Chile con Grace-o: Families Can Be Eternal

Cheers!

Scout and Mama in one happy photo :)

Carol's Goals: Smile, Pray, Read, Go to Church :)

Feliz Cumpleaños Hermana Briggs!

Mission Conference: Farewell President Morgan!

WOW this week was a crazy emotional ROLLERCOASTER! Lots and lots of reasons. Ready set go: I talked to my family of cute guys!!!!! I said goodbye to my favorite mission president I've ever had. We dropped an investigator; we invited others to get baptized. We shared our testimonies. We went to the temple. We saw lots and lots of miracles. We were gifted about 20 lbs of food. We shared our testimonies. We celebrated Hermana Briggs' birthday. I found a new favorite scripture. We got rejected a lot; we got accepted a lot. We shared our testimonies. We had 3 investigators come to church. We went to a baptism. We shared our testimonies. We laughed and cried and sang and so many other things!!!!

Talking with my family was really great! I'm a huge fan of them. It reminded me of why I am here and how important missionary work is. When people ask me why I decided to serve a mission, it's kind of tough for me to answer, because it was and is an accumulation of sooooo many things that have brought me to where I am now. But something that is so important to me, and something I want everyone to know, is that our families can be eternal. That the relationships we form here on earth can be more than just "'til death do we part". That the family is something so sumamente importante to God that he would make sacred covenants with us so they can be forever. I am so grateful for my family, and for this knowledge that gives so much hope and comfort. I am here to share it! I have heard missionaries say "I can sacrifice 1.5/2 years with my eternal family to help others form their own", and it's true. I can do that. I want to do that, and that is so much of why I am here! Can't wait to be with y'all for eternity!!!!!!

i am going to miss the Morgan family and President Morgan! He is the personification of unadulterated love I think. But, my new mission president, president Brotherson, gets here on Friday and I am excited to greet him! I have gained a firm and abiding testimony that Heavenly Father most definitely knows what He's doing when He calls His leaders.

We decided to eat reeeal healthy this week, so we bought almost only fruits and vegetables. Then everybody and their dog started giving us food. Sushi, a full pizza, chips, cake x4 (not exaggerating), bread, strawberries. You name it. DEMASIADO! But it was so kind of them to share, and all so tasty, so it was only half bad.

Juan Pablo update... we taught him the law of chastity. He thought it was crazy and dropped us. Then he came to church on Sunday. We were pretty confused when he walked in, but hey! As long as he's putting himself in a position to feel the spirit, that's great! Super, really!!!

We made some good old goals with our friend Carol, and she was excited to meet them! It is a happy thing to see people who want to improve their lives make the changes and take some steps toward that desire. Go Carol!!!

I have been studying a lot about the atonement of Christ and I have really grown to love and appreciate my Savior. In Alma 7:12 it says, "And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." He died so that we could live. That is so special. He must love us so much to sacrifice so selflessly for each of us. But what I want to focus on is where it says "infirmities". In Spanish it uses the word "debilidades" which could be translated as disabilities or weaknesses. I like to take all of these many meanings of the same word and think about them together. Jesus Christ has felt literally everything that we feel, whether it be the result of a sickness, physical or mental, a disability, or a weakness that we are trying to overcome. He has felt it all. and he did that willingly, took them upon himself, in order to know how to succor us, comfort us, and give us relief in any moment. I am so grateful. Eternally grateful.

I encourage y'all to study the atonement of Christ. It is changing my life.

I love y'all like crazy! I hope you're looking for ways to be with Christ and bless God's children! Besitos! Un abrazo!

Love, Hermana Siebach