Please visit me!

Hello from the MTC!
Jk, this is Jess's sister, Manda.
As you may know, this blog is on hold for 17 more months.
But Jess started a Mission Blog before she left, and I've been updating it with her weekly letters. When she returns, she's going to make a book of that blog as a keepsake,
so feel free to leave your comments!

Jess has never been happier,
doing her best to help change the world. You can follow
her progress and her amazing stories on her mission blog
by clicking on the link below:

*Sister Naegle's Thailand Blog*

.bye my friends.

This is it!

What I've been waiting for for quite some time now....and it's finally here. Tomorrow I will be reporting to the MTC to serve in the Bangkok, Thailand mission.
HOORAY!
I can't really describe what I'm feeling, so I won't try too hard to express it. Let's just say it pretty much feels like a dream that I'm even going on a mission...I'm sure I'll have a great wake up call when I wake up in the MTC on Thursday morning. But quite frankly, rather than feeling like most people say I will (they say waking up after the first night you just stare at the ceiling, and ask yourself, "What have I done?"), I think I'll wake up Thursday morning realizing where I am, and thinking to myself, "FINALLY!!"
I. Am. Ready.
Thanks to all my friends and family for their love and support. Cliche, but I couldn't do it without you. I've been spending some time thinking about people who have influenced me in my lifetime...it's too overwhelming to even begin discussing it. I love each and every one of you!
So, now it's time to retire from the blogs, the facebooks, the unnecessary internet use...and give my entire
being to the Lord.
I will stop at nothing to accomplish what He needs me to.
I doubt anyone is taking the time to even read this...but if you are, then know that me and God love you. A lot.
So here it is, folks.
Sister Naegle is signing off.

If I knew how to say goodbye in Thai, I would.
Ask me in 18 months. Hopefully I know how.

I love Thailand.

.8 days.

Farewell down, 8 days to go.

It seems a little surreal...my grandparents just stopped by for a minute to say the official "goodbye," and I'm left with this out of body experience. It's almost as if "missionary Jessica" is watching "real time Jessica" go through all the motions, just awaiting "real time Jessica" to catch up to her in the MTC. I'm living two separate lives right now. The one I'm physically in, and the one my mind can't run away from.
Ah. 8 days.
Though I'm thoroughly enjoying my time in St. George this week. LAST WEEK! Janelle and I got right down to studying yesterday when I got back...but then figured we earned a break. She kicked butt and took some names in a few tournaments of ping pong. She blew me out of the water.
So yes, I'm finding time to slow down, and enjoy life now.
Lately, there have been little moments when all I want to do is capture every smile, movement, joke, story, emotion, conversation and keep it in my heart for the rest of my life (especially the next 18 months). Sometimes "real-time Jessica" wants to be anxious about leaving to a strange place for a long time, and in turn gets pretty worked up about spending time with people. In the moment she is with people, she doesn't take time to really enjoy the company she's in! However, I'm allowing "missionary Jessica" all the freedom she wants in taking over.
Result? Quality time spent with those I love.
Thanks to all the friends and family for the support on Sunday! I loved seeing so many familiar faces in one room.
LOVED it.

.st geezy.

I LOVE ST. GEORGE.

Why, you ask? I'll list a few reasons:
1) Sunshine. Always.
2) Red rock sunsets.

3) Nursing school.

4) Delightful friends.

5) Mom is here.

6) Pool-time in October.

7) Random trips to Vegas.

8)Gambling in Vegas. Biggest waste of $1.

9) Roommates.

10) Long runs through the desert.
11) Surprise trips from my best friend.

12) Zions.

13) Family visits.

14) Taking care of the raddest 101 yr old ever.

15) Spontaneous trips to Logan.

16) Studying outside in February. Weather......

17) In my mind, St. George=mission prep.

18) Elementary school carnivals.

19) Bonfires with creepy men in masks.

20) California road trips.

21) Celebration of my 21st birthday on the 21st. Golden.

22) Old friends in random places.

23) Stark white temple.

24) St. George made me me.

Yes...love my life.
16 days and counting.

.AA.

Alcoholics Anonymous.
Yup, clinical experience of the day.
This sounds silly, but as I sat there listening to all these absolutely unreal stories about drug addictions, moving into the woods with some stranger because you're so high, bouncing in and out of jail 6-7 times, giving birth in the back of a truck on the coast of Oregon...the list goes on and on....I realized something profound.
God loves these people just as much as He loves me.
Yeah, yeah...I know this isn't so profound to some of you. But as my roommates often remind me, I'm one of the more naive people of this world (of which I'm grateful--thank you, Bountiful). I am no better for having the gospel in my life, all that means is I've been given additional responsibility to GO SHARE IT.
The good news?
I'm gone 3 weeks from tomorrow.
At times I find myself in a twisted, messy, unhealthy relationship with life that I forget one simple truth--God has placed me in the situation I'm currently in because He believed I would do something about it. Sure, it's a piece of cake to share it when that's all I will be doing for 18 months. That will be my life! But at home there are so many distractions. Something else I often forget is that it does not have to be a formal, sit down, let-me-teach-you-the-gospel discussion. Silly!
I have just one request:
Find a simple way to share the gospel with someone today.
Emphasis on SIMPLE.
'Cause frankly, the gospel is simple.
"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about His great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls." -Alma 37:6-7
Hear that? VERY SMALL MEANS.
Emphasize what you can do, not what you don't have time to.
There will never be enough time, if you let it be that way. My point is don't overlook simple ways to serve because you are in search of a grandiose experience. You'll be waiting a looooooong time if that's the case.
Just get out there and do something.

.teacher.

My favorite calling thus far has certainly been
Relief Society teacher.
I can't express the uncertainty I feel before a lesson, now matter how much preparation I do. I always feel unprepared! My new and improved teaching method is to compile a bunch of information, not particularly organized, then let
the class take it's course.
So far, it's proven effective.
I just can't describe the feeling of standing in front of a class, feeling like the dust of the earth. Ha, literally...I feel like I have nowhere near enough knowledge to be teaching the amazing women in my ward (and any of you that have taught, have undoubtedly felt this way). Inadequacy is one of the most humbling emotions. No question. But with humility comes reliance (hopefully on the one you need most), and that reliance somehow qualifies you for a higher power. It certainly wasn't me teaching those women yesterday. I was taught just as much, if not more, than any of them.
And in that one moment, it hits you like a ton of bricks. You know the truth right then, when you are entirely overcome with gratitude for everything.
He teaches you,
blesses you,corrects you,
sacrificed for you,
answers you,
gives freely to you,
directs you,
invites you,
created you,
loves YOU.
And all He asks?
Is that we follow Him, and testify of Him. Not hard to do when you've genuinely had a change of heart, is it? He becomes you're everything.
I'm grateful to teach, and to feel of the Spirit so strongly when I'm placed in difficult, uncomfortable, unsure-of-myself situations.
I always learn!
On a slightly different note--
I LOVE BBQs.
Ha, yes it's true. Janelle actually bought a little bbq last week at Lowe's, and invited us over to test it out last night. It was delightful! The smells, the company, the food, the laughter, the sunshine, the games...all makes for a killer Sunday evening.
And to my dear friend St. Geezy...I shall miss you.
Deeply.
Oh yes, and thanks to Ms. Shelby for talking to me on the phone last night. I think you knew you needed to pick up the phone and give Aunt Jess a good chuckle. You always know how to make me laugh. You were straight business, no play, telling me straight up how things were going to happen. Can't wait to take you swimming this weekend! And to my ladies?
MICHAEL BUBLE, HERE WE COME.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AJmKkU5POA
Want an ultimate feel-gooder? Watch this.
Cheese. Ball.
Oh, and the blonde girl is his fiance.