Hungary for the Gospel in Montana: Week 18 - Another One Bites The Dust

Another One Bites The Dust

Soooo, uhhh, y'all know how last week Sister Egbert was stricken with illness? Wellll, sad to say, but this weekend I have finally caught it right as she is recovered. I don't know what it is but it has not been fun. Luckily it has been a lot shorter for me and I'm feeling tons better now! I have wanted to overwork myself, but don't worry because Sister Egbert is literally like mom, hahah. She has made me chew my food 30x per bite to make sure it doesn't hurt when it comes back up, she has carried me to bed multiple times, she plays the ukulele and sings me to sleep, and on! She is the sweetest.

I think the reason I'm getting over my sickness so fast because she has fretted over me and not let me do anything, thus allowing my body to work on healing better. I have to say though, it has been SO AWFULLY BORING. It is just about the worst to take turns being sick with your companion. I spent about a week going crazy while Sister Egbert was dying, then a few days dying myself while Sister Egbert went crazy. As missionaries, there isn't much you can do in these situations except take "helicopter" care of the sick companion, study, clean, organize, maybe try to sleep, stare out the window, think too long about things, etc. Your brains end up quite fried, heheh.

Through all of this, Sister Egbert and I have gotten very close. We have had some pretty amazing spiritual moments in our extensive studies and conversations. One night when I was sick, Sister Egbert said something I needed very badly out of nowhere. She said something like this: "Don't dwell on what you can't control. You have the right desires, so don't worry about that! This is just something we have to go through. There is a reason for all of this, every moment, every little detail is part of God's divine design. Don't make yourself more miserable by beating yourself up! Make the most that you can of these moments!"

I was definitely having an inner struggle with all that has been going on the past week and a half. I was beginning to feel like an EXTRA unprofitable servant! It feels as though this transfer hasn't even started as we've barely gotten to do the work! God be thanked for my dear companion -- for her not allowing me to overextend myself physically or emotionally.

Anywayyyy, CHRISTMAS!! It really snuck up on me this year. Not that I haven't felt the Christmas spirit this time around, but the actual day of Christmas happened out of nowhere, hahah. I suppose it didn't feel like my typical Christmas. We made videos as we opened our gifts to send to our families. My family sent me videos of them Christmas morning too. It was wonderful! Thank you to everyone for all the sweet gifts and letters. I felt so loved!

We didn't plan well, so we had to go to the gas station for breakfast, heheheh. Then we went to the church so Sister E could make a call while I played the piano. Our first dinner appointment was a 1:00 pm and our second one was at 4:00 pm. After that we went back to the church to call our families! It never quite feels like enough to just talk with them. I have the most loving family ever, and as much as I love it here in Montana, I do miss all the hugs and snuggles at times.

Honestly, there is something so sweet about giving everything I have to the Lord, especially at Christmas. What better gift can we give, than our hearts. Even though Sister Egbert and I have been so sick, we have given as much as we can to the people here in our area. We love them and feel the Spirit guiding us as we serve them.

My life is full of joy, and my heart full of love, unlike I have felt before. Serving a mission is such a gift. When else will have 18 months that I can dedicate to the Lord without the distractions and pull of "normal" life. I am gaining such a testimony of the Spirit, of listening to the Still Small Voice, and most powerfully, of acting on those whisperings. I see the tender mercies of God everywhere. He truly is love. I feel that love so strongly and want to share it with all of His precious children.

He loves YOU. Look for it. Listen. Feel His peace. Let His Spirit into your heart and life. He will bless you. He will carry you through the trials and darkness. Hard times will always come, but through our things He blesses us with strength, compassion and empathy. It is up to us to find the beauty there and to bless others through our experiences.

I love you all!
Sister Alger

Pics after zone conference

Sister Egbert and I studying on our couch because she wasn't feeling well still

Pics next to the duck crossing sign that we both LOVE and think is so cute and funny

We enjoy making GIFs heheh

Merry Christmas from our Zone!

Sister Egbert and I, excited about what we ended up with in the white elephant gift exchange between our zone! Martinelli's and weird shot glasses heheh

The home that we went to for dinner on Christmas Eve was in a neighborhood that participated in luminaries! It was so beautiful, the whole neighborhood was covered in bags lit by candles!!

We took pics in the luminary light with stockings that the Niedens gave to us (you can hardly see the stocking I'm holding with candy canes sticking out of it)