Well, Jesse's camera broke so we have not gotten any pictures, we are in the process of getting him a new one, but I found a picture I don't think I have posted yet.

Hi family, what is going on? I just started the mission July 2008 and now its July 2009!!! No this cant be happening to me! I just started and its been like a year. I hate this I love it here I don't want to go home! like I'm not joking I don't want to leave! Well it ain't nothing I guess, just got to get used to it huh.... (does he really realize how long 1 more year is???)

Well President Lee is here! its super weird knowing that President Thomas is almost at his house! I heard he is super strict, but that's good for the mission. Lets work hard and get lost in this wonderful work. Today was a great day, it started off yesterday by going to the PLAT, yes my old area, and it was so amazing, I forgot how much I actually loved it there. Even though I wasn't in my area I saw people I knew and it made me so area trunky. We had like 13 visits last night and got home at 11. then we stayed the night at the zone leaders house. We woke up today and went to play basketball in my area at my old chapel. MY BISHOP was there and I gave him the biggest hug, I almost cried! yes dad your right, once a shooter always a shooter, I did awesome today! (It's good to hear he still doesn't lack any self confidence, I love that boy) I hope its like that in golf too haha I have not played forever, its killing me. Then we came to Santiago for our pday and ate at pricesmart, aka Costco, it was super good. were about to go pick up my new pants that i got made here, I'm so excited.

This week was a surprise..... well the doctors were wrong about the kidney infection....Monday night i passed two stones in my house.....i will say its painful and I am done with soda. (WHAT???)

Ok so!!!! haha well we had a really great experience this week with a family we reactivated! We watched a movie, called by small and simple things, its amazing just to let you know, but when it was done Norbel, the dad, started talking about his babtism and how he went inactive. then he said that for years the members have been trying to get them to go to church, but never go and he didnt know why me and Elder Spragg showed up at his door one night to share our message, but they felt something! all in all in 1.5 weeks teaching them we got them to go to church, and they now have 5 weeks in a row going and said we know we made a mistake before, we will not go inactive ever again and were working on getting sealed in the temple!! and we put a date with there daughter to get babtized! I love missionary work and the feelings you get. I dont know why it happened, but looks like me and Elder Spragg were the only ones who could touch their hearts, it was amazing!

So ya, Jakelle!! how was EFY?? you know what that means, you have the new EFY cd and I want it! put it on your ipod and send me the cd please! and i want to know about your experiences.
What are the Suns thinking... they need Amare! whatever and if your going to trade Shaqu get something good for it!
Well I better go family! I love you so much and will talk to you next week. HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!

Love Elder Westergard

Woohoo! finally a week where I'm alright and in great shape! i took pills and feel as good as ever, so don't worry about me! I think its because the people here know we don't drink the tap water so all they do is give us soda. I'm cutting back, i have had like 2 in 2 weeks.

Everything here in the mission is wonderful! except President goes home on the first, and Elder Murray, the cool older elder couple guy who loves golf! but it will be different to have President Lee here, things will change, i don't like that, one year with my first, and my last year with another! but oh well.

So I'm almost positive I'm going up next transfer, since every leader and there mom is going home this transfer and there is no one who will be leaders. OK my comps group has like 30 people in it, 4 were APs, there is like 12 ZLs, and many district leaders! and if its not next transfer its the one after, and ill probably get a kid, aka there is 20 Americans coming in to Santiago, including Brody Bearman., so it will be cool! kind of scary though. (I'm still trying to figure out this missionary talk, kid is new missionary, right???)

We have taught allot of cool people this week! our investigators continue to progress and i love teaching them! Elder Spragg and i are teaching very hard getting lost in the work. tonight we have a activity in the church, unless it rains cause no one goes in the rain. Its so dumb, they have this superstition if they get wet by rain they will get sick, but they play in the water every day, its weird!

My comp went to visit an old area with his old comp, Elder Baker ha ha ha he is so funny. We met up in Santiago, Monday, and ate McDonald's lunch after zone meeting. Then i went back to Esperanza with Elder Beckstead, hes from Utah, and was senior comp, ha ha felt weird. We got back late like at 6 but we still taught 4 good lessons! ten we went back to Santiago Tuesday morning to eat Micky Ds breakfast! so good, then we went back to Esperanza.

Well sounds like all is well in Arizona, I'm glad your feeling better Dad! stay healthy, so i broke the record for most trips to the hospital huh... wow sweet! ya it makes it really hard to focus on the mission when your always sick and kill your first three comps! but i can handle it. Sorry mom your sad that Jakelle ended dance ha ha, wait (warning non missionary word) CRAP! so am i, no more Disneyland. dang it!

Well Elder Murray, the couple missionary, is going to call me every day starting Thursday to give me updates on my favorite event ever! ha ha figure it out yet.... go Tiger! (US Open)

Well OK i have to go, i love you all!

Elder Westergard

Poor Jesse, he has had some trials with his health, this Mom wishes she could comfort him right now. I love his attitude, and am so very proud of him!!


I cant believe that its already been 6 weeks since i got here! time is going out the window! its a sad day, all my really good friends are going home today! and next transfer! i wont know like anyone after this transfer! well my really good friend that was in the plat when i was born came down to our district, elder Powell!! he is so awesome, and were really good friends. so were all Americans in Esperanza!
Well now for some bad news! another thing to add to my list mom and dad! well i thought i had a kidney stone again, so i went into Santiago yesterday and after 7 hours of tests and waiting, I have a kidney infection. I'm on antibiotics and have to go back to Santiago next week! the pain is so great! the other day i dropped to the floor of our house and started crying but it feels alright right now, we will see. It was the first time going through a bunch of doctor stuff without you mom, kind of sad!
Well good news!! there was a baptism Saturday! a really cool kid named Sammy! it was way spiritual! not allot has really happened this week, just allot of guys coming up to us trying to bash with us, they lose every time!
President Thomas goes home in three weeks! its really sad! everyone is going to miss him. He was such a great guy! and President Lee is going to make some huge changes, we will see how it goes!
Well how was Florida and everything? sounds like a fun place! i have only been there once, to switch flights to here, and it was super humid! i don't like it. but i guess I'm used to the humidity by now! so mom you got bit by a spider to huh... that stinks! ya i don't know what type of spider bit me!
Well family i don't know what to say, so i guess ill end! this is the true church and Jesus Christ is at the head of it! he lives and Thomas s. Monson is his prophet! I love you so much.
Love Elder Westergard

Spider Bite on Lip

So i pretty much have to add another thing on to the list of things that has happened to me! I woke up yesterday and my lip was HUGE!!!!!! not the whole thing, but the right side of the bottom lip! i called Sister Thomas and then the doctor of the mission. and yes! during the night i got bit by a spider!!!!!! my lip was so numb and i talked like rocky! i put cream on it and its fine now so don't worry!

So yeah who knows how many more things will happen in a year and 2 months but we will see. Not allot of things have gone on this week, President gave his last zone conference, it was so amazing! from 9 in the morning till 3, long but great. Today we played basketball in an inside court and it was super fun and now were just emailing.
Can you believe that transfers are next week! i just got here, we will know on Monday! time flies. I'm pretty sure ill stay and kill my comp! I'm famous in the mission now, I'm known as the Elder who fell off a roof and will kill 3 comps in a row! i don't even know someone and they are like, oh hey Elder Westergard! i heard lots about you. ha ha i don't know.

Well it does not matter if you tell me about what your doing at Disneyland in Florida rigth now cause i know your there and yes mom, i miss churros so much! eat like 10 for me every day, cause you know that's how much i usually eat in a day ha ha.
Can you believe i have been in the mission for 12 different months already! insane! 1 year next month.. its crazy, its like I'm glad time is going fast, but i don't really want to leave! you understand.....
So i heard CJ just left and Micheal Flemming leaves like in 2 weeks, that's just about all of us gone! i love the fact that were all away from our family's for a good reason! serving the Lord!

Well family i cant really think about anything else to say, so I'm going to end. i love this gospel! i love my Savior Jesus Christ! i love serving him and teaching this gospel! this is the true church and i testify of it every day. I have seen miracles and cant deny my faith! in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
love Elder Westergard

oh by the way, they say the swine is here in Santiago. but don't get worried, president T. has not said anything yet. LOVE YOU

Happy 20th Birthday Elder Westergard

My little baby is not a teenager any more "Feliz Cumpleanos to Elder Jesse Marc Westergard. I hope someone there in the Dominican Republic is making you a great big birthday cake today.




We Love You and hope you have a GREAT Day!

Messed up Zone photo

Sweet Style

The Esperanza 4

Hello family! I'm sitting here already writing you when it felt like a couple hours ago we talked on the phone! That was so amazing! It was so good yo hear all your voices again, and first time to talk to Josh in a year, it sounded like you all were doing good, and drinking Mexican coke hmmmmmmmm.
I'm glad you had a good Mothers Day Mom! sounds like Dad and the kids did a good job this year, like usual, cough cough hehe!Ii wish I could have been there, but I know what I'm doing here is where I need to be! I don't have allot of stuff to say cause we talked for 3 hours on Sunday! but ya me and my comp are working super hard! This last week we had 16 member lessons, 12 other, 12 contacts, received like 14 references, and had 20 new investigators! were working super hard!
Today was pday and we went to Navarrette and played fast pitch softball! it was super fun and i was 7 for 7 and got a home run! Then we went back to our house and made mangu! not mango but mangu! its super good. now were writing!
well this internet here in Esperanza is sooooo bad and cant put photos on flickr, so ill just send like 2 in the email every week till I can start again! sorry!

So I'm not ready to be 20 yet! but Saturday will be here fast and I guess that's life, growing older.

Well I don't know what else to say, if I missed anything let me know and ill write back next week, which will feel like 2 days! but I love you guys so much! have a wonderful week! I love you.

love Elder Westergard

Hey everyone! its so great to hear from you every week and to know how and whats going on! it seems like all is going great and your enjoying life!

Sounds like Dad and Josh had super fun golfing and saw allot of cool things. but come on, you guys shot in the 80s......come on i thought we were family, you need to represent me a little better while I'm gone haha just kidding.
So jakelle had fun on her trip, I'm so happy for her, don't worry Mom, you will get to New York someday! like me!

Well let me tell you about Esperanza, hope, and how I love it here. Our zone has about 24 missionaries in it, we are 4 aqui in Esperanza, and there are sister missionaries in Navarette as well as the zone leaders. and there is more missionaries in Mao and another little city I cant remember, so its spread out!

Me and my comp are really working hard, for the first time ever cause he is not a dead comp haha, but we are averaging about 7 lessons every day. we have so many investigators and we get help from many members! We are 2 districts in Esperanza which means we have a branch here. The members are so strong, my animo is super filled and I love working! like I have seen myself change more here in 1 week than the last 7 months in puerto plata cause were focused on the work and i love the people! its amazing and my testimony grows every day.

You can ask me more questions on mothers day and stuff if you want, but oh Dad! no we cant go to Santiago evryweek, only once a transfer. but i will probably call you guys when you get home, so around 2.30 to 3 my time aka right after your church, so 1130 to 12. sound good, were going to the church, so ill call, and you will have to call me back OK.... make sure the whole family is there this time!!!!

Well today is pday and we went to Navarette to play basketball, i have not played for awhile but i was surprised I did good, I had about 26 threes the whole day. so i did all right.
Well we need to go eat and stop by and visit an investigator before we work tonight! we also have an activity in the church, volleyball!!! and I'm horrible haha. But OK I'm going to go! talk to you on Sunday! i love you all bye.
Elder Westergard