an apostle isn't perfect???

 Hey hey hey! How are you all? This week was incredible! So many amazing things! I can't wait to tell yall all about it! 

HIGHLIGHTS:

• ELDER RENLUND: Obviously my biggest highlight this week was being able to meet and hear from Elder and Sister Renlund! Such a special opportunity! We got all ready for a picture before they got there and as soon as they came in the room went totally silent and still. The spirit they carry is unlike anything I think I've ever experienced. We then had the special opportunity to shake their hands and introduce ourselves. I also was lucky enough to be in the musical number to open the conference! Elder Renlund is such a powerful speaker. The first thing He said is that he was an ordained Apostle and on behalf of Jesus Christ he thanked us for being out here! It was so powerful. He shared a few more things and answered a lot of questions missionaries sent in and I'll talk a little bit about one of those later. 
• RAISING CANES: Before Elder Renlund's conference we stopped at Raising Canes and it was so good. I haven't been my whole mission and I was so grateful to get to go again haha. 
• RAY'S BAPTISM: Oh my goodness Ray's baptism was so perfect. So many members showed up we ended up pulling more chairs in and having people stand because it was so packed. He felt so much love! He kept telling us that he only expected a few people to come and he didn't realize how many people knew him and he felt so special to have so many people come. He bore his testimony at the end and shared with everyone how excited he is to help the missionaries and to share the gospel because it's changed his life! He has completely changed since we first met him and I am really excited to continue seeing him grow. He already got his temple recommend so we will be heading to the temple in a week or so! 
• EXCHANGE: Got to exchange with Sister Bollar this week in Castlerock and wow I just love her so much. She is a brand new missionary and has the strongest fire for the work. We were working so hard together and saw so many incredible miracles. She is the perfect example of being a joyful and excited missionary. I was able to learn so much from her and thrived being around her energy! 
• SERVICE: We had so many opportunities to serve this week! Our ward did a service project with the Salvation Army and helped paint their church building and I loved being able to be a part of that! Service makes me feel so good! 

LOWLIGHTS:

• MA'ES MOVED: My favorite Ma'e family moved out of our ward this week and I was so sad! I love them so much! We showed up to say goodbye and their two boys ran up to me and said "I'm gonna miss you so much" and it was so sad! Luckily they're still in the stake but we were so sad to see them go! 
• FRIEND BREAK UPS: One of the hardest parts of missionary work is that people always have their agency. We have met so many miracle friends the past few weeks and we have also had so many of them decide to no longer meet with us. You come to love people so quickly as a missionary and it makes it so hard when they decide to go a different way. 

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT:

Elder Renlund shared so many amazing things in the mission conference. One of the questions he took some time to answer was about feeling inadequate. He got pretty vulnerable with us and explained some flaws that he has. It's funny to realize that even the 12 Apostles are imperfect. He shared with us though that the Lord doesn't want us to be perfect. He calls imperfect messengers to share a perfect message. This can go for any member of the church whether you're a missionary or not, you aren't expected to be perfect. The Lord has given us His perfect message, all we have to do is do our best to share it. This meant a lot to me because it's really easy to be hard on yourself as a missionary. But it was a light bulb moment for me that there is a distinct reason I'm here and a distinct reason why He calls the imperfect. 

I love you all and I'm grateful for you always! Have the bestest week! 

- Sister Stringham