Melhor Páscoa!

Happy Easter!! (one day late) This Easter weekend was amazing and one of the best Easter's I have ever had.  But, I'll start from the beginning of the week:

-Sister Enout and I had divisions with the Sisters in Pindamonhagaboa (haha... yes it really is the name of a city...Pinda for short:)  I was with Sister Fox from Idaho and Sister Nengaki from Japan.  There are great Sisters and Sister Nengaki is the cutest.  She has to learn English first to learn Portuguese, so she is a real trooper.  And it made me more grateful to be in Campos because it is HOT in Pinda.  Good stuff. 

-Paulo (the brother of Vanderlei) got baptized this week!! It was a very special baptism. We had to travel about an hour to the church in Pinda to have the baptism since the pool popped.  We did'n have another option haha.  But it worked out fine with half of the people in cars and the rest by bus.  Paulo was so excited and happy! We have truly seen the biggest change in him.  When we first met him he hadn't left his house in more than 3 months and was super discourages because he has a back problem that causes a lot of pain and makes it har for him to walk.  Not to mention to enter is home there are a lot of steps.  But now he is excited and happy about life.  And even leaves his house to walk (with difficulty) to church and around town!  He doesn't get bitter about his situation anymore.  He tells us all the time now that he is a new person and changed by the gospel.  Which is absolutely true!!  It was so sweet to see him be baptized and tear up when we sang "I am a Child of God" to him after.  He, and Vanderlei are amazing!  

We had an activity with our younger youth investigators on Saturday which was great.  They all loved ti and enjoyed meeting each other.   (There are no youth in our group yet). It was fun for me as well because they are the same ages as Chloe, Lucy and Mckay!! 

We had an awesome lesson/family night with Ricardo and Diogo that nigh as well about why we celebrate Easter; the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It was amazing and full of the Spirit  I am so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and to know that he suffered and died for every one of us.  That we are never alone.  That we can improve each day.  That Jesus lives! That we can live again one day with him and our Heavenly Father and our eternal families according to what we do here on the earth.  

Easter Sunday was amazing!  Church was filled with the Spirit.  Paulo received the gift of the Holy Ghost and was even more happy!  And a member invited them to lunch as well which made Paulo and Vanderlei extremely happy since don't have a lot of family.  (Note from Mom:  Emma told me on the phone today that they live in such humble homes and don't even have money to own a refridgerator and that is another reason they were so happy to be invited over for Easter dinner) 

And it was super cute because Sister Knudsen and Brradas surprised us with the cutest "Easter egg hunt with clues and everything and chocolate and notes at the end.  The cutest!!   

I love the gospel!  I love Easter!  I love being a missionary! 

Boa Semana! 

Com muito amor, 

Sister Jeppson

D&C 76:22

Divisions with Sisters in Pinda.  Sister Guzman, Sister Fox, Sister Nengaki, Sister Silva 

Cutest Easter egg hung from Sister Knudsen and Barradas

More of Beautiful Campos 

Billy the Dog

Baptism of Paulo!! 

Paulo and Vanderlei

RIP Piscina (pool)

This week flew by faster than normal: Time is seriously scaring me! It just keeps getting faster and faster.

- Diogo Got Baptized!!  His baptism was so neat; Diogo has the sweetest spirit, and strong testimony.  He was so happy, and this whole week was saying, "I'm getting baptized this Saturday, I'm getting baptized this Saturday, I'm getting baptized!!  So when the day came he was smiling non-stop.  And on Sunday, after he received the gift of the Holy Ghost, he put his arm around his cousin Matheus and said, "now we are in this together" Ah, the sweetest!! Diogo is just the best.

And it was the last baptism of the pool hahaha; as you can see in the picture I sent.  We have to figure something out in the future haha.

Sister Enout and I had divisions/splits with Sister Jensen and Sister Conceicao in Taubate.  It was great and fun to work with them for the day.

- We had a fun activity with some ward members and friends on Sunday evening.  It was a family night of a message, games, and homemade pizzas.  It was super fun and Sister Knudsen and I were busy making pizzas and visiting with everyone.

Have a great Easter week!! Amo Voces!

Com Amor, Sister Jeppson

PS: Feliz aniversário Brandon!

Divisions with Sister Jensen (from Utah) and Sister Conceicao (Brazil)

Diogo's Baptism 

RIP piscina haha 

Eu Amo Conferência Geral!!

Another great busy week for the books! With the highlight being general conference! But first some random happenings iI remember from earlier in the week:

We were doing service cutting/trimming bushes when I almost had a heart attack seeing a giant spider next to me.  Luckily, Maria (the lady who's house it was_ started whacking it with her broom and after at least 5 times it finally died.  haha YUCK!!

We had an awesome lesson with 10 year old Bronda who surprised us with her remembering all about prophets and Joseph Smith.  She was super excited and kept asking if she could read more scriptures from the Book of Mormon for us.  Cutie!!

Sister Enout and I did some traveling to Sao Paulo for leadership meeting which was super asweomse. An d, luckily there wasn't any cockroaches in the others sisters house we stayed in this time only a few on the street haha.   (Sister Enout has a serous phobia of them)

Conferência Gera!!

I loved loved loved it! Wow, it was the best.  The Spirit was present and many questions were answered.  There was definitely an emphasis on the importance of studying and preparing in the home and in family.  Knowing for ourselves the gospel principles the importance of temples and doing the sacred work there, and preparing for the second coming.  And much more that I'm excited to study again.

I am so grateful for President Nelson and I know that he is our prophet today.  I know that if we follow Him we will be blessed.  I love the gospel and that everyday we can be a little better than yesterday!  We are very lucky and blessed to be living in this time.

Amo vocês! E boa Semana!
Com Amor,
Sister Jeppson

PS everyone wish Mom a happy birthday because she is the most amazing women ever!!

Sister Enout and I on the bus ride home from São Paulo

General conference breakfast of pancakes! 

Eating milkshakes at a cute little cafe

Doce Semana

This week was a very busy, crazy but great week!

Here are the highlights:

*Vanderlei, Matheus, and Gabriel got baptized!  It was so great! They were so happy, and the spirit was so strong.  It is amazing to see just how much their lives have changes and continue to change with the gospel.  Their families have all commented on the changes they've seen as well and are all loving seeing them happier. Ah, I love it!! 

Oh man I am drawing a blank on specific events that happened... it is all a blur of preparing everyone for baptism, visiting everyone etc. etc.  All great things! 

But, one last thing I remember. Well, I don't think I'll forget it.  We were at a members for lunch on Sunday with a few families.  The member has 18 dogs but one of the puppies is sick and Sister Enout and I were watching it for a bit.  (Sister Enout has seen the puppy since it was born and has a soft spot for it.  So she was a little sad). And anyways, on elf the kids also visiting for lunch came up to see as well and what a sweet kid he is.  8 years old Vinicuis started talking with us and said, "Don't worry, he will be alright and get better.  We just have to have faith and pray". Man what a cutie.  He then told us a story of when he was sick, but prayed and got better.  And then he said the sweetest prayer for the puppy!  And continued to talk with us and figure out ways to help.  

How amazing and sweet it is to see the pure innocence and goodness of children.  It reminded me of the scripture Mosiah 3:19 that says, "becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeing fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his Father". 

What a great example children are to us!  So the challenge this week is to do as this scripture says and become more like our Savior Jesus Christ by looking to the example of children.  

I love the gospel!! 

Boa Semana! 

Com Amor, 

Sister Jeppson

Matheus

Gabriel

Vanderlei

Enjoying the beautiful park called Horto Florestal

Irmã Terezinha