Patience, rest, and a HUGE Christmas gift!

Thanks for family, friends and the ward at home for all the packages :) FELIZ NAVIDAD!

WOOOOOOOOOOOW. by far this has been such a crazy week!!!!!!! I am so beyond excited to Skype home on Christmas that I had a dream last night that I was skyping home. haha :) well here is my random week. 

Monday was of course an awesome lesson with our investigator on date, S. AH is so soo prepared :)

Tuesday we taught S again, we taught about the word of wisdom and law of chastity... it was the least awkward lesson I have been it, it went so well!!! again like I said, she is so prepared and gave up coffee. SCORE! ah it was such an awesome lesson. It amazes me how much people will give up so that they can have the gospel. I am so blessed to help her make this change in her life.

Wednesday was transfers, and officially we are a tripanionship! it is the best! we cover 5 stakes... its crazy! but we never run out of things to do :)

Thursday.. well I couldn't sleep. and then woke up early and was throwing up. yucky. so I caught some bug and had to sleep all day. I cried because I miss my mom, I didn't realize really how much she does for me! and my dad! and my sibblings! that when I was sick they would help me with everything :) but the branch here is just like family, a member gave me a blessing and another member brought me crackers, soup, and medicine. soo yeah Thursday nothing happened.

Christmas Angles!  Hermana M, Hermana R & me
(thanks to a member for this photo)

Friday I was feeling soo much better, I just had to rest to get my energy back! we had a branch Christmas party and we wanted to go, so we did. and good thing!! we had 3 families of investigators come to the party that we are currently teaching!!! it was a great turn out :) I love the Spanish people, they make the best food and know how to have a fun party with dancing! even though I wasn't allowed to dance :/

Branch Fiesta!  I wanted to sit on Santa's lap then
I remembered I'm not allowed to do that haha

Oh yeah I'm not allowed to dance as a Missionary ...
sad day ... you don't know how bad I want to dance :/

Saturday was great, we had a huge breakfast (like we do every transfer) with all the missionaries in the stake. and after that we went to Portland for zone meeting. and after to a baptism for a little girl in the branch.. and after that to dinner with a family from the branch. their little boy said the cutest prayer! we were saying a prayer to bless the food but this is what he prayed for instead "dear Heavenly Father. we are baptized to go to church. we go to church to be missionaries. we become missionaries to be sealed in the temple. we got o the temple to be the prophet. in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." hahah it was so adorable! we also went to visit R, J, M, and V! they are a family Hermana M and I found in August when we came here!! they were so happy to see me and I was so excited to see them! it was an awesome visit, J wants to get baptized and everything!!

sunday, surprise!!!!! my huge Christmas gift, I couldn't ask for anything better... R, J, M, and V all came to church! FINALLY after 4 months of trying they came, and they loved it :) the branch loved them! ahh it was a wonderful day!! they are planning to come back fro activities and they want us over to their home so that they can make us food from el Salvador! we are so super excited :D they literally are a miracle family and I love them so much! 

well over all it was an amazing week. and like I say in every email, so many miracles. big and small! but my favorite miracle of all is the miracle of people coming to church and feeling the spirit their :)

I am so grateful for my Savior and for his birth.. without this time we wouldn't have anything to celebrate, so remember the reason for the season and share your love to all! Feliz Navidad to all and I cant wat to see my family in 2 days on 

Skype!!

day 297, McJamos in a trio for a transfer

Well transfers are this week... I will be staying with Hermana R, and coming to us is Hermana M. We will be in a trio!!! WOOHOO :) back with my baby who I trained :) we will be together for 7 weeks, and we will be combining areas... sooo we will be covering over all of Vancouver.. Its HUGE!!! It will be an awesome transfer! we are praying and working to have some baptisms!!! this will be a busy transfer :) I am excited to continue teaching the people we have been working with here, but excited I also get to work with the people in my previous area. this is a huge blessing! fun fact... something has happened to me every transfer of my mission so far... hopefully that doesn't change ;)

Me, Hermana M & Hermana R

well it was a fantastic week,

Monday night last week the elders came with us to give one of our investigators, S, a blessing of comfort. it was awesome, we had a little visit and lesson with her.. then we went out side and... it was snowing!!! my favorite woohoo. I was so happy, I love the snow!

Tuesday I was on exchanges with Hermana P and she came to my area, it was fun and awesome to be with her again! we taught S about justice and mercy, it was a cool lesson! she accepted a date for baptism, January 11th!!!!!! she is so prepared, and she said she craves the gospel. she loves when we visit her and teach her, she thinks about it all the time! the spirit was so strong in that lesson and I was like on the edge of the couch testifying to her and she was glowing with the spirit :)

Wednesday we went to go contact a referral but they didn't live their any more, so we decided to knock a couple of doors... nada. we tracted into a guy who got mad and said no soliciting(even though we aren't soliciting) and as we walked around the corner he was there by the trashcan, so we turned and walked a different way.. then we knocked the door farthest away, and surprise, a Spanish speaking family!!! they just moved here 3 months ago from salt lake city and they aren't members.. WHAT!!! we got so excited!!!

Thursday we taught a lesson to a part-member English/Spanish family, we brought with us a member. it was such an interesting lesson... the family had their grandpa visiting and he was so funny, but we couldn't teach because he loved to talk! it was an interesting lesson to say the least hahaha it was tough because the family wanted to learn so bad!! next time we will pray for a better lesson.

Friday  we listened to Elder Corbridge, from the area 70 speak to us... I took notes and what I got out of that was to teach people and not just lessons. awesome too this night the lady we taught 2 weeks ago in McDonalds is on date for baptism on jaunary 25th, woohoo! we had some cool miracles this night tracting and finding awesome families!!

Saturday the elders had a baptism so we brought investigators! a family that we are teaching are related to the lady who got baptized, so it was cool :)

Sunday was awesome! S came to church with her kids and they loved it!! they stayed all 3 hours and it was great :) she understood most things and has a couple questions we are going by tomorrow to answer and teach, pray for us because this she is so ready!!!

Zone P-day

well yes, it was a great week of awkward, funny, and sad moments. also many miracles, as always! I am so grateful to be a missionary at this time in this area! it will be a great transfer with great miracles to come! love you all, feliz navidad! Ill see my family next week on Skype!!

awkward OYM's for the week:

1. (knock knock)

"hi whats your name!?"

"uhh, Chris..."
"wel Hi, im Sister Jaeger and we are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! and we are here knocking doors, sharing a message about Jesus Christ and about his gospel! Do you believe in Christ?"

"uhh yeah, im a member.."
..............awkward....... hahahaha he was a member that just got baptized 3 months ago!

 

2. (knock knock) -[its 6:00 at night]

"oh... hi, uh sorry I was expecting the UPS guy..."

"OH! Well even better, you got.. MISSIONARIES!!!(Hermana R said excited)

"hmm, yeah you caught me at a bad time, im in a compromise... bye." haahaha awkward.!

 

least to say, a mission is awkward, but so rewarding :)

The A family.  Cutest family ever we found.  

Miracle - Struggle - Blessing "The Life of a Missionary"

well this week has flown by fast!... ... CONGRATULATIONS TO MY BROTHER AUSTIN, he will be heading to the Chile MTC on October 23, 2013... He is going to Chile Santiago North, spanish speaking.... HAHA my family is all going to be spanish pretty soon :) And 3 Missionaries serving at once!

Enjoying a popsicle on a HOT day & reading my Spanish Scriptures

Well here in HR O the weather is so interesting....... it was pouring rain just last week! and now it is so hot, its in the 100! One exciting and sad thing is because of the pouring rain, the Cherries that grow here and EVERYONE works/owns are now not doing good, they cant be picked/sold since they split and arent perfect... therefore our prayers were answered!!! now we can get people to church since they dont have to work! haha funny answer.:) 

People are so kind here in Hood River Oregon to give us free fruit (cherries, blue berries, apples & pears)

Well this week was spent finding and teaching new people. no new people that are steady yet. we did have a lesson with new recent convert! he received a blessing!!!! He has so much faith, he knows Heavenly Father will help him in anything he needs now, just as long as he puts him first in ALL things. i love seeing the change and growth in C, he really is a miracle! 

 haha well the life of a missionary is rough, i woke up one morning to say my prayer and i feel back asleep, BAHAHA kneeling on the ground! oops! this week was a struggle and a blessing... I just kept thinking of how imperfect i am... all the time people expect me to have perfect spanish, know exactly how and what to teach, expect that i know what i am doing all the time... but i am totally human! i make mistakes, and i grow and learn from those mistakes. no one is perfect, we all know that we are not perfect, so dont expect anyone else to be. one thing I have grown a HUGE love for is studying.... i used to hate studying, but now i love it. haha crazy for me to say that right? but really, i do :)

SCRIPTURE POWER (me & my comp)

short email, but this week we will work our hardest!!! July 10th is the next transfer, so ill let you all know what will happen :) have a good week. Keep working all around the world! 

2 Nephi 31:21 One important thing i am starting to learn this week  is dont be scared to share the gospel with everyone.. that can be done in SO many different ways!!! there is only one gospel and one way to return to live with heavenly father again, and we ALL want to end up with him and with our families :) share this gospel, most people dont know what it is!!!

Hood River Oregon

Adios, cuidase!

 Kelsey Jaeger

Week 2 MTC "Comforting, sincere blessing from my Zone Leader"

District 20D Hermanas love our Zone Leaders

OH wow how the time is flying by! I am on week 3 right now... I am almost half way done at the MTC! I am learning so much. I have to remember to not freak out when a lesson with an "investigator" goes bad, because this is traning! We all go to the MTC to learn! Well, so much has happened this week... Sunday's are the best, the spirit is a beautiful thing. We had someone from the MTC department talk to us for the devotional that night..  it was about The Triangle. I will take a picture of it and send it next week.

COUSINS!!!  With 3,000 Choir member we always manage to find each other 

The other day was tough. I was studying in class at night and my nose started bleeding BAD!  So I ran to the bathroom and it was pouring and flowing out.  I started to panic and shake.  All the girls ran to help me.  All I remember is lying down on Hermana McBrides lap on the floor.  After that I don't remember anything.  I went to the office pale and week.  It was late so the Dr was not in.  I laid on the couch helpless and shaking, tissues everywhere.  They contacted my Zone Leaders who are amazing Elders!  They rushed to put their clothes back on because they were already in bed!  Elder Blackburn gave me such a comforting and sincere blessing.  He was a little shaky and I thanked him for helping me.  This is happening daily but I have faith things will get better.  The worst part was that the MTC water was shut off for maintenance because of construction!  Elder Blackburn managed to find some ice and a glass of water.  It was so scary because I didn't know what to do or remember much.  And my mom wasn't there to be by my side.  But everyone here is so so so kind and helpful!

Elder Blackburn leaving for the field  ~  Finally, a meal I can eat.  With Hermana Butterfield

The next day I went to the clinic to see the Dr.  The Dr was telling me and showing me ways to control the bleeding.  He twisted the tissue and shoved it up his nose.  Pinching the outside .  As he is showing me his nose started bleeding!! hahaha.  It was pretty bad but we thought it was funny.  He made the nurse take care of me while he took care of himself he was so embarrassed.

Doing what we do best EVERYDAY ~ STUDYING

Tuesdays are the best too because we have devotional again, this time we hade a member of the 70 speak to us. It was powerful... One thing I remember him saying is to write down what you think life will be like in 18 months... I started to laugh and almost cry because 18 months sounds so short! I wrote down that I will love my mission, I will be heading home and probably crying. I know in 18 months my life will be changed so much, and I will help other people change their life! I really needed to hear this because I need to stop focusing on what I am doing wrong or what I messed up on. I need to remember how far I have come and how far I am wanting to go :) The other devotional was Marcos Aidukaitis fro the 70.  He was funny but serious.  He talked about the 3 degrees of glory!  To make a decision which one we want to be in, and write it in BIG letters in our journals!  I did that :) CELESTIAL! Once you make a decision then all other small decisions will be simple.  I love devotionals.  It's always exactly what I need to hear.

This is just Choir! ~ Sunday walk to the Temple

I got a package!  ~  Nice day for a 'picnic'

A mission is not for everyone, yes that is very true... But if you desire to serve a mission for the Lord then YOU can do it. HE will help YOU to help OTHERS. I have the best teachers, they always make sure we are doing okay... and I always hear the question "Is there anything I can do for you?" I love the MTC! I also love reading the scriptures. I have never been one who enjoys reading, or studying, or class... But being on a mission is changing that. I don't want to put my scriptures down, I don't want to sleep because I could be spending those 7 hours doing more important things! But they keep saying Exact Obedience, so I have to remember to do that haha. 

I spy Ashley  ~  Do you?

It is crazy to see districts in my zone starting to leave for the mission field.... I will soon be in that same position... I love wednesdays because that is when all the new BABIES arrive! haha we call them babies because they are so young and new like we were.   I have seen many framiliar faces here in the MTC, so to anyone who is reporting before April 9th I will keep my eye out for you and I will find you!... in a non creepy way hahaha I love you all so much! Thank you for the love and support :)

SO MANY BOOKS!!  Yes, we use them all :)

Food is blah. Showers are fine, I wake up early to take a long shower haha. I love my companion, it is important to have a good connection. Get a good rest, the days are long but the weeks are short!  Use study time wisely. ALWAYS pray. Ask questions. Prepare as much as you can before you come to the MTC, you wont have any time to focus on yourself. And most importantly: Love your family ALL the time, they are the ones who will support you every day your are out in the field. They will be the ones who you will leave and return home to.

    

Almost a month down! I can't wait to teach real investigators!!!

                                                                       

Love, Hermana Jaeger

My schedule ~ Study time