9/9/13

Sent: Monday, September 9, 2013 8:56:15 AM
Subject: Re: Late Weekly Report of Elder Shepard

Dear Dad, 

              People here in Barzil tend to jump to conclusions fast and like to have unchangible opinions. Some People here think I look like  Joseph Smith from the side, Asian or that I´m from São Paulo. But the church members are usually smarter and have a more open mind and heart. I try to tell people it´s the church that Jesus started. By the way, the charger arrived and charging the camera now. Thank you very much. You´re the best. I also heard that the U.S. has gone to war with Siria. On top of North Korea, things must be getting pretty interesting. I love you all. I´ll have pictures for you by next week of my companion, me, my area and the members.

   Love you both,

                        Jacob

Late Weekly Report of Elder Shepard 9/2/13

Mon, Sep 2, 2013 at 7:57 AM

Dear everybody,

 

                       It´s probably been a little more then a month since I´ve written one of these. A lot of stuff has happened and I don´t think I can write it all. I´lll just have to ask forgiveness and keep on going. So these past few weeks I´vee still been in Camocim, beach city thats all about fishing. It´s been hot here but it´s got wind here. There´s been some gang violence around here, but in the farther parts of the city where we don´t usually go. Other then that everything here has been great. 

 

   As missionaries we got out trying to find people to help and teach them about Jesus Christ. There are the people who live here that are members of the church who help the work along here in Camocim. The church is still relatively new, so everyone here is still learning. 

 

   I´ve been here for about 6 months and 3 of those most recent have been with Elder Bird. He´s from Arizona and He´s been on the mission for abput a year and a half. I´m most likley going to be leaving here pretty soon. We switch out every 6 weeks, if we do leave.

 

   These past few weeks we have baptized two new people who have entered the church and are really liking everything. One of them is named Lucas Lima and the other Airton. The both have had a lot of trouble in the past but are doing well. 

 

I supose I´ve run out of time but next week will be longer nad better.

 

Love,

 

       Elder Shepard

Jacob letter to Mom 9/2/13

Dear Mom, 

                The unfortunare part about transfers is that the Zone leaders of my area usually call after we do emails. If you semd mail or packages, just send them to the mission home. We get our packages and mail every zone conference. It´s nice and cool latley in about the 80´s. The sun is still always out, so walking in the sun makes it pretty hot. That´s cool that you got to be on TV for a bit. While we study in the house, we use the fans because it´s pretty humid and warm there. Are still teaching the same classes in English? or have you started on others?

 

   Here in Camocim, there are always tons of kids running around outside of schools and in the streets. Most couples that have been together for more then two years seem to usually have a child. A lot of the men here are fishermen or work outside of the city.

 

   I do think sometimes about what I will do when I get back. I know I´m going to find a job as sson as I can and start the 2 years at Harper. After that I´m still not sure. Something in English, Computers or who knows? Something along those lines. 

 

   Speaking of churches, I miss going to our ward. I love the members here, but at times it´s a bit unorganized. It´s still a branch here so they´re still learning. There´s mo choir, but they started a hymn book class to teach people some new songs. We, the missionaries, are working really hard to help with the activities. Do you have any ideas about some activities that don´t cost a lot or any money? That would be great if you have any.

 

   Latley I have been studying in Mosiah chapter 2 through 6. King Benjamins Speech is really good. To be truthfull I had started memorizing scriptures in english in the beginning, but now I try to memorize where the scripture is and the main idea of it. The importance to me is to get the key words and phrases that will help the person understand. I ´m not sure where    I´d find poems. The charger hasn´t come yet, but packeges sometimes take a while. When you send stuff in packages, you should put pictues of Jesus or Mary, the Mother of Jesus on all sides. It´ll help stop people from stealing things from them. 

 

I love you both,

 

                     Elder Shepard

8/26/13

Dear Mom, 

 

   Funnily enough, Airton found us. He had been talking with the missionaries before, but He was having trouble about the Sabbath and parts of the plan of Salvation. They had been visiting him reguraly but had stopped for a few months. So we began teaching him again and we helped him with his doubts. He was praying about these things when he received an answer, and now knows that these things are true. He was baptized Last week and will receive the holy ghost this next sunday. 

 

   It´s been a little hard to learn but I´ve got a handle of it. I´ve been feeling fine and I´m in good health. There´s been a few changes in the mission, so it does take up time on the computer, but I´m really doing great. I´m baptizing people and the Branch is growing. It´s good to be a missionary here in the North East of Brazil.

 

   We´ve also found a teenager named Lucas Lima that was baptized last Sunday. He used to stay in the house all the time and didn´t go to school as much. Now we´ve got him to start coming to church and all the activities. His Mom is very happy about the change in attitude, and I think she´s taken an interest in the church. 

 

   It´s great to hear about everything that´s going on at home. Thanks for the updates and for the news about the family. Next week I´m going to not write all of the things for the mission and I´ll write a weekly report like I used to. I´ll try to send some pictures too. 

 

   I know that what I´m doing here to help the mission is called of God. Lives are really changing for the better including mine. I know that if all of us keep the commanments and repent daily, we´ll se each other in the Kingdom of God, on his right hand. I love you all, and pray that everything will be for the beast.

 

   Sincerly, Your Loving Son,

 

                                         Elder Shepard

Here is Elder Shepard's address 8/26/13

Mon, Aug 26, 2013 at 9:57 AM

Mailing address: Missão Brasil Teresina, A/C - Elder Jacob Shepard, CPX: 2321, Teresina - PI, CEP: 64001-973, BRAZIL

8/19/13

Dear Mom,
             

   Sorry about the last pre sent letter. Thank you for all the help with the bank. I´ll pay you back all the you´ve spent on me after the mission. I know that I can´t pay back all the things you´ve both done for me, but hopefully this mission will help. How are things at home?

 

It´s getting close to the of this transfer, so I only have about 2 more weeks here in Camocim. We started teaching a guy that teaches selfdefence, but he doesn´t believe in Jesus and many other things, so we just talk to him on on p day, when he shows us a few things.

 

The president is really great. The Branch needs a lot of help but Í think they´ll get there. We´ve had a lot of work here and the members aren´t always together on everything, but us missionaries are doing our best.

 

We just baptized a man named Airton. He really enjoys every part of the gospel and is trying very hard to help the ward. 

 

elder Shepard  

 

O didn´t have much time ether, but I love you.

8/12/13

Dear Mom,

               The mission has been going fast for me. What you said was true, about months and weeks go fast but the days at times go slow. Elder Bird is goo. Camocim is doing good, though we are still looking for a lot more people to teach. We are working very hard.

 We are teaching a young man named Regis who is going to be baptized this next Saturday. He´s only twenty and he knows some members in the church.  We hope to baptize an older man named Airton( pronounced I-ir-ten) That has practically memorized the bible. He´s prayed about the book of mormon and the church and he knows it´s all true. He only has a few problems getting to church. We have a lot of other good people but they aren´t easy to find in home.
That´s awesome that everbody is doing well. The president of the mission is visiting today so I only have a little time. I love you all and hope everyone is doing well.

  Love,
         Elder Shepard