"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.



“Cause in the desert, you can't remember your name......

  ..., cause there ain’t no one to tell you your name... nah, nah, nah, nah, nah” [This would be Taylor's attempt at the lyrics of a song called "A Horse With No Name."]

Hola todos!                                                                                                      24 May 2013

Just so you all know, that lovely subject of this e-mail is dedicated to Mom. I know how much she loves that band. Not really.... But it has a point. It just works perfectly with the way the weather has been these past few days. It is HOT. Goodness. I thought Elders were just exaggerating when they talked about how hot it got but no. They were not. The other day it got up to 42 C again. I can't tell you exactly what that means in Fahrenheit because I don't have a converter on hand but I'll just save you all the trouble and tell you I've cooked some huevos (eggs) on the sidewalk here in Mèrida. (42 C is about 107 F) I really love Mèrida though and I'm really happy to be here. One day I'll be in Utah and I'll start complaining about the waist-high snow. We just have to learn to enjoy whatever life gives us I reckon.

            Today I found out that the Valladolid ward was making a visit to the temple so Elder Alvarado agreed we could go to the temple to see if I could run into anyone. I sure did! I was able to see L., my old ward mission leader (I took the birthday fotos with Mom's picture in their house), Obispo S., and I even saw Hermano T.! It was so great to see them all.  I didn’t realize how bad I missed them all.            
             I still love the office staff, especially the V.'s (a missionary couple)  They really do make the offices so much more enjoyable and Elder V. really is such a great guy. Every once in awhile he'll take me off to the side and just tell me a neat experience he had and then use that to teach me something. He has taught me a lot about priesthood blessings for some reason.  I really enjoy those two.

Well folks, I'm sad to admit I haven't been very valiant in picture taking this week.... I forgot to charge my camera all week but I made sure to charge it this morning. Expect some lovely ones from your cute son/brother/friend next week, okay? Thanks for all the lovely letters that you keep sending and thank you all so much for the support and prayers. I'm glad to hear that all is good in your neck of the woods and hope you all know the same is true here for me. Keep the faith and as Elder Holland says: Hope on. Journey on. What a guy!

 

This church is true. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that through Him, one day I can be made perfect. I know that it is because of Him that I am able to get through every challenge, doubt or problem that I have in my life. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet. He, through the power of God, translated the Book of Mormon. That book is the word of God. I have grown to appreciate it more and more every day and have found power in reading it. (Even in Spanish!!) I know that Thomas S. Monson leads and guide this church as profet  (prophet) and that he and his counselors are called by God. Good stuff that's fo sho!

Mother's Day, Week of May 12-18, 2013

On Mother's Day we got to Skype with this handsome Elder.  It was great to see him and see for ourselves that he is the same fun-loving Tay.  Forty minutes was too brief a time to spend with him but it was so great.

 

Taylor was amazed at the changes in his nephew and younger siblings.

 Time to sign off after our brief visit...

The Elders went this past week with Elder and Hna. V. to a pueblo to conduct a baptismal interview.  The children in this pueblo love Elder V. and always surround him.  He has served previously as a mission president in Argentina.  Elder Jaussi thinks the world of him and his wife.

 

The office missionaries presented Hna. Salinas with a cake for her birthday.  Elder Jaussi looks very tall standing next to everyone else.

Elder and Hna. V. practicing their "boxing" skills.  He says he has learned everything he knows from his wife.  Our family had the chance to visit with both of them while Skyping with Elder Jaussi on Mother's Day.  They are a wonderful missionary couple.

 

       Taylor says that the DearElder letters have come to him very quickly in the office.  He loves the normal letters but says that it is nice to have "fresh news."

       One of his responsibilities in the office is to translate English correspondence into Spanish for Elder V. and his wife and others.  He isn't that confident with his Spanish writing skills but feels like it is improving with this practice. 

    Taylor said, "When the new mission presidents get here, the offices are changing to the corner right next to the temple. Right now, the building says "Bar Principal" but it will soon be new offices. I've been able to see inside and they look sweeeet! One Elder put it this way: You know this church is great because we not only change people, we change buildings! Changing drunk people and drunk buildings too! We were supposedly changing over to the new offices this transfer but they've been held back in construction for this, that, or the other."

El Templo Es Un Lugar Santo, Un Lugar de Amor y Belleza

11 May 2013

Hola todos!!                                             

 

I really don't know what to write to you cute people this week because I'm just too excited for tomorrow. [Mother's Day]  I have been able to focus a bit more on our area this week and leave the office problems where they belong. Immigration is definitely a pain but that is to be expected. I really love it here in Mérida though. There is just something about it here that I really like. Also, we have some senior missionaries who are also secretaries, Elder and Sister V. and they definitely make the office a ton better. I love them so much.

How are things going in the good ol’ United States?  Things are going just dandy here in Mérida. In fact, the heat has started to come on in with some power. I don't mind too much though because for some reason I really love Mérida. Almost every day I get to walk by the temple and that always makes me feel good too. The street that runs in front of the temple is a pretty crazy one with drunks walking around and “scurry” [people] but the craziest thing happens. When you walk past the gate and enter temple grounds.... all is silent it seems like. It really is the neatest thing.  In the morning, the temple grounds are sooooo beautiful. Gorgeous, Brilliant, Magnificent. You get the picture.  I will argue with anyone any day to say that this is the prettiest temple in the world. Sure, the building itself is a cookie cutter design but there is something about the landscaping that makes it superb! But I digress....

I'm thinking that a good mission for when I'm old and frail would to be a temple worker in the Merida temple. This Thursday we ate with the missionaries from Chile and they live in little apartment buildings behind the temple. Let me tell you, the little apartments are awesome!!! They reminded me of the apartment that Grandma and Grandpa J. lived in in SLC but they basically are like a church building. It was like a palace pretty much. There is a couple missionary here from Arizona and I hear they really love it here too. Just thought I'd share that cute tidbit with you guys. 

We had the last zone conference with President Salinas this Thursday. It was a really good one. We talked a lot about the importance of working with members and I left feeling a big conviction to work harder and support the members more in place of them helping me. The zone conference really was an answer to my prayers though because President, after talking about working with members and how we were going to do it, said that if we did what he told us to do, "I testify to you as a representative of Jesus Christ that if you Elders do this you will have success. But you have to consecrate yourselves." President Salinas is sooo powerful!!! 

Well, I'll fill you in on the nitty gritty details... Oh wait, Tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait!!! I love you guys so much and I'll talk to you soon!

Love, 

Elder Jaussi 

 

The Temple is a Holy Place, A Place of Love and Beauty...