HEY!

I cannot even believe that I have arrived at the end. This is the last week of my full time missionary service. Set apart from the world. Set apart from all that is vile. Set apart by the laying of the hands, by a man that holds His divine priesthood. I was called and sent by the authorization of a living prophet that holds all of the priesthood keys necessary in these latter days to bear testimony of the Great Jehovah, invite others to come unto Him, put their yoke on Him, that they may be a alleviated from sin. I have been called to preach Faith and Repentance for the remissions of sins, making a sacred covenant with the Lord to be baptized and be sanctified by the Holy Spirit; ordained to teach by the Spirit; a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ and His church. Is there any greater call? It’s no wonder they call this the best two years. I can see that this will be the ending of divine calling, but the beginning to eternity. What I have learned is difficult to describe in words, and hard to write. I have gained a real and living testimony that God lives and that redemption is possible through the merciful sacrifice of His Beloved Son. I have witnessed the Atonement take effect in mine own life and those I teach. I testify that no matter how far we think we have gone, however lost we think we are, there is ALWAYS a way back to our Father. These were truly the best 2 years of my life. I can’t describe to you the pure love that I have for this people. What a magnificent blessing it has been to love and serve these Children of God. They are all His children. I am here as just an instrument to bring His children to know the truth.

I’m having mixed feelings about going home. I am truly going to miss Cape Verde. I love each and every person that I have known here. They are truly a humble and meek people. It was really tough saying bye to our recent converts and members in Santa Maria. We got to sit down with Judith and Jezidel. They are both so incredible and I love them both so much. After going to a District Conference, Judith asked us ´´What do i need to do to get to the temple?´´. We explained exactly what she would need to do. She said that she would do everything in her power to get there. Jezidel was quite immature when we started talking to her, but she has grown up a lot and now will be a part of the Young Women’s presidency. I have come to be very, very close with a less active member that we have recently brought back to the fold. His name is Octavio. He is my best friend. I gave him a pair of my shoes, a shirt, pants and a few little things. I will never forget him. Since he has started to come back to the church, he has started to get his life together. The gospel blesses and transforms lives. God is our Father. Jesus is His Son. This is His work. I am immensely grateful for all that the Lord has done to strengthen me and help His children come back to His fold.

Love,

Elder Rice

Dear Family and Friends:

It’s so unreal. I thought this day would never come. Literally, I can’t even imagine a life other than this. For the last 2 years I have been in the service of the Lord. I can tell that these will be the most influential years of my life. I can’t stop thinking about it. If really I am ready to come home. I honestly want to stay. I can’t imagine going home yet. I could barely sleep last night. I set out to invite others to come unto Christ. Most importantly I was sent to bring myself unto Christ. Of all that I have learned, most important is that Jesus Christ is the Savior of this world. He was sent by the Father to do His will, to be lifted up on the cross that all men may be drawn unto Him. All other doctrines and principles of this gospel are simply appendages of this fact. It is only through the Savior Jesus Christ that we may clean of our sins. We can bring free of guilt, shame, sadness and we can experiment the miracle of forgiveness. We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, so that our children might know the source of the remission of our sins. I testify that He is the Son of God and He lives.

We have been working a lot with a less active named Octavio. Over time we have become great friends. He has once again started to read in the Book of Mormon and now has arrived to 1 Nephi 12. After receiving an interview with our branch President, he decided that Octavio would be the branch secretary! Octavio is very excited and because of this he has decided to be fully active in the church.

We have been also teaching a young man from the island of Sao Vicente. His name is Elvis. We marked him about 1 month ago to be baptized on the 27th of September, but unfortunately he has not been able to come to church because his work did not permit it. We taught him the importance of keeping the day of the Lord, and helped him know that he would never be able to be baptized without keeping the day of the Lord. He said he would do everything possible. About 2 days later, on Saturday, he told us that without saying anything, his boss randomly called him in to talk to him and told Elvis that his day off would now be on Sunday, she asked if that would be ok. He exclaimed ´´of course´´! That is a miracle. Certainly the Lord heard his prayers and granted him according to his faith. Because of that he was able to come to church this week and will be baptized this Saturday. That is all that he wants.

As we were walking on the street, we saw a young man sitting on the road, and I felt inspired to talk to him, so we went up and sat down with him. His name is Vando. He is 19 years old and he is from Praia. He is living here with his family. He had a unique smile, there was something different about him. We marked the next day to talk to him. The next day, we didn’t find him, but we did find the rest of his family. His mom, dad and little brother. Apparently the father had studied before with the Elders and knew quite a bit about the church. We had a great lesson with them. They said they wouldn’t be able to come to church this Sunday, but they said their son Vando would go. So we passed by on Sunday and picked him up and he came!

Waking up on Sunday morning was a great surprise. All of the streets with flooded with water and it was pouring down rain. Even like this we went around walking and passing all of our investigators to bring them to church. None of the 3 other Elders had rain gear so I gave my umbrella to others. And then gave my rain jacket to Vando, because he didn’t have anything. We came to church all soaking wet and the power had also gone out, ha-ha. Because of the mass amount of rain only 13 people showed up this Sunday. A little sad, but the spirit still manifested.

It’s been a great week, I hope that this week is even better. We will work with all of our heart, might mind and strength. No impure hand can impede the work of the Lord. This is His work. I pray that I may be a worthy and useful instrument in His hands.

Love,

Elder Rice

Hi:

I received some of the most joyous news this last week, my heart is filled with so much joy. About 1 year and a few months ago I served in Assomada on the island of Santiago. Assomada has to have been one of my favorite areas I have ever served in. I loved my companions, I loved being a zone leader, and I loved the members. We worked really hard with the members. We had the chance to teach and baptize 2 young men named Wilson and Hernani. They were so incredible. Wilson used to come out and proselyte with us even before he was baptized. They both developed very strong testimonies and loved working with us. I just received a call this last week that they both have callings, Wilson is the secretary and Hernani the ward mission leader. Both of them have officially put in their papers to serve a mission. They should be receiving a call any week now. And also another young man, named Edy in Mosteiros, has also started his mission papers. I was so happy to hear this news. I know that they will be great missionaries.

Our recent convert Chidi is doing great, but he is going through a bit of a rough time. As I have probably already mentioned, he has been stuck here in Cape Verde for 17 years and has not been able to save up enough money to return home. He just wants to go home. This week he couldn’t help but break down. He shared with us how he was feeling. He really doesn’t even like Cape Verde at all. His dad is sick and he wants to see him before he may die. Some fellow Nigerians have been able to contribute for his journey to Nigeria, until this point about 73,000 escudos has been donated, which is probably around 900 dollars. He needs 20,000 more escudos (like 300 dollars). He had received a few let downs and just about lost hope, but we have been stopping by every day, sharing scriptures, praying, we did a fast and now he seems to have much more confidence. I gave him my English quad (Book of Mormon, Bible, D&C, Pearl of Great Price) and it was pretty much the happiest day of his life. He said he wouldn’t give up those scriptures for a thousand dollars.

This week was party week. This ginormous party was called ´´Festival´´. It went on from Friday to Sunday. It started at like 8 o clock at night and they would stay out until 7 o clock in the morning. Everyone just drank a bunch and it had a very negative effect on our teaching at church. During the day, everyone was sleeping.

We have been working with a man named Immanuel for a quite a while now. The only problem is that he is constantly going to the island of Santiago for business and we haven’t had very much time to teach him. However the lessons we do have with him are always awesome! This guy is probably one of the smartest men I have met and he is exactly what the branch here in Santa Maria needs, a mature adult that can lead. I know we didn’t find him by coincidence. The Lord needs him on His side. He has really sincere intent to know the truth and I am positive that as he reads and prays he will receive an answer from God, just as I have read and prayed.

I studied a very powerful story this week in the scriptures, one that will forever change the way I see God. In Moses 7:23-37 tells the story of a vision that the Lord let the prophet Enoch see. Enoch saw Satan with a great chain covering all the face of the earth and he laughed. What a disturbing image. Satan is taking more and more control over the earths habitants. And when a man succumbs to his carnal desires against the nature of God, he pleases the enemy, and he laughs. While all of this iniquity and wickedness is happening, God look to his people and he wept. Enoch asks, how is it that you weep? The most holy, the most eternal the most superior being, how is it that you weep? The Lord explains that we are the work of His own hands, he sent us to see if we really love Him and would keep his commandments, but we hate our own blood. We are children of the most high, we are His special and His priceless children. This story demonstrates to me the love that God has for each and every one of His children. Just think about the Prodigal son. The prodigal son left his father and took a part of his inheritance to a far land and ended up losing it all. When the son finally came to his senses, he returned to his father. And what did the father do? After all of that time of his son being wayward, he saw him, he RAN to him, threw himself on his son and kissed him. That is the Love that God has for His Children, that not even 1 of his children should be lost. How great the joy in the heavens, when just 1 is repents!? When we sin, we please the enemy, he is laughing at us, while our loving heavenly father, that only wants our eternal happiness weeps. Think twice before you want to do something that is cool, or feels good or what everyone else is doing.

God loves us, we are His children, and our value is infinite. Our bodies are temples, gifts of God, let us show are love for our Heavenly Father and do what he asks with a humble heart. We should be willing to sacrifice everything for Him, thing about who He sacrificed for you.

Love,

Elder Rice

Hi,

This last Sunday a member, named Maritsa brought one of her friends name Zito. He really liked church, so we got to talk to him this week. He was very open to our message, having been invited by one of his friends. He accepted our invite to baptism on the 20th of September. Investigators that are introduced by members are 100% more effective than other ways. If we really want to bring more souls unto Christ, members must work together with missionaries, there is no other solution. There is nothing better than having a friend there to answer doubts, bear testimony and guide them through this path.

At family home evening this week we got to try something a little different out. As we are all brothers and sisters in the Lords plan, it’s as if we are a family within the church. Each person was able to share a little bit about how was their week, what was good and bad, if they needed help with anything. It was just like a little family council. I think it was a great way to open each other up create more union within the branch members. We got to bring Chidi and he loved it.

Chidi is doing so great. He literally just glows now. We taught him about temples and it just blew his mind. Not only that, but he has the luck to have a temple in his country that is like a few hours car drive. He was really excited about that. He asks us almost every day if he will be able to participate in missionary work when he gets back, all he wants to do is share the gospel with others, he is so awesome! We have also found that there are a ton of chapels very close to where he lives. He is actually planning to probably leave this week to head back to Nigeria, which will be really good for him. I love him so much! I’m going to miss him, but we will definitely stay in contact.

We have had some really great success this week with less actives. The church has been here in Santa Maria for right around 10 months to a year, there are already 30+ less actives here. There is a lot of work to do with less active members. We have been working with a man named Filipe that has recently returned to the church. And also this week we met with a less active man Oitavio. He has been a member for like 8 months. He told us that when he was in the church he has direction in his life and he was on the way to fulfill his dreams. But once he stopped he lost that orientation and started losing his way and getting frustrated with life. I shared with him one of my favorite scriptures in 3 Nephi 14, where the disciples were worried about what they would eat, drink and what they would dress. Christ replied Don’t worry, because your Heavenly Father knows what you need, Search first for the Kingdom of God and these things will be added unto you (paraphrased). I told him that the solution was very simple. Trust in the Lord, put Him in the first place over everything else and he would gain more than he could ever imagine. He came to church this week, it was awesome!

We also started to teach another less active, named Pablo that baptized a few years ago in Praia. He actually has the Melchizedek priesthood. We shared with him the story of Enos and his fight to obtain remission of his sins. This story really touched Pablo. We challenged him to try pray fervently and talk with the Lord as Enos did. He wasn’t able to come to church yesterday, but he said he would come this next week!

Another cool miracle, is that at testimony meeting yesterday, Judith shared a really cool story. Since the day we met her (4 months ago) she has struggled financially and to find a fixed job. We have promised time upon time that God would bless her as she continued to be obedient. It was hard to see her struggle so much and be so obedient, but I had a surety that God would fulfill his promise. The branch members have been a huge help to her in her need. She said that the week before, she had thought that it was the 1st Sunday of the month (actually the last of the month). She did a fast with the purpose that she might find work. To her surprise the very next day, some random lady had offered her a fixed job. Not only that, but some branch members had also found her another fixed job, now she had the problem of deciding which job she would take, she prayed and she made the decision. Judith is so great!

We found a few investigators this week while we were knocking doors. I’m pretty sure they were stoned, but we still taught them a little bit. One of them, named Steve really appeared to have interest. He had told us that he had talked to missionaries before and that he knew about Joseph Smith. We visited him again yesterday, inviting him to be baptized on the 4th of October, he said ´´yeah, I’ll be baptized on that day, I’ve already been baptized in your church, can I do it twice?'' I asked ''You have been baptized in this church?!?!'' He replied ''Yeah''. Not sure why he didn’t tell us that ha-ha. However he does have desire to come back to church, so that will be good!!

Oh yeah, another thing. We were passing some people to bring them to church. At one house they had a dog chained up. I went to pet the dog’s head, but then I decided not to. Then my companion said ´´just pet him, he want bite´´. Well I went to pet and the dog just about bit of my finger. I got blood all over my nice tie and my white shirt ha-ha. I didn’t want to look at my finger, because I really thought the dog had bit it off. It didn’t end up being that bad, ha-ha.

Also this week we had the visit of a 70 of the area, his name is Elder Moreira, and he is from Portugal. It was absolutely incredible. His words were very inspiring, he just made me want to repent and change and be better. Well that’s actually the Spirit that brings a change in our heart to want to do good continually. That’s how you I can tell if a talk or training was good, if I feel enlightened and want to repent.

 I love the gospel, I love sharing it with those that are lost, so that they may experience the unexplainable joy that I feel every day. I’m grateful for my parents that showed me a great example of how to live the gospel!

Love,

Elder Rice

Hey,

I have come to realize the utter importance of our communication with our Heavenly Father. Just as real that we may be speak, ask, beg and plead to Him, He can very well communicate with us through revelation. Revelation is communication from God to his children, this communication comes by the Holy Ghost which prompts us, gives us impressions, and fills our heart with inspiring thoughts and feelings. We ask the Lord for so many things every day, but how often do we pay attention to what He is saying to us. If the God spoke to you would you give so little importance to it, to forget it within moments or days? The voice of the Spirit is gentle and subtle and can often be overlooked if we are not paying attention. I have tried to pay more attention to these revelations that the Lord has given me. I have even started a small journal to record this things. I encourage you all to do the same, the messages that God gives us are essential to our earthly and eternal progression.

I gave a training in District meeting this week about Faith. I shared the story in Matthew 14, 22-33, of Jesus walking on the water. Christ called to Peter that he would walk toward him, having faith in Christ and seeing the perfect and unfailing example of Christ, Peter stepped out and walked on the water. 1st of all proving that maybe to man, some things may be difficult or impossible, but with God, all things are possible, likewise as we have faith in Him. As we come unto Christ we can do miracles. But later, the wind came. I like to think of this wind as weaknesses, temptation, trials that test our faith in Christ. It is inevitable that we will fall. But it is how react against these winds that matter. Will we let our trials get the best of us and weaken us, or will we do as Ether counsels (Ether 12:27), as we come unto Christ, he will show us our weaknesses, and he shows us our weaknesses that we may be humble. We must humble ourselves and recognize our dependence on the strength of the Lord, that we cannot do this alone. And the grace of Christ is enough for all those that humble themselves, making it possible that weak things become strong. I know that through the Savior Jesus Christ and only through Him may we overcome our weaknesses and errors and become stronger than we have ever been, to become true disciples to the Lord. I have felt impressed to share this story, it was revelation that the Lord has shown to me that I will never forget.

This week was incredible! What a joyous and beautiful day to see Chidi follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. Chidi was a lost man. At times close to suicide. He was addicted to drugs and has been stuck hopelessly in this country for 17 years without seeing his family. And then one day, the Lord led us to Him. I have a surety that it was the Lord that led us to him. He realized it was exactly the gospel that he needed and he even exclaimed ''I have found what I have been searching for''. Chidi has transformed. He used to wear these ragged and dirty clothes. He cut his hair, shaved his beard, cleaned his clothes and now I can see the light that he has. As he came out of the water he couldn’t help but just laugh and smile. I gave him a hug and i knew by the power of the Holy Ghost that that baptism was indeed performed by the divine authority of God. As we walked back he couldn’t stop saying. I just feel so different, I feel so happy, I feel like a different person. Yesterday he received the gift of the Holy Ghost. What a miraculous and wonderful experience it has been to work with him and help him come unto Christ. He is now closer than ever to return back to his home country. I know that as he continues to keep the commandments of the Lord, He will prepare a way.

One night as we were standing on a street corner, a young man of about 21 years came up to us and told us that he wasn’t from Sal, he was from Sao Vincent and he had gone to our church. For a while it seemed like he was a member, but we came to find out that he was not yet baptized. His name is Elvis. He works with horses and does excursions around the island. We got to teach him at our branch president’s house and it was a great success. He has accepted to be baptized on the 27 of September. He is going to be a great member, i can see it.

For the first time ever here in our small branch in Santa Maria, we had 3 hours of church!!! We started at 9:30am, until 12:30pm. It ended up being a huge success. Our branch president, President Rodrigues is so awesome, I love him. He is doing such a great job, even with such little time in the church, he is doing everything to magnify is office we are working with him always!!!

I love the work, I love the gospel. There was a quote that I loved by Elder Jeffery R. Holland, I will paraphrase. He said ''There once was a young man that came up to me and asked 'Elder Holland, would you give your life for the church?', I knew what he was trying to ask, if I would be willing to die for my beliefs. Well that would be the easy part, to die for our beliefs. The harder thing is to live for the church, live your beliefs and serve Him until the end. Not a very easy task''. I am both willing to die and live for the Lord. I have no doubt that these things that I teach and preach every day are true, I have seen it transform lives.

Love,

Elder Rice