August 5th, 2013

Family!
I hope you all had a great week. Thank you for all your prayers and love. I felt it more this week than ever. Change is difficult, but I know that the Lord needs me here in Austin. I'm ready to find the elect! I'm getting to know the members better and we're really working hard with our investigators. Isaac is 12. His family was inactive for awhile but they come to church every week now and we've been teaching him. He's getting baptized on Saturday! We are really excited. He's the funniest little kid.
Hermana Rodriguez and I are continuing to understand each other better day by day. (The fact that I HAVE to speak Spanish in order for her to understand me, is completely humbling. I'm so thankful though because I know it will help me learn to speak it better) She is hilarious and we get along great.  
I am overwhelmed with the love and support of all of you this week. My prayers were answered in so many ways. All of your letters, cards, and packages made me cry haha Especially when Dylan sent me a little stuffed Giraffe. She wrote in a card "Thanks for serving a mision. hug this giraf when you get lonly. i love you marissa. your still my favorit aunt" I was amazed by how much love and motivation it brought me. The simple words of a 7 year old picked me up and helped me to get over the sometimes discouraging effects of missionary work. All my nieces and nephews are such a strength to me. I pray that I can be an example to them. I know that this church is true. I see broken families, and teenagers who don't have a relationship with God. It breaks my heart. It makes me even more grateful for the family I have and the opportunity we have to live together for eternity. 
We are blessed to have the Gospel in our lives. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know He loves me. and He loves each one of you. We have a loving Heavenly Father whom we can turn to in prayer. He will always help us. I have gained a greater testimony of prayer than anything else on my mission. I am constantly amazed at the power of prayer. It is real. He hears us.
I love you all and hope you have a great week!!
Hermana Egbert
p.s. American Idol auditions are in Austin this week :) 

hermana paulsen.. she is my favorite! the cutest old lady in the world. she served a mission on her own, one with her 
husband, and another service one!

frying tortillas with hermana de la cerda.. mmm nothin like a little grease :)

dad sent me a can of "nuts"... A SNAKE! haha i totally got hit in the face.

This package saved my life this week! from dad and from londyn dilly and harper.. Dilly sent me a giraffe and wrote a note that said "Thanks for going on a mision.hug this giraf when you get lonly" ahh i was bawling. that alone made me want to work so much harder. to set an example for my nieces and nephews. i love you all so much :) 
and yes dad, you got me with the snake and the mouse!