Dec 31 - Happy New Year!

I can't believe it is already the start of a brand new year. Seriously
time is flying by so fast and I feel as if I have been hanging on to
every precious second since the beginning of my mission. This past
week was so amazing.

Christmas on Temple Square is so special and definitely one I will
remember for the rest of my life. We woke up and started cooking with
our whole apartment complex and zone :)

Just a kitchen full of sister missionaries, good food, and lots of
laughs. Looking around I was amazed at the diversity in the room.
South Africa, Finland, South Korea, Malawi, Hong Kong, Sister from all
around the world gathered at this apartment on Temple Square to
celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ who died for the sins
of the ENTIRE world.

What a special place to be. We have been so blessed and looking
forward to this next year I am determining how I can better show my
appreciation to our Savior. What lack I yet? What changes to I need in
order to become who my Savior needs me to be?

Often for New Years we make to do lists. Our resolutions are things we
can check off, accomplish once, and then never look back. This year I
will make a to be list. Who do I want to be? What kind of missionary?
And what are the steps to take to get me there. I know that Christ and
Heavenly Father will assist me.

Also on a lighter note.... We bought a 5$ rotisserie chicken from
Costco for Christmas celebrations..... And after eating almost half of
it we found out that it may or may not have been cooked all the way
through. Luckily we have developed iron stomachs and salmonella did
not visit us that night (it would not have been pretty).

Today was also district "all you can eat sushi day" and we did partake....

Uhmmmmmmmm hmmmmm also the mission over these last two transfers has
been working really hard to reach our goal of 900 baptisms.... Which
meant having 100 this past transfer. Today we celebrated 915 of Gods
children entering into baptism which was awesome!! I got to share
Carlos' story with everyone (he was the one I met a couple of months
ago)

How cool!
I'm loving my mission and I love all of you.
(Happy Birthday William!)
Sorry if I don't write as much it has been very busy!

With much much MUCHO love
Sister Eging

Dec 24 - This is a season of blessings.

Dec 17 - ROCKA SHAKA BRAH‏

Or something like that is how you say I love you in Finnish :)
Which means yes! I have a new companion and yes! She is Finnish/from
Finland which is so cool (get it cause it's cold there)

And I am officially in Transfer 5! What!?!? This is too crazy and my
mission is going by wayyyy too fast. (Seriously it feels like
yesterday I was playing volleyball in the MTC)

We live in a roach infested apartment and are assigned square for
days.... Which is actually not all that bad and we should survive :)

This week I learned the importance of being part of the church for the
right reasons.

Sister C and I have been teaching this man named J who has
been investigating the church on and off for a whole year. As we were
talking with him he was so unbelievably excited to learn more and read
the Book of Mormon. He loved talking with us and loved going to church
(when he could) but mostly found joy from the spirit of the people....
He never understood what it meant to say the Book of Mormon was the
word of God or realize the profound impact and implications from
stating such a thing. So when his faith was shaken and stretched
slightly, it snapped. There was no deep-rooted faith in the Book of
Mormon and no firm testimony of Joseph Smith. The last call ended and
Sister C and I were heartbroken.

17 “O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the
Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood
with open arms to receive you!

18 Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But
behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss.

19 O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands
and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen!"

Know what you stand for and know why. The church is not just another
pretty church about Jesus Christ but it contains the fullness of the
gospel. We do not have all the answers and God will not reveal them
but we are given our faith. When you proclaim the Book of Mormon is
true know why you believe know what it means to believe in it. It
means that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God. It means we have
current prophets called today who guide us. There is no picking and
choosing from the commandments of God. This is not a buffet line. God
is in changing unwavering and those who are not the same with their
faith are unfit for His kingdom. I love all of you so much. Read the
Book of Mormon, and then read it again. Never let your faith and
testimony grow dim.

Today we had a guest speaker Brad Michael Wilcox who read to us the
story of Christ's birth but, from the perspective of the Book of
Mormon. Read over these chapters Helaman 13 and 3 Nephi 1
His is the ultimate stretch and test of faith. These people were faced
with death because of their beliefs. Mocked and threatened to nearly
the breaking point. The prophets had left the land and they were still
searching desperately for the sign of Christ's birth, while their
wives, children, families were all lined up ready to give their lives
for Christ. What a different story. I pray that we can all have that
kind of faith when faced with such trials, such doubt, and such
criticism.

In other news..... Someone threw up the other night in the visitor’s
center which means that Temple Square has officially been updated to
carnival status during the Christmas season.

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas and can truly remember why
we celebrate. It is because of the birth of our Savior. We celebrate
because over 2000 years ago the world was given the most beautiful
gift of all. A gift of hope. A gift of peace. A gift of joy.

Even if the sky stopped being Blue
I know the Church is True

Merry merry merry Christmas!!

Send some love to your favorite sister and her wonderful Finnish companion!

Sister Eging