HELLO!

 This week was pretty crazy awesome and tiresome haha. We had some awesome family nights at Hermanas house. Hermana is a single woman of about 55-60 years. She is such an incredible member and has helped us to have a bunch of baptisms in the area that she lives. She has recently been preparing to go to the temple. So we had a family night farewell (Everyone here LOVES to do family nights with a spiritual part, games and a snack). Elder Haile and I talked about temples and how families can live together forever. There were actually a bunch of non members there so it was super cool. Then we let Hermanas kids share their testimonies and all 3 of them started crying because of how much their awesome mom has done for them. It really reminded me of my mom. Who would I be if it weren’t for my mom? I would not be on the mission, nor would I be doing good things or even close to happy. My mom kept me on the right path and helped me to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, for that I too am very thankful. We had some cake played some games and bid our farewell (we would later found out that they didn’t make it to the temple, later in this letter).

Anyway, we started off the week by helping the Elders in Riberao Manuel move their house. We would then do a division with them. It was good division, I got to stay in their area and teach a couple they are teaching that is preparing to be married and baptized this week. The Elders there are really doing a good job. That area slowed down for a while but now is really picking up. After being gone for a day, i really missed my companion so it was good to see him again the next day, haha.

We have been teaching this man named Irnani. Irnani had previously been studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses and he had a ton of doubts. Now we have begun to teach him the restored truths. His heart has completely changed. he had the chance to come to church for the last 2 Sundays and see a baptism and it seems like he is a different person. The spirit of the Lord truly touched him and now he is willing a ready to prepare for baptism. Besides him thinking that weed is a medicine and ok, he is doing really good haha.

Also, there is a less active in our ward named Gugas who has not came to church for a long time. This Sunday, we passed him and he FINALLY came. one of his daughters that lives in Praia has come here to Assomada to stay and he really wanted us to teach her, so we have started and marked a baptismal date and she came to church. Their entire family came to church, which has not happened for about a year.

Also, a member named Daisy brought one of her friends Emily to church a few weeks ago. We tried to contact her and teach her but she literally had NO interest, she did not want to talk to us. Finally we got a chance to sit down with here and teach her the Restoration. She was basically taken back by the message we had just testified. She was very interested. She had no idea that something like this could happen. She committed to be baptized and to read and pray to know the truth. In our next visit she had shared with us that after praying she felt something different and recognized it to an answer from the Holy Ghost. Her whole character has changed. She came and saw the baptism this week and came to church and is preparing to be baptized on the 14th.

 The Spirit of the Lord can touch the hearts of man (2 Nephi 33:1) . The spirit brings about change that leads to repentance. I have seen it, i have felt. The people that heard King Benjamin felt it and have no more will do bad, but to continually practice righteousness. I know that the spirit of the Lord only teaches truth. The restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the prophet Joseph Smith is the truth.

We have missionary leadership conference this week. It was incredible. I just want to repent for everything. I want to be a better leader, a more diligent missionary and become more like Christ. We received some great council about how we can bless and help our zone. We have a lot of work to do. Funny story, we arrived to the missionary leadership council at 8:30 in the morning and it didn’t end until 7:00 at night. Little did we know we would be invited to a meeting with the stake president and President Oliveira for another hour. After that we had to go out on the streets and look for a car to take us back (the stake president helped us out). Then we found out that all the people that were planning to go to the temple from Cabo Verde didn’t go, because the airplane didn’t come. So we went to the airport and waited with them and found a Hiace together. We didn,t get home until 12:30 in the morning. It was crazy. Not only that but we had to wake up at 6 am to go out to Tarrafal attend their district meeting.

 A crazy week, but overall awesome!! We are planning some sweet baptisms this week, like Vera. Vera was very accustomed to the world and other bad stuff, but we have helped her know the commandments and now she is completely ready to change. Then we have Tilish who is a son of Ze and Nininha (The couple that just got married and baptized), who really liked to drink and smoke but now has quit. Hopefully everything will go as planned and we will have an awesome week!

I love it here so much. There is nothing more awesome than preaching repentance and having the authority of God to do it.

Love,

Elder Rice