August 4th, 2014

Familia,
     This week has been the best week of my mission. I got a phone call Thursday night asking if I would give a training in MLC on Friday then I was invited to President's home for dinner with 5 other missionaries. He invited the departing Assistants and Sister Training Leader Leaders. It was the greatest experience! We had dinner, then started with our exit interviews. I have so much respect for President Slaughter. He is a man of sound understanding. He is called of God. What a blessing it has been to be able to serve here in the TSAM, and to work with him and his family. They will forever have a special place in my heart. We're TSAMmers :)
     At church yesterday, I felt the most peaceful feeling come over me as sacrament meeting started. After 9 months in this area, I feel like Lake Austin is my home. I love the members and people here! As I sat there, I started to realize.. I did all I could. I gave it my all. It felt good :)
      To put into words the last year and a half would be impossible. I am filled with complete gratitude for the time that the Lord allowed me to be a full-time missionary. I couldn't have asked for a better mission. I love the TSAM! All the people I have been around the last year and a half mean so much to me. I can't wait for y'all to come back and meet them! I also understand that my mission isn't over. There's still people to find, and missionary work to be done. I will continue to share the Gospel with everyone!

   I don't know where to start, or end this e-mail, but more than anything I want to let y'all know that I know this Church is true. It is the only way to exaltation. The Book of Mormon is true. It testifies of our Savior Jesus Christ, His mercy, and the covenants we make to be able to live with Him again. The Priesthood power has been restored to the earth, through the Prophet Joseph Smith. We have a living prophet today, President Thomas S. Monson. What a blessing it is to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!
   I can't sum up my feelings or memories in one e-mail.. What a blessing it has been to have been a part of God's army. To be able to preach repentance to the people here in Texas. This Gospel is the only way to true happiness. I will live the gospel for the rest of my life! And I'm thankful to have a faithful family that we can live it together. I am so grateful for each one of you and the support you have given me. I'm excited to see y'all. It's hard to leave. But I have peace knowing that I've done all I could. I am changed. I know who I am. I love this Gospel and I love the Lord.

   The Gospel is true!!! I love y'all! See you soon :)

Hermana Egbert


  President's home Friday night

  Los Martinez :)

  The Slaughter girls, they're beautiful!

  Huaraches from Mexico

July 28th, 2014

Familia,
   I love my mission! I have never been so tired in my life though.. We did 5 exchanges this week. We have been from San Antonio, to Round Rock, Lockhart and Luling to South Austin and west of the city.. Hermana Clark and I didn't see each other for 3 days! On Saturday when we finally were together again, we spent our lunch hour passed out on our beds taking a nap. Then it was back up and back to work. We've experienced many miracles and I have never been so grateful to be a missionary. Our investigators are still progressing and we hope to have a family baptized on the 16th of August.
   President Slaughter gave us a training a few months ago, about how we can better leave the spirit in the homes of those we teach. Many times, we go in, have a powerful lesson, say the closing prayer, then end up talking for a few minutes afterwards, trying to set up a return appointment. Or sometimes the investigator makes cookies so we stay and eat them, then by the time we leave, the magnitude of the Spirit that we felt, is gone. He told us to cut all that out, and while the spirit is strong, get on our "white horse and ride off into the sunset," leaving the Spirit with the investigator at the point where they can say "wow, i want them to come back." Those moments are crucial, and to be able to capitalize on them has changed the lessons we have had.
   Hermana Clark and I ate dinner with a family in our ward on Tuesday. The mom is in the Stake Relief Society Presidency in Mexico, but is here for 2 weeks to help her daughter who is due any day with her first baby. The other daughter, Sariah, lives here and so they are staying with her and her 3 kids. As we talked throughout dinner, it was obvious that they were all really strong in the Gospel. We started sharing the Restoration pamphlet with them, and as we got to the picture of Christ appearing to the Nephites, we asked each of them to share with us how they came to know the Book of Mormon is true. The first sister started out and said "I was less active for 10 years.. I lived off of my mom's testimony. A year ago I started going back to church. My husband was baptized 3 months ago in Mexico and there's no other place I would rather have my child grow up, than in the Church. I'm reading in Alma and it is the first time I've read past 1 Nephi." The spirit was strong.. The mom then started to share her experience. She powerfully testified of praying to know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. And by knowing that, she knew the Book of Mormon was true. We turned to Sariah, she had tears in her eyes and said.. "I, like my sister, grew up on my mom's testimony. When I married a non-member, I felt a difference. I knew I needed to gain my own testimony. I was in an accident and lost my eyesight after having my second child. My husband read the Book of Mormon to me every night, and then we knelt and prayed together. My eye sight came back after a year. I felt it, without seeing it. There is no doubt in my mind that the Book of Mormon is true." Normally the Spirit helps us to know what to say, but in that moment, the Spirit was so strong, there was nothing to say. We asked if we could say a prayer and then we left. 
   Hermana Clark and I drove away in silence, the spirit testifying to us, that the Book of Mormon is true. I can't express my love for this Gospel in words. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior. We make mistakes, but by applying the atonement every day, we can become more and more like Him. The Church is true. The Book of Mormon was written for our day. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's kingdom here on earth. I love y'all and hope you have a great week :) 
See you soon..
Hermana Egbert

Exchanges with Sister Morrell and Sister Davis :)

Last P-day in San Antonio with Lindsay and Jessica Slaughter

San Antonio with Sister Hill and Sister Jackson :)

Daniel, Antonio,Virginia, Manuel, Me and Cecilia

July 21st, 2014

Familia!

    Wow. Another week already? We had 3 Zone Conferences this week as well as an exchange with a companionship of sisters in San Antonio. I was able to go on the Air Force Base and see how the sisters work there. It was the neatest thing! I feel almost spoiled for being able to be at all the Zone Conferences.. listening to our leaders, giving trainings and hearing from President Slaughter. I learned more and more every time. President Slaughter is a man called of God. He speaks with power and helps us to become the missionaries that the Lord would have us be. I think I mentioned it last week, but he gave a few trainings, one of them was the importance of the Gathering of Israel. After hearing it 5 times, I feel like I finally understand it, and its importance. Elder Bednar gave a talk a few years ago and said "becoming a missionary is directly related to understanding who you are as the seed of Abraham." Never before did I understand the importance of understanding who we REALLY are. We must "know who we are and act accordingly". After studying the topic all last week, I went and read my patriarchal blessing. The Spirit was strong and helped me to see and feel who I truly am. This gospel is amazing!!

Our area is doing well. We are in and out a lot, but the Lord is providing a way for us to continue working and see success. We are teaching 2 families and are working with a few part member families. They are all preparing to be baptized in August :) Yesterday at church, we were talking to Luis and were trying to set up a time to meet, but he told us he had an interview with the Bishop. I asked him if he was going to receive the priesthood and he said "I did last week!" He said his interview this week is to get his temple recommend so he can take his own family names to the temple on August 9th! He faced a lot of trials after his baptism in January, but has kept strong and is doing great. Erika and all the other recent converts are doing great as well. Rocio continues to amaze us each time we visit her. She asks for pamphlets and Book of Mormons every time so she can give them to people who come to her salon. She has a testimony that will never be shaken. I love these people so much.

We met at President's home last night to discuss the past few weeks. We talked about the things we have learned. 4 of the 8 of us missionaries that were there last night are going home in 2 1/2 weeks. We talked about what we will face when we go home, how to continue in the faith, and the next covenant we will all be making in the near future :) I can't believe it's gone by this fast. I was thinking back on some of the experiences I have shared and stories I have sent home in my e-mails.. More than anything, I pray that y'all know that I know this church is true. Joseph Smith restored the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth. I know the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. He lives. Salvation comes through Him and in no other way. President Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today. We can live with our families forever as we continue "firme en la fe." How blessed we are to live at this time. I never imagined it would be this amazing. I don't have the words to explain it! I will forever "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh [me] a reason of the hope that is in [me]" The Church is true. I am overwhelmed with the joy that comes from living the Gospel. Go share it with somebody :) I love y'all, have a great week!!!

Con Amor,
  Hermana Egbert

 Exchanges with Sister Fitisimanu

On the Road again :)