Well everyone the time has arrived for me to end my story here. I would like to take you all on a trip through the past two years real fast starting all the way back when I first found out I would be serving the Lord in the Kiribati Islands...
The happiness was unreal as I read those words, "Elder Jeppson, You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Marshall Islands/Kiribati Mission." Some may recall that a few tears were shed, but, I promise they were tears of joy. You see ever since I was a young lad I dreamed of serving a mission in some tiny islands in the middle of the ocean. God really must know our deepest desires because that's exactly where I went.
The first time those beautiful islands came into view from my tiny airplane window I wondered what I had just gotten myself into. But the Food, The People, The Culture, The Humidity, and even the Mosquitoes made for some life changing and memorable experiences. I will never forget the impact the Kirbati people had on my life. They showed me how a true Christlike human being should act. They demonstrated what pure happiness, joy, charity, and humility looked like. And best of all they taught me the value of always keeping Jesus Christ at the center of our lives no matter how hard or how easy our lives are.
Covid 19 hit and my time in Kiribati came to an end a lot faster that what I had planned it being. It was a sad time for all of us missionaries. There wasn't a dry eye to be found as we showed up to the airport that day in April waiting for our plane to take us home. But I found great peace as we all sang the song "Raomi Iesu" (Till we meet again) one final time. Knowing that I will one day be able to see all these wonderful people again helped me realize that God's plan is much greater and eternal than what I had in mind.
Two and a half months later I ended up in the state of New Jersey asking myself the same question as before, "What did I get myself into." Only this time I was asking it because we weren't allowed to leave the house haha. 11 months later and we were finally set free to almost complete normalcy. Once again the people, my companions, the lessons I learned, and my deeper conversion to the Gospel made for some amazing times. Although my mission didn't go the way I excepted it to go, there is nothing I would change about it.
As I chose to let God prevail in my life these words found in Mosiah 2:41 took on a whole new meaning for me.
"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and HAPPY state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."
I am happy about how my mission turned out. I am happy about the person the Gospel has helped me become. And I'm happy because when we follow God's plan everything else in life seems to work out just fine.
I'm grateful I was able to have this opportunity to serve the Lord for two years in two different countries. I know with all my heart that Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Redeemer. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the most amazing gift that we have been given. His gospel has been restored and this Church is true.
Here's to the end and to the beginning of a new chapter!
Tangiringkami ni kabane!
Tia boo moa
Elda Jeppson
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| Last District Picture |
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| Saying goodbye to Jojo |
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| Elder Norlund and I |
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| Ballin with our homies |
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| Hibachi Grill |
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| Jersey Sunset |
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| Elder Kotter and I |
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| Saying goodbye to Maryanne |
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| Last church Pic |
