1 YEAR!

 Hello hello hello! It was another amazing week here in the WVM! Life is so good right now, I honestly could not ask for better! 

HIGHLIGHTS:

• 1 YEAR: I hit 1 YEAR as a missionary this past week! Actually so insane! We celebrated by getting donuts at heavenly donuts and it was so much fun! The past year has taught me so much. I will forever be grateful for every experience I have had! I am SO excited to see what these next 5 months hold for me! I have never regretted my mission, it is truly the biggest blessing and the best decision I've ever made! 
• CHRIS: Our friend Chris is doing amazing! We had 2 lessons this week and he is progressing so well. He also made it to church this week! He has such a desire to learn and he is just so great! 
• SUSIE: This week we met a new friend named Susie! One of our members called us and said she had a friend coming over who is interested in the gospel. We went over and had a brief lesson with her that day and it went super well. The member didn't tell her we were coming over so she was a bit shocked haha. She came to church yesterday and had a great experience! We asked her to rate it on a scale of 1-10 and she said people were a 10/10 and experience was a 9/10. We then had a lesson and dinner with her last night and she is really prepared for the gospel! She loves learning and everytime we explain something, she says "oh that makes so much sense". She is awesome! Keep her in your prayers! 
• IVY: About a week ago we contacted Ivy in a Winco parking lot, and we were able to meet with her this week! She is interested in religion because she never grew up with it. She has nearly no understanding of who God is. This lesson was all focused on God's relationship with us and how much he loves us. We answered so many of her questions. She has such a great desire to understand God and to come to know him. We showed her around the church building and our member explained every picture on the walls. It was such an amazing lesson! Pray for her too! 
• FELICIA + JULIO: This week we stopped by a formerly taught friend named Felicia! We spent some time getting to know her and then scheduled a better time to stop by. We went by last night for a lesson and it was really good! She brought her husband who is also pretty interested as well as a friend who we found out is a member that doesn't have records here! We talked about the power of prayer and they each shared experiences they've had with prayer and the spirit was super strong! They have so much potential, they just have some things to work through so add them to the prayer list also! 
• EXCHANGES: I got to go on two exchanges this week! One with Sister White and one with Sister Schank! Sister White and I served around each other last transfer so it was super super fun to be with her again! She is such a great missionary! We were together in Mint Valley and met some silly people haha but it was a really awesome exchange! Then I got to spend the day here in Lake Sac with Sister Schank! She came out with me but we have never served around each other so this was super fun! We also saw so many miracles! We got 5 phone numbers and just met so many kind people! God is so good! Missionary work is the best! 

I have no lowlights from this week! I am seriously loving life right now and have no complaints! 

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT:

Yesterday in relief society, we were talking about repentance and the Atonement and someone said something that really stuck with me. They said "Christ's love covers us all". He had so much love for each and every one of us, that no matter what happens or what mistakes we make, His love covers it all! He loves us so much that He took everything for us and wants us to turn to Him and rely on Him! Isn't that such a blessing?! Always remember how much Jesus Christ loves you and that He is always always always on your side! 

I love you all so much and I'm so thankful for you all! Have an amazing week! 

-Sister Stringham