HEY EVERYONE!

Super awesome that Danny took 3rd at the Washington state wrestling tournament, super jealous, I wish I could have been there to see it, but I’ll watch the videos when I get back.

On one of the church websites they made an article about Maio, it’s kind of cool if you want to check it out, http://www.saladeimprensamormon.org.cv/artigo/igreja-abre-na-ilha-do-maio. And apparently someone said they saw something about the Maio church on lds.org, I haven’t managed to find it though.

However, back to Africa in the middle of nowhere. This week was amazing. We had another amazing baptism of Gilson! Gilson is a fisherman that has dreadlocks and he has completely changed his life. He says that everyone looks at him differently now because he is not into drugs anymore and he always looks so happy! This week at the baptism, me and Elder Christensen didn’t even have to do anything, we left our recent converts Pedro and Anastacio (most likely the next branch president) to do the baptizing. It was an incredible sight. Pedro was freaking out pretty bad, but after like 7 attempts he got it haha. Super sweet baptism! And also the Sisters had their first baptism of the transfer with a young woman named Vani, super cool.

We saw an absolutely amazing miracle this week. We have been teaching a woman named Dona Ducha. She was a reference of Kakaka (who by the way is coming back to Maio this WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!), in the beginning she had a ton of interest and really wanted to get baptized. But then we taught her the word of Wisdom. Dona Ducha doesn’t have a husband or anyone to provide for her, the only way that she gets money is by selling alcohol. And selling alcohol barely gets her enough money to survive. She used to have a salon in her house, but she got hurt and sick, stopped working and she lost her salon. Now she has no electricity and she is poor and selling alcohol to survive. We have told her that she needs to stop selling alcohol. We have invited her to stop, test her faith and the Lord would bless her and prepare the way. For a while, she had lost any sense of hope. She really believed that she could not better her situation and she would just continue suffering. We didn’t really know what to do, so we kept teaching her about how God is a God of Miracles and He loves and He worries for her. Out of nowhere, Dona Ducha came to watch a baptism, then came to church and then came to a family night. Her faith began to grow. Then we taught her about fasting and invited her to fast with us. She accepted. At the end of the fast she was the most happy I have ever seen here. She just had the biggest smile and kept thanking us. As we left her house, we found one of our members Anastacio (a fisherman) on the road. We asked where are you going, and he said ''I have been thinking about Dona Ducha and I felt like I should bring these fish'', with him he had 4 large fishes to bring to her. Dona Ducha has no money, she is starving and selling alcohol. In the best possible time Anastacio brought her food. We talked to Dona Ducha yesterday and she said it was a miracle from God. I testified '' God loves you, God worries about you, He heard your prayer and He saw our fast, He answers us and brings miracles''. As were singing the last hymn, she just cried. One of the most incredible experiences I have seen on my mission. What a huge blessing from the Lord. Apparently Ducha's daughter will be coming into town this week, they are going to start making cakes and donuts and juice to sell instead of alcohol. We made a goal for her to stop selling alcohol on Saturday and she accepted.

On Saturday night, we always have film night at the church. But this Saturday the light was cut out for the whole town. We decided to buy some candles and have an integration night in the church. We shared a message about how Christ is the Light of the world, and the light that gives illumination in our darkest of times. We played games and ate popcorn in the candle light, it was an incredible experience.

We had 26 people in church this week, the most that we have ever had since the first Sunday. We have met all the requisites to apply for a branch, the stake president should send in the application this next week. Maruca gave a talk in sacrament meeting, it was so awesome, he just talked about baptism and told everyone to get baptized, it was great. I have seen so many miracles happen here by the hand of the Lord. How lucky am I to be an instrument in His hands.

Love,

Elder Rice