November 8, 2017 P-Day #80 She's Comin' HOME!!!

I'm comin' home🎶I'm comin' home🎶 Tell the world I'm comin' homeee🎶

Well friends, this is it! I am headed back to my lovely Utah in just two days! 

This week has been surreal! It still doesn't really feel real that in 2 days I am getting on a plane and  will be seeing all you at the end of an escalator! This year and a half has been magical. I have laughed, I have cried, and I have laughed until I cried. I have made friends that will last more than a lifetime.  I have been at ultimate highs and ultimate lows. But I would NEVER trade a single moment. I have come so deeply to understand the healing and changing power of the Atonement. Change. Change. Change. THIS is what I have learned the most of over the course of my whole mission. Change is ALWAYS possible!  I struggled so hard at the beginning of my mission to forgive. I felt I could pick and choose who got the enabling power of the Atonement. But I was SO wrong! Christ isn't just there for some...He is there for EVERYONE. Every single person who has ever lived, Christ came to save. But, it wasn't just that single moment, He saves us everyday. I have been forever blessed and changed to see this first hand happen time and time again here in the Canada Halifax Mission. 

I saw this story this week and it really touched me:

"I had a Church assignment for three years and I taught religion at the county jail. Elder Holland came to talk to us, and I’ll never forget what he said. He said, “If Christ were to come tomorrow, we know the first place He would be is the temple, but we also know the next place He would be is in a place like this.” There is hope and there is opportunity for us. The Savior will literally save us. But we can help be His hands. I think we need to do more like what Elder Holland talks about. Be kinder, more sensitive to people’s needs, be more willing to accept them, be more willing to help them. I think that’s what we need to do. While it takes an entire village to raise a child, we believe it takes an entire community to save one. And I think that’s the challenge to all of us—to be that one, to be that person to reach out."

I think this is SO important! I may be ending my missionary service, but I am NOT ending my church service.  I am going to change the world when I get back. one person at a time ...so be ready (;

I cannot wait to just squeeze the heck outta every single one of you!!! Thank you so much for going on this journey with me. I have truly felt every prayer. I could not have done any of this without you. 

-Sister Hird (for the time whaaaa) 

Here are some pictures of my last week!

p.s I died my hair and was going to not send any pic so it was a surprise...but I want you to know who I am at the airport (; Plus my funeral service was too good not to share

  

Goodbye to the Morphy's :,(

 

We volunteer at the food bank and sister S made me jewelry out of some sweet potato roots...
#realtionshipgoals hahah I am going to miss her!! 

October 31, 2017 P-Day #79 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

This is the end...hold your breath and count to ten🎶 (yup 10 days left)

Ahhhh I am in my last full week as a missionary and it still just doesn't feel quite real!! I don't think it will hit me until I am home and badge-less..and maybe not even then!! It really is true that on your mission home feels like a dream that you remember but didn't really happen and I can't imagine it being a reality again!

This week was crazy (as always) God really gets me and knows the busy life, especially here at the end is sooo good for me!!

We traveled to Kentville where I did my training again for another group of missionaries (: 

I conducted an exchange this week and we also moved apartments! Seriously guys, best for lasst! We are living in the Hilton I swear!! Its dreamy....😍

We were able to meet with Heidi twice and she is so so good!! We are having a movie night with her on Friday and watching 17 miracles as a last shabang!

It is getting sad as I am saying goodbye to people for the last time :( So many amazing friends I have to leave! But, I know that i would have met them no other way and that we will always be friends!

Sister S fits in my suitcase, so I've decided to bring her home with me (: 

Love love you all!! I can't believe that next week I get to SEE you!!

I have loved every minute of being a missionary and am so glad I still have a week and a half to preach the gospel to everyone!! My mission was the best thing I ever could have done for my life. Losing my life in the service of others has been how I found life so full of joy and I will never be the same!

Sista Hird 

She's bringing Sister S. home with her :)  We're fine with it!  Lol!

October 24, 2017 P-Day #78

If I had to describe this week in one word it would be nutso!

We were in Bridge water for District meeting Wednesday morning then we had to drive to Amherst that night for a mission leadership meeting the next morning in Moncton! 

The meeting went really well! I love getting to see missionaries from all over!! AND I got to see my 1st baby, Sister Goodsell!! I am so so glad! I was worried I wouldn't get to see her again before I headed home, but God provided!! She was also reunited with the missionary she trained, Sister Cartwright (my granddaughter) so we took a family photo (: Sadly the sister Sister C. trained wasn't there! I am a great grandma...OLD OLD OLD! 

I gave an hour long training on how the mission will now work with members. President decided that he wants us to work with members more and he also decided that I was the one who decided how...no pressure (: But I think it went well, and now its over....except I have to train the District leaders on it now woo woo (: So that was all day Thursday. 

Then we spent Friday running around getting supplies for a tailgate...yes president approved us doing a tailgate for the Acadia football game in Kentville with the elders! We got all the fixings for 200 hot dogs and then all day Saturday we gave them away free with mormon.org cards, pamphlets and Book of Mormons! It was a blast! President even let us go and watch the game after!! #blessed

Around all these events we also met with Heidi, Glenna and Aiden, Sarah and Marilyn and Peter!! 

Sarah is SO cool! She knows everything about everything! Her questions are so deep! I am pretty sure she lives on Mormon.org!! She is reading the Tattooed Mormon Book (thanks for sending that mama) and LOVING it! Her big hold up is the commitment of baptism! But I know she'll get there! God gives her SO MANY signs!! Every time she tells us about them I hum the twilight zone theme song to her, I think she's getting it haha

ALSO! This past Friday I hit my 18 month mark..whaaaa! Its so crazy! I thought my whole mission went fast...but nothing could be faster than this transfer! I have 2 p-days after this....😯 

Being a sister missionary is my favorite and I am so glad I have 2 more weeks to be one!! Then I get to come and squeeze all of you! ❤

-Sista McKell Hird

           xoxo

October 17, 2017 P-Day #77

This past week was surreal!! 

I had my last zone conference and had to give my departing testimony!! 

I have felt different since, I think it made it all real 😬 I am at this weird stage where I know it is ending I am feeling lot of excitement about getting to be in Utah again, but I have had to say goodbye to anyone yet so the sadness and finality of it had just not hit...but I know it will...and when it does it will be hard!! I hit my 18 months this Friday..HOW??? Good thing I still have 3 weeks to keep doing my sister thing! We have so many things ahead that I feel like time is going to fly by even fast than it already is.... ahhhhh 

This week was so fun!! Heidi our wonderful investigator is teaching us how to play let it go on the piano 10 min before all our lessons starting last week (: After our first piano lesson I was like, "dang! I wish we had a way to practice" and then the senior sister missionary with us told us the elders had a keyboard they don't used, so we called them up and had a keyboard 10 minutes later #blessed I'll be playing like a pro by the time I am home! 

We also got to go apple picking with the ward!! Our investigator Marilyn came! LOVE HER! She is Louises sister in law (: 

Sister S and I had to run to costco to buy some candy for a youth event we are hosting....we pasted a big bin of teddy bears and just couldn't resist...(: Sister S named hers costco and I died!! ahhh I am going to miss my little finnish friend! 

This morning we went to the titanic grave yard! It was cool! I found my boy Jack!! 

LOVE YOU ALL!! 

-Sista McKell Hird 

October 9, 2017 P-Day #76

Oh whattttaaa weeek!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING YA CANUCKS 

Oh fam life is gooood!! We just competed in a CHM Turkey Bowl!!! Woo woo (I've decided we're doing one in Utah too, so be prepared) 

I have ONE MONTH from tomorrow...whaaaa?!?!?! How does that even happen??? 

First things first, we went to the zoo after emailing last week...it was THE BEST!! It was just like, "we bought a zoo" it was a cute little farm zoo with a big white houes of the family who lives there!! They had farm animals like goats and llamas that you could pet, but they also had lions and tigers and bears (oh my) and much much more!! I didn't even know of my love for llamas until this day!! They are THE BEST! One was like my bff, he followed me around the whole time! We got very close..as you can tell from the pictures...(: I got the princess and the frog and emperors new groove mixed up..honest mistake 

Yet another wonderful adventure this week....We didn't have a chance to do laundry on p-day because we were running around like crazy, so we decided to just do it asap the next morning so it was done before we had to leave the apartment....We go down to the first floor to put some $$ on our laundry card PJ's and all.  We didn't even turn the light on in the laundry room because it was like 6:30am and we hear this weird noise...and I say, "oh its just the drier or something" But I decided to check behind the door just incase....and there HE was!! I homeless man had somehow gotten into our apartment and was sleeping on the floor of our laundry room!! My head almost hit the ceiling I jumped so high! ....so many adventures, such a short amount of time!

This week was just FULL of tender mercies! God is sure giving me much to be grateful for!! 

We had  a meal with Peter (Louis's brother and recent convert) and his wife Marilyn and this engraved bookmark was waiting for us in our spots (: We had talked to them about the whole first name thing I mentioned a few weeks back and so they did this for us! Soooo sweeeeet!! They said, "you've just done so much for us its the least we could do!!" Sister S and I were so touched!! 

I also got to host an exchange with the Halifax sisters..sooo I got to see my people the Morphy's!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh I just love them with my whole entire soul! I am going to miss them sooo much! But, I know that wasn't the last time I will see them before I got home! They said, "ohhh no! We are not saying goodbye now! We'll come to Sackville if we have to!" But I think on my last few days I'll get to visit some people, including them (: ( I forgot to take a picture with them until we were in the car...so I hurried and jumped out and got this awkward porch pic haha) 

Oh life is just peachy...except my last zone conference is this week and I am really sad about it!! I have to give my farewell testimony 😬

I love love love youuuu! 

I am so grateful for all of you and your support💛❤

   

  -xoxo Nova Scotia Girl 💋

(that is how I sign all the messages I send to my zone bahaha) 

Sister Hird

Canada Halifax Mission

October 3, 2017 P-Day #75

Oh what a weeeek! 

Its official! I am in my last transfer!! I am sooo old...and EVERYONE feels it’s their duty to remind me all the time haha! Speakin of...that reminds me of a funny story of the week. I was in a zone leadership skype and I am the only sister in it because I'm the only Stl in the zone so it's me and 8 elders. At the beginning I was giving this elder a referral of someone we met, but lived in Halifax, then this other elder goes,"ohhh Sister Hird, I have a referral for you!!" So I was like sweeeet and pulled out my planner to start writing it down. He tells me this guys name and address...in utah and then tells me all the things he enjoys doing and I was just sitting there SO confused and all the other Elders are just laughing so hard and one of them clues me in that I was receiving a marriage referral.... 😐 Life in the last transfer is interesting to say the least haha 

This week was amazing! 

We let with Louise for the 2nd and last time :( She is now home! But I am so confident that she will meet with missionaries in Ontario!! We taught her the plan of salvation and it was just as spiritual as the first lesson if not more! She cared for her husband with a terminal illness until he passed away a few years ago and as we taught the plan of salvation she was just crying and told us,          "when my husband was dying he told me this! He didn't have religious background! He told me about the paradise, the prison, the three kingdoms and I didn't know where it came from and the religious leaders from other faiths told him he was crazy! But, THIS, THIS is what he was talking about! It makes so much sense now!!!"

It was amazing!!! We testified to her that she could be with her husband forever, she just needed to be baptized and sealed and she just nodded her head as the tears spilled out. What a blessing it was to teach and meet her! She said as we were leaving, "I KNOW there is a reason I met you two girls specifically. God has a plan and you were part of mine" 

Ahhh moments like that are what us missionaries live for!

Conference was AMAZING! I just loved it all! How blessed we are to have such devoted and loving men and women who talk to God and then pass on the info!! One of my favorite thoughts was from Joy D. Jones:

"Let me point out the need to differentiate between two critical words: worth and worthiness. They are not the same. Spiritual worthmeans to value ourselves the way Heavenly Father values us, not as the world values us. Our worth was determined before we ever came to this earth. “God’s love is infinite and it will endure forever.”3

On the other hand, worthiness is achieved through obedience. If we sin, we are less worthy, but we are never worth less! We continue to repent and strive to be like Jesus with our worth intact. As President Brigham Young taught: “The least, the most inferior spirit now upon the earth … is worth worlds.”4 No matter what, we always have worth in the eyes of our Heavenly Father."

We will ALWAYS have worth to our Father in Heaven, Always! It's not about what you did or didn't do. It’s about WHO you are and who God is. He is your Father and He loves you. 

Oh life is just dreamy here in Sackville!!  

We have so many fun things this transfer! Next Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving so my p-day will be then instead of Tuesday (: I am just so blessed! Thanksgiving here and then at home!! #winning

LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!! 

-Sister Hird 

September 27, 2017 P-Day #74

Well friends...I am going to be spending my last 6 weeks here in Sackville with Sister Silvennionen as an STL!!! Wooo no changes for three transfers now...I'm starting to feel spoiled!! I am really really happy!! I LOVE Sackville and am so glad it’s where I get to be twinkled....everyone says you die as a mission but let’s be real it’s just like death in the millennium...I'll just change in the twinkling of an eye once I've reached a ripe old mission age (: 

Peter, our recent convert (he was baptized by my mission mama Sister Anderson, this past December) has his sister, Louise, in town from Ottawa and while she is here she wants to meet with us!! We taught her the restoration and it was probably the most spiritual lesson I've had my whole mission!! She just absorbed it all up and cried through a lot of it! When I recited the first vision to her the first thing she said when I finished was, "I HAVE CHILLS ALL OVER" It was amazing! The power of the Holy Ghost was so unrestrained because she was so open to feel it!! 

We are teaching her the plan of salvation tonight!! Woooo  

We also got to teach a sweet little old lady in our building, Marian! She is 84 and SO cute!! She is having us over for "squares" once a week and we get to teach her (: 

I love Sackvile and Sister S. so this transfer will be a dream! A very quick dream if it goes by as fast as this one did!! 

I start something called my plan Monday, it’s like a reverse missionary training...it trains you how to go home and get married hahahhaha...yes this transfer will be dreamy indeed 😂

My mission has changed me so much and I intend to stay changed and I am glad I have 6 more weeks to work and be even better (: 

Loves to my loves 

-Sister McKell Hird or as everyone here calls me...The Bird🐦 

             Xoxo