Just Another Week in the Selva (Jungle)

Hola todos!!

This week was another really good one and we had a lot of success as far as lessons go. Elder C. is a workaholic and I really like that about him. We were still struggling this week to find a teaching groove together but I think we have found it. We had a lot of really powerful lessons this week, ones that strengthened my testimony for sure. 

In one of the lessons we were talking about the Restoration and at the end, Elder C. invited E. (our investigator) to kneel down and ask if Joseph Smith was a prophet. She did so and while she was praying the spirit was really strong. At the end she said, "I feel something right here..." as she pointed to her chest and then she couldn't finish what she wanted to say because she was choking up. She said she felt something she had never felt before and knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet. It was tough teaching her at first because she couldn't differentiate between praying to God and to the Divino Niño (Divine Son) but we explained prayer earlier this week and now she prays like a champ. She and her two kids came to church yesterday and now we are working with her husband. Unfortunately the trend still is showing in that her husband is pretty hard to talk to.  He works a lot first of all but second, he isn't that used to talking about religion. He is a really great guy though and I even got him to laugh a couple times this week! Believe me, with this guy it is tough to do. Haha            

            Another investigator, L. is recovering from a leg surgery and that makes it good because she can't run away from us!! Yeah! Last night she seemed different so we asked her what she was thinking lately and she told us that she was really excited about everything we were teaching for the first week but that she didn't feel as excited and wasn't sure why that was the case. We explained the role of the Spirit and also talked about what Satan likes to do at times. Elder C. showed Moroni 7, the way to judge, and after talking it all over she was back on board and she even said she was excited again. It showed because at the end of the lesson both she and her mom asked quickly, "Hermanos, cuando regresan??" (Brothers, when are you coming back?) Elder C. invited her to pray as well and when she was done her smile was priceless.  I really have learned the power of prayer this week once again.  

Honestly the mission is still tough and I really miss all you guys but when I focus on why I'm here and what the Lord expects of me, it gets better. Along with that, when I receive answers like I did [this week] I feel like I can't let God down because He never does that with me.  Oh how great the goodness of our God, right? I hope you all know I love you so much and that you're always in my prayers. Keep on keepin’ on but most of all, keep the commandments for in this there is safety and most of all PEACE.  Really, there is!

 

Con Amor, 

Elder Jaussi

 

Elder Jaussi had this picture of Presidente and Hermana Garcia taken to wish his brother, McKay a happy birthday.  :)

 

3 Nephi 13:19-20

Hola todos!

          I'm still in Mérida and Elder C. and I are still the Zone leaders in Zona Brisas. I tell you what, Elder C. is such an awesome missionary.  I really hope I can be like him. He has one month less than me but he is a machine. He teaches really well and he is really funny too. We get along pretty well too which always makes it good.

I told all the immigration ladies last week that I was leaving but that before I left for good I wanted to take a picture with everyone. They were sad but at the same time they were excited for the picture. I'm going to give them copies of the Book of Mormon too and I hope we can stay in touch after the mission to see if anything ever happens. I honestly think a couple would accept it.

3 Nephi 13:19-20  “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal;  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”

 

 

I'll let the pictures do the talking... The worst part is, they didn't take any copies of the Book of Mormon!!! The Pearl of Great Price was left in our house too!

So, Elder C. and I stopped by the house at around 6 at night and when I opened the door we saw all our clothes thrown across the house. The first thing we thought was, "Man we sure are pigs. Did we really leave the house that nasty???" However... When we turned the lights on, we saw broken glass all over the kitchen, suitcases thrown open, and unfortunately things taken.  Elder C. had his iPod and speakers swiped, our DVD player that we have in the house was stolen and my shoes!!! Not my athletic shoes!!! It's all good though.  Elder C. and I both had the same train of thought really: Number 1- At least we are safe.  Number 2- I'm kinda ticked at that stinkin’ guy!  Number 3- This is such a sweet story to tell the fam!!!! Haha

Elder C. and I have had some good chuckles about it all but now we've got to figure out how to put the metal protectors on better so we can sleep a little better.        

            Well it has been quite the crazy week this week. There really is a lot of work in Chichen Itza and having to train in the offices as well makes it even busier.

Elder Jaussi with Hna. G, who just completed her mission.  Elder Jaussi said that she is a great missionary.

 Elders Jaussi, T., and C. riding in a "Nacho Libre" moto taxi

 Combined nametags create Elder Jaussi's full name

 A "lovely" spider outside the apartment

Semana 6......Cambios!

Elder Jaussi, along with Elder T., Elder F., and Elder H. put in some late hours re-working maps for the entire mission one night this past week. 

Transfers occurred and Elder Jaussi will begin training his former companion, Elder H. to take over his immigration duties.  He will spend time in the mornings with training and spend the balance of the day working with his new companion, Elder. C. from Bountiful.  He is looking forward to being back out in the field and working with Elder C., who he says is a great missionary.

1 John...Because That's a Tiny Book

Hola todos!!              

             I don't have much time to write (thus making this a tiny book) because I have to go run to priesthood session on the other side of Mérida.  Yep we got the first conference session in good ol’ ingles.  Tomorrow, maybe not but we'll see.  We watched it with the Assistants. This being our P-Day we can watch every session. Tomorrow we have to find an investigator for the second session but we all can watch the Sunday morning and priesthood sessions.
             I still am able to play piano every week in Sacrament meeting and sometimes in zone meetings, district meetings or things like that. That is one of the only things that wards remember me for: the piano.  Most ward members if they see me after I leave always say "Oh how we miss the piano!!!" Even though they've changed my name to Elder "Juicy" these last few weeks, it's good my piano legacy will be left behind. Haha (Elder H. always laughs because he says their pronunciation of my name has gotten worse the more we've been here in Esperanza.) 

This week we found an awesome family. When we found out our investigator was pretty drunk, we had to nicely leave, with Elder Hall telling me that he thought we should go back and contact a family he had seen.  I didn't really recognize them but I am sure glad that he did.  We went back and talked to them and the dad completely stopped what he was doing, put on his shirt and said, "Please, come inside!!" He didn't really know what we had or what we taught but he said that he had always seen missionaries walk by his house so he was interested.   

He and his wife have a cute little 2 year old son and the wife's sister listened to us too. They all listened so attentively and really looked like they were interested.  We have invited them to come see conference with us tomorrow and we're going to pass by their house to go with them. They already read assignments given and now we are just trying to help them accept a date. 

Along with them, we found a sister of a recent convert in our ward and we are going to try and start working with her. Things are going well and we're working with the few members that are willing to help us, teaching lessons with them present to back up our testimonies.  If you guys aren't able to help the missionaries much in teaching lessons, you should try to do that because it really helps a lot in the lessons.

How about "The Giff's" talk?!? I thought it was really cool that he is a Seventy now.  He sure talks fast!

 

Apparently, there had been some painting done in the offices so the Elders put on these masks to block the smell.

 Watching Elder Bednar's talk during a General Conference session.

 Eating in a member's home?  Not sure, but here Elder Jaussi holds up a "Happy Birthday" sign for his brother, Aaron.

 Elder Jaussi and his fellow missionaries wishing Aaron a happy birthday.