Week #33 - Lovely Lüneburg

Hallo from Hamburg!

I am so so SO happy!!  I love Lüneburg!  I love my mission!  I love being a missionary!!  I love this work and I know that God is with us every single day!  I am so grateful to be here!

So Lüneburg!!  IT IS BEAUTIFUL HERE!!!!

Lüneburg is one of the only cities in this country not bombed in the war, so all of the buildings are ancient and SO beautiful!  I am surrounded by so much history!  It is a little city, right by the Elbe River.  The people walk slowly and talk to you on the street, which is different.  And!  They are all religious!  Woah!! They have five churchs right here in the city, and everyone loves Jesus which is so different and so wonderful!!  I am so happy!  

We don't actually have a ward here in Lüneburg (not yet at least) so we travel by train for an hour to Lauenburg to go to the ward there.  This week we had stake conference in Hamburg, so I haven't met very many people from my ward yet, but everyone I have met has been SO friendly and sweet and I am so excited and grateful to be here!!

And Stake Conference was AMAZING!!  The Hamburg stake is a little small (which means it is very much like a family) and there was a broadcast from Salt Lake to all the stakes in Germany and other German speaking areas.  It was so wonderful and the Spirit was so strong and I learned so much.  And!!  Ahhh!  Best thing ever!!!!  Elder Bednar spoke to us IN GERMAN!  It was so neat!  Everything else was translated, but when he got up to speak, he just said that he was so grateful for the opportunity to speak to the people he loved so dearly, and that he could use his mission language again after 41 years, and he gave his whole talk in German!!  It was so cool, and you could just see and hear his love for his mission and for the people here.  That is how I want to be 40 years from now!  And he did a great job!  I could actually understand everything that was said because he talked a little slower and had a bit of an american accent.  It was great and I was SOO impressed by him and the way he could do that 40 years later.  Such an amazing experience!  I am so so grateful for my mission!  I love my mission!  I love Germany and I love the people here! 

My new companion, Sister Knecht

And I love this new city!  The work has been dead here in Lüneburg for a while, but this week we decided to throw away the past and work towards the future.  We decided to have faith, not fear, to put our trust in God and His work, and go forward, and you know what?  We saw SO many miracles this week!  We found so many people and truly felt the Lord with us.  This is HIS work.  I know it!  And I know that when we put our trust in Him, that He helps us to see miracles.  I know that through faith, everything is possible!  I am so grateful to be  a missionary, and to be learning that for myself.  I am so grateful to be here helping others develop faith, and to be strengthening my own.  I love this church, I love my God, I love my mission!!

And I love you all!!  Thank you for all of the support and the prayers.  I am praying for you too! Shoutouts:

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE MARRIAGE SHELBEY #bestfriendmarried #awkwardsinglesister #sohappyforthenewcouple

My dear Lappara family, you an inspiration for all of us!  We are praying and fasting for you here in Germany.  I love you all so dearly, and will keep sending prayers your way!

Saying good-bye to family

I love you all.  Keep trusting in God and shining your light!!

Love, Sister Stringham

Week #32 - A New Adventure

After almost 8 months here in Spandau, the call came on Staurday and it is finally time for me to leave this city and the people I have loved so dearly, and start out on a new adventure! 

This little Bilbo is headed to Lüneburg, a small city just outside of Hamburg to preach and teach, and I leave this Tuesday!  The apartment is just about packed, and after last minute goodbyes tonight, I will be all set to leave.

I am so sad to leave this city where I have spent everyday of the last 8 months loving and working for the people, but I will go where the Lord wants me to go, and I am so grateful and SO EXCITED to start a new adventure, a new mission with the people of Lüneburg!

No matter how far away I go, even all the way across the mission, my heart will always be in Spandau with the families I love!!  Yesterday at church was so sad but so beautiful as I said goodbye to all the people that I have grown so close to!  I love the Spandau Ward, and between the tears and the hugs, I got some great pictures!

Familie Dessin - Love these ladies!!

Familie Wunderbar (Silva)

Familie Stanculovi - Definitely came on my mission for this beautiful family!!!

 Familie Lindenau by the river on a lovely sunday stroll!

District in Spandau before transfers 

I have loved my time in Spandau but I look forward to new adventures, there and back again.   

Love, Sister Dal

Week #31 - The Sun Again?

Heellloo dear ones!!

We have seen the sun again!!  It is warm, the snow is melting, I'm back to just 2 layers of tights instead of 3 or 4, and this Arizona girl is feeling warm and happy!!  We have had yet another fab week here in Spandau too!!  And transfer calls are this Saturday, so this could be my last week here!  Bishop gave me a talk for the end of March and is quite set on me staying though haha, so we will see!!

So this past week...

We went and visited Sabine, a convert of about 2 years in our ward, who has been SUPER sick.  We felt like we should go by again and see if there was anything we could do to help her that day, and we were an answer to her prayers and she had us walk her dogs!  I love serving and I love dogs, so we were more than happy to help!!

We had Zone Training Meeting and learned SO much!  I love the missionaries I serve with here in Berlin!!  They are incredible!!  They are strong and faithful and such powerful teachers, and I felt the Spirit of the Lord testifying yet again that this is His work and I am just so grateful to be a part of it!!  I love my mission and I love my calling.  I am a testifier of my Lord, a saver of souls, and I disciple of Christ.  I have been called and I am the Savior's hands in this part of His vineyard.  I am so grateful I get to be a part of this work!  Even when the week is hard, when we face disappointments, when we are mocked or yelled at or whatever it may be, even when Satan tries to discourage us, I KNOW in whom I have trusted and I KNOW that this is the work of God.  It is an honor to serve a mission.  We are those that the Savior has to bring His children back, and He wants His kids back.  I am so grateful I get to be part of this work, and that God can work through me to perform miracles.  I am so imperfect and have so much to learn, but I know that it doesn't matter what we are, that God can take us and make us into something so much greater to accomplish His will.  I am so grateful to be a desciple of Jesus Christ, and so grateful to be doing His work!!

We also walked through a park yesterday and talked to everyone we saw and you know what?  So many people were nice and were willing to hear us out!  It was such a miracle!! 

 And the sun was shining and the ice was melting (probably warming the hearts of the Germans) and it was just so beautiful and happy. 

 Even here in East Berlin, where less than 26% of people believe in God, there can be miracles and hearts can change, because this is HIS work and HIS glory and HIS gospel. 

I am so grateful to be here and to be His servant in Berlin.  I love my mission!!

I love you all and I am praying for you!!  Keep shining and sharing your light!

Love, Sister Dally

In other news,
I am more than a little obsessed with these videos.  Check them out!

http://www.lds.org/bible-videos?lang=eng

I love my Savior!!

Okay, here I am as Sista Stringham!

Schwester Antwi in our ward is from Ghana and taught us how to tie our hair african style!  Surprisingly comfortable and now a common style in our apartment!

Week #30 - Another Zone Conference in Berlin

So this week we had zone conference......

.....and guess who I saw there.....

SISTER TOLMAN!!!!!!!  SISTER TOLMAN!!!!!!!!  SISTER TOLMAN!!!!  

After 7 long months, we were reunited at last!!!!  Best moment of my life.  We worked together at the MTC, had German class together and back to the MTC when we both got called to the same mission!  

I also saw these kids!

It was great to have our little MTC gang back together again (minus Sister Henry somewhere in southern Germany), and to see how much we all still love being missionaries!!

I learned so much from President and Sister Kosak, and all the other speakers.  I love being a missionary and I love this work!!!  2014 is the year this mission will change Germany, and we are going forward in faith with that promise! I love my Savior, and it is because of that love that I do what I do! 

And I love you all too!  I am thinking of and praying for you!!  Keep shining and smiling!!

Love, Sister Stringham

Week #29 - Immer Noch Cold

So this week in Spandau...COLD!

The winter blasts cannot stop the Mormon missionaries, so we hit the pavement in the snow and ice, which is an adventure in of itself, so its been fun!!  I walked the sole out of my boots, which meant very cold, wet feet this week for Sister Stringham.  But we go on!  New boots today!

Straight up Gs here in Spandau!

In other news, this week was great!!!

It was pretty slow at the beginning again, but we had an amazing lesson with Wichian on Thursday.  We felt strongly that we needed to bring Bruder Krause along so we did and that was bomb, and the Bischof came in and joined our lesson half way through which was even better.  It was an incredible lesson and I was taught my two men of great faith, and it was a huge turning point for Wichian too.  We wants so badly to believe, and he is learning to believe in and trust God and our Savior.  It is such a testimony builder to watch!  I love my mission!!

Then, YESTERDAY  we had a MIRACLE. 

In other news, this week was great!!!

It was pretty slow at the beginning again, but we had an amazing lesson with Wichian on Thursday.  We felt strongly that we needed to bring Bruder Krause along so we did and that was bomb, and the Bischof came in and joined our lesson half way through which was even better.  It was an incredible lesson and I was taught my two men of great faith, and it was a huge turning point for Wichian too.  We wants so badly to believe, and he is learning to believe in and trust God and our Savior.  It is such a testimony builder to watch!  I love my mission!!

Then, YESTERDAY  we had a MIRACLE. 

So, as I said before, this week was a little slow, so we decided we needed to boost our faith and thrust in our sickles.  We fasted and prayed, and then, on Sunday after church, we planned to go out and have a lesson with an old contact from the Elders.  Rose is an African mom with a big personality and an even bigger heart.  When we made the appointment on the phone, she just kept saying how much she needed Jesus in her life, so we were really excited about our lesson.  BOOM BEST LESSON EVER!  Although the teaching was scattered, the Spirit was THERE!  It was such a testimant that this is not our work, but truly the work of the Lord. We taught the Restoration of the gospel and how, just as in days of old, we have a prophet again on the earth to today to teach and guide our families.  She just kept saying over and over how much sense it made that Heavenly Father would be working in the same ways, and that we would have more than just the Bible.  She told us that she has been waiting for this and that she would put her kids to bed as soon as we left and stay up to read in the Book of Mormon.  She said a beautiful prayer for us at the end of the lesson, where she just thanked God over and over for us, asked him to bless her with positivity as she searched for the truth of the church, and how excited she was to become a member of HIS church.  Then she said she was so grateful that we came and how she wants to raise her two beautiful children in His light and His church. 

It was incredible, I have never had an experience quite like that in my 7 months here, and I am just so grateful to be a missionary.  I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, and I am so grateful that I get to be a part of His great work, and bring soulds to Him.

I love my mission and I love my God!

And I love all of you!!  Thank you so much for all of your support and prayers.  I love and pray for you too!!!   Keep smiling!

Love, Sister Dal

Pretty Typisch :)  LOVE THIS GIRL!!!  Please note the giant wurst we are eating for dinner.  LOVE GERMANY!!!

Week #28 - COLD!

HELLO!

You should all know, the process of Sister Stringham becoming a little popcicle has begun.  It is SUPS cold and windy outside now, so we sing lots of songs as we are on the streets, and that always brings a little sunshine.

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!  SO MUCH!!

Doeners with the New Kid

Really, it is the most wonderful thing in the world.  This week almost everything fell out, but it just gives us an opportunity to start all over this next week, and I am so excited!  I love this work, and I know it is the work of the Lord.  I love being a tool in his hands, and I am working my hardest to be a Wilford Woodruf or Abinadi or Alma for Him!  I know that He is with me!

Sorry, thats it for this week folks, but I love you all and am always praying for you!  Prayers and letters are always appreciated by we missionaries :)  I LOVE YOU AND I LOVE MY GOD!

Here are a few photos from New Year's Eve:

Love, Sister Stringham

Week #27 New Beginnings in Spandau

Hello All!!!

So lots of adventures here in Spandau!!  I love being a missionary and I love this area!!  I love the people with all my heart and I love this work!!!

So this week I put my best friend of the last 6 months on a train for Hamburg!  Super sad to be separated after so long together (some statistic floating around somewhere says 20yrs of marriage), but it is also so good to both be off on new adventures!  I know we are both so excited to be working for the Lord, and I know we will see each other again soon!!

So, other things from this week....

First off, I love being a representative of the Lord, Jesus Christ!!  People see it and feel it!  Like, for example, Özgur from our favorite Döner place and his cousin!  They asked about our church and our meeting with us now because they want to turn their lives around and follow Christ.  And everytime they see us on the street, they call us over and give us free water or döners or anything.  They say they see our light and know we are from Christ.  Also this week, as we were walking down the street, a man called after us on the street because he saw our nametags, and asked us to teach his family.  The Lord has PREPARED PEOPLE EVERYWHERE folks, I know it!!  I know this is his work and I know that my time as His representative is so precious.  I love being a missionary!!

Second, Wichian is probably the coolest person on the planet.  So we have been meeting with us for the past 5 months.  He loves the church and he wants to believe in God and he has felt the Spirit SO STRONGLY.  I love teaching him and seeing his progress and his faith grow. It has come so far and he is so close to accepting Christ, he just wants to make sure he has made the right decision.  He is working on trusting the Lord, and in the meantime, what does he do?  He writes a song about Mosiah 18, about the doctrine and gospel of Jesus Christ.  This week he told us all about it and how he is working our names into it so that his missionaries can be a part of his song.  Jardine changed to Janee in Thai meaning good heart, Harris to Harisa meaning happy spring, and Stringham to Stri-gnam meaning good, beautiful woman.  SO COOL!  Gosh, I love this guy!!  He is having a Thai woman in our stake sing it (apparently he hangs out with all the thais and new converts from our stake??) and he want Sister Harris to sing it as well.  I love being a missionary and working with such incredible people!!  I love this gospel and the changing power it has!  I love seeing faith working in people, and watching the Atonement heal souls.  I love being a part of conversion. I love seeing people come to Christ!  I love my mission!

I love Spandau and I am so excited for this next transfer!  Sister Harris and I have made high goals and we have faith and are ready to work hard and get things done!  I know that when we are faithful and diligent as missionaries (and in life) that we see miracles and can accomplish great things as tools in the hand of the Lord.  I am so grateful for my time as a missionary, and I love my work!  I meet so many wonderful people, from new people interested in the gospel of Jesus Christ, to members who faithfully live every day as disciples.  We were by Familie Richter yesterday for a wonderful dinner of sauerkraut and knüdels and roast something and veggies and it was so lecker, and we spent the time talking about the scriptures and looking through their photos from their vacations to the US.  It was so perfect, I just love my life so much!  Thank you for your examples to me, and for your prayers, I feel them every day!  I love you all and am praying for you, and working hard for you and for the Lord! 

Love, Sister Dal

We studied the Atonement through reading the Book of Mormon as a mission, and I finished this week.  If you don't know this book yet or haven't read it through or prayed about it, please, try it out.  I know, with all my heart, and I bear testimony as a representative of the Lord, Jesus Christ, that the Book of Mormon is true.  I know it is from God, and I know that, as we read it with the Bible, that we have the fulness of the gospel and that it will bring us back to our Father in Heaven.  I love the Book of Mormon.  I feel the love of the Lord and my Savior as I read it.  I am so grateful to ba a missionary, and to have the opportunity to share this joy with the people of Germany!  We are changing Germany, and I know that we will change the world!  Love you all and love my calling!! http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=1101418669001