Monday:
PDay was tranqy, Boba Fett took off in the Slave 1 at 8 o'clock and that was that. I stayed the night with the ZLs where I learned that Bobadilla took the keys to the pensh with him. And we always lock the window. Sigh. Luckily, when we passed by the pensh to pick my stuff up, for some strange reason, the window was unlocked, so thank you to the man upstairs.
My district when Boba Fett and Del Rio left
Tuesday:
Tuesday morning I had to wake up early at 5am to pick up Aguilar, but the colectivo (bus) arrived late, at 7, so it was all in vain. Bigger sigh.
We went back to the pensh, and Elder Aguilar started to unpack his stuff, and I was pretty pumped, until I get a call from a peluquera (hair stylist) that's a troublemaker in our area. Essentially, she owns a peluqueria (hair salon), and she loves when the missionaries come by, although she doesn't want to hear anything about the gospel. Almost all the misionaries that were previously in this area legit wasted whole transfers being trucho (lazy, disobedient) in her peluqueria. So here's the bad part. One of the missionaries that came down from Comodoro, and passed through on a different collectivo going to Ushuaia served in centro when he started the mission. Said elder told us that he was in the colectivo, when a guy came, handing out aduanas (customs) slips to cross the border. He asked said elder for his documentation, and the said elder had brought only his DNI chilena. The guy said he probably wouldn't be able to cross the border (to get to Tierra del Fuego, you have to pass through Chile). So, instead of trying to cross anyways, like any smart elder would do, said elder saw an opportunity to return to one of his old areas and be trucho, so he opted to debark from the colectivo - in the middle of nowhere. But it gets better. Instead of calling the Zone Leaders, what did said elder do? He called the peluquera (hair stylist). So I get this call, and all he says is "I'm with (name of the peluquera) and we're coming to pick you up". He was alone with her.
Wednesday & Thursday:
I don't have the willpower to describe to you all the macanas (painful things) that went down in the next two days, but I'll just say it was the most ridiculous display of truchoness I have seen in the mish thus far. And I had to babysit him the whole time. This is a missionary who has 15 months and just got demoted to junior comp. But that's not the worst part... My new comp, who's shiny new in the mish, lost all his ganas (desire) to improve. When he saw how trucho the elder was, and how much "fun" he had, Elder Aguilar decided that althought he wanted to change his trucho ways, now he doesn't really feel like it. The Lord loves making life hard for me. So now I have a new comp that likes sleeping late every day and not contacting ever.
It gets better though (listen for the sarcastic tone in that sentence...). Aguilar knows all the chismes (gossip) of the mission, because he was surrounded by truchos up in Comodoro, and basically, I'm officially known in this mission as "The Robot". He told me about how elders who don't even know me speak really bad about me. The stunt I pulled in the collectivo where I asked them to change the movie (R-Rated and full of super bad language) and they turned it off has also officially passed into mission lore. But it's not "Dang, Elder Jimenez, what a capo, he chose the right" it's "Wow, Elder Jimenez, what a goodie good, that guy is such a loser". So that's the saddest part about this week. My own fellow missionaries have officially passed up the common people of Argentina as the group of people that persecute me the most. There were a couple days where I was really discouraged this week. I'll just say that I hope and pray that my mission reflects the quality of some of the worst missionaries in the world, because if this is the general quality, we might as well pack up the bags and quit, because there are very few people out here who are worthy to bear the name of Jesus Christ on their chest.
I did learn a lot this week though. First of all, I learned that the best way to lead is by example. I decided that instead of fighting with Elder Aguilar and making him hate me, I'm just gonna be perfectly obedient and drag him around with me until he gets it. I also learned that my emotional state is decided by me. I can either choose to let all the chismes worry me, and get me stressed, or just decide that they're words, and calm down, and just choose to be happy anyways. I can honestly tell you all that I'm still smiling.
I also had some really beautiful experiences this week. First, one night, the night after Aguilar told me about all the chismes, I got really bajoñado (down/depressed). I didn't want to be in the mission anymore. But then I started to pray, and de la nada (out of nowhere), I just started to forgive all the elders that have talked bad about me, and called me names, and it was freeing. I also remember, that yesterday, during the Reunion Sacramental (Sacrament Meeting), I prayed to Heavenly Father, and just asked for peace, and it actually came. The moment after I took the water, I just heard this voice, like my conscience, telling me "Everything will be fine, stay in the mission" and I just started smiling. This morning, I read in Mosiah 23-24, where Alma and his people are enslaved by Amulón and the other priests. I found this scripture:
21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people;yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.
22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day.
Those two verses have oficially become my favorites. The rest of the story is hermoso (beautiful), because the people of Alma were tried, and they were liberated. Lots of times, I ask myself "why does the Lord like to try me some much?" and essentially, it's because he wants to. The people of Alma weren't doing a single thing wrong, but the Lord wanted to try them. And thanks to their faith, one of the greatest prophets in history was freed from bondage, the chruch of Christ was established in the Americas, and this lonely missionary at the bottom of the world had his flame of hope rekindled. I've learned to live the motto "Come what may, and love it". SO BRING IT ON ARGENTINA/WEATHER/TRUCHO MISSIONARIES/SATANAS. We be ready up in heah.
Also, good news. I was able to re-contact some of my old investigators, who came to church, and are now loving the message. Also, THE BAPTISM OF EDUARDO IS THIS SATRUDAY!!! It's been such a struggle, such a fight, an uphill climp on Mount Everest, but I keep fighting, keep praying, like the 2000 stripling warriors, received many wounds, but in about 6 days, I'll be able to pray to God and say WE WON!
Jose y Anderson, the capos from Columbia who came to church
So go Elder Jimenez, go Familia Jimenez, go God! Church is true, the mission sucks (only sometimes though), and the whites (baptismal clothes) are coming out!
Family: I love you guys, especially you Mom, THE MOST CAPA OF ALL WOMEN! Love yall :)
- Elder Still Smilin Even Though I Thought Robots Don't Smile But Take That System, Feelin Like Macklemore, JIMENEZ
Don't run anymore, your time is now.
To Jose
My beloved father,
At least they made the playoffs (the Cubs), that's a feat in and of itself. I'm glad that my Deflatetriots (thats right, MY Deflatetriots (meaning the Patriots)) are still deflating other teams, and deez nuts, and especialy glad that they are reaking unholy vengeance upon the Bills. Alabama is such a drag, it's like "just get out already" GO CLEMSON!!!!!
I'm sad that Trump and Hillary are actually tied in our state with McMullin.
Rio Gallegos is a zone, we also have cordilleras (outliers) with us (Calafate, Rio Turbio, y 28 de Noviembre). We're a zone of 24. I've got the hermanas in my district, so kill me (lol just kidding, looking at nikki though LOL).
As far as pedidos (things I need/want), for now, I'll just be happy with whatever I get :)
Rio Gallegos is way tranks, there were gunshots the other day, but it was the first time, and they weren't to close. There was also a shootout in San Benito last week, but that's outside of my area, and it was at like 1 in the morning, so nobody was out. Centro is way tranqy though, I've never felt scared here, or in Tolhuin for that matter.
Anyways, I'm almost out of time, but Dad, just know that I love you and that you inspire me! And with your counsels, you're like my master shifu!!!
I LOVE YOU! - Elder Son
Here are three videos that Alex sent... I don't know if they are going to upload right here, but they are fun!
We also have beatboxing after seeing skeleton garbage guy, freaking legend lol, then we've got GAINSSSS, and a homemade alcohol stove. So legitness haha!
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