Well this is it. I have got 10 days left on the mission, and unforuntaly less than 10 minutes left on the computer... I have never seen an hour pass by so quickly like it does when you use it writing family on the mission.

Any way now that i am at the end, the only thing i got to say is: these were with out a doubt the two greatest years of my life!

I don´t think there has been one minute in these last two years that has been easy. And i never wanted it to be easy, when i came in to the mission i came with the desire to do the will of the Lord and nothing more. I didn´t come to be a tourist, to collect exotic goods, or anything else other than serve. And when i have been able to do this, i have never felt so happy in my life. There truly is nothing better than to faithfully serve our Heavenly Father.

Sorry for the short email, but next week i will send a good one! 

I love you all and remember there is no pathway to true happiness other obedience to the commandments!!

Elder Rice

November 28, 2016

When you get to the end of the mission, its like you become an old wise man, everyone looks to you as a becon of wisdom amongst a sea of clueless kids haha! This week i did a division with a couple of other missionaries and at the end of the day we went back home a little early so that i could give them some advice about how they could improve the work in their area. And for nearly an hour they just filled me with questions. How to teach, what to say, where to go, how to plan activites everything! I mean i recognize the fact that in reality i say very, very, very little, but in that moment I felt like some sort of wizard!

The closer i get to the end i think the more i come to appreciate missionary work itself. Even though when i go back home i will no longer have the missionary mantel, i will most definately have the missionary spirit. The work of the lord is too great too important to let it be limited to these two short years that i am fulfilling right now. For the rest of my life i will search to spread the gospel in all places and in all moments, something i realize that i never did very well before i came to the mission. But the change that i have experienced here will not be a short lived one, it will be one that will go with me for the rest of my life and eternity!

The greatest feeling is to know that Heavenly Father is happy with us, no matter what that requires of us. The apostles felt this many times ´´And they departed from the presence of the council,rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.´´ (acts 5:41)

I love you all and hope you all seek the opportunities to shar the gospel and suffer a little for Him!

Com Amor,

Elder Rice

November 21, 2016

Hey Everybody,

Another great week here in Sorriso! And today i want to tell you guys about one of our investigators. E. Nascimento and I are teaching many people but there is one guy that i have to tell you guys about. His name is Christiano, and he is an athiest. Or at least was an athiest. 

A little bit about Christiano. We met him one day while we were talking to people at a public park, and after we talked with him for a few minutes he made it clear that he did not believe in God because of all of the unjustices that exisit in the world and the fact that the bible contradicts its self and teaches prinipals with which he doesn´t agree. Like women being submissive to men. Although that and many other principals that he thinks he doesn´t agree with is actually due to the fact that he doesn´t understand the context in which it is spoken. 

After speaking with us for a little bit, he was impressed by the sacrifice that we make as missionaries, and he also thought it was super cool that i am American. I mean he thought it was really, really cool haha after i said i was american he and his friends wouldn´t stop asking me questions. luckily between the combination of him being impressed with our sacrifice and enchanted by american culture he accepted to hear our message.

And here comes the miracle!! When we went to his house to teach him we spent a good bit of time talking to be able to understand his beliefs about creation, God, and this life. We found out that he believes in the idea of an all powerful being but not in a loving God. After making a few more essencial questions we started to teach him about the restoration of the gospel. And let me tell you i have never seen absorve everything that we have to say like christiano. The lesson was incredible and the spirit testified to him that what we were saying is true.

The best part of the lesson was when we recited the first vision to him. As i said that Joseph saw a pillar of light above his head, Christiano smilied and it was as if i could see the spirit illuminate his mind. It was incredible to see.

Now Christiano is reading the Book of Mormon everyday and prays to God regularly. He has accepted baptism, and is willing to make changes in his life.

I don´t think i have ever been so personally invested in another person in the mission like i am with Christiano. I want so badly to see him enter in the waters of baptism. And i will do everything that i can to help him make this sacred covenant with the lord!

Seeing his progress is an incredible reminder about how the gospel can change us and how it illuminates is in our lives!

´´Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did lightup his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God—´´ Alma 19:6

Let the light of the gospel shine ever brighter in your lives. Be obediente and make the necessary changes!

Love,

Elder Rice

November 7, 2016

Eae Gente!!

The hight light of this week was a good one, BAPTISM!!! This saturday Carla, and her kids, João Pedro, and Camila were baptized. There was also another baptism of a little old lady named Carmelita that the sisters in the branch are teaching. And this baptismal service was incredible. There were at least 40 members present to welcome the branches newest members, and the spirit was so sweet and so strong! The greatest moment for me was when i was in the baptismal font with Carla. I looked at her all in white, saw all the members smiling, and saw the clear waters of baptism and i could just feel the sacredness of what was happening, and it just made me so happy! It is that feeling that will always be the greatest testimony to me that God lives, I can feel his presence and i am happy when i do as he desires.

´´And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.´´ Mosiahs 2:41

Love you all and hope you have a great week!

October 24, 2016

Hey Everybody!

This week was great! One of the highlights was a family night that we did in the house of an investigator on friday night. We invited a bunch of members to Denise and Marcio´s house. We have been teaching them for about 3 weeks now, and they are incredible. Like many of the people that we teach they have their own personal problems. Unfortunately Marcio is fighting against drug addiction and Denise is trying to hold on the the last strand of hope that Marcio really can change. It is difficult to watch other people pass through difficulties in their lives. When i see it i just want to grab a hold of the their lives and make everything be better instantly. But unfortunately that isn´t how it works and that´s not our heavenly father plan for us. Since I am not able to miraculously change the lives of others, at least i try to do the best that i can. Which is share the gospel!!!! I think this is the most incredible thing about the gospel of Christ. It doesn´t´matter what personal problems you have, whether it be addictions, debts, doubts, whether you have been betrayed, mistreated or abused the gospel of Jesus Christ can make you life better. Even if by some miracle you don´t have problems in your life, the gospel will make it even better!!

On friday night it was an incredible opportunity to have a family night with Denise and Marcio. My companion shared an extremely interactive yet spiritual message, that touched everyone. I stayed pretty quiet the whole night because i literally could not speak, i lost my voice and wasn´t able to speak louder than a whisper. But it was so nice to see as friendships were made and everyone joked around together.

In other news Carla and her kids will be baptised this saturday!! Which is pretty awesome. The progress of Carla has been incredible as we have been teaching her. She too still has several problems of her own, but the gospel is helping her overcome it all!

I love being a missionary! The church is true and Christ lives. 

Hope you all have a great week!

Elder Rice

October 10, 2016

Friends and family!!

Lots to do and not nearly enough time to do it!

Its gonna be another quick one!

This week was about a million times better than the other weeks that have passed by! And i got to give a big ol´ thank you to my new stud companion, Elder Nascimento! He pretty much puts me to shame, but i gotta admit i am super grateful to have him as a companion, he is teaching me a lot, and the most incredible thing is that he does it without saying a word.

The feeling of love that i felt in other areas that i have served is starting to come back. I am once again seeing the hand of the lord in our work, an just the week he has lead us to have some incredible experiences. One of which was when a woman stopped us in the street, and requested that we went to her house to teach her and her family. She said that she has been to the chruch many times already and wants to come back! Miracle!

Any way life is good, i am still being contanstly show my weaknesses, by my pride is already so beaten that i am willingly to accept pretty much all criticism! 

Love you all and hope you all have a great week!!

October 3, 2016

Hey Everybody!

Alright, wasn´t general conference absolutely incredible!! I mean seriously all of the talks were just so inspired, it is such a blessing to have living prophets who can speak to us!

This week i really am on a time crunch. In a couple of hours 10 other missionaries will be arriving in our city for a zone meeting tomorrow. So my comapnion and i have to make lunch for everyone, and we have organized some other activities for everyone just to hang out.

My week was great! I mean things haven´t gotten any easier, but i am learning a lot and that is what makes it so great. In fact this week i was pretty much slapped in the face but all of my weaknesses and shortcoming, it hurt a little bit when i realized that i was failing in quite a few aspects, but its just a new challenge and opportunity for me to grow! So it was good! :)

Oh and for those of you that don´t know i will no longer be extending my mission. I had decided to extend my mission until febuary, but two weeks ago i found out that my brother, Matt will be getting married on the 20th of december. So i talked with my mission president about the possiblitly of me coming home in december (my original departure date) instead of febuary to be able to see my brothers wedding. President oliveira said that it would be a once in a life time opportunity for me to be there and recommended that i return early! So I´ll be home for the holidays!

I love you all and hope that you all have a great week!

Elder Rice