12.15.14

Happy birthday 25 Austin!!!!!!!!!(: (psalms 71:9) hahaha!!!
D&C 93:1
Hello All! This week has been just FABULOUS!!(: Let's just say  being in a 4 leg is the best thing of life!!(:
So we had Zone Training meeting on Tuesday, Sister Hassan and I taught a little bit about Joseph Smith with the Zone Leaders. It went well. We have a huge zone! 26 missionaries! After that, Sister Hassan and I are doing a musical number for a musical sacrament meeting next sunday and we practiced a little bit after that. We also had a nice meeting with our sisters and we gave them clickers to count their positive thoughts. There is a story Hillary Weeks tells about how powerful our thoughts are! Look it up, read it, and think positively!!(: We also had a lesson with a girl named Taryn. She is from South Africa. And this sweet girl from Brazil, Mirella came with us! it was a good lesson, I thought all was going well. But then Taryn said she didn't want us to teach her anymore:( The dang adversary. Good thing we have a lot of Christmas activities that she is still interested in coming to!
Wednesday I had my first Downtown experience!!!(: I LOVED IT!!!!! I just love people! And meeting people all day long from all different places in the world and sharing the gospel is the best way to spend a day I think!(: We dropped 21 BOMS!!! look out!!(; haha!! Then after that we went to East Calgary for a huge missionary Christmas party (which we were an hour and a half late to...we didn't get lost or anything(;) haha but luckily they saved us some pizza and we watched MEET THE MORMONS!!!!! it was a nice surprise from President!!!(: and we got cute ornaments with Christ's face and a temple recommend cover of the Calgary temple(: so nice!
Thursday we weekly planned. Also I found out my body doesn't like avocadoes. we had some for breakfast and then I threw up well into the afternoon. ha! yuck! but it didn't last very long!
Well then we had dinner with the lochridge's luckily I was better by then. and they have the cutest log home! They were so cute too! They have only been married about 2 years although they were both married before and stuff. But it is so fun to see older people acting like newly weds!!!(: so cute! also sister lochridges loves horses, she does dressage though! I learned a lot about though! I have an all new respect for it!(: Then when we were sharing our dinner message sister pippert whips out this cool story! so Sister Hassan read 3 nephi 10:4-6 about a hen gathering her chickens. And I didn't realize but when a hen senses danger she will call her chicks and shield them with her wings. Well then sister pippert was talking about a story of a fire fighter. it was his first time and he was with his trainer. When they get into the forrest there are all these mounds of ash. He asked his trainer what they were and the trainer said go kick one over and see. when he kicks the mound of ash all those baby chicks come running out. That is how the savior is for us. He loves us so much he calls in to him so that we can be saved from the raging fires around us!
Well then on Friday we had interviews with president! I love speaking with president. It is like getting a priesthood blessing but I get to ask questions(: we talked about leadership and humility but most importantly exact obedience. he said something like, we can't we exactly obedient all at once but over time we can get better and better if we keep striving for it!
Well then later that night we got to go on exchanges! Something fun we get to do once a week as STL's! I got to go with Sister Gardner and we had a blast! I learned so much from her too! (: Friday we had a huge lunch with the Martin's they were so grateful missionaries helped them move that they invited all 26 of us for lunch! it was amazing! Sister Martin is from the Phillipines and she made the most amazing spaghetti of my life!! it was like sweet!! Mmmm(: Well then we went around and I met so many amazing people in the evergreen area. The coolest experience of the day, we taught this couple from China. They don't have any belief in God, but Franklin had been reading from the BOM since they gave it to him on his door step a week ago! He was so interested! We just talked a lot about faith! it was a cool experience teaching someone who has no knowledge about god at all!! I love sharing my testimony on simple truths!(: Well then Sister Gardner and I met back up with our comps at the wedding reception where I got to hear from you!!!(: And it was so cute! they had a hot chocolate bar there too! so basically I was at the family chrismtas party and didn't even know(; haha! But I loved hearing dad sing! I have been talking about dad singing all week and so when I heard it it broke me down!!(: THANK YOU! I love you all so much! and I love being fought over!!(: hahaha!!(:
Well then Sunday. That morning sister Hassan was singing and saying how she loves sundays because we get to take the sacrament! And I was like dang I need to be that excited about taking the sacrament every week! so I really focused on that and I am going to continue to! it is such a privilege that I take for granted far too often!!!
Then after church our dear friend Maegan invited us to dinner at her grandmas and there was 2 girls there who aren't lds and it was cool to be able to share a message with them. it turned into a big Christmas story time and we sang songs and it was beautiful! the spirit was so strong! I love this gospel and I love Christmas season and bringing others closer to Christ during this special time of year!
Thanks for everything! I love you all!



Exchanges!

Count down to Christmas packages!!(:

Zone leaders helped us change our light bulb!

12.8.14 Prancing through the Spruce Meadows!

Transfer week!! I had a hunch that I was going to be transferred this time around. I just sensed some change. But the first surprise came on Tuesday evening when we were told we would be purged out of Raymond!!! I was a little upset because I didn't want anyone to be forgotten! And I wanted to know they were in good hands! Then the  next night, after we said all our goodbyes and got everyone's addresses so we could stay in touch. While we were stuffing our suitcases to the brim we got a phone call from President Nicholas. He asked me to be an STL. I asked if he was joking! haha. Not so! so I asked my good friend Sister Robson for advice while she was helping us pack and so forth and she just said That it's the Lord's work and the Lord's plan. And it's only with him we can accomplish what he wants done. So I took that with me and headed to Calgary Thursday morning! It was sad because Sister Keller and I were saying bye to people but it didn't click in my head I would have to say bye to her!! I'm glad we got the long transfer together! she is amazing! She taught me so much! Well on the way to Calgary I sat with my grandma sister heslop and I just got really excited for this new adventure! Once in Calgary I met my new companion sister Hassan!! She is like the brunette version of me!! Then I found our Sister Pippert and Sister Creech would live with us and lets just say since we have joined together there has been none stop singing and excitement. My life is so GREAT!!(: We have met all of the sister's in our zone too and boy I am so so pumped for this transfer!! I couldn't be happier!!(: The city life kind of stresses me out a bit when we go shopping and there are just so many people EVERY! But I will get used to that!(: Also we met our YSA ward yesterday! They are the BEST!!! I love just covering one ward so I can meet every single person! our ward misson leader is awesome so is bishop and his wife! And their house is amazing and artsy! oh my(: We taught a lesson to a girl Sabrina and her sister. They have so many questions! And they let us hold their pet pythons!!! ah! and we watched one eat a baby rabbit! It was so interesting! haha just swallowed that sucker whole! Well in the ward Sister pippert and creech replaced the elders so we have been half purging and doing a lot of planning and trying to figure out how to split the area and organizing and I can't wait to get working! This is so different from Raymond. And I definitely miss the small town feel and all of the amazing people and friends and everything BUT there is good everywhere and I am just so happy to be a missionary and to be surrounded by so many people everywhere I go! The church is so true! Jesus Christ is truly our Saviour. I want you to think of what you can give Christ this Christmas!(: I love you all!!(:
Love,
Sister Egbert

Alma 36:3



Pics from the sticks:

some of my sweet Roaches!

This car would always crack Sister Keller up (:

My Girls!!

Sister Jensen's famous dessert dish! She sure spoiled me! I already miss her!!

Last moments with Keller

And With mama Dente!!(: she got her baby at transfers!! woot woot she's cute!

Miss Karma...don Don DON!!!

The bunny's last breaths....

We bedazzled out phone and our last names together say EH(: That's Sister Hassan(:

Getting festive in our home!

12.2.14... Sister Egbert is getting transferred to Calgary!

There is just so much to talk about this week and so little time!! I am getting transferred to Calgary! so i am headed to the big city! Hopefully i get to be there when the Stampede comes to town!(: as for the week sorry i won't be getting into all the details! We have seen so many people and taught so many lessons! It's crazy to think that my Raymond life is coming to an end. I was expecting the change so this week i made to schedule in every single person i wanted to see just in case i left. i decided i am going to start treating every week like i am leaving! We got a ton of lessons taught! and even for having a sick week! sister keller got some virus in her throat, we had to take her to the doctor, she ralphed a few times but with the healing of a blessing she got better! and we got right back to work! It's amazing what kind of charity can be learned through a trial though. It was pretty neat to forget myself and just take care of sister keller and get her better. i definitley believe that this whole week the Lord has been preparing for this transfer though. The only really really hard thing is that fact that i don't know who will be taking care of my Raymonites. But i do know that it is in the Lord's hands and he knows what he is doing. And the important thing is that i know him. And I love him and this is the refinement of missionary work! And not to worry we got treated very well for thanksgiving! We ate with the shimbashi's! (: Also on we have decorated so many Christmas trees! i am not missing out on any part of festivities!!(: We got a call Saturday morning from a non member lady and she invited us to help her decorate for Christmas! It was awesome and she asked us a ton about what missionaries do and things! It was the perfect teaching situation! Then we went to Magrath, they had this sweet MTC experience thing for the youth. They got little mission calls and they set up dinner appointments for them to go teach at and everything! it was a cute thing for them! Sunday we taught another investigator that we have, her husband served his mission in alabama and i don't know what it is, whenever the spirit is strong and someone is learning a baby cries or a dog barks and it ruins the moment! But she was really listening and learning! i loved it! i can't wait to hear where that goes! i have just met so many amazing people here in raymond! i have been well taken car of and i couldn't ask for a better place to begin this amazing experience!! Thanks to all who have done so much for me and prepared me for more of this amazing opportunity to serve my father in heaven!!(:

Love,
Sister Egbert


Mule deer with a tuque!

Freezing cold!

Rockin more blonde and them house slippers(:

no snow....

a day later....

11.24.14

Monday we had another family night thing on the commandments. Not very many people showed up this time, about 20. But i felt like it was exciting!(: haha! Tuesday we had a district meeting in Magrath, learned to teach people more about eternal blessings and not just the blessings we get here on earth. We contacted some sweet people after that! one being this guy, Jason, he is catholic but he is super awesome! So we'll see where that one goes(: we had an appointment set up and they weren't home, we were bummed but we did have splits set up for the night which was rad! A girl who just graduated named brandy came with me. Her first time with the missionaries! I think she was nervous but she did awesome!(: it's weird to think that's how i used to feel! ha! now i just invite myself into people's homes like i belong there! haha! Wednesday morning we got all our packages and stuff ready to send off! We did some service for Sister Roach. We saw a lady named Chris and decided we are going to do something special for her for Christmas(: We went to teach Michelle and her girls, she said they were running late at a parent teacher conference so we went and met her neighbors and found Kristine! It is amazing the little miracles and the amazing people the Lord places in your path! We talked and the spirit was STRONG! holy smokes! she wasnt super interested that she thinks but she definitely invited us back so we were just cheesing from cheek to cheek after that! Then we went and taught Michelle and her girls and i just love them!!(: It's crazy i have only known them a short 4 months but boy i have just come to love everyone around me it is just the craziest feeling! haha(: Then for dinner they ordered a pizza for us from Burger baron, we had had pizza for lunch and the next day we had more pizaa...it was a pizza week! haha(: but it was good! Well after that, we met up with Shealeigh, she just got home from her mission from Vegas, i have mentioned her a few times but she is awesome! She came with us to teach George! He is stubborn though he believes in god listens to the bom and general conference, walks 5 miles a day, we are just trying to steer his walking right into the church on sunday!(: haha! he'll come he now prays! He said the most beautiful prayer this week too! Then we went and visited with a newly wed couple(: The husband ropes and stuff and their house is CUTE! (: and Shealeigh new Brady from HS so it was sweet to have her there with us!(: Thursday we helped andrea around her little farm with her chickens and horses and stuff! dream service right there! We will hopefully start teaching her soon. We ate dinner with the petersons (pizza) haha! and they are just the sweetest! Then we taught Miss Melanie. She is like the most honest person i have ever met i love her! haha! She cracks me up too. and i swear the lessons with melanie are always the strongest with the spirit! Then we taught Phil, the Strongs came with us which was awesome! We are just trying to get him and people acquainted with him better so he feels more welcome to stay for the hour of priesthood at church! He did tell us he was going to start paying his tithing!!!! Friday we pretty solid as well just a brick of a week i'd say!(: haha! We saw sister briggs, she is so funny!! We told her a little story about the plan of salvation she wasn't clear on the fact that everyone will be resurrected and get their bodies again she was so excited when we told her haha! she was like that has been eating me up for days! she said i was thinking of all the things i would miss, my mom's cooking ooh and kissing!! hahahaha(: she is so cute(: We also volunteered at good sam's with the old folks, it was a "where in the world" party! i love it when old people get competitive!(: haha! we had dinner with the cahoons and they are getting their mission call this week!!! we took some elk meat to cheryl and the young couple we taught! They were both so thankful! we also found a house with christmas lights that go to the music on a radio station!! haha!! it was awesome!!(: Saturday was a stressful day for some reason, nothing was going right, we did get to help load some cows though(: We also wrote up a family mission plan and gave the people of Raymond a missionary purpose!! haha! we ate dinner with the oakes family, some organic chicken, and went to the first session of stake conference smelling like chicken! haha it was STRONG!!(: the meeting was good though! a lot about missionary work(:Sunday we only had church for 2 hours!!!! we have not had that....ever! haha(: i wish we could go and meet new people every sunday though! we ended up picking up a new investigator!! soooo proof of why our saturday was rough!(: haha! we also met a newly wed couple who moved to raymond a few months ago into our ward that is struggling the most and they are very missionary minded and came with us to teach a lesson that night we met them! oh i am so excited!! so many miracles such a good week!!! (: Love you!
Sister Egbert

11.17.14

So for the week! you all have basically seen our waterton trip in a nut shell! that night we contacted a family we were referred to and now have 4 gators on date!!!! "miracles happen once in a while, if you belieeeve!!!"(: haha!! it was amazing the spirit was strong and then after that we finally got in to teach a little couple that we have been trying for forever!!! She even started crying!!! But as with all things good there has it's opposite and the rest of the week was kind of a gongshow. We worked hard but satan was too. People have just been getting hit with the Raymond flu bug and it really slows us down. It hit Keller and the people we were teaching. Although we still saw some miracles. and met new people and things. i will let you know more this week how all that unfolds! Thursday our Relief Society Pres in 2nd ward got bit by a cat and she was getting pumped with fluids and her finger was swollen and she had a hectic week to say the least! But she is rabie free!!! lesson learned, just shoot mangey animals!! haha! i also have really been learning this week not to stress little things that we have no control over. The most important thing we can do in our lives in trust in God and try our best each day. I have found that I am very hard on myself. When i take a moment to pray and to think things go a lot better and i am led more by the spirit and not just by rash decisions. I still have a long ways to go with this though(: A ton of missionaries have been coming home from their missions and it is the best thing! It has raised missionary work here! People are thinking about it more and are getting more motivated!! i hope that motivation doesn't die!! So i would challenge all of you to find missionary opportunites and refer the missionaries and pray for experiences when you can share the gospel! Always have BOM and pass along cards in your jockey box(:
So sister Keller has had a rough week between being sick, she also dumped all of her orange julius all over her lap and face while we were having lunch at the Wilde's house!! haha! and also we got asked yesterday if English is both of our native language! hahaha!
We went in to Lethbridge Friday to get some new and safe tires on our car! haha! We don't get in there very often so naturally we had some things to shop for! We went into a store called the bay and may or may not have been buying Christmas package stuff and a lady says come and put your stuff on the counter! and i'm like oh alright, get up there to pay and she is like paying for mine and Keller's stuff!!! I don't know how we get so blessed but y'all better enjoy what you receive it was a blessing for sure!!!(:Then we came back and  helped at Good Sam's and it was like a game show thing! it was hilarious! We always have a blast there! We taught one of my favorite families finally got sister keller in to meet them and their new indoor pig boris(: haha! Then at church on sunday we got called to teach gospel doctrine! It was on Temples and Family History Work. I didn't realize how much passion i had for that until i started talking about it! hopefuly i inspired people to get on it! That is just as important as finding people around us to accept the gospel!(: Well i love you all!
Love,
Sister Egbert


Pictures:

We built a church! (for our family night church tour thing....)

Flegs...like the canadians say

Furry Friends. Meet Zoey (MY DREAM DOG!!!) and Boris(:

ZONE!

11.10.14

This week literally was a BLUR! And I also don't have a ton of time. We are going to Waterton today with Sister Jensen! So watch for pics on FB  and stuff(: So first HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM AND BLAKE!!(: glad you got to celebrate before the cold set in!

So on Tuesday we had district meeting. We talked about Charity, charity is the pure love ____ Christ. fill in the blank(:

We taught so many less actives this week! It was so solid! And we have been able to teach a few of them that we haven't been able to get a hold of forever!!! We just continue to see the miracles! 

Everything really is just going so well!(: Funny story, we had like 10 minutes until we were supposed to be home, it was dark because it gets dark at like 4:30 now! And we decided to go knock on this house, it looked promising! We knock and Brother Mcmullen answers the door. What the?! We ate dinner with them on Sunday even! We did not realize it was their house! haha! It was hilarious! They gave us hot chocolate and just laughed it was awesome! haha! 

Well then Wednesday, we taught the Powelson's as we do every week! I just love them(: I am so glad there are so many cute kids here, without them I would be so homesick for my nieces!! Well they had this CD that was christian music that we are allowed to listen to and they let us borrow it for awhile! So Keller and I have been jamming out! haha(: Then there are so many returned missionaries coming home! It rocks! Sister Keeler and Sister Smith came out on different nights with us this week! It is so nice to get fresh ideas and get more fellowship for the people we are working with! I love it!! 

Thursday, we had our weekly lunch with Sister Jensen as we weekly planned! We went to see this sweet girl who has cancer and she is up in Calgary now:( That means things aren't going very well. We taught these two little unbaptized boys and they were so cute! Braxton wants to be baptized but we've got to get his dad on board somehow...such a sweet kid!! Then we taught Melanie! I can't even believe the progression! The gospel is such a blessing in our lives! Words just don't do it justice.

We helped at Good Sam's on Friday! Rememberance Day (Veterans Day in the States) is a big deal here! I have been sporting my poppy!(: We need to pay more attention to our veterans!!! We taught Cheryl after that and we found her primary songs she can listen to, the only one's we could find were on tape! I felt so old school! haha! Then we went on splitz with 8th ward and we had some MIRACLES!!! Sister Keller was able to teach a LA lady and she really opened up! Me and Sister Wood went to a LA lady who fell away because of the priesthood, she ripped us a new one! haha! I feel bad for her. She even served a mission. That's why we need to ENDURE TO THE END. Especially in these last days. We cannot afford to get confused by Satan's traps. I just love the members here and their willingness to serve! Brother Wood offered the most sincere and heart felt prayer! He is a convert and boy is he solid! That's what we are interested in is converting people not just baptizing them!

I played an accordian on Saturday haha! We taught Sam that morning and she really has a strong testimony of the truth of our church! iI is amazing! The Magrath sisters called us after lunch and said the Mayhues needed some help branding their cows! YES! It was heaven! It really helped cuz i was feeling bad for myself a little not being able to heard cows this week! haha Tender mercy right there(: the only draw back to that was we didn't smell too lovely for the next appointments we went to! haha! It was well worth it though!!(: 

Sunday yesterday was amazing! We had a family that we haven't even taught at church! That goes to show how great our members are!! And we ran into the Moore's who we have been teaching at church too! Sister Smith gave her homecoming talk and the spirit just spoke to me and I was a mess! haha! It was so good! She talked about charity. The difference between charity and caring. Caring is simply just intentions. Charity is acting because we love them and we LOVE CHRIST! I believe this. And I love my Savior. That is why we are here. And missionary work is not easy because salvation was never a cheap experience! But it is our calling. Even not being a full time missionary! We do it because we love the Lord! Hope you all had a good week!

Love,

Sister Egbert

Photos:

Dog in a diaper! 

Accordian!

Branding!

Quote!

Got stocked with Groceries! Thanks Tatlows!

11.3.14

So Tuesday we just did some work in the morning...not very many people were home, we had lunch with the Roaches, they lent Sister Keller their guitar to play on but a string had gotten broken so it needs some tuning. After that we went to the Tatlow's and helped them make pizza for a struggling family and they don't eat anything else, therefore we made a ton of pizza! Also she is an amazing member missionary! She invited her friend to come make the pizza with us and we have started getting a relationship with her so hopefully that is the start of something good! We helped out with Activity Days and they were making sugar cookies and we ended up "booing" some people with the cookies!!(: haha! I forgot how intense it was doorbell ditching! Especially since it was still light outside!! haha! Then we had a correlation meeting with a ward mission leader and we watched Elder Bednar's talk "Ask in Faith" I think from 2009. It talks about the importance of MEMBER missionary work!! Watch it, and act on it(: 

Then we went on exchanges, Sister Armstrong came to Ray Town! She's a boss! We walked into the seminary and someone was playing beautiful piano music! It was our good friend Casey and her friend who isn't a member. We got chatting with them a bit, sweet sweet girls. Her friend takes seminary! I see some potential there! Then we had lunch with sister Dawna Jensen and a sub seminary teacher (who served her mission with the lady that taught me in the MTC!!!)  And we chowed on some Subway! Then we lost our car keys!!! Tracked everywhere we had gone! Then found them in Armstrong's purse! haha! Then we taught Michelle and her girls! We sang "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man" and taught them how Christ is our rock! haha Sister Armstrong and I should go pro for our amazing singing skills! hahaha!(; 

Then we exchanged back, we went to a Halloween dinner and met FRANKENSTEIN!! haha! It was a chili/pie cook off! Talk about a combination! haha! Then we went and taught George and Phil that night! They are both doing awesome! I love when we can count on people to be home with the times we set up!(: 

Thursday, after we weekly planned, we ate at the Flyin Hawaiian Ultimate Taco Bus, minus the tacos! (: It was delish! Then we had house inspections and sweet Elder Kunkel just thought we were cleaner then a bean! Needless to say we passed(; Then we taught Cheryl, she said she hadn't read this week so we set up a time to go see her Saturday. We taught Melanie and she has been doing so awesome! We love Melanie! And we happened to have so much food given to us from dinner and we were teaching Melanie about tithing then I just felt like we needed to give her that food and we did and proof of the blessings we promise right there!! Then we went to our second Halloween party. It was also chili! haha! They had apple bobbing though which was hilarious!! "jimmy they don got soaked" haha! 

Friday HALLOWEEN we had a big zone conference learned so much goods. The night before also, Pres had asked us to prepare talks and as I was writing mine I was like "Keller, I'm giving the talk tomorrow," and she was like "Whatever, you are just stressing out" and I was like "You just watch!" and sure enough I got called to give the talk! haha! I'll have to send you guys a copy. The spirit does some good work somehow helping me form words in a way they make sense! I learned a lot just from what was coming out of my own mouth! haha! Then we had to be in early and we got 2 trick or treaters! Good thing I had some candy from my Halloween packages!(: I love cute kids! Ah! Made me happy!(:

Saturday our phone was all messed up and it set itself an hour ahead so I woke up at like 5, got out to the living room and saw the real clock and let's just say I ain't no morning person no matter how many times I wake up at 6:30. That's a precious hour!! haha! Well then we practiced a song I played for Sister Robson and her daughter on Sunday while they sang! We helped cut out some letters for the community play. We taught Cheryl which was awesome! She has goals of going to do baptisms for the dead! We got Sister Keller her flu shot and an epi pen because she is allergic to bees and nutmeg...tis the season! Then we had dinner with the Olson's. Sister Olson is french, so she gave us some strong cheese! Yikes! I will stick with my medium cheddar! hahaha! I tried goats cheese and some STRONG bleu cheese....Then we had an impression to go knock a door and it was a sweet guy who is going through a divorce. He has the cutest daughter, Lucy. He showed us all his sweet guns and Harley's and this sweet Indiana Jones Jeep and just a whole bunch of stuff! They have a huge basement with a puny pool table right in the middle! HAHA!! I should have taken a picture!!(: Then it SNOWED! Like dumped! So deep it was like to my forearm!! I think I need taller boots! But it is beautiful! I love snow! So since it was testimony sunday, Sister Keller and I decided we were gong to share our testimony in every ward we cover!! That is 4! I don't think I will ever be afraid to get up in front of a crowd ever again! haha! It was a neat experience. Bearing testimony helps to strengthen my own as well as others. It invites the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is Christ testifing to us that HE IS ALIVE!! He lives and loves us. The best way to strengthen ourselves is by seeking the source! 

1 Nephi 10:6. Read it. Learn it. Love it.

Love, Sister Egbert

Photos: 

BOO

Flyin' Hawaiian...Twinsies!

Best costumes of the night! The one where we are looking you can't see his stump feet! haha!!

free hat

pink haired cop!

Many are cold but few are frozen! SO MUCH SNOW!