"You Say Good-by, But I Say Hello"

Elder Jaussi's e-mail today was pretty short.  He requested that we not stone him for it, but then said it would be pretty hard to throw a rock across the Gulf of Mexico.  :)

The new mission president, Pte. Garcia, and his wife arrived today.  The week has been very busy getting things ready for Pte. Salinas to leave and Pte. Garcia to come.  They also had to say good-by to all the missionaries who were leaving for the new Cancun Mission.

Taylor said that a special thing that happened this week was that Pte. Salinas gave his missionaries a blessing before he left.  He didn't detail what was said but says he prefers to share that with us in person some day.  He will miss Pte. Salinas and said that it was hard to say good-by.

We didn't get details about the game, but it appears from the photo that T was able to play basketball with Pte. Salinas after all.  From the look on his face, we would say that he enjoyed it very much.

Elder Jaussi has a new companion, Elder R.  When we asked him how long he would have this companionship (his last few have not lasted too long as they were in an office training mode) he says that it will probably be awhile.  Elder. R. has been out 22 months and may finish up there in the office with Taylor.

Taylor was able to go to the Worldwide Leadership Training about missionary work last Sunday and loved it.  He was disappointed that very few members from their ward came.  All the same, it made him ready to go out and baptize the world. 

One of the blessings of  having the offices so close to the Merida Temple is that Taylor is able to see members from his old areas in Valladolid when they come to the temple.  This is a group of young men from Temozon, a small town near Valladolid. 

The Days Are Just Packed!

Hola todos!

Yesterday Presidente invited us to go to his house and eat to say thanks for all that we do here in the offices. It was a really fun time but sad at the same time because he is going and so are the other missionaries to Cancun. I have learned a lot being with him (Presidente) here and I really respect him. Also, apparently he really likes basketball and he goes to play in a park here in Merida every Monday with some friends. Last night before we went to his house, he asked us to prepare him some bags with church DVD’s, the Book of Mormon and some other LDS goodies because he is going to contact all the guys he plays basketball with and give them the bags. When he said that, I asked him "Do you go play a lot President?" He told me yes and then I jokingly asked him "Me invita Presidente?" (You want to invite me, President?) He kinda paused for awhile like he didn't know what to say and then he said... "Si Elder pero ya nos queda poco tiempo, asi que no sé cuando podamos." (Yes, Elder, but we don’t have much time left so I don’t know when we would be able to) I didn't lose the faith though, because just before we left his house I made a comment about basketball and he said, "Elder Jaussi, ¿sabe qué? Voy a jugar este lunes por la última vez. A las 7 voy a estar allá y le invito a jugar conmigo desde las 7 hasta las 8. ¿Que le parece?" (Elder Jaussi, You know what?  I am going to play this Monday for the last time.  I will be there at 7 and I invite you to play with me from 7 to 8.  How does that sound?) Oh, me parece muy bien President! (Oh, it sounds really good) So all in all... I'm going to play ball with the President this week. I guess you could say I'm pretty excited! Haha

 

 The gathering at the home of Pte. and Hermana Salinas

 

This week has been a good one as far as the real mission work goes, but only in Hunucmá, the pueblo outside of Mérida. Centro is a little bit tough but we found a few new investigators this week. The weather has been pretty crazy with streets flooded all Monday and Tuesday and then Wednesday and Thursday the heat pounding in like nobody's business. (I hear The Heat was pretty crazy too, eh??? Yay LeBron!) We've been working a lot with our ward mission leader and his wife and they are one of the reasons I am happy to stay here in Mérida. I am happy to be here in good ol' Mérida. Also, because we're two doors down from the temple in the new offices, I'll be able to see [the people from] Valladolid every month when they visit. That was pretty much the biggest reason I would want to go to Cancun, to see all of my peeps from Valla. Today, a sister told me that she was bringing cake next month so that they can celebrate my one mark with me. I really love those people in that ward. 

This last Sunday our ward counselor asked us right before church started if I could give a talk and it took me by surprise. It's one thing in English, but another in Spanish. Don't get me wrong, I feel very blessed with my abilities with the language, very blessed, but not so much in improvising talks... Anywaysss..... I'm excited to see what good we can do here, Elder R. and I. He's my new comp for the next week. 

 

This is one of the latest covers created for Elder Jaussi's planner from photos that we have sent to him.  We are always close to him....in his shirt pocket.  :)

Livin' It Up Like a Cholo

We have no idea what that means but that's the title of Elder Jaussi's e-mail this week.

As far as the mission division.... drum roll please, Mexican accordions, tubas, trumpets...... I'm staying here in Mérida! The mission President is scheduled to arrive the 28th of June but I'm thinking for sure he'll be here the first of July. All these changes sure do make for some exciting times in the offices. I'm excited for the change and hopeful that it will be a good one. 

Also, a lot of missionaries that are good friends of mine went home this week because they had finished their missions. It is also my assignment to make sure they get to the airport and they have their passport and such ready to go so that made for a fun few days waking up at 3 AM to take [those with visa problems] , 5 AM for the immigration line, 3 AM for airport again and on and on. It was sad to see them leave but it was really fun to be with an Elder when his parents came to pick him up in the airport. He had me film him running up to them. I had chills and I wasn't even the one seeing my parents. Haha

Taylor, feeling a little tired around the edges?

With one of his "hijos", Elder G.

 

 Immigration offices?

 

Here in Centro, we are working really hard with our Ward Mission leader. He is a returned missionary and newly married and he is really excited that we are his new missionaries. He loves our "ánimo" (don't remember that either in English) and we have started to set goals for the area. Apparently there haven't been baptisms here for a long time so we're about to change that. Tonight we're having a lesson at his house with three of his friends and we'll see how that goes. We fasted yesterday for the lesson so I'm pretty stoked you could say! Things are just pluggin’ along as usual in the good ol' Yucatán!

Training.....deja vu

Taylor's companion was transferred back to the mission field in Cancun so he is now training another Executive Secretary in the Merida offices.  His new companion, Elder M. is from Missouri.  He says he is a great guy and very upbeat.  He wants to speak Spanish all the time.  Taylor asks that we keep him in our prayers so that all goes well with the immigration issues that he handles.  He says he would like to have had more time to be trained himself. 

Elder J. isn't sure if this recent change means that he will be going to the new Cancun mission or not.   He says, "a donde me mande ire Senor" ("I'll go where you send me, Lord").   He was wondering if they would find out about their new assignments this week in their office meeting.  Since the new mission will be established in July, he will most likely know before too long.

They moved recently to new mission offices for Merida.  The new address for mailing letters is now listed at the right.  Here are a couple of photos of their new place:

 

With Elder A. leaving, Taylor was made the new district leader again.  He gave a baptismal interview this last week and says that he really enjoys that experience.  He says that if the baptismal candidate is ready, you really feel it. 

 

 

Taylor with his former companion, Elder A. and with his new companion, Elder M.