Jacob-bugath 9-11-14

Hey Mom,

               I had a so-so week, but I know that this one will get better according to my work. I have to be diligent because there are a lot of opportunities to let up and slack off. The Branch is doing great. There have been a few bapisms here, but the ative members have been lacking a lot in church. There are a few youth and children, but there would be a lot more if not for a couple less active members. We are working hard to help them, but we all have to choose for ourselves to do the right. 

   I´m completly comfortable with the language, even though my companion thinks it´s the funniest thing when I mess up. I think in Portuguese and English. I would like to continues with Portuguese, but I want to learn Spanish and maybe Italian. French and German would be next. I have thought about going to Harper for a semester or more and then going out to BYU. I really need to dig through the scholarships on top of the what I´m going to do. 

   My President is from Santa Catarina. He is of german descent and has a funny accent. His wife is irst or second japanese. They both speak english pretty well. My president is strict about the rules but he has a lot to deal with here on the mission because not everyone wants to keep the rules. He knows which battles he has to fight, since here in Brazil, a lot of people are learning how to live the gospel by the letter and spirit of the law. He has helped me a lot during the mission. He doesn´t write a lot of letters, but he is always very personal in the interviews and his trainings are inspiring. He has 3 kids that have all served missions and have married. 3 sons from what I remember.

   Thank you for everything and for always keeping me upto date on the family. I pray for you all everyday and I´ll see you soon.

Love

       Jacob.

PS

Do you think that after I save up some money going straight to BYU would be better? 

Also what did you and Dad do after you returned from your missions? How did you prepare for life?

 

Dear Dad 9-11-14

Dear Dad,

               It´s going good. I´m going to stay another transfer with Elder Amado. I´ve learned that the way I´m going to survive, work hard and help my companion get better, is to forgive him, look for the best in him and always remind him of what´s right without commanding him. We do study together, but I really have to mak the study as spiritual as possible or he loses interest. He works hard in the field but forgets that he´s a missionary at home and in the houses of members. I´m now a District Leader, so some of the trainiings I´ll give will maybe help.

   The minimum wage is between 1 to 2 dollars. The average brazilian wage might be 5,000 dollars per year. This being the average some what lower class worker. The majority of Brasil would be around this. The rich, or mid class people live in the big cities and seem really richer then the people we teach here. But the States seem to be really rich too. I´ll be culture shocked again when I go home and have carpet and air conditioning. 

   The interesting thing here on the mission is that nothing that we gain is worth much, unless we work hard for it. Even the miracles that come, without our direct intervention, is a blessing because of our diligence. the Secret to misionary work is Work! as President Benson said. This video that I have found here on the mission has helped me keep going through this refining fire called the mission.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo0mOZ4S7GE

 

I love you. The your the best Dad.

Jacob

 

letter from jacob 7-23-2014

Dear Dad,

              Thanks a lot for the song. It reminded me of this one motto (below)  that I found. I´ll put a link on this email. On the mission at the end of the first year, I saw a lot of missionaries going home. Some worthily, others not. I thought of the mission as a race, where no one was trying to get first place but just trying to get to the end. It´s really different how I look at things on the mission now. The importance of it all. The triumph of people getting ahead and the devistation of those that fell. Here at the end part of the mission, I´m trying to look at my goal and how help others get there with me, rather then look behind at those falling. 

   Remembering all the time I´ve had with you and the rest of the family, I realize now how blessed my life has been. I realize how much I cherish you all. For me, most of the time I had to work through blood, sweat and tears to help those we taught get baptized. But at the moments where everything fell through and no one we were helping were progressing, God always sent that Elect child of God to brighten our day. I always feel that no effort we make is wasted, because the Lord will reward what we have done, through ways we sometimes don´t recognize. 

   The other sunday, the stake here really took notice of our Branch. They called an experianced member as a counciler, they called a new mission branch leader, and they have been helping out a lot more. Where the church is just starting out, the work is not as organized, so I was surprised to see some members really getting involved with taking care of God´s Kingdom. It really is great to be a part of the work. 

   I love you Dad. 

                        Elder Jacob Shepard

PS

Happy BirthDay! People are like wine, they get better with age. Dad you are a boss.

The mission motto:

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. the dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line.
The Decision has been made.

I AM A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST.

I won't look back. let up, slow down. or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded . I now live by Faith, lean on HIS presence, walk with patience. I am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power . My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the advesary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go till he comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till he stops me. And when He returnes for His Own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My Banner will be clear. 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of GOD unto Salvation to ever one that believeth... " Romans 1:16.

letter from Jacob 7-16-14

Dear Dad,

              How´s life going? Have you kicked your job´s butt yet? These hills here are kicking mine a bit. Our district is pretty diverse here. Our district leader had some problems with everyone because he came from a family very different from us. It got pretty bad for a week or two, but after we sat down and talked it over, whatever bitterness or contention we had is mostly gone. On the mission I think you learn how to work hard while your exhausted, spiritually, mentally and physically. I´ve learned how to plan better, help others who are different from me and I´ve learned about who I am as a child of God. I really love the work out here and I´m gratful for this chance to serve.

 The other day we were waiting for the Branch leadership to show up out fonrt at the church, when a man came up to us. His name is Jose Ribomar. His church wasn´t open for some reason, so he wanted to see how our church was. We talked to him about his life and how he had been going to church for 5 years, dedicating his life to following Jesus. Funnily enough, he had received a Book of Mormon from a friend of his. He has been reading it for a month, and he´s up to Jacob 2. Someone in his church had said that the Book was garbage and that he should throw it away. He said that it tesifies of Jesus Christ and was inspired of God. The Bible testified of it and he believes that it´s true. The Lord basically dropped an elect in our laps. We talked to him some more an d we found out that he wants to be baptized. Now, he is on date for the end of this month, and hopefully the Spirit will prepare him for what he needs to do. This was one of the experiances on my mission that increased my faith. 

   Thanks for all your support and love. I love you.

Sincerly,

             Elder Jacob Shepard

To Martha 7-7-14

On Mon, Apr 7, 2014 at 11:13 AM, Jacob Shepard <jacob.shepard@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Hey Super Girl,

                      what´s shaken? I´ve been trying to eat more healthy here on the mission. Here, Lunch is that larger meal of the day, and the members pack on the food as if there were 8 missionaries instead of just 4 here. They eat Salads of lettuce without ranch or dressing so I didn´t eat it as much. But I´ve mixed it up with meat , if they have it and it come out delicious. Sometimes I feel like Sleep is not enough to rest me. I need to hybernate to feel completly rested. But pray, scripturee study and enjoying the little things in life has helped feel more calm and at peace.

   Your guy seems like a lot of people out there to do what needs to be done but without the right focus or the right way to do things. So, if he gets better, you´ll see. If not, don´t be afraid to drop kick him. Or lightly tell him that yu wantsome space right no to organize stuff. It´s up to you, modestly dressed Wonder Women.

   I only have 8 months on the mission and it is scary. Time has flown by and I feel as if I was sleeping the first year. Every 6 monhs you learn how to work better and you understand the importance more of this work. But I´ll do my best until the end, and make up for the weak moments with the rest of my life with the future family I´ll have. It´s awesome to hear from you and thanks for the Happy Birthday. I lit a match on top of a hostess cupcake Mom and Dad sent. And then I ate pizza. Victory!!!!!

I love and I hope that all you dreams come true. And on top of that cheesiness, thank you for your letters, emails and example. You have helped a lot in my life.

Sincerly, the Wayward Rambler,

                                               Elder Shepard

Weekly Report of Elder Jacob Shepard 7-2-14

Dear Family and Friends,

                  It´s been a while since I´ve written one of these, but I´ve neglected my emails toeverybody. So, is an update for you guys. I am here in a town called Caxias. It´s a little town in the middle of the forest. It´s onlyabout 2 or less hours from Terezina, but it´s pretty separeted from the world. It´s pretty hilly here and it´s about 80 to 95 degrees everyday and it will only get hotter through the year. It´s funny, because these hills, heat and walking have done a lot to me. I´ve lost 50 pounds and I have the worst farmer´s tan you every saw.

   As a missionary,my purpose here is to teach people about Jesus Christ and how as he has done in the past, he has established his Church on the church again. The same organization of Prophets and Apostles is on the earth again. I talk with people about what they believe in and do, and I hsow how the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change a persons life. It´s hard work because of the heat, the effort we do to help the person make good choices and how half the time, people don´t want anything to do with God. With our lives we decide what to do and what to follow. When a person does try to make life better, it can really happen, as I have made a lot of personal progress here in the Brasilian heat.

   Here are some pictures too of a crazy Jesus March witha lot of evangelical bands screaming on the streets. The other two are of me and two other missionaries in my zone, or group of missionaries. Write any questions you guys have and I´ll keep writing.

Sincerly,

             Jacob  

 

 

Birthday Boy Song. 6-4-14

Dear James,

                    Para bens pra você,  nesta data querida 

                    Muitos bencãos e felicidade

                     Para bens pra você

I don´tremember the rest butyoucan hear a better version on youtube about brazilian birthday songs. Also,you can´t hear me singing through this email.....

Anywho, You are a giant and My district loves your pictures Ihave. 

                                                   Much love Big guy,

                                                                              Elder Shepard

Dear Hannah,

                    You are the Woman! How are you? Your baby bumpmodel dance was funny on skype. It´s hot here in Brazil and only will get hotter. Sorry I´m writing a short letter, but I got to go. Tell about all the things!

Love, 

       Jacob