Feliz Natal!!

Feliz Natal! Hope you all had a very merry Christmas!

Let me just start with the best thing that happened this past week...

Calling home! It was the best Christmas present, and it flew by way too fast.It was like a dream. It was so good to see and talk to my family, and there were definitely tears of joy shed haha. I am so very grateful for my family and the fact that we can be together forever! so so good ahhhhh. Went by way too fast.

Other things..

-this week there was not a lot of people willing or able to talk with us because everyone was preparing and cleaning for Christmas, or traveling. But, we had an awesome lesson with one family of a mother and three children (ages 7, 9, and 11). One of the girls is deaf and mute as well, and just the cutest thing. They came to our Christmas ward party, and loved it. 

We also sang Christmas songs in a park two times with other missionaries and youth of our ward for everone passing by on the street. It was pretty fun, and we got lots of attention lol. 

For our ward Christmas party, we had a talent show, and Sister Gomez and I sang Silent night in Portuguese, Ingles, and Espanol, while I played the guitar. I don't know if it sounded super great, but it was fun and they seemed to enjoy it haha. 

For Christmas eve and Christmas, we had lunch and dinner with our bishop and some awesome members, played games, cooked, and visited. The people here celebrate Christmas eve all night and set off tons of fireworks, so we were woken up to a lot of noise at midnight haha. We ate a lot, and of course there was calling home which was the highlight. 

I don't have a ton of time to email today because of the holidays and our different schedule to email this week, but to end I just want to say how grateful I am for this time to celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. I have learned so much more of how amazing it is that because of Christ, we can learn and become more like him everday, with his sacrifice for us, we can return to our Heavenly Father again with families for eternity. 

I am so grateful all of love and support!!

Feliz Natal!!

com amor, 

Sister Jeppson

Christmas Eve

I made rabanadas (basically fried bread with sugar and cinnamon powder..like a churro)

"mission Mom and mission Dad", and Sister Gomez

Gifts from home

Past 6 Meses WHAT!?!

Well I have passed my 6 month mark here on the mission, and can I just say it is CRAZY. I literally cant believe it. The mission is just the best and flies by. 

This week was so good! 

And yes before it continues to be hotter and hotter! Literally can't believe how hot it is, and I haven't stopped sweating this entire week. And when it rains, it DUMPS...and doesn't get cooler haha. Eveyrone be grateful for AC. 

We had divisions on Tuesday. I was with Sister Castillo (from Salta, Argentina) in the Area São Miguel. It went well, and we got to teach a guy (from Africa that has been here for 2 months) Portuguese and English. I could definitely relate to him haha. 

We went to the Campinas Templo on Wednesday with Presidente and Sister Miller, and our zone! Man it was just the BEST. We took a bus there with everyone (2ish hours), and had a fun time talking and playing/singing christmas songs with bells that Sister Miller brought. We did baptisms, confirmations, initiatories, lunch, and a session. It was so neat, because I did a family name I found before the mission. And the really neat part was feeling the spirit confirm to me that she accepted the ordinances done that day. Really amazing. The spirit was so strong, and I did not want to leave because I felt so at peace and happy there. The temple really is the house of the Lord. 

And, Sister Miller made us cookies for Christmas Woo woo! It was just an amazing, amazing day.

One investigator, A, continues to progress simply but surely. He is reading the Book of Mormon each day, and surprised us with the fact that he is already in 2 Néfi! Every time we visit with him, his countenance is brighter, and he seems happier. It is great to see the gospel working in his life. 

te amo muito!! até proxima semana quando eu posso LIGAR woo wooo!!!! (love you very much, until I can call next week woo woo)

-Sister Jeppson

Sister Miller

Bus Ride

Cookies!

Viagem a Havaí (Trip to Hawaii)

This week was a good one!

We had our activity on Saturday, and while we had some little problems to start, everything worked out in the end, and it was great. The activity itself is way cool, "noite do avion, viagen a havaí", and long story short, we took everyone on a trip, and lots of things happen that take way long to explain haha, but it has to do with the plan of salvation. Sister Gomez and I, along with a ward member, were the airplane ladies (woah don't remember the name right now haha) and we spoke in Portuguese, Spanish, and English for them like on an actual plane haha. They loved it. 

We had some awesome lessons this week, and one couple at the end of the lesson told us once they know for themselves, they want to be baptized! So awesome, and they are just great people. 

Everyone is on break now from school and such, and so there are always kids on the streets flying kites. It is very popular here, and fun to watch.  Not a ton of people decorate for Christmas here like at home, but there are some lights, and little trees (plastic). 

I took a bucket shower this week because the water was out on our street, woo woo...super fun haha. And the best part is that 20 minutes after, it came back in time for my comp to take a nice normal shower. haha 

We gave talks in church on Sunday about the important role that all members have to share the gospel, and be a part of missionary work. And so I remind you all to "light the World" not only this month, but always!  

te amo!!!

-Sister Jeppson

Random Trojan Statue

Views!! 

Tan Lines

Our ceiling is gone for now 

Família de Cleusa, Silvio, Geovana, Caio

Pics from our activity 

Making arepas with Sis Gomez

family night food prep...cake and pumpkin pie (finally made it mom haha..was tough to find ground ginger)

Dezembro?!?

I really can't believe its December already! Crazy stuff. But pumped this month to focus even more on serving others and "lighting the world" #sejaaluzdomundo

lighttheworld.org

This week was another good one and here are the highlights (well, the things I can remember lol)

-Ate some interesting food this week. Including a fatty part of a pig (don't remember the name) but you basically fry it a ton until its a hard chunk...very interesting haha. Not my fav, but they love it here. And the other was fígado, or chicken liver. Not bad, but I could definitely tell it was liver haha...the texture was very liverish haha. 

-Had an awesome lesson with a family and they have a son that reminds me so much of Mckay. Such a cutie and so happy and kind. 

-It continues to be crazy hot here with a ton of rain, and the fun part is that summer doesnt officially start until december 21. woo woo

-We had the opportunity to serve at an elderly home this week, and it was the best! We talked, sang for them, and helped them out. They are just the cutest people, and it is so fun to see their smiles.

-I played the piano for our sacrament meeting this week since the normal girl wasn't there. (here is the time where I say, Mom you were right all along, and I should have practiced piano a lot more hahhaha....kids listen to your moms because they are always right :) ). It was a little rough going, but I managed not to butcher all of the songs haha. 

-And I am continuing to learn so much here, and I just love every minute! With the gospel, it is a growing and bettering process for our whole lives, and that is one of the coolest parts. 

te amo!! 

-Sister Jeppson

Happy Birthday Mckay!

Love my package!

Christmas decorations