Hello! 7-8-13

Dear Dad and Mom,

At times I do get a little homesick. The Skype call helped me not be too homesick, but it also made me think about how fast everything is going. It´s already been seven months. I see people with their families and friends doing stuff together and then I think about home. Thinking about you guys and some people at home isn´t bad as long as it doesn´t distract me, but seeing things like TV or games is when I start humming hymns.

I´m trying to talk a lot more in Portuguese to my American companion so I don´t forget what I already know.

Most people won´t go for marriage here, just the one night stand thing. But the missionaries here know what to look out for when we teach or talk to people, and what to stay far away from.

 

The book of James is one of my favorite New Testament books. I´ve been reading in the Acts of the apostles and the epistles that they´ve written. It´s a little difficult to read the 4 gospels side-by-side since they have many of the same events, but the New Testament is where I´ve learned a lot about Jesus and my calling as a missionary. We got the conference magazine of last General Conference, but just that one and some older ones. You don´t have to send any, but thank you for the thought.

It´s funny that you say it was Fourth of July because Elder Bird and I woke up and said, "Hey. It´s Independence Day... whooooooo." And then he had this little U.S. flag that he shook a little. It´s interesting being in another country with different holidays.

I really miss washers and dryers. We had this problem with the old washer that I´ll explain about later, but I appreciate you a lot Mom. And things that tend to work for longer then a few months. I´ve run out of time, but thank you for all the news. It´s great to hear about home and everyone else. I hope it all works out, too. I´m praying for you all and I love you both.

Sincerely,
your tanner, thinner son,

Elder Shepard