Sheppert, Samuel

It was a really good week. Everything is coming together in some way. Something interesting that happened recently is a pipe broke so the whole sector of Vergeles doesn't have water for anything. Apparently a truck is gonna pass by and we gotta get water at the perfect time or we just don't have water. There was also elections again because the presidential vote was a tie, so we were allowed to go to church but had to go directly to the house afterwards. Zone conference was pretty cool this week. We learned all about being a consecrated missionary, and then being a legendary missionary, and then president really brang it home talking about the holy ghost. I learned we are baptized in water as a commandment and then we are baptized by fire, the holy ghost, to be sanctified and have the remission of sins. I thought that was interesting. But if we only have one of these two it doesn't count. I have really been thinking about the blessings of keeping the commandments! I truly k...

It’s been a good week! We get transfer news real soon so everything is up in the air. But of course, Seguimos adelante! We are teaching people on all corners of the area right now, so we are doing a little bit of walking.  As a ward we made a mission plan to help everyone be involved in the missionary work and grow as a ward. A real hit in the ideas was a linger longer. This had apparently never been done before here. Shout out to the Goated Vancouver 1st ward and their linger longers. We have now established a “quedese más” activity that will be coming soon!  It has been really amazing to watch Veronica and her family grow in the gospel. She has been shooting down all the haters with her testimony. We ended up going to her house one day and she was with her friends. We sat down with all of them and they started asking all these random questions but we didn't even need to talk because Veronica was answering all the questions! Now we have time to meet with all of them this Tues...

It's been a good week in the recess (El Recreo)! This week it really started to dry up, but as soon as I say that, I know the flood will come. We continue the wearysome battle against Mosquitos. I don't know how many I have killed, but they still choose not to learn from history. The good news is with all the floods and mosquitos, I have never seen so many frogs in my life. In one little pond full of black water that I had to walk through it to get to an appointment, there must have been a million tadpoles (what was the actual blackness in the water), baby frogs, and frogs. I feel like I'm actually seeing everything that my seventh grade life science teacher said would come to pass. So at least the frogs are on our side vs mosquitos.  The hymns have been very inspiring as of late. "Press Forward Saints," I've come to realize is more than just an “opening of general conference” type of hymn. It was based off of an amazing scripture 2 Nephi 31:20. The hymn reall...

So in every town here there is a garbage truck and they all have a different trash song. I found out that the garbage song here in Duran is the “Friends” theme song. It’s something else to walk down the road all day listening to that song on repeat. So I know many people could appreciate that, and I have listened to that song more than anyone reading this.  Something pretty incredible that comes with the rain dumping is the THUNDER! I feel as if I’m Batman walking in Gotham on a rainy night. Imagine going over to contact someone and the whole entire sky lights up brightly and you don’t know if it's the second coming but really it's the lightning that goes off every 5 minutes, but you can’t hear the thunder for a minute cause it’s so far away. It's pretty cool you could say.  I think it’s pretty much the same with the gospel. When it rains in our lives, that’s also when the best things come about! The classic Ether 12:27 or Johnny English Reborn. Christ changes our Weaknesse...

 A very quick week to say the least. It’s a great day to be a missionary. All sorts of things are going on here in Durán! One thing that was big was this “Canciones de Esperanza” put on by the tabernacle choir that went to Lima to do a massive concert. And they were going to project it at all the stake centers, so we had to pass out A TON of invitations. It was really cool to watch and I was a fan for sure. It started to rain halfway through the concert. We had to leave at 9 as missionaries so we went outside and I forgot my umbrella. Not a bad thing at all, it's refreshing! The street was well flooded above the side curve and the river that was next to the church flooded and the water was past my knees so that was a rare missionary privilegio to unintentionally almost go swimming. I thought I was in Halo for a second with all the flood. It was chevere.  On the topic of big storms, one analogy that I really like to think about. We all have hurricanes in our lives, but there is...

Wow, look how the days go by. It’s been pretty wet over here, not going to lie. It’s a strange feeling right before it rains. The humidity seems to dramatically rise and you just feel it coming. I’m finally glad to say I know what thick air feels like. Reading the weather report in the morning said 87° but feels like 101°, and that was at 9 am. That was a hot day. I’ve got some boots that usually get the job done, but this ain't Curtis no more, that's for sure.  We have a pretty, gated sector in our area called the 5th Etapa. Very hard to contact over there. So we don’t spend much time there. We went over there to talk to a member that needed our help and we got in. The first people we contacted wanted to hear the message and came to church! They are very cool. Hermana Anita and Richard. We are definitely going to find some more ways to get in the gated communities now. It’s exactly your idea of a gated community in the states, but there is work to be done. I'm excited. It ...

Another day, another dollar. This week consisted of lots of finding, contacting everyone that we can. There were presidential elections all across the country on Sunday which put a damper on plans but no matter. It was crazy to see helicopters flying overhead close to the ground in Durán, and the masses leaving to go to Guayaquil to vote over a big bridge. I thought I was in an evacuation for a second. It felt like World War Z had just begun or something was gonna happen. I’ve actually taken an interest in bread here. Pan de dulce es buenísimo. We usually run to another Elder’s apartment that has a lot of weights every morning. It appears that leg day doesn’t exist on the mission but on the way back I now stop at one of the 30 bakeries near the house that only sells pan de dulce.  We have continued to teach the Espinoza family! They are really enjoying the gospel and what it is. Nothing is nicer than sitting with them and reading some good scripture, and maybe answering a question ...

This week was another grinder! Not that it wasn’t fun but the sickness got me again. The great part about getting sick is that I let God take the reigns even more. It is kind of like fasting. I can’t be as physically able on my own as I like but I’m asking for strength to find and teach from God in every second. We did find some really special people this week whose lives can be changed forever for better if they allow the gospel to do so.  Something that I think is interesting about Durán is that music is going on at all times. We walk out the door, and there's music! Walk down the street, Music! Wake up in the morning, Music is waiting! It's cool that I can recognize most of the songs now that are common and can understand them! We have been teaching the Espinoza Family! They are really awesome and love soccer. David, the dad, asks a lot of questions and loves to listen, he is very Catholic. Veronica, the mom, has a really strong testimony of the Bible and after we talked all...

This week we went to the "28 de agosto park" a lot. Which really isn't much of a park, just a very distinct neighborhood set aside from all of the rest. It’s especially awesome for the mud! I was walking down the middle of the street and it was completely flooded in the middle. We tried going to the sides so i stepped on some dirt that appeared dry but it really took my leg in about a 1 ½ feet in mud. I jumped across the rest with my other foot, but my shoe stayed in the mud. I reached as far as i could down into my print and got it, but my shoe had gotten some holes by then so the mud was all in the shoe! No regrets. I can’t be caught lacken like that, so I'll do better next time.  We are in the rainy season right now, but it hasn’t rained for more than a week so the heat is doing its job. I feel immune to sun burns right now. Im just tanning and cooking, and I mean of course only the arms and the face! I'm excited to see how ghostly the rest of my body will be b...

 I'm loving it here in Duran! It's been crazy to see the temperatures change here. We quickly learned that if hace DEMASIADO Calor, it will rain very hard the next day. It does feel like I'm in Washington with the rain.  We have been teaching some awesome converts. One named Ezequiel! He really wants to go to the temple. He was able to be baptized! He's now preparing to receive the Aaronic priesthood and enter the temple.  Having faith is still the way to go here in the mission. Have faith that you can win every day! "It's a great day to be a missionary," is the way I want to finish every day. I have been saying that every day in remembrance of every time the Blazers would win. I heard Scoot Henderson Low key is popping off. I don't know. Is that true?  Selah!!  In case I don't see yah Buenas Tardes, Buenas Noches y Buenas Noches, Élder Sheppert

What an interesting week. We checked just about everything on the list this week. We had 3 earthquakes, two were barely anything but one was a 5.0 so I could feel that one for 10 seconds. It got the district hyped for the Obra!!! We were teaching a lesson with a family of converts, a mom and her two sons. There was also a daughter but she was never baptized. Believe it or not, mid lesson, I hear “10 things I hate about you” in Spanish, going on in the other room where the daughter was. I really couldn't believe my ears. We got to talk to her after that about rom coms and Heath Ledger, and then a little about church and building faith. That was awesome. I'm excited to go back! We talked to our neighbors and they want to learn and progress! One day our whole street will have the gospel! We ran for 15 minutes down a massive dirt road to get to our next appointment. Boy, that was actually really fun.  This area is massive so we are walking with diligence. Most people take little mo...

The two main and most famous parts in our area are a neighborhood called the 28th of August and a massive street called the 40. I got to walk on both this week! Two very fun exchanges. I went to a place called Los Rieles- the rails, where it is literally all dirt or mush. Because it is raining very hard here at night and more and during the day, we have the honor to wear boots. We keep forgetting to take pictures in the streets, but it gets really flooded. For the first week during the rain, we didn't use boots. It was very tough to get to visits and such. But with the boots, we are invincible! No matter if the mud is 8 inches deep the boots are sufficient.  We have been teaching an awesome lady named Enriqueta and she got baptized! It has been a process but it was very joyful for her and her family on a rainy Sunday afternoon. She is fun to talk to about Guayaquil and manigotes, and has now joined the rest of her family in the joy that the gospel brings! We also have been teaching...

Nobody says Happy New Years! Only Happy Year! And wow, we are officially in the year 2025!!! That means I'm be a missionary all this year! It's gonna be good. I think an Ecuador new years gives 4 of July a run for its money. Just fireworks in all directions exactly at 12 o clock. Luckily we had permission to stay up till 12:30, so we could see it all go down!! Also burning little cardboard characters that they made. Then throwing fireworks on them so that they explode faster. We could see Sonic get absolutely demolished from where we were at. Besides that music and partying everywhere all through the night. At 10 am, still going hard.  This week was a grinder. We've been finding people to teach and help them in whatever way we can! An elderly couple came to church that we invited! They are awesome! The only downside is that they aren't married but we are working on that with them! They both are very well read in the Bible which is really cool. They asked what Bible we u...

Say Duran 10x fast and see what name you find. Merry Christmas! It happened! I got transferred. Good bye Ventanas! It was a little sad leaving the homestead but I really couldn't have been happier. I'M IN DURAN NOW and “I'm hungry like the wolf”. In an area called "El Recreo”, or in English “The Recess”. This place is crazy. It's a pretty massive area and the coolest part is there is a massive train track the whole way through the area but the train hasn't come in years so you just feel like in a western movie with the blazing heat and it's quiet somehow every time you walk down it. Lots and lots of walking cause there are so many amazing places to find. They are all just separated in sectors so it takes a minute! Something interesting is the Etapas. These streets that are all closed gated. Much of our area is the Etapas. In specific, the third and fifth. Makes it a fun challenge to find people but we have our ways.  Duran is hot! Much much much hotter than...

Another great week in the vineyard of the Lord! Nothing like a cool December week in Ventanas, Ecuador! Many miracles came to pass, got to go to zone conference at President's house, we helped many people find Christ this week, and got to dance and sing at two different events to represent!!   We were told that a little choir of the church was going to sing for a group of people and they asked us to join. Of course we did! We went and practiced for 15 minutes, and all took taxis to the main center in Ventanas. Little did we know this was for the Grand Ventanas Christmas Presentation! We got private access back stage, and got up after a huge dance number. We, a group of 12 missionaries, and 8 members got up in front of a group of about 1000 after listening to Mariah Carey. We sang the "First Noel" acapella and got down. The spirit was there, but it was a very interesting moment. I'd do it again.  But the real treat was dancing for an old folks home. We walked in and go...

That's the mindset Uncle Rico had, the mindset David Sheppert has, and the mindset I hope to someday obtain. It's just been a great week! I got sick again but that just has become the usual! It seems that in the mission, getting sick is just a mindset too. Everything is a mindset! As we learned at Jason Lee--faith is such a mindset. You can only do what you believe you can do with action. I have been really focusing on increasing my faith. Talking to everybody you see always is a test of faith. I was getting comfortable with that, so God made me sick and said you have to do that all over again but sick. As long as I let the spirit take the wheel, the sickness doesn't matter. The Atonement of Jesus Christ will conquer any trial you face. That's what makes our job of spreading the gospel so doable!  We have been teaching a really really cool family these last few weeks! The Manssur family!! Isabel the mom, who is a doctor, loves everything about the church and wants to tr...