JULY. Wait, what?

I cannot believe it´s July! Oh my goodness!

 

This week was so great! I am definitely learning so much with my companion, Sister Vaneza. She is wonderful! It´s really great going back and remembering the basics as I teach them to her. It´s also been fun trying to remember back to September-November when I was a new missionary doing the 12 week training program with Sister Anderson and Sister Xayadeth. What good times!

So the 4th of July here in Brasil. It was also the day of another world cup game when Brasil played Columbia, so there were firecrackers and cheering, but my companions informed me that it was for the game and not for the USA. I still think it was for the US ;) I wore red and blue and sang the national anthem for my 3 Brazilian Sisters here. Sister Jales sang with me (of course wearing her Brasil stuff with a Brasil flag) and we took a video. It´s too big to send, but you´ll see it soon.

 

We´re having good times here in Bebedouro and seeing miracles everyday!

Hope yall have a great week!!

 

Sister Shipp

Training: Week 1

This week was great! I got my "novinha" Tuesday afternoon. So right now we have living here in our house in Bebedouro Sister Jales from Fortaleza training Sister Sousa from Fortaleza and Sister Shipp from Katy, TX training...

Sister Vanessa Ferreira from ...

Fortaleza.

Go figure.

It´s a small world afterall, right dad? :)

She is so great! She is so prepared and she is learning so fast! We´ve only had 1 week together, but I love her so much and I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve her. I have learned so much this week. I´m doing things I didn´t think I was capable of. Truly God qualifies those that He calls. I really can feel His help. At times, it´s still a little overwhelming, but I know I won´t encounter anything I´m not capable of. I am so excited for the rest of this transfer learning and working together.

 

That´s about all this week. Still enjoying hearing all the cheering from the World Cup as we stay in our house studying ;) Don´t worry, my family and the members here are keeping me updated.

 

Have a great week!

 

Sister Shipp

June 23rd - TRANSFERS and...................

I´M TRAINING! My goodness. Talk about nerve-racking. I should be getting her tomorrow! I have no idea what country she´s from or nothing. I hope she´s Brazilian so I don´t have to teach her Portuguese as well. We will see. All I can say is that I am nervous and excited! I know how important trainers are, so I´m way excited for this opportunity. Prayers would be much appreciated.

 

This week was amazing. One of the things I´m really learning on my mission is trusting Heavenly Father. We saw so many amazing miracles this week, and I know it will only continue this transfer. This transfer we are looking forward to some baptisms and a wedding. Woohoo! It´s an exciting time to be a missionary in Bebedouro!

Love you!

Sister Shipp

June 16th - The Gospel is incredible

Sorry this is going to be the shortest weekly email ever! Just know that I´m doing so good! I´m really realizing how little the time here is in the mission. Wow. I will be home in just a few minutes it feels like!

The most exciting thing of the week is Jose Luis baptized a man Sisters Jales and Sousa have been teaching. I feel like a proud mom watching him grow. In the time I´ve been here, he´s gotten the Aaronic Priesthood, Melchizedek Priesthood, blessed and passed the sacrament, recieved a few callings, and now baptized someone else. He´s also changed in so many ways that I can´t explain right now. The Gospel is incredible.

Know that I´m well, loving Brazil, enjoying studying the scriptures during Brazil´s games in the world cup (don´t worry, I know every time there is a goal by the screams and the fireworks we can hear from our house).

Love you all! have a great week!

 

Sister Shipp

An Example of the Believers

Hello All!

 

I am really out of time, but just wanted to say all is well here :) Except for the fact that my sister graduated from High school yesterday. Where is the time going? Congrats, Ash! I´m so proud of you :) Wish I could have been there.

 

If there´s anything I´ve been thinking about this week, it´s the example we set for others around us. Our example is SO important and literally changes lives for the better. I´ve definitely seen this here. We are teaching a woman who´s sister is a member. She saw all the changes that took place in her sister as she learned about the gospel and is now seeing those changes in herself. She is so excited to be baptized  as soon as we can work out a few things.

 

So be an example. You never know who is watching.

 

Sister Shipp

Can you feel so now?

Just a little thought for today because time is short again...

I know each of us have times in our lives when we are closer to God than other times. I think each of us need to ask ourselves this question in Alma 5:26 from time to time:

"And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?"

 

I know the times in my life when I´m closer to God, I really feel more peace and joy in my life. When I´m farther, I definitely feel the difference. So what changes? God doesn´t move; He is constant, always there, reaching out for us. But we, through our actions each and every day move closer to Him or farther from Him. It´s truly the things we choose to do each day that determine where we are in relation to Him. Are we listening to His words through reading the scriptures everyday? Are we talking with Him through pray each day? How can we be close to someone when we don´t talk the opportunity to talk with and listen to them?

 

I know it´s worth it to strive to be close to Him. I´ve had times in my life when I have been close to Him and other times when I´ve been farther. It´s worth it to take a look at your life and set some goals today. We can and should regularly ask ourselves how we can draw closer to Him, then set some goals to do it. Just do it. Do it today. If you wait, you´ll look back later and wished you´d made the decision today.

 

Lots of Love,

Sister Maryann Shipp

The Lord's Hands

I don´t have a ton of time, but this week was awesome :) Sister Soares and I really have a new vision for our area and are working even harder to meet our goals. If there´s anything I´ve really been reflecting on this week, it´s how the gospel truly brings us joy and happiness we can´t find anywhere else. I cannot express in words how grateful I am for the knowledge I have of this gospel and for all the ways I can see the hand of the Lord in my life. I´m grateful for this time to try to be the Lord´s hands here in Bebedouro. We met a man who was sitting on the sidewalk outside of his house. I felt like we needed to talk to him, so we started talking and found out that his wife died a month ago. We sat down on the sidewalk next to him, I cried with him, and we taught him about God´s plan for us; that we will see our loved ones again and that we can rely on Jesus Christ to help us through this time.

I really know that Jesus Christ suffered everything that we will feel. We truly can rely on Him always, but especially during our hard times and He will give us the strength that we need to continue on.

 

Sister Shipp