Numbered Among His Sheep

 Well it's been a crazy couple of weeks and I'm not sure I could count the time I've spent in a bus traveling. I'm in Tartagal now with Elder Hoskins, although he's about to take off tomorrow.

I'm back in the +90⁰ weather and +90% humity like at the start of the mission, I love it. There's something just nostalgic about being absolutely soaking, drenched, and dripping with sweat just as you step out the door. 

  I'm still getting to know the area, but I'm so excited to work here in Tartagal.

Spiritual note:

 (If you haven't listened to the Christmas Devocional. You should! You will find inspiration as you seek and listen for it)

"But sometimes there comes a low moment -- when thinking about the past week-- I recognize these are the same sins... the same weakness I was thinking about last Sunday...and I feel truly contrite and crushed."

...One of the most crushing feelings one can feel, that I've felt is this: knowing that the Savior can change us and striving to make those changes, but even so, tripping up and making the same mistakes even when His help is right there.

  The scriptures and life teach us that the separation from His Presence, by the cause of our disobedience, is what brings misery (Alma 42). That's crushing. But even so, His arms are extended all day, so will we not now gain a knowledge of His love, get back up, and come unto to Him to recieve His healing? (2 Nefi 28:32, 3 Nefi 9:13-14)

  ...that they shall again be brought to the true knowledge, which is the knowledge of their Redeemer, and their great and true shepherd, and be numbered among his sheep. 

- Heleman15:13

There is a truth that I love. We testify of this truth often, and it's easy to recognize for everyone else, because I've seen it too much to deny... but as often is true, it is a truth that is harder to except for ourselves. 

Our Good Shepherd knows us all personally, He nows our names, our needs, and everything about us. He knows our weaknesses, our faults, and wounds...

He can Help us and Heal us, and will as we come unto Him.

We don't have to be perfect to recieve His Help and become clean. As we come to Him to find healing, we may be left with scars. Those scars that help remind of us of His power, our change, and may even help us to help others with similar wounds to find healing. I am grateful for His personal care of me in my life, and I know it is true that He knows us all individually, because I've seen his Help and Healing in action.

Love you all,

Elder Shepherd

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/broadcasts/2024-first-presidencys-christmas-devotional?lang=eng&mode=listen

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"Elder Shepherd, Donde esta Elder Shepherd?" - President

 Gringos. Gringos testified in Church yesterday about which member makes the Best BBQ chicken pizza in the name of the Lord, so yeah, that was a pretty good start in my new ward. But the wife shared her testimony in English and people cried from feeling the spirit, even though they couldnt understand her, so that was cool.

¡Welcome to Alto Comodero, JUJUY!

My first day back in the field, whitewashing this area with my companion, Elder Anderson (first time just having a gringo companion, he's awesome), was of course the Alto Comodero ward Temple trip to Salta,  so we just missed everyone, but got to know them all Sunday, they're great. I'm super excited for the work we will do here (also in our new Zone)!

--- Leaving the Ofi. | The Last Dance ---

Last Tuesday, I went to Presidents office to Play "Where's Waldo" (I was Waldo) and to have my final interview. It took me way to long to find where I was going in the chart of changes--- I was in the top left box...the first box. 

I knew it would be a wild change, but I'm excited and ready to learn. Here's something Presidente shared with me about this:

"If the Lord has [Made a decision, Forgiven me, Called me to serve in a new place/way, etc.] Who am I to judge otherwise. Is my judgement greater than his, no I dont think so."

I love that, and it connected just with the study I had hadn't that morning in Jacob 4:10-11 (I love it).

At this point I thought I was leaving Thursday, then Tuesday (like tomorrow), and I still didn't know when I took of on ...

...

¡ANOTHER ONE, THE LAST, THE GREATEST, MOST SPECTACULAR, VACCINE ROADTRIP!

ft. Elder Provonsha y Hermana Janzen.

From Salta to Tucuman to Santiago, we wrapped up all the vaccines for the mission (other than like 2 sick ones, so 99.9% like lysol wipes). Lived up that last trip with Elder Provonsha and then headed back...

Thursday Night- "Elder Shepherd, it's official, you're going tomorrow with the Newbies"

Friday. A normal day, receiving 24 new misioneros, that's incredible! I love it every time, this group is super excited to get to work. We got everything wrapped up, everyone vaccinate, and all the suitcases loaded in the Sprinter Van, as I tossed up one way too familiar on top. My own, and I was off. Said by to my Office Familiy, Elderes Franzese, Naranjo, Davis, Spiers, Lopez, Ferguson, Provonsha, Garrido, and Presidente and Hermana Janzen. It was so surreal, I totally didn't sweat from the eyes. I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for each one of them, they're incredible, and will continue to have an amazing influence in the lives of many people. And I'm so excited to see what we can do here with Elder Anderson!

Trust the Lord.

Love you all! 

 

 

Drug Smuggles of Jujuy

 Still in the office? More Vaccine Roadtrips? No clue what's happening? Yes. Yes. Yes.

Here we are, in the office,it's been a wild handful of weeks. The open house of the Temple for all the Public will start in less than a week on the 3rd of May -- probably the same day I will be leaving the office to... I have no clue where. But I'm super excited, it has been a huge privilege to be in an area 10 minutes walking from the Temple at this moment, we invite everyone and invite everyone to invite everyone. There are so many people who still don't know that they can go, they can enter the Open House and it's right in their backyard. This moment can change the future of someone's life, their family, and generaciones. That's Incredible. And. That is a ton of responsibility. 

We've seen opposition, but also a ton of blessings. One of these blessings we've seen in the example of members and how they are inviting everyone and sharing about what brings joy to their lives. One of those examples was this week with a member who shared just a little bit of hope with a family whose grandma was going through a hard time, and we could visit and share with them. There are so many who don't have hope, just because they don't know where to find it or what can bring it into their lives.

Elder Provonsha and I have been hopping on buses to go on more vaccination road-trips, and I guess when Hermana Janzen said that I couldn't leave until I got the whole mission vaccinated... she wasn't joking around. 

I have no clue what is in store next week, but I'm so excited to see. I also know that the end has come because I've been asked for my last meal... sounds like I'll be having Hermana Janzen's dumplings or deconstructed egg rolls in no time.

Love you all, see you in the field!




  All the dogs in my area are super chetos, they've got clothes.

Not Beyond our Grasp

"In other words, the Father’s plan is not about roadblocks. It never was; it never will be.
Are there things we need to do, commandments to keep, aspects of our natures to change?
 Yes. But with His grace, those are within our reach, not beyond our grasp."
-Elder Patrick Kearon

This week has been strange, with one day in my area. Every day was different from being a Stay-at-Home-Missionary, to Working Overtime, to Filling in Other Areas, receiving missionaries in medical changes. But every particular day brings something new to learn.


I continue to grow to love this life. Does that make sense? God has given us all we need and is always reaching out His hand to help us, laying His path to guide us ... but it is always our choise to grab on, to follow.° We have been given so many opportunities to Choose. And in those circumstances, we learn and grow (or if you're like me, you trip, fall, hit your head on the wall getting up, and then you get it right about the 4th or 5th time). I love how much the conference talked about Choosing (also covenants, wow they just went off). I feel as if every talk connected with me, and I know for many others watching the conference for the first time it did as well.

Three themes in the General Conference last week really called my attention. All Choices. Things to Choose:

1. Choose: to Remember you are a Child of a Loving Father in Heaven (Love Him, Remember His Promises, Change your View)
2. Choose: to Make a Covenant Relationship with Him (Remember, Keep, and Trust in Your Covenants)
3. Choose: to Act with Integrity and Courage as you follow Him

Maybe it's just me, my need to hear these things, but these mensajes really opened my eyes. I want you all to know that you are Loved. That there is someone out there with a plan for You, that's true, it always will be. We have the potential to change and grow every day ... Does that require effort on our part?... Yes, if it didn't there would be nothing to ignite that growth in us. And as Elder Kearon stated, it is not beyond our grasp, thanks to Christ. I know that as we turn to Him through our humble desires, sincere prayers, and efforts, he can and will change us. As we have a covenant relationship with Him, that change becomes even more impactful. And as we do our best, not perfect, I sure hope not perfect, but our best to have integrity to who we are and how we have chosen Him... that changes everything. 

I hope it does for you too.

Starting Today: Starting Today - Video