Full of Miracles

Happy Fathers Day to my awesome dad! As you can see in the picture below we helped a member pull our carpet and everything to help out in tile. My dad trained me well haha. Also, because there is SO MUCH construction here in Houston we see a lot of tractors. Today we passed one that reminded me of when dad use to take us on the tractors when we were little. How grateful I am to have an amazing priesthood holding father who has always supported me in following my righteous dreams. How blessed i am to be born of amazing parents :]

Fat cat reminds me of puss n boots 

It's over 100  ~  Burnin up in T town

the weather is so hot! oh im starting to send stuff home, so dont get emotional when you start seeing stuff in moves being delivered at the front door haha. I got kind of sad backing up stuff and sending it home but i need to cause i have a lot of stuff! i sent one off today and will send two big boxes home another day next week.

this week was full of miracles. We were able to have lots of members from the ward come and help us out with lessons! We had more dinner appointments then usual, as we went to these appointments the members had actually invited their non member family to join! Investigators that we haven't been able to get a hold of in the past we finally had lessons with! We ar gaining more confidence and trust from the members and by doing so they want to help us and have us teach their family/friends! The way to gain their trust is to love them and serve them. We have many investigators who are so close and ready to be baptized! Pray that our investigators will progress towards baptism. Since I only have 10 weeks left I feel that I need to work harder so they can be baptized before I leave! But its a good rush feeling cause I never feel like I want a break. I want to just keep working haha. I am so happy to be on a mission :] I'm excited for the return home too, its bitter sweet. Have a good week love you!  -  love hna jaeger 

Trip with the Hermanas to the Galleria Mall

 Surprise visit from E & P ~ Driving the Mom Van (missionary van) & a member helping

Good Week

A member gave us drinks on a hot day!

People trying to get off the fwy way before the exit & going off the curb

 This week was a pretty good week :] we are finding a good amount of new people and working a lot with the members. The 4 investigators who showed up to church this sunday came because their friend or family is a member of the church!

We have spent a lot of time with the A family. They are the ones that made us giant shrimp soup hahaha it was crazy cause you had to pull the shrimp apart to eat it but it was so good! it had HUUUGE antenas though and it freaked the heck out of me. We are teaching Hna A daughter in la  who is the same age as me :]she is interested in having the discussions because she wants a good life for her baby girl :D how awesome is that?!!

How grateful i am to have such loving and supportive parents. As we talked to a youth girl we figured she could spend time with us :] It was nice.

how grateful i am for this time i have to learn about life during my mission. ive figured out what kind of mom i want to be and what kind of guy i should marry so he may be a good husband to my children. i want the best for my future children, cause they diserve the best. Sad to think I have like 11 sundays left until i come home. hermanas here in the mission want to know when i will have my homecoming so they can come haha.  i love you all so much and am so grateful for your support :] know i am well and so happy!     love-hna jaeger

 Comp and I  ~  hha little chawawa  ~  I don't like balloon games

Found a Jamba ~  painted story of Noahs Ark on A's face ~  Sharing an umbrella

I drive the Hermana (aka mom) VAN now  ~  yes we do

Chick fil A opened  ~  haha Ridin Dirty!

Make the Sacrafice

Rainy days in Houston Texas
won't keep me from saving souls!

Found out I will have a least one more transfer here in Houston with Hna B :] which will be good! The work is slow but I know it will pick up as long as we just keep working.

This past week we helped out a member in our ward who has cancer. Some of the other hermanas came with us to help clean up her home. We only spent 2 hours helping give service but you could tell by the look on the sisters face it made all the difference. All day she just sits in the home, alone fighting the pain her cancer is causing. She will have an oporation this week that can hopefully help cure her cancer. She is such a strong woman. 

This past week we didnt have much luck with seeing our investigators. It was hard but slowly we started to see miracles. People that we talked to from outside started letting us into their homes. We focussed a lot this week on how we can help our investigators get to church. Instead of praying to have them come to church, I asked in my prayers what I can do to help more of hs chrildren keep this commandment, the sabbath day. Instead of sitting at the church forever for our investigators to show up, we sacrificed our miles to drive all the way back to the homes of our investigators to help them get to church. door after door and call after call it seemed like no one wanted to come and we made a great sacrifice for nothing. Last investigators door we tried, D and H, said that they could come :] WOW I have never been so happy helping someone come to church haha. Though we were all late by 20 minutes, we made it on time for the blessing of the sacrament. 

Mexican Walmart in TX

From these two experiences and more like them I am remined of one of my favorite scriptures "The trial of your faith (is) more precious than gold" (1 peter 1:7). 

Also, I restudied what I learned in the temple :] I know my heavenly father was really speaking to me in D&C31:5 "thrust in your sickle with all your soul...and ye shall be laden with sheaves upon your back for the laborer is worthy of his hire. wherefore your family shall live". As I looked up the part that talks about that my family shall live it means that the lord will take care of their well being. This tender mercy of the lord gave me so much peace. Many times on my mission I worry for many members of my family!!! It does hurt my heart that I cannot be there when I know someone in my family is struggling. But I know the lord will watch over and protect my family as I am doing his work. I know he never breaks a promise. I know this is his work and his church. I will keep saying that until the day I die, and then on into the eternities haha. I know how precious life is, its short compared to eternity. Live, learn, and love. Forgive those who've wronged you. Live up to your potential. Let people know you're a member of the church of Jesus Christ of lattter day saints! and remember if anyone treats you poorly, or you feel like you cant handle anymore, remember your savior. and know that he's been there before. he knows how to help. i love you all so much :]

FHE fun with the C Family :]

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 :]

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 :]

Corny Email (HAHA)

Made by the Houston 1 Kids

This week has been good! We were able to help the spanish stake out with their stake primary program which was on temples. Each ward was asked to make a temple, in one of the pictures you can see our ward's primary kids. during mutual ALL the primary came and painted boxes for the temple!!! It was so cute and the temples were beautiful! They had the Temple President come and speak to the chidlren. Wow the spirit was so strong. He walked around looking at all the temples and was so taken back, it was so sweet. The Houston TX Temple President got emotional while talking to the children and promised them if they would just go to the temple and touch the temple wall they will receive the feeling that it is the house of God. During the activity I got to see all my other member friend from the different wards!!! I have been so blessed to have served in other wards but that they are all apart of the same stake :]

Houston 1 Kids painting Temple

Mi Familia Missouri City ~ Hermana S.

 Also this week as we were trying to find new investigators we saw a man selling "elotes" or corn so my sweet comp bought me some. It was SOOO GOOD they put mayo, parmassan cheese and chili on the corn on the comb. Wow austin if you ever have a chance to try it while you are in Chile, TRY IT its so good! I love it. We also ate a members house (G and N) and they made us fejitas OHHH man it was good I hope I can come home and cook like them haha! (and for grandpa bigler I'm still trying to find out how to make good refried beans).

We did a lot of service this week with our investigators. One person her name is V who is not a member but her sister P is. P's son had a birthday party this week and we got invited. When we went to visit V she asked if we were giong and we said yes, she told us, "Oh my nephew LOVES animals. So we are going to surprise him and bring him a PONY" HAHAHA we asked, "Does P know?" And V said, "No so its going to be a GREAT surprise!" Haha we showed up and yep there was a pony and a BABY pony haha oh it was so fun my comp was so excited cause she loves horses!

My Companion Hermana B. loves ponies :]

I'm so excited to skype with you guys in 6 days :] I am going to cry of happiness haha. I really hope Aus can talk at the same time but if not its okay :] ill skype you on christmas :] i dont want it to be stressful i just want it to be a happy day :]  I love you all so much and hope all is well. Take care!

Consider the Lillies‏

I remember a couple years ago while we were watching conference at home, the mo tab came on and sang "consider the lillies". I remember how touched I was to hear the sweet words of this song and from then on I desired to know the meaning of the scripture. In 3 nephi the savior brings this phrase up to the nephites, "consider the lillies, how they grow, how they toil not nor do they spin". The savior goes on to say "if god so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you, if ye are not of little faith. ..for your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of all these things" (3 nephi 13:28-33).

Ran into a EFY friend in the
hall from 7 years ago!

This past week which all the transfers and at our transfer meeting Pres said they were closing down parts of our mission because they didn't have enough missionaries coming in to fill those that are leaving. So some got switched to english speaking.  I am still spanish.  Getting a new companion we realized we didnt have much food. We seriously only had cereal, milk, and bread and some cheese and ham. I felt so bad for my new comp and I barely had any other money to go buy fast food cause its too expensive. So I prayed really simply to God that he would provide food for us. After that prayer we were fed twice that day and the next days after. I know with all my heart the Lord takes care of his servants. I am so grateful for him and the faith I have in him to see many miracles in the lives of others and in my own life.

Okay now onto the crazy week I've had haha. So my comp and I know drive the mission van, we are now in charge of picking up 5 other hermanas for church and other meetings. Just to pick them all up and drop off takes 3 hours out of our day. For transfers we were squished into the van with A TON of luggage and everyone was talking. of course im the one driving cause we have the car and all the sisters are new. I was pretty nervous that at one point I started driving away as one of the hermanas was trying to get into the van!!! HAhaha that night I had a dream that I was driving the van full of little children and I was telling them to calm down. 

My new companion is Hna B from NY. her parents are from mexico so she is the bomb at spanish because its her first language. sometimes we will start speaking english then switch to spanish and it takes me a second to keep up haha but i love her and we get along really well:] The past sunday I hit my 1 year and 2 month mark. Its weird to think i have a little less than 4 months left, kind of weird but I'm okay with it. It gives me a bitter sweet feeling. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love Hna Jaeger

P.S. CONGRATS to my brother AUSTIN in Chile on your baptism!!! I am so extremely happy for you :] you look so happy and nice.

Easter Weekend ~ Mormon Helping Hands

Buenos dias a mi familia en california y chile,

This week was a lot of fun! We had the AWESOME opportunity to go serve at the houston food bank with all the youth in the stake. Hna W and I got special permission and were the only missionaries who went to help :] we had our investigators come and help! it was so fun. Its amazing the service that goes on in places like that. It touched my heart knowing we were bagging up food for chidlren who had none. With our group and another we packaged up 5700 dinner bags for those who need food. There was a statistic that said 94% of people who are starving are not homeless people. That shocked me. I want to strive to do more service for others, especially children who dont put themselves in those situations. I have a great love for children.

Mormon Helping Hands ~ Texas Food Bank

Also this week we went to visit a member couple from the church. The husband was in ICU and he looked so bad. The wife is incredible, her husband has been in the hospital since january on dialisis and she has slept over at the hospital everynight, never leaving his side. Oh wow she is an amzing woman. 3 days after that her husband passed away. Oh it hurt my heart seeing a couple who had been together for so long be seperated. He just died this week and after 3 months of helping her husband she was able to go to church this sunday, easter sunday. I know she felt loved with ALL the members welcoming her back. 

This week Hna W is leaving me:[ aww I hate when good times have to end!!! I love her with all my heart. We laughed the other day thinking about how fast we bonded and we were always on the same page. She reminded me of moments I've spent with my sister Kelsey :] I love you guys so much and am glad you are all doing well :]

love hna jaeger

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 :]

Last General Conference on the Mish

My Companion & I  Hermana W

I'm so glad to hear that Austin is safe in Chile!!! So many people were telling me about the bad earthquake and tsunami and I got nervous. :[ but remembered that the lord always protects his servants.

Conference week was great we had a good amount of our recent converts, less active members, and investigators come to church :] I learned a lot.  

I am so grateful to be a missioanry. Of course during the hard times I just want to give up haha but I am so grateful for this time I have on my mission. I've changed a lot and am more prepared to be a wife and a mom who is really faithful in the gospel. Its funny, when the age changed i just thought of it one sided, that the world is ready for more missionaries!!! But now I'm figuring out that its also another way...the next future generation needs REALLY faithful parents to raise them up as the world become more wicked and we draw more closer to the second coming. I LOVE the scriptures and seriously read them whenevr I get the chance. This gospel changes lives, its amazing to see that transformation in other but more in yourself. I could encourage you all to read the conference talks again when they come out!!! i hope i can get a copy of one soon haha. Also, super random but while watching the mormon messages after conference I saw one about a flight nurse.....i had a good feeling and I think that is an answer to my question of what i should do after my mission...:] haha I love you all so much and hope all is well :]