New Year, New Tours, New President – Jan 7, 2016

Wow it has been a crazy good start to the new year.

Sister J and I have found some amazing people who really had a desire to learn.
(not always so common here when most people ask for the basic history.... WELL you're getting more than that!)

We took these four friends around who were all raised in the Bible belt of Mississippi. They knew the scriptures and the life of Christ like the back of their hands. And had soooo many questions. What was cool was I felt like I had been friends with them my whole life. Like Sister J and I had meant to take them around on the tour. It was probably one of my favorite tours ever and seeing their faces change throughout the tour made such a difference. It was to the point where at the end of our (hour and a half long!) tour when I asked if they wanted to read and pray about the Book of Mormon they said "why are you even asking?" Something had clicked and they were able to feel something different.

We also met this couple (from the Bible Belt as well) who were told by the wife's mother that they weren't allowed to go in or near any of our "mormon buildings". So the couple decided to walk around Temple Square. We found them by the Priesthood Statues reading and taking pictures of the plaques. As we explained the Restoration their eyes lit up. They wanted to know what was in the Temple and because they couldn't go in the building to see the Temple Model we stood outside describing each and every room to them. As we got to the Celestial Room the woman began to cry and tears rolled down from behind her sunglasses. They spent the rest of their time peeking in the tabernacle windows and listening to the organ through the doors. They couldn't take the physical copy of the Book of Mormon (as the mother would've died of a heart attack) They took a Book of Mormon download card they promised to read and pray about it saying that they would go home and "teach the mom a thing or two about Jesus Christ"

The message of the Restoration is the most powerful message we have to share. It is the testimony builder and the foundation of our faith.

We also went and did service today at Welfare Square making cheese and whatnot so photos to come (maybe....)

Love you all :))))

Happy New Year!!!

Oh and we are getting a new mission president next week :( So we all threw a surprise Relief Society Program for him and his wife. (We changed the words to the Lion King and I dressed up as President Poulsen) SSSSSOoOOOOOsosooso Funny :)

PS-- Also note that our mission president served in South Africa so in the middle of this presentation of other zones singing and crying and right after a touching slideshow of them... our zone breaks out and flashmobs NAAAANNNNNTTTSSSS INGONYAMA BAGITHI BABA!!!!!!!!!

 Behind the wheel again!  : )

Christmas snowglobe, Temple Square.

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

Laughing All The Way -- Dec 11, 2015

Wellllllllllllllllllll It is STILL Christmas on Temple Square and we're busier than ever.

Sister C and I have been very busy teaching our investigators and trying our best to help them progress. We have truly discovered that everything is within the Lord's timing and as long as we continue reading, praying, and doing everything we can to find answers from God, the spiritual experiences will come, you just have to be patient. We are just waiting for them all to have their own converting experiences and doing our best to help :)

New Newsssss

Sister C will be going outbound next transfer to Tempe Arizona! Which means I have another 100% chance that I will get a new companion. Bitter sweet. I will find out next Monday who my new companion is, what my assignment will be, and what my new p-day is (praying for a Wed. Thurs. , or Fri. or else I will miss p-day next week :(

I really wish I had more to tell you but not much else has been happening. We've been caroling, freezing, and finding new people to share the gospel with and I am loving every second of it.

(Also caroling is hilarious when a good 80% of the Sisters are foreign, still learning English, and don't know any of the Christmas hymns, so we American sisters really have to step it up hahaha) This is why I have no voice the passed couple of days, but hey it's all worth it! [[Note from Sister Eging's mom -- I am sure she is having no trouble at all belting those hymns out, all that practice at home, "singing loudly so all could hear," must really be paying off now. Who knew that all that time she was just preparing for Christmas time at temple square!]]

Some days are hard, long, and stressful. We work all the time, cry for our people, and laugh with the sisters. I love everyone I have met here, I love my mission so very much and there is no place I would rather be at this time in my life. I am so grateful that I have been able to grow and change so much and come closer with God. I love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and will do all I can to follow Him and bring others to Him.

The Sky is Blue
The Church is True
Love, Sister Eging

My Zone:

Dec 4 - Christmas Time Is Here!

ITS THE MOST WONDERFUL TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMEEEEEE OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!
(except for all the couples on Temple Square....they're the worst)

You heard it folks Christmas has finally made its way over to Temple Square! That means the lights are on in full force and the square is hoppin' from 5-10 pm every night!

It being filled with mostly members has made it slightly difficult to find people to teach as they all work with the missionaries back home and most just like to look at the missionaries (I feel like an exhibit in the zoo sometimes...)

But it is still possible and there have been many miracles!

One of them specifically has been K (we have been asked to not publish people’s names on our blogs, etc)! K is from Taiwan and living in California at the moment and has absolutely no religious background but something about Temple Square has touched his heart. He was here for a ski trip and then came for a tour in the morning. We invited him back the next night to show him Savior of the World video and then the following day to begin teaching him on Temple Square. He has been so prepared and already can feel the difference the gospel has been making in his life.

It is such a blessing to be able to be a part of that. I am so lucky and blessed to be an instrument in God's hand and love serving Him every single day. I have learned that in every major decision in life if we give it all over to God He will mold us into more than we could ever imagine.

Yesterday we were also invited to go and have brunch with a ward. The Relief Society spent months preparing everything for us. They sweetly made two huge vats of soup and rolls for us. It was very humbling to be there and to simply feel their love for us. It was a little awkward at first though because we had to go to a stake building and so our whole zone walked over together. We get to the building walk inside and all say hello very loudly and happily to the first people we meet.....they frown and don't look very happy to see us.....that's when we noticed it. We had just walked in to a funeral service!!! We back out of there real quick and turn the corner and realize we walked into not one but two funeral services.....as we go to leave the building we hear "Sisters! Over here!" and see an old lady waving us over into a side room. Apparently the ward is made up of very very VERY old people and a few very young couples so funerals are pretty common.

so yeah. That happened.

Well there's really not much else going on in the good 'ole Temple square.

The church has finally released the new Christmas videos (that we got to see a week before but weren't allowed to show anyone.....it was rough!). So if you haven't seen them please do! christmas.mormon.org my favorite is the animated "A World Without a Savior."

I feel like often times we take many things for granted and the Savior is not one of those we should easily forget. The world would be a much different place had Jesus Christ not come down. His life was the single greatest event in the history of mankind. It was the pinnacle of God's divine plan for us. Let us not forget how important His birth was and the real reason why we celebrate every December.

Me and my companion:

Happy Holidays!

Well Thanksgiving is over and do you know what that means!?!?!?!

IT IS OFFICIALLY CHRISTMAS TIME ON TEMPLE SQUARE!

To start off I just want to say how grateful and blessed I feel to be serving on Temple Square. Right by the House of God where the spirit is present and you can feel the love that God has for all of His children every single day. With serving here comes a couple of different perks like.......Thanksgiving Day Meals!!! Because the Square closed at noon all of the Sisters got to go to a different member's house and eat Thanksgiving with them. In a real home with an actual family and Members!!!! (This is a stark contrast from the lounge where we microwave our food everyday.....every....day.).

I don't know what my companion and I did in the past life but it must've been good because we got to go to President Harman's home (he is a counselor to our mission President) all the way in Park City. It was like walking through a Pinterest board. His home was so cute and amazing! (soda machine in the cowboy themed basement) and we got to meet his daughter and her husband and two kids. Smoked turkey, home made apple pie, and of course SWEET POTATOES! At the end of the night my heart was so full and so grateful that we were able to spend that time with such an amazing family (and they let us take some food home which made today that much better :)

With the coming of Christmas come the change in our schedules (hence why my email is a little later in the day). We now wake up at 7:15 am and go to sleep at.... 11:45 pm..... you heard it 11:45. The square is open an extra hour and we get to be on it! Singing, and sharing the message of Jesus Christ. He truly is the reason we celebrate Christmas, the reason to be thankful on Thanksgiving, and the whole reason why we were able to come to this Earth.
I am so grateful, He blesses and loves us so much.

The work continues to progress as we share the message that Christ lives and continues to guide this wonderful Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know with all my heart that this is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and that there is only one path that leads to eternal happiness. We are all given the opportunity we just need to search for it.

Love you all so much and hope that your Thanksgiving was filled with joy and gratitude for all we have been given.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/the-divine-gift-of-gratitude?lang=eng

This is one of my favorite talks that is just perfect for Thanksgiving. We were able to share the story at the end with The Harman Family and hope you all enjoy it as well.

Sky is Blue
Church is true
With lots of love
Sister Melissa Eging

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