10 more to go

Texas Houston District  ~  Signing my TX flag

Yep walked like this

We got transfer calls today and I found out I am staying in H 1 with Hna B :] I am so grateful to have another 6 weeks here and I'm positive the extra 4 weeks President will just keep me here in the area until I am called home. I'm starting to get emotional with knowing how fast the last transfer went and how I only have 1 1/2 left. How grateful I am for this time in my life to find out who I am through serving others 24/7. In church today we heard a really cool story as we were learning about the sabbath day that I would like to share with you.

 Afraid of B's sweet bird  ~  friend on ground trying to get in our place

My friend kept following me  ~  made left turn this sucker scared me

 L teaching me how to eat a mango & I'm messy  ~  Service for sweet friend & it was worth it!

"There was a fisherman who lived with his wife and 5 children. This father loved his family and wanted the best for them. He went out to work hoping to catch enough fish to give him income to take care of his family. As the fisherman pulled the net out of the water he found that his net was empty of fish, but found 7 clams. In each clam he found 7 beautiful pearls. The fisherman was happy and knew that with these 7 pearls he would be able to give much to his family. As the fisherman walked home he passed by a man sitting on the road, begging for food. The fisherman had compassion on the begger and decided he would give this poor man 6 pearls, for with the 7th pearls the man could support his family for awhile and then go back to work. As the fisherman traveled home the begger decided to follow this fisherman home. The fisherman walked into his home and closed the door. The begger peaked inside the window and say the fisherman put the one other pearl on his nightstand and turned in for the night. The begger quickly reached through the window, took the 7th pearl from off the fishermans desk and walked away."

Now, what did you get from this story? Maybe not much at first but that the begger is supper greedy. In this story the fisherman is like Jesus Christ, he has given us 6 days out of the week to do what we need and want. But are we sometimes like the begger, greedily taking the 7th day and doing what we want with it? The Lord has asked us to sanctify the 7th day of the week to him. and when you think about it, after ALL that Christ has done for us, all he asks of us is to spend this one day out of the week in reverence to him. Are we doing so?

So happy to have a couch

I am grateful for Sundays. though on the mission it is far from a day off rest for me haha I am grateful for the opportunity to go to church and partake of the sacrament. I love H 1 ward and am so grateful and blessed to be in this ward. The members are so willing to help our investigators. I know in the next 10 weeks I will be able to see the fruits of my labors. I know god is a god of miracles and as i trustin him and do his will I will be able to see and experinece these miracles! i just need to be patient. I love you all :] And pray for each of you everynight.  love- herman ashley jaeger

Members, Missionaries & friends came together for a service project for Hermana P

 Deer in headlights ~ District Hermanas & J from ward ~ Service for Hna P

 We love Hna P  ~  1 2 3 smile and he kissed me haha

Cutting the grass with a machete

Wha'd up Houston

Hello Houston freeways!  They call this spaghetti bowl.

Me & my new comp Hermana W

Found out that I'll be serving in the city! And in a car! My bike after 7 months needed a break too! I'm so excited! Its seriously a HUGE area and im pretty sure im going to get lost haha. I love my new companion Sister W. She is so cute and such a good missioanry. I love her.

Well the day and a half before I left Brazos was hard and sad. So many members wanted me to come over and say goodbye. Tuesday night there was a handful of members who wanted me to go to the church so I can say goodbye to them. It was sad :[ Some of the members cried so much! But I knew I was done int he area and God wanted me to help another area. I hate goodbyes :[ One mebers E P gave me a birthday cake because I wouldnt be around to celebrate it there haha it was so nice. I went to visit I but she was in the hospital again so I didnt get to say goodbye. But I know the Lord will take care of her.

 The morning of transfers we were packing up to leave. Then as I turned to go back and get more stuff I saw an old man pushing his walker in the cold. It was P :] I tried to stop by and tell him goodbye but he was sleeping so I left a card for him at his door. He said he was so happy to get it he woke up to walk over to my apt to say goodbye and wish me luck :] I started crying a little. He is such a sweet man and it will be a miracle if I can see him again after my mission. But I am so excited to work here in this other area! Hermana W and I get a long really well.

I love this man!  P walked 20 minutes in the cold to say goodbye to me!

Other then that I am doing well :] I know this is where I'm suppost to be. I love this work and I love being a missioanry. Sad to think that this month I'll hit my year mark. To my brother serving in Chile .. Austin live it up, the mission goes way to fast.

Baptism, Sheri Dew, Leaving Brazos Bike area after 7 months!

My comp took a pic of me praying

Wow this has been one of my most favorite and saddest weeks of my mission. Today I found out that after 6 months here in my Brazos bike area I am being transfered to somewhere new. I'm excited to see where is the next place God wants me to work but I am sad to leave the people I've grown to love so much

                       

Fixing a flat tire ... again!

This week I got another flat tire haha! 3rd new tires this transfer. My bike is ready for a break but I just want to keep going!

It's cold today.  Piled on the layers.

 I dont even remember all that happened this week. It just flew by! But I do vividly remember Thursday night. I'm pretty sure the weather got down to like the 20s thursday night. As we were biking over to see J's I asked my companion if I could grab some more clothes to put on. I walked out of the apartment with 3 scarfs, two beanies, 2 shirts, 2 sweaters, 3 pants, a skirt, and boots haha. As we biked to J's house which is 15 minutes away I had a moment to think about my situation. WHY would I put myself on a bike in the winter with 20 degree weather pushing through the wind blowing against me if I didnt know this church was true? As I started getting wind burn I started crying. Not becuase it hurt haha but because with all my heart I know this cuhrch is true. 've realized that I will do anything to share and spread this gospel to the world. We showed up to J's physically tired but spiritually strong. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and specifically about the spirit world. He was really interested in knowing about what happens on the other side after we die. As we finished the talk I started to bear my testimony. My eyes filled with tears as I tried to allow the spirit to speak through me to my investigator, J. As we left Jorge kept expressing how excited he was for his baptism tomorrow :]

Friday we woke up early to leave at 7am to go to the Sister conference. We walked out to the Hermanas to get a ride with them and one of the doors was so frozen over that we couldnt open it haha.   What a BLESSING that the whole day friday we were inside because the weather dropped down to the 20's! The weather was bad and my comp and I were unable to pick up Sheri Dew. I received so much guidance during the sisters conference!!! President Ashton talked about how he wants our missions to change our lives. He wants us to go home a different person. He said, "I dont want you to go through the mission, I want the mission to go through you". I've seen the mission change who I am. Its a daily process. He also mentioned how to "not worry about family at home! The Lord is taking good care of them". That gave me great comfort because I do naturally worry about my family. The world is a harsh place. People are critical because they are in the world. But those people need to be "in the world,. and not of the world". And to my loving sister who HONORABLY got released from her mission and served with all her heart, to you my love I say, "the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (1samuel 16:7). Hermana Jaeger God knows you :] He has a plan for you. He knows exactly what you need to go through to become perfected. Trust in him like you are doing and everything will be okay :]

Frozen door.  Won't open.

So going back to sister conference, we had the priveledge of having Sheri Dew come and speak to our mission! wow she is amazing. Sheri Dew talked a lot about how we are the noble ones who have been saved for these days. She went on to explain that the prophets of old have been testifying of the last days and how bad they are going to get. Sister Dew then explained, "god knows all. He knows these last days are going to get rough. Do you thing he would just send ANYONE to preach his gospel in these days? No. He saved the noble and great ones for these last days. You are his noble and great ones. He knew you would be the ones to not fall into temptation, to stand up against the world and not be afraid to share the light and gospel of Christ. You were born of noble birth". At the end of the Sister Conference Sheri Dew had to leave quickly for a conference call. I was a lil sad I couldnt talk to her but was so happy to have listened to her! At one point I lost my companion so another sister and I went to go look for her. I saw her in Presidents office so I walked in. I noticed she was talking with Sheri Dew....hahah I was so taken back. Sheri Dew was so nice and I got to introduce myself and talk a little with Sheri Dew :]

J's Baptism.  A joyful day.  Comp Hermana C and I

After the Conference we got home at 6, ate chips for dinner HAHA then at 6:05 members came to pick us up to get everything ready for the baptism of J!! As we entered the church I heard the sweet sound of the font being filled with water. We walked into the room with J to get everything ready. J was so excited, adn nervous haha. He was so funny and giddy! As we were taking pictures all together J kept being funny and putting rabbit ears behind my head during the pictures.  The baptism turned out beautiful and the spirit was really strong :] J was so happy and took lots of pictures to send to his mom in Mexico.

Sunday we were waiting for church to start. As I was distrcted and waiting someone mentioned to me 5 minutes before church was about to start, "Where is J?" Ahh I forgot he was going to receive the Spirit that day and I didnt even think to call him!!! I freaked and started to call and text him but he didnt pick up. We hurry and got on our bikes and started to bike to his house. As we got to the home the lady who lives in the house said, "No J left. I think he went to work." My heart dropped. I couldnt believe I forgot to call him in the morning. As we were turning to go back to the church we get a text from one of the members, "Hey J is here at the church". Haha I was so excited that it made me bike super fast back to the church :] J received the gift of the Holy Ghost and is an official member of the church :] The temple president spoke in our branch too! He gave a great talk and shared an experience he had, "Well 2 weeks ago I actually had the priveledge of meeting J at stake conference! He explained how he was planning on being baptized and wanted to know more about the church. after talking for awhile I asked him, 'J do you have any ancestors that you want to the temple work for? To be baptized for?' J responded, 'Yes, my father". My eyes filled with tears again. I know J's dad helped with during our lessons so he could feel the spirit and know of the truth of this gospel. Now J has the chance to do the work and be baptized for his father. I know J's dad is just waiting with excitment, he's been waiting since 1994. After sacrament J showed me a picture of his father. They look exactly alike. We set up a time this week to start doing family history work to find his fathers info so we can all go to the temple together to do baptisms for those who have passed. So J can take his dads name to the temple :]

Hermana S and I are being transferred!  I'm gonna miss her.

I'm sad to leave the B area. I wont be able to keep visiting J and help him do the work of his Father. I wont get to see the familiar faces I've seen on a daily basis. I wont bike these same streets again. But I know and have felt like my work here in the area is done. On saturday after J's baptism we were biking on a normal road. Everytime we pass this specific road theres always a BEAUTIFUL white crain that just sits in the water. As we were biking we passed the same spot and I spotted that white crain I saw him lift his beautiful wings and fly away. That's when it hit me that I was leaving the area. Now its' my time to leave and find my new home. Help and lift others in another area. I know god is going to put me where I can help those in need. I'm ready and excited for the task :] I'll go where He wants me to go.

New Companion & Baptism!!

Off to our apartment with my new companion Sister C!  :)

This week I got my new companion, Sister C! She has 5 months left of her mission. She is such a sweet missionary and I have learned so much from her in just this past week. she is a sister training leader which is like a leader of a couple girls in the mission, for her shes over about 6 different sister companionships. i could not imagine doing missionary work AND taking care of missionaries haha, 

The work here in B is slowish :[ but i have the faith that it'll build up pretty quickly. Oh I have a funny story to tell before I forget! The other night we were talking on the phone to someone in Spanish when all of a sudden this car stops by us and a younger looking guy sticks himself out the window and says Hola in a flirty way then drives off. My comp and I were laughing so hard I felt so bad for the person who was on the other side of that phone call. 

We've strived to talk to EVERYONE that comes into our paths. We've talked to like 70% of them. One guy was awesome he was hanging outside a laundry mat and as we passed he waved. I felt like we needed to talk to him so we turned back around and went to talk to him. He was interested in our message and gave us his info :]  One guy was drunk and started crying, another lady was so interested in our message until we brought out The Book of Mormon and shut us down. But i know God knows we are trying our best to talk to all of his children and soon enough we will find those who are ready to be baptized.

Okay I would like to share one of my favorite scriptures to help bring in the spirit to this email. this week Ive been studying about Jesus Christ. i want to invite you (mom dad Garrett Blake AND Taylor) to meet together and have an FHE about the atonement of Jesus Christ. In Luke 22 verses 39-44 explain the atonement so vividly for me. Please read these verses toge her as a family. Then I want to invite you to write a letter to a friend who is struggling or going through a hard time in life. Help them understand that Christ has felt their pain and he can help!!! Then fold that letter and put in in your scriptures. Keep it for you and when you have a hard day. read it. please never be afraid to talk about the church with anyone. its Christs church and he wants all his children to know about it. take the challenge from Elder Ballard and pray to know who you can invite to come to your home and take the lessons from the missionaries. God knows which one of your friends needs this. 

I love you all with all my heart. I know this is not my mission but the Lords mission. Weird to think this month I hit my half way mark. Its going by too fast. OHHHH also I had a baptism in my first area M C!  his wife has always been a member and finally he was baptized!!! I spoke on the topic baptism at his baptism and couldn't help but cry. Now he is a member and in a year him and his wife will be sealed in the temple!!! His wife kept telling us we were angles. I remember the first few weeks Hermana M told us hermanas that we were going to help baptize her husband. Oh my heart is so full of joy!!! :)

A joyful day!!!  :)

I love The words of my savior Jesus Christ have always given me comfort, "Whoso receiveth you, there will I be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and your left, and my Spirit shall be in your heart, and mine angels round about you to bear you up". i love you all than you for everything!!!

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