HEY!

What a sweet week!! So many blessings of the Lord have been brought to the church here on the island of Maio. The work is progressing so well, and we are getting so close to being able to create a branch here. What a blessing. I can remember when we first got here and there was nothing! We had 1 less active that was interested in coming to the church. Now we have around 8-9 active members, 5 Melchizedek priesthood holders, 4 Aaronic priesthood holders. The church is firm and will never fall.

We are currently in Praia for a Zone conference and we will return on Wednesday at 3:00am on the boat, sweet. Should be super good though.

We had the baptism of Ze Mario this week, it was super awesome. Ze Mario was a reference from a member. He had been into some rough stuff, even went to jail, but when he came to church, his life changed. Even though this grandpa died (he is super close to him), he was unphased and still set on baptism this last week. What faith!! He was just so excited the whole time it was incredible.

One of the sadder moments on my mission is to find out that our recent convert Kakaka went to Boa Vista. He went there to look for work. It was all super unexpected. That took a big hit on us, he said he will potentially be back in two weeks if he doesnt find work. He is an incredible recent convert, i love him with all my heart.

We have been working with a few young men named Julio and Ider. We had taught them for a while during Christmas and the New Year, but they fell hard into temptations, and wouldn’t commit to stop drinking or smoking. They actually started running from us. However, Anastacio is Julios dad. Anastacio was baptized last week and Julio and Ider both came. They absolutely loved it. After that they showed up to film night, church and a Family Home Evening. They were hit really hard by the Spirit and came with a completely broken heart and contrite spirit, to repent and be baptized. When we walked into Julio's house, the first thing he asked was, ''Is it possible for 2 people to be baptized on the same day, because Ider and I want to be baptized together''. It just came out of nowhere and it blew our minds. They are sincerely repenting and preparing for baptism on the 15th, they are so incredible. They came to church and loved it and afterwards we gave them both white shirts and ties, super cool!!

This Sunday was INCREDIBLE!!! We had a fast and testimony meeting and the spirit was so prevalent. At church we had 25 people!! Every person that bore their testimony spoke with sincerity and absolute love for the gospel. Their testimonies are stronger than many members that have been members for many years. It’s a miraculous thing. Not only that but an inactive Melchizedek priesthood holder named Rui showed up to church on his motorcycle. He went through a phase of drugs and prison and came after us to seek to change his life. During the testimony meeting, he came up to the front and bore the most incredible testimony that he knew that this was the only church of Christ that could lead a man to salvation and that Joseph Smith was the prophet that brought about this Restoration. He bore a testimony as if he had never left – incredible.

The group is getting closer and closer to turn in the application to become a branch, super exciting, then we can give out callings and help the work grow even more.

 I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it is the only way to true happiness.

Love,

Elder Rice