Monday, January 12, 2015

Last Email

This is officially my last email from the mission field! It is incredible how quickly time flies. It seems like just yesterday I said bye to my family at the airport. At times, I just feel like I´ll be coming home after a long vacation, but so much has happened and changed over these last 18 months. I have been so blessed to be able to serve this mission in the great California Ventura mission and in Brasil Ribeirão Preto too. I have had experiences and met people that I will treasure forever. This past week, I have started to feel so many different feelings... Sometimes it´s hard to know how to feel, but reading these emails today have made me more excited to go home and see all the people I have missed so much. I know that my time here is coming to an end and it´s time to move on to the next adventure. I don´t know all that God has in store for me the rest of 2015, but I´m ready to go step by step and have new experiences. Between packing my bags, working, my interview with President Brum, lunch with all the missionaries who are finishing, and visiting the people I love in Bebedouro and Ribeirão Preto, I know this week will fly by. Just a few more days!
Thanks for all the support and all the prayers.
I will see y'all soon!

Love,
Sister Shipp

Monday, January 5, 2015

Happy New Year!

2015 already? New Year´s Eve we were sleeping when we were woken up by lots of noise and fireworks at midnight. We watched them from the window for a few minutes, wished everyone a happy new year and continued sleeping. Holidays sure are different on the mission!
 
As time winds down here, I feel like I have a lot less to say. We keep busy going on exchanges with companionships of Sisters. This week, we went on 2 exchanges. Between exchanges and trying to keep up with our area, time passes really fast.
 
We received our plans for our last week here... interviews with President Brum, lunch with him and Sister Brum.. we´ll visit people in my first area (Bebedouro), go to church in our area (Campos Elíseos) the last Sunday and Monday, we´ll get on a plane. Sometimes it´s too much to think about, but it´s all exciting too.
 
I am so grateful for this time as a missionary. It has truly changed by life.
 
Love y'all!

Sister Shipp