Christmas Week

                                          Found a Kitty outside the chapel.

   This week has been another Tough one that's for sure, But for way different reasons. Christmas is such a great time of the year, but trying to talk to people during Christmas time is not as easy as it sounds, It's still great though. 

  Sister Dias and I Had a wonderful idea on Sunday of last week, to work with members! To teach the members, so we can refresh their memory about these things and they will be able to share it more easily. So we started that this week. Helping and talking with the members, They are so amazing. So nice to us. Hopefully as we continue to do this we will be able to find people and help them. 

   On Christmas Eve Sister Dias and I read together about Christ's birth and thought of ways we could help each other feel this Christmas Spirit stronger. And Let me tell you, it was pretty great! When you don't need to worry about presents(well a lot of them anyway)or cooking or anything really, we were able to feel this so strong. We made cookies on Christmas eve to take to the people that live around us and we made some to take to the activity we had. During this activity is when. dun dun dun.... My toe was broken.(which now I am not allowed to walk on for 6 weeks. I am so sad about this whole situation. UGH :( )

   Christmas we had lunch with the Lawson family, Who are so amazing by the way! They are so sweet! After lunch we went to Pierre's Flat and watched movies with everyone there and then we went to Dinner at Sister Barnshaw's house. This Lady is the best! She is so nice to us (when she isn't calling me a cheeky monkey). She made us CD's which is so great because the ones we have we have listened to probably a good 1000 times. 

   Boxing day Pierre took us to the Irn Bru Carnival! It was way too much fun! we went on rides, got sick, puked everywhere, got on some more rides, FUN FUN! 

   Saturday we spent on the phone with the emergency accident people and Sister Brown, I told the people what my foot looked like and they told me to come into the emergency room within the next 4 hours. That's when we found out it was broken. 3 hours later hobbling home and now we are homebound :( our Zone Leaders are nice enough to give us rides when they can so that helps out a lot.

   Sunday we went to church with the Zone Leaders(Other missionaries in our area but they have a car) and everyone was asking us what happened and we came up with a new- cooler story, Sister Dias Was trying to teach me Brazilian Capoeira and she ended up hitting me too hard it broke her pinky, then when I tried it I am too uncoordinated I ended up hitting her and then the wall and that's how I broke my toe.. Really though, Chair Football is intense. 

   Well I hope that everything is going super great with each of you, and that we are able to take this Christmas Spirit and carry it with us through out the year. 

   ~Who's on the Lord's side who? Now is the time to show. We ask it fearlessly: who's on the Lord's side who?~ 

   I hope this week brings you all nothing but good things and happiness, I LOVE YOU! 

~Love Sister Stribling

First transfer DONE!

This letter won't be nearly as long as the others. We have one hour today. But this week has been a pretty normal week on the mission. Not too much, Not too little. Everything just seemed to work out. It's crazy actually.
As some of you may know...I have now killed two pairs of boots (in 2 months in the field). I just don't know what's wrong with them. Falling apart everywhere. But now I have Welly's! That I love! And they will never break. EVER, and there is a 12 month warranty. That's what i'm talking about.  Everyone here is doing good. They are just all so nice. ESPECIALLY PIERRE! He is so nice to us. He is always asking us what we need, always trying to help us, always getting us food, or warm gloves, everything! He is the best! pretty much!
I might be getting the hang of this missionary thing pretty soon. I hope.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! I love you all so much, hope you each are doing great and remembering him this Christmas season! This is the Lords' Church! I LOVE this Church. I LOVE YOU!

 ~ Sister Stribling

 

 

Pierre is so nice...he gives us twinkies for the bus ride.  We love twinkies!!!

Till the Work is DONE-United We Will be as One!

SO, This week was so great. I'm not sure why. It definitely was not the weather this week. Or because we met a ton of people (we met one). This week was pretty busy though. A good busy. Not too much, but just right. It was great.

   Monday Sister Dias and I had the best shopping experience ever. Every single Monday shopping for food is the worst thing. But this Monday it was the best! We prayed before we left that we could have the spirit with us, to know what we should do, and how we can make it easier to shop together. Well let me tell you...The idea of praying before you go shopping sounds super silly. But, it made a difference. We joked and laughed the whole time. When we got done with our shopping and realized how great it was...we just hugged. The Lord loves us so much. After emails we played bubble football. If you don't know what bubble football is...It is when you play soccer (Cype-Football means soccer) inside of giant hamster balls covering the top half of your body. Only your legs are out of the bubble. The Elders "destroyed" us. They were all running and slamming their hamster ball into ours and we went flying. I got turned on my head a couple times and had to wait for someone else to hit me again so I could get up. Haha so much crazy fun. We had Family Home evening and it was great! 

   Tuesday We had our last District meeting with Elder Burt. He went home on Thursday. We visited a few less active members around us and had a few meetings. It was a pretty good day. Studied some English with Sister Dias. Fun Fun.

   Wednesday and Thursday We visited more with less active members and tried to find new people. We knocked on about 60 doors. SO MUCH FUN! It was so windy and pouring down rain @ millions of gallons a second. We were so soaking wet. Wringing out our skirts at the bus stop. Haha good times. That's for sure.

   Friday We taught Rachel and Michael. They are both so great. Rachel is so sweet and we just love her so much! She loves the church so much it's great. She is way more than a Golden investigator! Probably more like Platinum. 

  Saturday We played football with some members. I knocked all their socks off with my amazing football abilities this week. (HA yeah right.) But it was definitely the best I have played. They traded me to different teams 2 times! First they traded me off their team and then wanted me back on when I actually started to play. Can't pick and choose so mean. Haha no but it's good fun! 

   Sunday! I love Sunday's. Our ward mission leader Brother Mathers, talked in Sacrament. I taught Gospel Principles about talents and where we get them, how do we strengthen them, and develop more. Then Sister Dias and I taught Young Women together. They are so sweet! We watched the Amazing First Presidency Devotional and also The Christmas Truce Fireside. This year  marks 100 years after the war so it was a big deal for all the people here, with their Red Poppy flowers on their Jumpers(Sweaters). 

   -------------Scripture of the week-------- 2 Nephi 16:10

Make the heart of this people fat and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes,- lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted and healed.

 I loved to choose and see my path but now, lead thou me on. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Lords Kingdom once again on this earth. Come unto him and find anything and everything you need. I know it. I love it. I  LOVE ALL OF YOU SO VERY MUCH!  Do the best you can!

This week was tough...Heavenly Father is in charge!

Fair warning- This one will be shorter I have 20 minutes and I will try!
   OKAY. SO... Christmas time is the best time in the world!! Unless you are trying to share the true meaning of Christmas with people. Then they just hate you. As most of you have probably seen, we have a new video from the Church, "HE is the Gift". What is the real reason we celebrate Christmas? Gifts are great; don't get me wrong, But our Father in Heaven gave us the ultimate gift! How could the Father show the world, of Sacrifice, of Death? He sent his Son to die for US, and rise, with living breath. This Christmas, we should all remember him as we are going about our way, shopping and what not. It's easier said then done that's for sure, But it is worth it. As I have been out here on my Mission I have realized this. God loves us so much, that he has a plan for us, The plan doesn't end after this life! Families can be FOREVER! Who wouldn't want that!?
   This week was tough. I had so many doubts about myself. What am I doing? How is it even possible for me to make a difference with these people I talk to? Why does Heavenly Father want me here to do this? Well I know, that Heavenly Father LOVES me. He knows me, he knows what I need, when I need it, and who needs to be placed in my path. This week I am turning over the reigns. He can handle this. I can't on my own. Heavenly Father is in charge.
   Our week overall seems like a normal week. We taught and met people. Tried to help, had meetings, ate food. mm food. (Sister Dias will put anyone to shame when it comes to eating let me tell you. That girl can eat.(mom's note: she doesn't mean this in a bad way, she admires her!)
   Monday was nothing too special, more chair football. I love chair football. It's so much fun. Did Email. Family Home Evening.
   Tuesday we had Exchanges so I went over to Irvine with Sister Montgomery. She is so sweet. We met a drunk guy named John and he told us we could come back if we brought a friend with us. We chapped doors and visited with some less active members. We also had a Book of Mormon class. It was pretty great. (But I came back home really sick).
   Wednesday we did some volunteering at the Charity shop again, peeled more stickers off. And We went to a wedding! So sweet! Sister Dias and I decided we are going to be at every single wedding possible.
   Thursday was WAY too busy, so many things to do, people to see, buses to catch. Aye so stressful.
   Sunday was SO GREAT! Fast and Testimony. This Church is SO TRUE! I love it! I love you all SO much! ~~ Sister Stribling
(mom note: yup, Friday was not  posted so ....  Also there wasn't any pics sent with this email.  She was only able to do a short time in the Library for some reason but it's ok!  We can get the idea and feel her love no matter how long or short her emails are.)

Reposting a pic of their humble little tree!  Don't forget to check out "He is the Gift" video!

What a week! Had the flu Friday-Saturday, All better on Sunday, had my 1st baptism too!

Well let me tell you, Heavenly Father knows who we are. 

This week seemed like it was never going to end. It was torture each day it felt like. But as I look back on this week, it was AMAZING. 

     Monday we went shopping(which is so horrible each week. I don't know how shopping can be so difficult but trust me it is.) Then we came home cleaned up put everything away, went to the library, played chair football (So each player has a chair they are gaurding and there is one soccer ball in the middle of the court, everyone tries to kick the ball at your chair and if it touches you are out) Pretty much the best game ever invented. Then we had a Family Home Evening at the church, had Pizza, and did indexing. 

     Tuesday we did family history! SO MUCH FUN! I love it. After that we had lunch and I helped Sister Dias with her Language study. She is getting so great with her english. In this weeks letter I will be starting a section that is titled *The best thing Sister Dias said all week* In this week it was "I will miss this when we die. Eat. Mm so good."

We had a meeting with our ward mission leader and then we taught (our investigator) Michael. 

     Wednesday we started to volunteer at a charity shop. This week we were taking off stickers from DVD's and CD's. Now let me tell you, if you are ever bored, peeling stickers for an hour is the best way to fix that. We got cancelled on:( and then taught Michael again (For the last time before he is baptised)

     Thursday we had our weekly planning and I was feeling pretty down about how everything is going and just how I feel. Well, I got the perfect letter from Sister Ashton on Thursday. We think we know what the Lords plan is in the beginning. But as it goes on, we realize we have no idea what he is doing with us until he is done. I don't know for sure why I am here, but I know that the Lord knows why. He wants me here to help someone and I will be here willing to help as much as I can. 

     Friday and Saturday-- I GOT THE FLU! I don't know how but I was almost dying. Sister Dias was taking care of me though. She is so sweet, she made me soup and nasty tea that she made me drink.  But golly on Sunday I was not even a little sick. It was amazing! Oh also, on Saturday we found a dead Squirrel on the road, Froze it and put it in one of the Elders bags. LOL! he wasn't too happy... Revenge is on its way(that's what his companion told us)

     Sunday we had a great day at church and an even better day after our investigator Michael was BAPTISED! He is the best! We love him so much. He was so happy and we were all crying and a huge mess but it was amazing. 

I love you all and hope everything is going well! THINGS ARE GOING GREAT HERE! LOVE YOU ALL! ~Sister Stribling

Elder Gibson and Housely with Lizzy Sister Dias and I with Michael and Elder Browning and Sister Browning

Sister Dias and I with Michael, No one can look at the same camera. LOL

View at your own risk. We gave this Squirrel to Elder Zander,but he didn't like his present. :(