Week 76: You Came Here on Bike?

Hey everybody!! 

This week was absolutely incredible. Full of miracles and happy moments. 

I think the cutest moment of the week was when a little boy came running up to us in the street. We were sitting there on our bikes checking the address we were looking for. He looked at me and asked me where I am from and why I talk funny. I explained everything and his eyes just went wide. He then asked ¨Did you come all the way from the United States on your bike?¨ The innocence of a child is a beautiful thing. And thank goodness there are planes for that.

A funny moment of the week was an unintentional bike accident (that was not bad, I promise). My companion felt so bad and was trying her best to apologize. The bike is fine and I am fine, my elbow is just a little scraped up--haha. But Hermana Rocha has been practicing her English. It killed me that she looked me right in the eye and said ¨I am sorry, you is bad¨. I just about died laughing and had to explain what she said. She meant to say "I am bad," but it was the best apology ever. We are still working on the English part as well. But she can now pray in English and it has been so cool to see the gift of tongues working its magic!

This week Josefa got baptized!! We are so excited for her! She has been such a big blessing and miracle for us. It has been such a joy to see her progress and her determination. I have learned so much from her. Even with opposition, she has been firm in her resolve to follow the Savior and she is a huge example for me! 

The Lord has blessed me so much in these past 18 months. I don't know who or what I would be if I hadn't had this opportunity. I am so grateful for each and every one of the people I have had the opportunity to meet in this time. The Lord has changed me and for this I am forever grateful. 

Thank you to all of you for your love and support. 

I hope you have a great week and know that the Lord loves you. 

Con amor, 

Hermana Eibert

Hermana Eibert and Hermana Rocha at zone conference

Week 75: Birthday, Brazil, Blueberries

If I had to sum up the week in 3 words, it would be the subject line. 

1) We celebrated my comp's birthday this last week! We worked hard but celebrated a little bit in the evening after we went home. We bought some dinner and Hermana Rocha made a Brazilian dessert called brigadeiro which was absolutely delicious! I am learning a thing or two about Brazil and I think the food is the best part!

 

Feliz Cumpleanos to Hermana Rocha!

2) Speaking of Brazil, we found the cutest lady this week. We started teaching her...well my companion anyway. She only has been here in Chile for 4 months and she doesn't speak very much Spanish. But my comp speaks both! So I listen and nod my head and think back to the start of my mission when I was in a similar situation--haha. But it's really cool, I may not be able to speak Portuguese, but I understand a lot of what she says! It has actually been a really cool experience. And her husband is Chilean, so that helps. They are so great! 

3) Blueberries!!! Chile is very well known for their fruit! It is the best fruit and fruit season is just getting started! Yesterday after church, some of the members started gifting us blueberries. Now we have a lot and I am so excited. It was also the first time for my companion to try blueberries! They don't have them where she is from!! 

Also, we had our zone conference this week...in CURICO! Where I first started my mission. It was bittersweet. It was an amazing conference, as usual, with the focus being on the Book of Mormon. President and Hermana Harris seriously are the best The group of us finishing our missions this transfer is fairly large so it was sweet to spend the time with them as well and hear the final testimonies of all of us. The spirit was strong and it was a very sweet experience. And to finish where I started, in the same capilla/chapel, that brought back so many memories. I have learned so much on my mission and I am so grateful for it all. 

Something I have learned this week:

Pride is manifested in many different ways But the most interesting way that I have recognized recently is that sometimes we doubt our ability to do what we need to do, to be who we need to be. We think we are not capable of doing or achieving what we want or need. We doubt ourselves and our talents, our abilities. When we allow ourselves to think like that, to think we aren't good enough, we are being prideful and we are lacking faith in or doubting the love of God. We lack the humility necessary to recognize that, yes, sometimes we fall short of our goals, or we mess up, but if we give all that we can, He will make up the rest. We never fall short with His help, with divine grace. He is the difference. 

I love Ether 12:27. Weak things can become strong. And I love the definition of grace. Grace is divine help or strength that we receive through the bounteous mercy and love of Christ. Grace is an enabling power. It is the strength, the hope, the courage that we lack. We are in a process, we are learning, we are being perfected. We just need to be patient and humble. We all have equal access to grace, and we all need it. 

Love you all!! Have a great week!

Con amor, 

Hermana Eibert

Week 74: Turtlenecks and Tights

Hey everyone!

Talca is weird. One day we have a freak storm and lots of rain and it's freezing. And the next day it is very hot. My companion, being from Brazil, is used to 50 C (which is like 120 F?) and so she is still very cold sometimes. I am usually dying and I am already starting to have the wicked cool missionary tan lines, but she still wears her tights every day with jackets and turtlenecks. We look very different walking in the street, ha. 

 

Hermana Eibert and Hermana Rocha in Talca--18 November 2018

We have had some pretty big and beautiful miracles recently. My favorite is Josefa. She is the sweetest person I have met on my mission. She met with missionaries about 3 years ago in a nearby sector but due to having to move, she stopped attending church and couldn't get baptized. Recently she and her husband got a house and property and have settled down and she reached out to us. She has been coming to church all this month and she is so very prepared. She is golden completely and her baptismal date is December 1st. She radiates light and happiness and it has been so sweet watching her testimony grow. She kept in contact with the sister missionary that found her 3 years ago as well and it is just the coolest thing. We are so excited for her. 

 

Hermana Rocha, Josefa, Hermana Eibert

Today we played the makeshift missionary version of the game Headbands and then my comp and I went out to lunch to celebrate her birthday!! I have been blessed to spend many birthdays with companions. 

I had completely forgotten that Thanksgiving is a thing and that it happens this week. I was reminded today by other missionaries--haha. So in honor of  Día de Acción de Gracias...

Thought of the Week:

Alma 34:38... ¨Live in thanksgiving daily¨. We should be grateful and give thanks every day. There is so much to be grateful for and the more we express our gratitude, the happier we will be. 

I am so grateful for my family, for the gospel, for my mission, for the miracles and tender mercies that happen every day! 

Have a great week! I love you all and give thanks for you all too!

Con amor, 

Hermana Eibert

1) Josefa

2) Hermana Rocha

3) One of the weird storms of the week

4) Scenery around Talca

Week 73: Hot, Hot, Hot

Another crazy week! 

This week we were on the run everyday, with so much to do! We had our interviews with President Harris on Thursday and I was a little sad when I was reminded it was my last normal interview. President and Hermana Harris have been angels and I am so grateful for them. 

The heat is getting even stronger now but the weather has been crazy. It rained but it was a warm summer rain and then it was freezing after. Oh, Chile. 

Our mission this week had the wonderful opportunity and blessing to have a special conference with Elder Gong! It was amazing. And how cool it was so be all together as a mission again. A rare and special moment. Elder Gong took the time to greet and talk to each and every one of us. I got a good laugh out of the conversation. I told him I am from Olympia and he started talking about how beautiful it is there and when they visited they went up to the Olympia national park/rain forest and they absolutely loved it. They were so cute. His wife is the sweetest as well and also took the time to greet and hug us all (the sisters--haha).

The conference was absolutely perfect. Hermana Gong is an RM, and come to find out, she had a talk prepared for us but was guided in a completely different direction. She talked about some of the greatest truths she learned while on her mission and how each and everyone of us is a child of a loving God who knows each one of us personally, by name, and perfectly. And how important it is for us to recognize this worth in others. When we see others the way God sees them, we will always love them, no matter their flaws and imperfections. Elder Gong taught us a lot, but I think what marked me the most were three things: 1) when unexpected changes come, this is an opportunity and sometimes the greatest miracles come from these unplanned changes/deviations from the plans. 2) we need to work hard, but smart. and we cannot be too hard on ourselves. We have to give our best and know that our best is all that is expected of us. 3) the relationships we have, with family, friends, companions, etc. should be/are eternal. We need to take care of them

Apart from this great blessing....

We had lots of service opportunities this week and lots of happy moments. We are so excited as well for the upcoming Light the World 2018. Everyone is getting a little excited for the Christmas season (since thanksgiving isn't a thing here). 

Anyway, 

So many miracles this week. So much going on. I love Chile, I love these people, I love Talca, I love the mission, and I love you all. I am so grateful for everything I have learned and I am learning. 

Have a great week!!

Con amor, 

Hermana Eibert

no photos, sorry mom  

A Visit from an Apostle: Elder Gerrit W. Gong

Dear parents of missionaries from Chile Rancagua,

This past weekend we were visited by Elder Gerrit W. Gong. He took a moment to great each missionary. Here are a couple of pictures we were able to capture.

We love these missionaries so much! Thank you for your sacrifice.

Hermana Black

Misión Chile Rancagua

Oficina: (72) 223-2750

Celular: (9) 58112340

Week 72: Around the World in 7 Days

Hey everyone!

This week I learned that I really don't understand Portugues (but I can read it), Creole, Italian, or Chinese or sometimes even Chilean. This week was crazy. We have found so many new people to teach this last week and we realized that they have all been from different countries around the work. We taught a family from Ecuador, from Colombia, from Venezuela, from Italy...we have talked to Haitians and Cubans and all. It has been so fun! And my companion was studying Mandarin Chinese before the mission. She started writing on the window in Chinese to practice one morning. I just love that no matter where you are from or what you speak, the eternal truths are still true and still apply. And how cool it is to get to know other cultures as well. 

The first week of this cambio/transfer flew by. We hit the ground running and have been working hard and have seen the fruits of our labor. We are so excited as well for the visit of Elder Gong this Saturday as well. We will be meeting as a mission again which will be the best! 

Halloween is fairly popular here in Chile and it was fun this week to still be working and see the look on the people's faces when they found us outside their doors and not cute kids dressed up as princesses or Spiderman. But some of them still gave us candy--hahaha.

So many good things. 

My thought:

My scripture for this cambio: 

Romans 8:28

¨And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.¨   

With a side mention of DC 90:24.

Have a great week! Love you all!

Con amor, 

Hermana Eibert

#thenewcomp

Week 71: "So Its To Be Torture Then"

Hey everyone! I just want to go ahead and congratulate everyone that still reads my emails or the updates. I totally wouldn't blame you if you just go straight for the pictures--hahaha. I say that because the end is in sight. 

This last week we received cambios or transfer calls. My last one. I was just about ready to pack and head out to my last area when the shocking news came in that Hermana Collins is leaving and I am staying in Jardin del Valle. She was only here 3 months and I will complete 6 months in this area. Obviously, there is still something I need to do or to learn here in Talca because they're not quite done with me yet. My new companion is an Hermana Rocha from Brazil. I don't know much about her yet since she is newer in the mission, but she arrives tomorrow morning and I am excited to hit the ground running this last cambio. 

This week it got really hot. And then it started raining. But the rain is a warm, summer rain. The tan lines are setting in and the sunscreen is a must. I forgot how hot it gets here in Chile and how much I really do miss air conditioning. They say Talca is the worst during the summer. It is well known for the extremes, very cold in the winter and awfully hot during the summer. I can testify to the winter part and I feel like summer is going to live up to the reputation. 

We had the cutest ward activity this week. It was a Noche de hogar (FHE) and a talent show mixed together. Lots of dancing and singing and instruments and just fun. So cute to see all the members and a bunch of our investigators enjoying the evening together. 

The sweetest part of the week was being able to watch the dedication of the Concepcion temple on Sunday. It was absolutely beautiful and the first temple dedication I have had the opportunity to see. The temple is absolutely gorgeous and the saints here in Chile are extremely blessed and excited for this wonderful blessing. 

  

Talca Stake Center for the dedication of the Chile Concepcion Temple--28 October 2018

Thought of the week: 

I have been worse at this part. I usually look for a quote that I read during the week that I loved or something that stuck out to me...

But something that I have learned this week is patience and trust. In myself and God. There is a reason for everything and something we just don't know what it is until later or never. But how important it is to go forward with faith.

I love you all!!! Have an excellent week. 

Con amor, 

Hermana Eibert

Week 70: Hotdogs, Brownies, and Cotton Eye Joe

October 2018--Talca Zone Conference

I am not sure where this week went, but it was great. So many things happened. 

I forgot to mention last week that there was another earthquake (which is normal here in Chile) but it was weird because I heard it more than I felt it. Strangest thing ever. My companion was sitting on the top bunk and felt it pretty strong though. I remember the first time I experienced an earthquake here in Chile. Now it is just normal. 

To explain the subject line: We had a fun stake primary activity this week. The theme was ¨Children from around the world¨. Our ward was assigned Russia. So cute. Each ward had their assigned country and had to perform a typical dance and they each had stands too with food and decorations and information/facts about the country. We went early to help braid all the primary girls hairs (well, my comp braided, I still can't braid--hahaha). The dresses/typical clothes from each country were so cool too. The kids learned how to say hello in the different languages as well. 

SO, there were countries like Russia, and Mexico, and Brazil, Italy and Spain, Germany and France, China and so on....AND, there was the United States of America represented as well. We spent a lot of time trying to figure out what they would do or dance. We decided maybe it would be a square dance since that is as close as it gets to a typical dance in the states. (Other things that crossed our mind included the whip or cupid shuffle or something like a swing dance or maybe even the chicken dance). To our great surprise, the familiar Cotton Eye Joe song came on and the primary kids were all dressed up as cowboys and cowgirls. It was hilarious and great. Their stand featured hamburgers, and hot dogs, and peanut butter on bread samples, brownies, etc. Best thing ever.

Other stuff from the week: 

Hermana Collins hit her year mark this week and we celebrated with sushi! Except turns out she doesn't like sushi. It was fun and a new adventure for her though. 

Jesus was confirmed this week and received the priesthood too! So many sweet miracles have happened this week. 

We also got fantastic news today that Elder Gong from the 12 will be visiting our mission next month! We are so excited for this!! I am also really looking forward to this next Sunday. We have the grand opportunity to attend the broadcast of the temple dedication of the Concepción temple. 

Lots going on the next week. 

Love you all! Have a great week!

Con amor, 

Hermana Eibert

pics: 

1) its officially summer time here in Talca. It has been so hot but the flowers are in full bloom and it smells wonderful walking the streets.

2) We met a really cool less active member this week and she does archery. I still got it. 

3) We have a lot of campo (or country side) in our area/sector and sometimes you just find random horses or chickens or cows or such..this week was a horse. 

My comp made onion rings and I was happy.

Week 69: And Jesus was Baptized

This week was awesome. 

New discovery in Talca--our neighbor makes sushi hand rolls that are so good. Chicken, guacamole, and cream cheese...mmmmmmmmmm!

Thursday we had zone conference with President and Hermana Harris. It was fantastic, as usual. We talked a lot about both the scattering and the gathering of Israel. Having studied the history behind it, I really enjoyed all the details and how everything just makes sense. 

Also, we studied the youth devotional from June to prepare for the conference and I loved when President Nelson said this:

¨This most crucial time in the history of the earth, to help gather Israel. There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing. This gathering should mean everything to you 

And he invited us to participate in: “The greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth.” 

It is so cool to know that we can be instruments in the hands of God. We are gathering Israel. And the work is on both sides of the veil. I feel so blessed to be a missionary right now working here and I hope to continue working after. 

This week we also had intercambios with the hermanas from the La Florida and it was so great to spend the day with Hermana Sainsbury! I have missed her so much and I am pretty sure I talked her ear off. But we worked hard and it brought back a lot of memories! What a sweet day it was. 

Add caption

Yesterday we had the blessed opportunity to participate in the baptism of Jesús. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to meet him and his sweet family. We have seen miracle after miracle with them and we know God has an endless amount of miracles still in store for them. They are amazing. It was a great baptismal service as well, almost the whole ward was there to support. 

All in all, a very sweet week.

Love you all. I hope you all have a great week. 

Con amor, 

Hermana Eibert 

Week 68: Hitler Guy Part 2

This week was great! 

Fun story to start off...and explain the subject line. We were contacting a bunch of people a couple days ago, shortly before we had to head home. It was getting dark and I went to stop a gentleman walking by. It was a very interesting contact and basically I didn't recognize Hitler guy since I have a terrible memory. But after he realized I didn't remember him, he hailed Hitler again and took off. I will not be forgetting his face this time. Things like this just keep us on our toes--haha!

One of my favorite investigators a couple weeks ago came up to us after sacrament meeting to tell us he was ready to be baptized. We did a pre-interview this week where he basically taught us everything and then we had the real interview yesterday right before general conference. It has been so beautiful to see him progress and how the spirit has touched his heart. His baptism will be this next week. And it is beautiful to see someone with a bigger perspective too. He has goals to work with his family and eventually take them to the temple. I am so excited about them and their faith and testimony. One of the sweetest miracles we have had while here in Talca. 

And....GENERAL CONFERENCE!!! how about that??? I LOVED it! And big tender mercy...we got to watch it in English. It went by way too quickly, but I am so grateful we have the opportunity to listen and read and study and apply everything even after the fact! 

A couple things that I loved: 

¨Along with the bright colors of happiness and joy, the darker colored threads of trial and tragedy are woven deeply into the fabric of our Father´s plan. These struggles, although difficult, often become our greatest teachers.¨

¨Believe. Love. Do.¨

¨We can and should find joy when we face hard things.¨

Bathroom selfies

https://www.lds.org/general-conference?cid=HP16GC&lang=eng

Go and watch conference!!

Love you all! Have a great week!

Con amor, 

Hermana Eibert

Hermana Collins made breakfast Conference weekend. It was rice, sugar, milk, and bacon bits. How did it taste?

Do you see it?

Mama Chicken with her chicks.