Hey,

A week full of miracles, the Lord has blessed us so much here. The Lord never ceases to hear our prayers and answer with accordance to our sincerity and faith.

Our small little group here in Maio has become a family. The members really do love one another and always strive to help those that are weaker and share the gospel. I have developed an immense love for this people, I really don’t ever want to leave, this is the best area that a missionary could possibly be in. The members have gotten into a really good routine of coming to all activities, classes, meetings and baptisms and everything. They all come to everything and they strengthen their testimonies so much more. We always have great family nights every week, we discuss and feel the spirit, but then play some games and laugh a lot. I don’t think these members have ever laughed as hard as they do with us. Even though they don’t have much money, they still buy snacks and drinks to make a better time, it’s such an incredible thing.

We have working with Dona Ducha, pleading with the Lord that He would help her in her sad and suffering situation. Dona Ducha does not have money and she has to sell alcohol to survive. We have fasted with her and prayed. She has been coming to church and is happier than ever. The Stake President, President Teixera came this week to Maio and was able converse personally with her about her situation. She told him everything, and later on President Teixera said that we can help her with Fast Offerings. She is in huge debt to the electric company and will not be able to get her lights turned on until she has paid her debt. Today, we will be able to help her pay off these debts and have light in her house so she can start working in her salon again and stop selling alcohol. This is a miracle of the Lord. I promise, I have seen it with my own eyes, the Lord has blessed her immensely. Dona Ducha is set on baptism, she loves the Spirit she feels at church and with the members of the church. I just love her so much.

We had one of the most incredible baptisms I have ever seen of Ta. Ta was so ready to be baptized. He fought and fought and endured and finally made it. His mom is catholic and didn’t want him to even talk to us. He kept coming to classes and church and snuck out to study with us and he TRANSFORMED his life. He was the town drunk and everyone knew it. He was in a rough life, and now he one of the happiest people I have seen. He is a completely different human being, all because he decided to come unto Christ, repent of his sins and be born again by baptism of water and the fire. What an incredible experience it has been to work with him. He has more fire than ever to share the gospel with all of his friends and family. He is always teaching with us and helping us. I love him so much.

We started teaching a man named Jose (Ze Boca). We had met him a few months earlier, but he didn’t want anything to do with the church. We found him again and he had a huge desire to talk to us. We taught him the Restoration and it all just clicked for him. He saw the great necessity for a Restoration and believes that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that this is the true church of Christ. He is a very well-known man and a very smart man. He came to church this Sunday and LOVED it. He even went up to the front and bore his testimony that he wants to serve in our church and help others come unto Christ. He has a huge potential. Now we just need to get his wife on board and get him married.

By the way, KAKAKA came back from Boa Vista!!!! He is finally back, we missed him so much. He is such a big part of the church here in Maio, because of the references he gave us, 3 more people joined the church. He is such an amazing convert. We taught him and his friend Gilson (who was also baptized) about temples and eternal marriage, it was super neat.

President Teixera (Stake President) was here this weekend and he did interviews with ALL the members, it was super great, it gave them all a lot more fire to do the work. President Teixera told us that we have EVERYTHING necessary to make a branch. We have sufficient Melchizedek priesthood holders, and members and they are all doing their duties and helping the Kingdom of God grow. He will be sending in the application for the branch this week. We currently have 15 active members!!!!! WHAT!?!?!? SO AWESOME! Yesterday in church we had 25 people at church. The Lord has blessed us immensely. Nothing would have happened if we did not trust Him and His Holy Spirit to bring about this marvelous work.

Love,

Elder Rice