I don't have much time to write but I just wanted to say that it has been another wonderful week and I feel so blessed to be here. Transfers are coming up again next week and so my companion and I have been trying to do all sorts of things in case we are not companions again. It was awesome because we were able to have a sushi party!! Yes!! We made 5 rolls of sushi and ate them all!! Its a welcome change from the Tongan food that I've been eating and I'm finally getting good at eating with chopsticks. It's so cool to have the opportunity to learn about so many different cultures and to eat so many different kinds of food. My favorite new thing that I've tried is Banana Lumpia from the Phillipines and my least favorite is KimChee from Korea (so gross...its the smell that gets to me more than anything haha). This morning one of the Sr. Couples made us breakfast so I was able to have waffles for the first time in nearly 8 months...with realmaple syrup yes! I think that my body is a little confused with so many different kinds of food but I'm enjoying the experience. Life should be an adventure!
I met a family the other day that reminded me so much of ours. Mom, dad, two girls, and then two boys. The dad told me that they had been on vacation for about 3 weeks and that all the kids were sick of being with each other and they were fighting all the time. Looking at them brought flashbacks to our family and our vacations together. I was always the annoying older sister and the youngest boy was so cute and innocent ;) Anyway, I was able to spend quite a bit of time with them and help them recognize the blessings that they have as a family. I won't lie, I got a little teary-eyed as I told them about my own family, how much I miss you, and how you are my best friends. I love you all so much!
Love, Sister Stringer
Hi family! How has your week been? Mine has been wonderful and the work is going great. I had an awesome experience in the Visitors Center this week. The Hawaii Temple Visitors Center is different than any other VC mission in the world. First off, we get to wear awesome muumuus and slippers which is fantastic! Secondly, we get to give Tram Tours from the Polynesian Cultural Center to the Temple. Its a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world and to share the history of Laie with them, including the importance of the temple and forever families. The tour consists of 3 parts....we drive them around the BYU-H campus, through the residential area, and then to the Temple VC. That takes about 10 minutes. While at the VC, we show them a short presentation about the history of the area and then give them about 10 minutes to walk around and learn more about the church. It's amazing how many lives can change in a matter of 10 minutes!!
So I was blessed to meet a family from New York on the tram tour this week. As we were walking around the Visitors Center together, I was asking them about their family. Come to find out, their grandfather had just died the day before and they were all really sad because they weren't at home with him or with the rest of their family. I asked them if I could share something with them and promised that it would bring peace and comfort to them at this difficult time. They were more than willing to listen as I showed them a picture of the Hawaii Temple Sealing Room and told them that through the blessings of the temple, they can be with their grandfather again. They agreed to meet with the missionaries to learn more about eternal families. On the comment card, the mom of the family wrote "Thank you Sister Stringer, thank you for loving us enough to share this message. It brought so much peace to our family." Miracles happen each and everyday and I'm so grateful to be a part of it. That family had no idea why they were coming to the temple that day, and yet God knew that they needed the message of the gospel at this time and provided a way for them to find peace. I know that families can be together forever and every day I am able to tell people how grateful I am that my parents were willing to make sacrifices so that they could be sealed in the temple. What a blessing it has been in my life!
You know, it's hard being in a Visitors Center because you say hello and goodbye to people so quickly without knowing what becomes of them. I always imagine the best case scenarios as they walk out of the doors and back into the world, with the firm hope that one day I will see them again and that they will have found the true happiness that comes from living the gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't really see the fruits of my labors, but I have faith that the Lord is preparing a way for them to receive the gospel and all of the blessings that come with it.
Summer is in full swing...the sky is blue, the sun is bright, and life is good. I love Hawaii :)
Much love and Aloha,
Sister Stringer
Happy 4th of July everyone! I love the 4th of July but we didn't really celebrate it unfortunately. The extent of the celebration was eating banana splits and making Sister Watanabe sing the Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful with me over and over again. Haha good times....we both got a good laugh.
Well I am anxiously awaiting the Temple Open House and Rededication that will be in October and November. President Monson will be coming to the Temple as long as he and his wife are in good health which is exciting and of course there is going to be a huge festival with dancing and singing by the natives. It's a great time to be here and I feel so very blessed!
I still haven't met our new mission president, President Dalton. He will be in Laie tomorrow and we will get to meet him then. The Zone Leaders said that he is "the bomb" and I have no doubts so I look forward to interviews tomorrow. I'll be sure to ask him about Bishop Condie and hopefully he doesn't already know too much about me and doesn't have too high of expectations :)
I think that I'm going to have permanent dark circles under my eyes from now on. I'm exhausted! Sister Smith and I have truly been inspired as we've trained the sisters and I know that the Lord is helping us turn the Visitors Center around before the Open House. It needs a lot of work but things are coming along nicely. We've changed so many things this transfer....I love change!! I probably drive people crazy because I'm not afraid to change and try something new. So far so good. Yesterday we trained on using the Book of Mormon as the main source for teaching the Restored Gospel. I've seen so many miracles from using the Book of Mormon to help people. I love reading it and I will forever treasure the many things that I have learned since being able to devote my time to effective study of its teachings. I honestly can't imagine not going on my mission and taking the time to truly learn the gospel. Day by day my foundation is strengthened...a foundation that will support and sustain me forever in all that I do. Please study the Book of Mormon and experience strengthening and converting power of its words. I love the promise in Helaman 5:12 that the Devil will have no power to drag you down if you build your foundation on Jesus Christ. Its so true!!!
Glad to hear that Kayci made it safely to Belize. Sounds like things are going well at home but please don't have too much fun without me. I love you so much!
Sister Stringer
PS- my companion is making me Japanese food today. She wants me to try Natto which apparently are really stinky beans but they taste really good. I'm not sure....I have tried so many interesting things since being here though so it will be fun!
