To Martha 7-7-14

On Mon, Apr 7, 2014 at 11:13 AM, Jacob Shepard <jacob.shepard@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Hey Super Girl,

                      what´s shaken? I´ve been trying to eat more healthy here on the mission. Here, Lunch is that larger meal of the day, and the members pack on the food as if there were 8 missionaries instead of just 4 here. They eat Salads of lettuce without ranch or dressing so I didn´t eat it as much. But I´ve mixed it up with meat , if they have it and it come out delicious. Sometimes I feel like Sleep is not enough to rest me. I need to hybernate to feel completly rested. But pray, scripturee study and enjoying the little things in life has helped feel more calm and at peace.

   Your guy seems like a lot of people out there to do what needs to be done but without the right focus or the right way to do things. So, if he gets better, you´ll see. If not, don´t be afraid to drop kick him. Or lightly tell him that yu wantsome space right no to organize stuff. It´s up to you, modestly dressed Wonder Women.

   I only have 8 months on the mission and it is scary. Time has flown by and I feel as if I was sleeping the first year. Every 6 monhs you learn how to work better and you understand the importance more of this work. But I´ll do my best until the end, and make up for the weak moments with the rest of my life with the future family I´ll have. It´s awesome to hear from you and thanks for the Happy Birthday. I lit a match on top of a hostess cupcake Mom and Dad sent. And then I ate pizza. Victory!!!!!

I love and I hope that all you dreams come true. And on top of that cheesiness, thank you for your letters, emails and example. You have helped a lot in my life.

Sincerly, the Wayward Rambler,

                                               Elder Shepard

Weekly Report of Elder Jacob Shepard 7-2-14

Dear Family and Friends,

                  It´s been a while since I´ve written one of these, but I´ve neglected my emails toeverybody. So, is an update for you guys. I am here in a town called Caxias. It´s a little town in the middle of the forest. It´s onlyabout 2 or less hours from Terezina, but it´s pretty separeted from the world. It´s pretty hilly here and it´s about 80 to 95 degrees everyday and it will only get hotter through the year. It´s funny, because these hills, heat and walking have done a lot to me. I´ve lost 50 pounds and I have the worst farmer´s tan you every saw.

   As a missionary,my purpose here is to teach people about Jesus Christ and how as he has done in the past, he has established his Church on the church again. The same organization of Prophets and Apostles is on the earth again. I talk with people about what they believe in and do, and I hsow how the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change a persons life. It´s hard work because of the heat, the effort we do to help the person make good choices and how half the time, people don´t want anything to do with God. With our lives we decide what to do and what to follow. When a person does try to make life better, it can really happen, as I have made a lot of personal progress here in the Brasilian heat.

   Here are some pictures too of a crazy Jesus March witha lot of evangelical bands screaming on the streets. The other two are of me and two other missionaries in my zone, or group of missionaries. Write any questions you guys have and I´ll keep writing.

Sincerly,

             Jacob  

 

 

Birthday Boy Song. 6-4-14

Dear James,

                    Para bens pra você,  nesta data querida 

                    Muitos bencãos e felicidade

                     Para bens pra você

I don´tremember the rest butyoucan hear a better version on youtube about brazilian birthday songs. Also,you can´t hear me singing through this email.....

Anywho, You are a giant and My district loves your pictures Ihave. 

                                                   Much love Big guy,

                                                                              Elder Shepard

Dear Hannah,

                    You are the Woman! How are you? Your baby bumpmodel dance was funny on skype. It´s hot here in Brazil and only will get hotter. Sorry I´m writing a short letter, but I got to go. Tell about all the things!

Love, 

       Jacob 

 

 

To Martha 4-14-14

From: "Jacob Shepard" <jacob.shepard@myldsmail.net>
Date: Apr 14, 2014 7:03 AM
To: "Martha Shepard"

So, If learned that eating a super good breakfast is important. Fruits, milk and oat stuff. Also, going to bed with stuff on your mind makes it hard for good sleep. It´s really recommended that we keep journals, to remember good stuff and get things off our chest. Then, that prayer when you sleep and wake up are the boosters for everything.

   Communication is the answer for wars and relationships. We have been teaching this couple that sell food at night, at a corner we always pass by when we go home. Juliana and Franciomar are really awesome because we have taught them about the Restoration, and even with their extremly busy work life, they have managed to read and pray. Franciomar prayed the night we taught him about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, and he said he felt something different. It´s great to actually to for the first time with the people I have tought, a family really looking for the truth.

   The other monday, we had to pick up a new missionary in the office and take him to our house. It took a long time and then we had to give the spiritual thought at a family home evening, so I had very little time to write a email to Mom. I was writing to everyone but then I lost track of time. So It wasn´t too much of a problem, but a set back in writing.

 

I love you. For cereal!

Elder Shepard

 

P.S

The Church is True, The Book of Mormon´s blue, Time passes fast and God loves you.

 

Random stuff 4-7-14

On Mon, Apr 7, 2014 at 8:18 AM, Jacob Shepard <jacob.shepard@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Random stuff

Re: Jakey, your birthday is tomorrow!!​! 3-31-14

On Mon, Mar 31, 2014 at 3:03 PM, Jacob Shepard <jacob.shepard@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Ólas, Irmã! Como vai?

I´m a bit rushed at the moment but we´ll write better next time, o besty penny pal ever!

Thank You USA! Man, I´m can legally decide to not drink. Portugese is good, My companions have been great, and all have forced me to learb to be better. I still love the states, though I love the way that people will just talk to you on the streets.

 

O que um peixe faz?

Nada!

Hoooo heee haaaaa huuuuu. Bad american missionary joke.

Speaking of dating I´m with an American utah man that likes numbers in the field. He doesn´t understand my jokes, but I still giggle to myself one in a while.

   Watch out for Seattle. There be Hipsters there! I love the work, and it´s great to see the blessings here. Miracles are happening.

Love Jacob.

PS

I  LOVE PICTURES. O MY GOSH IT´S GREAT O SEE STUFF.

;)

Re: Elder Shepard 3-6-14

Sent: ‎3/‎6/‎2014 11:23 AM
Subject: Re: Elder Shepard

Hey, Dad. I´m doing great. I´m with Elder Cloud, who´s from Utah. We have been working hard and feeling the Spirit. He is somewhat absent minded, but I´ll try to get the few beams in my eye out before the motes in his. We have been having fun, though his sense of humor is different then mine. You have to enjoy the little things on the mission, because we really aren´t here to look for entertainment. Some missionaries only have fun and don´t work and others only work and don´t have fun. I´ve been trying to stay in the middle but everyonce in a wile I drift one side depending on my companion.

   There is this card game called magic the gathering that some Elders play. It´s pretty interesting, but to collect cards is a bit expensive and dificult. I´ll play when others invite me. Unfortunately, soccer has been forbidden here by the President because it was causing problems. We can play basketball or volleyball, but no one has anything else then soccerballs here. I have met anther Elder from Chicago, but I don´t remember where he´s from. I think Joliet. There are a lot of missionaries from Washington and Utah here.

   We get ready for the day at 6:30 and we study at 8 until 10:30. One hour for personal study, one hour for companionship study and 30 minutes for Language study. I usually stdy in English for the one hour then in Portuguese with my comnpanion, and during the day, I read the Bokk of mormon in Portuguese when we have time.

   I´m reading in Ether. I just finished up the wars with Mormon and read about the destruction of the Jaredites.It is stunning how many times the people can repent and then speedily forget the Lord. A lot of members have fallen away because of the hardness of others. It is really sad to see how people let the littlest of things knock down their faith, but as Helamn 5:12 says, if we build upon the foundation of Christ we will not fall.

   How is work going? Finally became the Boss there? There have been a lot of changes going around the world from what I hear. How is everything going at home?

Thanks for the email. It´s great to hear from you. I love you and hope the best.

Sincerly,

             Jacob