Protests in Brazil

Dear Dad,

I´ve seen some of the protests on TV that have been going on and it hasn´t hit Camocim too bad. The news report said that the first protest started sparking other protests over various issues. The country could use a better government and the basis provided by one, but it seems like soccer has always been something to distract everyone from the real problems. Nothing happened in Camocim because it's a small city.

 

There are a lot of people here who can´t read and many don´t go to college. Education is very important to people, but it seems that there is some corruption in the government. But the people here are doing alright. Many are very humble and want to talk with us. I think that a lot of them are ready to learn because they have gone through hard times.  Religion is a hot topic around here since many say they´re Catholic but don´t practice it and some are very fanatical in their churches.

 

Also, sorry if there are any typos. This computer is very slow and doesn´t register the letters very well. I´m doing fine though, and the work here hasn´t changed because of the protests. Elder Bird and I have found a lot of other people to teach, so we´re staying busy. I love you and thank you for the emails.

 

Love, your son,

 

Elder Shepard

 

Unrelated photos :-)

 

Camocim, 4-14-13

(Elder Shepard)

 

 

Weekly Report of Elder Jacob Shepard

Dear everybody,

 

Sorry about the lack of reports and how the last one was sort of short, too. There has been a lot of crazy stuff that´s been going on here in Camocim. This last week was the end of the transfer, a 6 week period. At the end of each transfer a missionary can be sent to a different area, and my companion Elder Morris left to serve in Teresina. I now have a new companion named Elder Bird. He´s from Arizona and has been here in the mission about a year and 2 months. He and I are now working in an area that has not had a lot of missionary work done, so we are working hard to find new people to teach who are willing to learn and do more.

 

As missionaries, we have to work with people that have one way or another come into contact with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So we´ve begun teaching a man that has visited the church before to quit drinking, but relapsed and was ashamed to come to church again. It was about a few weeks ago that he saw us walking on the streets and said he wanted to try again. He had started using drugs and spending less time with his wife and family, but he has been doing better. He´s given up drugs and been spending more time at home. He just has to quit drinking, and in his words, he´ll almost be a saint.

 

Elder Bird and I have talked to a lot of people but we´re trying to find people who would take what we´re talking about and make an actual difference in their lives. A lot of people talk a lot about God and say that they love their neighbor, but many times it doesn´t matter. In the Bible one of the apostles said that faith without works is dead. So saying that you love everyone and believing in God makes no difference if you don´t act on it. My dad sent me a quote about how being in a church doesn´t make you a Christian as much as being in a garage doesn´t make you a car. To tell you the truth, me being out on a mission doesn't mean I´m a good person if I don´t believe in it and do it grudgingly. I know that what we´re doing out here is where I´m supposed to be and that by this work, someone will have a better life because of it.

 

I love all of you and I hope that everything is going great. I hope that these few words will make you think about what´s important in life and I´m grateful for all the help and support you all have given me.

 

Your, something or other of some kind of relation, in the service,

 

Elder Shepard

Camocim, 6-10-13

(Elders Morris and Shepard)

Jacob's Email Response to Mom

Dear Mom,

It´s funny how Ohio seems farther away than home, even though it's about the same distance. It´s great that everyone out there is doing well.

 

Here in Camocim everything is going great. We found a man named Claudio who at first was not as interested, but after we sat down and showed him the Book of Mormon he was excited and wanted us to come back.

 

My companion and I have been working in the upper half of the city where not a lot of missionary work has been done. It seems like there are a lot of golden people. This next Tuesday though, I´m switching companions.

 

It´s unfortunate that my camera charger was left in the States and my battery ran out. However, if you want pictures, a church member named Maria Felix has a few pictures of me on Facebook.

 

I don´t have time this week to write more because we have to drop people off at the bus. I love you all and hope everything is going great.

 

Love Elder Shepard

 

Camocim, 6-10-13

(Elders J. Santos, Portela, Shepard, and Morris; Sister Felix)

 

Before eating a pepper, Camocim, 6-2-13

(Elders Shepard and J. Santos)

 

After eating a pepper, Camocim, 6-2-13

(Elders Shepard and J. Santos) 

Camocim, 6-2-13
(Elders J. Santos, Morris, Shepard, and Portela)

 

Camocim, 6-9-13

(Elders J. Santos, Morris, Shepard, and Portela; Sister Felix)

 

 

 

Camocim, 6-1-13 

 (Sister Felix; Elders Shepard and Morris)

 



2nd Weekly Report of Elder Shepard

Hello Everybody!
 

Thank you for being supportive and it´s great to have you as my relatives. I wouldn´t want anyone else in the world.

 

Things have been going a little crazy the week before. My companion, the other elder I´m paired to work with, was sick for a whole week with a stomach flu. Since we can´t be alone, I was basically under house arrest. I got through a lot of my studies and cleaned my apartment. So at least something good came of it.

 

This last week was a lot better, though it was a lot harder and rewarding. We used to be just one set of missionaries working in Camocim, but now we are lucky enough to get another. Camocim is a city big enough to make hard for just two people together to walk around in. Now our area is split in two. All of our hard work and people we have been regularly talking to has gone to the two new Brazilians. We are working to find people that would be interested so we have been walking non-stop for a week without much rest. Here in this city, most of the roads aren´t well put together, since they're basically a ton of hand-sized rocks pounded into the ground. My feet are still killing me. But...it´s been worth it.

 

We´ve found a lot of people who want to hear more and think that what we´re doing is good, instead of calling us antichrists and telling us to leave. Just kidding. Mostly. Brazil is a very religious country and most people think they just need to pick a church that sounds good. I know that Elder Morris, my companion, and I are doing our best to be the best examples and helping them see the benefit of our message.

 

I love the time I´ve already been here and I don't think they´ll send me anywhere else soon. It´s one of the nicer places because it´s been windy, so the heat isn´t as bad. I´ve already been here 3 months and time is flying by.

 

I hope everyone is doing well and that you all are happy.
 

All of my love and wishes,

Elder Shepard