Sister Julia Jeppsen: 6-10-13 Touching Story about Hardships! Saw My Aunt and Cousin!

DAD MOM RYAN RACHELLE LIZALOO EMMDONG and my beloved friends

Let me tell you about Isaiah, not the prophet, but our new friend! His sister, Jubilee, was baptized about 2 years ago. Her mom, Fabianna, joined her a year later and they have stayed strong in their faith, attending the Burke family ward. Isaiah is the oldest brother and his family has been very worried about him for the past few years. They have expressed concern because he has carried a dark spirit about him, seeming distant and disconnected from the family and especially from Heavenly Father. Never before has he shown an interest in God or in the church - UNTIL Friday. While on a training exchange with the Burke sisters, Sister Crockett and Sister Jarman went to check on Fabianna. Isaiah was home and when asked - he accepted the invitation to learn! How inspired were the Burke sisters to plan Fabianna the night prior. They taught him about prayer and he committed to do so. To our surprise, he bought dress clothes Saturday and went to church with his family - the first time since childhood! What a miracle. Because of Jesus Christ and the Atonement, we can change! Oh how my heart rejoices! Forever will I thank, forever will I praise His Holy name. We had a powerful lesson where he told us of his desire to be better and to know God. He wants to change. He already is! He looks so happy. He looks so hungry for more. And how great are the promises to those who "hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they SHALL be filled"

I love repentance. I love revelation. I love this beautiful process of becoming like God. My tongue cannot tell all I that I know. All that I have seen, felt, and heard, and all that I have learned, done, and become I have to thank my Father in Heaven and His dearly Beloved Son.

It has been an honor to serve these sisters, to have the opportunity to grow, to love, to serve, to motive, to lift, and to inspire. I can feel Him working through me. His words are my words. Through fervent prayer, continual repentance, faithful obedience, and cheerful diligence, I have been empowered by His grace. I have become His hands. And oh how much more I have to grow! I love this beautiful life. We are preparing to return home to Him. We are becoming like Him! And how blessed and privileged are we to join with our brothers in sisters in reaching for Heaven.

I want to share with you a story about missionary work that I had the privilege of reading to the zone this past week. The Spirit of the Lord was so powerful. As I read, I wept. I love my dear Savior.

The alarm bell rings at 6:30, I stumble to my feet , I grab my companion’s bedding and pull off his sheets, a groan fills the room, is it already time to arise? It seems like just a second ago, I was able to shut my eyes, the morning activities follow-study, prayer and such. When its time to leave the apartment, you feel that you haven’t accomplished much. We have a super day planned, my companion says with a grin. I lowly utter a faithless breath, "yeah, if anyone lets us in." With the word of God and my faithful Schwinn, we ride off in the street prepared to face another day of humidity and heat. It’s 9:30 in the evening, the day almost through, my companion and I are riding home not accomplishing what we thought to do. We ride up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot, only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate "air box" We go up to our apartment, the day is now complete , the only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet. Its past 10:30 p.m. My companion is fast asleep, silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep. In the midst of sadness , I kneel down to pray, I need to talk to Father, but I'm not sure what to say. "Oh Father" I begin, "what happened to us today? I thought we’d teach somebody, but everyone was away. My hands, my aching hands- worn hurt and beat; If our area was any smaller, we’d have knocked every street". "Why on missions are the days so much alike? The only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike. Will you send some cooler weather? The heat is killing me I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes, it’s very hard to see". Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn’t your protection enough? People always laugh at me, and call me stupid and stuff. Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack , I want to give them Books of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back" And what about my family: they didn't have much to say, I'm sick of not hearing from them day after day after day. Oh Father, why am I here? am I just wasting time? Sometimes I just want to go home, I’m sorry but that’s on my mind". "My companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me?" The way he rides his bicycle, I dint think he can see. Now you have it, I can’t go on, I don’t know what to do that, my Father in Heaven , is the prayer I have for you" My prayer now finished, I stand up, then jump into bed. I need my rest for tomorrow, we have an-other long day ahead. Sleep starts to overtake me, I seem to drift away, then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day. I’m standing alone on the hill. The view is very nice. A man walks towards me and says, "My name is Jesus Christ" Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to his feet " Arise , "he states" "Follow me to the shade. You and I need to speak" My attentions towards my savior, total and complete He says, "your mission is similar of what happened to me. I understand how you feel, I know what your going through. In fact, it would be fair to say I’ve felt the same as you" " I even know how you felt when no one listened to you. At times I felt not quite sure what else I could do. I know you don’t like to ride a bicycle, for you a car would be sweet , just remember the donkey I rode wasn’t equipped with 21 speeds" " I understand you don’t like sweating, in fact its something you hate. I remember when I sweat blood from every pore, oh the agony was great! I see you don’t like your companion- you’d rather have someone else- I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth"." Its hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you. I remember when they put thorns on my head and called me king of the Jews. So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack. I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back" "your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all day, I guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ached a similar way. Its hard not to hear from home when your family’s not there to see. I lost communication on the cross and cried, "Father, why hast thou forsaken me?" We have a lot in common, but there’s a difference between us you see. I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me" He embraced me with his arms and his light filled me with his love , With tears in my eyes I watched as he went back to the father above. I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head I listened and heard the alarm, then realized I was in my bed. My companion let out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!" I sat up and said," come on, I will even carry your scriptures today!"

I hope you're having fun cruisin around! Hoorah! Pray for and be anxiously engaged in sharing the gospel with your fellow cruise friends! It'll be the best cruise of their lives - physically AND spiritually!

LOVE SISTER JEPPSEN