HUZZAH for Israel

 Heyyyy heyyy! It was such a great week! I hope everyone is doing great. I love hearing from you all so please email me! 

HIGHLIGHTS:

• TEMPLE: We got to go to the temple this week and it was incredible. We went with some members for their session as temple workers so we were there for a while. We got there around 4 and made a stop to get dinner at Chick-fil-A. So yummy. Then we had 5-8:30 in the temple. We did initiatories and then met up with the elders and walked to Deseret Book to look around and then did an endowment session. I LOVE the temple. It calmed so many anxieties I have been having and I gained so much peace. While sitting in the celestial room, one of the service missionaries walked over and asked if we wanted to see the sealing rooms. So of course we said yes and he showed us and they were beautiful! The Portland temple is GORGEOUS! Everyone needs to make it there at some point in their life. On the way home, President and Sister Schmit took us to Salt N Straw which was delicious and then we headed home and got home SO late but it was so worth it! 
• LANDON: Our friend Landon is doing incredible. We had a lesson with him this week and when we got there he had a page of notes and questions from the chapter he read. He also told us he already prayed about it and felt so good. He is just a MIRACLE! And he is progressing so quickly! 
• TRISTAN 2: Tristan is a miracle. This is a different Tristan than the one I just baptized. This Tristan is a 12 year old boy who is besties with a member in our ward. He recently has been coming to church and reading the Book of Mormon. But his mom is not super happy about it all. This week she told him the Book of Mormon was bad and to stop reading it, but he told her to read 3 Nephi 11 and the testimonies of the witnesses. He's not a member and is literally a missionary. He also came to church yesterday and he asked bishop when he can get baptized! Say mega prayers for him and for his mom to soften her heart! 
• HUNTER: Our friend Hunter is so cool! We had a lesson last night and he opened up about some things he's been struggling with and he told us he's ready to give his life to God. He asked us how to become a member and said he is 100% committed to it! 
• CHURCH: Church was such a miracle this week! Tristan was there! Landon came! And our friend Candy came! And guess what?! They all loved it so much! Miracles are simply everywhere right now. Walking out of the church building Sister White yelled HUZZAH FOR ISRAEL! which was so awesome and so funny all at once. God is good all the time! 
• WARD PARTY: We had a really awesome ward party this week. So many people showed up and so many members brought friends too it was incredible. Us and the elders were privileged to be the chili cook off judges and there was some gooddd chili! 

LOWLIGHTS:

• STORM: This week we had a wild wind and rain storm and it was like the absolute worst weather to be out working in. We were soaking wet and freezing cold constantly. Luckily the storm has mostly passed so it will lighten up a little this week.

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT:

Yesterday at church one of the high counselors gave a talk and he shared a story that I loved. He talked about going to physical therapy after a shoulder surgery and how the physical therapist was pushing and pulling and stretching his shoulder in ways that were extremely uncomfortable. He said something to him and the physical therapist replied "your arm is meant to move that way". Even though it was painful and uncomfortable, it's what his arm was supposed to do. He related that back to our life. We are meant to do things that are hard and uncomfortable. Often we try to resist and stay in our comfort zone, but as soon as we are out of the comfort zone, God can shape us into who He knows we can become and who we are meant to become. 

I love you all and I am so grateful for you! Have an amazing week! 

-Sister Stringham