Woohoo it's Christmas-time! I hope you all are enjoying the snow....I'm somewhat jealous. It's been raining non-stop for a couple of days here which I have enjoyed. One of the ward members said, "Look Sister Stringer, its snowing!" I ran outside and it was raining really hard and I looked at him sadly and said "That's not snow!" He said "Yes it is! Look more carefully!" I was so excited but then he started laughing and he said "It's liquid snow hahaha." So rude. I totally fell for it. Have a merry WHITE Christmas!!
So I left a cliffhanger email a couple of weeks ago. When I was up at the VC during the Temple Open House, I met a family...the Taylors....and was able to give them a tour of the VC. There was a very special spirit in that short amount of time and we became good friends! They wanted to learn more about eternal families so I sent the referral to the missionaries so that they could be taught. A week later, the Taylors came back up to Laie to see the temple again and they ran into me in the Reception Tent. We took pictures and they told me that they had been contacted by the sister missionaries in their area. They waited for 3 hours for me to finish my Open House shift so that I could teach them more in the Visitors' Center again! They introduced me to their extended family and it was just so fun to see them! I love the Taylor family.
So anyway, long story short, they live in the Pearlridge Ward and so I am able to see them often and teach them the lessons! They make time for us because they feel like I'm part of the family and it has been such a special experience for me. Saturday night we went over and taught them about eternal families and the spirit in their living room was just as strong as anything I had felt. Kalani, the father, said the closing prayer and it felt like we were in the Celestial Room of the temple. It brought us all to tears! I love that family as if they were my own and I am grateful to be a part of their conversion! A big happy baptism is on its way :)
I am so grateful for the witness of the Holy Ghost. There is no other way to know of truth except by the power of the Holy Ghost and I have been so blessed to have that witness myself and to help others to feel of it as well. I was reading Elder Bednar's conference talk yesterday and he was saying that the reason we do all that we do....read, pray, go to church, keep the commandments....is not just because we should, but because those things are CRITICAL to invite the Holy Ghost into our lives. How much happier is life when you have a member of the Godhead with you always!!!!
I love you all and I am so thankful for your prayers!
Sister Stringer
This week has kind of been a blur and I'm not quite sure what happened to be honest. Christmas time is weird in Hawaii. In fact, I feel like time just doesn't pass because the weather doesn't change. I was thinking about that the other day.....I think it's a bad thing if I feel like I'm in the movie "Groundhog Day" and every new day feels like a continuation of the previous. Bright sunny weather every day will do that to you. It's been cold this past week though (70 degrees) and I've been wearing my jacket :)
We had a lot of downs last week, so I'm looking forward to a lot of ups this coming week. Does it work that way?! We've been having some problems with the sisters....I thought that I had escaped from all the drama when I left Laie. I was asked to go on an emergency exchange this week with a sister that wants to go home. It was an interesting experience and we had a good series of conversations about things. This transfer I am really focusing in the Christ-like attribute of Humility (I know, its about time right?) and developing that characteristic. The more I study, the more I realize that how destructive the opposite of humility, pride, can be. Pride gets in the way of all that is good. When we have pride, we can't have the spirit and we forget to remember the eternal perspective in the decisions we make. Pride is the catalyst of sin. Our pride blinds us and always keeps us from finding joy and peace.
As I've reflected on that this week, I've been so grateful to recognize the pride that I have and to pray for help to overcome it....to be more humble. Pres. Uchtdorf said that "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking less about yourself." If we all did that, think how happy we all would be! It definitely solves a lot of problems and challenges while serving a mission if you're trying to be humble :)
I'm so grateful that I was prepared and capable to serve a full-time mission and that I've made the choice to enjoy my missionary service. Wow it makes a big difference!! I know that the Lord blesses us as we serve Him, in whatever small way we can. This week (and hopefully always), let's all think less about ourselves and focus more on the needs of those around us!
Love you so much!
Sister Stringer
Aloha everyone!
As some of you may know, Sunday was the rededication of the Laie Temple. AWESOME!! Having the prophet in our midst and having a working temple has definitely awakened the spirit of this community. We are now a temple-going people! I was fortunate enough to be inside the temple during the last dedication session (there were 3) along with Sis. De, Sis. Graves, and Sis. Muller and it was truly a once in a lifetime experience. There was just so much peace and joy as everyone's hearts were touched by the spirit. I absolutely loved it and I love the temple. Woohoo!!
After the dedication, we went outside and there were some people waiting for the prophet to come out. We decided to join them and were able to meet Pres. Monson, Pres. Eyring, and Elder Cook. Yippee!! That brings my count up to 6 for my mission. It was so cool. I truly know that Thomas S. Monson is called of God and is a prophet "like unto Moses". I know that Jesus Christ heads this church and leads it through worthy priesthood holders. I am so grateful for that knowledge and for the ability that I have to share it with others.
Lately I've been reading Jesus the Christ and my eyes truly have been opened to many things. I've been thinking a lot about our premortal existence and who I was....where I stood in the life before this. I sincerely hope that I was one who was fighting with Michael for God's Plan and not just standing on the sidelines. As I was reading in Alma 34 (one of the best chapters EVER) I came across verse 31 where it says that if you do certain things, then "immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you." I have realized that just because I chose to follow God once and earned my mortal experience, that doesn't mean that I can stop there. We are all responsible to choose God's Plan again......and again.....and again......daily we are presented with the choice to follow Christ or Satan in our mortal existence. We must use our agency to choose God's Plan every minute of every day and see that plan unfold and become a reality for us individually. Wow. A General Authority said it this way..."Our life on Earth is an experience apart from Him where our choices determine our destiny." I hope and pray that each of us will choose Christ each and every day. We will still make mistakes, but then we are given the opportunity to choose Christ again and repent. Use the Atonement. Make your Heavenly Father proud. Choose His Plan for you. His plan brings so much joy and He has so much in store for each of us.
I love you all with all my heart!
Sister Stringer
Pics - Muller, Me, DeArton, Graves waiting for the Prophet - Here they come! - The amazing Open House sisters to the rescue :)
Aloha everybody!
Well, the news is in. I have been transferred out of Laie and into the Aiea and Pearlridge Wards on the other side of the island. I am in the Honolulu West Zone and things here are soooo different. I love it. Instead of waking up to the sound of the ocean, I wake up to the freeway traffic and the horns from the boats in the harbor. My new companion is Sister Rachel Braun from Fresno, CA and this is her 3rd transfer on the mish. Our apartment is on the 11th floor and we have big living room and bedroom windows, with a balcony, overlooking Pearl Harbor. I can the see the Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri from our balcony everyday. Sister Edwards served in this area for 6 months and now I am taking her place. We just missed each other!
It's been an interesting transition but the awesome thing is that I have been feeling a lot better lately, which is good. I always liked tracting when I was in Kahuku and Hau'ula and I still think it's fun. We have already seen many miracles in these past 4 days.....new investigators, baptismal dates set, doors opening because they recognize me from the Open House/Visitors' Center.....really cool stuff.
As far as what I've learned this week....I think I'm really starting to understand the importance of putting my trust in the Lord and recognizing that He has a plan and His purposes will be accomplished. I have no doubt in my mind that I am where I need to be right now. I was supposed to be an Online Missionary for one more transfer in Laie and so I shouldn't have been transferred, except I got sick and it was time to re-evaluate what could be done to help me. That is why I'm here....the Lord provided a way and miracles are happening. It's so amazing to think that our trials often times are what get us to where we need to be. I'm a complainer and I don't like going through hard things, but my testimony has been strengthened and I know that it is part of God's perfect plan for me. He really does know best.
We have a picture on our wall that is painted by Greg Olsen of the Savior standing on a hill looking back to Jerusalem with sadness. A couple of days ago I felt completely overwhelmed as I was standing on the balcony overlooking our area. With tears in my eyes I thought about the people that I have stewardship over at this time and what little difference I felt I could make to so many people. As I looked at the picture, I realized that I am getting a small taste of how the Savior felt as He taught His gospel. I am grateful for the opportunity I have at this time to come closer to Christ and to have a deeper relationship with Him, especially in this beautiful month of December. Can you believe I've been out a year already?!?!?
What an amazing transfer it is going to be!
I love you all,
Sister Stringer
The Open House is over and now we are preparing for the re-dedication on Sunday. It's so exciting! The last couple of days of the Open House were completely packed and I have just been amazed at the spirit of the temple and the way that it softens everybody's heart. There is such a strong spirit throughout the tour and many people have come out and said to me "I feel something different in there". Yep! It truly is the house of the Lord.
A couple of weeks ago, I met a family at the VC that had just gone through the open house. After having an awesome time together and feeling the spirit so strong, they agreed to have the missionaries come over and teach them in the home on the other side of the island. I know the gospel is going to change their whole lives and I can't wait to for them to truly experience the blessings that the Lord has in store for them. So, a week after I met them I ran into them again! They were at the open house going through the temple again and they had the biggest smiles on their faces. They had also brought all of their extended family with them to share what they had felt. When they saw me, I was received with big hugs and kisses and they introduced me to their family as "our missionary". They wanted me to give their family a tour at the VC but I still had 3 more hours on shift at the open house so they went to the VC without me. When I got to the VC 3 hours later, they were still there and waiting for me so that I could spend more time with their family in the Visitors' Center! It was a very rewarding experience for me knowing that I have been blessed to be a part of the Taylor family conversion story! The coolest part is that my childhood friend from PG, Sister Edwards, is the missionary that is teaching them right now. Yay they are in good hands! I am still praying that Sister Edwards and I will get to be companions soon....that would be so cool.
To celebrate the end of the open house, Sister De made a delicious cake for the 4 of us in our condo and we ate ALL of it. Best day ever. As I've reflected on the things that I have learned since the beginning of my mission, I think the aspect of the gospel that has been emphasized to me the most is the importance of the Plan of Salvation and how big of a role Temple worship plays in the grand scheme of things. Serving near a temple, even if its not currently operating, has brought such a special spirit, understanding, and depth into my relationship with my Heavenly Father. The endowment truly is a gift, the best kind of gift, and if we are worthy enough to receive it and to go back again and again, we must be doing something right. The Lord is pleased when we worship Him in the temple. Our understanding of the Plan that God has for us is deepened and we are given the spiritual knowledge and strength that we need to stay on the path that brings us joy. I love the temple!!!!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I love you from the bottom of my heart!
Sister Stringer
Dear Family and Friends!
I have received such an outpouring of love lately and I have to express my gratitude. If I could I would give you all a big hug (in Hawaii its ok for us to hug everyone because its cultural haha). I will try to get letters in the mail soon....the Open House ends on Saturday.
My sickness is back again....man I was doing so well. My doctor is getting ready to send me to the hospital for more tests if we don't see more improvements in the near future. I've been thinking a lot about Pres. Uchtdorf's talk about simplifying and slowing down and I just keep thinking "well how in the world am I supposed to do that on a mission?". Have I come to any real conclusions? No. I'm still working on recognizing that my best is good enough and that I can't do any more even though the expectations of others may be higher than what I can give. I'm still working on doing my best and then giving the rest to the Lord. Somedays my best is just getting out of bed in the morning. Somedays my best is just smiling at everyone in the VC and telling them that they are loved. Sometimes, if I'm lucky, I can actually stand long enough to give tours. My best is my best and I'm always willing to serve in any way that I can.
Cool story. So last week Friday we heard rumors floating around that Elder Holland was in the temple giving a tour. I was down at the VC and I was so sad that I wasn't helping with the Open House for that shift so that I could see him. An hour later I was sitting in the chair reading my scriptures, I look out the window and start having a heart attack because it looked like Elder Holland was walking down the path towards the VC. I wasn't really sure if it was him....he was by himself...but as he got closer I knew without a doubt that it was indeed Elder Holland. The doors opened and I greeted him with a big aloha and he came up to me, shook my hand, and then gave me a hug and asked me about my mission. He kept his arm around me (he said it was ok even though I was a missionary :) ) as he met the other sisters. Wow. I have documentation to prove it! I know that he truly is called of God, that he is a special witness of Jesus Christ, and that the Lord is mindful of me and loves me.
Oh the ups and the downs. Serving a mission is the bomb!
Every day, visitors ask me if I would ever move back to Hawaii after my mission. Almost before they get the question out, I have already answered NO. Then I feel bad because so many people would love to be here right now....especially because its cold in Utah haha....So, I would like to share a little behind the scenes information about living in Hawaii.
There are creepy crawly things EVERYWHERE and these are my adventures just in the past week. A couple of days ago, we were deep cleaning our apartment. It's been sprayed, so there are dead ants and spiders everywhere. Occasionally we would find some live ones but we would just go ahead and vacuum them up with the dead ones, figuring that they will die when they get sucked into the vacuum. I used to do this all the time at home and I thought for sure it would work. We decided to empty the vacuum the next morning so that everything would be dead before we began vaccuuming again. The next morning I went to empty it and there were 4 live spiders and they had built their own series of webs inside of the other parts of the vacuum! So gross. These spiders are indestructible.
Almost as indestuctible as Hawaiian ants. They don't even die when you nuke them in the microwave for 2 minutes. They are breeding their own mutant ant colony in our microwave.
There are geckos everywhere, which I don't mind for the most part. They crawl around our walls and they are kind of cute so it's not a big deal. While I was sweeping the other day, I found a dead one :( There is one that hangs out on the gate that leads to our front door....he's jumped on me a couple of times. One night while I was writing in my journal, one landed in and got lost in my hair. That was awesome.
Cockroaches....yuck. We have them and I just hope and pray that they don't crawl around in our food. The only thing I'm going to say about roaches is that it's definitely not a good idea to try to suck them up in the vacuum. They get stuck! We had to use q-tips to pry one out of the vacuum hose and it was nasty.
I saved the best creepy crawly things for last. Centipedes. I'm not talking about the little ones. These ones are huge and they have pinchers and they bite. We found one in our bathroom the other day, well actually, it crawled over Sister Muller's foot while she was brushing her teeth. You can imagine 4 sister missionaries screaming and trying to figure out how to kill it. After much confusion and chaos, we got it outside and sprayed it with bleach. It jumped in the air and started curling up but it never fully died. Apparently the only way to really kill them is to cut them in half with scissors. Yeah right. We just left it outside in the bleach and came back a couple of hours later to find that it was gone. Is it still alive? I don't know. Probably.
I'm grateful to be in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission! I'm also grateful for the many adventures that I've had since I've been here. The next time you complain about the cold Utah weather, you can think of me over here with all of these nasty bugs and you can be grateful that you live in a cold climate so that there are not 6 inch long centipedes in your house! Mission life is awesome and I'm so grateful for all of the many wonderful experiences I've had.
I love you all,
Sister Stringer
