Sorry, no photos this week, can't use the USB here.
This week we were visited by Elder Evans of the 70. Something I really got from the conference was to keep moving forward, don't stay where you're at or get lazy or give up where you are right now. WE've got to keep moving forward our whole missions, our whole lives, we can't just stop progressing, we can't forget our purpose here. It was good. I've been feeling really worn out from everything we've been doing lately, we've been working really hard, but this was just what I needed, a nice refresher. Elder Evans will be here in NOvember for a mIssion tour, so I'm excited to get some more guidance for how I can make my mission even better. We've seen a lot of miracles this week. Someone from Madagascar just stopped us on the street and wanted to come to our English class, turns out he's been meeting with the other missionaries on the other side of Solo. He then went to our Ward Night activity and went to church. So cool! We also go to the track every morning. One of the athletes there just said "Hey, I'm coming to your church this week ya" and he came! Amazing Amazingness! Our one Ibu that wants to get baptized is progressing really well and she's totally ready to get baptized next month. The Elders have each baptized someone in the last week. We've met some awesome people on the street and many of our investigators are doing really well, they truly want to learn. There have also been some challenges this week, both for us and those we teach, but we won't focus on those. Let's just remember that the Lord will help us in our work. Whether that's as a missionary or a parent or a student or worker. No matter what we do, as long as we're striving to bless the lives of those around us, we will be blessed, and we will see the hand of God in our lives and see others blessed through our efforts. Okay, you're all awesome! So out there and be hebat! Sister Stringham
0 Comments
Hi everybody! This was a great week! The most amazing thing is we have 3 people with a baptismal date for September! And we have a couple about ready to accept the invitation as well, we just haven't seen them in a while. So we have 2 kids about 9 years old who will be baptized in a couple weeks if everything goes well, and a woman a week later. Her husband wants to be baptized too but he wasn't home when we visited them. Everything's just awesome here in Solo! I truly know when we work for a good cause and don't give up, we will be blessed and usually we will see the affect of our efforts. It reminds me of a scripture. Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying a foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. D&C 64:33 I know for all of you, when you go out and share your light and go about doing good, whatever it may be, you are making a difference. Sometimes you may not see it for a while, but everything you do can become a great blessing in the lives of others. Don't give up! We headed to Tawang Mangu on Wedneday for Independence Day with Solo 2 Ward. You could say it's kind of like the Park City of Indonesia. We rode a bus there and we went up into the mountains! I actually got a little bit chilled. Kinda weird here. But once the sun broke through of the clouds, it got so hot! It was really pretty there. I even brought Yechbar Vahl to hang out with us. This is my panorama of the mountains. Pretty cool ya? At the park there, there was this ride thing. I'm still dizzy from riding it! WE had a lot of fun with the members there. We played games and ate together and we got to know the members a little better. We even had an investigator come and brought her family as well! The coolest thing was the members all made the family feel welcome and loved, even though they didn't know them. I love the members in Indonesia! On our way home, we stopped by the pasar, the market, I have to admit I bought 2 more cacti. We also bought some ronde, that drink Sister Solomon is holding. It's a gingery drink with peanuts and jelly stuff and weird ball things, plus the most important part... GULA JAWA (Javanese Sugar). You have not lived until you have eaten gula Jawa.
Okay, that's all I have to say this week. Stay awesome and don't forget the difference you can make in the world! Sister Stringham This week was an amazing week! We worked hard and got to teach a lot of people. Normally we're scrambling to find someone who is home or isn't busy when we go to their house, but this week we were blessed to be received into many homes. Sometimes I wonder why we do this work, we go out all day, every day, just to get rejected or to have someone who doesn't really care or isn't willing to make that extra step, but when we do everything with all of our might, mind, heart, and strength, it all works out in the end. Eventually there's that person who really wants to turn their life around or who actually wants to learn the Gospel or needs the message we bring. The key to it all it patience and hope. If we don't have a hope, that drive that keeps us going because we know it'll get better soon, we won't have the willpower to endure. We'll eventually just give up, allow that hole of despair in our hearts grow and grow until we have nothing to hold on to anymore. We also need patience, to keep that hope for as long as it takes, to not let a speed bump takes us off the track. And when those two things combine and become our foundation, I have a firm testimony that everything works out. There's always a brighter view beyond the horizon no matter how dark it gets. After 3 months of being in Solo we're finally seeing our work progress. People have been even finding us or are already ready to learn by the time we find them. We've gotten a couple new investigators and a couple already on the road to baptism. They're so awesome, I'm so glad I can see the affect that the gospel has in their lives. There are some that love reading the Book of Mormon or love hearing our lessons. I'm so grateful to be a part of this work, even if it's a little bit difficult. We got to see a great view of the city when we visited the hospital to visit a member there. The awesome thing was it was one of the only cloudy days I've seen here, it wasn't hot and it was pretty awesome. I love that there are so many trees and that we could get out of the loud city noise for a while, it was a nice refresher. When going to visit one of our investigators, we didn't have a lot of space to put our bikes, so they told us to just put our bikes in the house that was being built across the street. That works, hehe. This is us being gross and stinky after exercising today. Also, an exclusive look inside our house. This was the sunset from that cloudy day. I always love seeing the sunsets here, they're so beautiful. That building is one of the only tall buildings in Solo, usually they're only a few stories high at the most, but this one's pretty tall. It's a hotel and quite fancy.
The other day I also had a really cool experience. We were just finishing splits with the other sisters in Solo and had stopped by the grocery store to get some food for Sunday. As we were about to leave the store, I noticed there was a woman with a cross necklace and she was waiting with her family. I thought, 'O cool, she's a Christian', but then I got a strong impression that I needed to talk to her. I doubted a little bit, but I kept getting this very strong feeling that I need to talk to her. But, all the other three missionaries were heading towards our bikes. So I just said, "Okay, Heavenly Father, if you really need me to talk to this woman, you need to give me a way to talk to her" so as we were walking through the parking lot, we were stopped by a backing up car. I looked back but they were still at the front of the store. And then, behind that car another car backed out of their space. I looked back again and saw they were making their way through the parking lot. I quietly said a prayer of thanks for giving me a second chance to go up and talk to her. And then, as they were getting our their motor bike, which was actually right by our bikes, I just started talking to them. She was actually interested in talking and we had a good conversation. I gave her a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and asked for her phone number so we could come visit her, but sadly, she said she had her own religion and didn't want to meet with us. But you know what, that's okay, because I know that God loves this woman and her family, and I know He has a plan for her, and whether or not she accept our message or not, I know she will be blessed because some bule from America had a feeling she needed to contact her. I know God places people in our paths so that our light and testimony can bless them, whether or not we see the effects of it. I invite all of you to see others in your lives that you can bless with a compliment or a smile or some friendly advice. I promise you are blessing to those around you as you strive to be a light to the world. Never forget the path that you set, others do see and follow. Everyone, have a great week! Tuhan memberkati! Sampai kelak kita bertemu! Sister Stringham his week I was home sick ( don't worry, just a cold), so that wasn't very eventful, but we finally got to a warnet that lets us upload photos, so here's a couple of things I saw this week, even though I was inside for most of it. Yesterday was also my 10 month anniversary... wow, the time goes by SO FAST!!!!! This is our toilet. You squat over it and then to flush you just pour in a bucket of water. It's pretty great. I found a little cactus at the supermarket for Rp. 9,990, so like, about 8 cents. I couldn't resist so I bought one. I'm still not sure what to name it... Juan, Hernandez, Pablo... hmm.... August 17 is Indonesia's Independence Day, but once August 1st hits, the flags come up and the city is filled with red and white. It's pretty cool. IT reminds me of America during Independence Day. Yay!
Hopefully next week will be more exciting! See you next week! |
AuthorHOLLEY STRINGHAM: Salt Lake City, born and raised; returned missionary from the Indonesia Jakarta Mission.; a simple folk aimed on changing the world Archives
October 2017
Categories
All
|