Posted by Steph's dad 4/12/08
Cello!Sorry last week’s email was so short, we were running low on time so I had to be pretty fast. It’s been a busy week and definitely an adjustment, as it always is around transfers, but it was good nonetheless. We’re still seeing great miracles in this area.With Sister McFarlane leaving, they didn’t know where to put me because the closest sisters were in Tiffin (about 2 hours away). So, lucky me, I got to ride out to Kirtland for transfer meeting. It’s a long drive but I was glad I got to go so I could spend more time with Sister McFarlane and see old companions and friends at transfers. They called a new assistant since one was going home and it was one of my zone leaders from the Toledo zone this past transfer. He’s a great missionary and I’m excited to learn from his example. The other assistant used to be my zone leader in Tallmadge and I have to admit, it's nice to know them both since I still feel like I don't know that many missionaries.After transfer meeting we headed back to Toledo and Sister Webb was, as I said last week, ecstatic. She was so excited to be in the field again because she’d been serving in Kirtland. It’s really been fun to have a companion with such a strong desire to be proselyting. We’ve been able to go out finding since both of us have been in good health, so that’s nice. We’re teaching some really great people and I love it!Ken’s still doing really well. We’ve been able to make a bit of headway with his wife Adrianna so that’s great. They actually had us over for dinner last week and it was fun to sit down and talk with them both about the gospel.Did everyone else think General Conference was amazing?!? I sure thought it was. I loved how there was such a focus on family, the articles of faith, and John 7:17. Esther came to conference on Sunday as well as another investigator, Greg. Greg was found by Sisters Dickson and McFarlane but we were only able to teach him once my first transfer because he was sick and things. Well, he’s read through most of 1 Nephi and was able to hear President Uchtdorf’s talk in the Sunday morning session…perfect for him with his Lutheran background! In our lesson with Greg earlier this week he told us he knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true…but at this point it’s intellectual rather than spiritual knowledge so we’re really working on getting him praying and trying to facilitate learning by the spirit in our lessons. I'm excited to have him come out to church this next Sunday so he can see what our regular Sunday service is like.The past couple weeks I’ve been thinking a great deal about the role of full-time missionaries in any given ward. I was so grateful for the insights Elder Bednar gave; ward members are the principle finders and full-time missionaries are the principle teachers. We as missionaries are here to assist the ward in the missionary work in their ward, their area, their lives; we are not here to force the work upon them. We come and go as missionaries but the people we teach need that stability that comes from a ward family. We currently do not have a ward mission plan and I’ve been prayerfully pondering how we can get that going to not only unify the ward and us as missionaries but so we can support, strengthen, and edify the families of the ward through missionary work. I didn’t fully understand how much proclaiming the gospel affected all parts of the three-fold mission of the church. I know that it is essential for our spiritual progression as well as those that are searching for truth. We all need to assist in establishing Zion and helping others grow closer to our Savior Jesus Christ.One more random thought: just the other morning Sister Webb and I were sitting at the kitchen table during companionship study and I simply said, “I love being a missionary.” I’ve said it and meant it many times before, but for some reason when I said it that morning it really hit home to me just how much I really do love this work. It’s such a blessing to be a part of it—of all of it, whether it’s proselyting all of the time or sharing it simply through our examples, giving a random pass-along card, or whatever it may be. We have such a precious pearl of great price, something that our Heavenly Father longs all of His children to have. I’m grateful that I get to assist in that sacred work.Lots of love to you,Sister CannariatoOh, and p.s. I got asked out by an investigator’s son last night…awkward. Funny. Okay—really, really funny. But awkward.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Toledo again (hooray)
Posted by Steph's Dad 4-2-08
Hi family!
The past week has been a great one but also kind of difficult knowing that Sister McFarlane would be leaving. She went to serve at the Johnson Farm in Hiram, Ohio for her last transfer as a missionary. I was so grateful to have had the privilege of serving with her her last transfer in the field. I learned a great deal from her example of diligence, faith, and optimism and I’m excited to refer to her example as I begin this next transfer. I can't wait for the miracles to keep happening.
My new companion is Sister Webb from Henderson, Nevada (a suburb of Las Vegas). She’s a riot and I love her already. She’s served all 10 months of her mission in and near Kirtland, so she’s ecstatic about being out in the field and being further west than Cleveland. I’m excited to apply her enthusiasm to our area and to keep seeing miracles.
I don’t have much time to email today because we still need to get grocery shopping done and such, but I wanted to let you know I’m still in lovely Toledo and I’m loving it. The Lord is amazing and this is His work. Thanks for being so great and I love you!
Sister Cannariato
P.S. I just found out that Sister McFarlane’s aunt is from Shelley…her name is now Pauline McFarlane but before it was Pauline Cox. Grandma or Dad, do you know her?
Hi family!
The past week has been a great one but also kind of difficult knowing that Sister McFarlane would be leaving. She went to serve at the Johnson Farm in Hiram, Ohio for her last transfer as a missionary. I was so grateful to have had the privilege of serving with her her last transfer in the field. I learned a great deal from her example of diligence, faith, and optimism and I’m excited to refer to her example as I begin this next transfer. I can't wait for the miracles to keep happening.
My new companion is Sister Webb from Henderson, Nevada (a suburb of Las Vegas). She’s a riot and I love her already. She’s served all 10 months of her mission in and near Kirtland, so she’s ecstatic about being out in the field and being further west than Cleveland. I’m excited to apply her enthusiasm to our area and to keep seeing miracles.
I don’t have much time to email today because we still need to get grocery shopping done and such, but I wanted to let you know I’m still in lovely Toledo and I’m loving it. The Lord is amazing and this is His work. Thanks for being so great and I love you!
Sister Cannariato
P.S. I just found out that Sister McFarlane’s aunt is from Shelley…her name is now Pauline McFarlane but before it was Pauline Cox. Grandma or Dad, do you know her?
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
random thoughts from Sister Cannariato
Posted by Steph's Dad 4-1-08
Greetings to those of you in beautiful sunny weather from one with snow still on the ground (though it’s mostly melted),
It’s been a very busy and exciting week. We got everything squared away for Ken’s baptism and it turned out to be really nice. We had to get over to the church a couple hours early to fill the font but we were able to set up the chairs and pictures and stuff. Ken had called nearly the entire ward, so we had a really great turnout. His wife and four of their close friends also came and it was great to have them there. The Spirit was very strong as we talked about the importance of baptism, both by water and by fire. I love the simplicity of the ordinances but that they have such symbolic and profound meanings. I loved seeing him enter the waters of baptism and having that sacred ordinance performed. And Easter Sunday was great—Ken received the gift of the Holy Ghost and I loved seeing him as he reverently folded his arms and closed his eyes prior to the blessing being given. He just glowed.
Ken also got some other exciting news this week—he had his baby boy yesterday! Brandon Michael Taylor was born at 2:55pm, was 21 inches long, and weighed 8 pounds 4.5 ounces. Both Adrianna and Brandon are doing well. We were able to go see them last night and it was great to talk with Adrianna and see how excited Ken was to have Brandon blessed in church. He wanted to do it this next Sunday since it’s fast Sunday! He’s just on fire and I love to see the joy that the gospel’s brought to his life. He loves telling everyone about “my sisters from the church” and we’re praying that Adrianna will continue to open up so we can teach her too.
We’re going to be heading to Kirtland this Friday with Dawn (a recent convert), her two girls (Tatianna and Heaven), and Dennis (the girls’ father). Dennis is the one who has really opened up in the past few weeks and I think Kirtland will really be a great experience for him. It’s going to be a bit of a drive, but it’s totally worth it. I love the history of Kirtland and the spirit you feel when you’re there.
We had another really neat experience happen just while we’ve been emailing today. A younger man came up to us and asked us to pray for him as he’s looking for a new job. He and his wife were sitting across from us while using computers and he came over to us after they’d gotten up to leave. He gave us his information so we can go visit them. It’s amazing to see how people are being prepared to hear the message of the Restoration. Preach My Gospel mentions how we will be able to find those that are ready and that they will find us. We just were witness to that.
Things continue to go well here in Holland. Transfers are next Wednesday and I can’t believe how fast time has flown. I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to be here in this area and to be witness of and participate in so many miracles in the last five weeks. I love this work and I feel honored to wear the name of Christ each day. I’ve gotten to the point that I feel without my tag...
How lucky we are to have a knowledge that Christ’s church is again upon the earth after centuries of darkness; that instead of just attending a church that mostly aligns with the teachings of Christ we are privileged to have 100%. With this knowledge we then have responsibility to share it with others so they have the chance to find out for themselves if the Church is true. I know that it is because I’ve studied it out for myself and asked God for an answer. And time and time again the Spirit bears witness that Joseph Smith was a prophet, that the Book of Mormon and the Bible contain God’s word, that Christ is leading the Church of Jesus Christ, and that every doctrine and ordinance that will enable us to return to our Father in Heaven is found in this church.
I've been thinking about the three-fold mission of the church: proclaim the gospel, perfect the saints, and redeem the dead. In my ignorance before my mission, I felt like I was good about the last two but that the first one didn't really apply to me and that I wasn't good at it. Now that I've been here in Ohio I've come to realize that proclaiming the gospel is one of the best refinement processes I've gone through in my life; that teaching others about the restored Gospel has perfected me in a way no other experience could. I've also seen how proclaiming the gospel to another allows that individual's family--past, present, and future--to be redeemed. We need to be involved in every aspect of the mission of the church because it's through doing each of them that we bring to pass God's work and glory. So keep up the good work and pray for those opportunities to share it with others!
I hope you're all safe and sound. I love you and hope you have a great week.
Sister Cannariato
Greetings to those of you in beautiful sunny weather from one with snow still on the ground (though it’s mostly melted),
It’s been a very busy and exciting week. We got everything squared away for Ken’s baptism and it turned out to be really nice. We had to get over to the church a couple hours early to fill the font but we were able to set up the chairs and pictures and stuff. Ken had called nearly the entire ward, so we had a really great turnout. His wife and four of their close friends also came and it was great to have them there. The Spirit was very strong as we talked about the importance of baptism, both by water and by fire. I love the simplicity of the ordinances but that they have such symbolic and profound meanings. I loved seeing him enter the waters of baptism and having that sacred ordinance performed. And Easter Sunday was great—Ken received the gift of the Holy Ghost and I loved seeing him as he reverently folded his arms and closed his eyes prior to the blessing being given. He just glowed.
Ken also got some other exciting news this week—he had his baby boy yesterday! Brandon Michael Taylor was born at 2:55pm, was 21 inches long, and weighed 8 pounds 4.5 ounces. Both Adrianna and Brandon are doing well. We were able to go see them last night and it was great to talk with Adrianna and see how excited Ken was to have Brandon blessed in church. He wanted to do it this next Sunday since it’s fast Sunday! He’s just on fire and I love to see the joy that the gospel’s brought to his life. He loves telling everyone about “my sisters from the church” and we’re praying that Adrianna will continue to open up so we can teach her too.
We’re going to be heading to Kirtland this Friday with Dawn (a recent convert), her two girls (Tatianna and Heaven), and Dennis (the girls’ father). Dennis is the one who has really opened up in the past few weeks and I think Kirtland will really be a great experience for him. It’s going to be a bit of a drive, but it’s totally worth it. I love the history of Kirtland and the spirit you feel when you’re there.
We had another really neat experience happen just while we’ve been emailing today. A younger man came up to us and asked us to pray for him as he’s looking for a new job. He and his wife were sitting across from us while using computers and he came over to us after they’d gotten up to leave. He gave us his information so we can go visit them. It’s amazing to see how people are being prepared to hear the message of the Restoration. Preach My Gospel mentions how we will be able to find those that are ready and that they will find us. We just were witness to that.
Things continue to go well here in Holland. Transfers are next Wednesday and I can’t believe how fast time has flown. I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to be here in this area and to be witness of and participate in so many miracles in the last five weeks. I love this work and I feel honored to wear the name of Christ each day. I’ve gotten to the point that I feel without my tag...
How lucky we are to have a knowledge that Christ’s church is again upon the earth after centuries of darkness; that instead of just attending a church that mostly aligns with the teachings of Christ we are privileged to have 100%. With this knowledge we then have responsibility to share it with others so they have the chance to find out for themselves if the Church is true. I know that it is because I’ve studied it out for myself and asked God for an answer. And time and time again the Spirit bears witness that Joseph Smith was a prophet, that the Book of Mormon and the Bible contain God’s word, that Christ is leading the Church of Jesus Christ, and that every doctrine and ordinance that will enable us to return to our Father in Heaven is found in this church.
I've been thinking about the three-fold mission of the church: proclaim the gospel, perfect the saints, and redeem the dead. In my ignorance before my mission, I felt like I was good about the last two but that the first one didn't really apply to me and that I wasn't good at it. Now that I've been here in Ohio I've come to realize that proclaiming the gospel is one of the best refinement processes I've gone through in my life; that teaching others about the restored Gospel has perfected me in a way no other experience could. I've also seen how proclaiming the gospel to another allows that individual's family--past, present, and future--to be redeemed. We need to be involved in every aspect of the mission of the church because it's through doing each of them that we bring to pass God's work and glory. So keep up the good work and pray for those opportunities to share it with others!
I hope you're all safe and sound. I love you and hope you have a great week.
Sister Cannariato
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