GRATEFUL!

Hello friend and family!! 

Another great week in beautiful Virginia!! This week I've come to realize how much I have to be GRATEFUL for!! God is so good and I truly am so grateful for the wonderful experiences I have each day!! 

TRANSFER NEWS 

Transfers are this Wednesday! Drum roll please.....I get to stay in Newtown with Sister Thomas for another transfer!! I'M SO HAPPY! I love serving in Newtown and I love Sister Thomas! She's one of my very best friends and I can't wait to continue learning from her and making memories with her! I'm so GRATEFUL for her!! 

BASICALLY ASL MISSIONARIES 

This week we taught 2 lessons in Sign language!! How cool?? We met a part-member family this week and they are both deaf. Both Sister Thomas and I know ASL so we were able to talk with them! They invited us back to teach a lesson. We called our mission president and he gave us permission to do additional language study to learn how to teach lessons! Right after we called president we got a call from another set of Sisters in our zone. They had just met a deaf man and called to ask our advice. We were able to go to their area and help them teach this deaf man as well!! So cool! I'm so GRATEFUL that we have been given these opportunities to help these wonderful people!

EXCHANGES 

We had exchanges this week with the Tidewater YSA Sisters! I was with Sister Packer for the day! She's such a cutie! We had a fun day and met some awesome people! I'm so GRATEFUL for the opportunity I have to be a Sister training leader and learn from so many wonderful Sisters!! 

SISTER DOUTRICHS FUNERAL 

This week we had a funeral for one of my favorite members, Sister Doutrich. It was definitely an emotional day but the service was beautiful! Although it was a sad day there was so much joy knowing that she is in a better place. I'm so GRATEFUL for the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and the peace that brings. Her husband had been inactive for years but he came to church yesterday! His heart has truly been softened. 

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT

This transfer Sister Thomas and I have been focusing on gratitude and have been helping the Sisters in our zone have more of an attitude of Gratitude! As I've been studying gratitude I have come to realize that being grateful is an expression of our faith. 

In a talk by Bonnie D. Parkin she said,

"Luke chapter 17 records the experience of the Savior when He healed 10 lepers. As you recall, only one of the cleansed lepers returned to express his appreciation. Isn’t it interesting that the Lord did not say, “Your gratitude has made you whole”? Instead, He said, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.”

The leper’s expression of gratitude was recognized by the Savior as an expression of his faith. As we pray and express gratitude to a loving but unseen Heavenly Father, we are also expressing our faith in Him. Gratitude is our sweet acknowledgment of the Lord’s hand in our lives; it is an expression of our faith."

I'm so GRATEFUL for the Lord's hand in my life!! 

I love y'all so much!! Have a wonderful week and don't forget to be GRATEFUL for the small things! 

❤Sister Stringham❤

Making homemade oreos for the funeral

Lunch with the boys! (Brother Dickerson and Brother Reyes) 

Started in different missions and now we are companions! So grateful for the mission merge! I can't imagine my mission without Sister Thomas! <3

Our friend Devonie! We just started teaching her! 

Mr. Easley came to church AGAIN! 

Exchanges with Sister Packer! 

 Teaching our deaf friend with the Princess Ann Sisters! 

Our District!

Our bread man named Phill! Haha 

Sister Hayes and her butterflies! (It sat on my head for like 5 minutes) 

IKEA trip last Pday!