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. 

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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.

Week 67: Tengo Una Mesa en la Mision

This week was full of miracles and craziness. 

We had our interviews with President Harris this last week and we were able to watch the Face to Face Elder Cook did earlier this month as well. 

Funny of the week: one of the new missionaries was introducing himself and saying he has one table in the mission, while trying to say he has one month in the mission. Learning a language is fun. Makes me wonder what kind of fun stuff I said when I first started and nobody corrected me.

It rained off and on all week, but we always happened to enter a house or be in a meeting when the downpour started. The weather has been a bit crazy but we know the summer heat is about to kick in so we have been enjoying every bit of the cooler weather.

One of my favorite people we are visiting has been meeting with the missionaries for over 16 months and when I first arrived here in this sector we finally committed her to come to church and she came! But for the weeks that followed, every complication came up and she couldn't come again. BUT even after she cancelled our appointment this last week, she called us out of the blue Sunday morning as we were leaving for church to ask if we could come by and walk with her. We were so excited!! Unexpected and a beautiful tender mercy! She was happy and content too and we are so excited to see her progressing!

This week was so crazy and we didn't actually have a minute to stop and celebrate our birthdays until Sunday (yesterday). And Hermana Collins and I almost shared a birthday with a new baby grandson of President and Hermana Harris...but he was born like 20 minutes after the 25th. But all in all, it was a fun birthday. Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes and who didn't forget about me--hahaha. 

 

Hermana Jimena--Talca, Chile on 30 September 2018

Thought of the week: 

We, as a mission, are studying humility this cambio I loved this part I read when I was studying a bit about it: 

¨Humility is not a sign of weakness, timidity, or fear; it is an indication that you know where your true strength lies. You can be both humble and fearless. You can be both humble and courageous.¨

I really like this. Humility doesn't mean letting people walk all over truth and righteousness (or letting them walk over you). We have to be firm and steadfast in what we know to be true. We also must be humble. Humility is not a weakness, it is a strength! And I think the foundation for all the other attributes we want to develop. 

Have a great week!! Love you all

Con amor,

Hermana Eibert

Dogs inside and outside of the fence.