Another Week

Man, when it comes to writing emails, I never know what to say...

 

This week was so good! We had a conference with my mission president and a few other zones. All of my Brazilian companions were there, as well as my 2 American MTC companions, so that was neat :) I am really enjoying serving with Sister de Oliveira! She is so sweet and so prepared to be a missionary. I am sending a couple pictures with her so you can see what she looks like!

 

I think the highlight was seeing the Woman´s Conference. I am so grateful for the opportunity to listen to living a Prophet and Apostles! I´m so excited for the chance that we have to hear them this weekend. I know they will tell us the things that we need to know, the things that God wants us to know. (lds.org)

 

I hope you all have a good week! Get ready for conference! I´m already making a list of questions I have to listen for as I watch conference.

 

Love y'all!

Sister Shipp

First Week in Ribeirao!

Well, it´s been a good first week in my new area! Ribeirão is sooooooooooooooooooo different than Bebedouro. Everything is a lot closer and we walk a lot less which is awesome because my legs have to last for 4 more months and they definitely hurt sometimes. It´s a lot different serving in a ward again after serving in a branch for so long! My companion is from the Southern part of Brasil this time so I´m getting used to a new accent and new words that she uses that my other companions from the North never used. It´s been fun so far :) We had some rain this week so things were a bit cooler, but I´m getting myself ready for a hot next few months and a really really hot Christmas. That´ll be weird. Christmas in the summer....

 

Everything is good here! Training seems to be a lot easier this time around and my companion is literally awesome. She is already teaching so well and leading the lessons lots of times. I have to remind myself sometimes that she is only in her 2nd transfer!

I hope y'all have an awesome week!

Sister Shipp

Transfers

So after 5 transfers (6 months) in Bebedouro, I have finally made my way to another area! I am now in Ribeirão Preto! I´ll be serving in Ala 1 with Sister De Oliveira from Southern Brasil! She only has 6 weeks (1 transfer) here in the mission, so I´ll be finishing her 12 week training. It should be good! I am excited!

 

I had a good last week with Sister Vaneza, although the goodbyes were really hard. It was especially hard to say bye to José Luiz, Franciele, Leonildo, and Jeniffer. They are some really special people. I am really going to miss them!

 

I´ve been thinking a lot about change this week. Change is hard, but from time to time, it´s exactly what we need. We can learn so much as our circumstances change. As I´ve reflected back on my mission, I´ve realized how much I´ve learned from each companion and area. I´m so excited I Have this new opportunity to learn more! I just hope I don´t get too lost here in Ribeirão. Oh, and I´m a lot closer to the mission office where letters are so I´ll get letters faster ;) That´ll be nice.

 

Oh how I love to be a missionary <3

It really is the best.

Com Amor,

Sister Shipp

My Heart is So Full

My heart is SO full right now. This week was hard. We definitely had some challenges and I was feeling pretty down when I got here and opened my email... and now? I feel like I´m on top of the world. Thank you for all the emails you all sent this week! Even though I may not always be seeing exactly what I want happen each week, I know that this is where I need to be. Sometimes I´m here in Bebedouro not for our investigators, but for my companion, or the other Sister missionaries here, or to learn something I need to learn, or maybe to bless my family. I was especially grateful for the emails I got from my family today. It is incredible to see all the many ways that they are being blessed while I am so far from them. I know that the best thing that I can be doing for them right now is to be here for a little while longer serving God´s children in another country. I know God is taking care of them! I am so grateful for all the growth I am seeing in each one and the successes they are having as well. I have one pretty incredible family! :)

 

I guess that´s what I really want to say this week. I know that each time we make a decision to serve God, He will bless those that we love more than we can imagine. Even if the decision takes you to another country miles and miles away, it´s. worth. it.

I love y'all so much!

 

Com Muito Amor,

Sister Shipp

 

13 Months

This has been a crazy week with lots of challenges, but we also had some big successes yesterday. I think the best thing right now is following up with Jeniffer and Leonildo that were baptized a little over a week ago. We had a Family Home Evening yesterday with a few other families in our branch. It is amazing to see how the gospel changes people and families. I was reflecting back on how Leonildo was when I first met him a few months ago. He is a completely different person now and their family is so much happier. I have talked to so many people during my mission who feel like they are missing something. They can try and do any number of things and yet this empty feeling still exists. Then I look back on the ones who decided to start reading the Book of Mormon and the Bible, talking with us (the missionaries), going to church, and praying. These are the people who now feel like they have what they were searching for. I know that the gospel is the only thing that can give us that complete feeling and also the joy we are searching for. I am so grateful that I have this in my life. All I want is for everyone to have this, especially the people I love. I am so grateful for this time to be here in Brasil bringing this joy that I have to anyone that will listen.

 

Sister Shipp