well too.
I know that our Heavenly Father lives, He loves us and wants us to return to Him. I know that He provided a means for that return through the Atonement of His Only Begotten Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. The Atonement is truly the great equalizer in this life and enables us to overcome sin, death, and affliction. What grace! I am so incredibly grateful for His life and His sacrifice. We truly are blessed to have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ again available to us in beautiful simplicity; it's a privilege to represent the Savior and invite God's children to come to Him.

Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers as I spend some quality time in beautiful Kirtland. You’ll be hearing from me again soon!

I love love love you.
Sister Cannariato

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas!

(posted by Steph's Dad 12-24-08)

Happy Christmas!

I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Things here in Wadsworth are going well and I’m trying to make the most of my time before I have to go up to Kirtland in a week.

This past week we were able to teach a really great part member family. The husband has just started coming back to church and is super excited about the gospel and preparing to receive the Melchizedek priesthood. We were able to teach him and his wife with their home teachers (one of whom is the ward mission leader) about the plan of salvation. The spirit was really strong as we taught them and Erin even cried. They are expecting their first child and I think it really hit home with them. Sister Van Meter and the sister from Kirtland will go see them next Monday and I can’t wait to hear about it!

Emily (the 16 year old) came out to church again this past week and it was so great to have her there. She just is eating it up and I am so grateful to be a part of seeing her come to an understanding of who she is and how much God loves her.

Lex asked me about the Joy to the World referral thing, and yes, we’re doing it again this year. We’ve had about 10 people/families given to us and we’ve been able to stop by and deliver 3 of them so far (I know, we’ve got to get on the ball if we’re going to get them done before Christmas!). As we were driving home last to write our weekly letters to President, I felt like we needed to stop by one of the referrals. At that point it was four degrees and there were 35mph winds and it was not going out weather, but I still felt like we needed to stop by. So we did. The family had just recently lost their father/husband and they were in need of a message of hope about the Savior. I felt really strongly like we needed to offer a Book of Mormon to her in addition to the DVD that the boy from our ward had given them. She was really excited to have it and committed herself to read from it that night. It’s amazing to see what peace and hope the gospel brings!

We had mission conference up in Kirtland this past week…it was FANTASTICO! I loved every minute of it. They had it at the stake center instead of the temple this year (which was fine—it was still a very powerful and spiritual experience) and I was able to play the piano again. We sang songs and had some great workshops about the Book of Mormon and the Atonement. Our mission has been given a challenge to read the Book of Mormon in two months starting January 1st. I am SO excited to do it because it means I’ll get to read the whole Book of Mormon another time on my mission. I can’t think of a better thing to do. :0)

I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that it will bring us closer to God. By reading it, pondering the message it contains, and sincerely asking God if it is true will bring a greater understanding of Jesus Christ to our lives and prepare us to return home to our Father in Heaven. What a blessing to know of the restored gospel and to have tangible evidence of the prophetic call of Joseph Smith. It’s been amazing as a missionary to seek that confirmation and to deepen my testimony of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith. The spirit will always testify of truth and I know that as we ask with real intent our prayers are answered.

One last thing. While driving in a more remote part of our area, we definitely were held up for a moment or two by a HORSE and BUGGY. Yes, that’s right: a horse and buggy. We cover a small portion of Amish country in our area and it was fun to see. I love Ohio!Thanks for all you do and I hope your Christmas days are merry and bright and that all your Christmases are white this year! TALK TO YOU THURSDAY!

Love love love,Sister Cannariato

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Meniscus Malfunction, Soon to be Fixed

(posted by Steph's Dad 12-17-08)

Hi family,

I know I’m emailing a little later in the day than usual but I just wanted to send you my first official email from Wadsworth!
I really like it here and the area is doing well. The elders that were here before were so good and they had really built up the area. We actually went to the ward Christmas party on Saturday evening and one of the sisters in the ward (she’s actually the mayor of Wadsworth) paid them the best compliment I’ve ever heard. She said that they reminded her of Ammon—they were diligent in serving and then went about doing their missionary labors with quiet dignity. I thought it was such a nice thing to say and I hope that we can live up to the high standard that Elder Hicks and Elder Paulson set.
This past week we spent most of our time trying to contact investigators, less actives, and familiarize ourselves with the ward. There are some really good things happening. Wednesday evening we went to teach a young woman named Emily. She had ordered a Book of Mormon because she’d heard about it from a friend (someone who’s also not a member). The elders had taught her a couple times but I think sisters will be good for her because she’s only 16. She’s been reading from the Book of Mormon and any time we talk about it her face just lights up. She really wants to be involved and she came to church this past Sunday. The young women of the Wadsworth ward were so great and just welcomed her right in. The best fellowshipper was actually a foreign exchange student from Germany who’s not a member either...I love it!
This week we’ve got some great appointments lined up and I’m excited for it. We’re also going to have mission conference on Thursday up in Kirtland and I’m looking forward to having another great experience like last year. I’ll let you know how it goes.
So I got the blog post via email about my knee. Dad pretty much summed it up but I have a few more details for you. I’ll be having the outpatient arthroscopy (sp?) in Medina on December 29 at 1:30. President and Sister Peterson will come down and pick me up after the surgery and take me to Kirtland where I’ll spend about a week to recover. A sister from Kirtland who is in a triple-up will come down to be with Sister Van Meter. Then we’ll switch back after I’m back to at least driving capacity.
It’s kind of crazy just thinking about spending time in Kirtland. Weird, but cool at the same time. Most likely I’ll spend time at the sites with the senior couples but I still don’t know all the details as of yet. I’ll keep you updated.
This has been a really interesting experience because it’s helped me to have another experience with personal revelation. Initially I was completely against getting it taken care of because I don’t feel it’s that bad and I figured I only had three months left so I wouldn’t worry about it. Even when I was talking to the doctor about it I told him I’d probably just wait. Then I talked with Sister Peterson who asked me what I wanted to do. I tried to have the ready answer of "just wait" but she asked just the right questions to get me to be open to the Sprit. The next morning was transfers and I was trying to get all my things packed and organized when I just got the urge to go into our study room and pray for a bit. I poured out my heart to Heavenly Father asking Him what I should do (since before I’d prayed but was looking for my answer instead of the Lord’s answer). As I prayed, I counseled with Him about my options and went from praying a prayer of "this is what I want—tell me it’s okay" to "help me to align my will with Thine." It became clear as I prayed that God wanted me to get this taken care of now. After I made the decision, I was filled with peace and knew everything would be okay. Truly, sweet is the peace the gospel brings!
Now that this is kind of figured out (well, as much as it can be at this point) I love being able to focus on Wadsworth, the people here, and making the most of my two weeks before surgery. I hope that all of your Christmas preparations are going well and that you’re finding time to remember the Savior during the holidays. Thanks for all you do and know I’m thinking about each of you!
Love love love
Sister Cannariato
Since some of you have been asking for my address, I’ll include it here:
Sister Stephanie Cannariato
295 Third St.
Wadsworth, OH 44281

Monday, December 1, 2008

December my foot! Are you serious?!?

(Sorry I have been remiss in posting Steph's letters - I will repent. Steph's Dad.)

Happy December!

Can you believe today is December 1? I’m seriously weirded out by it. I cannot believe that 2008 is almost over. I just got to Ohio—seriously!We had a really good Thanksgiving. We ate with a less active family and it was delicious. They are really great and we want them to get back to church! We’re going eat with them again this week and I look forward to being in their home. The spirit is there and we just need to get them back into the habit of full activity.I was reading over some conference talks this morning and was really impressed (again) by the talk given by Elder Lawrence C. Corbridge of the seventy in this last General Conference. He talked about how the way of the gospel is simple and requires, as Elder Oaks put it, “the steady dedication of a lifetime.” We don’t need to fret or worry—we just need to have faith. I am amazed at how often I neglect or forget this simple principle. Especially in the turmoil that’s all around us, we need to get back to the basics and trust in the Lord. It’s then that everything will work out and work for your good.I also heard another good quote yesterday. It was this: “I don’t do everything; I do what’s important.” I find that so often we let the good things get in the way of the better or best things, and it’s easy to become distracted. Several months ago Jake wrote me an email saying that Satan doesn’t have to get missionaries to be disobedient; he just has to get them to be distracted and not do the work in the Lord’s way. The same goes for our day-to-day lives as well. We must not become distracted by things that are just things; we have to do what’s really important. I love being a missionary because it helps me to recognize that there is a lot of time in each day to accomplish the things we need to do. We’ve just got to be efficient! Oh dear, I’m starting to sound like Dad! jk,jk…really, it’s a good thing.Last year in the Tallmadge ward Sister Corbridge and I decided to do a little referral thingy where we would wrap a copy of the DVD “Joy to the World” and then hand-deliver it to ward members’ friends and neighbors. Sister Van Meter and I decided that we’d do it this year too and presented it to the ward council yesterday morning. They loved it! I’m really excited because this year we’re just more prepared to do it and we’re starting to advertise it earlier that we did last year. I loved doing it last year because we were able to get into homes where I don’t think we could have gone in to otherwise. It’s a great way to share the gospel in a non-threatening way. This year we’re also providing the option of giving them Mr. Kruger’s Christmas if they want too! I’ll let you know how it goes.Thanks again for all that you do for me and for the Lord. I feel so incredibly blessed to have been reared in a Christ-centered home where love, fun, and respect resided. Thanks for helping me become the best person I can be and I pray that my service here is sending blessings your way! I pray for you continually and think that you’re the best. Sewiouswy.Love love love,Sister Cannariatop.s. Here’s a good quote to think about. It’s from Elder Holland: “Every experience can be a redemptive experience if we remain bonded to our Father in Heaven through that difficulty. These difficult lessons teach us that man’s extremity is God’s opportunity. And if we will be humble and faithful—if we will not curse God for our problems—He can turn the unfair, and the inhumane, and the debilitating prisons of our life into temples, or at least into a circumstance that can bring comfort and revelation.”