Sail with me into the setting sun...

Wow. What a week I have had.  We'll start in reverse on this one.

Today, I am in Valladolid.  I caught a train this afternoon and now I'm here helping the zone leader of León to plan a zone conference, which we have tomorrow.  I am on my way to Gijón, which I found out on Monday is where I will be serving.  We also went to the temple this morning.  That's all the biggest news, now I'll start back at the start and work back to all of that...

Last Thursday was Elder Wride's birthday. He has been missin on his family a lot lately and I didn't want his day to be crappy, so I used my cake mix that I got for my own birthday to sneak out of weekly planning and bake him a cake and bring it out and surprise him.  I think he really liked it and appreciated it.   So that was good. 

Our  miracle of the week came on Saturday.  We left the piso and saw this little sweet Filipina trying to lug like tons of groceries and had her son on a little plastic motor bike and was basically just struggling.  We offered to help her and she accepted, which is the first miracle.  Nobody in Spain will ever let us help them with groceries even though we constantly offer! So we walked back with her and she speaks perfect English.  Has lived in like Russia, Canada, New York, her islands, and now Spain.  Crazy fun adventures.  But her husband lives back in the Filipinos.  I am purposely avoiding spelling that word in English.  We finally got to her piso, and we were like "how in the world did she plan on doing that alone?" She let us in and we sat down and quickly explained to her what we did and why we were here and just invited her to church.  Offered to go pick her up, and she said yes! So we did.  And she came to all 3 hours with her son.  She loved it.  Her son even offered to say the prayer in Primary. Her name is Marieta and he's Albert.  She then asked her dad(she lives with her parents and sister here in Spain) if we could come have "bible study" with her and he said no.  So she told us she was looking for a new piso....Hahahah Marieta! That's not necessary.  We'll teach you in our church!  So that's our prepared person miracle for this week.

Also, Natalia.  She's a Dominican that is daughter of some less active members.  We taught her last week and she came to church for the second time, but left crying. And we didn't know why.  She sent us a text that said she didn't want us to try and teach her anymore or talk to her.  So of course we called.  Haha.  She didn't answer, but ended up calling us back later.  She just told us how she felt guilty or bad in church or something and how she is too much of a sinner, so we taught her about repentance and the Atonement.  It was a really good lesson and I really felt the spirit testify through me of repentance and it was just a good lesson.  

Monday, I got the call.  "Hey Elder Jeppson, you're gonna be going to Gijón to replace an élder.  And he'll be taking your place in Madrid."  So my second time taking somebody elses place in an emergency transfer.  I don't know how much missionary work has been done in my new area lately.  So it'll be interesting to find out.  But so they told me I would be coming up to Valladolid today, Wednesday, and being the the zone leader Elder Hodges for a bit, and then we continue up to León for a zone conference tomorrow (the same one I just saw in Madrid) and then after that, I'll keep heading north to Gijón with my new companion, Elder Rigtrup.  He's from Virginia.  That's about all I know. I'll let you know more if I ever find out more.  I'm guessing I will.  

And that's my week in a nutshell.  Today we went to the temple and I had a pretty cool experience.  I really wanted to leave the office/Alcobendas in a real transfer instead of just filling in whatever hole in the mission like happens a lot with trios, just to feel like it was more of an inspired decision, so I kind of felt like I might just being filling a hole, so I prayed about it.  After going through the session I was in the Celestial Room and I grabbed a book of Mormon and opened right up to Alma 53:12 and I replaced Zarahemla with Gijón and I just knew it was for a reason.  So I guess I'll have to figure out what it is. 

So I am now in the León Zone.  I started in Madrid, went to Santiago, hit the Canary Islands, returned to Madrid, and now I'm in León.  So that's pretty much the whole mission covered.  I guess I am just the viajero of the mission.  The León zone is known as the apostate zone.  Last transfer was the first transfer in a while that someone didn't get sent home early for doing something stupid.  So I guess I'm just gonna have to be the old school guy that I am in the mission and keep up the obedience.  That's one thing I've learned throughout the mission, obedience matters.  It's not always easy, pero por sacrificios se dan bendiciones.  I'm not perfect, but I just plan on trying to be a good example I guess and do my best up here.  I'm  gonna miss Elder Gonzalez and Elder Wride.  That was a really fun trio.  I forgot to mention also that the Stake President's return missionary son bailed on me and so I just worked with them the whole time.  So yeah....

I know this work is true.  Sharing it is something we have been commanded to do and when the Lord commands, he also lifts and provides the way.  The most important part of what we can do is just invite others.  Invite invite invite invite.  I love you all. I'm grateful to be on my 3rd beach area of my mission.  I think it's a sign I'm supposed to be moving to a beach-front property someday.... Just sayin....

Con Cariño,

élder Tanton Sil Jeppson

The pictures are of goodbyes.  The Lanzaroteños, the Alcobendenses. The Ovards/office.  The Morales.  

Filthy Mudbloods....

Hahahaha ohhhh It's been quite a week familia.  Any email with a subject like that means we had a good time.

We had a zone conference last Thursday.  It was pretty sweet.  We always get to hear lots of good theories and ideas on missionary work there.  We also get to see everyone.  Good stuff.  I do wish it was a little more interactive though.  Lots of sitting. No practicing. The only photo I have to send home today is our zone.  Madrid East.  Good stuff.  Good zone.  The tall Elder Thurston on the back row is also from Cache Valley.  So he's a good guy.  

Madrid East Zone

Friday I had a last lesson with Efraín before I got transferred over to Alcobendas.  It went well. He's totally ready to get dressed in white, so that makes me really happy. He even made a Book of Mormon joke.  He called María a Lamanite because she hadn't read in the book of Mormon or something hahaha so now we're just in persevere mode.  Hasta el fin.  Saturday we had a bunch of lessons and everything fell into place. That was way sweet.  It's always nice to get lessons lined up and have them fall together.  Teaching is more fun.  I like to get to know the people.  I had the chance to invite Jason to baptism more straight up and bold than I have done in a long time with somebody and it felt good.  It's what we're here to do and I love it. He said no. Haha. But I know I did my job.  Seed will sprout soon.  But that was the highlight of the lessons on Saturday.

Sunday was fun because Elder Thurston(the one from Cache Valley) came out to do exchanges with Elder Wride.  He stayed with us and we talked about all the mutual friends we have from back in the valley.  He's a great guy.  Only has 8 weeks left on the mission.  My goal is to be his last companion serving with him in the area that has the temple.  I have a lot of far out there goals/dreams though.  Like being Canario again.  We'll see.  I worked with Elder Gonzalez on Sunday and started out my time in Alcobendas.

Monday was the end of a decade, but the start of an age.  Last day in the office.  It was good. I trained the AP's how to do their own jobs again on getting the key indicators that I somehow ended up doing my time in the office and then we had a big lunch/fiest together and I went out and worked.  Now I'm companions with Elder Wride and Elder Gonzalez and we're almost back to scratch in Alcobendas.  They just opened up another area here 3 weeks ago so my goal is just to help them get to know all the legit members and find as many people as we can.  Should be good times.  We found a menos activo family that we have failed to find for like 2 attempts before.  They're as Spanish/madrileño as you can get.  They even use the "th" at the end of Hollywood.  But the good news is the mom knows Penelope Cruz (who is from Alcobendas).  Well, more like knew her in school.  But I guess they know Monica (she has a sister apparently).  So our new game plan is to get to Penélope through Monica ;) hahaha Just kidding. But seriously...

I also got the DVD from Tim/Melissa.  Such a miracle. I'm so grateful for the medical milagros that there are these days! President Watkins even had me watch it with him in his office hahaha. That was...fun.  Glad there was no Lady Gaga music on it.  so that was a good time.  Thanks for sharing that with me.  I love you all and am grateful for all you have done to help me where I am today. I miss you all, but it's cool, cause I'm only a pregnancy away.  And we can all put up with that.  If only pregnancies were longer...

Love,

Elder Tanton Sil Jeppson

A Midnight's Summer Dream

 

I remember when 30 minutes in the MTC was like no time to write and I had nothing to say but I still used every minute.  Today I have 25 and lots to say and I just don't really care to haha.  We'll see what we get out of this I suppose. 

 

Hello familia.

 

All is well in Zion.  Or so it seems from the emails I've gotten.  Glad to hear that babies are growing well and snow is unheard of.  North Carolina is getting closer to being Ohio and still being North of the South.  Australia is still by New Zealand and I have no idea what I'm talking about. 

 

It's been a good past week.  Efraín has shown quite a bit of progress still. I really wish his documentation would come in.  It'd be nice to be in a ghetto country where we could just be like hey city hall, they're divorced now.  and get 'er done.  but we're not.  We're in a country with a very slow government system.  So we keep waiting.  He is currently in 3 Nephi 5 in his reading and is loving it.  that's page 505 in Spanish for those of you keeping track.  That's crazy good. 

 

All the recent converts are doing well here.  That's a relief.  They're like kids, you'll always have a little bit of worry there (at least that's what the rents me dicen).  The ward is great.  I'll miss them someday.  We met with some menos activos that shouldn't be menos activo.  Which only means they know the church is true and have testimonies and stuff but are currently in offended mode.  Ohhhhhh Spain.  You're robbing my heart. 

 

On Sunday we had Stake conference. But like in a "on steroids" way.  It was the whole Iberian Peninsula, so all of my BAGA was tuning into President Uchtdorf.  I thought that was cool.  Elder Hansen and Elder Thomas.  We got this peninsula covered.  They talked a lot to the youth about serving missions.  It's always nice to be on a  mission during those talks.  Makes me feel like I am where I should be.  They also talked about other things that involve building the Kingdom of God in the Kingdom of Spain (and Portugal). 

 

Monday we were in the office like all day long.  Until like 8 at night.  That's a long day in the office.  But we survived.  It's cram week.  I'm trying to get Elder Bauer's brain filled with mush so I can leave next week and be a normal boy.  President pulled me into his office yesterday and talked to me about what the options are.  Long story short, I'm gonna work in Alcobendas with a member during the mornings and then work with the other companionship during the afternoons.  the member is the Stake Presidents son, Spanish, and just got home from serving his mission in Chile.  So I'm pretty stoked on this plan.  Even though it's gonna be like a waiting 3 weeks type deal, it'll be good to get out and contact and then have Mediodía again.  Plus I might get to be here if Efraín can get baptized within the next 4 weeks.  Let's go Spain government!

 

We also went and saw a new baby.  Candy had a baby.  That's Freencky and Leyddy and Farrah's sister. I know you don't know who they are, but it's a little baby.  6 lbs 4 oz or something.  I don't know if that's small, but I think I usually hear 7 pounds.  Either way, I never want to give birth, so I made a promise to myself to never do it.  I hope I fulfill on that one.  But I do want kids.  so that's good.  Her name is Aaliyah.

 

Real Madrid Stadium

We went to the Real Madrid stadium today and did  the tour.  It was cool.  I mean I wish I could watch Real games and like read the magazines so I could follow what in the world is going on and who is who and all, but I can't.  So I just was like...awesome.  And all the missionaries from Spain were like...Ohhh no way tal y fulano his hano played here and this is his jersey and blah de blah blah.  But it was fun. And I took pictures.  So everybody can just go crazy with excitement on that one.  in 6 days it's the day of love.  and friendship.  Do you remember from last year? It's called the Day of love and friendship here hahahaha.  so don't forget to be in love with somebody.  If not, at least be friends. 

 

I love this work.  It's good stuff.  Good stuff comes from God.  Moroni 7.   Does it put you on the good path, or the bad path?  Well take the good and leave the bad.  Speaking of Moroni, he put some gold plates in the ground and then Joseph Smith translated them and Moroni came back for them.  But check out these Real Madrid gold plates.  Cool, eh?

 

Love,

Elder T. Sil Jeppson

You don't know how lovely you are

G´day mates.  

What's up? Lovin' life back there in the states?  Yeah?  Good stuff, eh? Likewise here in Spain.  Just doin' the limbo.  How low(long) can you go? *do a little limbo jig* Doo Da Doo

It's been a rather uneventful week.  We've been doing the office thing a lot lately since I'm training elder Bauer to be the big bad boss of the mission now.  Not really.  Just to be the secretary.  Elder Bauer seems excited to be doing it though.  So that'll be good.  It'll be nice to be done.  Like, I have enjoyed being here and I've learned a lot of stuff and whatnot, but it'll be a nice change too.  I will miss it too though. It's like other changes in life I guess.  They're necessary.  Elder Bauer is from Illinois.  His mom is from Mexico and his dad is from the states, but he was raised like the rest of us gringos, just with more Spanish exposure basically.  Great guy.  Him and Elder Forrest will be just dandy little companions in the office world of Madrid.  

Gisel shipped off to Canada.  That was kind of sad.  She'll get baptized someday, it just wasn't my suerte to be here for it.  Her husband is Español and pretty opposed to her even like going to church and stuff so that never helped stuff, but I think she'll catch on in the future.  I hope so.  She'll be back in 3 months.  We had a last lesson with her on Saturday mostly just to say goodbye and leave a good testimony with her.  Ohhhh Columbians....

We also got to clean the old piso and get it all shut down and handed back over to the dueño.  We did a pretty ghetto job of cleaning it, not gonna lie.  But they didn't charge us for it being dirty so whatevs.  Guess I'll need some more lessons from somebody that likes to clean a lot.  Who could that be?

I just sent the first half of this email on accident.  So I hope you enjoyed your teaser.  Let's finish this bad boy now I guess.  On another note we learned a lot about the importance of ward support this past week.  Nani has been doing well lately, but really having a hard time with residency stuff.  She is here...not completely legally...and would like to get the right paperwork done and stuff.  She came to our Ward Correlation meeting with the Ward Mission leader and all on Sunday and had brought like a letter talking about how much the church and missionaries had changed her life and how great that all was but how she needed support from the ward and stuff still and how hard it can be feeling like a new member and stuff.  It was really...interesting.  It was cool, but sad at the same time.  We gave her a blessing afterwards of comfort.  The priesthood is nuts.  I like it.

On Monday we had a lesson with the Matos family.  The dad is bastante menos activo and the mom is like a returned missionary that is great.  They had invited a friend over to hear the message (from Columbia, ahh yeah!) and that was pretty fantastic.  We watched Finding Faith in Christ.  She was like getting teary eyed.  It's crazy to see the effect it can have on people if they learn about the life of our Savior.  What a life He lead.  Might as well share with others what He did for them too, eh?

That's basically where I'm at these days.  Like I said at the start, not a super eventful week, but the mission is what I let the Lord make of it.  If I can put my trust in Him and not mess it all up I bet He's got some pretty cool plans for me. Yeah!  So basically that's what's up. I love this work.  I took my title from "The Scientist" by Coldplay today.  Do my subjects ever confuse people? You're welcome to ask for histories.  The Scientist is a song that Elder White made me like a lot.  I heard it in a store today during p-day and the lyrics just seemed great to me.  So give it a whirl.  I wonder what would happen if people could see inside my head...

On that great note, I love you all. 

-Elder Jeppson