Starfish

This week has been SO LONG and not very productive ha. But as I was going through the week I came across a poem that mom sent to me awhile back. The poem is called the starfish. Its a short little poem but basically it explained how an old man is one morning walking along the beach. In the distance he sees a young man picking up starfish from along the shore and throwing them into the sea. The older man catches up the young man and asks what he is doing, the young man responds, "If the starfish stay out here on the shore they will die from the rays of the sun". The older man replied, "Do you think that you can save ALL of the starfish here along the seashore?" The young man bent down, picked up a starfish, tossed it into the sea and replied, "Well, I made a difference for that one."

Being on the mission I can relate SO MUCH more to this story! At times I feel like I cannot do everything for everyone in my mission area and satan is telling me, "do you think your little efforts are really making a difference?" Some weeks, like this past week, I feel as though I made very little difference. But when I look from the individuals perspective I hope and feel I made a difference for that one. This past week a member in my area found out she has cancer. Yesterday we visited her and I couldn't help but cry. She was the lady that a few months ago we spent her birthday together. The member, with tears in her eyes explained, "I know eventually in life, God gives us trials that strengthen our faith. Now this is my time, the trial of my faith". As I sat there looking at the sweet Hermana I couldn't help but think WHY this incredible lady, who did no wrong in her life, has to suffer so much! I'm sure Heavenly Father felt that same when he watched his perfect son suffer on the cross. I know trials are apart of this life, but only last a moment when looking at the situation with eternal eyes. "God puts trials and allows adversity to come into the lives of the great ones". (this comes from my patriarchal blessing, as it talks about how my children will have trials they will face, but then ends with that phrase which gives me hope and comfort that in the end all will be well).

I love you guys so much and am glad you're all doing well :] I'm excited if kels gets to come to kennedys farewell in Texas but PLEASE no surprises okay> I think I will honestly pass out if I see Kelsey before I get home haha. Maybe if you stay long enough though you could fly home with me Kels :] we will see. I've always planned on seeing you all at the airport. Bah I'm feeling sick talking about going home. Ha have  good week :]

Bus rides & sharing the gospel in JAIL

Buenas dias a mi familia :]

Had such a good week! Valentine's day was fun, my companion and I ended the day with watching this SUPER old mormon video "together forever" HAHA with cookies, pizza, candy, ect. Thank you to my amazing mother for being so kind and sending us stuff for Valentines :] Oh also the whole valentines day when we were in the car we wore some heart glasses that mom sent us haha.

Downtown Houston TX

A lot of things happened this week. This past week was my first time riding on the bus in Houston! It was pretty fun. We first get on the bus and the driver starts driving away before I even start to sit haha so I almost fell over. As we were sitting on the bus Hna W realized one of the passangers was a lady we have been trying to get ahold of for 3 weeks! We went and talked to her and set up an appointment :] I was SUPER nervous to talk to people on the bus. I didnt know how to walk up to them, what to say, I've never done it before. After a few minutes I got enough guts to get up from my seat and go sit behind a guy who I thought I should talk to . Right as I sat down next to him I realized he was sleeping...I started laughing because NOW everyone saw me sit down by this guy who is asleep. My companion eyeballed me to go talk to the guy behind me but I was nervous. Then I thought, "Well, maybe I can just ask him a direction question." I I turned around to him and asked, "Are we going to Downtown?" As the 26 year old started to reply I noticed something hiding on the back of his neck. I quickly realized it was a SNAKE haha so I replied, "WOW is that real?" He, E, laughed and pulled the snake from behind his neck. My companion and I were so amazed. He said the snake was a baby python...haha we were tempted to hold it but decided itd be best just to tke a pic of it. We then started talking about life and he started to explain that his mother passed away after Christmas and his dad died 2 years ago. I asked if he went to a church and he explained how after his mother died he stopped going to church. That that experience weakened his faith in God. It was a perfect opportunity to talk about the Plan of Salvation and how he will be able to see his parents again after this life. We were able to get his information so the missionaries can stop by and visit. We were able to talk to about 6 more different people on the bus, it was a really cool experience. All the people were pretty different. After talking to one guy who asked what I represented he remarked, "No I dont want missionaries to come visit me. I just started talking to you cause you have a pretty face" HAHA I just said, "Well thanks...if you want to learn more heres our website". I am excited to ride the bus more and find those who are prepared :]

Houston Bus Rides with friends 

Last night I realized how worn out missionary work makes you. After I fell asleep I woke back up at 11pm. I dont even know why but for some reason I thought it was time to get up HAHA so I pulled myself out of bed and started praying. As I was praying I thought, "Why isn't she praying too?" I was so confused and so I thought, "Well maybe I have more time to sleep" and crawled back into bed haha. I think it would be so funny in heaven to read through your prayers because I'm pretty sure in all my morning prayers I'm talking about what happened in my dreams. 

This week we also found out one of the less actives in our ward got put into jail. We decided we should go visit him and give him some hope that things will turn out okay. We got to the Jail in downtown and had to wait an hour for it to open. So we called people to try and set up appointments. Finally we were able to go in. As we walked through the doors there was a pretty good size line to see those who were in the jail. Lots of people could tell this was our first time visiting. We really did stand out from the crowd. Finally after a lot of confusion and an hour later we were just waiting for our friend to come up to the glass window. As we were waiting I was looking at ALL the other people who were talking to the inmates. Basically, I saw mothers with their children on one side of the glass trying to speak through a little speaker to their husbands on the other side of the glass-dressed in orange. It broke my heart to see families so close but so far apart. The spirit was totally not there, mothers were screaming to their kids to be quiet and yelling and cussing through the speaker to talk to their loved ones who were locked up. 

Instantly a feeling of gratitude came over me of how blessed and lucky I am to have been born to loving parents who raised me in the gospel of Jesus Christ. With this knowledge I learn of the things I need to do to make me happy, and free. As we follow Jesus Christ we really are freed and do not become inprisoned by things of the world. Finally we were able to talk to our friend. I've never met him or seen him before but somehow his face seemed familiar to me. Since we were not allowed to take ANYTHING with us to talk to the inmates we just taught through testimony to him. We told him how much God loved him and that through is son Christ we can be clean of all sins. We told him how much his family loved him and prayed for him always. He explaiend to us that many years ago he was SUCH a faithfl member in the church, he had even gone through the temple. Something happened in his life where he started to turn to alcohol to solve his probelms and became an addict to alcohol. As he talked to us he had shame in his countanence. You can tell he was upset for what he had done and wanted to change. Before leaving we asked if we could say a prayer with him, he said he would offer the prayer. With people screaming all around I could barely hear his soft words, but what I did hear touched my heart. In a place of no hope I felt peace, I felt the spirit. As E prayed his eyes filled with many tears of sorrow for what he had done and for gratitude for his family and the missioanries. Leaving the jail I came out with having an even greater desire to share the gospel with everyone. I want EVERYONE to have what I have, I feel for those who suffer.

Pizza with the Hermanas

I look at my life know and am grateful for this opportunity I have to see how our actions today really do take a big role on what happens tomorrow. This past week we also had a zone conference with our mission president. He talked about setting life long goals, we had a few minutes to write out what we wanted in our futures and how we would acheive them. One thing I mentioned was how I want to be a good wife and mother and that the mission was helping me prepare to do that. Reading my patriarchal blessing reminds me of the potential I have and how I want to always be a strong member of the church so I can fulfill what God has in store for me. Thank you for supporting me and giving me this opportinuty to serve a mission, to help others, to save souls. As I am about to hit my 22 years since I was born I still to this day am so grateful for the loving family I have. I cannot put into words my love and gratitude I have for you all :] I pray for you all individually and lvoe you with all my heart. How joyful the day will be to hug you all again :

Surprise... your a TRAINER! & "Oh, I Like Ya'll"

Me & my comp Hermana K. I'm going to miss her!

So last wednesday night we get a call from the assistants to the president. They tell ys Hermana K will be training a new missionary. We got a little sad but figured either one of us would leave or we both would stay and have a 3rd companion. There was training meeting the next day on thursday but told us we didnt need to go because hermana K had been to it a bunch of times, so we skipped it. Hermana K was telling me sometimes the assistance forget to call people and tell them they are trainign or transfering so when they day of transfers come and the missionary isnt there becuase they didnt know the pres tells the assistance to call that missioanry and inform him what is going on ASAP haha. I though how anxious that would be to not receive a call that you were leaving an area or training. The whole week it was so distracting to think what would happen!!! 

I prayed the Lord would allow me to speak a lot of spanish and have me be in an area where the people really needed my help. On Sunday the missionj had a big Sing A long 4 of July party with the town. We might be in the church news!! Anyway, I saw a lot of the girls who I came out with on the mission at the choir. It was fun seeing them. 

Last night I reread over my Patriarchal Blessing. As I read it my eyes filled with tears. I always rememeber one part that said I would be a teacher and leader in the lords kingdom.  I felt peace and comfort knowing that one day I would be a leader, not because I want to be the center of attention or want praise but I want to show that I am capable of doing hard things. Before bed I was also reading in the Ensign for this month which talks about the Lord giving people callings in the church. The talk explained that all callings are equally important whether you are a bishop or an usher at the door they all can help give service to someone else. That made me think that whatever I am called to, another junior companion that its just as importnat as being a trainer or anything higher then that. There was a quote in there tht I loved by Pres Monson, "When we are on the Lords errand we are entitled to the Lords help. Remember that whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies".

Today we waited anxiously to get the call. You know that feeling you have on a roller coaster when you are at the top and just about to drop?!! Thats the feeling I had all morning!!! The Elders finally called and told us what was happening. Elder Birks says, "What do you think is going to happen?" We both replied "We dont know!!!" He laughed then said, "Okay heres the list of missionaries leaving their areas; Elder ....., Elder ....., Hermana...., Hermana Jaeger..." My comp and I both looked at each other and went "Aww man" Haha then I started thinking of all the things I needed to start packing. Then Elder Birks started listing off the missioanries who were training, "Elder.......,Elder.........., Hermana K, Hermana Jaeger.." Both my comp and I were shocked!!! We told him, "Umm no one told us Hermana Jaeger was triaing?" Then elder birks surprised, "Surprise!" I'm not sure if either the assistance forgot to tell me or President changed his mind last minute and felt I should train and open an area but whatever the case I know it was called of God for me to go to a new area and train.

This past week we got to take E... a 14 year old girl out on a minin mission to be with us for the day. It was so fun and she did so well! The first lady we talked to was was having a garage sale. My comp talked the whole time because I didnt know what to say. As we walked away from the lady who wasnt really interested i couldnt help but feel bad for not talking more then I could have. I let my fear get the best of me. As we walked to another house my comp asked for emily and I to talk to this next lady on our own. So we went to the next home and knocked the door. I heard feet hurrying to open the door and my heart started pounding, you'd think I'de be use to knocking door after 12 weeks but I'm not haha! Anyway the lady opened her door and I just started speaking. It felt funny because there was a gate she was talking through and I couldn't see anything so it felt like I was talking to a door. Maybe thats why it was easy haha! Anyway they lady was nice and started speaking english because she liked english better. When she heard we were mormons she said, "Oh I like y'all. I voted for Mitt Romney!" Haha we laughed and just asked her questions for us to get to know her more. she was so kind and open to talking to us. We had the chance to shaer a quick message outside with her, give her a little map we mde of the church, and started on our way. Just as we were about to leave I built up the courage to ask her if we could leave with a prayer and she said yes. That day with the help of emily a member we had 3 lessons, 3 member presents, and I believe 3 referrals and visited a less active! It was such a successful day and it was fun having emily come out with us and participate in missionary work. At the end of the day we asked what she thought and she replied, "i didnt know it was this hard haha. I hope I go somewhere cold like Canada". Haha

We are still teaching E and her family. We told her how important it is to attend church because its a commandment. And by going to church we partake of the sacrament helping us to rememebr Christ and be clean. We also mentioned how many blessings the Lord has instore for them if they do go to church.

We taught M and N O. about Lehis dream and the importance of following the word of God. The girls are so sweet. M has applied to 7 different jobs in hopes of getting one that gives her the weekends of so she can attend church! Shes praying for help that she can receive a new job that allows ehr to go to church. M knows without a doubt the church is true. Its fun teaching N because she is 9 and loves reading in the picture Book of Mormons!

This week we taught both R and her husband C. We expressed the need for them to go to church together as a family. At the end of the lesson we sang Yo Se Que Vive Mi Senor ( I know that my redeemer lives) The spirit was so strong and both R and could feel the spirit and got teary eyed. We havent been able to see R a lot this past week but next time we do we are going to extent a baptismal date to her.

The highlight of this week was teaching the HUGE Los T family! this is a family that consists of 3 sisters who all live on the same street! We got to teach them PLUS their friends about the Plan of slavation. It was a powerful lesson because one of the sisters P husband passed away a month a ago. We also were able to teach her 11 year old daughter the Plan of slavation and she liked it. This family is opening up so much to us! The other day we stopped by they told us to join in on volleyball haha! It was a challenge to play in a skirt thats for sure.

Wonderful D Family

We love E and her family

M...!!  :)

Its amazing to see all these miracles happen after we went and visited the temple. Missouri City is such a great area and I will miss the members and investigators there. But I'm excited for the next area the Lord is sending me to. All my trust and confidence is in the Lord because I know for a fact I cannot do this work without his help and guidance in my life. How grateful I am that the challenge I have at this point in my life is to speak spanish because it makes me rely so much on the Lord and on teaching by the Spirit.

Love the R family!

Sweet V and little boy

The M Family .. trying not to cry!

M.... :)

I will get more pics :)

i love you all so much! Hope you are well :]

Love Hermana Ashley Jaeger