Too Blessed to be Stressed (well okay maybe a little stressed)‏ -- May 31, 2016

Stress is my big topic for this week and something that I am learning
slowly and steadily to control and manage. This week was jam-packed
with events and lessons and many other stressors that would be enough
to make anyone crazy but we survived :)

What made this week so amazing though was the oh so wise council from
an apostle of the Lord. No, really, a living apostle in fact one of
(in my opinion) the coolest apostles, Elder Holland!

You heard correct, Elder Holland came to visit the mission. How's that
for some real luck! He came and on Friday we all woke up, put on our
nicest dresses, and drove to hear him speak and shake his hand.
To be brief what struck me the most was his overwhelming love for each
of us and his address focused on the love we need to have for
ourselves (or at least that's what I got from it) that we need to love
and enjoy our missions. Love the Lord and be obedient because we love
him. But, don't beat ourselves up over every little thing. It will all
work towards our benefit and as long as we have been converted than we
are successful missionaries. He also spoke on just how impactful
serving a mission is. It can and will change the very course of our
lives if we let it and if we let go of what is holding us back from
serving..... If you're thinking about serving a mission....take it to
the Lord, and FOLLOW HIM. Just do it if He tells you you need to.

Also in case you were wondering when the second coming is....
"I don't know, and you can quote me on that" -Elder Holland

Later that week we met M and S. Now how did we meet them?
Well we have been teaching T and sometimes we have to teach him
outside of Starbucks.... Which is the ultimate hang out for Arabic
speakers. After the lesson they stopped us and asked about the church
etc. We ended up having a pass-off lesson with them the next day to
give them to the Arabic Elders but, they were amazing. M was golden
and for so long had been studying the different Bibles wondering why
there are so many differences between religions. As we left that
lesson M asks about our badges. After learning that we spent only 2
weeks in a "training center" he turns and says "I will get that badge
in one".

Lastly I just want to leave you with my testimony that the Savior is
always there when we need Him. He will always lift us up and never cut
us down. We don't have to be perfect, we don't have to be successful
in the world's eyes because as long as we are trying, we are
successful to Him.

Also..... Please READ THIS TALK (it's what Sister G and I taught
to relief society on Sunday)

“One Thing Needful”: Becoming Women of Greater Faith in Christ
By Patricia T. Holland

"We must have the courage to be imperfect while striving for perfection."
Patricia T. Holland

Love you all so much!!!!

(Enjoy the pictures of me frolicking in the California fields and all
the horse and llama love <3 )

SISTER EGING

(S)He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named‏ - May 24, 2016

This week has been a very very VERY interesting one to say the least. Don't worry the cat and horse are still alive and are doing well. (Tippy ((the cat)) and I have our nightly waltzes after planning so the relationship is blossoming beautifully).

We had what is called "MTE's" this week. Missionary Training Experiences (I think) for anyone not with the San Diego lingo. This is where we take like 2-3 zones and switch companionships up. All companionships are divinely inspired and for a whole day I was with Sister W, our Sister Training Leader (which is like a Zone Leader for those who have never heard of one before...because I hadn't...) and I learned SO MUCH!!! She was awesome at talking with everyone and had an almost fool-proof way of asking everybody if they needed service done on lawns, houses, moving or if anyone in the neighborhood needed something done! It was awesome because then people weren't immediately turned off by the name-tag and would actually stop to talk!

T, our investigator is doing well and is preparing himself for baptism. It's been amazing to see the changes in him. And we have found a couple of new investigators who really seem sincere!

This week we did a lot of trying to contact potential and former investigators that had been left behind or forgotten, they did not know the true meaning of Ohana.... for those of you who haven't seen Lilo and Stitch... I'm sorry..... It's a great movie.

And we ended up at this one house and they weren't interested so we ask "Who do you know?" Ah that famous question. "Well the next door neighbors go to church a lot." So we go to try them.....

And that's when we met her. She cracked open the door and stared at us with sunken eyes and in a low raspy voice asks "Can I help you?" SO we go on and explain and talk and she opens her door to show us her statues of Jesus Christ and then explains that she is a deacon. And as if to show us evidence rolls up her sleeve and shows off the meanest and baddest dark-mark tattoo on her forearm. She followed Voldemort! (Not really but it was a pretty cool tattoo).

Well that's my story for the week. Wish me luck in the missionary efforts this week! I love you all so much and have loved seeing the change in people's lives as they come unto Christ. I know that this work is true and that missionary work would NOT be successful without the help and support of the wards and members. You are all the heart of the church and you can touch and change the lives of so many. Don't ever underestimate your impact or your testimony and invite others to learn more. This is the fullness of the gospel! We should be sharing it :)

Give the missionaries in your home ward a little love and buy them a pizza or something :)

Lots of Love
Sister Eging

May 17, 2016 -- From (sometimes) Sunny San Diego‏

SO we went to the Temple today and got home about an hour ago so if my
email seems really brief I'm so sorry but hey at least you know you
got the important stuff right?

Temple, is awesome. Like seriously the San Diego Temple is gorgeous
and looks straight out of a sci-fi movie, I love it.

We found some really cool people to teach this week. One of them was
a referral and she has already committed to be baptized on June 11th!

There's been a lot of adjusting of the last two weeks because with new
mission and new mission president comes new way of doing things but
I've learned a lot and really been able to grow and stretch a lot.

Also today is month 11......Yes I've been out for 11 months. This is
insane and the world is coming to an end.

The gospel is true and every day I receive a firmer witness of the all
encompassing plan that Heavenly Father has for each of His children.
Everything is part of that plan!

Love you All
I'll send more next week!
Sister Eging

Week 1 in Sunny San Diego‏

Well in case you had been just dying to know I did in fact arrive
safely to San Diego, met my new mission President, President Schmidt,
my new companion, Sister G, and the area.

I'm serving in the great wards of Hillsdale and Jamul (pronounced
Hummel..... Yeah go figure there's a road here named Jamacha and it's
pronounced Ha-ma-shuh!) Hillsdale is a pretty small area but has a lot
of neighborhoods and people to talk to while Jamul on the other hand
is this massive area in the hills of San Diego (it's beautiful and
I've decided I want to live in Jamul).

I met A LOT of ward members and have no idea how I am going to
remember them all nor am I quite sure how to work with ward members so
this will be a real experience and a half!

Oh and I am living in a members home so I officially have a new pet
cat and a pet horse and lemon and orange and avocado trees (I AM IN
HEAVEN)

We have some really amazing people we are working with and are
constantly searching to find new people. There is M. who is a recent
convert who tells her whole neighborhood about the gospel and is
currently trying to quite smoking again so we are doing everything we
can to help.

And then there is this sweet couple M. And L. L really wants to be
baptized and so we are working to help them get married so they can
both make this sacred covenant together.

We have found this really sweet family as we have been cleaning out
our Area Book (this things a mess..... Seriously like 100 plus
potential investigators) who hopefully we can come and continue
teaching them. I've learned so much just my first week. I love my new
companion so much she s awesome so send some love her way!

LOL (Lots of Luck?)
Sister Eging

P.s. Enjoy the picture of me with my new best friend Sue.

And an orange

CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME! ! ! ! Apr 27, 2016

Yes you heard right! Transfer 8 is on it's way and I am leaving Temple Square!

In less than a week I will be on a plane to the lovely San Diego mission! I'm so excited for this opportunity to serve and learn and grow and have so many new and exciting experiences!

And for those of you that don't know, in my mission on Temple Square we get the opportunity to go "outbound" for 3 months and serve in a different mission. So yes. That's what I'm doing....I'm not running away. Just going outbound. (Also shout out to Sister K who will be going with me to San Diego!)

Not going to lie I was a little hesitant at first with so many of my investigators here preparing for baptism (right after I leave) but that is okay I know that the Lord is taking care of them and they aren't my investigators but they truly are the Lord's investigators. They are His children and He will take care of them. I'm very excited to hear about all of the miracles that they will see when I do come back.

So many people are progressing steadily towards their dates and I couldn't be happier as they are about to take this step that will bring them ultimate happiness.

Also something weird happened this week where twice in a row two people that I have never met walked up to us and asked how they could be baptized.....

WE CAN HELP YOU

It's been amazing to see how the Lord has prepared everyone to hear the message of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It then becomes our decision to accept that message.

I do want to speak a little bit about attitude as well. Because for a few days leading up to knowing if I was going Outbound or not and a couple of days afterwards (okay I found out on Monday so it's only been two days). I was a bit of a nervous wreck. (not too bad but you know the usual nervousness). Until I realized that it is our attitude that makes the entire difference. God has many callings and jobs that He wants us to do but, if we grudgingly do them then what's the point. When we serve, give, help, etc. with a willing heart we are laying up treasures in Heaven and setting our sights on much better things.

I love you all so much and next time you hear from me I will be in San Diego!!!!

LOVE

~Sister Eging~

Receiving my outbound call!

Advertising for doing family history work!

Zone Conference - Apr 13

Well this week just about flew by and I'm trying my best to remember everything that happened.

One of the highlights would have to be Zone Conference because we have started to have one every single transfer!!!! Woooooo!

I was able to learn so much about inviting and how important it is that we just invite! JUST DO IT! Sometimes it may seem scary but when you don't you are making the decision for them and taking away someone else' s agency, which is the plan of Satan. And we don't want to follow Satan.

I also learned that I have the coolest mission President ever! So he was sharing some experiences from his mission and explaining how no matter where you are, missions are difficult. They are. There's just a lot of different things that make them hard, rejection, fear, culture, language. etc. etc. and then he told his story.....

Street boarding.

This is when missionaries took a poster board with a diorama of the Restoration and went to public places where they had to preach to everyone passing by. When they started this in the mission that President served in, he was terrified. Sick to his stomach and even after a few weeks of great success, still terrified.

Well after a couple of weeks of doing this as they were "street boarding" one day all of a sudden there is silence and who other than the police show up and say they are arresting all of them.

They were held for a couple of hours and then released and threatened to be deported. So with this in mind our President thought good, no more streetboarding. And when he called his mission president in Holland he was told quite the opposite. The next day he was to go back out and start again.

This was a huge test of faith for him but still he did it. The next day they did it anyways and they never had another problem with the police.

We are all human and it's natural to have fear. But, the moment that fear stops us or rationalizes us out of opening our mouths and sharing the gospel it needs to be quickly removed. God is a God of love, not fear. And perfect love casteth away all fear.

Oh and also highlight..... OUR FARR'S STAMP CARDS ARE FULL! (not super exciting but it means free icecream so woo!)

I love you all o much and hope you can all find the opportunity to rid yourself of fear this week by sharing the gospel and your testimony with somebody. You never know who the Lord has prepared to receive the gospel and you never know how your actions can help others prepare to receive it as well.

Eu amo você!

~Sister Eging~

Summer Begins – Apr 20

And things are starting to get really busy here on the Square which is always the best!

This week was the Burton's (a senior couple who serves here) last week so we had to say good bye today which was so sad but, it's okay we will all see each other again someday :)

This week we faced a lot of people who just did not want to hear it but, something I learned is that we as missionaries are not here to coerce, convince, or force someone to listen. We share the message of the Restoration and invite others to learn more. When they are ready and have a desire that is what we are here for. We testify of the truth that we know but ultimately everyone has their own agency.

So this morning I just want to talk about two things (because the rest of the week wasn't quite as interesting haha)

One, we took these two older couples on a tour. The wives were so sweet and loved us while both the husbands were convinced that we were not going to be saved and spent an hour trying to end the tour as they just kept repeating it over and over and would not let us go. I think that is when I finally understood the power of just pure testimony. At the end the wives gave us hugs and thanked us for our time (they tried to stop their husbands the whole time) But it was a good experience.

AND THEN!

I. Helped. An. Old. Man. Cross. The. Street.

It was out of a movie. Sister G and I see this old man trying to start crossing the street and he couldn't do it. So we walk up next to him and pretend like we are going to cross the street and start talking to him when all of a sudden he asks "Would you like to help me cross the street?"

"WOULD I!?!?!?!"

"IT"S ONLY BEEN A DREAM OF MINE!"

I am a witness miracles happen!

But that's pretty much all for this week. Haha we are super tired but thats a good thing :)

Love you all so much!
LUUHHHVVVV
Sister Eging