Gone to San Antone...: 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 :)