Hermana Egbert in Osorno Chile

Okay so this past week was pretty good:)

We havent been able to meet with a lot of the investigators we are teaching this past week but that gave us lots of time to find some new people:)

Also I found out last night that I will be leaving Punta Arenas haha Hermana West and I finally have transfers. After 4 1/2 months! We feel like sisters haha. 

Well I am being transfered up to Villarrica the most northern part of the mission. It will be a 2 hour plane ride and then 7 hour bus ride to get there. I am excited to see the Pucon Volcano that is right outside the city. 

I will be with Hermana Hill. She has the same time in the mission as Hermana West. They actually were friends in High school which is funny. 

I am excited to work in the new sector and with Hermana Hill!

I am going to miss Punta Arenas so much it is crazy! I feel so at home here. If I ever live outside the country I am living in Punta Arenas Chile.

Its going to be so hard to say goodbye to all the people here. Its amazing how Heavenly Father is the perfect orchestrator. Distance and time is not a problem for Him. He sent me so far away from home to find people that I could help and could help me grow closer to Him and His son Jesus Christ. 

This past week I loved reading in 1 and 2 Nephi. I love how Nephi is so focused on obeying and listening for the Holy Ghost. I know that it is so important to learn how the Holy Ghost speaks with us individually. Its like learning a new language. It takes time and practice. 

Also Hermana West and I celebrated Thanksgivng. That was a party! We found turkey at the story (slices haha) also mom sent me a gravy packet in a package a long time ago that I have been saving for this specific day:).

Well I hope you all have a great week! I always love the day after Thanksgiving because its when everyone finally starts celebrating Christmas with me haha I do start christmas in July...

Have you all seen the new Light the World video? So cool! We are really focusing on it this December as missionaries!!

Love you all!

Hermana Egbert

1. It snowed! Happy summer in Punta arenas. I have been in winter since April. 

2. It now gets dark here at 11pm and light at 4am. When I got here it got dark at 4pm and light at 11am. 

3. A nice old couple gave me a bag of 200 candies just because 

It was just an interesting week. Hermana West and I were so tired because its light so early! We wake up at 5 and think we slept in. Its a blessing and a curse. We first have a Home Alone moment "we slept in!" then we check our watches and realize we get to sleep for 2 more hours. 

Alejandro is doing well. Smoking less and less everyday. We were able to watch meet the mormons with Lisbeth and her family. We have been finding new people to teach which the best. 

I think this past week I have been so grateful to be a missionary. I love listening to people and helping them to come to know Jesus Christ. I feel like I am working right along with the investigators. We are all just allowing the love of Jesus Christ to change our hearts and make us happy. 

I am so grateful for the ward. I love these people. Being in an area for 6 months is a huge blessing. I know them each and love them. There is one little girl, bella, who is so sweet but has soooo much energy. A couple weeks back to help her calm down during the Sacrament meeting I had her come sit on the floor in front of me while I played with her hair. Its become a little tradition. Fun story. I was leading the music for the opening hymn and she came running up to the stand with a hair brush and princess detangler spray so I could play with her hair.  I had to keep myself from laughing. 

Well have a very special week. I will be thinking of you all this Thanksgiving. 

I really liked reading in Moroni 10 about spiritual gifts. I have been seeing more and more that the members here and the investigators each have spiritual gifts and the message we share is what helps them develop and apply them. I am very grateful for our Savior who loves us so much.

Have a great week. 

Love, 

Hermana Egbert

Pics are on there way..

Me and La rafa!

Hermano Astorga has been less active for 7 years! I am not leaving until he come to church!! He bought my companion and I stuffed penguins!

Hermana Carmen made us mote con huesillo...soaked wheat with a dried peach.  She is so cute

here is la rafa! She is so cute. Her name is rafaela but we all call her rafa! Its taken a good 5 months for her to finally be my friend. Haha she is 3

Long letter...

Guess what?! I met a man who served in the Viña del Mar mission when Grandpa Egbert was Mission President!

So its a sweet story. This older couple came to visit the Punta Arenas stake. They are head directory of EFY here in Chile. They live in Valdivia Chile the zone I served in my last sector, Los Lagos. 

Well they stayed with Bishop Jimenez, our bishop in Estrecho. So they came to church yesterday. Only 15 people came to church. There are 7 wards in punta arenas so pretty cool they came to our ward. Well I shook his hand but He didnt see my name tag. I spoke in church with my comp. And then after he came up to me and said, " you would happen to know Archibald Egbert? I told him he was my grandpa. He just kept shaking my hand and through tears told me Grandpa was His mission president. That this man had heard President Egberts grandaughter was in this mission and He had been determined to meet me. When He heard I was in Los Lagos about 4 months ago he drove an 1 hour and a half to meet me but I had been transfered. 

He didnt know I was in Punta Arenas. When we talked He told me all about Grandpa. About how his life was changed because of the things Grandpa taught him as a missionary. That his whole family are members and how Grandpa affected his life. 

Its was a special experience. I felt like Grandma and Grandpa Egbert were so close by. 

Well miracles do happen. 

I love you All!

Sure love you all!

So this week was really amazing. I mean that. I am begining to feel less stressed and its is such a blessing. I am really able to feel the spirit more and be myself. 

So whats with the title heading?

This week I watched the bible video where the Savior washes the feet of the disciples and I was really touched. The question came to my heart of "Would I all the Savior to wash my feet?" Think about it. Different people give different answers. 

Do you know what I would have said honestly at the beginging of my mission? No way. I can do it. That would be so akward, and He has a lot of better things to do. I did not get it. I did not understand what the Savior was doing. 

It is such a beautiful symbol. Jesus Christ was not just washing the feet. He was teaching His disciples the most valuable lesson they/we can learn. It is to allow Jesus Christ to clease us. Whether we are unclean from something we did such as sin or we are unclean just by living in a fallen world(weakness, transgresson, sickness), EVERYONE needs Jesus Christ and the cleansing power of His Atoning sacrifice. "Are we not all beggers?" 

Jesus Christ invites all to Come unto Him. As simple as it sounds it is sooo hard. It is hard to be humble and allow the greatest one who ever lived upon the earth come down to our level and help us. 

Guess how we practice allowing the Savior to love and serve us? We allow others to love and help us. 

In the church we focus so much on helping others, serving, consecrating but how much do we all others to serve us? If your like me I would much rather serve than have others serve me. But as I have accepted help from others I have been able to accept the love my Savior has for me. 

My companion and I have been surprise showing up at members homes we feel we should visit. We ask them what we can do to help? They say "nothing hermanas, dont worry." We tell them we are not leaving until they give us something to do. Each member we visited had a need. Some we litterly grabbed the broom and started sweeping. When they saw we were serious they started giving us stuff to do. It was great and in the end they explained how they feel awkward being served but they do need help. It opened for a great discussion about our Saviors love. 

So, my invitation. I have two.

1. Pray for someone to serve. When the name comes to mind go without delay. Insist on serving them. 

2. Allow someone to serve you this week. If the missionaries come to your home and ask if they can vacume your floor, hand over the vacume and then ask them to wash your windows! Haha. But you get the idea.

I know you will really feel the love Jesus Christ has for you. He know each of us. We are to serve and to be served. 

So many other fun great things happened. Love you guys!

Jesus Christ is our Savior, friend, Healer. 

Love Hermana Egbert

Sand castles!

. Hermana West and I

This week was really good. Funny story! Hermana West and I will be staying together for yet another transfer that will be 4.5 months in total! And I get to stay in El Estrecho Punta Arenas! Coming up on 6 months in this area and still loving it. 

It is almost summer here! Its about 50 degrees and It is the best thing ever! I feel like I have been in a really long winter so its such a fun blessing to feel the sun!

So for the past 3 months I have been struggling with anxiety. ( basically my whole mission but its been worse) It has made the mission really hard. I started to feel I wasnt a very good missionary, I was never meeting my expectations. I wanted to help the people but always felt I was falling short. I started to feel so far away from my Heavenly Father and my SaviorJesus Christ. Its like I was teaching about Gods love and about His son Jesus Christ but I didnt feel it for me. It has been so hard but it has been such a wonderful blessing and experience! I have had to fix my eyes on my Savior Jesus Christ like never before. After about 8 months of feeling constantly stressed or like I wasnt measuring up, I told my mission president and He reccommended I talk to the mission counselor. That has helped so much. I have been learning for myself personally all the things as a missionary we teach the people. It was scary and humbling to ask for help but I am so grateful Heavenly Father has been giving me these challenges because I have never enjoyed the missionary work more. I have never loved the people so much. There are days when the anxiety is worse and I feel so far from my Savior but I always can hold on and know that He has not abandoned me. The more I get to know His character the more I feel worthy of His love. That I can enjoy the journey. Elder Holland gave a talk in conference called "Like a Broken Vessel". At times I feel like that. But I know more now than ever before that God loves us. That He loves me. In my weaknesses and strengths. I have had prayers answered and everytime He feels far I just hold on:) 

The thing that has helped me the most in all of it, the mission, anxiety etc. is coming to know my Savior. I have just spent time learning about Him. I love reading in the Book of Mormon because the prophets speak of Jesus Christ like they really know Him. This past week I focused on 2 nephi chapters 1 and 2. I felt like Lehi was talking about Jesus Christ like His good friend. I felt so close to my Savior as I read. Through all of this I have felt I Heavenly Father is really allowing me to be instruments in His hands. I had in my mind "the perfect missionary" that missionary never joked, never made mistakes, always taught perfect etc. I am realizing a good missionary is someone who loves Jesus Christ and trusts that He will make them great. I know as we humble ourselves, we can pass ourselves to Christ and allow Him, to make us instruments in His hands. 

Trials and weakness are wonderful! They are like learning a new language. For example me learning spanish has opened up to me a whole world of people. Now experimenting anxiety opens me up to a whole world of people I never understood before but now through Jesus Christ I can have more empathy and trully feel for them or bring them closer to their Savior. 

Its not great. Somedays are really hard but Its all going to be okay. :) I am grateful for all of your prayers and I am grateful to be a missionary and that Heavenly Father is making me strong in my weakness. The mission is a wonderful place to struggle because you have so many people around you to serve and help. 

The investigators are doing well. I love this ward so much. They are getting excited about missionary work and gaining more trust in us. 

Halloween was so much fun! We had trick or treaters come to our appt!

I love you all! God lives and He loves us. He knows our pains and struggles. He is the one who makes us strong in our weakness. 

Love Hermana Egbert

Its been a great week. My companion and I have been working A LOT with the members lately. Visiting them, helping them be excited about missionary work etc. We did a ward fast last Sunday for the missionary work in this Area. 

So about a month ago we found a new investigator Alejandro. He came to an activity this week and then church on Sunday. On Saturday we had an appt with him. He told us he prayed to know if the Book of Mormon true and that afterwards he felt a warm feeling and that it was. He accepted to be baptized in Nov. 

Myrna has been sharing with the missionaries for about 2 years now. In all that time she has never come to church. Usually we would stop sharing with someone who isnt progressing but my companion and I have both felt to keep going to her house. For the past 4 months we have kept going and sharing. Her struggle has been that she feels all religions are great and they all get us to Christ. There is no one real religion. As we have shared, invited, asked questions she has begun to realize that God called Joseph Smith to restore His church upon the earth. She believes it is true. She came to church on Sunday!!!!!!!!! She also accepted to be baptized in November. 

Not sure if you remember Lisbeth. She is the daughter of an inactive member Claudia. Lisbeth has been reading the Book of Mormon and still would like to be baptized she accepted for early November. She also miraculously came to church.

The ward was so excited. The church was full and the members welcomed them, hugged them to pieces. 

Missionary work is so special. I know the Lord is in charge. When He wants things to happen He has them happen. The special thing is that each one of these people have started to progress as they pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true and if this is the restored church upon the earth. Through the Holy Spirit they gain testimony of these things. 

Also Hermana West is done with her training!!! WOOHOO! What a ride!

Well I just want to bear my testimony that God lives. Jesus Christ is our beloved Savior. I know the quote that says " God hears our prayers and it is usually through another person he answers them." it is true. 

Have a wonderful week. Love you al!

Love Hermana Egbert

So this week was good. We were able to find some new people to teach which is always a blessing.

 It was funny because it was Friday and we hadnt found anyone and with in 2 hours on Friday we found a family and some other people. And nothing major happened to make us start to find people.  It was a good reminder that when Heavenly Father has people prepared He will direct us to them. As long as we are living worthy of the spirit, He will guide us:). I learn that lesson over and over every day. I think eventually it will start to be part of me haha. 

An experience I wanted to share about a new woman we found. 

So on Friday afternoon, my companion and I were walking on our way to an appt. We were just talking and passed a woman outside working in her garden. We both felt we should go back and talk with her. 

I think that is my favorite way to contact the people. Just randomly going up and starting a conversation. Being a missionary is funny because its like your name tag is this right to go talk to whoever. It used to be weird at the begining but now I like. Anyways, we just talked to her about her garden, the weather etc she asked the whole "you girls are from around here are you (starts to laugh)" they all say the same phrase. We explained we were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That we leave our families, homes and country to come teach other about Jesus Christ. We asked if we could share a message with her. She invited us in and we shared the Restoration. The message touched her and she asked how it is that we could so clearly and well, explain the message we carried. We were able to explain that the Holy Spirit helps us teach. 

It was special because my spanish is still choppy sometimes, im still learning the lessons yet, when the spirit is with me and my companion, it doesnt matter. He touched her heart. What a great moment.

Well I am going to go out and look for another miracle and invite all of you to do the same!

Love Hermana Egbert

These weeks just keep coming faster and faster.

Yesterday was a huge holiday here in Chile. 18 of September WOO! Its like their 4th of July and Thanksgiving put together. 

It was interesting trying to missionary work because no one let us it but it was a good contacting day. 

Also my comp and I say dolphins and seals. DId you know seals do backflips? I didnt but they keep jumping out of the water doing flips. 

My companion and I have been searching for new people to teach. Until Sunday we did not find any new people. However, Sunday afternoon my companion suggested we go back to a contact done earlier in the week. When we knocked on the door, a little girl invited us in. We were able to share the restoration with a young family. It was such a great experience. The dad had longer hair and was covered in tatoos. Of course that doesnt matter it just made it all the more special to share the message of Jesus Christ with them. The spirit was so strong as this family asked us questions. When we shared the Book of Mormon the Dad, Victor, said He wanted to know more about "that book". He has had questions the bible and other religions could not answer. I am so grateful we could testify with the words of Moroni that as He searched with faith his questions could be answered. 

I know that we were led to this family. I am so grateful for the spirit who is able to lead and guide my companion and I. He leads us to the people and stays with us the whole time if we allow Him to.

This week I have tried to focus on the Savior in my studies. As I have studied who Christ is, I have felt so much peace in the missionary work. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. We can doing litterally nothing with out Him. We will always need Him. As I try to work with Him and truely accept that in all things I need Him, I am able to do what He wants me to do. 

I love you all. Thanks for each thing that you are doing!

Have a wonderful week. Keep finding reasons to smile and if sometimes its hard remember you have a Savior and that will help you:)

Love,Hermana Egbert

Woo! Another week has come and gone! 

Just a fun quick story to start out with.

Every morning we cheerfully(dont know how happy we are some mornings) get out of bed at 7am and do our excersizes. On Saturday while we were doing our exersizes in the house I looked out the window and saw that the sky was so pretty just pinks and oranges. I told my companion to grab the keys and that we were going to go outside to see the sunrise. We put on our nametags and ran down the street The sky was so so pretty, but we could only see a glimpse because all the buildings were in the way. So its 720 am we are outside in the cold and I am in my slippers still. I being the spontaneous person I am ( thats funny if you know me) talk my companion into running down to the ocean to see the sunrise. The only rules now with the new schedule is that you get up at 7 and do 30 minutes of excersize and be ready to plan by 9. So I figured why not. So we run 15 minutes to get to the ocean and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! I will send pics but they dont do justice. I might have ruined my vision in watching the sunrise but it was worth it! We made it back in time and had a great rest of the day. 

I think the funnest thing about that was it was a split second decision but I will remember it forever! 

I thought of how it relates to the Gospel.

When we go to peoples homes with the Restored gospel of Jesus Christ I think for the people it is like a glimpse of a beautiful sunrise. They realize that we are teaching them something really special. As they recognize how incredible the message is and do the work (like us running to the ocean) they can eventually accept and be baptized and confirmed like seeing the beautiful sunrise! 

Its also cool to think that the sun goes down and comes up each day. So if Hermana West and I wanted to see the sunrise again we would need to run to the ocean to see it. That is like us as members partaking of the sacrament each week and renewing our baptismal covenants. It is just as incredible each week. 

The ability to renew our covenants each week is a testimony of Gods love for us. As we promise to take upon ourself the name of His son Jesus Christ he promises us that we will ALWAYS have His spirit to be with us. 

I am so grateful we have a Savior Jesus Christ. There is a quote that I love in PMG. It says that all that is unfair about life will be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

I promise that IT will just all work out. Everyones IT is different. But Jesus Christ knows exactly how to succor His people according to their needs. 

The work is progressing each day here and the investigators and so great!

I know this is true. Love you all so much!

Have a great week! Watch a sunrise! 

Love Hermana Egbert