Farewell, 4 weeks left

This is why they call me Nurse Jaeger

Hey fam :]

A LOT has been going on this past week and I'm surprise I can still remember my name haha. I will try and remember all that good things that went on this past week :]

MTC comp Hna R & MTC friend Hna N

On wednesday we had the farewell temple trip to all the missionaries leaving. It was such a nice experience and I loved seeing my MTC companion Hna R and N again in the temple :] it brought back flash backs of when we would all go together while in the MTC. 

The day before I was able to go on an exchange back to B for a day! Wow it felt so weird being back in my old area, it brought back a lot of good memories of Hna O and Hna S. I made a couple of the members tell Hna S I said hi and to email me haha shes so sweet and today I got 2 emails from her. 

My District!

Hermana O I trained & Hermana G ~ & MTC Companion Hermana R

Hermana T and a ton of Hermanas from the Mission

It was so cool to see I my first convert! At first she didnt recognize me and I thought,  well its okay at least I can see her :] Then when she finally looked up to see us she said, "Wow, what a miracle. I'm so surpired you are here!" It made me feel so happy to see she remembered me and was happy to see me :] because of her health she still kept falling asleep in the lessons but I knew exactly what to do to get her attention :] I realized that since I spent so much time with her I figured out a way to teach her to her needs. I also saw K O and her family :] It was so fun seeing them , K actually came out teaching with us. When I was leaving she said, "You and Hna S were my favorites". I was also able to see the J family who help me out so much driving us to different lessons when it was in the freezing winter. 

My MTC Companion!

sunday we were able to have 6 less actives at church!!!! It was so awesome and a recent convert of mine J :] it was the best thing ever! Monday night we had the farewell dinner with all 40 missionaries. It was fun talking with Hna R again, we had a lot of good laughs about our missions and our time together in the MTC. As we hugged to say goodbye i told her, "Sprint to the end!" And she replied, "Of course. We started and will finish our missions together :]". It was interesting at the farewell dinner, i didnt feel like it was my turn to go home yet. i know im supposed to be here for a reason. 

Last week Ca and G had their baby girl. Her name is A and we will hopefully get to meet her this week :]  hopefully before. 

I love you all so much! I know the last 4 weeks are going to fly by so fast and then I'll be home :] I love you all and hope everything is going well. Adios!

At the Dr again.

Blessing From On High

All the Hermanas in our Mission.  Houston Texas Temple Day 
(Thanks to Hermana W's mom for the pic)

Last year we as a mission worked very hard bringing souls unto Christ. Because of how hard we worked our mission president and wife celebrated our success by taking the whole mission to the temple. Wow it was an incredible experience that I will cherish through out my life. Because our mission is so big they made groups of 4 and had each of us go on different days of the week. All the Hermanas went and did a session at the same time. And the temple president (president Crane) did the session! I was actually the first one to go into the celestial room and there was Sister Ashton the temple presidents wife waiting to great all the missionaries into the room :] after the session they took us to a room where our mission president AND temple president spoke to us and answered questions for us while we were in the temple. I had an amazing experience while there that I want to share with you. Here is one paragraph of what I wrote to my mission president,

" Wow I learned so much but I feel impressed to share one specific experience that I had that opened my eyes. Before the session started I opened up the bible and started reading in Matthew 20:8 and this phrase stuck out to me, "Call the labourers, and give them their hire". For some reason this phrase wouldn't leave my mind so I made a mental note to remember where this scripture was and look it up during a personal study. Then after the session while you were speaking you read the scripture D&C 31:5 which reads, "Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall live". When I heard you share this scripture wow I had a reconfirmation that I do have a father in heaven who knows me and leads me through out my life and in what i do. Many times in my life I do not notice his hands guiding me with where to go or what to read but from that experience in the temple I know, without a doubt that there is a God. And he is my father. I went home and for the past few days have been striving to study these scriptures to understand what my father in heaven is trying to tell me."

With one of our investigators she wants to wait another 2-3 months until she is baptized. When I heard this it broke my heart, I know I was sent here to the area to help her and to hear she wants to wait longer after all the studies and prayers and fasts ive done for her it was hard to hear. But I know that as for me as a missionary I have done all I should and could to help her. She is an amazing person and has no doubts.,

And to the men of the world who have the priesthood I repeat the words of our prophet Thomas s monson, "Live worthy of it!" Remember, your actions do not just effect you, they effect SO MANY PEOPLE!!!!! We are blessed and protected when we live gods commantments, when we dont we become miserable, wether today, in a couple years, maybe not until heaven. WE must keep all the commandments of God to be happy and to return to him. I know this is the true gospel of jesus christ. I know he lives. This is his church. 

Thank You

It was so niec to see all your faces and hear your voices Skping :] Its weird to think how long its been since I've hugged you all (not for you Aus, you were sneaky and saw me here before you left on your mission haha). 

This week was awesome! Hna B and I have been helping our recent converts with family history so they can take names to the temple. When we had a zone conference with the mission president he talked about how we need to help people with their family history, which is what my comp and i were already doing! Last week the ward had a temple trip set for the youth and recent converts to go to , we had 2 recent converts and made it our goal to get them to the temple!  With L and his family we went to their home, his mom E said they were trying so hard to get info about SOMEONE but found nothing. I told them, "Well I know there is power in prayer. If we pray with faith that we will find an ancestor of yours to take to the temple the Lord will help us!". After about 2 hours we found the info of a grandfather that the F family was able to take to the temple :D J the other recent convert also went to the temple. We watched them do temple baptisms, it was an incredible expereince. To see them be baptized is one thing, but to see them THEN go to the temple is incredible. I want to help EVERYONE not just be baptized but go to the temple. That is the place were testimonies are strengthened. On Sunday J actually stood infront of the class and bore his testimony about bapstims for the dead and his experience in the temple :] it was so awesome! 

I love you all so much! I know the Lord is watching over you all and protecting you :] let me know if you want me to send you something cool from Texas before I go home!!

P.S. i love that you ate elotes hahaha. for my homecoming maybe we can cook come hispanic food :D

HAAAAAPPPPY BBIIIRTTTHHDDAAAAY mi hermanito (little brother)! I love you so much Garrett you are getting SO OLD! and what the you have facial hair and your voice is deep?! where did my little garr bear go?!! I hope you have a great 17th birthday bud :] eat lots of cake for me and give yourself a BIIIIG hug for me haha. I love you sweet garrett :]

Happy Easter-Ashley 4/15/14‏

Texas Houston Temple trip with my Companion Hermana W

I was able to go to the temple this morning and I loved it :] one thing I took from it is the importance of reading our scriptures. I have gained so much knowlegde from just simply reading daily in the scriptures. I know its such a primary thing to say "read them daily" but WOW have I gained a strong testimony about opening the scriptures and READING them. I have found so many answers in them, I receive so much mroe guidance and direction in my life by the knowledge I've gained from people in the scriptures. 

Part of last week I was in a different area on exchanges so I had no idea what was going on here in my area for 2 days! But things are going well we are just trying to find new people to teach. We keep going on the bus to talk to people and see if anyone is interested. I am doing good, am happy and love my area and my companion. I'm grateful for this time I have to serve a mission and figure out more about my life and who I am and who I am capable of becoming. i know the Lord has a plan for me and even if i dont know what it is right now I have full trust in him that he will guide me to happiness. I know as we lean on him and trust in him, in the end we will have looked back on our lives and be grateful for following his guidance. I love you and hope you have a happy easter :]

Finally P-Day! Elder Russel M Nelson, my sis, temple

I cannot explain how much I needed this P-Day hahaha. So We had stake conference this weekend and Elder Russel M Nelson from the 12 came here and spoke to us!!! Oh my gosh it was the coolest experience ever! Sunday morning he was the last speaker and at one point he asked all the little primary kids to stand up and wave their arms to him! Our little investigator K came and she counts her self as a primary kid :] our mission presidents little 8 year old daughter sat by us and we had to help interprate the talks into English for her. Anyway, as the primary kids stood up he asked them to sing Soy Un Hijo De Dios. Their little voices were so soft and sweet, just like the spirit. I cried. At the end Elder Nelson, who is 89, took both his hands, kissed them, and waved them to all the children :] He stood at the door for like 2 hours afterward to shake everyones hand :]

Me and my sister!

oh no I only have 8 minutes left cause ive been emailing mom and kels HAHAHA ill send a written letter home but know im doing a lot better. it was hard to hear about kels going home but I am relieved to know she is honorably released from her mission and is safe at home :] I went to the temple today and prayed so much for my sister. Kels and mom I also put your names in the temple.

Houston Texas Temple trip

Kels I know God loves you. My mission presidents wife receved some revelation for you that I want to share :] God doesnt go by measurments. Like in school we see how we are doing by our grades which tell us how we are doing and where we need to improve. But God doesn't measure like that. He loves you because your his precious daughter. He is EXTREMELY happy to see that you served with all your heart :] He knows your heart and he knows your sacrifices. He is so proud of you for serving more than other teenagers would! God wants to teach us what we are ready to learn. He realizes your sacrifice and is so grateful for the missionary you were and the person you have become.. I am so proud of you my sweet sister Kelsey. I cannot put into words what an inspiration you are to me. You are my best friend and I will do everything and anything to protect you and to make you happy. As I entered the temple today my mind flooded back with a moment when we served together in the temple :] I got emotional. I didn't want to take of the temple clothes because I felt like I was at home. So after the session, in the locker room I sat in my white dress and said a prayer that I will have the strength once I put my street clothes back on to do the lords will and that I can feel okay for the next 7 months. And you know what, I feel okay :] I know God will help me. I know he will watch over you Kels and I am just so happy you are back safe in loving arms. :] Take care, my heart is always with you all. P.S. Kels every time I put on my nametag I still think of you, my other Hermana jaeger (my sister)

Peace in the Temple

Temple trip had to leave here at 6am to make it to the 8am session.  :)

family!  Sorry this email is gonna be short. We moved our p-day so we could go to the temple today on tuesday :] it was so amazing. When I got into the celestial room I started to cry. I havent felt peace like that in my life since the last time I visited the temple almost 4 months ago. The whole time in the temple I just kept thinking of how much I want to be there with my family. How I want ALL my investigators to work hard to make it to the celestial kindgom! They have no clue what they are missing out on.

Also happy birthday to my little cutie brother Austi :] I'm sending a letter hope it gets there on time! Your Mission pictures are so sick austin!! sent me an invite!  Chile is coming fast.

We had a miracle week and had A TON of lessons. I know we are going to have a baptism this transfer :] R has an interview with mission president tomorrow night to see if he can be baptized. The other day he told us when we come to visit him it  makes him feel at home. All his fmaily lives in ecuador and he misses them terribly. His kids are almost all the same exact ages as the kids in our family!! He told us we are good teachers and we are his good friends. He said we are like his daughters and I thought that was the sweetest thing ever!

Me and my Comp Hermana O

Know that I am doing really weel :] I'm excersising my faith more and seeing a lot of miracles coming from it. This week I made to personal sacrifices to show Heavenly Father I will give my all to have a baptism... one was Life cereal (i am addicted i eat that stuff every day) and naps haha 

One day it was pouring so bad.  My scriptures got wet and now they are moldy :(  Have a great week and rememebr while i am watching conference I will be thinging of all of you :]

Love- Hermana Ashley Jaeger

I havent felt peace like that in my life ... 

"He/She who sings prays twice" (Temple Day, Service, Death)

Well first off oh my GOODNESS how exciting my brother Austin is going to Santiago Chile!!!! Austin I love that you will be coming home Spanish speaking :D Be prepared to get some letters in Spanish after you hit a year (because by then I hope you can understand my spanish haha). Austin please know that I prayed so fervently this past week that wherever you were going that the people there would need you and love you. I know with all my heart the Lord is sending you there because he knows the people in Chile need YOU and only YOU can touch their lives. Please take my advice and study spanish haha it will pay off and you will be so ahead of the game!!! Please know that your call really did come from the Lord and no one else.

Where you all able to watch the Broadcast on Sunday about missionary work form the members? I loved it!!! We seriously cannot do this work without the members of the church. As I was sitting there I received the strongest reconfirmation that being on a mission is exactly what I need to be doing right now in my life. I am so grateful for following the promptings of the spirit and going on a mission. If I didnt go I know for a fact later down the road I would have regreted it.

Texas Houston Temple Day

I have been learning a lot. We moved our P-Day to wednesday so we could go to the temple on monday. The temple was so beautiful and the bishops wife was so kind and took us. I have never felt such peace in any other place as the peace I have felt as I enter the Lords sacred houses. What a blessing it is to be able to have a temple in our mission.

We actually have the opportunity to teach some new people this week! E granddaughter 10 has been interested in taking the discussions! We were finally able to teach her and the 3rd lesson with her she accepted to be baptized on July 13! She wants to be a member of the church so badly! She told her grandma that when she grows up she wants to be a missionary like Hermana K and Jaeger! I thought that was such an awesome thing to hear!!! We are still teaching E, we gave her 3 dates and asked her to pray about which she feels she needs to be baptized on. 

Service with Hermana V and S G

The other night we visited the D family. We had fun listening to the girls stories about girls came and were able to talk about the improtance of the scripture "ye cannot serve two masters". As we were talking abou this topic the Spirit brought to rememberance something I learned a long time ago in Young Womens class!!! I explained this demonstration of when we put a ball on a table what does it do? The ball rolls to one side or the other. This demonstration can be related to us! We are the ball and we are always moving in some direction, we cannot stand still. So we need to make sure that we are always moving in the correct direction during our lifetime. The family was sweet and the older son had gone out and bought us Blue Bell ice cream because he know how much we loved it!!! They were so kind and we asked in next week we could come by and have a family home evening with them. They were excited and agreed to be there. 

We also were able to teach two new young girls this week named A who is 12 and V 6. When we walked to their house we had planned to teach O who is 19 but as we got to the house they were having a huge party with a ton of alcohol. A and V walked over to us and told us what they were all celebrating. We taught a simple and quick lesson of the plan of salvation to them which was awesome! They loved it and we set up another time to go back and teach the whole family.

Okay so a few weeks ago we meet T family who are 3 sisters in their 30s that are neighbors. They are a great family and they love being together as a family playing volleyball and BBQing. About 4 week ago we went over to visit. We talked to one of the sisters P and met her hsuband. the husband was nice and the family jokingly told him he needed to listen to the lesson because he needs to stop drinking. The husband scheduled a day for us to go back and told us his kids need God in their lives. The day we were suppost to teach the family they were having aparty and told us to stop by in 2 weeks after all the festivities. The day we went back the family was awkwardly quiet but nice. We soon found out from one of their neighbors that P husband had died 2 weeks ago from drinking and driving. We were shocked it made me cry to think here we are as missionaries in this area and we weren't able to teach him about the gospel before he unexpectidly passed away!! I felt so sick because I woundered what he would have thought if we were abel to teach him before he died. We went over again to the family, we played vollyball with them and tried to get to know them more. Its hard because so we decided we are going to try and find a way to do service for her and have the opportunity to teach her about the Plan of Salvation.

Studies

We have been biking more often because now we have a limit of miles haha. We have had to bike quite a bit and I give props to missionaries whos only transportation is a bike. Everytime we bike I always sing a hymn because I love to sing to myself haha and too "he/she who sings prays twice" so I feel its double the protection and a continual prayer when I sing and bike haha! I love this area and the people in it! Hermana K and I see a lot of great potential in our investigators and I have a feeling this next transfer is going to be awesome.

I love you all and hope you have a great week! I will talk to you again on Monday :]

Love-Hermana Ashley Jaeger