13 months...THAT'S WOW

 Hello hello! This week was so so good! So many miracles!

HIGHLIGHTS:

• LAST DISTRICT COUNCIL: We had our last district council of the transfer and it was so so good! I absolutely love my district and I will miss it so much! #sistericforever
• JERREL: Such a miracle!!! We were out knocking doors and tried to stop by an old referral in our app. We knocked the door and that person definitely didn't live there, but Jerrel did! He has gone through it in his life and has recently completely changed his life around and wants God so badly in his life! Unfortunately he's been busy so we haven't seen him since Tuesday but we have been in close contact and he's super awesome! 
• RAY: HOLY HE IS SO COOL! We found a dot in our app that just said "Ray from Denny's" so of course we had to stop by. He is literally so prepared! We had an amazing conversation about God's love and then had 2 more lessons AND he came to a baptism with us on Saturday! He told us that the past week has been the happiest he has ever been! He unfortunately works on Sundays so he can't come to church until September but he is super excited to come when he's available! 
• JULIO + FELECIA: Another amazing miracle. Teaching them has been slightly frustrating because they refuse to come to church because they aren't ready yet. Well yesterday, we did a church tour with them. While in the chapel, Julio showed us a song that changed his life. After the song, he looked us in the eye and said "I'm ready to come back to church" SAY WHAT?! So they should be at church next week and we are so excited! 
• LINDHOLMS: Had the cutest little dinner with the Lindholm family yesterday! They had a campfire and we roasted all sorts of fun stuff. Hotdogs, biscuit dough, airheads, cinnamon rolls, starbursts, mozzarella sticks, literally everything! It was AMAZE! I love this ward! 
• EXCHANGE: I was lucky enough to go on another exchange in Astoria this week! It's literally such a beautiful area and I love getting to work here. We went out to the Riverwalk in downtown Astoria and it was so much fun! We saw some sea lions too! 
• ZONE EXCHANGE: We had a super fun zone exchange this week! I got to be with Sister Jones in Woodland and it was crazy. People in Woodland aren't nearly as nice as people in Longview but it was still really fun! I learned a lot from Sister Jones and I'm glad I finally got a chance to exchange with her!
• 13 MONTHS: I hit 13 months on the mission this week. It doesn't feel real at all! Every month goes faster and I still feel like I'm just a new missionary. My mission has been such a blessing and I can't wait to see what the next 4 months hold! 
• TRANSFER NEWS: Transfers are tomorrow...we are both staying and we get to move apartments! We are really excited for another transfer together and so so so excited to be living in a nicer apartment! 

I don't have any lowlights this week! God is good!

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT:

This week I read a really amazing talk by Elder Neil L. Anderson titled "You Know Enough". There's a quote that I really love and that is actually in Preach My Gospel as well. It says. "Faith is not only a feeling; it is a decision." This is something I have truly learned on my mission. Everyday we have to choose faith. We can't just expect it to be there. You have to choose to put in the effort to have faith for the miracles to come. I also have learned that miracles always come as we act in faith! 

I love you all and I love my Savior! I'm thankful for you all and your constant love and support! Have an awesome week! 

-Sister Stringham