Well, this past week has been wack, but what's new? I made it through my first transfer!! I simply can not believe it! Missions truly have their own time zone, it is the weirdest and coolest thing ever.
So, I got a new companion, my second trainer!! Her name is Sister Egbert! I have heard that it is not as common to have two trainers, but I honestly felt this coming the whole time. I felt peace about it all along too! I have learned so much from my dear first companion, Sister Flake, and already cherish every memory and experience that we have shared. She is such a dedicated, diligent, and focused servant of the Lord! She has incredibly deep love and care for all those whom she comes in contact and truly desires the salvation of every living soul. The power and strength if the Lord which she possesses is so obvious in her countenance, especially when she bares testimony of Jesus Christ. Oh, how I love her!
Now, as for my new trainer…
Ever since Sister Egbert has come into my life, there has NEVER been a dull moment and quite literally at that! Within the first hour of meeting each other, we were almost robbed! She and I went to Walmart for some groceries while the rest of the sisters went to grab lunch. We were going to wait for them inside, but then I remembered something my Papa had sent me. It basically explained that although it is Christmas season, "Tis' the season to be robbed, be careful!" I had left my shoulder bag in the truck (which I never do) and I was uncomfortable with that, so we made sure to be quick to get back out to the truck. We didn't think much of it, assuming that there really wasn't anything to worry about… but then we caught a truck pulling in perpendicularly behind our truck and the sisters' truck next to us! As soon as they saw us their eyes got so big! They immediately pulled away and hung out until they were sure we were staying… thank heavens that we felt to get back to the cars quickly!!
After all of that, the sisters all went to our apartment for lunch and later I helped Sister Egbert unpack and get settled. Throughout all of that, we got to know each other pretty well and let me just say it right now… I LOVE HER SO MUCH! She has been in the mission field for 6 months and has spent it all in Helena. We found out that she left the MTC the same day that I entered it… whaaa! So if I had been originally called to Montana, we would be at about the same point on our missions! Sister Egbert is hilarious, dynamic, bold, driven, and a spiritual powerhouse! We relate on so many levels, it is kinda freaky heheh. She doesn't like sugar, she doesn't watch tv, she loves grammatical mess ups, dad jokes, and bad puns, we both have red hair, her love language is quality time, she's a cosmetologist, paints landscapes, and more! This is going to be a blast of a transfer, I just know it (:
There have been many spiritual moments this week and a lot of them have come from deep conversations with Sister Egbert. She and I can't stop talking! Here are some thoughts we had:
Adam fell that men might be, men are that they might have joy -- Men fail that they may be, and that they may have joy. Without failure we can't succeed, let alone know the joy of it! Without opposition in all things, we wouldn't be able to grow and improve! Struggles, sin, and sorrows are a part of this life. We study scriptures, pray, and follow God's commands not to avoid these such trials, but to be prepared and strengthened for when they come.
Sometimes, trials come into our lives not because of what we are doing wrong, but what we are doing right. As we choose to follow God --even when it may not make sense-- we will surely run into opposition. It doesn't matter how well we are doing, there are always ways to be better! Trials are God's gift to us -- opportunities to become the best we can be! If we were perfect, we wouldn't need trials. We can ALWAYS do better and that's why we need them!
At times, it may seem as though we are going through the same trials over and over. It may feel as though we are going in circles and what we don't realize is that as we go, we are actually spiraling UPWARD. It may seem that our struggles are ineffective but we are reaching higher levels of understanding each time!! One day, after this life, our struggles here will have become effective in getting us past our mortal weaknesses and faults.
Mosiah 7:18
"O ye, my people, lift up your heads and be comforted; for behold, the time is at hand, or is not far distant, when we shall no longer be in subjection to our [mortal limitations], notwithstanding our many strugglings, which have been in vain; yet I trust there remaineth an effectual struggle to be made."
We will have countless struggles and hardships in this life and because of that, we can't let ourselves become caught up in all the little things. If you find yourself dwelling on something, just think about this: If it won't matter in 5 years, don't spend 5 minutes on it! Have a more long-term perspective on each situation you come across and even better, have an eternal perspective! My challenge to you all: Ask God to help you see through His eyes that you may look past what lacks lasting importance, and on to what truly matters!
JST, Matthew 6:22
"The light of the body is the eye; if therefore thine eye be single to the glory of God, thy whole body shall be full of light."
Random:
Ice is deadly! We have slipped a countless amount of times!! One time, I almost landed in the splits (in my slacks, they would've split I'm sure!) and another time, Sister Egbert went to open the truck door and slipped under the truck! We are literally walking on ice all the time.
I love you all very dearly,
Sister Alger
Me cutting Deanna's hair while she hides behind the cape
Cute Sis Flake and her snowflake necklace I gave her for a parting / Christmas gift
Me with my snowflake necklace
Sis Flake and goodbyes with Deanna
Sis Flake and goodbyes with the Reck's
Daily Pic
Sis Flake and goodbyes with Asia and Jazzy
Goodbye pics with our district!! From left to right: Elder Steelman, Schweighardt, and Bekmezian, then Sister Flake, me, Richards, Walker, and Stanworth
Some just sisters pics!!
Sister Flake and I had a fun last little photoshoot!! I adore her soooo much!!! She dipped me and swooped me off of my feet and I was not expecting it heheh
Sis Flake and goodbyes with Sister Donnelle, Aurora, and Kal
Sis Flake and goodbyes with the McGough's
Sis Flake and goodbyes with the Feltis-Jones'
Last pics of all the Sisters in our Zone! Left to right: Sister Shimakonis, Voorhees, Stanworth, Richards, Walker, Flake, and me!
Sister Flake waving goodbye as she boards the transfer bus
I met my new trainer! Sister Egbert!!! I loved her already (:
Sister Egbert has been pretty sick since she got here. I've been working hard to take care of her and get her back on her feet.
Sister Egbert's fancy dinner after we got cancelled on. Its guac on toast, chips, cheddar cheese sticks, cottage cheese and a glass of milk... did I mention she is lactose intolerant?
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