THE DAY HAS COME

After 6 months in California and almost 7 months total on a mission, my visa has finally come! I will be leaving for Sao Paulo, Brazil tomorrow morning and arriving the following morning. CRAZY. I can't describe my feelings right now. I found out that they are starting a new program for Brazil Visa Waiters who have been re-assigned for more than 2 months... a 2 week Portuguese refresher course in the Sao Paulo, Brazil MTC. Yes, I'm going back to the MTC! To the MTC I was originally supposed to go to though! I think that will be such a blessing. It is going to be hard to leave California! So hard. This is my first mission! Now onto the second. I know I have learned so much from being here and look forward to new lessons and adventures that await me.

 

I guess if there's any message I'd like to leave with y'all today it's this: the Lord really does give us the experiences we need if we will just open our eyes. He'll give us opportunities to learn and grow. He'll give us relief and comfort. He'll also give us the people that we need as well. With every experience, good or bad, we can take an approach of "What can I learn from this?" rather than always pleading for other events or experiences.

 

I love the Lord, and I know He has blessed me with so many experiences that I needed. I know He will continue to give me these experiences in Brazil, even through the challenges that are ahead of me. Thank you for all your prayers. They have helped so much, and I know they will continue to be needed within the next few weeks especially.

 

Much Love,

Sister Shipp

So Wonderful!

What a wonderful week. Really. I love this area and Sister Ashworth. This transfer has been such a blessing! It has also FLOWN BY. Where did the time go? Really.

I've been thinking about building faith or finding a testimony of things. It really fit that I was asked last minute to give a talk in Sacrament meeting about using scripture and prayer to build a testimony. It also really fit because I knew my dad and brother were speaking in Sacrament meeting yesterday as well, so I felt really close to them and thought about them a lot as well.

Here's what I've been thinking: I apologize this will be a shorter thought today.

Either this church is the same church Jesus Christ set up when He was on the Earth, or it isn't. Either Joseph Smith really did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, or he didn't. With that being said, how many times have you heard someone say "I know this church is true. I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet called by God."? How can we know? It all comes down to the Book of Mormon. If the Book of Mormon is true, then this is that same church, and Joseph Smith did really have the experience that he claimed. There's a promise contained in the Book of Mormon that anyone who will read it, pray about it, will know for themselves that it is true. I know that it is because I've tested this promise. I know that each of us can know for ourselves that his is true as well.

Have a wonderful week!

Sister Shipp

Miracles for Sure

What an amazing week. There have definitely been some hard times, but the good and amazing far outweigh the challenges. We are seeing such great miracles here in Camarillo. I wish I had time to tell them all. If there was any one thing I learned this week, I think it was that Heavenly Father really will help us reach our goals. We set goals each day in terms of how many lessons we want to teach, people we want to talk to, and how many people we can begin teaching on a regular basis. I have really seen this week that those opportunities to reach those goals were given to us. For instance, setting a goal of 3 lessons for the day and having 3 people placed in our path that we could teach. Whenever we set goals that are pleasing to Heavenly Father, He will help us to accomplish them. I know this to be true; I saw it so many times this week.

I went on exchanges with Sister Stoker, who I had the opportunity to serve with in Ventura. It was so amazing to be her companion for the day and I learned so much from her. It's amazing to reflect back on my mission. I've been out for a little over 6 months total, 5 months in the Great California Ventura Mission. I can't even describe the changes and growth that I can see in myself. I can only imagine and wait patiently to see what more the Lord has in store for me as He shapes me into who I can be.

It seems Brazil is getting closer and closer. I just got a couple emails from my mission in Brazil. Of course they were in Portuguese so let the translating begin! It's amazing how much of the language is still with me. I know that's definitely a blessing. I am so grateful for this time to serve the first part of my mission in Ventura California. I'm really blessed to serve with Sister Ashworth right now! It's incredible how much you learn from and love each companion.

 

Love y'all!

Sister Shipp

How Great Shall Be Your Joy

We literally saw miracles this week.

 

I am so grateful for the knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father. He loves us more than we can comprehend and is so involved in the details of our lives. I am so grateful that He wants all to know about Him that we may find the most joy possible in this life and that He can help us. I know one of the things He has given us in our families; an opportunity to learn and to grow, find joy and feel love. I know that He gives us men called by God to guide us in the ways we should go. I know that He sent His son, Jesus Christ, that we may overcome mistakes that we make and the obstacles and trials that come in this life. I know that He has once again reached out to His children and has called a prophet that acts as a mouthpiece for God and lives today. How grateful I am.

 

How simple of a message, and yet how profound it's effects. It has changed every aspect of my life and how blessed am I to watch as this message changes the lives of others that I come into contact with.

 

I had the priviledge of having an interview with my Mission President this week. It ended up being kind of an exit interview. He reconfirmed what I had been hearing. I should be leaving for Brazil near the end of the transfer. My visa has either been processed or is almost done. it's not here in California yet, neither are the plane tickets, so I don't know the day, but it will probably be within a few days of the 25th. It's still a little scary and unreal, but I am excited. I know that the Lord will continue to place me where I need to be.

 

For now, I am loving every minute in California and am so grateful to be serving with Sister Ashworth. I am learning so much from her and we're having lots of fun as well :)

 

I hope you have a really incredible week!

 

Sister Shipp

Too Much to Tell

It looks like the time to go to Brazil is coming quicker and quicker! I got an email from Elder Menden (my FHE brother from BYU who just arrived to Ribeirao Preto) who spent a little time in the mission office... they are truly expecting me by the end of this transfer. I am in awe. The Lord knows best. I just have to keep trusting in Him. What an adventure!

I just want to testify that the Lord will place us where we need to be. I wish I had time to tell all of the experiences in my life that support this knowledge, but I do not. I sat next to a woman at church who just experienced a divorce and moved to Camarillo from a few towns over. We sat by her in church yesterday. She talked about how this has been so hard for her teenage daughters who just want to move back home. She talked about how she had been praying for a way to move back when a voice came into her mind, "You are where you need to be." That hit so close to home for me in many ways. That was the confirmation I was seeking when I first arrived in California four and a half months ago. It took a while, but I have received so much confirmation in so many different ways that I needed to be here for at least 4 transfers. I was able to tell her of my experience as a missionary temporarily assigned to California. In that moment, I knew I was meant to be in that church building in Camarillo CA sitting next to this sister. I know that there is no greater joy that can come to us than when we are where the Lord needs us to be doing His work. This can be in a particular job, studying a particular major and a specific school, in our families, a certain location to live, and in so many other ways. I felt that way at BYU when I began to volunteer at Utah State Hospital and served as a mentor for a very special and amazing girl. I know that we can each feel this way as we include Heavenly Father in our decisions. He will guide us to where we need to be if we allow Him the opportunity. I know He will continue to place me where I need to be.

 

Love,

Sister Shipp

The Work Goes On

A New Transfer:
First week as Senior Companion! It's been crazy, but so amazing!

My companion is Sister Ashworth from Georgia! She grew up outside of Atlanta but actually moved to Texas her senior year, just outside Beaumont. It is fun to have a companion that shares my love for Texas. She is great, so happy all the time! This is her 3rd transfer, she's been on her mission for 3 months. This week my head has been inside the map trying to figure out how to get to each place. Good thing I'm getting really good at navigating!

NEWS:
Mom sent me a copy of an email from the Church Travel Office estimating 2-3 weeks on my visa.
What.
It's in the final stages of processing! She said I should be able to go to Brazil for the next transfer, meaning Feb 25. How crazy is that? My heart stopped.

Needless to say, I've been feeling pretty anxious the last couple days. I was feeling pretty torn. I love this mission and I love the people here. It was Saturday night when I got that letter, Sunday was Stake Conference, a broadcast from Salt Lake. Elder Anderson was one of the speakers. In his talk, he mentioned an experience he had when he lived in Sao Paulo. As he spoke, I felt so calm and remembered the love that I had felt for Brazil when I received my call and anticipated leaving for my mission. I know that whatever happens, whether I go or stay, that the Lord will send me where I need to go. I have seen so many reasons why I have been in the United States for the first 6 months of my mission, and I am so grateful to have had these experiences.

Miracle of the week:

Sharron, our amazing investigator! We were supposed to have a lesson with her Wednesday, but she was feeling sick, so she cancelled. Thursday morning, we had planned to go see a less active member who lives really close to her. As we approached the member's apartment, we saw Sharron outside! We went and talked with her, she met Sister Ashworth, and then invited us in. We had a spur of the moment lesson in which she asked us a lot of questions and we talked a little more about the Word of Wisdom. Then she came to Stake Conference yesterday! Afterward, we were talking with her and a member about the blessings promised as we live the Word of Wisdom. Sharron is going to encounter some medical changes this week, so the member talked about living the Word of Wisdom and how it would help Sharron with these changes. We testified that it would and committed her to begin living it. I know that the Lord really is preparing His children. We heard a lot about that in our Stake Conference. They quoted D&C 84:88 a lot where the Lord is talking. It says something like, "I will go before your face, I will be on your right hand, and on your left." One of the speakers asked, "Will He really go before me and prepare the way?" He has promised that He will! I testify that He already has and will continue to do so!

I feel so much joy as I listen to the Prophet and the Apostles that Jesus Christ has called to lead His church today, just as He did when He was on the Earth. I know and I testify that these are men called by God who have the authority to speak for Him today. I know that as we listen to them, we receive guidance, answers to prayers, comfort, peace, and joy. I know that Jesus Christ is leading this church today and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a servant of Him, spreading His word, whether in Brazil or California, it is the same.

Have an amazing week!

Sister Shipp

4th Transfer..................3rd Area

Transfers are tomorrow and............................................
I FINALLY GET TO STAY IN AN AREA FOR MORE THAN 6 WEEKS! Sister Casper is leaving me though :( She's going to my first area in San Luis Obispo. Crazy stuff. I can't believe it's already been another 6 weeks.

This week was a lot better. I've really been learning a lot and my confidence as a missionary has really increased as well. The highlight was our investigator, Sharron, coming to church! It was incredible. She really felt the Spirit and afterwards received a Priesthood blessing. All I can say is it was all a miracle.

I wanted to focus on a story I studied in the Book of Mormon yesterday, Ether 6. This is when the Brother of Jared and his family get into the 8 dish-like barges he built to cross the sea to the promised land. It says everything so matter-of-factly, but if you really think about what was going on, it must have been terrifying.
"they prepared... and set forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their God."
His family somehow divided themselves up and got into these 8 barges, trusting the Lord that they would make it to the promised land and see eachother again. It doesn't give any indication that they could steer or anything. They literally commended themselves to God.
"And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, toward the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind."
God provided the wind, always pushing them toward the promised land. It doesn't say that He gracefully did so, they were tossed to and fro, but always in the direction of the promised land.
"And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind."
"...when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters."
There were times when they were pushed to their limits. They had to cry to God in prayer, and He delivered them each time.
"And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters; and thus they were driven forth before the wind"
Despite all the obstacles faced; the storms, rough seas, tempests, the wind was ALWAYS pushing them in the right direction, toward their desired destination.

"And they did sing praises unto the Lord; yea, the brother of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did thank and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord."
No matter what obstacles they faced, they always praised the Lord, trusting Him and remembering how great and merciful He is always, even in the midst of their trials. Good times or bad, they always praised the Lord.

"And thus they were driven forth; and no monster of the sea could break them, neither whale that could mar them; and they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or under the water."
Through God, they could overcome everything. This wasn't a short journey:
"And thus they were driven forth, three hundred and forty and four days upon the water."
Did you get that? 344 DAYS! Almost a full year? Do you think that was easy? No way. And yet they didn't lose faith that the Lord would fulfill His promise. And you know what?:
"And they did land upon the shore of the promised land..."
Powerful. This really hit me this week as the past few weeks I've really been thinking about the purpose of this life. When we chose to come to this earth, we were commending ourselves to Heavenly Father. We knew that it would be hard, but we knew it was necessary. We also knew that returning to our Heavenly Father and overcoming all of our trials would be possible through Jesus Christ. Now we are here, on our own sea for however long Heavenly Father decides. We will be tossed from place to place, but Heavenly Father is always leading us through our trials and experiences back to our desired destination: back home with Him and Jesus Christ. No matter where we are in life, He is giving us the experiences that we need to become the people we need to be to return to live with Him. Sometimes it's hard, but we need to trust His will for us, that He is leading us to what is best for us, and always praise and speak with Him. If we do these things, He will lead us back to Him, and that is worth every sacrifice.

I love you all. Thank you for all the prayers.

Sister Shipp