Re: Elder Shepard 2-24-14

Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014 11:22:50 AM
Subject: Re: Elder Shepard

Dear Mom and Dad,

                             That´s my district. Elder Mesquita went home and now I´m with the other American in my ditrict, Elder Cloud. This transfer he only changed bedrooms. A lot of people do, but a lot of people get the bus at the same time. We are allowed to track but we live by the airport that doesn´t really have any apartment complexes. I don´t have the calling to work online, but some secratariesat the mission office do. A lot of people don´t have computer access at home.

   I have gotten sick a few times, but that was only because of not thinking about what I ate. It´s great to hear about Trey talking about the mission. Brazil is one of the harder ones, living wise, but a lot of other missions are well stocked and have awesome apartments. I hope that they are doing great. It´s been a while since I´ve seen them.

   The other sunday I gave a talk about missionary work. I talked about what we have to share why we should share it and how we are going to do this work. There was a member that did a talk that was spotr of thrown at other people to judge but I felt the spirit as I talked. I really felt the Spirit tesifying of my words. I´m very happy to serve here on the mission. Thank you for all that you´ve done for me.

Love,

       Shepard

2-17-14

Dear Mom and Dad,

                            Thank you. I´ve been trying to get better in all aspects. At times, when we have a finished a task or when we have gotten better, we think all has been done. But we have to remeber we must do the same tomorrow, and add upon that little that we are doing. I have been working to master my thoughts and emotions, that I will not think bad of others, or of things not worthy of a missionary, and to keep always feelings of love and compassion. My teacher has progressed a lot, but something is always keeping him from going to church. We have found a new family that have accepted to be baptized on the first visit. Miracles are alive and well here on the mission. You can see them everyday. You just have to look. The man who bags your groceries or the person that lives across the street, is being prepared to receive the gospel. I could not deny this if I wanted too. Our willingness to open our mouth and sahre the gospel is a little miracle in the live of that person. Because they receive the chance of Eternal Life. We are the gate keepers of the Path of God. When we do our part, we open the door. Those that are looking for God will enter. But when we keep the gospel to ourselves, we shut the door. We close salvation to many that would have enjoyed the blessings of the true Church and they go wandering in the dark mists. It is wonderful to know that this duty is being magnified there as well as here in Brazil.

   I think it is a miracle that G-pa decided to be baptized before G-ma´s death. I´m so happy to know that he has taken on the work of God in the temple. ´When I get back, I think I´ll go the the temple at least once a month, if not more. Here it has been pouring. Yesterday, we got caught in the rain, but we decided to work still since we had an appointment still marked, and that family we taught accepted the challenge of baptism.

   I miss everyone a lot too. I think I´ll write an email to the ward. Thank you for your prays and love. A year has flown by and this one won´t stick around for long. I´ll do my best.

Love,

       Jacob xoxoxoxoxox(I supose I haven´t responded to all your little email hugs and kisses, here are a few)

Elder Shepard 2-10-14

Sent: ‎2/‎10/‎2014 2:54 PM
Subject: Re: Elder Shepard

Dear Mom and Dad,

                                 Thank you. I know that God is on our side here in the mission.

Sila is very busy and he hasn´t had the chance yet. I think he wants to go, but has to plan and make sure nothing pops up to take him away on sunday. But he is doing wel and has felt that the plan of salvation and the doctrine of the church is true. We just have to help him know that the church was restored and that we have prophets today.

   That sounds pretty cold and a lot of snow. Here, it´s been raining pretty regularly. It leaves everything humid and still hot, though it´s cooler at night.
It´s cool to hear about Trey and Ashley. I hope they´re doing good. Here the activities with the youth are pretty big, but in this ward, they have been lacking on a few things for a while. Home teaching and the young men´s need a lot of help but it´s been going better then it was.

   I was born when you uys went to New York? Have you every been there in the first place? I think I remember a picture of you and Dad there. Man, Martha is really going places. I hope to get down to work and study once I get back. Although taxes and debt do seem pretty scary from a missionary standpoint. I´m trying to keep some stuff as a rememberance for everyone at home. I come back for Christmas with a present or two.

   Some missionaries were and also playing games on the cellphones. A lot of people have been transfered and many have had their cellphones taken away. The mission trainings lately have been about purifying yourself and following jesus Christ. We don´t do much other eat with some members and play card games. I miss everyone too. I hope everything is going great out there.

Love

      Jacob

Email from Elder Shepard 2-2-14

Dear Mom and Dad,

                             Elder Mesquita is a member from the piri Piri ward. He is planning on going on a mission after this short time. My president wants him to get all his medical work done and his papers sent out before he leaves so he could be here for 6 weeks or more. He´s 20 years old and he looks like he´s 17. He reminds me a bit of Trey, minus the Fresh Prince haircut. He has a strong testimony but  has a bit of fear to talk to people about the gospel. So far this week I´ve been doing all the talking, but I´m trying to get him to open up. I want to do a lot of practices and teach him the lessons or discussions. He didn´t go to the MTC so he doesn´t know much about how all the Gospel connects. It will all work out, at least I know that.

   I love you very much too. So I´ve been thinking about things I might want and need here on the mission so I made a list. It could be for my Birthday or whenever you guys have the time. So here it is. 

Duck Tape is helpful

One or two nice pens( pens break and explode in shirt pockets too much here)

A tie( i now love ties)

Less important stuff such as:

M´M´s, Kit Kats, 100 Grand Bar, Tootsie Rolls, Andes, Granola Bars, Pop Tarts, Sweet Bay Ray´s Brabecue sauce, Beef Jerky

Any, all or a few of these items would be appreciated. I love all very much too. 

   It´s been between 80 and 110 around here. It´s rained alot too so i think it got down to 70 or 60 here. It felt really cold so I don´t know what I´ll do when I get back. 

   Recently we found a man named Sila. He is a history teacher and is very smart. He used to go to the Assebly of god church for 26 years, but 11 years back he said he lost his faith. So many people were doing bad stuff, at times in the name of God, and he didn´t see God defending the innocent or the reacting to the evil. He didn´t know if God really cared about us any more. This was one of the few people that I really felt like I could teach him about god and it would change his life. One of the elects of our Heavenly Father. We read parts of DC121 and 123 about our suffereing here, Alma 14, Moroni 7, Ether 12. All about faith in God and how miracles come afterwards. we explained how it all ahd a purpose and that God still loves us. He shed a tear or two and said he would reflect more on it later, but we felt the spirit very strongly. I am very happy to be serving here. 

Love,

       Jacob