...Para que tengan gozo

Hola familia! Qué tal estáis?

I feel like I don't need to remind you, but this could be the last time I sit down at a computer and type in "dope family members" and then "apostate missionary friends" and then send a big email to all of you.. as a missionary.  I don't think it's set in yet.  I don't think it will until I hear a little *click* as they steal my chapa from me.  Thieves.  But it's alright. There's a time and a season, and even cold winter follows the heat of summer and so we play in the snow.  

It's been a good week.  Edid got baptized! It went really really well.  Very spiritual, no problems, lots of people went, and it was everything I could have ever asked for at the end of the mission.  It's been a great blessing to see her change and let the gospel into her life.  Isn' t it amazing what the Lord can do when we let Him? Isn't it amazing that he let's US choose?  that's a loving dad if I've ever heard of one. I don't know if I could be so trusting.  But I guess I need to llegar a ser así.  It's all about becoming.  And that's what Edid has been doing.  Progressing and making changes and becoming a happier person that understands more of what her Father has in store for her.

Argenis had his interview right after the baptism.  It was a really spiritual experience for him.  He decided he wants to wait longer before his baptism, but you can see the difference in him now.  We've met with him a couple of times since and you can just feel the difference.  He'll get baptized in like a month or so, so I'm not even worried or sad about it.  I actually feel really, really good about it.  So I guess that's another blessing from the Lord.

Today was an epic p-day.  Would you expect anything less for the last one?  I wanted to go out in style, as you already know, so we went to La Gomera.  That's a different Canary Island. I saw el Hierro while over there too. So I have officially stepped on 5 and seen all 7! Canario for life baby! We took the car on a ferry and toured the entire island in like 5 hours.  We picked the perfect day to do it too.  It had rained the night before, so there were like waterfalls off of all the cliffs and lots of rainbows everywhere... It was amazing.  Even the ferry ride over was fun.  We went from the ocean to mountains to canyons and up and down and in between all of it for the whole day.  Lots of memories.  An epic way to end the p-days.  

And that's about all I have.  I'm really grateful for all the help and love and support and letters and emails and packages and everything you've all given me throughout the mission. You probably never even realized how much it really meant for me and helped me.  But it did.  I probably don't even realize it either.  I definitely couldn't have ever done this without all the help I've gotten.  I feel really good about these two years I've been able to turn over to the Lord.  I know I've done my best and He's made up for the difference when I've fallen short.  At the start of the mission I always wondered where I would go and who I would be with and what stories I would have, and now it's all been written and I have been very blessed.  I love it.  I. Love. It.  

So onto the next step.  That's what they all tell me.  Another chapter in the Book of Jeppson.  Back to the world, but not back to the old life.  Onto the studies and the part where there's a princess and dragons get slayed more than ever, right?  I'm pretty sure I turned that into a fairytale on accident.  But let's be honest, we all know it's the Gospel that really takes us to our "happily ever after."  And that's what it's all about right? That's what it's always been about. Ever since the start.   Lehi said it best. 

That they might have joy.

I love you all.

-Elder Tanton Sil Jeppson

P.S. Take that Spain! Boom. Roasted.

Por ti, lo haría mil veces

G´day mates! Let's throw another shrimpo on the barbie! 

I added the o to shrimp so it'd seem more spanish. that's how we speak spanish, right? Add o's to all the words and it's all good. Buah! Maybe in Mexico... Toma Robbins! hahaha I love you.

It's been a good week. I'll get started from the start.  I believe I was in Gran Canaria the last tiem we talked. Did I tell you that on Hermana Eynon's computer the ENTIRE new Taylor Swift CD downloaded before my very eyes and I didn't even listen to any of it? You can high five me later.  That took courage. but seriously..

Zone conference went really well.  Elder Woodbury and I talked about goals, studies, not comparing ourselves to others to see success, and a couple of other things as the things that we wish we had known to focus on more at the start of our missions.  We then changed over a bit and talked about how to make lessons spiritual experiences by really focusing on the needs and situations of the investigators.  If you put yourself in somebody elses situation for like 4 seconds before just getting upset or losing patience it's amazing how easy it is to see why they are doing the thing that they are doing.  Sometimes it's still stupid, but at least you can see a bit why. And then help them. It's all about Inspiring. INSPIRE.  Mayday Parade anybody? Yeah? cool.  So we talked a bit about that. And it was cool. and I feel good about it.  

I just found a crying shame. My card reader broke.  2 years of lugging it around in my backpack and it kicks the can finally.  I had some real good pictures for this week too.  Including one with fellow Cache Valley Canary Island missionary Hermana Marshall.  You'll have to wait until later I guess.  Lots of good pictures of the zone conference and P-day today. 

I'll talk about P-day now!  Are Greg and Tim super proud of my new found paragraph habit that I formed thanks to them?  For p-day we went up through Anaga again cause it was raining and I must say it was B-E-A-utiful again.  We dropped down to a city called Taganana.  It was legit.  We saw a black sand beach and got lots of rain blown in our faces from the many lookout points over the gorgeous valley.  I think it was another success p-day.  Next week is the going out with a bang day. Hopefully it goes well.  Details to come.

Missionary work? Alright.  Edid is all set to go for this weekend.  We literally had to clean out cobwebs from teh baptismal font a couple of days ago to get it ready. It's been over 2 years since there was a baptism here.  Legit! She's way excited.  It's always fun to see the change that comes over pepole and see them through to this point.  We also have Argenis set up for next week still, but he's a lot more hesitant.  We've had some good lessons with him and he's praying about it a lot, so let's hope that all goes well with that.  I guess we'll know a little more next week.  So much good stuff for next week, eh? And let's be honest, I'll probably forget to talk about half of it.  Such is life....

Welp, I don't have a lot else to say.  I'm just trying to keep it real over here in the Canary Islands.  Awwww I love them so much! Ser canario - un orgullo.  I guess I'll have to come up with a get rich quick scheme so I can make my way over here again someday... Until next time. 

-Elder Jeppson

P.S. When you're the best of friends.  Tod and Copper.

When she smiles

Today is not Wednesday. Today is Thursday the 25th of October.  I have a long lost friend whose birthday is today.  I haven't forgotten. Happy birthday! 

Well, I don't even know where to go with these things these days.  It's been a pretty slow week this past week.  Argenis went to Fuerteventura with work, another investigator went to Madrid because I guess that's what people do to get away from paradise.  But it's going well other than that.  Would I ever say differently though? This is missionary work.  If you're doing your job then it's always going well.  The Lord makes it go well. He gives us what we need.

Edid is doing really well.  She is set to have her interview this weekend and get baptised the coming week.  She's doing really well.  She wants to start paying tithing and is all taught and committed and excited to get baptised.  The cool thing as well is seeing how much it is helping her daughter in her tough situation.  I think she will eventually be open to missionary visits as well and get baptised.  It's just the way it should happen.  Entering with support set up and éxito more asegurado.  

On Sunday we did an MTC for members activity.  They're all not really used to having missionaries it seems so we did an activity to train them on how to help with investigators and how to teach their friends and help them enter the church without it being a weird experience.  All that good stuff.  It went quite well.  About 1/3 the branch showed up.  Not too shabby!

Yesterday we caught another boat to make it over here to Gran Canaria.  Cool, eh? We have zone conference tomorrow.  It's our last one.  Me and Elder Woodbury's.  We're doing it on "Crap we wish we had freaking known in the mission."  It'll translate a little more appropriate than that. But that's the point we're gonna try and get across.  Old wisdom from such oldies in the mission.  I'll let you know.  The cool thing is we made shirts for the whole zone.  They're pretty legit, not gonna lie.  Except the yellow ended up looking a bit green.  Oh well. P-day was fun today.  We did a hike and saw some old abandoned spas and even went through this tiny little tunnel that burrows into a mountain side.  Good stuff!

I'm gonna leave. Hope you all have a great week.  This church is true.  If you already know it, share it. If you don't, I invite you to look into it.  It'll be worth it.  Yup. Love you all!

-Elder Jeppson

...the path that's before me, this is my story...

Hello hello. You can tell by the tardiness of this email that we're running around doing this and that and the other.  So once again, might be a short email.  But you're getting used to that now. Just like Pavlov's dogs.  Take that!

Good week.  Nothing too extraordinary.  Edid is doing really well and on track for her November 3 baptism.  She is reading lots of the Book of Mormon and even said that she is happy that God has a "secretary on earth" talking about the Prophet.  Hahaha Good point, eh? Never really looked at it from that point of view I suppose.  Argenis is doing well too.  We had some good visits with him.  He also doesn't have to leave for 2 weeks now. Jsut 1. Left yesterday. Comes back next Tuesday. So he'll miss church unfortunately.  But it's all good.  He's getting more and more prepared with time. Hopefully he remembered his Book of Mormon and is reading over there.  We're gonna keep in contact with him during the week.  So life is well with them. New investigator is what is being hard for us lately.  Not finding a  lot, but we're just keepin' on keepin' on and makin' sure we focus on keeping the ones we have too.  Yup.  

Dope P-day today.  We went to Loro Parque.  Big zoo mixed with cool shows.  Whales splashed water on us and we saw Sea Lions balance balls on their nose.  It was sweet. Kind of like a mix between Hogle Zoo and Sea world. Not that I really remember ever going to either... Welp, guess it's a good thing I went to Loro Parque then, eh?  Pictures attached. Nuff Said. Moving on.

Welp, thanks again for all your support and whatnot.  Keep on hangin' in there and I'll tell you all the stories in person someday. That's not a trunky comment.  But even if it is, it's still true :) Have a great week!

-Elder Jeppson

Sneak Attack Ricky!

What another beautiful day we have here in the islands! How's it lookin back home? Any snow yet? Gotta get more faith in those prayers, don't we?

It's been another average week.  I think it was week number 100 of the mission.  Forgive me if I'm wrong.  What made the week extra-ordinary? well duh, General Conference!  Wasn't it just absolutely amazing! or is it just me that thinks that?  New missionary age.  Sick! Especially for the girls.  All those girls that are like "Yeah, I'm gonna serve a mission probably...If I'm not married..." Are gonna be put to the test now, eh? Hahaha I really like that President Monson still said that it doesn't mean that they SHOULD go when they have 18/19, but that it's an option.  Still gotta make sure the people are ready and prepared.  Which means more seminary paying attention! Should be lots more sister missionaries though.  Good luck to the future AP's and mission presidents! hahaha

So what were your favorite talks and whatnot? I absolutely loved Uchtdorf's talk about not looking toward the ends of things always.  Let yourself be happy! It was basically a talk perfect for me in my head, so I loved it.  I also really liked Elder Bowen's.  It was extremely personal to me and I love when the general authorities let us into their own lives and share their personal experiences.  Not just stories they've heard before, but things they have personally gone through.  I think that's probably because as a misisonary I have learned/seen the importance of sharing personal experiences.  God knows us.  He knows exactly what we've been through and how we've become who we are.  I know that he sends us to people that need to hear OUR stories and see OUR example of overcoming challenges.  It's the only thing we have to offer these people.  Any missionary can teach the message.  Blast through the lessons.  But God sends us where he sends us because we have experiences that specific people need to gain strength from.

I also really liked President Monson's talk about seeing people as they can become instead of how they are right now.  Seeing the potential within everyone.  Isn't that the beauty of missionay work and the gospel?  It's all about progressing and learning.  I love it!  We got to see it all in english. I wanted to watch a session in spanish though.  I couldn't NOT watch a session in spanish for my last conference in the mission, right?  Argenis came to the priesthood session so I watched that one with him.  Worked out well cause the english version ended up fallaring anyways so all the other missionaries came and watched it in spanish.  Toma!

What else?  I'm running out of things to talk about these days... Edid is doing well.  She has a lot of work this weekend, so she won't be able to meet with us or go to church, but she's been reading a lot in the Book of Mormon and her family is really warming up to the gospel.  It's another case of being able to see the people progress and change and recognize the Spirit.  It's beautiful.  It's what the mission is all about.  I'm very grateful I've been able to see it as often as I have.  

Argenis is also doing well. As I already said, he went to conference.  The difficult thing with him is that he will be giong to Fuerteventura for 2 weeks for work so we won't be able to see him during two weeks.  Guess we'll see if he can overcome the challenge and keep preparing for baptism without the constant help of the 2 missionaries.  We'll still call and text and do all we can to help him.  There's always a way.

Welp.  I think that's about it.  Thanks for all the love and support.  You're the greatest.  You.  The one reading this.  You've made it so far in this long tedious email. So thanks! Now go out and live life!

-Elder Jeppson

Ricky

President Jackson gave us permission to go to the Mickey Mouse Live! magic show.  So we did.  Dope, no? I forgot to tell you about it. It was a couple of weeks ago.  Sorry.  

That's the constant view we have over the island of Gran Canaria.  Isn't life just soo rough?

Acabo de robar a una chica embarazada!!!

They always start with one of two ways.... What will it be....

I'm short on time.  So sorry in advance.  We wasted a lot of our email time trying to fix the Aultman's internet and looking for parking at a locutorio when we couldn't come up with any solutions.  I guess we'll all have to aguantar this one like always.

It's been a really good week though. Wanna know why? Alright. I'll just go ahead and tell you then I guess.  We set two baptismal dates!  We set one with Edid and another with Argenis.  Edid is the 3rd of November and Argenis will be the 10th of November.  They both are totally on track.  Just gotta keep reading and praying and doing their part and we all know it'll work out.  That was really exciting for us though. It's fun to see the progress.  That's the beauty of the mission and the Gospel, eh?  Seeing the blessings and witnessing the growth of testimony.

Other than those two we don't really have a whole ton of other people barging their way through the crowds to listen to us.  We've been teaching a 19 year old Argentine.  Dang argentinos and their dang argentino accent.  It's always fun to teach people closer to our age though.  Which there are tons of at the university always, as I have already told you.  University. Spain. On an Island.  Let's just say USU or BYU campus will probably be a treat for the eyes.

Our dang p-day schedule got ruined by rain today.  Lame, right? right.  So instead of going to Loro Parque or going to the zipline park, we ended up walking through malls and stores and stuff.  Which was fine too.  Not the first time I've dedicated a day of happiness to that.  But with the 5 that are left, we gotta stay away from that! Pray for snow in Utah and sun in Tenerife.  That's the combination of power.  Yup.  

Welp, I have pictures and everything, but the computer here just won't let my USB adapter plug in.  So take that! You'll have to wait another week I suppose.  Too bad too cause in some of the pictures I was just a little 20 year old and in some I was 21.  That's right.  Take away the "under 21 until xx/xx/xxxx" part of the license.  Unfortunately 21 isn't any better than 18 in Spain. And to be honest, 18 isn't any better than 14 or 16 hahaha.  I guess this world will just continue to deteriorate at the rate we make it.  I love you all. The church is true.  Thanks for the package mom.  You'll be blessed in heaven for the stress it caused.  :) Now everybody go out and take beautiful pictures of Utah leaves to send to me in an email.  October of 2012.  See ya next month??? No more talking about that!! ;)

-Elder Jeppson

It's like watching a cloud go through myself...

Elders Merrriman and Jeppson

 Well hello hello! Well aren't you all looking quite fine today.

Al grano.  The work is picking up a bit. Not like, a TON, but slowly but surely.  We're definitely setting a good base for La Laguna to be a really good area.  It makes me wish I was going to have more time here.  But alas, even paradise has a time and a season to it I suppose.  The coolest thing from this past week is that Edid told us she wants to get baptized.  Awww yeah! We don't have a date with her.  She works "interna" so she is at work literally all work long, sleeping there and everything but gets out on Saturdays at like 4 and enters Sunday afternoons.  So she comes to our English classes and church on Sunday.  We teach her right before English classes.  But so that's cool.  We'll see if we can't get a goal for her on the baptismal date.  

Another sweet guy we're teaching is Argenis.  He's way cool! He's technically Venezolano, but he came to the islands when he had like one year and considers himself canario. So chacho, he's canario.  But he has heard the missionaries a bunch of times before and never really clicked I guess.  We've started teaching him and this time he's married and his wife is preggers so I guess he's looking more at eternal things and plus he's like me if I was canario.  But a lot more tranquilo.  So we basically get along really well.  I feel like he's one of those people that I was sent to La Laguna to teach.  Maybe that's just me being crazy, but whatever.  I was born this way.  I can't change, right? Wrong. You can change.  But don't let me get distracted on that topic. 

Other than that we have had some lessons with some cool jovenes since there are about 6 million of them walking around EVERYWHERE.  It's way cool. It's just like serving on campus, since it is.  Sometimes it's way cool, sometimes it's like "Alright, how is this not supposed to be killing me?" But it's all good.  But it's fun to talk to them if they don't make fun of us and think they're hilarious.  The down to earth ones are way sweet. I wish I could have just worked with YSA aged people my whole mission.  that'd be a sick senior couple mission to serve.  But I might be getting ahead of myself on that one.

Hmmmm, for p-day today we continued our giant island tour.  We had already nailed the coast and mountains, so today we went for the forest.  Rough life, I know.  We went up on the very north-east part to a national park thing called Anaga.  It was beautiful.  It was a lot like going up Logan canyon, but less mountain and more green/alive-ness.  Yup.  So now we have the island down I think.  We're gonna move onto all the fun activities there are to do on the island now.  We even made a schedule.  I call it "going down in style".  It includes La Gomera.  ´Nuff said.

That's about all I have for today.  thanks for all the love and support.  I know this is the church of Jesus Christ.  I love being a missionary.  It's crazy that this is the only time I'll get to do it this way.  There's nothing else to do than to darle duro! 

Like a boss,

Elder Jeppson

On the picture where Elder Merriman and I are the EXACT same in the air, that was our very first jump picture EVER together. And completely unchoreagraphed.  I guess we're just the exact same person in the end....

The other one is us above La Laguna.  What a beautiful area....