Bebedouro, Brasil!

Well, I've been in the field for a grand 5 days, but this has probably been one of the longest weeks of my life. I'm not going to lie, this is really hard. Really, really hard. Im starting over and I have no idea whats going on most of the time, but I know it will get easier soon.

-My companion is Brazilian, Síster Soares. She doesn't speak any english besides the few words I've taught her

-It's hot here and we walk everywhere, except we take the bus at night because it's safer. I'm so grateful for those sandals we bought. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have them

-We live in a little house with 2 other sisters. The four of us are serving in the one small branch that exists in this city. Our area is HUGE for people that don't have a car. We don't really have investigators right now, but it's really easy to talk to people on the street... well, it's easy for my companion to talk to people on the street, that is.

-I'm getting used to the culture. I love how nice the people are! They love Americans. We talked to 2 police officers yesterday on our way to a members house... one said he is going to marry an American woman... I couldn't follow the conversation too well, but I guess he was asking what I would do after my 11 remaining months as a missionary and my companion informed him that I had someone at home in America...

-I spoke in church yesterday. It's hard for people to say Shipp so they call me Síster Shippie or Síster Bonita (Beautiful Sister). No one here knows how to play the piano, so it looks like I will finally learn how to play hymns and play on Sundays. We have a key board in our house so I can practice.

-One of the Sisters we live with actually speaks English really well, so when I feel like I'm losing it, I can talk to her.

-We have lunch with members instead of dinners. The food here is really good :) And they expect you to eat a lot. We will have to see what will do more to me... the food or the walking.

-I have lots of mosquito bites right now! I'll have some good tan lines here pretty soon too! They are already forming. 

-My camera isn't connecting to the computer... so no photos this week! Sorry....

-It is beautiful here outside the city. Really green.

-We travelled to our area from Ribeirão Preto by bus. That was an adventure!

-In case anyone wants to send me a package... For the address, write:

A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias

Attn: Síster Maryann Shipp

then the address I sent out a few weeks ago, it'll have a better chance of getting to me.

Thats all I have time for. Thanks for the prayers! Theyre much needed.

Com Amor,

Síster Shipp

Leaving for Ribeirão Preto!

The day has finally come! Tomorrow I will arrive in Ribeirão Preto! Not sure of my travel plans yet... I´ll find that out later. This time in the CTM has been great, but I´m so excited to get back into the field. Hopefully soon I'll be speaking Portuguese like a pro. I only have like 10 min to email and not sure if I'll have a Pday this week.. Tudo bem (all is well).

We went out into the streets one day this week! My companions and I handed out 7 copies of the Book of Mormon. That would have taken like a whole week in California. I am so excited to work here! I know it will be hard, but I also know it will be so so so rewarding. I already love the people so much.

Eu Amo Vocês! Muito, muito!

 

Com Amor,

Sísiter Shipp

Brazil MTC

Oh. My. Goodness. I don't even know where to begin.

I'M IN BRASIL. I'M SPEAKING PORTUGUESE.

I love it here, but I'm still in the MTC, which is super crazy and strange. We are THE FIRST group to do this... to be out in the field and come back to the MTC. The time we've been in the field ranges from 5-12 months. Basically, we're the test group to see how this is going to work and what is effective. Another group came in today. They're taking videos of us teaching, pictures of us talking to people in the streets outside the CTM, in regular clothes... anything and everything and sending them to Salt Lake. Okay, it's not that crazy, but it's a very different experience.

We speak in Portuguese 24/7 here. I have 3 teachers and 2 of them can't speak english. It's a second shot at the MTC, and it's really helping. Portuguese is really coming back and I love it. I have less than a week left, I think I leave for the field on Tuesday.

Some exciting/big things...

-I was assigned to be the Sister Training Leader here, even though I have been out the least amount of time and only for like 10 days total, but I have definitely seen some of the reasons why this week. It's really hard for some to have been in the field speaking english and being able to express everything and suddenly being back in an MTC struggling to teach basic lessons in Portuguese and not being able to understand a lot. I'm doing fine, but I'm so glad I get to be in a position where I can help.

-Yesterday, we got to go out of the MTC and street contact! We also got to go to a shop and buy some chocolate. It was really really fun!

-Today we went to the Campinas temple! It's beautiful! Really. It was so nice to be back in the temple. That might be the last time until I get back home.

Some things about Brasil...

-I love the people here. LOVE THEM. I get lots of kisses on the cheek and hugs (only from Sisters, and Irmas... Don't worry!)

-The food is awesome too. I love it. A ton better than Provo MTC food. One of my teachers said the food in Ribeirao Preto is really good and drew a picture on the white board of what Sisters will look like when they get back from serving there... basically very round. We'll see. I will be walking a ton!

-It's so much easier to speak the language all the time this time around in the MTC because we all have a foundation of Portuguese!

-Also living in our room are 2 Sisters from Brasil and I can understand them most of the time! Sometimes it takes a few times of repeating, but it comes. I know the Lord is helping me. I have seen so many great things with my district and Portuguese.

 

I really love it here. Really. I know it's going to be another challenge to go back out in the field speaking a new language, but I know Heavenly Father will help me. Thank you so much for all the prayers. I KNOW that we can do hard things when we rely on our Heavenly Father.

 

Com Amor,

Sister Shipp

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