Family, it sounds like you guys are all getting ready for the changes to come. Sofia will be going back to school, Mom is going to also go back to school (just to teach this time ;) ) and Dad is finally going to get a well deserved break from work! My mission also experienced a huge change this week...
Following in Dad's footsteps, I'm the new Asistente (AP). It's all kind of nuts! I remember reading that letter you sent me last week Mom, and seeing how highly your mission president considered Dad, and just thinking that I was never really going to get there, and then boom. I got a call on Friday, and President Salerno said "Elder Jimenez, you probably already know why I'm calling." "I have an idea, but I'm not sure..." I said. "Well," he said "You've already been a trainer, district leader, and zone leader. There's only one more way to go! You're my new assistant." The next thing I heard was his voice coming through the phone saying "I always love the moment of silence" and then he laughed!
I was shocked! Of all the assistants in my whole mission, the youngest have gone up with 16 months, and there have only been two. Elder Soto, who left awhile ago, and Elder Popa, my current companion. The craziest thing is that Elder Popa said that President fully intends to keep him as AP all 5 of the transfers that he had left when he first came up, and he goes home one before me, which means that if Elder Popa stays 5, the office is officially my last area in the mission! I'm probably going to be with Elder Popa for 4 transfers! The most I've ever heard of two companions being together was 3. It's going to be a crazy ride.
The last couple days have been really weird. It's hard to take it all in, the fact the I'm the assistant, that I no longer have an area and will almost never have time to just go out and work like I did before... I don't how how it was in your mission Dad, but here, weeks 3 through the end of 5 we're traveling. To get down to Ushuaia, we take a plane to Buenos Aires, and then another plane to Ushuaia. Weeks 1 and 2 we're planning and executing the capacitations of the re-enforcements and trainers, the new leaders (planning and giving training to the new missionaries and the new trainers and leaders), and the consejo de lideres (Zone Leader Training meetings), and week 6 is figuring out transfers. It's going to take a little bit of time to get used to the rhythm, and I was already getting stir crazy when I had to study up all the material last night in the office. But oh well, that's what I get for trying my best haha!
Elder Farabee is finishing his mission today, so he stayed in the house last night. It was cool to see him again, I think he ended his mission very well. The nice thing about the transfer is that I'm still in the same zone, and even the same ward, so I'll be able to keep in touch with Elder Richards and my investigators up here.
Saturday was my last day of field work, and it could actually have been my last day of field work in the mission, so we took advantage of it. We spent the day running from lesson to lesson, and ended up achieving the lofty weekly goal that we had put, and if we would have had Sunday, we might have been able to get 16 lessons, which is a great number down here. The best part is that it's not just a number either, the people we we're teaching really are progressing, slowly, but surely. Now, my days will be spent trying to convert missionaries to the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, I know that this is where the Lord wants me to be, so I'm going to do my best. And even though everyone tells me I won't be able to, I'm going to do my best to manage our time well, and be able to get out and contact on a regular basis.
Dad, if you have any good tips about being the assistant, I'd love to hear them. All in all, I feel very humbled by this new calling. It's given me a huge reality check, and is truly humbling. But I know that whom the Lord calls, he qualifies, so I will put my trust in Him.
FAMILY: I love you guys! It's really crazy that the mission is going so fast! Just be patient, and we'll be seeing each other soon!
MOM! I love you!
- Elder Jimenez
PS: I fully expected Alex's companion, Elder Richards, to have a transfer this month because he's been in this area for 4 1/2 months. I was so shocked when I read that Alex was transferring instead. I am super excited for his new adventures... I just hope he isn't so busy that he cannot send me a good email!!! It is also interesting that last week I felt very strongly to share with Alex some thoughts that President Flake had shared with us as he thought back about the evacuation of Honduras.
And to Jose...
I love the sports news! Gah, I just love american football in general. Futbol is awesome and all, but it just doesn't get better than some good ole American football :)
I think you'll really like my weekly letter this week. I'll definitely need some pro tips from you. The truth is that this whole change is going to humble me a lot! But that's life, and really, it's going to be sweet, I just need to get used it. The best part though is that it makes me more semejante a vos (more like you), and that means I'm on the right track.
Love you Dad - Elder Jimenez
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