Post Christmas/Pre New Years!

Hey Momma!
The mission has taught me to be way more bold when it comes to sharing
what I know is true. Just yesterday we met a guy who told us that he
wants to give up smoking, so I asked him for his cigarettes, told him
that I wasn't going to give them back, and that he had to stop and do
what the Lord wants him to do, which is take care of his body. He
completely agreed with me and took a pamphlet about the word of
wisdom, and then after the lesson, I dumped all of his cigarettes in
the nearby stream! I'm not gonna lie, I felt kind of cool....

I really did love talking with you guys on Christmas. The elders were
kind of teasing me that it would probably make me super trunky, but it
honestly motivates me to focus on the work, knowing that you guys are
doing so well and are so happy. I just love seeing all of your
faces!!!

So this week is a little different because.... TRANSFERS!!! Hna
Goering flies out TONIGHT instead of the usual Wednesday night since
it will be New Years Eve. It's way cheaper and less insane if the
missionaries just go home now instead of in a few days. I'm still
chillin' out here in Ca'acupé with the newest sister trainer leader,
Hna Jorgensen!!! I AM SO STOKED THAT SHE IS MY COMP!!! This girl is
absolutely hillarious, and we've been budies since she got here just 2
transfers after I did (that is, 3 months). The funniest part is that
at the Christmas activity that we had last week, some of us started
guessing who was going to be called as the new sister leader, and I
may or may not had been inspired by the Holy Ghost when I guessed Hna
Jorgensen. She is just a hoot and a half, and a super hard worker who
gets stuff done. We are going to work miracles during my last transfer
in Paraguay!!

Transfers themselves involved getting up at 3am this morning, so I may
or may not be half asleep writing this email.

Hna Goering's last day in the mission was one of the best days we've
ever had together. The Ca'acupé branch had their annual end of the
year activity, so she and I sang a song, everybody watched He Is The
Gift, and the Russian couple that lives here played the accordian and
sang a carol in their native language. No big deal. While everyone was
eating, Hna Grebe, the wife of said russian couple, just sat quietly
and played a polka on her acordian. I don't think I could have been
any happier. I would send you pictures... but I forgot my camera
cord...

I love you guys so much. Make sure to say hi to Hna Goering (Rachel
Goering) on Facebook for me!!! And let me know how your hinking trips
go!!!

Con mucho amor y mucho ÁNIMO,
Hna Jeppesen

Trunky????Not yet!!!!

Holy crud, Mom, I am so proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!! You look so happy and so beautiful in your super fancy graduation gown! I know you've worked really hard these last few year, and the results really show. Top 5% is kind of a huge deal!!

Also, thanks so much for the advice and comfort. I'm so happy that I have the support of my family, and that I can always count on you guys to lift me up when I need it. You guys are kind of amazing.

Can you guys believe that I only have 2 months left? It's kind of interesting how different missionaries react at this stage. For example, everyone keeps asking me if my comp is "trunky", but is working like crazy and still manages to stay super focus. I think her "trunky" though is that she gets really stressed out and just wants to know if she's doing a good job. On the other hand, we had to do divisions with a sister once who has been struggling with anorexia. I think she's been stressed out in the sense that she doesn't want to go back home "fat". Luckily she is taking some huge steps in learning how to put her life into God's hands and focusing more on her inner attributes as a daughter of God than her outer appearance. Also, it was really great to see the love that the other sister missionaries have for her as they are helping her be healthy and set good goals. (I love being a sister trainer leader) I don't feel too trunky myself yet... but I really hope that I'll still be able to focus and work hard my last few weeks with the excitement of being able to see you guys again!!

This week we went to Ca'aguazú again to do divisions. From Ca'aguazú we went straight to Asunción for a doctor appointment, which is FOUR HOURS in a bus, and then travel back to Ca'acupé during rush hour, which was ANOTHER 4 HOURS. We were just beat when we got back home. 

Ok, out of time. I love you guys, and I'm so excited to talk to you CHRISTMAS DAY AT 7PM PARAGUAYAN TIME...... 3 or 4pm your time? You guys can Google it.

Love you guys!!!

Hermana Jeppesen

My comp did an awesome drawing of me. I AM the sand queen! 

Thankful for....!!!

Not that I'm stressed out or anything, but this computer is stupid and way too slow, I only have 8 more minutes to write you guys, I want to upload pics to send to you, and I still have to write my mission president..... sooo..........

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED!

Monday: Slept, cleaned, organized, etc.
Tuesday: PROSELYTE LIKE A BOSS and stressing out to the max and crying in the street in the middle of a rain storm because no one wants to talk to us and we have to get ready for..........
Wednesday: SURPRISE LEADERSHIP COUNSEL!! Have you guys seen this FREAKING AMAZING initiative that the church is doing? Go visit christmas.mormon.org, and you will understand basically what all my life is about right now. Basically, the Church is loaded, this is God's true church, and he leads it by divine guidance through inspired people.
Thursday: More proselyting like a mad woman because all of our investigators are slipping through our fingers. I made chili. There is no chili powder here, so I just used cumin. It was still delicious.
Friday: SURPRISE ZONE TRAINING!! We got to teach the other missionaries about how amazing this initiative is and how many people we are going to baptise!!
Saturday: Proselyte, find awesome NEW investigators. Helped the elders baptise a family. It was beautiful.
Sunday: Super sad because important investigators didn't come to church, but super happy because a recent convert brought her dad and brother.

I love you guys.

Hermana Jeppesen

Happy Thanksgiving!!!