February 24th, 2014

Familia,
   This week.. wow. It was a rough few days saying goodbye to Hermana King. We became best friends in the 2 transfers we had together. Thursday, we went to transfer meeting, and I received my new companion.. Hermana Lund!! She and I were in Mission Prep together at BYU. We were 2 of the 4 girls in all the class. We had talked a few times before the mission, but now we are so excited to be serving together! She's from Ogden and is friends with some of our cousins. She runs marathons so we've been running every morning. It's been really fun :)
   I love this ward! We are continuing to see success. We have some incredible investigators right now and many of which are close to baptism. Giselle will be baptized this weekend so we are looking forward to that. We are teaching a seventh-day adventist who asks the greatest questions. I find it ironic that we always teach him on Saturdays..  He always has his Book of Mormon open and is ready as soon as we get there.
   We had dinner with an Hermana in the ward this week. She served a mission 20 years ago. I have had a pair of shoes in the car with me ever since I left Riverside. A member there gave them to me, but they were too small. I've been trying to find someone who needs them. As we finished eating dinner, i noticed her shoes.. they were worn out. I asked her what size she was. I hurried and ran out to the car, and handed her the shoes. They fit her perfectly! She started to cry and said "Hermana, asi trabajan los diezmos.."  (This is how tithing works) I could tell that she was in need of these shoes. It strengthened my testimony, to see her faithfully pay, even when she wasn't sure how she could support her family. The Lord knows us and is so aware of us. 
   President Slaughter came out with a new mission study plan.. For 4 weeks we will study: Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, the Father and the Son, and the Kingdom of God. We study one topic for a week, then move on. We just finished studying about Joseph Smith. I know more now, than ever before, and can testify with all my heart, that Joseph Smith was chosen to be the head of this final dispensation. He restored Jesus Christ's true church, and perfect doctrine back to the earth. I am forever grateful for the Prophet Joseph Smith and his life. Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah.. Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer.
   Yesterday as we were pulling out of the parking lot, one of the young women who is preparing to serve a mission stopped me and said, "hermana egbert.. i have to tell you something. there's just something about you. i can feel it.. when i'm around other missionaries i dont always know that they're missionaries until i see their name tags.. but when i'm around you, i feel something. i know you're a missionary." I was completely humbled by her comment. I am thankful for the opportunity I have to wear my Savior's name every day. I love this work! I love being a missionary! I say that every week, but I mean it!  
   Have a great week and go share the gospel with somebody :) I love y'all!

Con amor,
   Hermana Marissa Egbert

Hermana Castor, me, and Hermana Lund after a baptism on saturday :)

Giselle De La Cerda and her cousins (they are in the riverside ward, we used to see them all the time-they came up for a FHE last week)

golfing last week for pday

turbo and boo boo 

saying goodbye to sister king (her cousin gave us these bunnies)

February 17th, 2014

Familia!
     We received transfer calls last night and I will be staying in Lake Austin! I'm going to be training a new Sister Training Leader as well. Sister King is going to San Antonio to be a Sister Training Leader Leader-she will go on exchanges with all the STL's and then we, in turn, go on exchanges with the rest of the sisters in the mission. Hermana King and I are really sad about having to be split up but we figure the Lord has let us have enough fun haha We are excited for the changes that are coming our way. 
    How grateful I am to be staying in Lake Austin. I love this ward! The people here are amazing and I feel at home. I could serve the rest of my mission here and be completely happy :) 
     Valentines Day was really fun! Hermana King and I ended up helping out with the ward party and we were able to meet lots of non-members that were there as well. 
    We had Zone Training meeting this week and I had the opportunity of giving a training on the Power of the Book of Mormon. The Spirit was so strong as each missionary shared their testimony of the Book of Mormon. We ended with Elder Holland's Mormon Message on the Book of Mormon. Wow. What better way to end the meeting. I love the Book of Mormon. I know it's true! I will testify of it's truthfulness till the day I die. 
   Yesterday I was looking on family search and I was able to follow our family tree all the way back to Adam and Eve! It was the neatest experience! How cool is that?? (I never thought I would say something like that, but family history is great!) 
    During sacrament meeting, Ashley Banda (she's 6) was sitting next to me. Her parents were baptized right before I came into this area. She sang each hymn at the top of her lungs. While the sacrament was being passed, she wrote down all the reasons why she loves Jesus Christ. It brought tears to my eyes to see how excited she is about the gospel! It really made me miss my nieces and nephews.. but I thought of them, and how excited I am to be able to write them all while they serve their own missions. I will do whatever it takes to help each one of them get on a mission!
   The work is progressing more and more each day. Giselle is getting baptized this Saturday! We have many investigators that are progressing.. yesterday at church, we didn't have to sit with any of them because the members put their arms around them and took them to all their classes! It was amazing. I am so thankful to be here! I love the mission. I know this Gospel is true. 
   Have a great week!! I love you all!!!

Con Amor,
    Hermana Egbert

Valentine's Day :)

Hermana Favila and Hermana Olvera- They were mission companions and have been in Lake Austin together forever. (This will be hermana king and I one day)

February 10th, 2014

Mi Familia!
  How are y'all? Things have been crazy here. But that's the best way to have it! We had lots of lessons this week with less actives who are returning to church. It's always amazing to see the change in them as they, again, experience the joy and peace that this Gospel brings. 
   We met with Giselle this week. She's the little 9 year old that has a baptismal date for February 22. She reminds me so much of my nieces! She loves the gospel and says the sweetest prayers. I love her. 
   We had the most powerful first lesson this week with Jose and Alfredo. They are both here working while their families are in Honduras and Mexico. We taught them Restoration. They ate it up! They asked great questions, and it was amazing to be able to witness the spirit testify to each of them about the Book of Mormon. They both said they know something is "in it"... they just want to read to find out! 
   Friday we went to San Antonio for MLC. I love President Slaughter! That man is truly called of God. We had 6 hours of trainings and discussions. It was incredible! We studied grace and the fall. I love being able to learn from our leaders and then incorporate those things both as a missionary and into my life. 
   Yesterday at church, they sustained two ward missionaries. The first two in the ward! And since they live in Elgin, they are assigned to help us out there! Hermana King and I were smiling from ear to ear! We are so excited!! It's amazing how much members truly help in missionary work.
   Last night, we had an appointment with a recent convert.. it was one of the most spiritual lessons I have had on my mission. We haven't been able to meet with him in about 2 weeks. As we sat outside talking to him, he broke down. He told us everything that has happened the past few weeks and I sat there in awe at the strength of this new member. The things that are happening in his life and the way he is handling it such a testimony builder to me. He bore powerful testimony of how God loves us and is so aware of us. I felt the Spirit guide us throughout the entire lesson. We shared Alma 26:12. As he read it, tears were falling onto his scriptures. He then said the closing prayer, and we all sat there and wept. It was the most sincere, heartfelt prayer I have heard. 
   I know this Church is true. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know that our Father in Heaven loves us, and boy, do I love Him! I am so thankful to be a missionary. I feel so blessed to be able to be here, experiencing these things. I love you all and pray for you each day. I pray that we can all come closer to our Savior Jesus Christ. Transfer calls are Sunday, I'll let you know next week what's happening. Have a great week! 
Feliz Dia de San Valentin!

Con Amor,
Hermana Marissa Egbert

We stopped at Buccees on the way home.. biggest gas station in the world-i'm convinced :)

Lunch with La familia Garcia

February 3rd, 2014

Familia!!
Como estan? 
 We had a crazy busy week.. but it was amazing! Tuesday morning we woke up, had studies, then left for a morning appointment with an investigator.. As we walked outside, we almost slipped on the frozen ground! our car was covered in solid ice. It was crazy, I had never seen something like it before. We used anything we could find to scrape the ice off of the windshield and doors, but it was inches thick. Hermana King and I think that we're going to sell Ice Scrapers here.. Haha who would've ever thought that we would need one of those in Texas?? 
      It warmed up to 78 degrees this week!! Saturday was super warm and we were having lessons outside. Then yesterday as we left for church, it was freezing again! 
     One thing I am always impressed with, is the mercy of the Lord. We have seen His help in every phase of the work. Little miracles happen each day.. 
     We had Herminia and Hermano Gutierrez both with baptismal dates, but we had to move them back a week or two. Keep them in your prayers :) Also, a family from the English ward wanted to come back to the Spanish ward. They have a 9 year old daughter who has already been taught the first 3 lessons by the English speaking sisters. We will finish teaching her and then be able to witness as she enters the waters of baptism. Her returning less-active family, is related to one of my favorite families in Riverside. The De La Cerda's! Both Sister King and I served in Riverside so we both know the family. She and I have both met this family before, so it'll be fun to continue working with them!
    We had zone conference this week with President Slaughter. Wow! It was so powerful. We talked a lot about teaching people, not just lessons. We also discussed repentance and the atonement. I know Jesus Christ is our Savior. That He loves us. I know repentance is real through the infinite atonement of our Savior. I have been studying a lot in Jesus the Christ and the more I study and learn, the harder it is to put into words my gratitude for Him. I know He lives. He loves each one of us. He hears our prayers. I know that this Church is true. I am so thankful to be assisting in this work! Let us all look for ways to serve others and love one another :) 

Have an amazing week!! I love y'all!!

P.S. Happy Birthday Heather!!

Con Amor,
Hermana Marissa Egbert

church yesterday  with 2 members (the one on the right just returned home from her mission)

frozen!!

scraping the ice off..

the assistants and the sister training leader leaders.. and us :)

cooking!! moms rolls were a hit!

Rosalia, Mayelli, Edna, Miriam Aurora and I :) 

After our hair cuts