Week 2

Week 2:

Thank you to those who sent me letters! Seriously. Y'all are the best! It's been a crazy week here, but another great one! This P-Day has been the fastest day EVER though. Let me tell you about the week!

 

Wednesday! Elder Valentine came to the MTC! I ran into him Wednesday night and we got a few pictures together, with my companion OF COURSE ;) It was so amazing to see him! We also taught our "investigator Lucas" that night again in Portuguese.

 

Thursday! Sister Marchant auditioned for a musical number in one of the many programs, firesides, etc and SHE MADE IT. I am so proud of her :) We're still waiting to figure out when she will be performing. I might add that I was a pretty good page turner for her. We also taught Lucas for the last time. We asked him to be baptized and HE SAID YES. It was the most incredible feeling. All we could do was get to the end of the hall and kneel down to pray. We were so grateful and just had to express it. It's amazing how much you pray here. I should start counting how many times we pray each day. You really need to though. Being a missionary is hard. It's so easy to feel inadequate with the language and teaching skills (especially when you are teaching in a new language). Sister Marchant and I are always praying for the spirit and help and thanking Heavenly Father for our progress with the language and the opportunity to be here. Thursday was also the day I got cookies from my wonderful mother. Thanks mom! They were so great! I finally finished them last night. My roommates loved them as well. So here's a funny story that happened to 2 Elders in my district... they were teaching Lucas and asked if he had any questions. He asked why Nephi cut Laban's head off in the Book of Mormon. They frantically searched for the verse that says that it was better for one man to perish than a nation dwindle in unbelief in their Portuguese O Livro de Mormon. They guessed which verse it might be and asked Lucas to read it. They then said that that was why Nephi killed him and moved on. They found out later that they had him read the very verse where Nephi cut off his head instead of the intended verse. Oh, man. Good times. Yesterday Sister V and I were roleplaying and she accidentally said that Jesus Christ was the investigator's son rather than brother. It is fun learning a new language! You just have to learn to laugh.

 

Friday! We got our second teacher and guess what... IT'S LUCAS. Well, that's not really his name. We were SO excited and he is such a great teacher. His name is Irmao Taylor. He explained to us that sometimes the Gift of Tongues isn't the ability to speak or for the investigator to understand the words you are saying, sometimes it's that the investigator can feel the Spirit of what you are saying in their hearts. I thought that was the coolest thing. I know I'm going to need all the help I can get when it comes to actually teaching the people in Brazil. I have a goal to be able to teach all the lessons in Portuguese by the time I leave here. I'm working hard at it!

 

Saturday! So It's a little hard having Elder Valentine here and not knowing where he is or how he's doing since we cannot write each other while we're both here. So Saturday at the beginning of personal study, I said a prayer and included asking that I could see him soon just to see how he was doing. I looked up from scriptures a few minutes later and there he was! With his companion! Walking towards me! The church is true, y'all. It's the little things. My district played a "guess which missionary" game. The sisters drew stick figures on the board and we had to guess which missionary in our district it was. I am known as a stick figure girl balancing 10 packages on my hand. HA. People were so good at sending me things, especially the first week. Thanks again! I love to hear from y'all and see how you're doing! I almost fell asleep during the additional study times that day. It was so hard to stay awake. I taught a 15 min surprise lesson on the Restoration in class! It was such a confidence booster to see how much I could say and use the words I know to convey the message.

 

Sunday! Sundays are so great here. I became the Senior companion, and Relief Society was with the Primary General President, Sister Wixom. It was so great! We then had a New Sister's meeting where we learned stuff like "if you don't wear lipstick, the first thing someone looks at is your eyes and the second is your nose," how to sit and not "plop," that we should glide when we walk (Miss Congeniality much?), and that every time someone slams the door in our face we should see "Thanks for the nice breeze!" Good stuff. The essentials, you know? I saw Elder Valentine quite a bit Sunday. It's the only day we have the same schedule. It was good to see him and see how he's doing. Don't worry, we keep our distance. Sacrament meeting is largely in Portuguese and it's awesome! They call on 2 random missionaries to get up and talk for 3-5 minutes though so I have to prepare a little talk each week. One of the members of the Branch Presidency had a couple visiting from Brazil that talked to us for a little bit. The woman was actually one of his converts when he served his mission! It was so inspiring to see. Because she joined the church, there are 1000 more members. There are people waiting for me in Brazil. I cannot wait! I had my weekly interview with my Branch President. The first thing he asked was, "So how's Elder Valentine?" My heart like stopped for a second. Word gets around fast. Those darn District Leaders ;) He totally just wanted to make sure that I was doing okay with the fact we are both here. He's so sweet!

 

Yesterday was a little hard. We taught a "new investigator," Manuel, who is really our teacher role playing. Our lesson went totally in a different direction than planned though. We were a little bummed by how it went. I guess we just realized that there are a lot of things we still need to learn and apply to our lessons. It gets a little frustrating sometimes. Today has been the perfect follow up though. We went to the temple this morning. After, Sister Marchant and I have been so happy! Even through doing laundry (which is probably the worst thing about the MTC by the way).

 

The Lord will bless you. After that hard lesson with Manuel, I was reading in 1 Nephi 17 where he says that the Lord will provide a way for you to accomplish what He commands. He has called me to be a missionary and to speak Portuguese which means there's a way, and I CAN DO IT WITH HIS HELP. It's the greatest feeling ever and so important to remember. I love this church and all that it teaches. I love the MTC. I love my district. We pretty much have every personality possible in my district of 6 elders and 6 sisters. It's incredible to see how inspired the companionships are as well. I love my fellow district sisters. I love my companion. I love Portuguese and one day I will master it. I love this opportunity to share something I love so much with others. I am so blessed. I cannot express it. I hope all is well with all of you! Write me a letter and let me know how you're doing! I pray for the people at home all the time. Heavenly Father is watching out for you!

Love,
Sister Shipp

1st Week

First P-Day! So much has happened this week. It's pretty much been the longest week of my life.

When I got to the airport gate Wednesday morning, I met 4 other missionaries including Sister Jessie Young who is going to the same mission as me and knows President and Sister Allen. Tender mercy right there. I sat next to a sweet girl a year younger than me on the plane, we talked a little bit and she shared some Christian music with me. I had lunch at Costa Vida with Amy, Molly, Grandpa and Grandma Shipp, Julie, and Stacy. Amy gave me a letter from herself and one from Kelley before we said bye. It was so sweet! I called mom one last time and cried and said goodbye. Molly dropped me off at the MTC. I picked up my name tag. I am still Sister Shipp! Apparently they call the Sister missionaries Sister in Brazil instead of Irma like the sister members of the church. We go around saying "Seestair!" :) My companion is Sister Marchant from Cincinnati, Ohio. We have a lot in common! She was also at BYU this past year studying pre-nursing, but has not yet applied to the program. On my way to pick up my books, I ran into Sister Brynne Chamberlain from my BYU ward. Another tender mercy. We started learning Portuguese the first day. The teacher spoke it a lot and it was a little overwhelming. Later in the day, I ran into Elder Brett Nebeker from my FHE group! Another tender mercy. There are 8 elders in my district and 6 sisters (although 2 elders got their visas and left today). We are going to the Riberao Preto mission or Natal mission. Sister Jett Hoffman from my BYU ward is in my district and in my room. There are 6 sisters in my room! It works out just fine. There is plenty of space and I love the sisters. The companionships are so inspired. Each companionship became instant friends. Our personalities are so similar and together, we are hilarious! You really see your view of entertainment change in the MTC. Earlier today, for fun, we threw a little football around the room at each other. It was pretty much the best thing ever. Would you normally think so? Probably not. I am on the top bunk. Brings back memories of when I was younger.

 

I cannot express to you the amount of studying taking place here. I don't think I've ever studied this much (maybe besides finals week). We taught our first investigator in Portuguese on Friday. Did you catch that? After being here for 2 days, we had to teach a lesson in Portuguese. Luckily, Sister Marchant took 4 years of Spanish in high school and studied Portuguese during the Summer. She has a pretty good handle on the language. We somehow made it through, but didn't feel like we could really connect with Lucas because we were mainly reading from our notes. On Friday, I received 5 letters, a postcard, and a package! Thanks for all the love. Everyone was jealous! I am now known for taking up half of our district mailbox each day. Largely thanks to Kelley, who everyone now knows about, and who will be reporting here tomorrow at 2:30! Crazy. On Saturday, we taught Lucas again. The lesson went better. I could understand a lot of what was said, but still felt like I couldn't really contribute. Learning a new language is definitely a humbling experience.

 

Everyone kept telling me to make it to Sunday. Well, I did! Fast and testimony meeting was in Portuguese and I could understand almost all of what was said! I know God is helping me with the language. There's no other way I could have made this much progress in less than a week. At night, the devotional was performances and a talk by Elder Oak's daughter, Jenny Oaks Baker who is an amazing violinist. It was amazing and the Spirit was so strong :) Then we watched an MTC address entitled "Character of Christ" by Elder Bednar. It is an amazing talk. Go look it up if you have some time to spare. It gives great insight on who we should become, especially as a missionary.

During gym time, I've been playing volleyball! It's so nice to play again :) Sister Marchant played with me yesterday. For not ever playing, she is actually pretty good and it was tons of fun! I ran into Sam Whitworth (my friend from nutrition class that teaches Iclandic at the MTC) yesterday! Another tender mercy. We talked for a couple minutes. Sister Marchant and I taught Lucas for the third time last night. We went in with only a few words written in English as an outline. Our teacher had told us not to use notes on this lesson, but pray before and ask for the gift of tongues. I was really nervous going in, but we actually taught about the Atonement for 35 minutes! It was great. Sister Marchant did a lot of the talking, and I got lost a couple times, but I was able to add some comments and a good testimony. The Spirit was definitely there.

 

It's been a little hard to get used to the schedule here. Since we are visa-waiters and weren't supposed to be here, we have breakfast at 6:30 instead of 7. We also have a way early dinner at 4. That means I get to bed at around 11 and am waking up somewhere around 5:30 or 6. I woke up with a fever today after having some strange dreams involving a lot of Portuguese. I'm feeling better now. I've spent most of the day writing letters and doing laundry. P-Day is definitely too short though. We have a devotional tonight with Elder Christofferson! I am super excited!

 

So there's a tree here that smells like Cream Soda. Literally. We took a picture with it. Sister Marchant and I are trying to take a picture everyday holding up the day number we are on. One of them is in front of this tree.
All is well here! I love the MTC and am doing great!

Love,
Sister Shipp

I'M A MISSIONARY!

So much has happened this month! Let's do a quick recap.

My sister, mom, and I went to Nauvoo, Illinois to meet up with family, see church history sites, and visit my grandparents who are serving a mission there. It was so much fun! The trip was also a huge blessing! I didn't realize how great it was going to be to see family again. Also being immersed in church history strengthened my testimony and desire to get out there and be a missionary!

Two days after returning from Nauvoo, my friend Kelley came to visit for a week! We had so much fun together. We did a lot in the week he was here! 

Not only was it fun to have him here, it was an incredible experience as we were both only a week or two away from our missions (he leaves next week for the Washington DC South mission). We really serve as a strength to one another. I cannot wait to hear about all of his adventures and share my own stories with him!

This past Sunday (the 28th) was my farewell talk. I'd had ideas about some things I wanted to include in my talk, but nothing seemed to really be flowing. By Saturday night, I was getting a little worried as to how the talk was going to turn out. It wasn't until I finished a long conversation with my friends Chels and Chelsea that ideas really started to flow and connect in my mind. I sat down and wrote an outline of things I wanted them to know. I felt so blessed to have two of my best friends there to listen and support me. Here are some things that are important that I touched on in my talk:

• You can receive personal revelation (direct answers to prayers) using a few steps. He will help you make important decisions if you will include Him in the process.
  1. Study the options out in your mind
  2. Pray: ask your question and explain the thoughts you have about it
  3. If you're trying to make a decision and the answer does not seem to be coming, use your judgement and take a step in the direction you think is best. After taking this step, see how you feel.
  4. Trust in the Lord. Once you get that peaceful feeling, act! Don't hesitate. Trust that He has given you and answer and that this answer is what is best for you.
  5. Look for His hand in your life. It's there, I promise. Especially as you find and follow His will for you.
• You can be in the right place at the right time.
  1. I promise you will not find more joy on any other path than the one Heavenly Father has planned for you.
  2. He will lead you to that path if you allow Him.
  3. He loves you! You are His spirit child.
  4. Life is hard BUT He has not left you alone! He gives us trials so that we may grow and become refined, becoming more and more like our perfect example, Jesus Christ.
  5. Heavenly Father sent His son, Jesus Christ, for us. He lived a perfect life so that He could be an example for us. He suffered for your sins, pains, sorrows, and afflictions. He died on the cross and He rose from the dead. All for you. He suffered all this so you never have to feel like no one knows what you are going through. He does. He's felt everything you have felt, now feel, and will feel.
  6. "The gospel is the good news that can free us from guilt. We know that Jesus experienced the totality of mortal existence in Gethsemane. It's our faith that He experienced everything-absolutely everything. Sometimes we don't think through the implications of that belief. We talk in great generalities about the sins of all humankind, about the suffering of the entire human family. But we don't experience pain in generalities. We experience it individually. That means He know what it felt like when your mother died of cancer--how it was for your mother, how it still is for you. He knows what if felt like to lose the student body election. He knows that moment when the brakes locked and the car started to skid. He experienced the slave ship sailing from Ghana toward Virginia. He experienced the gas chambers at Dachau. He experienced Napalm in Vietnam. He knows about drug addiction and alcoholism. Let me go further. There is nothing you have experienced that he does not also know and recognize." Because of this, you NEVER have to feel like no one knows what you are going through. There is always someone who knows and He is always there with an outstretched hand. It's up to us to take it.
• To those who don't have as much faith as they would like to have...
  1. It's okay! You probably have more faith than you think you do.
  2. There's always something that you know. Have that be your anchor. Don't focus on what you do not know, always remember and focus on what you do. What you know trumps what you do not know!
  3. You can ask for help. There are people around who love you and will give you the help and strength you need. Also rely on your Heavenly Father. If you plead with Him, He will send help from both sides of the veil.

These truths are why I am going on a mission. These truths bring me such joy and I want everyone to have a knowledge of them! I know the things I have written are true! Don't take my word for it. If you kneel down and ask Heavenly Father if these things are true, He will testify to you that they are. I promise.

So here I am heading to the Provo, Utah Missionary Training Center tomorrow morning. I cannot wait to serve the people in Brazil and share with them what I know. Here I go!

This is the Month!

Well... I REPORT THIS MONTH! 29 days from today to be exact. Time is flying.

First off! My exciting news... My first two semesters at BYU consisted of stressing about grades and diving into nursing pre-requisite classes, and guess what! All that studying and stressing paid off! I found out Friday that I have been accepted to the BYU Nursing Program. I am so incredibly excited! I decided I wanted to go into nursing a few years ago. That's a story for another day, but I have taken a big step towards that goal. It feels so good. I can not only look forward to going on my mission, but also coming home to start the nursing program the Fall semester of 2015. What a blessing.

My family and I just returned home from a two week vacation to Hawaii with my grandparents! It was so much fun! I'm so grateful for the time I have had this summer to spend with my family and friends before my mission. While in Hawaii, we visited the Laie, Hawaii Temple!

What a lovely temple. Mom and I did a session while we were there. We also went into the Visitor's Center and talked to two of the sister missionaries serving there. I'd been feeling anxious and nervous about leaving so soon on my mission, but hearing what they had to tell me brought the excitement back and reminded me why I am going. Someone needs me and I am going to figure out who that is.

Before we left for Hawaii, we had some family pictures done! My sweet Young Woman's Leader from my Laurel years, Marci Freeman, did them. She is amazing.

We also took a few pre-mission pictures as well.

It's starting to feel a little more real. My friend and FHE Brother, Elder Joshua Menden, left for his mission a couple weeks ago! We are going to the same mission and I am so so so grateful! I miss this kid a lot and am excited to see him out in the field! God is good, y'all. I know Elder Menden will do great things and I feel so blessed to follow in his footsteps in just a few more weeks!

The day I got my call

A double date we went on in September



Part of our FHE group! Hermana Amelia White leaves for the Mexico MTC today, Elder Edgar Diaz-Vita and Elder Nebeker are in the Provo MTC, and Hermana Emma Worlton is flying to Peru today. So proud of my BYU family.

Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?

If you've ever encountered these questions rolling around in your mind, this post is for you.

Where did you come from?
Each of us are spirit sons and daughters of God who lived with Him before we were born. Heavenly Father (God) presented a plan to us which would enable us to become like Him. This plan to become like Him included us receiving bodies like He has and coming to Earth to be tested and tried. We knew our time on earth would be difficult, but could see the eternal blessings that awaited for us that we could receive in no other way. Everyone who has been born or will be born onto the earth accepted Heavenly Father's plan and felt joy after we made our decision. So the earth was created for us by Jesus Christ under the direction of the Father. Adam and Eve were then created and placed in the Garden of Eden and given the choice to eat of the fruit or to stay in the garden forever, never having children or not knowing joy because they knew no pain or sorrow. The Fall of Adam and Eve was part of God's plan. In the garden they never would have known good from evil or had the opportunity to endure hardship and trial to become like God.

Why are you here?

Now, in this life on earth, is the time to prepare to meet God. If we live in such a way that pleases God by keeping His commandments and receiving all the necessary ordinances (such as baptism), we can return and live with Him after this life. Because of the Fall, we are in a fallen state or mortality with imperfect bodies and everyone will experience death. The experience of trials such as sickness, death, depression, and many others are part of the plan to refine us. As we experience these trials, we grow and our testimony of God can increase. We learn from our mistakes and strive to do better, but we will make mistakes; this is also part of the plan. Because no imperfect person can live in the presence of God, He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to suffer for our sins and to overcome death. Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and was baptized as an example to us. In Gethsemane before He was taken to be crucified, He suffered all the pains, afflictions, and sins that anyone who had or would come to the earth would feel. He has felt all your sorrows, not just your sins. He did so that you could repent of the sins you will make, but also so that you will never walk alone in this life. You will never be alone because Christ has felt perfectly everything that you have felt, are feeling, or will yet feel. Christ also overcame death when He was resurrected the 3rd day after His death. Because He was resurrected, we will be also after we die.

Where are you going after this life?

Death is a necessary part or our progression. When we die, our spirits go to the spirit world. Death does not change our personality or the level of our desire for good. Those who chose to obey in life on earth will live in a state of happiness, peace, and rest. When we are resurrected (our bodies and spirits are reunited) we will be brought into God's presence to be judged. We will perfectly remember our actions on earth and those who have repented will be shown mercy. Our God is a just God. All will receive immortality (will live on forever with a perfect body which will no longer be subject to illness or death), but only those faithful during their time on earth will receive Eternal Life which is living with God forever in eternal families (remember how I said you can be with your family forever?). The choice is yours today.

Want more information? Click Here to learn more about this plan or go to mormon.org

I know these things are true! I know Heavenly Father loves us which is why He created this plan and allows us to choose for ourselves.

63 more days until Brazil!

Families Can Be Together Forever

On Friday, I was able to go through the Houston, Texas temple for the first time. In that sacred building, I made promises to my Heavenly Father and was promised great blessings if I will do all that I have promised. 

Temples are all about families. At the end, I walked into the most beautiful room of the temple. The first thing I saw were my parents standing waiting for me, arms around each other, smiling. They rushed forward to give me a hug. I know that this is what Heaven will be like. All those we love that have passed on will be there waiting to welcome us with open arms when the time comes if we have done our part here in this life. I don't think Heaven will feel like Heaven to us without our family there beside us. In the temple, families are sealed together for time and all eternity--It's not "'Til death do us part;" It's forever. This is a blessing everyone can have if they will only do their part. When you are sealed to your family, you know that you will be with your family members after this life. Death only parts us for a moment. What a blessing. I am so grateful for this knowledge that I have through the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To share this message with others is why I am going on a mission. A missionary is "someone who leaves their family for a short time so that others may be with their family for eternity. " I believe that's true. It won't be easy leaving my family, but I know there are people in Brazil who desperately need the truth that I have.

He Knows You

It has now been a month and a half since I got my call and I've had some time to think. I am so excited to leave, but thinking about the goodbye terrifies me. I had a realization though the other day! Saying goodbye to everyone before I left for college was really hard, but I was fine once I established a new routine. I remember realizing "I guess I was more prepared for this than I thought!" I think this will be similar to what will happen on my mission. I am so thankful for the experiences I have had at BYU. I know the past two semesters has been part of God's way of preparing me to go and do His work.

I want something to be clear: I am not going on a mission to see the world, I am not going simply to learn another language, I am not going because I think it will be fun, and I am not going because of any sort of expectations. I am serving a mission because I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church on the earth today. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are the ones directing it today through a living prophet (Thomas S. Monson) and twelve apostles. Jesus Christ directs these men just as He called and led His apostles at the time of His ministry. The Lord still speaks today. How could He ever leave us alone?

This past weekend, I watched General Conference which occurs every April and October. During this conference, God's prophet and apostles speak and give the Heavenly messages needed at this time. My religion professor challenged us to write down three questions before conference began, watch all 4 sessions, and record our thoughts. The Lord answered all three of my questions. I know He is aware of each of us and will provide the answers, guidance, and aid we seek. The Lord was aware of my fears and needs this weekend. One of my greatest fears is leaving my family and friends and not being able to be there for them in the same way I can be now. Henry B. Eyring said in his conference address that as we serve the Lord, God will not only watch over our family and friends but bless them greatly as well. I know they will be in good hands while I am away.

The whole conference was amazing. If you have questions you want answers to, want to learn more about God, need an uplifting message, are curious, or just have a second click this link and go listen: General Conference Highlights
I promise it will be well worth your time.

For the girls thinking about a mission:
Do not feel pressured to go. I think it takes great courage to go and I think it takes great courage to stay. Heavenly Father has a plan for you that is best, allow Him to share that with you and act on it. He will answer you if you sincerely ask, just be patient. If you are feeling like you don't want to go because you are scared, remember the blessings that will come to you and your family. He will give you what you need to fulfill His plan for you.

Life is an adventure with many different paths to choose; He will never leave us to walk alone.

114 more days until another adventure begins!