Success is starting to be seen

Tracked into a member who gave us some sweet leathermans (pocket knives) haha

Well what an amazing week it was here!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and hope you will all have a safe and excellent new year!! well here was my week:

Monday we bought some gifts to do a secret santa drop off for these two families we are teaching :) we had a huge miracle happen tonight... there is a family in the branch that have been taking their nieces to church for a while.. we got a call on Monday to start teaching them, they want to be baptized... WHAT!!! so we went over that night and taught the two girls. They want to be baptized for sure!! we also taught S tonight, another one who is on date for baptism.. we taught about the Sabbath day and Hermana M taught her something cool.. that yes sunday is our day of rest, but when we go out and buy things we are making other people work and they don't get to rest... that made so much sense to S and she committed to keep it! we got a sad call tonight, since we are in a trio President needs Hermana M to be transferred somewhere else... sad day :/

Tuesday, Christmas Eve! we had a district meeting today then ate at Super Taco!!! delicious place we eat at every week! we had another lesson with the two little girls :) and we committed them to be baptized!! we asked them to choose a date, and to decide the girls played rock-paper-scissors.. hahaha that has never happened before!!! they chose January 11th.... so yes, WE ARE HAVING A BPATISM ON JANUARY 11th!!! it will be amazing :) this night we were at a little music program, we had a friend on his way but he got into a car crash.. he doesn't speak English so we had to go help him translate for the cop and people.. it was super funny when the cop came.. he pulled up in his car, forgot to put it in park, and started getting out.. then the car started rolling and he started shouting bad words and jumped back in the car to stop it.. HAHAHA my companion and I looked at each other shocked and had to laugh!!! it was a funny night. we ate dinner with our branch president and his family :)

Christmas Eve with Hermana M  ~  Christmas PJ'S

wendesday, Christmas day!!!! I got to Skype home for an hour!! and ash was skyping home at the same time!! so I got to see my missionary sister through Skype :D then my brother skyped home later. it was a great start to the day! hahaa my family is still the same, not a surprise my dad was cooking bacon while i was skyping home... haha well we ate dinner with a hilarious family from the branch :) tons of yummy food!! then we went over to visit a family that we are teaching! they are so amazing!! she made us dinner and we played a game :0 it was a fun and food filled day! it was such an amazing Christmas!

Playing games and eating with this amazing family

thrusday we taught the two girls again :) the for sure age getting baptized!! they talked to their parents and they said it is okay! woohoo!!! I love teaching young kids... the 8 year old said "yeah we need to follow Christ and be baptized so that we can live with him. because if we don't then we have to live with santa... I mean satan! darn, I always confuse them." hahahaha it was soo cute :) so Hermana M is now companions with my old companion Hermana V... my two babies that I trained are now serving together! its pretty cool :)

A & G family made us gingerbread men...& they were good! W/comp Hermana R

Friday, hit my 10 month mark! what the heck!! we talked to some more people today, obviously haha.

Saturday ... just a long day. we had appointments set but they all fell through! but we kept our day busy and talked to people... I have to say its pretty nice with only 2 of us living in an apartment, because now for the first time ever in my life, I get my own bathroom! ahh its nice :)

sunday was awesome!!!! the family we have been teaching for a while, that we were with on Christmas, came to church again :) woohoo!!!!! success is starting to be seen :) I am so happy!! good or bad I love my mission!

ahhh just what an amazing week!!!!!!!!! never give up on people, teach and talk to everyone!!! miracles come out of nowhere, we are working so hard and now we are having a baptism from someone we didn't even find ourselves. many blessings :)

New companion, New area.... Again

Sending some love to all

What a great week :) Happy Birthday to my amazing father!!! I love you dad :) Hermana R is great!!! This is both our first time not training, so we are enjoying that!! There is so much excitement here in the Spanish Branch, especially to have a ton of baptisms this month. Ojala! we are praying to have a miracle this transfer! There are tons of people who we know are ready. :)

Tuesday was fun, there are two new Hermanas in the mission, so my comp and I got to take one out for the night.. it was such an amazing night, we had 1 OYM (open your mouth) that is where you talk to someone about the gospel! this guy was deaf so we communicated with him on a paper, got his information and he was so excited, we passed him on to the ASL sisters :) that night we also taught an older couple and it was such an amazing lesson, it was the first visit with them and we set the standards why we are here teaching them... they became two new investigators :) woohoo, the new missionaries bring so much success!

Doing the "Baptism" sign in sign-language.

Well the time with Hermana R is already going by fast :) she is an awesome missionary and I am so blessed to have her as my companion! we both got doubled into our area, but still working with the Spanish branch, which is a blessing. the hard part is there were no appointments set for us to teach the people here and this area had 20 investigators in the area book... or so we thought, as we went to visit some of them this week we realized  that none of these people have a desire to change.. no one is progressing! we decided to clean through and see who truly wants this! we have had some amazing success in discerning who is interested and who is not. with that saying.... we got a new investigator at the last minute last night!!!!! it is an amazing and adorable part-member family. they have come to church before, and they are okay with us coming over and teaching the whole family :)  yay!! we felt such a special spirit with this family, we hope this is the baptism we are here for!

Akaward speed limit sign

the other night we were walking on the street at 8:30pm, we needed people to talk to! so we found these 2 homeless men.. both named D, D 1 wasn't a very happy guy, but D 2 was! D 1 was mad at God and had heard false things about Joseph Smith, we tried to correct what he had heard, but he wasn't interested... meanwhile, D 2 was so interested and so grateful for the things God has given to him in his life! I'm glad I listened to the prompting to give him a Book of Mormon, because he gladly accepted it :) and I bore my testimony to him of how no matter what we have in life, big or small, the book of Mormon will fill our heart and soul and teach us of truth! :)

it is amazing to me to see how hard hearted people are and how some are so open... I have seen a lot so far on my mission and it has changed how I talk to people. just the other night we were visiting with a lady who recently started coming back to church. as I listened to her and talked with her, I was touched and started crying!  its amazing and beautiful when people go down a path but then stop and analyze where they are... they see what they need to fix and they fix it, they see how good the Lord has been to them even though they never acknowledged him.. its amazing :) its amazing how much the Lord loves us so much! he continually wants us to have happiness in this life!!

it has been just a great week! hahahaha we were talking to a funny guy and he burped super loud and acted like it was nothing, then he continued on to talking about how he is like a cat with 9 lives... hahahaha it was super interesting!

awesome note, remember the guy B and how we found him? walking outside, listened to the prompting to cross the street and talk to him at the bus stop.. he then came to church 2 times, has been reading in the book of Mormon and the English elders are now teaching him.. well the elders said he is getting baptized December 8th! woohoo!!!

there are 29 missionaries in our stake here in Vancouver, its pretty crazy... we are all going to play soccer today for pday!

Thank you to a sister from the ward who always sends me talks to read, I have been reading and realizing new things :) thanks!!!

 "Going on a mission teaches you to live the law of consecration."

 "the mission will be what you make it, it will be what you decide."

 "we are the Lords little group of warriors in this tiny corner of the US.... we matter to Him!"

the time is here, and its slipping out of my hands.... I'm hanging on and changing now to do more!!!

Love you all <3 Hermana Kelsey Jaeger

WOW The Week Went By Fast ~ I'm gonna pop some TAGS!

Ash we have been out 198 days!!... but whose counting? hahaha LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL!  I am roommates with B M family friend, companions to A M cousin, B D cousin is serving in the same stake as me and A cousin serves in my stake also in the English zone (we play soccer on pdays). All from back home.  Small world!

hahaha we were in a trailer park about to go visit people, and out of nowhere these pony's and an alpaca came up to us! BAH it scared us!!

Well this week was amazing, we had some progress with investigators that have been being taught for a couple months. First off, we have someone on date for baptism on October 5th. WOOHOO! she is awesome and totally understands why she wants to be baptized! We invited her to stake conference and she said she wants to go! too bad her ride fell through Saturday night :/ but she wants to come to church! Well i want to share some little miracles happening here in Vancouver for my companion and I :)

Wednesday we were out around 2:00pm visiting some old teaching record in the area book... not many people were home :/ as we were about to walk by a trailer i felt prompted we should go knock this door... we knocked once, no answer, the second time she answered! it was a young mom home with her baby.... after a couple minutes at the door she let us in to share a message. For some reason this visit felt super different... we just talked to this woman B and got to know her and understand her and her family... she just moved here 3 weeks ago, she doesn't know anyone, and she doesn't know where to go to church... Her husband is okay with his wife going to church with the kids... We talked about faith with her and prayer... This woman has so little but so much faith! She is AMAZING! We read out of the Book of Mormon with her. She told us she actually went to the LDS church twice before and she talked to her friend(who is Mormon) a little bit about the church! We invited her to church for THIS Sunday and she said she will come, and she wants to hear more! AHHH we are so excited to teach her :)

This same day my companion felt prompted to go back to a door we knocked on last week. This home is a Jehovah Wittiness home... My comp said "i may sound crazy but just follow and trust me" i said "ok! we go two by two." so she approached the door and testified to the lady about the book of Mormon! my comp said "I'm not here to argue with you, I am simply here to share my testimony about the Book of Mormon with you because i forgot to last week...." AHH My companion is so brave and strong!! We work so well together, we teach and testify so strong!

Gorgeous sunset every night here in Vancouver

Another cool story. We received a referral on Friday after dinner... It was to visit T. So we visited the address but Tanya had just moved back to El Salvador... Aww man :/ well we decided to start talking to the men outside... after a couple minutes they opened up about questions they had! after a LONG conversation the man R and his daughter M invited us back over! So sunday night we visited them... They were amazing! we taught about sacrament and Joseph Smith.. mostly answering questions they had.. then awe found out that R had gone to the LDS church like 3 times before AND he has a book of Mormon in his garage!!! he said "i was always confused what that book was.. and now i realize maybe i should just read it." Hermana and I looked at each other, smiled and both testified of the book of Mormon and of Joseph Smith. The spirit was SO strong! M loved the visit and R did too! we asked if we could come over to share more and they both said yes, with a big smile!!! We invited both of them to start reading the book of Mormon and told them that we would talk more about the amazing scriptures in it :) We are so excited to go back over and bring a member and get him and the family to church!

I'M GONNA POP SOME TAGS...

Yep..... I found this within 5 mintues at a thrift store... SCORE!!!! 

(MS. JAEGER)

Everything here is amazing, i Love teaching to people and talk so openly to people about what I believe. It makes me grow more and more each day by hearing the good and the bad. because when I start to question something I read my scriptures and pray to heavenly Father and eventually always fine an answer :)

One amazing thing I have learned on my Mission by teaching other people is to put myself in their shoes, teach them what they really need to hear.. and when i invite investigators to do something, i need to do the same.

I have really felt the gift of tongues so strong!!! I can have a conversation with people, understand(most of the time) but i am working on responding to them.. Its amazing how much the Lord has allowed me to learn in such a short amount of time. I love my Savior and i love my family. I am so thankful for all the blessings I receive as a Missionary. I love you all so much.

Amazing Russian Candy!!!

Cuidase!  Hermana Kelsey Jaeger

Week of Amazingness ~ (Elder Holland)!!!!

OH MY GOSH SOOOO MUCH TO EMAIL THIS WEEK!!!!!!!! ill try to type it all if not ill write home the rest, but OH MY GOSH!

I was in a tripanionship for a couple days. Hermana M is my new comp/trainee, Hermana P just left for A....!

To start out with... ELDER HOLLAND came to OUR mission, the vancouver mission. he spoke to US missionaires!! AND we ALL got to shake his hand.. YES i have a couple seconds face to face with elder Holland AND got to shake his hand :) he looks RIGHT into your soul! well I took 5 pages of notes on what he said for an hour and a half.. so i cant even being to tell you what he told us.. He felt such a special spirit about our mission, the minute he walked into the door! Ill write home what he said(i dont have enough time to email it all!) 

BUt some other amazing news, YES i made it safe and sound to Vancouver, and my new companion is Hermana M, she is so ready and willing to work!! We are goign to do amazing things together :)  I absolutely love my companion, love Vancouver and love the branch!!

Well monday and tuesday i said bye to my home in Hood River :,( sad day but i will return soon!!! 

Saying Good-BYE to my Companions (trainees).  S  & V. 

The Amazing J Family!!!!

Amazing News:  a part memeber less active family that came to church on my last sunday in Hood River, the N family... well the two kids are now on date for baptism and the mom is loving coming back to church!!

Wonderful N family ~ and I love these cute Young Women who have helped us!

My trainer/mom Hermana A came back to visit the mission, so happy i got to see "mi madre" :)

R, my Trainer/Mom in the Mission Field. I love her!

We had some amazing little experiences this week by simply listening to the Holy Ghost.. WE have talked and taught many people about the gospel and they are so interested!

First day with the Spanish Branch, we went on a "Trek".   There are 4 sets of Spanish Missionaries in the Branch.

Hermana A came back to visit.  And little L between us!

The amazing miracle this week was listening to the prompting to walk and talk to a lady at a park. she invited us back to her home for water and food. we taught her about the Book of mormon and she is excited to hear more!!!!

GAHH AMAZING THINGS ARE HAPPENING HERE!!!! love you all so much. take care!

Hermana Kelsey Jaeger

"I got a little time for that"

P-day last week was so fun!!! We went and played basketball with the elders, picked delicious cherries, and had delicious shakes! it was a fun day :) I know the reason hermana v and i are together, its not to learn spanish or to be memorizing everything.. it is to help each other work to be the best we can be, but on our own :) I love my companion, she is my sister now and forever! 

HUGE Sunflower :)

Wednesday we met our AMAZING new mission president and his wife, President and Sister T.. they are from Idaho. they are so amazing! they were specifically sent to open the new Washington Vancouver Mission.. many changes are happening!..... as of right now, there are only 6 spanishsisters in this new Washington Vancouver Mission... SO TINY! lots of my mission will be spent training!!! its crazy. 

As you know, i hate singing solo, or duet, or in front of people... well hermana has an amazing voice, and so lately everyone has been asking us to sing at meetings and baptisms.. haha its funny, that is one of my fears and weaknesses... heavenly father is making me over come that! last minute, the zone leaders asked us two to sing at the meeting with president Taylor, we threw together a song.. and then found out we would be singing without a piano.. BLAH hahahaha.. well when the time came to sing hermana felt the spirit so strong that she was balling and she couldn't sing, therefore i was singing alone, with no piano... WOW who would have ever thought i would be doing that.. not me! well good or bad, everyone felt the spirit :)

Mt. Hood (Volcano) on the 4th

Thursday 4th of July!!!!! our mission president gave us permission to be with a member family for the night, so we of course hung out with the J's for a while, and we watched the fireworks.. it was so fun :) but not as fun as being at home with my real family. we got to stay out past our bed time for a little bit longer ;) 

Hood River Missionaries!  Elder S & M, Hermana V & Jaeger (me)

Friday we had weekly planning, dinner, and then we drove to do our exchanges for saturday. Saturday i spent the day with Hermana K(she was trained by Hermana A, my trainer/1st companion in the field. And she just was training my MTC companion Hermana G!) in Vancouver, the work is very different over there! 

Hermana K & I. I love her. We have the same "MOM"

We tracted into a nice lady, she was happy... until she found out we are Mormon, then she said "i don't have time for that" and slammed the door in our face.. ! We did find an awesome lady, at first she didn't accept The Book of Mormon, but after we bore a strong testimony and explained what the Book of Mormon is, she became interested and accepted the book and said she would read it... nothing is more powerful than a testimony, english or spanish :) 

Sunday, no investigators came, we gotta get people to church!!! Sister L (member in our ward that translates for us every sunday) bore a powerful testimony, "if he has asked you to do it he will make a way, just ask him for it." We all have a time and a season, we can do hard things. Don;t be sad, Christ has given us so many things to be happy about! She also taught an amazing lesson in relief society.. about the second coming, and about the spirit world.. WOW we are so accountable for many things, both the work on this side and the other side..... we gotta get our butts to the temple EVERY DAY!!!! yes, spirits are being taught on the other side, BUT they cannot progress until their work is done here in the temple.. it put a whole new thought in my mind... THIS is the hastening of the work, preparing people on this earth, and doing the work for those who have passed, to help prepare for the coming of Christ!!!! It will be a glorious day and we ALL want everyone to be there for it! our accountability is growing more and more every single day!!!

On the bridge that connects Hood River Oregon & White Salmon.  Washington ...  my area is beautiful :)

Well on a fun note, a lady in our ward made us gorgeous necklaces, and another lady gave us delicious bread.. I love being a missionary :D both with the ups and the downs, its all worth it... this time is preparing me for SO much more, i cant wait to see what that all is!

HAHA funny, so transfers are this wednesday, my comp and i are staying together again here in Hood River Oregon.... There are no spanish sisters coming out to this mission.. well we just got a call from the AP's asking if we would be okay having a visa waiter(spanish, waiting to go to Argentina) be with us as a tri-companionship and start training her for a few weeks until her visa comes... HAHAHAHA HOLY COW, nothing is normal here, SO many changes and crazy things going on!! I am excited but also nervous! we will all be 1 transfer(6 weeks) apart... woooo boy this will be crazy :) I'll email how it goes next week.. take care! LOVE YOU ALL!! ADIOS!

Bridge of the Gods...connects to Oregon & Washington

1st Baptism & I'm in the New Vancouver Washington Mission!

I love my companion Hermana V!

Well..... I am now officially in the NEW Washington Vancouver Mission! Crazy changes continue to happen here in the mission field :) My address will change as of July 1st, but i will inform you all next week what is will be :) Side note for all those new missionaries coming out... be prepared for ANYTHING!!!! 

1st Baptism :)

Well this week was amazing! after being in the field for 9 1/2 weeks, we finally had a baptism :) C. M. M! He was so prepared and so excited! Even though we dont have a spanish branch, he loves the English ward and his new "family." EVERYONE AROUND THE WORLD, welcome in investigators and recent converts, they are so nervous!!!!! But they are amazing people :) they are taking a HUGE step of faith to change their life. C had never tied a tie before.. when he came to church on Sunday for his confirmation, he had on his adorable blue tie(that previous Hermana A sent to him) and he looked so happy! I am so blessed to be apart of this amazing change for him. The whole baptism program was in spanish, and his confirmation in church on sunday was in spanish too... the ward is so excited :) THIS is the start of the spanish branch! we hope haha. Many exciting changes here in the Hood! New baptsim, new mission, new language. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!

Our last names are so similar

One cool thing, I got to hug President Greer and Sister Greer, since they are being released this month.. I love my "mom and dad!"

President and Sister Greer!  I am going to miss you.

V Family's adorable kitty

Well as for crazy things that have happened.... I've had some interesting conversations in spanish with many religions, mostly the Jehovah Witness... I thank them for their efforts... but I still read the Bible(the correct one) AND The Book of Mormon.. I am satisfied with my religion and my beliefs, because I KNOW with out a doubt, that THIS is the true church!! The spirit bore a powerful testimony through me, I started to cry... Many people appreciate the work and service we do, no matter if they accept it or not. The people here are so kind, they just need to open their eyes and see the truth right in front of them, at their door, in a very simple book, testified in simple words by two girls, who are trying their best in a language they have only learned for a few months. How can anyone deny this work and The Spirit? THIS is the truth that everyone is searching for!

(I LOVE this Crazy Beautiful weather here in HR OR

Well I am truly happy for C and  his choice to be baptized, he is so excited for these amazing changes for himself! It's crazy how much i have learned in almost 4 months.... the time goes by too fast. Time to find more people who are ready!!! LOVE YOU ALL! Have an AMAZING WEEK <3

Cuidase!

con amor,

Hermana Kelsey Jaeger

Surprise VIDEO!!!

We got a surprise video from a member where Kelsey is serving!  :)

She is HERE! "She's opening up a brand new area"

Sister Jeager she is beautiful.  She is in our district ----.  After she saw the pictures of our mission at the mission home that was the desire of her heart and that is where she is.  It is the best place ever.  The ward is great.  I don’t know if your daughter told you . . . but 

she is opening up a brand new area for Spanish Sisters..  This is a really BIG deal!  

And, her companion (Sister A.) is probably THE best in the whole mission. (email from a sweet sister who takes pics).  


Kelsey's arrival ~ they had rain, wind and when they left the sun came out!  She is serving in a new area.

(Kelsey & her frist companion in the field Hermana A.   ~  "Wheres the sisters")

(Packing the car up ~ Yes, it took 5 Elders to put 1 box in the Sisters car!!!)

(Praying ~ AND ~ Eating)

President and Sister Greer

Dear Missionary Family,

We are delighted to inform you that your missionary has arrived safely to the Washington Kennewick Mission.  We already love them and are excited to serve with them.  We have enjoyed becoming acquainted with them and are confident that they will become an effective instrument in the hands of the Lord in sharing the gospel with the people of Washington and Oregon.

We have assigned them a companion who is an experienced, devoted, and motivated missionary.  All of our missionaries understand that one of the greatest privileges available in the mission is to train a new missionary.  This first companion will be a special person in your missionary’s life and will help give them a great start here.

We ................

Thank you for the sacrifices you are making at home to have your missionary in the field.  We have seen the Lord bless the families of missionaries who are serving in untold ways.  We know that His blessings will be upon you as well.

With love,

President Leonard D. Greer                                        Sister Julie Greer

Washington Kennewick Mission                                 Washington Kennewick Mission

MTC ~ Early Surprise letter!!!

So I got lucky and I got half of a pday today!!!  
(Got to email/chat with Kelsey back and forth for 30 min) And she has already seen "4" of her friends in the MTC.  She said she needs to find 8 friends and 1 COUSIN before she leaves.  :)

...Surprise, I am always the first one awake, and I am on time to most things.  except gym haha I dislike Gym.  Ready for this crazy part... Ashley is only 2 doors down from me in our rooms!  SO CRAZY!!!  Also if you mail food, make sure it doesn't perish... one kid got cheesecake his mom sent taken away haha.  I already saw Elder Finnie, Sister Wright and Ashley's friend Mckenzie!!  Thank everyone for all the letters!!....

3/2/13

I love you so much! It is day 4 and there is so much to do. We have a schedule for every day, but most of the time it is the same. My p-days are on friday mornings. So keep your email on for those days!!! I barley eat and sleep because there is so much to do and to learn. My mind is more hungry than my stomach. haha The spanish is very very difficult, I wont lie. But i know the Lord wouldnt give me something I couldnt handle. 

Last night my companion Hermana Griffin and I taught our first lesson to an "investigator." It was so scary. I felt the spirit and I knew what to say in english, but words could not come out of my mouth in spanish. I started to talk about families! The experience was unique. 

The MTC is an amazing place. Everyone here is so uplifting and they always want to help one another. The spirit is here 24/7. I wake up with a smile and go to bed with a smile, haha

Learning a language is the most difficult thing. BUT trying to express your feelings and thoughts through that language is even more difficult, but then I remember, that is what satan wants us to do... Give up, so that the Lords work does not progress... I dont want that to happen! This gospel is amazing, I want to try my best and never give up!

Sorry this message is random. I am just typing everything I have thought and felt. Ashley loves you, her P-day is on thursday, so look forward to hearing from her next week! I am trying to wright in my journal every night... But like I said, there is just so much to do!!! There are a TON of missionaries here! IT IS CRAZY! There are 6 girls and 4 boys in my district, and there are 26 girls and 25 boys in my zone... The girls are doing an amazing job! I will send pics next week :)

To the family: I love them SO SO MUCH!!! Boys prepare now, seriously. You can never be over prepared. Read study and understand as much as you can. I miss my family so much.  I love you and I will write you all letters as often as I can! 

--

Hermana Jaeger