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

Dear Hannah 1-13-14

Happy BirthDay! Short and sweet is super neet!

Re: Happy New Year! 1-6-14

Subject: Re: Happy New Year!

On Mon, Jan 6, 2014 at 11:53 AM, Jacob Shepard <jacob.shepard@myldsmail.net> wrote:
Also that´s me wearing all the stuff you sent me...

 

Re: Happy New Year! 1-6-14

On Mon, Jan 6, 2014 at 11:50 AM, Jacob Shepard <jacob.shepard@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Re: Happy New Year! 1-6-14

Subject: Re: Happy New Year!

On Mon, Jan 6, 2014 at 11:42 AM, Jacob Shepard <jacob.shepard@myldsmail.net> wrote:

 

Email from Elder Shepard 1-6-14

Dear Mom and Dad,
                                This week was pretty good. We are working for the new standard of the mission. Because of Christmas and New Year, a lot of missionaries relaxed and thought a little more about home. We didn´t do as well as we could have but were are keeping our goals pretty well. We baptized a woman named Katharina. He has been dating a member and we taught a few times in the week. She then decided to be baptized and she is already firm in the church.
   So It turns out that I´m going to Terezina. The hottest place on the mission. Darn.(The warm season lasts from August 31 to November 15 with an average daily high temperature above 98°F. The hottest day of the year is October 8, with an average high of 99°F and low of 77°F.)
   The local leadership here are all working hard, but they have to learn how to work together. I had hoped to work more with them, but Elder Correia will do well here. We have worked really well together and I hoped to stay here a bit longer but I´ll serve where the Lord calls.
  I love you all
                     Elder Shepard