Letter to my BROTHER Elder Jaeger

Family-  

This week I feel a great urge to direct this letter to my little brother. Austin, I want you to recap and think about all the fun events that have occured for you these past few weeks leading up to your mission. Can you see and feel the love from those who you are surronded by? I want you to remember that all those people who wished you luck will be praying for you. Every day. You will be prayed for in the temples several times a week. Angels will be with you all day. Every day. To bear you up. To protect you. To watch over you. You're setting apart as a missionary is a real thing. You have authority to preach the gospel. elder godlen from the 70 shared an interesting knoweldge with us missionaries. Austin, did you know there are 3 main powers on the world today?

The power of faith. The power of the priesthood. The power of the devil. Many times I have seen and used the power of faith on my mission. Faith seems like such a primary/basic topic but its important. You will see as you are on your mission that you will be put through situations that will test your faith. Trust in God. As you are stretched because of trials you begin to use and rely on your faith and it starts to grow. Faith brings miracles.

You have the power of the priesthood. Austin always stay vitruous and clean so you have use this power to its full advantage. How grateful I am for the power of the priesthood in my life. Without the priesthood I wouldnt be a missionary. I wouldnt have been baptized. This church wouldnt exist today. One of the things we have in our church that makes us different from the rest is the power of the true priesthood. We teach the restoration as the first lesson with people because its what our church has that no other church has claim on. How blessed we are to live during a time where the true church has been restored back ont he earth.

And here is the reason why God has called you, Elder Austin Charles Jaeger, as a missionary of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Lucifer has power and is trying to destroy your precious brothers and sisters. But remember, Gods power is much greater. We know that in the end Gods team will win in this battle. You have power. Remember that your Father in heaven" worketh by power, according to the faith of [his children]" (moroni 10:7). Trust in God. Without his help Austin we cannot be successful in our work as missionaries. If you struggle with learning the language, trust in God. If you are scared to open your mouth to someone on the street, trust in God. If you are feeling homesick or like you dont belong, trust in God. He knows you perfectly! He loves you and knows what to put in your path for you to endure and make it back home to him.

How proud I am of you Austin to go and serve your mission. The people in Santiago need you. God is preapring people over there for you to teach and baptize. All you must do is pray for guidance from God, and go out and work HARD to find those who are prepared.  "And ye are called to bring to pass the ^agathering of mine ^belect; for mine elect ^chear my voice and ^dharden not their ^ehearts;" (d&c 29:7). The elect are waiting for you Elder Jaeger! So tighten up your tie, lace up your shiney new shoes,  and go to work. I love you with all my heart.

Love- your sister Hermana Ashley Jaeger

Week 4 MTC

Okay so this week in the MTC has been cool. My district is now the oldest district in the zone for the next 2 weeks. So weird. Yesterday my companion and I had to teach 4 people!!! Usually you just teach one person but it was the best day I've ever had while out on the mission. I love to teach people but again, it's way hard to do in another language.

OH! I have an embarressing story. So thanks mom for typing all my letters onto the blog....maybe I should clarify ahead of time what I do and don't want on there HAHA. I'm not mad I just can't believe this happened.

So I have 2 teachers Hermano W and Hermana R. The other day Hermana R came across my youtube video of me opening my call. She sent that video to all the teachers that knew me. Then I think my blog link is somewhere on the youtube account. So my teacher Hemana R clicked on it and started reading my blog. She laughed when she say me talking about my first P-Day and I had said something like, "The language is hard but the view is nice, but don't worry the teacher is married". I almost died haha I told her not to tell Hermano W until AFTER I left but who knows he may have already read it haha. All the girls in my district joke about it. Yesterday Hermano W told us to give him our parents emails so he can email you guys. Then he said if we wanted to give him our emails or blogs to see how we are doing. ALL the sisters looked at me and started laughing so hard, it was way embarressing. When he asked what we were laughing about I told him nothing.

It's so hard being here in the MTC for 6 weeks it feels so long! And weird to think I've already passed a month since I reported to the MTC.

I came across a scripture that I LOVE! It's Helaman 5. It talks about how Nephi and Lehi (NOT the Nephi and Lehi at the beginning of the Book of Mormon these are 2 completely different people. they are brothers) Nephi and Lehi were remembering the words their father Helaman spoke to them.
in vs 6 it says, "Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. behold i have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of jerusalem; and this I have doine that when you remember your names ye may remember them, and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said and also written that they were good"

I like to take this verse and read it as if my Heavenly Father was speaking to me as a missionary about receiving/wearing the name of Christ. "Behold my missionary I desire that ye should remember to keep my commandments. and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. behold i have given unto you the name of your Savior, Jesus christ from Bethlehem. And this I have done that when you remember and read his name upon your nametag ye may remember him. and when ye remember him ye may remember his works. and when you remember his works ye ye may know how that it is said and also written that they were good"

I love you so much! I'm sorry this letter is random. I will go on later today and write more :]

Oh could you please tell Sister V F that I say hi, i love her, and thank her for sending me joel and brandon's letters! Tell her I see Joel every once in awhile and he is so happy! the other day he sent me canadian candy haha he's so sweet. Everytime I see him i wish i could hug him because he's such a good friend of mine! i'de send you a pic but i lost my card...

Oh also say hi and thank you to sister B for the letter :] and Emily S tell her I love her and appreciate her letters to me about if i need anything.

Take care! Love you so much!!!

Love-Hermana Ashley Jaeger

Week 1 MTC! "Obedience brings blessing, but exact obedience brings miracles"

Hola!!!!

I've had to wait 8 days to finally receive my P-Day haha so I'm happy it's finally here. I miss you guys so much and hope all is well. Thank you for all the letters and everyone else. I get at least 3 everyday and it makes the other missionaries jealous haha not that I want them to feel like that but it makes me feel loved to receive letters:] Oh side note, Kels is doing great and she loves you.

Okay so here's how the MTC has been for me. First 2 days were awesome and so spiritual! Ive never experienced anything like the MTC. My companion is Hermana R from Utah she is so funny. We have grown a lot together. Shes just as sarcastic as me, as tall as me, and likes to laugh like me. The first thing she said to me when I met her, "Oh my gosh I watched your video on youtube of you opening your call! I cant believe your my companion!" Her mom said that I am famous in their house hold hahaha!

I am slowly getting use to the language. after 4 or 5 days in the MTC (its called CCM in spanish) we had to teach our first lesson in spanish to an investigator which is actually a teacher. The lesson went horrible because the investigator did not understand A WORD we were saying in spanish! After the lesson we went out and cried and prayed so hard! I have never prayed so much in my life. But as the days go on and I pray more and more and read the scriptures my knowledge grows and I'm starting to get the hang of things. I know we can be blessed with the gift of tongues aslong as we a diligent in learning the lanuage.

I've seen a couple FRIENDS here like Elder F, Sister W, Sister L, and a few others!! Oh FYI we arent singing at Conference haha someone said that and it spreadlike crazy, it was a false statement.

Elder Finnie (friend from home & Hermana Ashley Jaeger)

I have so little time and I am trying to think what to say!! Just know that I KNOW this church is true! I believe it with all my heart. We must always strive to be obedient to be able to hear the voice of the Holy Ghost. "Obedience brings blessing, but exact obedience brings miracles".

I see my sis Kelsey every night! I love it. I feel I must always protect her because I'm her older sister.

How blessed I am to follow the spirits promptings and go on a mission. Its hard no doubt but it's helping me grow and become what God wants me to be. I want to live my life always in his service. I know his words are true and he lives. How excited I am to teach others the love of this gospel!

I love you guys so much. I pray for you all the time. Sorry this letter is all over the place. I'll try and explain more in writing :]

Until we meet again,

Hermana Ashley Jaeger

Good Bye ~ The Drop Off

On our way to the MTC!

Saying goodbyes at the Provo Temple

 

Saw Elder Finnie as we entered!!

  

Look at all those cute Host Missionaries!

"God be with you 'till we meet again"

And there they go!  :)

Open House ~ Farewell

Farewell Talk After Church.  ME & MY SIS

Texas & Washington Candy Bar

Best cup cakes ever.  Thank you Sarah!

"3" OF US GIRL COUSINS ARE ON ~ MISSIONS!!!!!  One boy is coming home!

Some more Cousins! 

BEAUTIFUL NANNY :)

OUR WONDERFUL STAKE PRES ~ OUR AMAZING BISHOP

GRANDPARENTS

GRANDPARENTS

PARENTS

BROTHERS & SISTERS (AUSTIN, KELSEY, BLAKE, ME & GARRETT)

SET APART ON MY 21ST BIRTHDAY! 

Called to Serve-in Houston, TX

A few days before Christmas of 2012 my sister Kelsey and I received our mission calls on the same day! I will be reporting to the Texas Houston South Mission and Kelsey will be reporting to the Kennewick Washington Mission. We both will be speaking Spanish and both be reporting to the Missionary Training Center on February 27, 2013.

The Jaeger Family. The day we received our mission calls

My sister and I had the priviledge before our mission to work in the San Diego temple. We thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to help us prepare for our missions. What a stronger love I have for the Lords temples. There we are able to make and keep sacred odrinances that allow us to live with our families for all time and eternity. My grandpa is in the Temple Presidency and we got to see our grandparents each week

Working at the San Diego California Temple

On February 21, 2013 my sister and I were set apart as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This was such a special day for me because it was also my 21st birthday! Being set apart means you are set apart from many worldly things such as the internet or use of a cell phone so you can focus all your time and efforts to serving a mission. 

My amazing parents 

My sweet siblings

How excited I am to go and serve and love the people of Houston Texas. My love for this gospel grows stronger with each new day!!

Mission Calls

Me and my sister got our mission calls.