Week 32: Cambios for the Cambios

Hermana Eibert in the Cool Boston T-Shirt Aunt Gale sent her

 

Yesterday morning we were preparing for church when we received a surprise call from President Harris. We had ¨cambios especiales¨or emergency transfers happening in the mission that would involve our sector or area. So this early this morning, I said goodbye to Hermana Sainsbury and welcomed Hermana Morales, from Argentina, here to Rengo. I was so sad to see her go. She has taught me so much and I love her to death. But I am beyond thrilled to work with Hermana Morales and I know we will have a great time together the rest of this cambio. 

Thought of the week: 

This week I have been studying a lot about humility and patience. They seem to go hand in hand. I learned that when we are humble we are willing to submit to the will of God. And miracles really do happen when the will of the child changes to the will of the Father. When those two things line up, miracles happen. But humility, or to be humble, is the willingness to submit, but patience is the ability to ¨do God's will and accept His timing.¨ I love what PME/PMG says about patience. ¨Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious.¨ Patience has never, ever been one of my strong suits, but the Lord has an incredible way of working with His imperfect children. 

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

Con amor, 

Hermana Eibert

 

ps. no photos, forgot my camera, sorry mom

Week 31: YOU WERE DEAD

There are lots of dogs here in Chile, as I have mentioned before. So one of the highlights of the week was seeing the miracle of resurrection. Just kidding. But unfortunately we do see a lot of dead dogs in the road sometimes. It isn't very fun. It was quite sad when we saw a familiar neighborhood dog dead in the road one morning when we were leaving and then when we came back late that night, he was right in his normal spot looking happy and wagging his tail. And we were like 99 percent sure he was dead, so either he is good at faking or he has a twin? I got a kick out of my companion saying YOU WERE DEAD at him a couple times in shock. Another dog that lives on our street is named Popsy and we say hi to him everyday. He always gets so excited to see us and follows us up and down our street. The dogs are mostly good, there's just a lot of them.

Another highlight and funny of the week was a first lesson we had with the sweetest lady. She was kind of scared of us at first, or Mormons in general, but we gained some trust after we helped her take her Christmas tree and decorations down. We told her about why were known as the Mormons and we explained a bit the Book of Mormon. We had her read the introduction page to get an idea of what it is and she started reading it all aloud and literally freaked out when she read Joseph Smith's name. I have never seen anyone's eyes go so wide. 

After a lengthy conversation with her, and a lot of explaining about some common misconceptions, she came to the conclusion that Mormons really aren't so weird after all. We don't have this hypnotic preacher man that we worship who is traveling the States right now. We don't sacrifice babies or any weird thing. Seriously, I'm still not sure how some people can come up with some of the weirdest things and how some people can believe it. It was an eye-opener for me, but in the end the lady is awesome and we are continuing to teach her and her daughter. 

My thought of the week: 

This week wasn't the best. Things were slow, I was sick, lots of the things happened, but I sure did learn a lot. Patience is required. It has never been one of my strong suits, but patience and faith are the keys for being happy and having success. Faith always proceeds the miracles. Always. There is no other way. But there are miracles and tender mercies every single day.

They can be as simple as members giving you the best blackberries you've ever had in your life (for those that don't know, blackberries are my favorite fruit). And we are teaching the sweetest family who has a very traumatic and difficult backstory. Seeing the trust they put in us and the love they have for us is incredible. Seeing their lives changing is amazing. And we had the opportunity to teach them to pray. Now they all pray and have so much faith and hope, and they sing I'm a Child of God all the time. It is their favorite, and when the kids are scared at night, that's what they sing now. Sweet experiences like this make the difference. And I am so grateful. 

Look for God's hands in the details everyday. I promise you, your eyes will be opened. 

I love you all. Have a great week. 

Con amor, 

Hermana Eibert

 

 pics 

1. random vineyard/orchard here in Rengo, ft. mountains and palm trees

 

2. Rengo is cool, I guess

 

 

 

Week 30: I Got Nothing for a Title

Hola familia y amigos! 

This week went by incredibly fast, but at the same time, not much happened. We had our super laid back zone activity this morning and we played futbol (soccer) and some ultimate frisbee. It was fun. We were melting early this week, it was so hot, but today the sky turned grey and it drizzled a bit and I have so missed the rain and the cloudy skies. It was a refreshing break and perfect for playing some soccer and running around. 

We also had the chance to watch President Monson´s funeral and I loved the messages that were shared. So cool to hear an apostle pray too, not very many opportunities for that! What a wonderful service it was and a way to honor his life! I am so excited for the chance to listen to President Nelson speak tomorrow. What an incredible ability we have, to be able to listen to the Lord's voice through His living prophets. Everyone should tune in tomorrow!

My thought this week:

We have seen a running theme this week about la caridad, or charity. People that don't think they are capable of forgiving. It is so sad to see people so rotten or bitter because of someone else. That is definitely your own choice, your own fault. The thing I have learned about charity, is sometime we really don't have the ablity or the capacity to forgive, to heal, to forget, to move one. We lack the ability to change. But that is okay. We lack the capacity to do these things sometimes on our own. The beautiful thing is we, in fact, are not on our own. With the help of a loving Heavenly Father and the price paid by our Savior, we have the divine grace and aid to change our very nature. We have a way to do what we must do to grow, to be happy, to change. Change your nature, not just your habits or behaviors. True change. And it's incredible. It's incredible to see a heart soften. People can learn charity and compassion and humility. The Lord can strengthen them and can incresase their capacity. Where does the capacity to do hard things, like forgive, come from? Only from a divine source. How cool is that?

As always, a jumbled mess of my thoughts. 

Shorter this week, I know, but just know that Hermana Sainsbury and I are up to our usual shananigans and still see miracles everyday. I wouldn't have it any other way. I am beyond blessed. 

 

Con amor, 

Hermana Eibert

 

PS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET ANGEL SISTER! Everyone wish her happy birthday, she's 13 and taking on the teenage years!! Love you Jessica!!

 *pic coming later since sketchy tech is no fun.

Happy Birthday to my little sis!

 

A special noche de hogar with the missionaries! Lots of sopapillas!

And also a typical Chilean meal...Pastel de Choclo and a coke. Very common--haha.

 

Week 29: Mangled in Rengo

Folks, it is so hot!! And on a bike all day, outside? Wow. And AC is still not a thing here! I will never take for granted good ole air conditioning again. Whether it be in a car, a store, a house...whatever it may be! We have taken to sitting in front of our little fan while we are doing our studies. Fans are a tender mercy. Seriously.

But besides a little heat, this week was great! We received our cambios this last Saturday, and after much anticipation....WE STAY TOGETHER. Hermana Sainsbury will have 6 months in Rengo after this next transfer, which is a good amount of time for a Hermana, but we are happy to be staying together! So excited for this next cambio! So much potential with those we are teaching! I know there are so many miracles in store for us and I just can't wait. 

I have learned so much from Hermana Sainsbury too! Part of which includes fixing a bike chain in under 5 seconds! We have lots of bike problems, but we learn quickly too and try not to let anything slow us down. And more than bike problems, I got in a fun bike accident this week. My saint of companion got me cleaned up and I can walk and all, but the other guy's bike was toast (thankful it wasn't my fault either). It was an interesting experience and I am beyond thankful that it wasn't worse. We truly have someone watching over us. (And the subject line was my mom's idea, the bikes were in fact pretty tangled and mangled, I flew off, but at least I'm in one piece--haha). 

We also finally ¨rang in¨ the New Year. A little bit late, but we had fun and substituted some Martinellis with some really yummy apple juice soda thing. It was great!

Early Wednesday morning we also received news from our leaders about the passing of President Monson. So sad to hear, but I also know he is with his beloved wife now, resting and continuing to share the joy of the gospel. It was a special experience too when a recent convert called us because he didn't believe the news and wanted to confirm with us. He was absolutely devastated, and it was so sweet to see this man's testimony about the prophet and how much his life has changed from the words of President Monson. How blessed we are to know that we will continue to receive the guidance and love and revelation of God from our next prophet. 

Short this week! But I am doing so well, I love you all! Have a fantastic week!!

Con amor, 

Hermana Eibert

 

PS-Enjoy our awkward new years pics, instagram worthy, right ? ;)

The first pair of mission shoes completed. Holes in the Soles because of Love in the Shoes.
 

Week 28: Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls

2 January 2018

Friends and fam!

This week was incredible! We definitely rang in the New Year....by sleeping. We were absolutely exhausted, but January 1st we had a blast. It included a perilous journey, deadly obstacles, good friends, and in the end, a beautiful destination, all the necessary parts for a epic adventure. 

Hermana Sainsbury--1 January 2018
 

We hiked up to one of 3 hidden waterfalls that are nearly impossible to get to. I wasn't kidding about the spiders either in my last letter guys, the tarantulas literally walk around on the forest floor. The Hermana we were hiking with freaked out because she thought something was actually was wrong when I took off running and screaming. Let's just say, not the highlight of the trip. But we had to shimmy up this log to climb up slippery rocks and make it to a higher ledge. The waterfall was great, pics really don't do it justice. It was beautiful. How I wish missionaries could swim. Hidden paradise, with some of the best people. So much fun. 

Big ol' Tarantula

 

 

 


With the Gatica Family hiking to the Hidden Waterfalls

Elders Pistorius and Cedillo with Hermanas Sainsbury and Eibert

 

 

 

 

 


 

And we definitely got lost on the way back, went through an olive grove and ended up on private property with really sketchy run down and abandon houses and buildings. I'm currently chatting with my mom and she is worried because she is hoping I was kidding when I said we were a little worried about getting out of the property...had to climb a stone wall to escape, tore my pants and scraped up my knees and arms (and got bit by a horse fly like 5 times) but in the end, it was absoultely amazing! Best p-day yet. Totally worth it too.

 

Thought for this week:

I have been thinking a lot about goals this week and having a plan. Totally appropriate with the New Year. New Year, New You, right?  

We have been teaching a lot of investigators this last week that are progressing rapidly. It is such a blessing to see people changing their lives. They are so determined and they put their mind to it and their faith in God and miracles are possible. And I have been trying to remember that. They really are changing their lives and I need to give it my all to help and guide them. I have so much love for them. I feel so incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to know these people. They are some of the sweetest, they are changing their lives, but they are also changing mine.  

Also: Came to mind a General Conference talk (and if anyone knows which one, feel free to send it to me because I can't find it now--haha) where they are talking about the old classic story of Alice in Wonderland. When Alice has two roads to take she asks the cat which one. The cat replies something along the line of if you don't know where you are going, then it doesn't matter which path you take. How true is this. The difference with us right now, is that we know where we are going. We know what we have to do. We know that our end goal is to be happy, to have joy, to make it through this perlious journey we call life to live with God and our families again. How important it is for us to have a destination, our priorities, our goals and desires so very clear. 

I want to be a better person, I want to learn, I want to grow, I want to be happy. I want to be with my family. Decide to be happy and make it happen. We all have an infinite capacity. Eternal potential. Set your mind to it and get to work. 

I love you all so very much! 

Have a great week! 

Con amor, 

Hermana Eibert

Additional Photos:

Coni's baptism in Alameda, Curico, Chile-December 2017

Favorite Graffiti!!