Gone to San Antone...: January 2014

Monday, January 27, 2014

January 27th, 2014

Mi Familia!!
Another amazing week in Austin. Hermana King and I went on 3 exchanges with different sisters in our Zone this past week.. we were exhausted! There was a baptism in our ward on Saturday and we were in charge of the music. We were able to talk to Sister Winert, our Bishop's wife for a little while after. She's from Argentina and we love to talk to her. She's amazing.
We have two investigators with baptismal dates for February 8th.. Herminia and Hermano Gutierrez.
Herminia is amazing. I love her! I think I've talked about her before, but keep her in your prayers! Hermano Gutierrez is the only non-member in his family. They were attending the english speaking ward but they all speak Spanish and since he only speaks Spanish, they decided to make the change-now he's getting baptized!
We had ward conference yesterday. 8 of our investigators were there and each one of us felt the Spirit testify so strongly to us the truthfulness of this Gospel. Our Bishop gave a great talk to start off the meeting, followed by our Stake President who also gave a powerful talk about sharing the Gospel and our role in opening the door for others to know the truth. I love church. To be able to renew our covenants and feast upon the words of the Lord's servants each week is such an amazing opportunity! I love this ward. The people are amazing and are so humble and ready to help us in the work. Hermano Olvera pulled us aside after Sunday School and told us that he has a family that lives by him who wants to learn more about the Gospel. He was at their house last week until 3 in the morning and at the end, he asked if we could come and teach sometime and they said yes!
Last night Hermana King and I went and visited with a less active family who lives quite a ways away.. our plan was to go to Elgin afterwards to teach Desmond a new member lesson. We put it in the GPS and the only way we could get there was to take a Toll Road. We aren't supposed to do that, so we decided to take a little road that looked like it followed alongside the freeway. It started curving away from the freeway.. we began praying and asked Heavenly Father to help us find out where to go. It was dark and there were no lights around us. Suddenly there was a curve in the road, we followed it and it brought us back out to the Toll Road. We decided it would be worth it to pay the Toll and be safe. We thanked our Heavenly Father for helping us in that moment. I know that He hears our prayers. We finally arrived at the Martinez home and had a lesson with Desmond. After the lesson, Hermana Martinez told us that her brother and sister-in-law who we taught last week, showed up last night before dinner and asked where the missionaries were. They told them that they've been reading the Book of Mormon and that they want to join the church! We're going back Saturday. I love the Martinez family.
I feel like I am just barely beginning to understand the joy and blessings of missionary work. I have never been so happy, and so full of pure joy. This Gospel is true! This work is oh so necessary.. and I can't even begin to express my gratitude to the Lord for letting me serve in His vineyard! I have learned to love on my mission. These people need the Gospel! I love these people!!!
I'm so thankful for all of you! Have a great week! And Feel better! (mom told me ya'll are "sick and afflicted"). You're in my prayers :) Happy Birthday Paige!
I love you all!!
Con Amor,
Hermana Egbert

p.s. sorry that was a REALLY long e-mail! I'm just really happy!

La familia Martinez

Exchanges with Sister Greenall and Hermana Salisbury

Sister Greenall and I-it was freezing

Hermana Urbina and I

welcome to Austin haha

January 20th, 2014

Familia!
Wow.. I love being on a mission. Every single day we are blessed with so many miracles! Our investigators are progressing and 9 of them came to church yesterday!
We had an exchange with the sisters in Riverside this week. I was able to teach some old investigators and it was a humbling experience to see how much they have grown since I served among them. This work is amazing. While I was there we had a lesson with Akemy! We were so happy to see eachother :) She sat me down and told me.. "Hermana.. i'm going to be baptized! I want to do it more than anything." She and her husband are getting married in a few months then she says she's getting baptized right after!! Ambar, her daughter was there as well and says she can't wait to turn 8 so she can be baptized too! As Akemy was testifying, i was overwhelmed with the Spirit. What an incredible difference this Gospel has made in her life. I love it!
Sunday morning, Hermana King and I made some phone calls and got members involved to bring our investigators to church. We were on our way to go meet Hermana Aguilera so she could follow us to our investigators home. As we pulled into the trailer park, the Banda's (a recent convert family) were loading up their mini van, we honked and they all waved with big smiles on their faces :) We kept driving and as we arrived at La familia Aguilera's home, 5 members were outside all ready for church. Hermano Sanchez, (our ward mission leader) and his girlfriend, Hermana Castor, (our Young Women's president) walked out. Then Hermana Aguilera hopped in her car so she could follow us. The 2nd counselor in the Bishopric stopped us and asked if he could pick anyone up for us, then he invited us over for dinner this week. I'm not sure why, but the Spirit hit me so hard! I was filled with joy. To see all these faithful members involved in missionary work? Ah it's amazing! Hermana King and I looked at each other and just said "This is the Joy of Missionary work." (Este es gozo!) We then stopped by one more investigators home so she could follow us to church. It was an amazing sacrament meeting and we pray that our investigators thought the same.
We went to Elgin last night and had dinner with la familia Martinez. We helped Hermana Martinez make homemade tortillas then had a great dinner with all of them and 3 non members! We were able to give each of them a Book of Mormon and bear strong testimony of the truthfulness in it. The Martinez family is amazing. They are so strong and have such a desire to help us in the work.
I love this work. I love being a missionary. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that the Atonement is real. It's enabling power is real. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. It was written for us. Temples truly are the house of the Lord. We are so blessed to have this Gospel in our lives. Go share it!! Have a great week!! I love you all!

Con Amor,
Hermana Egbert

P.S. The mormon message.. Wrong Roads. Go look at it! It's amazing.

cooking gorditas with Herminia

sunsets in Austin

weekly planning

Hermana Gonzalez brought us shoes from Guatemala! - in Riverside ward..

Hermano Sanchez y Hermana Castor

Thursday, January 16, 2014

January 13th, 2014

Familia!

We had the busiest and most incredible week..
We headed to San Antonio Friday for a Mission Conference with Elder David A. Bednar. Wow. It was such a blessing to be in the presence of one of the Lord's Chosen. For three hours we were able to hear and talk with Elder Bednar. I can't put into words the power and the Spiritual experiences I had during the time with him. More than ever before, I know that God calls Prophets. I know that the Gospel is true. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Through our obedience we will receive blessings and joy. Our family can, and will live together forever as we honor our covenants.
Erika was baptized on Saturday! Her mom and sister are less active and she's been investigating the church for almost a year. The sisters stopped going by for awhile then she showed up at church one week and said "i'm ready to be baptized!" She hasn't missed a week since! She has the strongest testimony of the Book of Mormon. It was a very humble, and spiritual baptismal service.
Thursday night we got a call asking if we could speak in church on Sunday. It was from Elder Gifford Nielsen's talk "Hastening the Lord's Game Plan." I invite you all to read it. It is amazing. It was the coolest experience to be able to testify to the members about participating in the Lord's work, in another language. Hermana King and I have seen, first hand, the help of the Lord in learning Spanish. Hermana King wrapped up the meeting with the most powerful conversion story of her dad. There wasn't a dry eye in the chapel. She talked about being the answer to someone's prayer, as opposed to always praying for an answer. I love that. Referring back to a few things Elder Bendar spoke about.. We can and are, answers to peoples prayers. We just need to act. Say your prayers, then Go and do! Just like Nephi who "being led by the spirit, not knowing beforehand that which he should do" we, too, can follow the promptings of the Spirit and be the answer to someone else's prayer.
I know that this is Christ's true church. That it was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I am so thankful to be a missionary. I love sharing the Gospel. There's nothing better than being able to help someone realize who they are, and the plan that our Father in Heaven has for each one of His children! I pray for each of you constantly and know that the Lord hears our prayers. Thank you for your testimonies and examples. I love you all!! Have a great week!
Con Amor,
Hermana Egbert

Amy Santiago and her bunnies- we had dinner with her family in Elgin

Erika, Bishop Winert, Hermana King, all the kids :)

getting attacked by the kids haha

Friday, January 10, 2014

January 6th, 2014

Familia!
I hope you all had a great new year. A question came to my mind the other day that Dad always asks in his PPI's with us kids.. "Are you closer to Christ this year than you were last year?" I think that is a great resolution for each of us to work on. To be closer to our Savior each and every day. I know that as we do our best and put the Savior first, we will see a dramatic difference in our lives.
We have been spoiled spiritually this week.. We spent New Years Eve in Elgin with La familia Hernandez/Martinez. We had dinner and taught a lesson to the entire family afterwards. There were 5 non members, 8 less actives and 2 investigators there. It was a fun way to be able to teach them all together, as a family. Hermano Martinez bore powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon to his family. It was amazing. We went to MLC (Mission Leadership Council) on Friday and were uplifted and inspired by the words of President Slaughter. He truly is a man called of God. Afterwards we were able to attend the temple. It was such a peaceful and incredible opportunity. I pray that you make it a priority. I've never realized how blessed we are to live so close to so many of the Lord's Holy Temples. Don't take it for granted.
Saturday morning we printed off the programs and made cookies for Desmond Hernandez and Luis's baptism! Luis texted us telling us how nervous he was but said "I know it's what i need to do. I feel it in my heart." It was a great service and half the town of Elgin showed up! (La Familia Hernandez makes up most of the town).
The next day at church, Luis walked in in his suit and his cowboy boots. We had 2 baby blessings, as well as Desmond's and Luis's confirmations. One of the baby blessings was the Banda's youngest daughter, Melissa, who was born 3 weeks after their baptism. After Luis's confirmation he had the biggest smile on his face. He walked past us back to his bench and whispered "mission possible!" We have worked so hard with Luis. He's joked with us about how he would never get baptized (although he has known it's true since day one). What a joy it was to see him enter into the waters of baptism and later receive the Holy Ghost. Desmond was grinning ear to ear as we gave him his own Book of Mormon. It was such a blessing to be a part of these sacred step in both of their lives. We are also looking forward to this coming Saturday as Erika, another one of our investigators will enter into the waters of baptism. The field is white. We can't do it without the help of the members! I pray that each of you will help the missionaries. Refer them to your friends, neighbors, family members. The Lord knows His sheep and they are numbered. We can't let Him down!
Sunday night.. transfer calls. Hermana King and I received our call last night and we will be staying together another transfer!! The poor assistant who called us may have lost his hearing.. we are so excited to continue working together! We sang the Hallelujah chorus the whole way home.
I am so thankful to be a missionary. I know that the Lord needs every one of us. This work is real. Let us go find those who are searching for the truth-we have it! I pray for y'all everyday. Have an incredible week! I love you!!!

Con Amor,
Hermana Egbert

San Antonio Temple

Desmond and his cousins :)

Baptism pics with Luis

Cooking on New Years Eve
exchanges with sister isham

k, this one is cool, you know it

December 30th, 2013

Familia!
      It was an incredible week! Being able to celebrate Christmas in the mission field truly is the most amazing experience. The Spirit of Christmas was undeniable and the love of the members helped us as missionaries, feel at home. We went to breakfast on Christmas Eve with our district then dropped off cookies to members and investigators. We headed to the Olvera's for dinner around 3:00. We had the most amazing food. A combination of rice, mashed potatoes, beans, turkey, flan, and banana cream pie. Afterwards they gave us all gifts. It was a dradle. They play it every Christmas. It was fun to be part of their tradition :) We headed to Hermana King's uncle's house to drop off a gift then had another dinner at the Barrio's. They're a cuban family who got baptized about two months ago. They gave us a plate, then when we finished, they gave us another plate, and after that, one more plate of food. I was stuffed. We slept in the living room that night right by our little christmas tree.
      We woke up at 6 am to go play basketball with our zone. Hermana King and I went back home and opened our presents then got ready and headed to the Bishops house for dinner. He is an incredible bishop and is very missionary-oriented. I was able to call ya'll on the way home which was amazing! You all sound happy and well! Thanks for making me laugh haha I miss you all. I'm so glad i'm stuck with you for eternity!
     We have still been working hard in Elgin and Manor. (The two little towns outside of Austin) We have seen so much success and have had many lessons with part member families. Desmond, who is getting baptized this Saturday is one of the part member families that lives out in Elgin. His family pretty much makes up the town of Elgin. We had Alma, (Desmond's aunt) draw us a family tree.. there are over 30 people who are non-members or less actives.. Lots of work to do! Elgin is a tiny little town with 3 gas stations and one grocery store. We walk the streets and members run up to us giving us referrals and hugs, they are thrilled to have the missionaries working there. In church yesterday, Alma and her husband spoke. Alma bore powerful testimony of the importance of missionary work and how grateful she is to have the missionaries in Elgin. She said "It has been 28 years since we've had missionaries in Elgin.. now, the missionaries come out twice a week. I know the Lord loves us. He never forgets us. He is hastening His work in our town." She went on to express how much she loves the Gospel. The spirit was so strong! I found a new sense of desire to go preach the gospel to EVERY one I see. I love this work! I am so thankful to be a missionary. It's the biggest blessing to be a servant of the Lord. I know that the Lord is aware of us. He wants to bless us. We simply need to submit to His will and be obedient.
      I am so thankful for my Savior and for His birth. For His life and His resurrection. I know that we can all live together for eternity. I pray that we can all make resolutions to be better. To go to the temple more often, to not only read-but study-the scriptures daily. I pray that you all will share the Gospel. I know that as we put forth effort, the Lord will bless us ten fold. I love you all! Have a great week and a happy new year!!

Con Amor,
Hermana Egbert

Merry Christmas!! Making a Gingerbread house with Patrick and Ashley Banda