Wow, what a great week! Saturday was definitely the highlight of it as we had an awesome baptism service with the James family, I got the transfer call I was dreaming of, and we had a great branch talent show that got us to get a new investigator named Korin who is preparing to be baptized for the 27th of December. Saturday was wonderful!
The baptism service was performed at a beach we found called Arnos Vale Beach. It was a very secluded little cove with an old abandoned hotel right behind it. Very picturesque. The water was very clear, and I got to go in it, which is an added blessing of baptizing. I really loved the service and I am so happy for this great family that has joined the church. this is actually the first time I have baptized a family on my mission, so it was great to see the happiness enter their lives from the gospel. That is Br. and Sis. James with Daniel and their 7 y.o. daughter, Sky.
The baptism service was performed at a beach we found called Arnos Vale Beach. It was a very secluded little cove with an old abandoned hotel right behind it. Very picturesque. The water was very clear, and I got to go in it, which is an added blessing of baptizing. I really loved the service and I am so happy for this great family that has joined the church. this is actually the first time I have baptized a family on my mission, so it was great to see the happiness enter their lives from the gospel. That is Br. and Sis. James with Daniel and their 7 y.o. daughter, Sky.
Saturday morning we got our transfer calls early in the morning. Elder Horsley is going to be going to my old area of Curepe and being a JCAP (junior companion to the assistants to the president). I'm excited for him. The greatest news though that I was SO STOKED FOR was one of my best friends in the mission, Elder Little is going to be coming to replace him! Elder Little is even from Sandy UT, same as me, so we are going to have a grand old time. I have already been around him for 5 transfers and done many tradeoffs with him so I already know we get along and that we will work well together. I will be driving the car, and E. Little is going to be the DL up here, so I get to take a break from DL. I probably won't be in leadership for the rest of my mission. Its something our president does to reduce the impact when leaders go home. Instead us "older missionaries" train the younger ones. Thats weird refering to myself as an older missionary....
Elder Horsley is super excited, but sad to leave all he has known here. I think he is more excited though, at least to what he has expressed to me. I thank the Lord for the chance we had to serve together, I learned a lot from this good man that will bless my life.
I would say I learned more about priesthood blessings this week, as I gave one to the sister's investigator, Brenda, and a next one in the form of one of the confirmations on Sunday. In both situations the spirit really helped me speak eloquently and coherently while there was not much coming from me. You know how it is, at the times that you normally are speaking with potency, it takes great thought towards what you say, but I wasn't needing to do that. Instead I was more just trying to listen to the spirit, and the rest just happened. I love those experiences.
We cut some bamboo around a less actives house for him. He couldn't do this on his own due to a heart problem he has, and so it was a good project to help him. Cutting bamboo is pretty dangerous, because sometimes the bamboo goes down after 10 swipes, sometimes your machete slices through with one. Some of the younger shoots have these small fibers on them, similar to fiberglass. They stick in your hand and cause problems. The most dangerous part about it though is the cut bamboo is just as sharp as your cutlass. I actually cut my leg on one that I back up into. Its not bad, but taught me to be careful. The member came to church too, and just as we are reading in Alma 17 right now, service opens doors that would otherwise be closed.
I also got to help plaster a wall for Br. James, and that was fun to learn how to do. I got it all over my proselyting clothes but I didn't care, and it washes out.
So much happened this week, we had 2 thanksgivings, one in Trinidad (which was great) and one here with some members. Both were wonderful. The Zone leaders came up here and did their transferly trade-off with us, and I got to watch a house burn down! That was actually on tradeoffs, I was with Elder Brown and there was a house that had just caught fire between us and our appointment. We were blocked by the firetrucks and the wires sparking all over so we decided to watch it burn. No one was inside, but those wood houses sure do go down fast!
Elder Horsley is super excited, but sad to leave all he has known here. I think he is more excited though, at least to what he has expressed to me. I thank the Lord for the chance we had to serve together, I learned a lot from this good man that will bless my life.
I would say I learned more about priesthood blessings this week, as I gave one to the sister's investigator, Brenda, and a next one in the form of one of the confirmations on Sunday. In both situations the spirit really helped me speak eloquently and coherently while there was not much coming from me. You know how it is, at the times that you normally are speaking with potency, it takes great thought towards what you say, but I wasn't needing to do that. Instead I was more just trying to listen to the spirit, and the rest just happened. I love those experiences.
We cut some bamboo around a less actives house for him. He couldn't do this on his own due to a heart problem he has, and so it was a good project to help him. Cutting bamboo is pretty dangerous, because sometimes the bamboo goes down after 10 swipes, sometimes your machete slices through with one. Some of the younger shoots have these small fibers on them, similar to fiberglass. They stick in your hand and cause problems. The most dangerous part about it though is the cut bamboo is just as sharp as your cutlass. I actually cut my leg on one that I back up into. Its not bad, but taught me to be careful. The member came to church too, and just as we are reading in Alma 17 right now, service opens doors that would otherwise be closed.
I also got to help plaster a wall for Br. James, and that was fun to learn how to do. I got it all over my proselyting clothes but I didn't care, and it washes out.
So much happened this week, we had 2 thanksgivings, one in Trinidad (which was great) and one here with some members. Both were wonderful. The Zone leaders came up here and did their transferly trade-off with us, and I got to watch a house burn down! That was actually on tradeoffs, I was with Elder Brown and there was a house that had just caught fire between us and our appointment. We were blocked by the firetrucks and the wires sparking all over so we decided to watch it burn. No one was inside, but those wood houses sure do go down fast!
So that was a first, to watch that. It sounded just like house fires do in the movies, crackling and breaking glass, and a roar. Impressive and sobering to behold.
Thats all I can think of for this week. I'm sorry my email was a little all over the place, I wasn't sure exactly all that I could put in it when I started.
-Sincerely and Excitedly,
Elder Jeppson
I'm including this just so you can see me and so you can see how happy I was on Saturday
Thats all I can think of for this week. I'm sorry my email was a little all over the place, I wasn't sure exactly all that I could put in it when I started.
-Sincerely and Excitedly,
Elder Jeppson
I'm including this just so you can see me and so you can see how happy I was on Saturday