"Dzitbalché... Yeah... Say That Three Times Fast"

31 March 2014 

Hola todos!!

Well last night we had transfers... I didn't tell you anything because I TOTALLY thought that I would stay in my beloved Campeche... Nope. I got knocked off my feet for sure. Luckily last night when we were going to our last appointment to teach, we were able to see G. when he was taking home the young men after doing visits. It was sad to say bye to him and the young men but it has to be done some time with everyone I reckon.  

We had a really neat experience though to end off things in good ol’ Barrio Esperanza.  I received the call that I was going to change areas at around 7 and so when we ended a lesson at 8 I was thinking, I have to go pack my bags! Elder C. was asking me a couple questions about the lesson we had planned at 8 but I was thinking that we would have to tell them we wouldn't be able to make it but I thought... "Die like a Shark my boy! "  Ha. ha.  We went after to the lesson we had planned with A. and L., a few investigators whose mom is a less active. 

When we arrived to their house, we found their dad sitting with them as well! When they saw us coming, he tried to make a run for it but I told him, "Brother, we came to visit you too! Don't run now!"  He reluctantly stayed and little by little we were able to break his shell. We had planned to teach the rest of the restoration to his daughters and have him just hear but then it turned out being mostly a lesson to the dad, C. While I was explaining about Joseph Smith I asked him if he could feel the nice feeling that there was in his house (it felt uber good) and he commented that he felt the "energy that was present." Whatever you want to call it C., that is the Spirit and when we talked a little about that he really seemed to have a lot more interest. 

We then went on to ask him if he believed what we had told him and he said... "It's kind of hard to believe this, coming from two young guys... How can I know that really happened?" We went on to explain the importance of the Book of Mormon and its role and he understood so well. He is grrrrrreat! I was able to bear testimony of the Book of Mormon again and share the experience I had this week because... I finished otra vez!!!! Again  Yay! En español también mis amigos. Soy un mexicano de verdad ahora.  In Spanish too, my friends.  I am a true Mexican now.  Like I was saying, it was such a powerful lesson and we were able to put another visit to go see him and his family.  He committed to read the Book of Mormon and ask God if it is true. Good stuff!

What more, what more can I say... O be wise?... already been said.   Hmmm... I'm just kind of sad because I was just barely getting the grasp of things in Barrio Esperanza, we had two baptisms planned for the 19th, I loved the members and then.... PUEBLO!!! OUCH. It's all good though, folks. I 'm excited for the task at hand. 

This last week when Elder G. and I were doing divisions again we found a reference we had been looking for for a long time and he is pure gold! He is a boyfriend of a member of another ward (something I was worried about) but when we talked to him we said straight up that we didn't want him to listen to us for any person, but rather because it was something that he wanted to do. We had to be pretty direct but it turned out nicely. He told us that he wouldn't be baptized just to do it and that he really wants to have a sure answer from God before he does so. We taught the Restoration and he listened really well, had great questions and at the end of the lesson accepted a baptismal date. The spirit was really strong in that lesson too.  F. is a good man. I hope it all works out well with him! 

I was able to see President Garcia again today.   He told me how he felt strongly that he needed me to go help the pueblo... however it's spelled.  Apparently there is a grand total of... one active member. Yep. The field is white and ready to harvest! Apparently we travel in bus every Sunday to church in Calkini. I don't know where in the world all that is but... I'll keep you posted! 

All in all, I'm still keeping my shoulder to the wheel and I'm happy as ever.  Nervous?  A little bit.  I love you guys sooooo much and hope all is well in Zion! 

The small pueblo of Dzitbalche is at the north edge of the state of Campeche (near orange marker in the center)

 The pueblo is listed as "Dzibalchen" here on this map.  Calkini is just to the north.

"Buuuuuuuuueeeenos Dias Mis Amigos!"

          ¿Cómo estamos? This week has been... very trying but you'll be glad to know that I'm still here to tell the tale. I have never had so many appointments fall through, so many investigators lie... ouch, and just a rough week all in all. We´re still fightin’ though.

Last week, when C. came into the church the first thing that she said to me was, "¿Cuándo me bautizo?" when can I be baptized? She is apparently tired of waiting for her husband and she wants to get baptized once and for all. This Saturday is her planned date so keep her in your prayers as well as her kids.  She's a good lady. 

Also, a funny story for you.... Almost every night, a group of hooligans always gathers together near our house to play street soccer or just sit around and cause trouble. They always say things to us in English, or things about the church so I finally decided I would fight fire with spiritual fire! Ha, ha, not really but this is what I did.  Entering into our street we have to walk down a little hill and this time I just came running down while saying "ya vino Ronaldinho!!!" Ronaldinho is here! I told them to pass me the ball, all that jazz and then we just started talking to them. They are really nice kids and now every night we come down the hill the little kids say to each other "Allí está Ronaldinho!!" there’s Ronaldinho! Ha, ha, good stuff. We're planning to go play soccer with them one of these Mondays when they have spring break.  I'll keep you posted!

One of the members, G. R., is so great! I really get along with him. He always helps us out in visits and his little kid, A., is uber cute! This week in church as he and his wife came in he came up to "saludarme" greet me and as he hugged me he said, "usted me cae muy bien Elder I like you a lot, Elder. Usted es muy bueno." You are really good. I don't know what it is about him but he has the biggest heart. He always is helping other people and he really does a good job in his calling as young men advisor. Anyway, he and his wife are our first support system, I guess you could say, when it comes to working with the members. 

The other day I was reading the April Ensign that talked a bit about President Monson and I had the warmest feeling come over me.  I just know he is a man called of God. What a guy.  I hope to be more like him. 

Well folks, pray that next week is full of good news! Thanks for all that you do and your support.

17 March 2014

Guess what?? M. went to church yesterday!! Her son wasn't able to come but she did! Then later last night we had a lesson with her son A. and it turned out really well. He normally just fights with us and has arguments but last night at the end he seemed to be comfortable with everything. We have had to start from square one because he doesn't really believe in God, something that I have never had to deal with so far. He believes in some Higher Force but doesn't know if he should call that God. We read Alma 18 with Ammon and King Lamoni and that helped him a lot and you could really feel the spirit while we were reading. The Book of Mormon is the bomb!! Every question he asked yesterday (resurrection, death, etc.) I was able to answer with the Book of Mormon! Good stuff. It might be quite some time for him to come to church but we're going to keep working with him. In total, they are 4 and we're thinking a lot about what we can do to help them all come to church. Work in progress.  :)

This week we had a zone conference combined with Zona Champotón and it was really great to see other elders, a couple for the last time. Elder C. goes home this next transfer which is sad.  It was a two day conference, all focused on what we call the 8 fundamental principles of teaching. Basically it was two days of practicing teaching. It was really good to brush up on some teaching skills and remember things that I may have been slacking on for the last little while. You would think it would be hard to teach with so many different elders but it was cool to go with the older elders and teach with them. Even when they had never been my companion, it was so easy to teach with them and we were always on the same page. 

           Yesterday I was able to give a talk, encouraging (as always) the members to come join  the ranks. I thought it went pretty well and it was good to hear members telling me that they thought my talk was "poderoso!" (powerful) I don't know why but when I was writing it, things were coming left and right.  Barrio Esperanza is really great.

With Elder C. who goes home the next transfer

 Don Gustavo, a "golden investigator"

 Elders G., A., and O. --Elder Jaussi's "brothers from the Dominican Republic"

 Elders Jaussi and C. with recent convert, J. B.  "He always helps us and is a good man."

"Mascot--Campeche Style"

        This week has been another week of us trying to meet more of the members and let them know that we are there to serve them. I try to tell them like Ammon, that I'm not there for their references, but I will be their servant. The members really are so great here and I'm trying to do all I can to show them we're here to work.  We were planning on having 3 baptisms this week but they all fell through.... ouch.

Bishop V. and the rest of the leaders here in the ward really are great I have to say.  Almost every member I talk to tells me that they are willing to come and accompany us to visits. Unfortunately we don't have that many people to visit so in the meantime we are setting up appointments to visit them and strengthen their faith in the message of the restoration.  

We had a neat experience yesterday. We were eating lunch with members and their non-member brother-in-law was there with us too.  (We went to play tennis with them.) He explained that he didn't like to be pressured and that was basically all he felt whenever the missionaries came to talk to him. We talked over lunch for a bit and then before we left I asked them if I could share something with them. They agreed after I had told J. to not worry, I was just going to give him a nudge and not a push.  I shared the part in the bible where Christ says "blessed art thou Simon... not flesh or blood has revealed it to you..." I don't know why but I have been talking about that scripture a lot lately.  I always explain to every person we teach, "I can't convince you, your parents can't convince you and no other person can. God can and He needs to be the person that convinces you so that it is a firm testimony." The spirit was so strong and I told him that what he was feeling was a manifestation from the spirit that this path was the right one to take. He put his head down to think for a bit but then his wife started talking. I think if she would have waited a little bit more and let the Spirit do the heavy lifting, he might have said something different but he just said that his Catholic traditions were too strong to change right now.  We have a family night planned with them and some of their neighbors tonight though so we'll see how that goes. 

M. was baptized this week after having listened to the Elders for a long time.  

"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