12-31-12 Skype/Facetime/ichat/etc= God given gift to man and missionary

DAD MOM RY RASH LIZA DONG and my dear friends

I LOVE YOU ALL! Christmas was absolutely wonderful. I cannot even begin to describe how overcome with joy and love Sister Evans and I were. Thank you. I will never forget this Christmas. What a marvelous gift of friends and family that Heavenly Father has blessed me with, He has so graciously blessed me with so very much more than I could ever deserve. It was perfect. And I am so grateful for the Christmas miracles He allowed us to be apart of in sharing His love to those in need. I will always cherish 

FAMILY! YOU ARE SOO BEAUTIFUL! Skype/Facetime/ichat/etc = God given gift to man and missionary. I love you with ALL my heart, might, mind, and strength, with ALL the energy of my soul. I wish I could better describe and show just how much I love you. Love is not had unless we truly live the way we feel. Words are not enough, but it is our thoughts, our motives, our actions, and our deeds that demonstrate the pure love of Jesus Christ. 

Ok. I have been called to repentance! I guess I get too devotionalesk-like and tell too few a stories. The great Brother Fajardo referred to my letters as "epistles" because of the length and content haha. 

A story: We had Sister Emord with us to teach our investigator Ben, but he wasn't home. So we brought her with us to go see another investigator Ken - whom we felt prompted to plan for as back up the night before. Ken's been way busy with work during the Christmas season, so we've only seen him for brief visits, delivering cookies and stopping by, never being able to set up an appointment with him. To our surprise, but surely to Heavenly Father's design, Ken's brother answered the door. He told us Ken was on his way home from picking up Chinese for dinner and that he and some more of the extended family were visiting for a few days. So... we asked if we could come in to wait for him! haha. We visited with them and got to know them, a lovely family from Massachusetts, until Ken arrived. It was so perfect. We set up a time with him to come back, and later had an incredible lesson with him. I love our Father in Heaven. Glory and honor is His! 

Lexi and Trevor are off to the MTC! I love them. I'm so excited for them. This work is truly the work of God, Almighty and His Son, our Savior and Redeemer. Oh what miracles are ahead of them. 

LOVE SISTER JULIA JEPPSEN

Christmas!!!! 

Face-timing the Fambly

12-24-12 Christ's Selfless Character, His Love always had Action!

DAD MOM RYAN RACHELLE LIZA EMMDONG, my beloved family and friends.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!! WOOHOOO!! I cannot explain just how wonderful this Christmas has been. I am blessed far greater than I will ever deserve. And I am forever grateful. Oh how incredible are each of the people Sister Evans and I are so privileged to know, to learn from, to serve beside, and to grow with. The Belyeas, the Garfields, the Knuttis, the Headricks, the Emords, the Starks, dear Peter and Von, Erica and Laura, Ben and Terrance. And to have the love and support of each of you. My dear friends. I love you truly. I thank Him for blessing me with your friendship, your love and your example. I deserve hell! But look how great and marvelous are my blessings, my friends, my dear family. I love you. So so very much! 

Through our dear mission president, Heavenly Father opened my eyes more fully to Christ's perfect and selfless character. How saddened and how brokenhearted was Jesus upon hearing that His dear cousin and trusted friend, John the Baptist was beheaded (Matthew 14). John, his loyal and faithful disciple, his family and kin, whom as a baby, lept in Elisabeth's womb when Christ came near to him, even as an unborn babe; John, whom was His chosen messenger to go before Him and prepare the way, whom Jesus said: "Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist." When Jesus heard of his death, he departed by ship to be alone, to mourn the murder of his beloved friend. Can you imagine - if your dearest friend was killed in your behalf, how heavy your heart would be and how you would so desperately need to be alone, to pray and be comforted by Heavenly Father. But, when Jesus saw a multitude of people following Him, he was "moved with compassion toward them" and instead of leaving them that he might be alone, he spend the day, healing their sick, comforting them. The apostles, knowing of the great pain he felt for the loss of his dear cousin, and seeing that the people were becoming hungry, saw that it was a perfect opportunity for them to break away so that Christ could be alone. I could imagine them saying, "Master, it's been a long day. The people are growing hungry, so why don't we send them away that they might return to the village to buy some food, and then you will be able to go to be alone, for you have suffered a great loss today, Lord." But Jesus said, "They need not depart, give ye them to eat." And there he preformed yet another incredible miracle, feeding the multitude of five thousand with only five loaves and two fishes. It wasn't until the multitude was filled did he depart into the mountains to pray by Himself. Our perfect and merciful Savior sought to bless and lift others, even in his time of mourning. How often do we put our own needs and wants first, whether we might be ignoring the needs of others or perhaps too self-absorbed to even notice? The compassion and love that Christ felt never went without action. He acted upon the love that He felt. The pure love of Christ is not charity unless it be put to action. 

Sister Belyea taught an incredible lesson in church about the people foreordained to bring the Savior into the world. Heavenly Father prepared perfectly those who would be receiving His Only Begotten Son, l the Savior and Redeemer of the world. Nothing was done by chance. If you were to pick someone to raise your son, wouldn't you choose someone faithful and righteous, patient and loving, someone who was a good teacher and who lived the gospel. The Father sent His Son to whom He trusted. How incredible and remarkable are each of these people, privileged and chosen to welcome Christ to the earth - Zacharias and Elisabeth, Mary and Joseph, John, the shepherd, the wisemen, Simeon. Each are remarkable and it has been such a wonderful and enlightening experience to study each of these people.

Oh the things we can learn from them!! Here's something that really touched my heart and filled my vision about just one attribute of the woman chosen to be the mother of Jesus Christ. Luke 2:19 reads: "But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." Unless we ponder and reflect the things we experience, we will not keep them. They will be lost and forgotten. Elder Holland said, "None of us could have imagined such a few short months ago, the miracles we have seen and the divinity we have enjoyed. We have talked with, prayed with, and labored with the very Son of God Himself. We have walked with Him and wept with Him" Unless we look back and see the miracles, unless we ponder in our hearts the divinity we have enjoyed - we will not keep them. They will be lost. And may we not forget those "seemingly small, sometimes overlooked" miracles that we experience day be day. President Monson said that we have "countless experiences... [that] were not necessarily those one would consider extraordinary.. [that even] at the time they transpired... [they] often seemed unremarkable and even ordinary... yet in retrospect (as he pondered and reflected0 they enriched and blessed lives - not the least of which was my own." Does the Lord have to shake me loudly in order for me to see His hand? Must His love and His power be made manifest dramatically in order for me to recognize it? Are my eyes so out of focus and my ears so out of tune that I cannot see not hear His voice? If our eye is out of focus, we will not be able to see the abounding miracles. We may only recognize the big miracles placed directly in front of us; and even then, we may not even see those. But if our eye is single to the glory of God, our view is clear and we will see His hand in EVERY aspect of our lives. Let us remember, reflect, and keep the miracles, the divinity, and the precious gifts He has so graciously given us... Let us repent! I love repentance!!!! I am so excited and grateful that we can change.

My dear Lexi, I love you. Ryan and Heffrie, welcome home. Melniff, Chloe, Alyssa, Ethan, Bret, my dear ward family, ALL of you, my friends, I love you. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! Christ, our Lord, our Savior and King, He lives!!

LOVE SISTER JULIA JEPPSEN

Elder Gronning (our amazing district leader) hosting a lovely white elephant/secret santa gift exchange for our district meeting

Yay for Christmas!!

The wonderful Laura Chenette - who's heart is so big and mind so inquisitive, and Sister Belyea - scholar of the scriptures and boldness comparable to Elder Holland

Von Christiansen :) I love him

Our very well-gifted Christmas tree. Thank you all SOO very much!! I wish I could give to you as you so generously have given to me. I deserve hell! But our merciful Father has given us each so much. Oh how he blesses us, and how he has so graciously blessed me with friends and family as you. Thank you. I am forever grateful for your friendship.

12-17-12 Christmas Conference! I love Jesus Christ!

DAD MOM RYAN SHELLY LIZA EMMA and my dear lovely friends

Its crazy to think that Heffrie and Ryan are returning home this week.. or they may have already returned!! I have no idea! CRAZY! Tell them I love them. I can only imagine how incredible their reunion will be with each of you, but at the same time - how difficult it must be for them to leave. My heart aches at the thought of returning home. There is nowhere else I would rather be but here.

Has Lexi left?! Oh my dearest Lexi. I love her! I am so excited. And I'm sure Heavenly Father is too. He knows perfectly the miracles He will be able to perform through her, the hearts He will be able to touch because of who she is and all that she willingly gives to Him. I'm.. soo.. HAPPAY! 

This week, our entire mission came together for a Christmas conference. After having a fun talent show, a beautiful devotional and testimony meeting, and a delicious lunch, I had the precious opportunity to follow President and Sister Riggs around, carrying their boxes full of Christmas gifts, as they delivered a present to each missionary. It was remarkable to see my dear president, as a true representative of our Savior, Jesus Christ, as he went one by one to each of us, his children. One by one he embraced them, he let them see and feel the love he has for each of them. I felt as one of the apostles, amazed and in awe of His great and unconditional love for us individually. He let each missionary experience and feel of their importance and great worth, to experience for themselves the love he and our Father in Heaven has for them. I saw as he took each missionary into his arms, knowing each by name. To every one he told them "I love you." Never once was it mundane or insincere, but to each, he sincerely meant it. After having visited with each missionary, he turned to me and held my hand in his and expressed his love and appreciation. He genuinely cares and knows each one of us, and today I surely did see my Savior in his countenance and did feel of His love- for me and for each of the missionaries. It was as though I had experienced a tiny glimpse of Christ's coming to the ancient Americas in 3 Nephi 11. I will always treasure that moment. 

We received an incredible talk by Elder Neal A Maxwell entitled "Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King" and it has been so very enlightening to slowly study each word and paragraph. I love Jesus Christ. My understanding of Him and all that He has done for us is so small, but I am grateful for what I have felt, what I have learned, and what I know of Him and His perfect character. I look forward to the lifetime we have and the eternities beyond that of which we have to grow in our knowledge and our understanding, and to become even as He through His grace and mercy. 

Sister Evans is absolutely incredible. I am so happy, so very blessed to have her as my companion. To learn with and from her. Transfers are this week which is so strange because we were just barely reunited. Regardless, we are still seeing bounteous miracles and I never cease to be amazed of His great love and power. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

LOVE SISTER JULIA JEPPSEN

Sister Evans and I reunited!

Christmas Conference with the whole mission!!!

President and Sister Riggs

12-11-12 DESIRE to do the Lord's will!!!

DAD MOM RYAN RACHELLE CINDYLOOWHO DONG and my other fellow disciples

Why hello! MELISSA WHAT?!?!?! AHHHH!!! I wanna meet him! Someone, tell him to write me a letter! Marriage trumps mission if God tells you so.  

One of Peter's biggest concerns is prayer. And in studying and reflecting upon prayer, I have come to feel such gratitude for the relationship I have been able to develop with by Beloved Father in Heaven. I love Him. I feel so close to Him and to His Son, my Savior. President Monson said, "Not a day has gone by that I have not communicated with my Father in Heaven through prayer. It is a relationship I cherish - one I would literally be lost without. If you do not now have such a relationship with your Father in Heaven, I urge you to work toward that goal. As you do so, you will be entitled to His inspiration and guidance in your life." I am so grateful that I can continue in learning more about Him, in coming to truly know Him and love Him, and in striving to become more like Him through the incredible and "sacred privilege" of prayer. Oh how great is our Father in Heaven! What an honor it is that we can talk to Him. And what's most humbling of all, He, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Almighty God, He who governs the universe and the stars, He, the Omnipotent, Omniscient One, He is listening. And He listens with the all encompassing love of a perfect and loving parent. "Compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God" (Dieter F. Uchtdorf).

Elder Packer (President Packer's son) and his lovely wife and companion spoke to our mission yesterday! And guess what! He remembers Grandpa Jeppsen :) He laughed and said he loved him and that he was their doctor for years. Oh how I wish I could describe just how powerful the Spirit was as they spoke. One of the many things I learned that I feel so prompted to write has to do with always keeping our hearts and minds open to the Spirit. Though we close our prayers, we should "pray unto the Lord [our] God continually" (Alma 62:21). We must never close our hearts and our minds to the Lord, but we must keep the channels open. We must learn the language of the Spirit and hear, understand, remember, act, and become as the signals come. 

I love Lexi. I am so grateful to be blessed by my Father in Heaven with such wonderful friends and family who are so close to Him and so active in following the direction He gives them through the power of the Holy Ghost. She sent me an incredible talk by Lawrence E Corbridge (entitled "The Fourth Missionary") of which was I am so thankful for. Everyone, READ IT! Its a gazillion glorious pages, of scriptures expounded. He said, "You can't be happy if you don't WANT to do the things that lead to happiness, even if you do those very things." 

Upon pondering about where I would be if I were not here serving a mission, I felt absolutely horrid. There is no other place I would rather be than here, no other work I would rather be doing. I want to do the Lord's will. Tho often I forget and become prideful, selfish, and foolish - I am so grateful for the power of the Atonement. I can change and I can align my will with the Lord's. 

Elder Bednar said, "..Our rather routine emphasis on GOING misses the mark. The issue is not going to church, the issue is worshiping and renewing covenants as we attend church. The issue is not going to or through the temple, rather the issue is having in our hearts the spirit, the covenants, and the ordinances of the Lord's house. The issue is not going on a mission, rather the issue is becoming a missionary and serving throughout our entire life with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength. It is possible for a young man to go on a mission and not become a missionary, and this is not what the Lord requires or what the church needs." 

This applies with everything we do, with everything that the Lords asks of us. Just to go and do is not enough. But we must do so with all of our mind, with all of our might and strength, and with all of our heart. If we do not desire to be doing the Lord's will, though we still do it, it will profit us nothing.

Miracles? Of course! Heavenly Father is a God of miracles! So the evening before in nightly planning, I felt that we should go visit Afifa and Hebba after conference. But Sister Evans reminded me that we hadn't yet planned our study time. But after conference, I felt again that we needed to go check on Afifa and Hebba - so we started for their home. We saw this man out walking his dog and tho it was far from Afifa's place, we parked and hopped out to talk to him. We walked with him and through us, Heavenly Father was able to give dear Roger hope and comfort. And along the way to his home, Roger stopped to talk to his neighbor Erica - who is this adorable Brazilian mother of which we asked if we could come back after walking with Roger and she kindly agreed. Not only will we have the opportunity to teach Roger, but we were welcomed into Erica's home and had an INCREDIBLE and POWERFUL lesson! I love our dear Father in Heaven. This is His work and His glory, and I am so forever grateful to be apart of it. 

LOVE SISTER JULIA JEPPSEN 

12-3-12 Don't we love miracles in our life!

DAD MOM RYAN SHELLY ELIZA DONG and guests/beloved ones

Hello! 

Does anyone in my family even read these emails? 

Hi mom and dad, you seem to be the only ones reading my emails!!   :) lol Just kidding

Miracle with member revelation! Dear Sister Knutti has been such an incredible help these past few transfers. When we first popped the question (Q: What revelation have you received on how we can help you?) many many weeks ago, she felt she needed to make as much time as possible to come teach with us. And surely God could trust her with this revelation, for she really intended to do whatever it was He would say. As she has come out with us countless times, we continued to encourage her to seek revelation. And again, Heavenly Father gave unto her as she asked, for He knew that she would receive. He trusts her. How great! This time she felt we needed to visit her neighbors down the street, the Rodriguez family. Oh how prepared are they! The mother expressed having felt something was missing in her life, that something was incomplete. And the daughters have been flat out frustrated with their church and were seeking to find the right one. Heavenly Father is wonderful. This family is absolutely incredible! I love them.

Though there are many more miracles I could write.. "if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written" (John 21:25)  Don't we love miracles in our life!!!! 

"That'll do donkey. that'll do" - Shrek

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

LOVE SISTER JULIA JEPPSEN