STARGAZING

Another one for the books. Stories galore. Ups and downs. Successes and failures. Hermana Coca. Losing the light while sharing the light. 

Basically at random 5 hour shifts each day the lights go out completely in Ventanas. Often it is from 7-12 at night. We will be walking in pitch black, no lights but our phone, for 2 hours before going home. Some really amazing things happen during the dark hours. We went to visit a family and one of their brothers was there. He was going on and on about a crab restaurant that he loved. He left and returned 10 minutes later and said “That's it. Follow me.” So behind this motorcycle we walked in the dark to a crab restaurant. It had its own electricity generator so we went through a little security and got our own table. Our friend said, "Enjoy!" and got us a ton of crab and then left. We sat down, enjoyed some crab, and got to talk to the owner for a long time and he was interested to learn more about the gospel so it was overall just a great evening. Smashing crab and sharing the word. 

We got to baptize our friends Hermana Coca and her great grandson Eiden. That was the most joyful experience on the mission so far. After the baptism of Hermana Coca, she couldn't stop crying. I asked if she was okay. She said she was just so joyful and relieved that she had finally been baptized. I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity to attend that baptism. 

Shout out to Niels btw!!!  

I got to have Zone Conference and an interview with President Peterson. Very very good stuff. I asked what the difference between obedience and sacrifice was. He said, "Do you feel that the mission is a sacrifice for you?" It is not a sacrifice because I can see all the blessings in my life. Everything that I do for God he will just do even more for me. Obedience is everything! As we are obedient to the commandments of God, we will find there is no sacrifice, because we get so much in return! 
One of my new favorite verses, not just cause it's Samuel:
1 Samuel 15:22
"And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” 
 In case I don't see yah, Buenas tardes, Buenas Noches, y Buenas Noches,
Élder Sheppert


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