"Many are [cold] but few are [frozen]" D&C 121:40

Seasons greetings toute la monde!  In a day when postage costs are steep and letter writing time is sparse, a simple Christmas blog post will have to serve in the place of a traditional card. I had every good intention to make a Christmas Card with ample time to send them off. As is the case with almost every missionary action, the Lord seemed to think there were more important things to do. It is my testimony that this is truly His work, and I am happy to comply with his plans, for they are always better than whatever I have devised myself. Although that means that perhaps letting go of my "control" I have learned to respond as Nephi did to the angel when he was asked, "knowest thou the condescension of God?" He answered, "I know that he loveth his children: nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:16-17). 

The most profound doctrine I learn and re-learn everyday is the most basic doctrine we have. God is our loving Heavenly Father. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16-17). As a set-apart representative of Jesus Christ I have the pleasure of bringing these "good tidings of great joy" (Luke 2:10) to the good people of Quebec and Ontario Canada. I am seeing people transform and lives change as they exercise faith in the divine mission of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. In this I do not exclude myself. Over the course of nearly eleven months my conversion to the Gospel has grown deeper with every day. I witness to the reality of the birth of the baby boy to Mary. He is my Savior. Among all of the extravagant Christmas decorations, I am proud that I get to wear the most meaningful ornament on my heart every day. 

I have never loved anything as much as I love being a missionary. The Gospel is precious, and to be trusted to share that is a great calling. I thank the Lord for the confidence He has placed in us. He knows us perfectly, and through His grace and mercy we can live with our Father again. His plan is perfect. His plan is happiness. I invite you to find the joy that awaits you in sharing it with others. 

Cheers, 

Soeur Sydnie Landeen 

This is Sister Landeen & Sister Laurent (from France)

                                                     The first snow fall of Montreal

This is Sister Landeen and her previous companion Sister Smith

Hello Montreal

Sister Landeen is now in Montreal. She is currently in a singles ward and loving it. Her new companion is Sister Smith.

 

She had to go to the dentist

Splits with the sisters

 

Sydnie has become Sister Training Leader. Sydnie has become Sister Training Leader. she's doing fantastic and wants you all to send her a letter or something so she knows you're still alive ;).

Goodbye Fallowfield

 

Sister Tribe and Syd and their investigator Benjamin.

 

They don't have tator-tots in Canada so they had to improvise for tator-tot casserole :)

 

Whatever that is...

 

Saying goodbye to Sister Tribe

 Seeing her old companion, Sister Orozco again

 Elder Botello again at transfers

 
An albino squirrel she saw at trasnfers

 

Syd's former companion from Fallowfield Sister Tribe and Benjamin, a man that they taught together, at his baptism.

Love is a Fallowfield

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've just been super lazy about it and I apologize. Syd is now in an area called Fallowfield, this is the closest to home that she will be.  The Ward boundary is the western boundary of the mission. She lives in a suburb of Ottawa, Ontario. Her companion is currently Sister Tribe, from Ogden. They get along pretty great. She loves Fallowfield and the people there.

This is Sister Landeen and Elder Jeremmi Botello, who is one of her friends from SUU, on June transfers.  She got the keys to a brand new car and picked up her greenie in Montreal.  Then a 3 hour drive to Ontario.  Thank goodness for the new GPS.

 

A beautiful Sunday eve Canadian sunset

Sister Landeen, Sister Tribe and the Elders

  

This is what Fallowfield looks like

Parliament

 The best Putine she's had yet

 Beaver Tail

                                                    Service, harvesting garlic on a garlic farm

Sister Landeen and Sister Tribe

The First Greenie

Here is Syd and her first Greenie, Sister Orozco. They got along splendidly. Here are some of the people they taught while they were companions. They served together in Quebec City.

They had to walk because the car broke down

They got their car back :)

More soon to come about her new Greenie and her opening a new area in Faillowfield, Ontario.

The Best Team in the League

Good tidings, friends!

You know, I'm over three months old in this here mission of mine. How about that? That is 1/6th of my whole mission... 5/6ths to go, eh? In all honesty time has really flown by. I wake up in the morning and before I know it I wake up again the next. It's wild really. 

In between one alarm clock sounding to the next we are working really hard. I am training again. This time around my companion is Soeur Orozco from Houston Texas. I think she's a doll! The two of us together are dedicated to being obedient, creative, and dedicated. I'd say we're giving it our best shot, out there planting seeds all day every day. We love it. 

I had an interesting thought the other day, I think I'll share it with you. Why not? So, in my journal I wrote: "We are not here to teach- we are here to remind. People already know the gospel. We are here to remind them that they've already chosen to follow Jesus Christ." 

Keep that in mind the next time you might find yourself in need of a pick-me-up. When it might seem hard to follow Him, remember that you already chose His side. You were drafted for the best team in the league. You've got the best coach and fabulous benefits. You have every reason to be happy. 

That's the way I see it. I am happy. I am happy even when I'm not sure the roast beef was even cooked, when I leave an appointment smelling like alcohol and cigarettes, I am happy even if I only get one hour on the computer per week, and I am happy even if my companion does snore. I am happy because the Lord is in control, and I am better for it.  

I think of you all often, and I think of writing you back often as well... then I think of how you should all know I love you even if it does take two months for me to respond. 

Cheers and Miracles,

Sydster

Update

Sydnie is doing well in Canada. She is staying in Montreal after transfers. Her current companion is headed home and Syd will get to be companions with her first 'Greenie'!
Last Monday for P-Day, her district went to go see some waterfalls. Here are some pictures of the trip.

 She's doing great and says she will hopefully write another blogpost soon. Until then, you're stuck with my tiny updates :)

2 Months a Missionary

Calm down. It was only the half time show of the Mormon Super Bowl. No. Big. Deal. :)

I opened my inbox today and about passed away. Sorry that that means responses were few and far between. 

Now that that's been addressed, her's a little something to tide you over. I know, I know. That's like handing a starving homeless man a bag of airplane pretzels and hoping they'll survive. But, at any rate, be grateful for what is given to you! 

2 months a missionary! Has it been everything I thought it would be? Not even remotely. It's been a surprise around every corner and an adventure in every sense of the word. It's been hard, but what it really boils down to is that I'm happy. 

I'm serving in my first area Quebec City! My French improves on the daily and my love for the people increases at a rate to match. The people of Quebec are hard. to. teach.  BUT they are being prepared and someday they are going to take the "not" out of the "we're not really interested." 

I've had three companions so far- Sister Limburg, Sister Rojo, and Sister Berry. Companion life is something I knew I would struggle with from the get go. You know, with my spirit of independence and all... But despite getting used to constant companionship, I'd say that portion has been pretty great! 

My love for all things maple is developing, and I've pretty much got my "eh" down. Canada is pretty pleasant all in all, especially considering the snow drifts are slowly dying down. Sometimes I can almost feel the sunshine trying to say "hello!" 

I love what I'm doing. Each day I get confirmation that this is where Heavenly Father needs me. This Gospel is truly unique and I'm so grateful for the blessing of having it in my life! The Gospel of Jesus Christ is restored! What a glorious manifestation of God's love for us. 

As a missionary I do a lot of praying. Please know that you are in those prayers and always in my heart. Keep the love letters coming! 

Cheers and Bisous, 

Sydster

P.S. My mom told me to put the link of the story on the blog so here's the link
 http://www.ksl.com/?sid=24703772&nid=295&title=a-mighty-band-of-youth&fm=home_page&s_cid=queue-3

Taking Over

Hello, this is Syd's sister Jaclyn. I'm taking over Syd's blog while she is serving the Lord and will be keeping you updated. She will occasionally write a blog post and send it to me to post, but when she doesn't, it will just be me speaking in her behalf.
In this post, I will just post some pictures and explain them. Also, she wanted me to say that she is allowed to email friends so if you would like to email her her address is sydnie.landeen@myldsmail.net
Now, the moment you've all been waiting for.....pictures!

      This is Sydnie and her companion Sister Rojo. They are taking a ferry on the  St. Laurent River.

  This is her district on the ferry ride on the river.

Pretty sure this is from the ferry ride but I don't really know.

 They have to do a trio for a bit.

 She has this problem where her feet have been going to sleep so some massage therapists in the ward told her she needs to do this for 5 minutes every night.

 Happy Easter!! (It's a chocolate chicken).

Well, that's about it for now. I'll just end by how she ended her letter with a quote from Winston Churchill, "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts". Have the courage to continue on!