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

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