"Ain't No Mountain High Enough"

These are excerpts from Elder Jaussi's e-mail sent 24 February 2014

Elder C. is on his second transfer on the mission so I'll be finishing off his training.  We call it being a "step dad" on the mission.  We have been pretty lucky this week with a lot of help from members getting from one place to another.  Elder C. doesn't remember a lot of places or people [yet] so I have been trying to work even more with members.  There is one young man named J. who is a convert of [my former companion], Elder R. and he loves accompanying us.  He is 19 and already has plans for a mission.  I'll have to tell you a story later of him and his family.  Pretty neat.

The baptism did go as planned.  Another that we were planning on having fell through.  Elder C. got to baptize G. because it is his first one on the mission.  G. is a really great lady and she was really ready for baptism.

All in all, Campeche is a lot different from Merida.  I miss certain things from Merida but I really like Campeche.  The members here are really great (just like in Chichen) and I've already made some good friends here in the ward.  Something different from Merida though...Campeche has HUGE hills!! Merida had nothing like this so it is quite a change.  I love it though because it makes me have some good ol' thunder thighs.  It is pretty cool here though, just that I am so lost still.  Time will help that though.  No problems here, Just Elder Jaussi, Elder C. and mostly the Lord.  :)

 Elder C. was able to perform the baptism for G.

 Elder C. giving the thumbs-up at his first baptism of the mission

The ocean can be seen in the distance.

 The hills of Campeche

 Elder Jaussi is the small dot at the top of this hill in Campeche.

Hola From Campeche!

Buenas noches todos! 

     Les escribo de Campeche, la estrella de la misión, paraíso, digan lo que diga. Me gusta un montón! I am writing you from Campeche, the star of the mission, paradise, whatever they say...I like it a lot! Yep, we had changes.  Bye, bye Mérida and hello Campeche.  I really like it here but it was tough last night. 

     We received changes late and I was only able to say good-by to a couple families.  E. caught us this morning before we left and when I opened the door she said, "Elder Jaussi!" and then burst out crying. She said that the kids are going to be really sad.  She found out because luckily C. saw her and told her. I really am going to miss that ward. 

     Other than that... I'll have to write more next week because I don't have much time today.  This week's shark activity..... drum roll.... I contacted a whole bus!! At a stop light I asked the driver to turn down his music and he said it would be fine and then I contacted everyone. I was super nervous but it was superb! I was praying before contemplating if I should do it and finally I just stood up. Good stuff. We didn't really find anyone interested but it's all good. Who knows if that Mormon.org card is a spark for a future saved soul!

     Well... Sorry I have to go now. The bus takes 30 minutes to get home.  I'm now in the barrio Esperanza Campeche. You can look it up in LDS.org to see the map. 

Luff yas!!

Posing with C. before leaving Merida

 It is hard to say good-by.

 Service project

 Street contacting

Elder Jaussi will miss the people of Merida.  He has had some great experiences there.

10 February 2014

These are a few excerpts from Elder Jaussi's letter:

       Well.... this week we were contacting a reference we received from a less active for about the third time (she kept putting appointments and then not showing up) and when we passed by the less active's house to see if she could accompany us she told us that her friend had just left. We were about to go back to another back up plan but I thought, "let's go back and write down her house number so that future elders can find her" thinking to myself that we would drop her. When we got close to her house I saw that her husband and son were outside in the street playing catch with the baseball and I was about to turn back because he hasn't been the nicest (he's a big guy!!) but I kept saying in my head, "be bold Jaussi, be bold...." I wasn't sure what to say to him because when he saw us coming he headed toward the house but out of nowhere I yelled, "when are we going to play catch???"  He kind of stopped where he was and looked at me and said "right now!" His son tossed me his mitt and I told him that I used to do the same outside my house with Dad and my brother. I told him to forgive me for my rusty arm (man, was it RUSTY!!!) and while we played catch, Elder G. talked with him. We set up an appointment with him and his son and wouldn't you know.... last night.... HE WAS THERE! HALLELUJAH CHORUS!! When we were trying so hard with his wife, it turns out that he is really the man we're looking for. He and his son accepted baptismal dates and I think that once we get them going strong, his wife will catch on too. It was a great way to end the day yesterday. 

     Also... I had a really neat experience last week with one of our ward missionaries, G. He always helps us out with visits.  He is 21 and about to go on the mission. We were in the church at a devotional last Sunday night and just before it ended he asked me, "Elder Jaussi, what are your plans after. Do you have time?" I told him that we had to run home quickly and he said that was all right but I felt like I needed to ask him if everything was okay after the closing prayer of the devotional. He told me that he was going to ask for a blessing and so I told him that I would be more than willing to. I asked him if it was for a sickness and he just said that he needed a blessing. I wasn't sure what I needed to say so I just excused myself to say a little prayer and when I gave the blessing, the room we were in had the most... I don't know how to describe the spirit in the room. I talked about his things that I didn't know why I was saying.... After the blessing he gave me a big hug and when I asked if we could do anything else for him he said that we had done quite enough. It was a really neat experience for sure. He's a really great guy! 

A son of a recent convert.  Elder J. has come to love the little ones of Mexico

 He caught the lizard by the tail but it escaped and left the tail behind......

 A missionary program held in the chapel

Sure Isn't Snowin' But I'm Seeing White!

This last week was really special for Elder Jaussi.  C.'s wife, K., and their children were baptized. The entire family are now members.  C. was able to baptize his children, a wonderful blessing.  Many of the ward members attended the baptismal service.  Elder C., Taylor's former companion who was also involved in teaching this family, was able to be there as well.

They are a beautiful family.

Such a happy smile

 New member. E., filling out some family history forms as her children watch

 K. and her children also began to fill out family history forms. 

Here, Elder G. and Elder Jaussi give the "Mile High Salute" in honor of Taylor's Denver Broncos.  He was told by a member that they had won their conference championship and he wore a tie with Broncos colors in honor of the win.

13 Enero 2014

Elder Jaussi shared a bit about his current investigators and invited us to continue to pray for K., that she'll have the desire and faith to be baptized this week along with her children.  To have her be baptized will mean that the whole family will be members and be able to continue to grow in the gospel together.  Her husband, C. was baptized some time ago and has been such a great member missionary.

There was a "cold" snap this past week and Elder J. had to borrow a jacket from a member's husband so that he could ride in the back of the ward mission leader's truck.  :) He admits that "cold" is relative. We assume that it was nothing like the "cold" back home.

The work is going well and he says that they found some good investigators this past week.

Transfers.....Bahumbug

As expected by Elder Jaussi, his companion (Elder C.), was transferred to be the new Assistant to the President.  He has thoroughly enjoyed the time they worked together in the Brisas zone.  Elder Jaussi hopes to continue the good work that has taken place with Elder C.

 

Here Elders Jaussi and his companion. pose with C., a recent convert, and his family

 

 Sporting the "gafas de los ninos" (children's glasses) of a member family

 A strong member family.  The father, C. L., has performed several of the recent baptisms.

 At the baptism of E.

Taylor is now companions with Elder G., from Hidalgo.

Regocijad! Jesus Nacio!

In the last few weeks Elder Jaussi has sent photos of events that have been happening there in the mission.  The work has been progressing well in spite of the holidays.

 

This is a picture taken at a dinner that was recently held with the missionaries and the ward council

 The Bishop's family, ward members, new convert and missionaries went out visiting and caroling.

 

The group of carolers

Helping C., a recent convert, paint his home

Elders Jaussi and C. sporting t-shirts given to them by their ward mission leader

 The Elders took several photos at their mission Christmas gathering

 

 The mission's Christmas dinner

 Pte. and Hna. Garcia addressing the missionaries.  A lot of work and planning went into this gathering.  These missionaries are blessed to be led by the Garcias.

 Pte. Garcia speaks to his missionaries

Christmas day at the mission home.  It doesn't look anything like the "white Christmas" back home. 

 

 Dinner in the mission home on Christmas Day

 Elder Jaussi Skyping from the mission home on Christmas Day.

This was the view from home while we were Skyping.  Here Elder Jaussi gets to speak with his grandparents.

 It was great to see the handsome face of our missionary!

Elder Jaussi with Pres. Garcia. He really loves and respects this man.

 This is the Christmas card sent out to the mission by Pte. and Hna. Garcia

 

Elder Jaussi is doing well and is happy in his area and his companionship.