Week #70 *November 30, 2015

Hey Everyone,

So this week has just been so awesome.  Yesterday was Alejandra`s baptism and it was just such a special day.  She was just so happy. You could see the glow on her face.  Seeing their whole family was just so amazing as her daughter Nicol was baptized 6 months ago and her husband recently returned to the church as well.  Nicol came in a skirt for the first time, as she doesn’t like skirts but she knew it was important for her Mom. It just made me so happy to see them all so dressed up and to be able to see Jorge baptize his wife. As it was ward conference, the bishop gave a combined class about sacrificing to make it to the temple and in the moment I looked over at them and saw Jorge reach over and take his wife’s hand and they both just smiled at each other. It was a very special moment as the now are one step closer to making it to the temple in a year to be sealed together as a family. I am just so happy for them.  Nicol their daughter who is like my closest friend here, also gave the closing prayer. She is 23 but she is really shy so that was big for her and she just had tears of happiness the whole time on her face.  She was so excited to finally see her Mom be baptized.  After the baptism the Bishop came up to us and said that he had had a special experience.  He told us that outside of his mission he had never had an experience so strong in a baptism before.  He had felt a strong spirit that family members of Alejandra were present in that baptism cheering on excitement knowing that she had made that first step and now would be able to do the work for them to receive the same ordinances.  I am so grateful that the Lord has blessed me to be a part of this experience with the family Escarate. They have become like family to me these past few months and I am just so happy for them.

This week we had our leadership meeting so I was able to see President and Hermana Warne. It is so nice having them back in the mission.  We had the most amazing meeting that left me so excited to get back to work.  One thing I like that President said is that there is a power that comes with inviting. As missionaries we will always have success if we just invite, no matter the response.  That really stuck out to me and made me want to go out and invite everyone to follow Christ as it is true. There is just such a special spirit that comes when we invite the people to do things. Oh and after Hermana Warne made thanksgiving dinner which was sooo good.

We had another investigator Yazna come to church this Sunday with her boyfriend and son.  Her cousin is from our ward and is serving a mission and so she decided she wanted to hear more about what her cousin is sharing.  She is a young mom and it has been so fun working with her.

We have also been working a lot with endowed members who don’t have a current reccomend, as our bishop has passed us some names and with inactive youth who are coming upon the mission age and that has been a huge success and we are excited to keep working with the bishop on that. It has been amazing working more with the members focusing on the temple. It is just so important to always have a current temple reccomend.  One of the families we are working with that, from the list of youth close to mission age, all came to chruch this week and we were so excited.  Their kids love going and always pull out their scriptures right when we get their it is so sweet. Their youngest ran up to the bench we were sitting at during church with a huge smile on his face informing us that his whole family came to church.  So we are excited to work with them more as well.

For time I just wanted to share one more experience.  We are working with a new Investigator Sonia whose husband has recently passed away.  It has ben so amazing working with her.  She told us that she has felt such a strong difference in her life as we have been teaching her and she truly feels that what we are teaching is true and has a huge desire to follow it.  She just has made the most amazing comments of spiritual experiences she has had.  It is clear that the Lord is preparing her for this message and I have no doubt that Her husband on the other side is pushing a lot for her to be able to receive the gospel at this time.  We are so excited to work more with her.

I love you all and I hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving.  I just feel so blessed to be able to be a missionary during this time to be able to share this glorious message with people everyday.

I love you all,

Hermana Stringham

November - Photos

Alejandra Baptism *November 29, 2015

Week #69 *November 23, 2015

Hi Everyone,

Hey so this week has been awesome.  We just got back from our zone activity, that I planned with the other sisters.  It was a huge success we did a Thanksgiving complete with a turkey and everything.  Everyone pitched in and it was awesome. I will send pics.

So I forgot to tell you but a few weeks ago President Warne invited us to read the Book of Mormon again before the end of January, so I have been very busy reading each day as I want to finish it all before I finish the mission(wow that is so crazy).  It has been a huge blessings and even though I am reading really fast. It has been a fun perspective and as always I have picked out different things that I didn't notice last time.

So this week we had an awesome conference with President and Hermana Wilhelm right before they left.  They talked a lot about the power and authority that we have as missionaries and how when we are inviting people to do things it is really Jesus Christ who is extending the invitation. That has really stuck with me through out the week and I have been able to express that to some of our investigators.  I know that this is truly His work and everything with invite the people to do really comes from Him.  That has given me a new outlook this week.  They also talked about how fast the mission goes and how important it is to make every moment count and that is just what I am trying to do with these last few months.

This week we had to go to Rancagua to get my companions visa and it turned out to be just about the longest craziest, but most miraculous day ever.  First off a few weeks ago my mission manual with my Chilean Id went missing and that day I had got a hold of the last place were I thought it could be and the member told me it wasn’t there and so naturally I started to worry a little, as I need that especially where I will be coming home in a few months... well there comes the first miracle. We met up with a bunch of missionaries when a Hermana came up to me to tell me that she had found my mission manual in her house.  (I have never been there and their apartment is 2 hours away from ours).  So that was a huge miracle that I was praying for.  Next we had to go to the chilean FBI to be able to receive some papers for my companions carnet and after waiting for a long while they informed us that they would not be able to attend us until Monday.  After having walked for a half hour to get there and traveling 2 hours in bus and paying for the ticket you can imagine that we were a little more than frustrated, but my companion with her awesome negotiating skills some how convinced them into receiving us today even though no one else could so that was another miracle......Then we had to go to another place to get fingerprinting and pics taken for my companions ID..well it just so happens that they next day passport prices where going to double so the place was soo full that even though they had given us a number they asked us to come back the next day. We decided to stay anyways and we were blessed again as others decided to leave and we were able to stay in line even though it took several hours.  From there we had to go to the mission office to take some papers and we got a bit lost as none of us had never been in that part of Rancagua, but we found a awesome guy from China who had a GPS in his phone and kindly agreed to take us there and we were able to give a church tour and all.

  Lets  just say that we were relived when we got to the bus station to head home, but we ran into even more problems as it was a weekend there wasn’t any busses for another 2 hours so we were stuck waiting and had so we decided to get a bite to eat and talk to some people to take advantage of the time as we hadn’t really eaten much all day.  Well this is where the worst thing happens, our bus came late but sadly we were contacting a girl so when we noticed that the bus came we quickly finished the contact but not quick enough as the bus came in and left immediately and we missed our bus. At this point we started to fill real dumb and to panic we went to talk to the bus company who informed us that there wouldn’t be anymore busses that night and we had lost our money on that bus.  I was about to give up and call the mission office and stay in Rancagua that night but my companion did not want to give up yet so she went to a completely different bus company and explained our situation where we found the biggest tender mercy.  The kind man felt bad for us and told us that he was going to try and help us.  He talked to a friend and told us that they were going to let us go on their bus that would pass through Curico but we would have to go standing up and even better he wasn’t going to charge us.  It was a huge tender mercy they dropped us off on their way more south on the freeway and we walked until we found a taxi that took us to the house and in the end it all worked out.  I just felt so blessed our little trip that was supposed to have us home in the afternoon turned into an all day adventure.  We left at 7 in the morning and got back at 9. We saw so many miracles and honestly felt a little dumb for missing our bus, but Heavenly Father protected us and we just cant stop laughing at everything that happened.

So Alejandra and her family are doing so good.  She had her interview this week and it went so well.  We weren’t able to go as we were stuck in Rancagua that day but the other Sisters went to support her and so it all worked out. She called us right after and we went by to visit her when she got home we are just so excited for her.

This week we met a new investigator named Belen. She is a reference from the Elders and she came to English class and instantly accepted our invite to go to church and came the next day so that was awesome we were really excited to teach her.

We have been working with a return missionary Coti, who came home early from her mission. She has been struggling a lot and has gone through a ton of difficult things, but she is returning to church and it has been so amazing to see the power of the atonement.

It has been so amazing working in this ward with my companion it is an awesome ward and my companion is so great I am just loving it hear.

Love ya,

Hermana Stringham

From President Warne *November 13, 2015

We got an email from President Warne.  He and Sister Warne are  home in South Jordan, since President Warne had to have surgery.  He contacted us and asked if we would come see him before he returns and told us he would take Danielle a small package.  We went and met him on Tuesday night.  It was fun to meet Danielle’s mission president and hear him praise her for being such a wonderful missionary.  This is what he said in his email:

“Brother and Sister Stringham-first, let me tell you what a blessing hermana Stringham is in our mission.  She is an amazing missionary and we are so grateful to have her as a part of this great work in Rancagua.  You would be rightfully proud of her were you to see her serving.”

Week #68 *November 16, 2015

Hey Everyone,

This week has been pretty good.  I honeslty was a little sad to not be home with everyone with Grandmas funeral this past week but it has been so amazing how the spirit has just been so powerful this week in comforting me and confirming that this is were I need to be right now.  My prayers go out to everyone back home

First I want to share some of the things from 2 weeks ago as last week I wasn’t able to get to writing a lot.  As I think I said two weeks ago was a really crazy week. I don’t remember what I already shared so sorry if I repeat myself I felt like there was just so much going on and a lot of stress.  I am not going to go into details but it is amazing how the Lord truly knows our limits better than we do as He has really pushed me lately. We had zone conference right on top of everything and I was given a big part to do and well it just happens that I got really sick right before and in the moment that I had to give my part I had completely lost my voice and I just was not feeling so good and so I had to completely change my part that I had worked so hard on becuase I just wasn’t going to be able to do it with out a voice. So I basically had the missionaries read the scriptures and quotes I was going to use and I they helped out a lot.  

Well when I finally thought I was done and we got back to the house I was about to call the mission nurse when the assistants called us to inform us that they were on there way and that they Hermana Wilhelm, the temporary mission Presidents wife, was going to come to work with us for the afternoon. Well I decided that I couldn’t tell her no as I mean she had come all the way from Rancagua, so we decided to leave anyways and again the Lord blessed me and made me realize that I could do more than I though I could.  We had an awesome time with Hermana Wilhelm and she taught us so much.  She is such a sweetheart and right after she took us straight to the pharmacy to buy me something I could take and sent us to the house to rest.  She called a bunch of times that week as well to ask me if I was taking the medicine she bought and see how I was doing.  She was so sweet.  Also from that awesome experience we had an amazing contact with the Hermana Wilhelm who has a baptism date.

Betty is our new investigator who accepted a baptism date for December 6 she is so awesome.  We gave her a Book of Mormon with our testimonies and she got so excited as she says no one ever does stuff like that for her.  She also thanked God in her prayer for sending us right in the moment when she was feeling lonely and needed us most.  She has a huge desire to learn more but she hasn’t gone to church yet, so please pray for her so we can get her to go with us this Sunday.

Alejanrda is also still doing amazing I just see her like a whole new women she is reading everyday and is just so excited for her baptism.  Her husband is going to baptize her.  It is so amazing to watch this family grow as the are working towards their goal to be sealed in the temple in one year.  Her husband Jorge was recently reactivated and her daughter Nicol was baptized about 4 months ago. It is such a joy working with them.

This week we also had an awesome lesson with one of our less actives Camlia.  She goes to church every week but she told us that she doesn’t have a testimony and so we have been working a lot with her but it has been really hard.  Well this week she was a completely different person she is starting to grow a testimony and even expressed her desire to go to the temple.  I was trying to figure out what had changed when she told me that she had started reading the Book of Mormon every night, as we have been trying to get her to do. The Book of Mormon is so powerful and really can change people.  It has made such a huge difference in Camlias life.

We had two awesome family nights last night.  One with Macarena, a less active and her husband Christian who isn’t a member.  We were able to talk about how the gospel blesses families and Macarena expressed her strong desire to return to the church and be able to one day be sealed in the temple with her family.  Christian was amazingly open to everything and agreed to go to church this Sunday.  We are so excited for them.

We are working with a lot of other less actives and also have had some amazing contacts.  I wish I could tell you about each and everyone, but time just doesn’t permit, but I am just loving being in Alameda here in Curico. The members are so awesome and we have just had an amazing past two weeks with my new companion Hermana Morales.  I just love this work so much and I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who has allowed me to be a part of the amazing changes in the lives of these people.

I love you all so much!

Hermana Stringham

Letter to Grandpa *November 9, 2015

Grandpa Stringham,

I just want to tell you how grateful I am to you and Grandma for all the support over the past years, and especially during this time as I am on my mission.  I am sad that I cant be there with you during this hard time, but I just want you to know that I love you so much and I am praying for you.  I know that I am where I am supposed to be right now as there are many who don’t have the knowledge of this gospel that need me right now.  I also know that Grandma is now working alongside me in the spirit world to share the gospel with those who did not get the chance to receive it in this life  I have been praying for Grandma all week long and as well all of my mission, as I know that this last year has been really hard for her and for you as well, but you were right there by her side the whole time.  This week has been really special as I have prayed for Grandma I have felt an overwhelming peace come over me that everything was going to be alright.  The Lord has reconfirmed to me the truthfulness of this gospel and of the plan of salvation.  I am happy to know that Grandma was able to go peacefully.  I am so grateful for you and grandma in your righteous decisions of marrying in the temple and keeping temple covenants and teaching us to do so as well so that we will one day be able to return all together as one big eternal family.  I know that our family can be together forever, thanks to this temple covenants and I anxiously await the day when we will all reunite together as a family with our Heavenly Father.

I love you so much Grandpa and my prayers are going out to you!

Love ya,

Danielle

Week #67 *November 9, 2015

Hey Everyone,

I am going to apologize ahead of time for my short letter again this week as I am just about out of time.  This week has been a bitter sweet week as it has been so full of miracles but also a lot of trials. I have had some trials that just seemed to keep adding on with more stress and I was stretched in ways I thought I wouldn’t be able to but the Lord strengthened me and showed me that he truly qualifies those that He calls.

First off, I was sad to here about Grandma Stringham I am sure it has been a hard week for everyone back home.  I just feel so blessed for the knowledge of this gospel that we have.  All week long I have felt the spirit very present and confirm to me of the realness of the plan of salvation.  I know that Grandma is at peace and very happy as she has been able to reunite with Her Heavenly Father and her Family that has already passed on.  I also know that she is looking down on us cheering us on as we continue to grow in this gospel so that we can become an eternal family and one day be united again all together as one big eternal family.

My new companion is Hermana Morales she is from Ecaudor and is 30 years old.  She is so awesome and we get along so well.  She helps push me to be a better missionary and we have just had the most amazing lessons and contacts together I am just loving working with her.

Alejandra is doing so good.  We were able to do her pre interview this week and she doesn’t have any doubts anymore and she is reading everyday. It is soooo amazing.  It made me so happy.  She is just so excited and ready for her baptism

We got the opportunity to do family history with Loreto and it was such a special experience she has such a desire to do her family history and she got her temple recommend and will be going to the temple this week we are just so happy for her.

Also this week we got to meet our temporary mission presidents wife. She is so awesome and we learned so much from her.  Also we had an amazing contact with her, named Betty, who we later went back to teach and she accepted a baptism date.  I have just about run out of time so I will tell you more about her next week.  I love you all so much and I just want you to know that I am praying for you all.  I know with all my heart that this church is true.  I know that our Heavenly Father loves each and everyone of us and through the atonement of Christ we can overcome all things.  I know that the plan of salvation is real and that the families are eternal.

Love ya,

Hermana Stringham

Week #66 *November 2, 2015

Hey everyone,

So this week has flown by so fast.  It was my companions last week, so it has been so crazy.  It was Loretos confirmation this week, since last week was stake conference she had to wait a week.  We  called her in the morning  and she was fine but then she didn’t show up and when the meeting was coming to an end we were really starting to panic. When we went out to call her again we found out that her phone was an hour off so she though it was really 10 when it was 11, but in the end they were able to confirm her anyways and she was so excited and it all turned out great.  She wants to get her temple recommend as fast as she can and she should be able to get it next Sunday. So we are so excited for her and for her excitement to keep progressing in the gospel.

This week we had another lesson with the familia Garabito.  The ones whose daughter is serving in Mexico.  The father came in late to the lesson as he was painting the house but it was so cute as his eyes began to well up and he talked about how he had been missing his daughter so much that day and we remind him of her.  We taught about the restoration and shared the movie they were really interested and the mom was so happy as she told me at the end that it is a huge miracle that her husband will participate in the lessons with missionaries.  They still don’t want to go to the church but express desires to progress, which is awesome coming from a family that didn’t want anything before.  It is amazing the miracles the come from missionary service not only in this girls mission, but in her own family.  I know that her prayers are being answered and that the Lord is working a lot on the hearts of her family so when she returns they one day can go to the temple together and become an eternal family.

We also had a family night with the family Escarate. They arranged it all and invited a bunch of families.  Alejandra is progressing so well and it was so awesome to see them reach out to other members.

This week I got to go to leadership meeting, which is always so awesome and I leave with so much excitement to work and with many new things that I realize that I need to work on in myself.  This week they talked a lot about not just being good members but being valiant in our testimonies.  It made me think alot abut this past conference and how they talked  a lot about how as members in a ever changing world we have to be different.  More than ever we need to stand up for what is right.  

Oh and this week we have cambios.  I am so excited I am going to be staying here in Curico with Hermana Morales.  I don’t know if you remember her but I did divisions once with her.  She is about 30 years old and she is just so awesome.  I am so excited.  I know that we are going to work really hard and I am just excited to work hard and for all the miracles we are going to see.

Love ya,

Hermana Stringham

Photos * Baptism of Loreto

Loreto, Hermana Rodriguez, Hermana Stringham,
and Valentina

Photos Hermana Rodriguez's Last Day

Hermana Orrego

Hermanas: Porter, Rodriguez, and Bishop

Picture with Gustavo