I'm on an Island :) (6/16/2014)

This week started with me saying my final goodbyes. Here's my precious Abi! She's so cute, and I'm going to miss her so much. She even got me some flowers! <3

 

 

My last time going to physiotherapy with Sister Petersen!

 

Saying goodbye to my friend Destiny <3

 

This is Deeanna who's son just got hip surgery. He has cerebral palsy. It went well and he's getting his other hip done at the end of the month! Please pray for this family for me <3

 

Saying goodbye to Emily and Brad :')

 

Throwing away my first pair of nasty missionary shoes!

 

Goodbye Sister Petersen! <3 

 

My whole MTC district was at the Transfer meeting! Woot woot :)

 

Me and my new comp: Sister Jolie. We had to ride a ferry to get here!

 

 

This was a crazy, exciting week! I really don't even know where to begin. I was able to say goodbye to some people at the beginning of the week. I miss Richmond SO much, but I'm excited to be in a new area. Thursday was so bitter-sweet. It was President and Sister Tilleman's last transfer meeting. It was one of the most spiritual meetings I have ever been too. We started out with every missionary going up to shake President and Sister Tilleman's hands. Missionaries had already started crying by then, along with the Tillemans. We had a wonderful last training from them, and I am just so grateful for them. President and Sister Tilleman are my heroes, and I'm so thankful for the influence they have had on me. I love them so much! 

 

Then in the afternoon, we took a ferry to Nanaimo. We stayed the night with the sisters in Qualicum Beach. I found out about this famous place called "Goats on Roof." That pretty much describes the Island. People are so relaxed here and love nature. I'm so excited! 

 

Friday we drove up to Courtenay. It's so beautiful! Mountains and trees and the beach are close by. The people are so wonderful! We were able to go to a general women's broadcast on Friday night for all women ages 8 and up in British Columbia. There were a lot of inspirational messages and uplifting stories shared. I love the women of the church <3

 

Saturday, we had our first coordination meeting with our ward mission leader and his wife. They both served missions in California! Apparently, our ward mission leader served with someone from Sammamish because he remembered the name. We went out in the bonnies to contact a referral, and she wasn't home. So we tracted out in the bonnies in the afternoon. Reminded me of Vanderhoof! 

 

I had my first Sunday here! The ward is wonderful. I was already asked to speak next Sunday...oh joy! This area is just going to explode! I know that we will see so many miracles.

 

I love the gospel! I love being a missionary! Write me letters! 

 

Love,
Sister Struempler

Transfer news! I'm going to Vancouver Island!! (6/9/2014)

First of all...Here's my new mailing address:

Sister Struempler

1820 Tull Ave

Courtenay, B.C.

V9N 5W6

Canada

So this week has been CRAZY! It started out with Sister Petersen's birthday! She turned 21 on June 3rd! Woot woot! We had the opportunity to celebrate with some members and our recent converts. 

Emily took us to this Taiwanese restaurant. So many new foods that I've never had before!!

 

 

 

This is mango pudding...if you look carefully you can see that it's shaped like Hello Kitty.

 

 

We also got to see Prince Charming's sword from Once Upon A Time. That was pretty awesome!!

 

 

 

On Thursday, we got to teach this new Filipino lady named Josephine. She isn't happy with the Catholic church and their traditions. She doesn't understand why they do a lot of things. So, we were able to bring Maricel and it was such an amazing lesson! The spirit was so strong as Maricel bore her testimony as a brand new member of the church. Josephine was so touched and is now reading the Book of Mormon and wants to meet with us again. 

 

We also had the opportunity to teach this part-member family about the gospel. As we started teaching the plan of salvation, it brought tears to this woman's eyes. She thought that it was over for her. She had lost hope of ever going to the celestial kingdom. What we were able to share with her is that there is ALWAYS hope. We can always repent and feel God's love again. We are never too lost to come back. God will always accept us with open arms. It was so amazing to see her countenance change as she was able to gain some hope!!

 

​On Sunday, we got to decorate a senior couple's door because it was the senior sister's Birthday! hehe! yay for living in the same apartment complex as them!

 

 

 

Sunday was crazy; we had church as usual. We had a potluck barbeque afterwards and were able to invite a lot of friends to come!  We had an array of Filipino food, Chinese food, and .... fresh crab! Caught by someone in the ward.

 

 

 

 

 

View of the Vancouver airport!

 

 

 

I was able to say goodbye to Deonne. I'm going to miss her and Bowen so much! Yay for technology so we can always keep in touch with our friends <3

 

 

 

So, that's just a small portion of my crazy week! More to come this next week! Next time you hear from me, I'll be on the Island! Love you all! The church is true! God loves you so much! 

Sincerely,

Sister Struempler 

Professional Movers (6/2/2014)

So along with being the Richmond taxi service and the Richmond missionary hotel, we are now the Richmond professional movers. Okay, not really, but this week we moved apartments! Let me start with Monday....

 

Monday was Pday! We went shopping a bit, which is always fun. We also got our hair cut by a lady in the ward, for FREE! Yay for having nice hair again :) We also were able to have FHE with two families in the ward on Monday night. We know almost everyone in the ward who lives in Richmond now!!

 

Tuesday we went to Ladner and visited some of the single ladies in the ward, because they've only had Elders in Ladner for the past while. We're trying to figure out everyone in the ward, and it's always a fun adventure when we knock on a door and the ward member moved 3 years ago. But, somebody has to do it, and we are happy to be of service! 

 

We also had an an amazing experience teaching this lady named Deeanna. She is first nations and is willing to put the horrible experiences her ancestors had with christianity behind her to learn more about the gospel. We explained our purpose as missionaries and had an amazing lesson with her. The spirit was so strong, and I just knew that I had to invite her to be baptized. She said yes! The only issue is that one of her sons has cerebral palsy and is getting hip surgery tomorrow. He's going to be in the hospital for 14 days, so we don't know if we'll be able to meet with her and teach her. Please pray for Deeanna and her son as they are going through this hard experience. I know that with the Lord, everything is possible.

 

Wednesday we had district meeting, which is always fun. I love learning and growing with the sisters in my district. We had some appointments with some of the elderly women in our ward in the afternoon. Old people are just so cute! :) haha! Then we went finding and taught our recent convert Maricel. 

 

Wednesday night, we got a call from a lady in our ward who moved last Friday. She asked if we could come help her clean on Thursday, and we said yes of course! It was so fun to talk with them and clean together. This couple both served their missions in England and the husband was actually the wife's district leader at one point. What a small world! haha :) They told us a bunch of mission stories, which of couse I LOVE!

 

Then we drove back to our apartment to do some weekly planning, when we got the call saying that we were moving apartments. We had to pack as fast as we could, so that we could be ready to move on Friday. In the evening, we got to teach the cutest Chinese lady who works at an ice cream shop. She's not interested, because she's buddhist, but we got some free ice cream! hehe :)

 

On Friday, we had the moving elders come and they moved all of our furniture. After that, we had to move all of our personal stuff, kitchen stuff, and food. We still aren't done yet, but we did get most of it moved. We are kind of in a limbo between two apartmetns at the moment. 

 

Saturday we went to the outskirts of Richmond and taught a really cool family. They are so truth seeking, but the only problem is that they're super busy. The husband's name is Bo and his wife is Ivy. They have two cute kids and are both from China. They really want to come to church and learn more about God. We can't wait to teach them again! It's not for two weeks, so pray that they will be prepared to learn more!! Thank you :)

 

Sunday we had a Canada wide stake conference. It was really cool because they had the Relief Society General President speak, Elder Holland, Elder Eyring, and one other General Authority. I love hearing the words of our inspired leaders! Deeanna was able to come to church (for the very first time) and she loved it! I hope that she will keep coming and learning more!

 

Then afterwards, we had a picnic with some of the members in our ward. I love how diverse our ward is, because there are so many cultures in Richmond! We also were able to go to Tawassen to visit a couple members that night. I could see the U.S. Border. It was so weird!! 

 

I know that this church is true and that it changes lives. The gospel is so imporant to know about and I thank God every day that I am privledged to know about it. It's so imporant that we share it with our friends and family so that we can help them come to the knowledge of our Savior. Have a wonderful week! Write me letters!

Sincerely,

Sister Struempler