Hermana Egbert in Osorno Chile: December 2017

Pics

11:49 AM

Saying Goodbye to the Estrecho ward

Hermana Lopez

Hermana West and I right before I left. This is before the tears started haha

The Volcano was letting out so much smoke!

First day of missionary work in Villarrica I was all ready to go except I forgot to changed from my flip flops into actual shoes whoops

Hermana Hill and I outside our tiny hobbit sized door. I have hit my head 5 times already

2 of the kids in the branch

This is Mamita kelly

I printed out a ton of the family pics from thanksgiving because they made me so happy

I am obsessed with doing Hermana Hills hair because it looks like gold!

A cute lady gave Hermana Hill and I lillies

I saw the Torres del Paine from the airplane window! I was so happy

Zoom in haha

So I made it! Two days of traveling, 1 airplane over patagonia, 3 different buses and Im here. I absolutley love Villarrica and my new companion Hermana Hill. I miss the investigators and members but I feel really good about this area.

Funny story. It is sooo hot! I get to wear short sleeves everyday and tights are a thing of the past woohoo! I actually got sunburned! I am so grateful for the sun. And there is no WIND!

A couple nights ago we were outside and the volcano was erruptting a little bit. There was lava spurting out which is crazy. The volcano is huge and there are wild flowers everywhere.

This week has been fun meeting all of the investigators and members. Hermana Hill is doing great. She is leading the sector for the first time so she is a bit nervous but she is doing awesome.

We have been able to teach quite a few people and its amazing how fast a companionship can become united. The lessons have been pretty fluid and its so fun to teach with Hermana Hill.

We are teaching a man named Sebastian. He is really likes how the gospel is very focused on families. We taught about the Book of Mormon and invited him to be baptized. It was a special lesson. He had so many questions. I know that Heavenly Father has been preparing him.

Matias is 13. He has such a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon. He wants to be baptized but his parents wont give him permission. Its sad but they let him come to church. We will keep praying they will let him be baptized.

Our mamita ( the member who gives us food everyday) is a bit crazy but she is a sweet heart. Just very full of energy:)

Yesterday we contacted a man who started telling us all these awful things about Joseph Smith, the doctrine etc. We tried kindly leaving but he kept talking. We patiently waited until he was done. At the end he asked why we didnt argue back etc. I really was just waiting for the Spirit to tell me what to say. I felt to just testify. I shared him my testimony of the restored gospel, so did my companion. Then I felt prompted to promise him that there are NO lies in the Book of Mormon. That God loves Him and wants him to listen to our message. The man said that so many missionaries have passed by his house and he is sick of it. My companion pointed out that maybe its because Heavenly Father would like him to listen to the message. We gave him a christmas card and wished him a Merry Christmas. I am so grateful for this experience. I am grateful Heavenly Father helped me see this man as someone who was searching the truth, instead of my initial natural man thoughts that he was acting like a punk. It strengthened my testimony of many things. First of the Book of Mormon, and second that God calls young unexperienced youth to do his work not because we are full of knowledge, wonderful speakers etc, but bc He knows that if we allow Him, we can be instruments in His hands.

Well this has been a crazy week! But one of the best.

I am grateful to be on a mission during Christmas time. Sure I miss everyone but I know I am where I need to be so others can have these same blessings in their lives.

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that the Book of Mormon is a testament of who He is.

I love you all!

Hermana Egbert

Going UP

11:42 AM

11/27/2017

Hi!!!

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

Happy Thanksgiving

11:41 AM

11/20/2017

Okay so fun stuff first

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!

Primary kids service activity. My eyes are almost always closed in pics. Signature