One Heck of a Week! So Legit & Creepy...

6 MONTHS WHAT!!!???? Time is flying by like a rocket!  well i didn't write in my journal this week... oops!! so im emailing things that i wrote on my sticky notes... forgive me!! 

Taught a lesson and got some free food!  I love teaching.

well Tuesday we taught a lesson AND our investigator gave us free vegetables haha it was so nice :)

Wednesday we went to visit an investigator but she wasn't home.. we see a girl so we follow her, but then she disappears. we see a house with a door open so we look inside.. see a group of people, start talking to them.. they've all met missionaries before so they weren't interested :/ but out behind a wall comes a guy... he says "hey I'll listen to a message!' so he steps outside and pulls up a chair.. we taught him, gave him a book of Mormon and hes interested and wants to come to church! SO LEGIT. that night we also walked on the streets and met some other cool people. the Lord really places people on our path, we just have to talk to them! 

Vancouver mission is so dang beautiful every day

Thursday we did service cleaning windows. that night while we were out on the street we met an interesting man.... he said some very rude things to us and cursed the savior.. it was hard to stand and listen so i just bore my testimony about how much the savior has done for all of us. its so sad how many people don't see what heavenly father or the savior have done for us. the faith of some people is so small.... so we are responsible to teach and testify with the faith that we have so we can help build each other up! 

Friday we ate a delicious dinner, carne asada!!! SO GOOD! the members here in the branch are so loving! we taught a lady for Honduras! it was so amazing. she was so interested and accepted a Book of Mormon.. her kids are even reading in the book of Mormon! we also taught another investigator E... small story short, she has been taught by MANY MANY missionaries.... still not baptized or reading in the book of Mormon. well we visited her and found out she is from southern ca and had family in my home town!! we crated a great connection! i hope this is it for her, i hope she will listen to our testimony and grow her own and get baptized soon! 

Hermana M.  I LOVE my companion)

Saturday we ate at Costco for lunch. WOW i have never seen so many members in one area before, it was hilarious they were so nice and wanted pictures of us.. haha this day we also went to visit a referral, but couldn't find her.. so we decided to walk inside a store and ask.. turns out the guy who we talked to has a book of Mormon! we have a 2 hour conversation with him in the store about our beliefs. it was so amazing.. the spirit really guided us to him!

Sunday we had a delicious break the fast with the branch.. no investigators came to church :/ that night we also got hit on by some creepy men!!! haha it was kind of funny! he said "why are you laddies walking the street late at night, dressed all nice?" and hermana said "oh.. awkward that does look bad!! hahaha" we just walked really fast to our car! and the guy yells, "you are beautiful"! haha

We went for a sick hike/climb through The Ape Caves! It was pitch black & freezing!! But so fun!

p-day was epic! we hiked the Ape Cave by Mt. Saint Hellenes.. it was so fun, freezing, dark, and scary! but a blast!! we had some cool little miracles talking to everyone in our site that night... no matter if people are interested or not we still try to talk to them!

Me and Hermana S

Hermana P & I  ~  Looking up from inside the cave

Climbing over the rocks.

 adios!  Hermana Kelsey Jaeger

Found & Felt many People

WOO HOO!!! 5 MONTHS OUT!!! This week was awesome! We found 2 new investigators this week!!! One in Hood River Oregon and another in White Salmon Washington! 

Well for p-day last week we got to watch The Other Side of Heaven and made cookies, loved it :) 

Wednesday we taught a neighbor of a member. Her name is M, she is very Catholic so it was hard to teach her a lesson about The Restoration of the gospel. But the spirit calmed her and we were able to teach a powerful lesson and give her a Book of Mormon!! I have felt the gift of tongues so strong recently, with listening and speaking in spanish! 

Future Missionaries :)

We also had a miracle, i went on splits with a young woman from our ward and we went tracting, her and I. We ended up talking and teaching a man on the street about the church! It was in english, but the man was a bit not very nice. But the spirit testified so strong and allowed a powerful testimony and lesson to be taught to this man. The young woman that was with me became excited and nervous to eventually want serve a mission :) 

Thursday we found a new investigator after tracting forever!!!!!  L let us in right away and we began teaching her. She is very interested and she is interested in learning more :) 

Friday we got out of the car to begin tracting, and the first person we meet is the brother of a member from our church. It was so funny how Heavenly Father had placed him exactly in our path! we talked to him for a little bit but he had to go, but he was excited to see us and asked where we have been and why we havent come over to teach him?! Well a few second later another person walks out of the house, U, a man we found a couple weeks ago!! he was excited to see us too and he also asked why we havent come over to teach him! AHHH well we obviously realized we need to get over their to teach them ASAP!! 

Gorgeous view of Washington and Oregon. We serve on both sides of this huge river! (all those little dots in the water are people wind surfing and kite boarding!!!!

So lets say we have found and felt MANY people that we need to visit this week!!! YAY for more work and people to teach!!

At church yesterday I learned so much! I came to realize that we are not perfect, no one is perfect... Heavenly Father is very patient because all he has to work with are imperfect people! WE are ALL he has to work with, so don't give up! keep learning and keep working the best you can :)

Deer every where we tract!

Awkward moments this week: I locked the keys in the car...... poor Elder Soper had to drive all the way from Vancouver to come unlock our car! THANK YOU!!!

We went to go contact a referral we received... well it led us to a members home.. nope, J doesnt live their.. so we decided to try the neighbors. We are about to knock on the door but we see 2 men sitting outside talking, so we deiced to go and ask them. well awkward, around the corner a couple feet a way was a group of people quietly sitting in a circle... we dont know what the heck was going on, all we saw was a table with a cross on it.. OOPS! we awkwardly asked "ustedes sabe un mujera J?" haha well they said no, and then we quickly left! 

sorry for my jumbled email!! We are going to go play volleyball now for p-day! LOVE EVERYONE!!!!!! BYE :)  -Hermana Kelsey Jaeger

Some days you gotta have a sense of humor

"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

Week 5 MTC "Patience is composure under pressure"

This week has flown by SO fast! Probably the fastest week yet! I got a postcard from Grandma and Grandpa Jaeger that they are enjoying a nice break in beautiful Hawaii... I wish I was there! haha And a package from the Grandpa and Grandma B!!  And I got an easter package from the family :)

Well the spanish comes and goes when I need it. I wrote a whole page in spanish, but obviously the only spanish I know are gospel related things! hahaha This gospel is amazing. I know the field will be tough and it will go by fast, but I honestly am super excited to be serving a mission.. Tuesday is the big day!!! 

Me and Sister M on Easter Sunday... we met online before entering the MTC.  We were in the same District/roommates.  

Easter sunday... was so unique to experience in the MTC. I sang in the choir, it was sooo beautiful! Over 3,000 of us missionaries took the sacrament. It is beyond words to express how the spirit was in that room... I could feel the Savior smiling down on all of us in that exact moment. Bishop Gerald Causse in the presiding bishopbric spoke to us: "repent every day. Repentance is a good thing. As you experience Christ's atonment in your life, you will desire to share that message with others." We then had testimony meeting with our zone. It technically was our last sunday(because this sunday is general conference). I bore my testimony about revelation from reading Doctrine and Covanents 18: 14-17. Sunday devotional was awesome! 

Some of the Zone/District hermanas

Sheri Dew spoke: "you enlisted as a full time servant in the Batalion. We are all influenced by what/who is around us. The father will help and save us. We cannot do it alone. Christ atoned for our pain in EVERY way. He knows/understands everything! Successfull missioanry= love the Lord more today than you did yesterday. Be fearless to build up zion! We were saved for this day; to welcome back Christ, our Savior"! 

Monday was officially April 1st! (i count that as 16 months till I return home hahaha) I recieved another package from mom :) I love you mom! It was a beautiful day, it rained(my favorite!) Hermana G and I taught one of our "investigators" about La Palabra de Sabiduria(The Word of Wisdom). We talked during a whole class time about The Plan of Salvation! WOW The Lord loves us so much. He gave us a life with agency, and also gave us his son, that only through him we can be cleansed and return to live with thee! I am so blessed to be serving a mission at the age of 19. "Patience is composure under pressure."

Friends from Home Sister M (Portugal) & Elder S

Tuesday my district got to usher at the devotional. The devotional was about Enduring to the end.
I had such a strong spirit comforting me, picturing my family kneeling around the bed and praying to The Lord, and praying for me :) "lessons learned on a mission will help us endure to the end. If you endure/enjoy to the end of your mission, you will be prepared to endure/enjoy to the end of your life. WE accomplish HIS most impoartant work before we creat his most important plan- a family. 

Wednesday new missionaries came in!!! I got to host 5 new sisters... One of which freaked out and laughed when she realized she watched my video on youtube! AH I felt famous for a short second!! I also saw a few familiar faces this week from T! 

Brother R taught us Spanish ~ Hermano C "my 1st investigator"!!

We had Brother R teach us a way to remember how to conjugate to subjunctive "Take it to the yo, drop the o, and add the opposite ending!" hahaha of course I will remember that. 

Yesterday, Thrusday was a long 9 hour day of In-Field orentation. we learned how it will be like in the field! We watched a short clip of the talk President Gordon B. Hinkley gave about the hand cart company traveling, and the 3 18 year old boys who helped carry people across the stream... I cried a little because I thought of my family. My mom and brothers are(or were) at trek this week and it made me think of them! 

It was also our last class last night with Hermano C.. Best teacher EVER!  This was our last picture with our 1st District! 

Today is PDAY! had a beautiful day at the temple, it rained but now it is beautiful outside! Time to go eat some pizza! I GET TO CALL HOME ON TUESDAY WHILE AT THE AIRPORT!!! I AM SO EXCITED :)))))) The next email you will all hear from, I will be in the field! Here goes nothing! Love you all :)

 Some questions that I read in Preach My Gospel about returning home from serving a mission:

*What do you want to say you have done as a missionary?

*What do you want to have become?

*What difference would you want others to notice in you?  

Hasta Luego! (I think that is how you speel it? hahaha)
~  Hermana Kelsey Jaeger

President Bowen ~  He is a great man and helped me so much!

Our District with our teacher Hermano C, President Bowen and Brother and Sister Doman.

P.S. Keep an eye out tomorrow! In between the two satruday sessions of conference I am in the MTC choir! They will be showing us singing a special song(they recorded it two weeks ago, so it's not live :/) But enjoy conference!

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

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