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