December 23rd, 2013

Familia!
      Feliz Navidad esta semana! Espero que ustedes esten teniendo una buena Navidad juntos. Estoy muy contenta para poder hablar con ustedes esta semana. 
      We have seen miracles this week! The Lord truly is blessing us more than we can explain. I talked about Elgin last week i think, the little city just outside of Austin.. Well we have received countless referrals and have had members offering their homes to us to hold family night with their non member neighbors! It has been amazing. 
      We had Christmas Conference this week, so we all headed to San Antonio. We had an amazing conference with President Slaughter and learned so many things as we studied Luke 2 and how great of a woman Mary truly was. We then moved into the gym for a few hours as missionaries sang, played instruments, did skits, and other talents. President Slaughter came up to Hermana King and I and asked if we were still doing our "TSAM Rap"? It wasn't on the program.. so we said we would love to, and as soon as the program was done, they announced that they had one more special act. We closed the day with our TSAM Rap that we had written about the mission.. everyone loved it!
     We have two investigators with baptismal dates right now. Desmond, he's a ten year old, that lives in Elgin (His grandpa is the second counselor in the bishopbric) will be baptized January 4th. We also have been teaching Luis. He lives with a family that was baptized a few weeks before I came to this area. La Familia Banda. They are incredible! Hermano Banda's friend, Luis, moved in with them right after they were baptized and the Banda's have been fellowshipping him like crazy. We asked Luis to give the closing prayer on Wednesday and in it he said.. "Heavenly Father.. i'm starting to know this church is true. I can feel it in my heart. Thank you for sending these angels to my house. I know i need to be baptized." The Spirit was so strong in that moment! He is going to be baptized on the 4th of January tambien. 
   We had an activity with the ward Saturday night that went really well. Our bishop is incredible. He is a great example of humility. We all dressed up like the times of Jesus' Birth, ate food from those times and ate on the ground as we sang Christmas songs. Our bishop was dressed up like a wiseman and talked to every person as he went around from blanket to blanket as the families sat on the ground. It really got me thinking in the joy of Christmas. As I serve others, I know I am only serving my Father in Heaven. What a better way to serve than to bring the joyous message of the Restoration to those who don't know. I am so grateful to be a missionary! 
   As I played the organ in sacrament meeting yesterday, I thought of Dad's stories on his mission.. playing hymns in catholic cathedrals. The spirit was very present in the meeting yesterday and I am continually thankful for this time of year to celebrate our Savior's birth. Without Christ's birth, we would have no Savior, no Atonement, no way to return to live with our Father in Heaven and our families forever.. Por eso estoy bien agradecida por esta oportunidad para compartir este mensaje con las personas aqui. Se que Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador. Estoy agradecida que yo puedo vivir con ustedes para siempre. Los quiero mucho!! Tangan una buena Navidad.. y nos hablamos el Miercoles. 
   Con Amor,
Hermana Egbert

P.S. thanks for all the packages and letters! Ya'll are the best.

Luis, Hermana King, y Yo

Hermana King and I at Christmas Conference, yes.. we were the only ones dressed up :) We got so many weird looks

thanks for the packages!! i'm going to die. 

Hermana Brooks - ward activity

haha 

we went to an old folks home on exchanges this week.. i cried cause i thought of grandma. it made me happy though to be able to cheer them up :)

Welcome to Elgin.. haha

Brown Business (Desmond's family's donkey)

Desmond's little sister Evi.. she's so cute! (my eyelids broke out in a rash from my eyeshadow.. so they're peeling and i look disgusting- hence the glasses)

December 16th, 2013

Familia!
  We have had an incredible week. The work is progressing more than
before here in Austin. Our ward boundaries is all of North Austin and
goes East until Manor and Elgin. Two small cities with very few
members. Elgin is about 25 miles east of where we normally work and
has hardly been worked at all by missionaries. We have felt many
promptings to go out and see what there is. We went and visited the
three members that live out there and received 7 referrals and a new
investigator in one day! La Familia Hernandez lives out there and the
dad is the second counselor in the bishopbric. As we talked with
Hermana Hernandez, we asked her what we could do for her.. she said
"baptize my grandson" Claro que si!! The field is WHITE and we are
sowing and reaping with all our might. We went to church yesterday and
the bishop hugged me because he was so happy that Hermana King and I
are going to work in this little town. There's so much potential and
we are excited to get to work!
  Just one of the many miracles that happened in Elgin this week, was
we had driven the english speaking missionaries out there with us so
that they could work the area as well. They brought their bikes and we
started off trying to find a family that spoke both english and
spanish.. as we got lost on a dirt road, a mini van passed us and i
said "I think that's hermana hernandez!" we follwed her and she pulled
up to a house. When she got out of the car and asked her if she knew
where the family lived.. (the ones we were looking for) she said "this
is it! it's my daughter's house" We got out of the car and taught her
entire family! we found over 12 less actives and 6 non members, just
within their family. We have a family home evening scheduled with them
all this week. How amazing!
  I love the mission. It's a little strange though.. it doesn't feel
that much like Christmas. We've been listening to Christmas hymns and
making gingerbread cookies, but it's only when we are testifying of
Jesus Christ that i truly feel the joy of the season. I know that it's
because He is the only reason of the season. Our Savior is the Savior
of the world. He lived and died for you and me. I am so grateful for
Him and for this gospel. I invite you all to give a Book of Mormon to
someone for Christmas. Share with them, what you have. I know that
this gospel truly is the best gift that anyone could ever receive.  I
love you all and hope you are having a wonderful holiday season. I
pray that you can focus on the real meaning of the season. Our Savior
Jesus Christ.
Have a great week!! I love you all!!!

And to my siblings.. thanks for all the packages! ya'll are the best
hermanos en todo el mundo!! (my companion loves the packages too)

Con Amor,
Hermana Egbert

Patrick, Ashley and Melissa- i'll tell you their story next week! :)

the donkeys in Elgin! merry christmas!

December 9th, 2013

Familia!
    We have had an incredible week. We're both finally feeling a little better. One of us gets better then the other one gets sick again. Luckily we have Robitussin and cough drops :) This week we stopped by a recent convert. Her name is Andrea and she's ten years old. She was baptized about 3 weeks ago. Her mom has been less active and is returning to activity. We got to talking and she said her sister lives in Eagle Pass.. Hermana Velez! I gave her (Andrea's mom) the biggest hug! Her other sister, who is also in our ward has a husband who isn't a member. So I was able to call Hermana Velez in Eagle Pass and tell her that I'm working with both her sisters here in Austin. It was so great to talk to her. Later that night, we went to a referral we received from a member in the ward. As we started talking, the mom told us she's a member! She was baptized when she was 15 and hasn't been to church since. Her sister lives in Riverside (My last ward).. what a small world! I know that Heavenly Father places us where we need to be, at the perfect time. 
   We went to MLC (Mission Leadership Conference) In San Antonio this week. All the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders attend this meeting once a month. We then, in turn, teach the missionaries during Zone Conference. It was incredible! President Slaughter is truly called of God. His teachings and testimony inspire us all. He taught about the Light of Christ, The Spirit, and the Holy Ghost and the role each one of them plays in our lives. I learned so much. I love the scriptures. They contain the truthfulness of this Gospel!
    We went on exchanges this week with the Riverside sisters. (My most recent area) It was a great experience to be able and go back to the area that I just left. We taught lots of lessons and saw miracles! Akemy was so excited when we showed up at her door. She told us she's going to get married asap because she wants to be baptized! I love to see how the gospel changes people. When they know it's true, there is nothing that can stop them. I'm so thankful for the opportunity I have to go on exchanges and learn from other sisters. 
    I put out my shoes the night of the 5th and Sinterklaas found me in Austin! He brought be candy and stroup wafels.. yum!
   The Christmas Devotional last night was incredible! I hope you all got a chance to watch it. I loved singing Silent Night at the end. I pray that we can all find something to give Him this Christmas season. 
   President Slaughter called me this morning and told me about Grandpa. I have been filled with peace these past few weeks, and today, more than ever, I am beyond grateful for the Plan of Salvation. I am so grateful for Grandpa's example and love he showed to each one of us. I know that there's no better place for me to be right now, than on my mission. Sharing the knowledge we have about eternal families. I am so thankful for OUR eternal family. I know that grandpa is in peace now.. where has been "taken home to that God who gave [him] life." and that he is in "a state of happiness.. a state of rest.. a state of peace.. where [he] shall rest from all troubles and from all care and sorrow." (Alma 40:11-12)  I love grandpa. He was, and is, an incredible man who loved the Savior. I'm going to miss him sneaking up behind me and sticking my pigtails in my ears but I know that he is with me and cheering me on as I go forth and share the Gospel. It's like one of my favorite scriptures in D & C "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you to bear you up." I pray that each of you can find the peace and comfort that I have through the love and the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for each one of you. Thank you for the love and prayers you send my way. I love you!!!
  Con Amor,
      Hermana Egbert

Hermana King and I eating treats from Sinterklaas :) 

 La familia Cortez and their HLJ rings!

last p day it was 85 degrees.. and now it's 30.

"heel to the stars" -dad

all the 10 month mark sisters together

exchanges! no idea why it looks like it's snowing.. it wasnt. 

December 2nd, 2013

Familia!!
    I hope everyone had an awesome week and a great thanksgiving! It
was a sad start to the week, saying goodbye to all the members and
investigators, but Thursday morning came around and I was looking
forward to meeting my new companion. We had breakfast planned with
Akemy at 8 am so that we could get to the chapel in North Austin by
10. After loading up the car, we put my bike on the back and headed to
Akemy's. As we were driving on the freeway.. i looked in the rear view
mirror and my bike flew off the bike rack! I had no idea what to do.
Hermana Done and I decided to turn back around and go get it. It only
took us 5 minutes to get off the exit, head southbound, then get back
on the freeway to try and go find my bike. When we went back, it
wasn't there.. just two tires and a broken bike rack. Hopefully i'm in
a car area the rest of my mission!
    We went to Akemy's and had breakfast and I said goodbye. We
headed to transfer meeting and Hermana Done and I sang "Because I have
been given much" Afterwards, call outs started..I am with Hermana
King!!!! She's also a Sister Training Leader. We started our missions
at the same time. She's from Alpine and we have lots of mutual
friends. More importantly, she's a hard worker. Our area is in North
Austin and the ward is Lake Austin. I'm so excited to be companions
with her!
    We headed to our dinner appointment for Thanksgiving dinner with
the Overa's. The table was set with namecards and napkins that said
"gobble gobble" It reminded me of being at home. We ate turkey, chile
relleno, frijoles, sweet potatoes, and rice. It was a mix of both
American thanksgiving and a Mexican fiesta. Hermana King and I made
the whipped cream and were so excited to eat the pumpkin pie!! They
brought it out after dinner.. I took one bite of it and looked at
Hermana King. She tried it and put her fork down. Something wasn't
right. We had to finish it to be polite.. I think she forgot to cook
the pie. Afterwards, we stopped by Hermana King's Less-Active uncle's
house for pie. We have permission from President Slaughter to teach
him and his nonmember kids. It was great to have some American Pumpkin
Pie.. just like mom's :)
  That night we felt sick.. We spent the next 2 days in the apartment
with the flu. We've been going crazy not being able to work We looked
over teaching records, planned, set goals, slept, we were literally
going stir crazy just wanting to get out and work. It was definitely
cabin fever haha but thankfully yesterday, we were able to get out of
the house and go to church then teach lots of lessons. I love the area
already. The field is WHITE and we're ready to work.
    I am so thankful for each of you. I love the mission. I am
thankful for my new assignment and am letting my Heavenly Father
change me into the daughter He wants me to be. This church is true.
Jesus Christ is the head of it. And we have the priesthood power on
the earth today. Have a great week!! I love you all!!

P.S Conner and Britton.. happy birthday!!

Con Amor,
    Hermana Egbert

cabin fever

thanksgiving at the Overa's

goodbye to la familia carrillo

saying goodbye to hermana gonzalez

hermana guajardo

goodbye's with akemy

November 25th, 2013

Familia!!

   How are ya'll? It's getting super cold here. Maybe i'm just used to the Texas heat and now that it's Utah weather, but i'm freezing! We had a great week. Lots of tender mercies and many miracles. President called us last night and told us our new assignments. I'm being transferred and becoming a Sister Training Leader. Hermana Done will stay here and receive her new comp that will finish training her. So ya'll can send letters and anything else to the mission office this week until I get my new address :)

   On Wednesday, Elder Golden, from the 70 came and held a conference with our mission. It was incredible! A few other missionaries and I, sang in a quartet, "More Holiness Give Me." It was a great way to invite the spirit to the meeting. We received great instruction and training from Elder Golden and his sweet wife. They are from South Africa and have thick English accents. It was an incredible experience. I had the opportunity of talking to him afterwards and asked him a few questions. We are so blessed to have leaders called of God that lead and guide this wonderful church. 

   Thursday morning we got a call from Hermano Meza. He invited us over for breakfast. It was suuuuper cold that morning so we bundled up and headed over to their house. They set a bowl of soup in front of us and we put onion and oregano and limon in the soup. We started eating.. It didn't taste that good, but i just smiled and kept eating. Their son walked out of his room and Hermano Meza said "Quieres menudo?" I dropped my spoon and asked them.. "estoy comiendo menudo???" They both started laughing so hard. I, now, have officially eaten cow intestine. Haha 

   Friday we did an exchange with our Sister Training Leaders. We had a lesson with Akemy.. she told us "I want to get married so that I can get baptized. Then we'll get sealed in the temple. That's what would bring me the most joy right now." I sat there in shock. The spirit testified to each of us, the truthfulness of this Gospel and the plan that Heavenly Father has for each of His children. Earlier in the week, Hermana Done and I had taught Akemy a lesson and she wrote us a letter.. she read it to us and it was all about how grateful she is that we knocked her door 3 months ago and offered her this "new hope" and this "true church." She testified of the Book of Mormon. We all were teary eyed as she finished reading the letter and said how grateful she is for Jesus Christ. It was incredible. 

    Saturday the elders in our district had a 2 baptisms. Alan and Akemy and Ambar came! They loved it. The spirit, again, reaffirmed the truthfulness and divinity of this Gospel. Afterwards, Akemy pulled me aside and said "Hermana, you can't leave, you'll break my heart. I want to be baptized." I told her that even if I were to get transferred, I could come back for her baptism. She smiled and gave me a huge hug. I sometimes wonder if it's too good to be true. She and her family are incredible and love this Gospel so much! 

   Last night we had another lesson with Alan and Akemy and Ambar. We read about the 2000 stripling warriors. They loved it! Ambar, she's 6, was reading the scriptures and said the opening prayer. They told us they're planning their wedding! For springtime.. then they want to get baptized right after. We'll make it happen before then :) Akemy asked if she could say the closing prayer. As we knelt in their small apartment, Akemy began to pray. She thanked Heavenly Father for everything she has. I felt Heavenly Father's love come over me, stronger than before. This work is true. Miracles do happen. This week, count your blessings. We have so much to be thankful for. I know that for me, our family, and this gospel are on the top of my list. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for each one of us. Let us be instruments in His hands and help him spread His gospel. I love you all and am SO thankful for each one of you. It's hard to be away at this time of year, but to be able to share this Gospel makes is all worth it. 

   I thank my Father in Heaven each day for the opportunity I have to be a missionary. I love this work. I look forward to finding more people in a new area and sharing the message of the Gospel with them. 

   Have a great week and enjoy thanksgiving! Don't miss me too much :)
I love you all more than you know!

Con Amor,

   Hermana Egbert

Alan, Akemy, Ambar y yo

Hermano y Hermana Meza y yo.. con mi menudo

Judy Meza and I

Sister King, me and Sister Hill at Zone Conference

La familia de la cerda...sisters. i love them!

Freezing cold...i look like a zebra

La Familia Martinez. They are hilarious. He is the first counselor in the obispado 

Remember when I was matching outfits with Adimary? This is her sister Limary...we were matching yesterday!

Hermana Guajardo...She made the headbands I'm going to send to Rybear, Dilly, Londyn and Harper

On exchanges with Sister King...Hermana Castillo-love her!

November 18th, 2013

Familia!

Wow.. i dont even know where to start.. 

  Transfer calls are Sunday night.. so i'll let you know next week if i'm staying or going!

   Rylee.. Good luck at your baptism this week. I'm so proud of you! You'll do great. 

   Tuesday, we had piano lessons and tons of people came. We had 4 investigators there and 2 other non members that came with their friends. We got home that night and as we were finishing our prayer, there was a knock at the door.. Papa Johns? "I have a delivery from your brother in Tennessee" hahah how awesome is that! Thanks Jon for the pizza.. it was so good!

     We have been meeting with Akemy almost everyday now. I love her! She's the sweetest girl and truly wants to know our Heavenly Father. She called us Friday morning and asked what time we were coming to see her. She said she wanted to talk to us. We told her we would come right now, so we did. She made us breakfast and we talked with her and shared scriptures. She is incredible. Her family and friends don't understand why she meets with us, but she knows that what we teach is true. She then asked us to come back the next day. 

     After weeks of praying and trying to find someone to drive Hermana Done and I to the temple in San Antonio, we finally received an answer to our prayers. I talked to Hermana Gonzalez about how I have been wanting to go really bad. She offered to take us! We were able to attend the temple Saturday morning. It was incredible. It was the first time I've been since I've been out. I cried as I walked in. The Temple truly is the house of the Lord. I know that there is power in His Holy Temples and we can partake of it as we attend the temple. Make it a priority. 

   We got back to Austin around 2 and didn't have lessons until 4. We had this feeling like we should go see Akemy, but she lives a little bit out of the way so we decided to call her first. She didn't answer. We tried again, no answer. We pulled over and said a prayer. In the middle of the prayer, the phone rang. I opened one eye and it was Akemy! We both looked at eachother.. "Gracias! Amen." She sounded really sick when she answered. She said she had just been stung by a bee and that she's deathly allergic. The clinic she normally goes to was closed because it was Saturday so she didn't know what to do. We asked if the elders could come give her a blessing and she said yes. We met at her house right away and she couldn't feel her left arm and her throat was starting to swell. We explained how the Priesthood blessing would work and then the elders arrived. They gave her a blessing then we left. Later that night, she texted us and said "Hermanas, me siento mejor. Es como nada hubiera pasado.." (I feel better.. .It's like nothing ever happened." I am so thankful for the priesthood and for a loving Heavenly Father who is so aware of His children. It truly was a miracle.

     Sunday, Akemy texted us and said that Alan didn't have a tie, nor did he know how to tie one. We told her he didn't need to wear one and she responded with "Ya Vamos!!" They came to church! They really liked it. We had an incredible sacrament meeting and the spirit was really strong. Ambar, their 6 year old daughter, loved primary too :) Altogether, we had 5 investigators at church. 

    We truly have seen miracles this week. I feel like the Sons of Mosiah when they said that "they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any should should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble" (MSH 28:3) This work is oh so true. It's necessary. I love it. I know that God loves us. That He is aware of us. And that this is His true Church. I am so thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jesus Christ is our Savior. We are not alone, He has felt everything we go through. Call upon Him. Go to the temple. Live worthy of the Spirit. I love you all!! Have a great week!

Con Amor,

Hermana Egbert

Britney is a member who is preparing to serve a mission as soon as she graduates :)

Hermana Gonzalez took us out to dinner at Taco Cabana

Ernesto and his saint.. with a halo made of painters tape.. haha

San Antonio Temple! Hermana Done, Hermana Gonzalez y yo

Alex.. we're teaching his family. He's the funniest little boy!

todo es mas grande en tejas.. un tren

Judy Meza y yo

templo

November 11th, 2013

Familia!!
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAM!!!
 This week was crazy.. 
    There have been a lot of rainstorms here and due to them, there was flooding in a subdivision in our area. Three streets of homes were completely covered in water. There were two deaths and cars that had been carried away in the water and left three miles down the street.  I felt like deja vu from being in Eagle Pass.. We grabbed our Mormon Helping Hands vests and got to work! Most of the families lost everything. The people were so thankful for our service. And once again, I realized the importance of the things that matter most. It made me so thankful for our family and this Gospel.
     We had a lesson with Akemy and Alan this week.. We have been trying to teach them about marriage and the importance of an eternal family but every time we have it planned, either the spirit guides us to teach something else, or they have questions about the Book of Mormon/their readings. We went with the intention of reading the chapter that we had left with them the previous time, but as we sat down, Akemy said "Aren't we going to talk about the proclamation?" She has been asking us about that ever since she came to piano lessons and saw it hanging up in the church. We immediately pulled out our copy of "La Familia: Una Proclamacion al Mundo." She pulled it up online and we started reading together. We had Hermana Guajardo with us, she's a member in our ward who lost her husband to cancer about a year ago. She bore powerful testimony of the peace and comfort that comes from the covenants she and her husband made in the temple. After we read the proclamation, Akemy said "I like this a lot.. the only thing we're missing is we're not legally married" We sat there in silence, letting the Spirit guide us what to say, and before we could say anything, Akemy and Alan looked at each other and said "we need to get married." The spirit filled the room! I couldn't believe it. I added my testimony of how grateful I am for my family and the knowledge of this Gospel. I felt so much love and appreciation for each of you. Alan and Akemy are going to get married! She told us afterwards that her family has been questioning her on "Why she meets with the mormons" and she told them she feels comfortable when we are there and she knows that the things we teach are true. She also told us that she doesn't let any other religion come in her house. Only us! Wow :)
    Last night we got a call from La Familia Carrillo. They have two darling girls and they invited us over to make donuts. Hermana Carrillo has been struggling a lot so we went over to try and cheer her up. She talked with Hermana Gonzalez as we made the donuts with her two daughters. She and her husband are going through a divorce and she told us that "Only this gospel" is getting her through. It made me think a lot.. only this gospel is really what truly matters.
    Our district sang in church yesterday "Divina Luz" (Lead Kindly Light). The Spirit was there and as we sang, I truly could feel my Father in Heaven's love. I love being able to feel the Spirit. Afterwards, we got a call from one of the Sister Training Leaders and she asked if I would sing in a quartet for our Mission Conference that we're going to have next week with Elder Golden of the Seventy. I was surprised they were wanting me to sing, but I accepted. Good thing I've been practicing by singing all my Christmas music! (I'm already counting down the days)
    I miss you all more than before. But this Gospel is true. And I love being a missionary. I am so thankful for families, for our family, and for the priesthood. I know that it is only through this Gospel, and the Priesthood that we can be sealed together as a family for eternity. Thank you for your examples, for your testimonies, and for your support. I feel of your prayers daily. 
    Con Amor,
  Hermana Egbert

PS.. i sent marielle a lot more pictures so look on the blog :)

Adamary Carillo and I at church.. matching outfits

Eva and I outside.. she had me try her chile plant.. it was the hottest pepper i've ever had 

Akemy y yo y hermana rodriguez

PROMISED LAND EGG NOG!!!! (without milk hahah)

flood

lizzie molina and me :)

dinner

donuts

CHECK THIS OUT!! i had to make a poster for our thanksgiving activity.. i'd say it looks like something mom would do! or grammy.. haha