4-29-13 We've Seen So Many Miracles! The Lord is Working Beside Us!

DAD MOM RYAN RACHELLE LIZA LOO EMDONG and my lovely friends,

Liza's a winner of sorts! Woohoo!!! And Ryan and Rachelley are officially home owners. Oodallaley! And Emma/Prim is GREAT! She can do anything good. What an incredible week! I love the Anchas and Biggs. Sweet Sonia, the mother and driving force of the family, is absolutely wonderful. I thank Heavenly Father for the privilege to know her and learn with her and her family. Tho the adversary was working hard to keep us from teaching them on one particular evening, the Spirit stepped in and by the power of Jesus Christ, the chaos was cast out! Woohoo! I love Him! And oh how He loves them! We were able to teach them the importance of family scripture study prayer and she committed to reading with her entire family at dinner each night. Tho not everyone in the family is on board yet, she is relying on the Lord to push her forward. "The task ahead is never as big as the force behind us!" She has so gratefully received all that she has from Him, so now He's giving her more! What a privilege to be an instrument in His hands, to have the opportunity to love and grow with her family. They're incredible.

 

This work is hard, its exhausting. But oh how remarkable it is! It is most fulfilling and joyous. Every moment is precious and remarkable and I am so eternally grateful that Heavenly Father has allowed me to serve here in Virginia. Elder Holland said: "I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary.. Now, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not talking about anything anywhere near what Christ experienced. That would be presumptuous and sacrilegious. But I believe that missionaries and investigators, to come to the truth, to come to salvation, to know something of this price that has been paid, will have to pay a token of that same price."

We are laboring in the vineyard with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. And He, the Lord of the vineyard is working beside us. We are not alone. I'm privileged to be here. And I adore Sister Bell. We've seen so many miracles!

My hands grow weary of typing and my mind never quite knows where to start. I seems as though I write nothing of all the miracles I've seen, that I fail to convey the miracles He has wrought. I love Him. I am grateful for His patience. He has provided the way for us to return home. He sent us His only Begotten Son. He so willingly and so humbly came here for us. Through faith in Him and His infinite and perfect Atonement, through repentance, baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and through enduring to the end, we can and will return home to that God who gave us life.

 

I love this ward. I love Sister Bell. I love Warrenton. Its so beautiful and the people are so incredible. I am so privileged to know them and to grow with them. We have the truth in its fullness. I am so humbled to be here. I love Him.

 

LOVE SISTER JULIA JEPPSEN

 

Virginia is stunning! And that cow is stunned haha

Sonia and Sonia Claire!! They came to church! Woohoo! We're so excited for them.

4-22-13 The Youth's Examples Are Amazing!! Just Pondering Prayer!

DAD MOM RYAN RACHELLE LIZA EMMA, "my friends and my brethren, my kindred and my people" (Mosiah 4:4)

You guys are the VERY BEST! I love you so much! Momma, you are incredible!  

When does Ryan and Rachelle move out? Poooor Chloedog :( ...GOOD LUCK ASHBOY!!! WOOHOOO!!!

God is so great! I marvel to see how Heavenly Father is preparing, and using, the youth in our ward (and I'm sure every where else) to be His servants in bringing the gospel to all the world. He has been placing us in the paths of several teenagers who are eager and searching to know God and Jesus Christ. These kids are all friends with different members in our ward and have been deeply touched by their examples and the Spirit that is with them. Surely, when we are doing what we should, the Lord does far more through us than we realize. We carry HIS light. And if we do not hide, He will penetrate and cast out the darkness that overshadows His beloved children.

When we were temporarily lost, we saw someone getting out of his car, so of course - we talked to him. Turns out he, Liam, is friends with a boy in our ward (named Brian) who just recently got his mission call to Germany! Liam is so sincere and so honest. He recently lost his faith and fell into atheism. We were able to bring his friend, Brian,  with us as we taught him how he can know that God lives. It was a great lesson and a blessing for Brian. Brian will teach many who do not know God as he travels to Germany and what better way to prepare than to share with his good friend what He knows to be true. Liam humbly said he's trying to desire to know the truth.

And again, we were out checking on a family who Bishop Brown felt impressed for us to see. Though the dad was not too friendly, the mother (the only member, and less active since she was a little girl) and her two daughters were very kind. Kaitlyn, a tall athletic and beautiful 17 year old girl, so desperately wants to know our Savior. Never having been taught about Him, she gratefully accepted a Book of Mormon and started reading it. She is an incredible softball player and she is on the same team as Makayla, a darling girl in our ward. Makayla's example and testimony has resonated in her heart and she longs to have what she has.

Oh how I do not deserve any of this! But how grateful I am! With deepest gratitude and humble hearts, we are able to receive and become far more than we will ever deserve. How glorious.

While studying prayer this week, Heavenly Father opened my eyes on how I can better commune with Him. In this two way communication, we can always trust that Heavenly Father will talk with us with profound intensity and intimacy, but how inconsistent and lacking are we in communing with Him. Do we pray with PROFOUND intensity and intimacy? Also, in the bible dictionary, we learn what it means to truly pray in Christ's name. "When we pray in Christ's name when our mind is the mind of Christ AND our wishes the wishes of Christ - when His words abide in us." I'm grateful for times of self reflection. Do I pray for the things He would pray for? is my mind one with His? Are my thoughts His thoughts? Are my wishes His wishes? "Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ's name at all; they in no way represent His mind, but spring out of the selfishness of man's heart." I should never feel as though I DESERVE an answer to my prayers, that I deserve revelation, that I deserve progressing investigators, that I deserve to be healed. For thankfully, I will never get what I truly deserve. I deserve hell. But because of Jesus Christ, I will not receive it! As I pray, I mustn't ask in an attitude of entitlement or selfishness. But I must ask in humility, in an attitude of thankfulness and gratitude, of faith, of hope, and of charity. Do I pray looking inward? Seeking for my own personal and selfish desires? Or do I pray with faith in Jesus Christ, and gratitude for His Atonement? Do I pray with hope and patience? Do I pray out of pure love for those around me and for our Father and Savior? Lots to think about. Lots to change! I'm so excited! I love repentance. Oh the great blessings that await us :) Love you dearly.

LOVE SISTER JULIA JEPPSEN

Nakash, Jazzmine, and Jerry :)

This is Sonia Ancha! I adore her.

Blossoms Blossoms Blossoms!!!

Kathy and Woodrow :)

4-15-13 Satan may be fighting "Good" CONTINUALLY- But God can "encircle [us] ETERNALLY in the arms of His love"

DAD MOM RYAN RACHELLE LIZA EMMA and my beloved brethren

So, as I have promised - I shall tell you a story. Here's one of God's bounteous miracles. One day, we were out working - and positively every one of our plans fell through for the evening. Oh how divine it was! We prayed and felt impressed to go knock some doors on a particular street that we had prayerfully considered. It was gorgeous, the sun was setting and the bright colors of green, blue, purple and white filled the street. We prayed fervently to our Heavenly Father, asking that those we would speak with would open their doors to us and that they would open their hearts - expressing their concerns, their desires, and their fears. And oh how He answers! The very first door we knocked, out came Emily - a mother of two young adults. On her doorstep, she began to tell us of the experiences she has had with different churches, the sorrows she has experienced and the fears that have developed as a result. As we listened to sweet Emily with love, and then listened to the voice of the Lord, we were able to teach her of the truth she has been searching for, the fullness she has been thirsting for. As the Spirit directed, we asked if we could come into her home to teach her more. She welcomed us right in and we had an incredible lesson! Heavenly Father loves her. She's a wonderful woman and a wonderful mother. How grateful I am for this privilege to learn and grow with her and with my dear companion Sister Bell.

The Anchas and Biggs are doing wonderful! Sonia was out of town this week, but we continued to teach her family - bringing with us some friends from the ward to join us in loving them with us. It was so perfect. I love them dearly. The Holmes are hanging on. I cannot describe how much I adore their entire family. I truly do respect and love them with all my heart. The adversary is working hard.

In General Conference, the Apostles emphasized the reality of Satan. In Moroni 7:12-13 we learn "that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him CONTINUALLY..." How often is the adversary working against us? CONTINUALLY. Nonstop, without ceasing, Satan is working to deceive, blind, and confuse us. CONTINUALLY he is working against us and against the Lord Jesus Christ. Our faith will be attacked, and it will be attacked CONTINUALLY. But oh how marvelous is the great and infinite Atonement.

While Satan attacks without ceasing, our dear, loving Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son reach out to us CONTINUALLY. God "inviteth and enticeth [us] to do good CONTINUALLY... to love God, and to serve Him" (Moroni 7:13). "He stretches forth His hands unto [us] ALL the day long" (Jacob 6:4), CONTINUALLY beckoning us to "repent and come unto Him" that He might "encircle [us] about ETERNALLY in the arms of his love" (2 Nephi 1:15).

We are not alone. I have seen the darkness of the adversary overshadow these people whom I love so dearly. I have seen trials and doubt, stress and fear creep in. But oh how my heart takes faith and courage when I remember that the promise of the Lord, Almighty. He WILL NOT fail us, NOR forsake us. 

In 2 Kings chapter 6, Elisha and his servant were encompassed about by the adversary. They were literally surrounded by chariots and horses of these wicked men who sought for their destruction. How overwhelmed and lost could they have felt. The servant - a young boy, cried out saying, "Alas, my master! how shall we do?" Elisha, with his steadfast hope and great faith turned to his friend and said: "Fear not; for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." Then, he prayed. Fervently he asked, "Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see." "And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." We are not alone. If we but open our eyes and see, we may behold the glory of our God and King. There are angels round about us. He has not left us alone.

LOVE SISTER JULIA JEPPSEN

                                             
                             Beautiful blossoms everywhere!! Warrenton is beyond description.

Centreville zone

We are but a few of Sister Rozsa's descendents. Sister Rozsa will always have a special place in my heart. She's the greatest.

Happy Birthday Sister BELL!! WOOHOOO!! Macaroni and cheese galore.

4-8-13 Oh What a Beautiful Morning!!! Conference and Birthday Yeah!

DAD MOM RYAN RACHELLE LIZA EMMDONG.. CHLOE CHARLIE BOJANGLES and my dear friends

Oh what a beautiful morning!! My heart sings with praise for our great and wonderous Father in Heaven and His bright and brilliant Son! 

 

We lived with our Heavenly Father! Twenty two short years ago, I was WITH Him! How precious and fleeting is our time here. How rich and joyous is this beautiful life. I thank Him. I praise Him. I love Him. This life is not the end. We will all live again. We are infinite and eternal beings, children of the Most High God. My eyes have been opened to the magnificence of His plan. When our eyes are so focused on the task immediately before us, we fail to see the magnificent world around us. This life is but a moment in our timeline of eternity. It is our choice to follow the path He so simply has laid before us. It is our choice to live the commandments He so lovingly has given us. It is our choice to lay claim on the blessings He wants to give us. We choose the degree of our happiness.

 

General conference was INCREDIBLE!!! We have a living prophet, President Thomas S Monson. We love and sustain him. We have living apostles. We love and sustain them. They commune with our Lord and Savior and receive direction from Him for us. Christ IS coming again - in great glory and matchless power. What an honor to be part of His great and marvelous work. 

 

I love Sister Bell. I love the Anchas and Biggs. I love the Holmes. I love Nakasha and sweet little Jazzmine. I love the Greggs. The Greggs had us over for the Sunday afternoon session of conference and they had carefully created a BEAUTIFUL birthday cake, made entirely out of fruit. It was so sweet. I love them. I deserve nothing, and look what Heavenly Father so abundantly gives me! What remarkable people I have met, they are His children - my brothers and sisters, my friends.

 

My family is my most precious gift. Dad, Mom, Ryan and Rachelle, Liza and Emma - with all that I am, I love you.

 

I promise to tell a story next week... :D

 

LOVE SISTER JULIA JEPPSEN

 

P.S. HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY BRET TURNER!!! I love you!

 

 Bishop Brown and his incredible family. I love them!

They have a horse.. and  a tractor.. and yet they claim not to live on a farm haha :)

The Greggs are the best!!!

4-1-13 A Tongue Lashing In Behalf of Our Savior- an Easter Blessing to Feel a Small Degree of What He Experienced!

DAD MOM RYAN RACHELLE LIZA EMMA

Hahaha I love Dad and his wondrous adventure escapades :) I don't
think he has ever had the gift of approximating time though lol.
WOOHOOOO!!! Charleston Bojangles Jeppsen 1st. - Charlie Bo!! The newest addition to the
family. I love each and every one of you. With all my soul!

Heavenly Father is so generous. He keeps every promise. As we have
been so fervently asking to find and teach a family, to guide them
together to the waters of baptism and to the temple, He has so
graciously given to us. Heavenly Father (miraculously) led us to find a 3
generational family, Tony and Virginia Ancha (the grandparents), Tim
and Sonia Biggs (the parents), and Sonia, John, Dominick, and 4
others (the children). They are incredible! Heavenly Father placed us
at their door at just the right time, where they welcomed us in. They
were all together about to enjoy dessert and they greeted us with
warmness. We had a powerful lesson. The Spirit was strong as they were
engaged, together as a family, learning of His restored truths. The
same power Jehovah gave to Adam and to Moses, to Abraham and to Peter,
the power to seal and bind families together for this life and the
next has been restored to the earth. We have a living prophet, Thomas
S. Monson, and living apostles. He is no respecter of persons. His
authority to seal on heaven and on earth is restored. His priesthood authority is restored!  The Anchas and Biggs can be sealed :) The temporary state of a family, "til death
do we part" will be broken, shortened, and brought to an end at death. But an
eternal, forever, and everlasting bond by His authority can seal us together
for time and all eternity.

Only two days before Easter, I was blessed with the experience to
endure cruel and false judgements, to suffer harsh treatment and
accusations in behalf of the Savior Himself. We were mocked and
smitten, rejected and abused in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and
Redeemer.

We were in the home of a southern baptist family and were teaching our
happy message of the Restoration. Near the end, the mother snapped and
broke loose her tongue - filled with anger and malice as she yelled
at us. Her attack was inconsistent with the very Bible she waved to
defend. Her cruelty contradicting His perfect love and His everlasting
truths she claimed to protect.  We stood with love and hope, forgiveness 
and sorrow for this woman as she yelled demeaning words and prideful 
misunderstandings viciously at us.

On the evening of His arrest, Christ was bound and taken captive, to
stand before an unlawful tribunal, to stand before Caiaphas and the
proclaimed authorized elders and chief priests of the church. Against
the very laws they represented, contrary to the very commandments of
God they claimed to uphold, they attacked the Son of God in unjust and
cruel brutality. "To [their] cowardly assaults the Lord replied with
almost superhuman gentleness." To their false and inconsistent
testimonies presented against Him, "He stood in dignified silence"
(Jesus the Christ). It was as if I have felt an ounce of what Christ felt. I felt I stood 
with him.  With Christ, I stood in this, a hostile venue. With Christ, I stood 
as demeaning words and prideful misunderstanding striked viciously across 
His back.  With Christ, I stood with love and hope, forgiveness and sorrow
for those whose hands had smote His cheek.  It was He who cried
out while on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what
they do" (Luke 22:34). With Christ, I stood, understanding in the
smallest degree what He must have felt as He said, "If I tell you, ye
will not believe: and if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor
let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the
power of God" (Luke 22:67-71).

I endured merely 30 minutes of such rudeness, and from only one
person. And we experienced such a small portion of what our Savior experienced. 
No mortal man can fathom what awful pain and suffering He
endured while He knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane, while He stood
before His own in judgement, while He hung upon the cross. But He, our
Lord and Savior, loosed the bands of death. He broke the chains of
hell. How happy, how glorious and oh how great is the plan of our God!
He is Resurrected!!  He lives!!

With Him, I stand for truth and righteousness. With Him, I stand to
bring hope and joy to those ready to learn. With Him, I stand as His witness in all times,
in all things and in all places. With Him, I stand - beckoning to all
to come and receive more of His precious word. Come and see. Feel and
know for yourself - that He lives, that He loves us, that the fullness
of His gospel is restored and rolling forward with great and marvelous
power and magnificence. This is His work and His glory. Jesus Christ,
the living Son of the living God will come again!

LOVE SISTER JULIA JEPPSEN

McDonalds (this one was paid for by dear Joni Goodfellow :)

Lyle and Stacey  are the best

Sister Bell and Sister Jeppsen

Best P-day spent laying outside in the glorious sun, writing letters.
Heavenly Father is so good to us.