Welcome, Welcome, Sabbath Morning [Filled With Miracles]

Email from Monday, August 3, 2015

 

Hey there everybody,

I think I say this every week but I just don't believe another week has gone by. And another month, we're in August ya! 

This week was a great week. Yesterday was easily one of my favorite days of my entire mission. It was just the most incredible day and I felt the spirit so strongly. We had so many investigators come to church for the first time and they all stayed for the full 3 hours. We even had a guy come up to us on Saturday in the street and he was like "What church are you guys from? When do you have your meetings?" And we invited him to come and I'll be honest, I lack a lot of faith when it comes to inviting contacts to come to church because they always seem super excited and then never come so I about fell out of my seat when 5 minutes before the meeting started, this guy walked into church! And then in Principios, he was reading scriptures and asking questions and it was just so awesome. Leo and Socima came too and Gimena, a lady that we're teaching that lives in the 2nd floor of our house, came with her 2 little girls and it was so awesome. Also a bunch of the less-actives that I used to teach before they changed the area limits came too and I don't think there was a happier missionary in all the world than me sitting there in the chapel surrounded by all these people that I've come to love so much and being able to feel the spirit so strong as we were all gathered together to remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It was amazing. :)

This week, we had tramites which is like when we have to go and do paperwork and immigration stuff to get our Bolivian ID card thingie and it turns out that the lawyer came to Tarija to finish my paperwork while I was in the hospital in Santa Cruz and because there's all sorts of rules and time is a factor, the mission has to pay a fine for me living illegally in Bolivia for these 2 months...oops... 

But the good news is that the sun is finally coming out again and I don't have to sleep with 2 pairs of sweats and 5 blankets now. There's still a chance that it could get cold again this month but I made it through the coldest month...alive! 

Funny things this week..

-seeing a drunk guy in a BYU sweatshirt 

-my companion reading the Book of Mormon in English, I don't know how it's possible but she totally does an irish accent when she talks in English and it's my favorite thing ever.

-our district leader read us the story of Alma baptizing thousands of people and then super happy he said "Hermanas, do you believe we can baptize thousands?" and we were super excited and we were like "YES!" and then he was just like "hahahah...thanks for your faith, hermanas"

Anyway, things are great and I love being here. Next Sunday, we'll get the call for transfers and I can just feel it in my bones that I'll be leaving this area. If so, I'll be writing you from a new area and you can all trust that many tears will have been shed and a little piece of my heart will have been left here in Progreso. I was telling Hermana Monar that I feel like the Grinch because my heart is just expanding so much, way more than just 3 sizes and I don't know how it's even possible to love so much and yet I still have so much love for all of you back home. Hope all is well and that you're all finding joy in the journey and that the restored gospel is wonderful every day for each of you because it is truly wonderful to me. :)

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Gauger :)

 

 We may or may not have bought barbies in ropa Tarijeña...... 

Hermana Romero and I

 We went to the giant slide again...Hermana Monar was a huge fan...obviously

 Socima and Leo! Aka my favorite couple ever. They invited me to their
sealing too. :)

 Day of Bolivia is this Thursday and this is our ward practicing the
dance they're gonna do for the huge stake activity

Fotografia de la zona

 ANDALUZ! my zone! :)  

We're the greatest zone in the mission, don't tell the other zones that though. :) 

Little Lambs So White and Fair

Email from Monday, July 27, 2015

Hey there family,

I'm serious when I say that I don't know how it's possible that another week has passed by yet here I am. The time goes by soo fast. :(

But this was a good week! Hermana Monar and I were healthy and happy and working hard. I've grown to love her so much and this week, I think she finally was able to realize why I have the tendency to push her so hard to be better because during our comp study she was like "Hermana, I could never train a new missionary but I'm so glad that if I do, I can be just like you." It seriously made me so happy because I have not been anywhere close to being the perfect trainer but if nothing else, I love her to death and I just have tried my best to help her realize her potential. We're getting along really well now and I don't even want to imagine the day when I'll have to let her fly on her own. Seriously, the mission is boot-camp for life.

Right now we're teaching this girl named Socima and her husband Leo and they're seriously so wonderful. Leo is actually less-active and Socima is pretty much a member because she's received missionaries a lot and attended the church for years. She's probably one of the best people on earth and she's so excited for her baptism on the 15th of August. She's already halfway through 1 Nephi and she loves reading the pamphlets and then discussing them with her husband. Seriously, I wish you all could meet the people here, I love them so dang much. Also my pensionista who was less-active but we rescued has a date to get sealed to her husband next July. I told her I'm gonna do whatever it takes to be there so I already have my return trip plans in my head hahah. I just love Bolivia and I don't know how I'm ever going to leave but I still have a loooot of time, thankfully. :)

Yesterday, I ate lamb for the first time (and hopefully the last). It was hilarious though because we eat lunch with members on Sunday and the member was like "hermanas you eat lamb, right?" and I was like "uhhh...yeah we can" and my companion was like "wait...is that normal meat?" and I just smiled and was like "Hermana, ya know the picture on the front of the Restoration pamphlet? We gotta leave the ninety-and-nine to go find the lost lamb...so we can eat it for lunch" It was hilarious until I actually had to eat 4 pieces of it while listening to the family fight over whether it was actually lamb or if the lady had sold her goat meat without knowing. It was...an expèrience. hahaha.

Othewise all is well and I'm just happy as can be to be here every day. Life is wonderful here en Tarija la chura. :)

Con mucho amor,
Hermana Gauger

Savior, May I Learn to Love Thee

Email from Monday, July 20, 2015

Hey there everybody,

Remember how I told y'all that Hermana Monar felt a little bit sick last week? Turns out she got some parasite and she was in bed or in the bathroom for almost the whole week. We even got to return to the clinic (thankfully for just a quick visit and not overnight) and the nurse saw me and was all "como estas Jennifer?" I'm well known in the clinic...unfortunately. But then we finally got the meds that my comp needed and she was back to normal on Friday for our multi-zone conference with President Willard.

The zone conference was amazing and I have 5 pages of revelation that I wrote during it but the most important thing that stood out to me was that he shared a part of President Nelson's talk from conference and talked about the question "What sign do I want to give to God?" and how our obedience is really a demonstration of the sign we want to give to God. And then he said something that hit me so hard and has been burned forever in my mind. "Every time we fall short, sin, or make mistakes, we really just lack love for God" and it's changed me forever. I realized that we wouldn't even need manual misional if we understood the first and great commandment and the second, If we just loved God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength and then loved everyone else around us too, we would be more Christ-like and more prepared to return to His presence.

So now my goal is more than just exact obedience to the mission standards but 100% obedience to the first and great commandment. Because I could be exactly obedient, work hard, and have success, but "if I have not charity, I am nothing".

This week, we had a visit from a not so furry but still very terrifying tarantula in our kitchen and you'll be happy to know that I've included photos of my own experience with Fear Factor:Sister Missionary Edition. My companion was so calm about it that she was even willing to sleep and leave the tarantula to eat me alive in the night. Luckily, we had a can of bug spray from when the other hermanas had cockroaches so I was able to sleep tranquilamente. :) There's no problem that doesn't have a solution! 

Anyway, I'm wishing you all a happy week with opportunities to love your neighbor, serve those in need, and help someone in your life come unto Christ. I love you, I'm praying for you always and I hope all is well.

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Gauger

 

 Hna Monar and I being the cutest missionaries in Progreso

 Wait...we don't sell soup in plastic bags in the states?

 The clinic advertises "atención las 24 horas" but mostly it's a lie 

because there's never anyone at reception...

 Fear Factor:Sister Missionary Edition

 Does this exist in the states? It's not a pumpkin, but it's similar. 

It's called camoté and it's really yummy. I don't really remember food from the states...oops. 

I Always Want to Be with My Own Family

Email from Monday, July 13, 2015

 

Dear Family, Friends, and Strangers,

 

Hope all is well back home. Things are great here. We truly had a week of miracles and I'm feeling happy, healthy, and humble. I've also been away far too long because this week, I kept coming up with great invention ideas but they're all things that exist that I just haven't seen in almost 9 months (ew don't remind me, I know, I'm officially old in the mission). But I thought I invented a dishwasher, a hair dryer, and a can opener. Ah the luxeries you all enjoy back home, haha just kidding, I don't miss any of those (although I do miss American cake...I hate cake here....)

Hermana Monar started feeling un poco enfermita yesterday and today tambièn so I'm playing the role of Dr. Hermana Gauger and serving her lots and lots. One of the greatest miracles that I witnessed this week is how much we've been able to strengthen our companionship and friendship ever since I started putting in real effort to develop patience. I didn't realize how bad it was but I'm happy that my companion loved me enough to tell me I needed to improve and that she's been so understanding of me as I strive to be a little better each day.

This week was Boston's birthday and as I was studying and reading this week about the Atonement, my mind reflected a lot on how I first gained my understanding and testimony of the Atonement and it began July 7, 2011. That day changed my life and anyone who knows me and my family well knows that it was a difficult time for us all. But it was the time I grew the most and I'm grateful every day for that experience and the experience of watching my family grow closer and stronger after losing Boston. I thought about an experience I had a year ago when I went to the temple alone and then I went and visted Boston's grave and I sat and talked for a while and I left with a firm commitment to serve my mission with all my heart, might, mind, and strength because I promised Boston that I would make him proud. I take the role of being an aunt very seriously and even though I can't be there singing Frozen songs with Annabelle, high-fiving Lincoln, rolling around with Petey, and I can't even see Boston in this earthly life, I'm doing something even more important and I pray each day that I can be a good example for them and for my own future children. I'll miss out on a lot of family pictures but the testimony that my family will be able to share will make a much bigger impact than my presence in these 18 months. I'm grateful that my plaque says Hermana Gauger because it means I represent my family and not myself. I also made a promise to my parents to give it my all and nothing less. And most important, I covenanted with my Heavenly Father in His holy house that I would sacrifice everything I have and am to serve Him. 

It's not always as easy as it seems but it's worth it every single day. It's worth it when you see your recent convert passing the sacrament for the first time to his mom who recently returned to activity in the church. It's worth it when you hear someone say that they received an answer to their prayer and they know that the Book of Mormon is true. It's worth it when your companion tears up and tells you "what we're doing is changing lives forever". It's worth it when you just feel that the Lord is smiling down on you and the Spirit testifies that this is God's work. I love every single day. I love this gospel. I love the family that taught me so much and helped me get to this point in my life and that writes me (almost) every week to encourage me. I just love this work and I love my Father in Heaven.

I couldn't be happier and I just pray each day that whoever reads this, wherever they may be can recognize that this happiness is within reach for everyone. I promise that. 

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Gauger :)

 

 Our pensionista's perrito tan chiquitito

 

  "Dog Days of Invierno"-Hermana Gauger Photography, todos los derechos reservados

 I had to teach the new gringa how to wash her clothes by hand :)

 Our pensionista made lasagna por my companion's birthday

 Hermana Monar's birthday with the other Hermanas 

 HAPPY 34 YEAR ANNIVERSARY TO THE BEST PARENTS I'VE EVER HAD. 

(Gracias por ser tan guapos ;))

 

 

God Gave Us Families to Help Us Become What He Wants Us to Be

Email from Monday, July 6, 2015

Dear family and friends,

Yesterday marked one year since I went through the temple and as I thought yesterday during Sacrament Meeting about the month of July and all the special anniversaries that the Gauger family celebrates in July and how each one of them directly relates to the temple. I’m just so grateful for temple blessings and the power that comes from keeping the covenants we make there. The most important blessing we receive in the temple is that families can be together forever and I know that that’s true and I’m grateful every single day that I get to have such a wonderful family for all of eternity and that one day, I’ll have the privilege of forming my own forever family as well.

I had written out a whole beautiful email for you all this week but then the power went out in the internet place so I lost it all and now I only have time to write you a Little bit. But things are well here. This week was a bit rough but I’m just praying a lot to finally develop the heavenly virtue of patience.

This week, I met a lot of the new gringas who just arrived this transfer and one of them even delivered me a note from Hermana Wilson who just got to the Cochabamba misión! It was so special because Natalie said that whenever she met someone in the MTC going to Bolivia Santa Cruz, she told them about me and she said that all of them already knew who I was from Reading my blog. So it’s oficial. I’m famous. Hopefully these words I write actually go out and help someone.

Anyway, I love you all so much! Hope you had an awesome 4th of July. I ate s’mores, hamburgers, forced Hermana Monar to wear red, White, and blue and sang the Star Spangled Banner alllllll day long.

Con mucho amor, Hermana Gauger :)

Somos los soldados que combaten [T]error

Email from Monday, June 29, 2015

Hey there,

Well, I'm writing you all with some very big news and with a big ol' smile on my face today because we actually got our call for transfers last night and had transfers today and for the first time ever...I get to stay in my area with my same companion!! YAY! :) Hermana Monar and I have been through a whooooooolllleee lot together but I just felt super strong that we still have some more experiences ahead of us and luckily the Lord told President Willard the same thing and we get 6 more weeks of miracles in Barrio Progreso! :) Seriously, I'm the happiest missionary in the world today. Well, next to Hermana Monar because who wouldn't want to be with me 24/7 for 12 weeks straight??? She's obviously super feliz. :)

Yesterday we had lunch with a member family and their son asked me "Hermana, have you ever had a miracle in your mission?" and I felt so happy that I was able to honestly respond that I've witnesse miracles every single day. 

This week was no different in that we had the awesome miracle of the baptism of Elvis and Ronald. They're the 2 sons of a less-active that was actually a reference from President Willard. (Why you should always follow up on references from your mission president :)) 

But it's an incredible story because the mom is named Gladys and her sister is a recent convert in the other ward that attends in our chapel and Gladys and her 2 sons go to the catholic church every Sunday at 7 but at the request of her 9-year-old niece who was recently sexually assaulted, Gladys went to our church one Sunday with her sister to please her niece and help her feel a little better in this difficult time after the assault. And it just so happened (in the perfect plan of God) that this particular Sunday, in May, was when President Willard came and visited the 2 wards in our chapel. And President got to talking to Gladys's sister and the whole family and found out the whole story of what happened with her niece and then took her info and called us over to meet Gladys and her 2 sons. He gave us her address and it turned out that we had visted her house that same week for a different reference of the other niece of Gladys but when we went and talked with the niece, she didn't live there so we left thinking "aw man, maybe we'll pass by some other time to visit her grandma" but then that Sunday, we receieved the reference of Gladys in that same house! (The whole story is a miracle, but I can only explain so much) So we went to visit Gladys and we start chatting with her and it turns out...she's a member! But she didn't remember anything at all, only that we don't drink coffee and that we have a program for young single adults "to find spouses". So we started teaching her and her 2 sons and she was super closed off at the beginning and in such a short time, I had the privilege of watching her heart soften as the Spirit testified to her as she read the Book of Mormon, prayed, and attended church every single Sunday without fail. Then we invited her sons to be baptized and Elvis who is 13, was super excited and agreed but Ronald who is 12 is really shy and wasn't sure. So we set a date for Elvis and then we passed by one night, and Elvis told us that he started going to seminary (he turns 14 in a few weeks and the school schedule is different here) and he loved it. We started talking about the plans for his baptism and Ronald was like "Hermanas...I also want to be baptized with Elvis on Saturday" Obviously, we were totally okay with that and we did all the plans and on Saturday, they both got baptized and it was so special. I'm pretty sure that Elvis is like the modern-day, Bolivian Joseph Smith because he's just got such a sincere desire to know the truth and then act accordingly. Their baptism was really special and I'm just so excited for them. We even sang We Are All Enlisted at their baptism because it's Ronald's favorite hymn and I never want to forget the enthusiasm in his face as he sings "QUE DICHA ES! QUE DICHA ES!" 

Anyway, all is wonderful here in Tarija, everyone says that the real cold happens in July sooo wish me luck. The zone leaders did buy us a space heater this week though so I think we'll survive my first and only humid Bolivia winter. I'm just loving every moment and hope you all are too!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Gauger :)

PS not sure how long I can keep up with my hymn subject titles because I don't remember any complete hymn in English....but I'll keep it up in Spanish and you can all have language study each week :)

ice cream on Monday 

Hna Mejia is my sister training leader after being my second comp

We went to a museum and I had to take a mammoth pic for Mom, Bolivia ROCKS! (and you guys thought I had lost my puns)

 cold days in beauiful Tarija

baptism pics. :)