You Make the Work Really Fun

Good morning everyone!

So it's cooling down here in the Big City! These last few days have been rainy and windy but we're still having fun! It was another great week for us! But honestly the good stuff only happened during exchanges so sorry but this whole email will be about my exchanges 

So first of all last Monday night we had exchanges and I was with a guy named Elder Calhoon! He's a funny missionary and he kinda looks like a sloth lol. But Monday night we were out talking to people on the street and we ran into these two guys sitting on a bench. It started out okay, he was talking to me but then out of no where he looks at Elder Calhoon and starts trying to tear him down. He tried to say things that were wrong about our church and tried to like destroy  Elder Calhoon's testimony. When he realized that is wasn't going to work he started yelling and said "get the F out of here otherwise I'm going to kill you". He literally was like an inch or two from Elder Calhoon's face. I started to walk away but realized the Calhoon was in shock and wasn't going to move, so I had to pull him away before he got punched. As we were walking away some lady stopped us and told us she was with Christ and she felt that, that guy had a Demond in him. After she said that it all made sense. We had a bad feeling about the guy but we talked it him anyways and his whole motive was to tear us down. The devils got a hold on people's hearts out here. I'm so glad that Elder Calhoon didn't get punched! But hey it would have made for a great mission story! 

Then on Wednesday I went on exchanges with my last companion Elder Shepherd and his companion Elder Adams. So the thing to know about these two is they are exactly the same! Both very socially awkward and very pale, white, skinny dudes. So them walking through the hood of Brooklyn is the funniest thing I've ever seen! But they are great missionaries. We actually taught four lessons and talked to a lot people on the street so it was awesome. After they told me they were grateful for that exchange because they have been in a slump for a little bit and this reminded them how happy you are when your are diligent. Elder Shepherd is a lot better at talking with people from the last time I was with him so that made me one proud father. Haha but after we got home that night and they made me play a game called dungeon and dragons. It was a cute bonding experience. 

But then Friday was the best exchange I've had! I went with a missionary named Elder Barton! He is such a stud! He has only been out for 6 months but he is the best teacher out of any missionary I have ever met! He just has so much love for people and is so sincere when he teaches. We were finishing up the exchange and I asked him if he learned anything and he told me that this was the best exchange that he has ever been on. He told me that out of all the Zone leaders he's had on his mission that I was his favorite. I told him that he didn't need to lie to me I won't be offended. But he said "no, seriously you know how to be a missionary! You lead by example and truly live the gospel, but you also make the work really fun". That was the best compliment I've ever received! It made me feel so good about myself. It helped me to have more confidence because sometimes I still feel like I'm not qualified for this position.

I love serving in this position so much now all because of the missionaries in our zone! I've definitely learned more from them then they have from me. But it has been great to help them through their hardships. 

So overall it was another great learning week! I'm just loving my mission each and everyday! Have a great week everyone! Much love 

Elder Jeppson

We will be Changed from It and It'll Change the Course of our Lives

Good Morning Everyone!

I hope you all enjoyed your week! I know I definitely did! I really think this was the best week of my mission!! So let me tell you about it! 

So first is our boy T***! So Troy is still struggling financially (because he has 8 kids and no job) and he's still struggling with the word of wisdom and said he literally is doing everything in his power to stop. We got over there and he told us what was going on and he asked instead of us having a lesson if we could give him a blessing. His exact words were "I know you guys have the authority from God, please bless me". We talked about the power of the atonement first then Elder Garcia gave one of the most powerful blessings I've ever heard! He straight up told him that from this day forward he would live the word of wisdom and because of that his family would be blessed. The spirit was so strong after, T*** had tears in his eyes and you could see in him a determination to change! So he gave us his lighter and all his cigarettes and we got to go throw them away for him haha. The next day we went over to see how he was doing and he was just so excited and looked so happy! We found out that literally right after we left last night he got a call from his old boss telling him that they had an opening for work and that T*** can start next week!! God is good! Then after we wanted to actually read the story of Enos with him and he told us "hey I actually read this story earlier today", we didn't even ask him to! He explained Enos's whole story to us and it was just a big spiritual experience about true repentance. After the lesson we were walking to the train station and I just had the biggest smile on my face. Elder Garcia said "Why you smiling so much", and I just said because I am so happy right now I could cry. And literally right after I said that tears started running down my cheeks because of the spirit I was feeling and because the love I felt for T***! I can honestly say that, that day I felt the love that God has for Troy. It was another confirmation to me that this is where I needed to be. I just couldn't stop crying! It was a tender moment for Elder Garcia and I. 

Then on Friday I got to run my first Zone Training Meeting. Not going to lie I was really nervous! I was reminded again that day that anxiety doesn't go away lol. But the cool part is, is that even with how inadequate I was feeling I just felt that everything would be okay. And as I gave my training to help these missionaries the words just rolled right of my tongue. After I had a few missionary come up to me saying that they learned so much. Honestly I had no idea what I said. The spirit is good!! I was then reminded once again of Ether 12:27Where it says if we humble ourselves God will turn our weaknesses into strengths. It was a cool!

And then the best day of my mission was yesterday!! The one and only Elder Jeffrey R. Holland visited the New York New York South Mission! Since Apostles have such strict schedules none of us missionaries went to church and we all meet in a big gym where Elder Holland spoke to us. It was amazing! I even got to shake is hand. Right as he walked into the room the spirit just hit everyone! The Apostolic power is real my friends! So in his address he talked so much about change. He told us that if any returned missionary goes home and goes inactive then "Shame on you, and shame on me". The reason they send out 18-19 years olds is because this is pretty much the time where we decide who we want to be. And when we go and actually SERVE missions, we will be changed from it and it'll change the course of our lives. He then brought the fire about the Book of Mormon. He told us that this is THE converted tool in the gospel and we should use it in every situation to help the people we work with. And he then ended by saying "missions are not meant to be easy, if they are then you're doing it wrong". He then said "The road of salvation goes through Gethsemane". When we serve our missions we are going to feel just a little what Christ has felt. We will have to suffer just a little bit. His testimony of the savior just pierced everyone's soul. He is truly an Apostle of God!

So yes it was the best week of my mission! This week truly made me feel that I am finally truly converted to the gospel and that "I am lost in the work". I love my mission so much! I love These people so much and they are all I want to think about. I honestly have never been happier! I honestly don't want to know where I would be at in life if I didn't serve a mission! I am so thankful that Heavenly Father has changed me into the person I am today. The church is true, the Book is blue!

I love you all! Have a great week 

Elder Jeppson

A Good Leader is one who is a Friend

Good morning everyone! I hope all is well

As for me! Wow it was a really great week! Let's get right into it!

So first of all on Tuesday night we had the privilege of having President Reynolds come out teaching with us! It was an amazing experience. We taught The T***** family who are less active. Usually when we go over there the kids are all rowdy, the mom is trying to come them down, and the dad usually just chills there. But when we brought President Reynolds they were on their best behavior and fully engaged in the conversation. We talked about faith and President just went off about how the only way we can be truly unified and happy as a family is if the Book of Mormon and the gospel is the foundation of our home. He testified that when he and his family were reading the Book of Mormon and Praying as a family they were the happiest and were able to resist temptation. The spirit was so strong in their home that night. It totally had a big impact on the parents. You could definitely tell that they were pondering and motivated to do better! 

We then taught another member who is returning to activity. She has been doing really good!! I don't know if I told this story already but I'm going to again. There was a point where she wasn't even coming to church then she started to let the missionaries come by. She came back to church and was pretty consistent about it. We then asked her if she wanted to go to the temple but she said no because she was scared that we did weird things in there lol. But then we taught her about the Book of Mormon and she started reading 15 chapters a day and finished it in less then a month. She then went and did baptism for the dead and is now working towards her endowments! This last week we talked about missionary work with her and President was so great in this lesson. We asked her if she would allow us to teach any of her family of friends and she said "its crazy that you mentioned this because I just referred the missionaries to go see my sister". President told her by sharing her testimony with her sister and others Is fulfilling her missionary responsibilities! And by doing missionary work she will truly become converted to the gospel! So she is just amazing! Miracles yeah!

On Friday we had what we call "Mission Leadership Council" where all the leadership of the mission gets together and talk about what our missions needs help with. And one of the assistance gave a Training on leading by example and truly loving the missionaries you serve. It really made me ponder of what kind of leader I am and who I need to be. Because there is a big difference in leaders who love and listen to you and are willing to get down and help lift you up and leaders who just yell at you and saw you need to do better. A good leader isn't one who is a great public speaker or really knowledgeable about things, it's one who is a friend, who loves, lifts and inspires. It was a really good lesson for me to learn! 

Then on Saturday we took C******* to the Temple!! It was such a cool experience! We had a member come with us and he got to baptize her! She said she loved the spirit in the temple! I also was able to confirm I few people so that was cool! It brought back memories when my Boy Jon campbell took us to the temple every Friday morning before school! After she took us to this really fancy Manhattan restaurant that was not cheap! But hey she insisted that she should pay so I didn't complain! 

So it was a great week for us but also our zone! We had 6 baptisms and 1 temple trip!! Miracles in the Brooklyn Zone! 

Have a great week all. Much love! 

Elder Jeppson

New York, the City of Dreams

Hello from the other side! :) New York the city of dreams.

So this week was solid!! There was a lot of distractions because of Mission meetings and general conference so the work was a little slower but it was still good! 

First and foremost, T*** is a such a stud! Man this guy watched all sessions on general conference and just loved it! We met with him earlier in the week and he is just so stoked to get baptized! Everytime we go over there he just brings up the fact of how happy he is to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost! Sometimes we don't realize how blessed we really are to have the Holy Ghost! Sometimes we just need to step back and understand that we have the opportunity to have the 3rd member of the God head with us constantly if we are worthy of it! With the Holy Ghost we can overcome anything life and Satan throws at us! That's why Troy is such a good example to me!

Also we met with C*******this week. Just a reminder, she's one of our recent converts. But this week we talked about the temple with her and she's actually going to go to baptisms for the dead this Saturday! I'm so excited for her. It's cool to see how strong she has been ever since she's been baptized. I know the temple will continue to help her stay active. 

While we're on the subject, we also have another member named W****** going to the temple on October 29th! But he's actually going to take his endowments out!! I've been working with him ever since I've been to this area! There was a period of time where he didn't come to church for 5 weeks! It's been cool to see the change in Him because within 5 months he went from being very less active to fully active and preparing to go to the temple! It's been so cool to work with him!  So miracles are just all over the place this transfer! 

I hope everyone enjoyed Conference this weekend! It seems that it gets better and better every time! I learned so much and I had a lot of my questions answered! My favorite talk Though was by LeGrand R. Curtis in the priesthood Session! He talked about the Book of Mormon and it was straight fire! I really liked when he said, "we need to make the Book of Mormon the foundation of our family and home." It made me think of how much the Book of Mormon has shaped my testimony and helped me through hard times on the mission. It's crazy every time I sincerely study the Book of Mormon I always feel the spirit so strong and it makes me never want to sin again haha. I've seen it truly change lives out here! All the people that I've seen get baptized are because of the spirit they feel when they read the Book of Mormon. If you are CONSISTENTLY and sincerely studying the Book of Mormon you WILL NOT falter in your testimony and that's a promise. So my challenge to you is make the Book of Mormon the foundation of your home. :) 

Conference Yeah!

But yeah it was a good week!! I hope you all have a great day! Much Love 

Elder Jeppson

What a Guy!

Good morning everyone!

I hope all is well in Utah and wherever else you may be around the world! This week was a really good one for Elder Garcia and I! So let's get into it. 

First of all being a Zone Leader is a lot better then I thought it would be! I thought it would be a lot more stressful, but honestly it's not too bad. The difference is that as a district leader you have to run a district meeting everyweek, but as a Zone Leader we only have to run a Zone meeting once a month.  It's actually really cool because now you feel responsible for 20 other missionaries. More responsibility, but more opportunities to help other missionaries. I get to go on exchanges with all the Elders in our zone and help them strive to better in missionary work, but more importantly help them in their own personal conversion. 

So we met a guy this week named C******! He was just chilling outside a project building and we just started talking to him. We found out that he was in jail for 30 years! We asked him how he felt about it, and he said "Well I was only supposed to be there for 20 years but they just kept adding time, I missed my family of course, but I knew that God was going to take care of it so I just waited patiently and put it in his hands." His faith was incredible! It made me reevaluate my faith because sometimes I can complain that 2 years is a long time, but I haven't even been alive for 30 years!!! So it made me think how blessed I am to serve here and that two years is actually a really short time! So I got rebuked and I'm going to count my blessings more then my problems for now on. 

Also we have the coolest investigator ever!! His name is T*** and he is just as pure in heart as our recent convert L*******! He lives in the projects and his wife is very ill and not to mention he has 8 kids!! All he wants is a better life for his family. We have been teaching him for just over a month and he has already finished the Book of Mormon, read the whole gospel principles book, watched over 40 general conference talks, and is almost finished with the pearl of great price, and is on section 50 in the Doctrine and Covenants!! If that doesn't scream PURE I don't know what does. His testimony is so strong!! He already knows Joseph smith is a prophet and that the church is true!! He is going to just love general conference next.   

Also funny story about T*** to show how pure Is! He was taught the word of wisdom a few weeks ago so we were following up and he told us he wasn't having any problems with drinking or smoking, and then he said but I decided to add another thing to the word of wisdom. He said "We shouldn't participate in any sexual relationships until we are married." We said "perfect T*** that's exactly what we are going to talk about today and we taught the law of chastity. What a guy!

Last things! So this was the last week of Parkslope actually being a ward before it all gets dissolved next week! It was the perfect last week because they ended it with a primary program! It was so cute to see all the little kids singing and baring all their sweet simple testimonies. Not gonna lie I really did tear up. :') Then in Sunday school the teacher had a few members bear their testimonies about this ward, and both C******* and L******* bore their testimonies. It was so cool because they said things like they were happy that they finally found the truth and happiness that they are looking for, and how this building will always have a place in their hearts because it's where they got baptized. But they both said that they were sad that the ward is dissolving, but accepted that it was what God wanted. It was so cool to see their faith and trust in God. I got the spiritual prompting again that I am I found the people I'm here for. This was probably the best Sunday on my mission. 

It's been a great week full of new experiences and spiritual experiences. I am very happy with this new change and I'm grateful for the testimony I have gained so far on my mission. I love you all! Have a great week. 

Elder Jeppson

"Gotcha!"

Hello Family and friends, 

Sorry I didn't write last week it has been so so busy!! So I'll just give a few highlights of last week! 

Firstly we were able to see our investigators J*** and J*** Jr! They are the best! Jose is really struggling with work and providing for his family that he his so stressed out! So we showed him the video "good things to come". Basically it's Elder Holland talking about his financial trials and how he was worried about his family and how he was going to provide for them, but he because of patience and faithfulness to God, blessings did come his way. So it was exactly what Jose needed to hear at that time. He was in tears the whole time and he finally stayed true to his word and showed up to church the next day!! Wow it was a miracle. 

As you know we took L******* to the temple on Saturday! She was pulling my leg telling me she lost her temple recommend. She saw on my face that I was really worried so she finally told me she was kidding. But she did baptisms and she loved it! She said the spirit in the temple is very strong! After, she was walking down the slippery stairs from the baptismal font and pretended to slip and said "catch me". So we were freaking out cause she is a pretty large woman! She was then walking away and turned around to us and said "haha gotcha". She's such a jokester! But it was such a cool experience for her! We had 3 new members go to the temple for the first time that day! Also I'm going to send out a funny video that Elder Garcia made of L*******. 

And lastly we had transfer calls today!! So I found out that I'm staying here in Parkslope!! But the catch is that I am now companions with Elder Garcia and I'm going to be a Zone Leader. I was quite shocked when I got this call from president! I asked president if he was sure that he got the right guy and he said yes, and that he had the strongest spiritual prompting about it. He is such an amazing man! He can take away your fears really quick and make you feel so good about yourself. Not going to lie I'm still nervous about it, but I prayed about it and got a confirmation that this is where I need to be right now. So I'm excited for the opportunities I will have to grow spiritually but also to help other missionaries! 

The sad part about all of this though is I have to leave cute Elder Shepherd!! All his weird comments and quirkiness has really grown on me these last 3 months. It has been so cool to see him grow and truly change! I'm glad I had the opportunity to train him! I really love the kid. But change is good! I can't wait to be with Elder Garcia! He actually graduated from Herriman with my sister Lindsey and cousin Kolby! He's a super cool, funny, down to earth kid from Hawaii. I love those Pollys! We are going to have a great time! 

So that's it for the week! Thanks for all the support and prayers! I'm going to need them! Also shout out to the BEST mom ever! It's her birthday today so treat her nice. Love you all

Elder Jeppson

New Experiences and Inspiring Moments

Hello Everyone, Brade here!

Wow this week was crazy! Didn't get to much done with investigators but wow it was busy!

So first of all we were told that the ward I am working in is getting dissolved into 3 other wards. So we called President Reynolds asking him what we should do about all of this and he told us to come this office the next day because he needs our help making new zone boundaries. So Elder Parrish (tall guy), Elder Garica (short brown guy), The Shepherd and I all went. 

During this meeting president Reynolds was the cutest little thing. He was so stressed out because he has so much on his plate. He even said "this is stupid, let's just leave it the same! It's a lot easier that way". It was adorable because he has the cutest little voice and it's hard to picture him mad. He later then backed it up by saying "if missionary work was easy, then everybody could do it". Wise words of PR himself. 

He said that whole mission is going to need to step up because there are gonna be some members and investigators who aren't gonna want to travel an hour to get to their new church building. He has such strong testimony. I love that man! So this week our focus has been on getting in contact with every single member in our ward. Elder Shepherd and I made over 300 phone calls in the last week and did so may home visits. Oh, not to mention, there's 600 people we need to reach out to that are supposedly members. Fun stuff

So here's a fun story for y'all! Elder Shepherd and I were walking back to the train station one day and this Muslim guy starts shouting at us to come talk to him. So we go over there he asks a little bit about our beliefs and then ask if we know about Muslims. We said not much, then he asked if we wanted a Quran! I said yes so he goes and gets one and comes back and then asks us we want to go into the Mosque. So we went in and took off our shoes, we went done stairs and saw all these men washing their feet, hands, faces, etc.. Getting ready to worship. We then watched over 100 men do their prayer ceremony to Allah! It was so cool! They are some humble people. They put their noses all the way to the ground when they pray. It's the real deal! It's sad because in New York they have a really bad rep because of the extreme terrorists. But they are some of the nicest people! I think it's so cool that in New York I can experience all different cultures. Wow I'm so blessed to serve here!

Last story of the week! So J** is leaving for Boot camp tomorrow. I'm pretty sad! I came out on a mission expecting to change people's lives, but no I was wrong, in turn J** changed mine! I was not expecting to come this close to an investigator. His story is so Inspiring! I know he isn't baptized yet but he his truly becoming converted to God. So I'll tell the story again. 

J** grew up in Africa! His father abused is mom and they lived in very poor circumstances. There was one point that him, his mom, and sister all got kidnapped and were put through a lot of trials. They escaped, and then moved to New York. Now J** grew up in the projects. Not the best place to be raised. He got into drugs, into violence, gangs and all that crazy stuff! He got to a point in life were he felt he didn't have a purpose and was going to take his own life. There was one day he was thinking about what he was going to do and he said a voice came to him saying "I'm hear". It was the first time he ever felt like God exists. That motivated him to change. He put himself in a program that showed him how to get over his past and live a successful life. He started to be happy again and then a month later after he got out of his program we ran into him. We started teaching him and his mom. They came to church and started to read the Book of Mormon and are now hooked. He is gonna have to wait to get baptized until he gets back from boot camp but he gets it! And now we are here and he is one of my best friends! I love J** and I'm gonna miss him! It's so cool that he is going to serve our country and bring his light through out the world. So far he is the miracle of my mission.

So that was my week! Full of new experiences and inspiring moments. Thanks for listening. Until next time.

Much love,

Elder Jeppson