December 21, 2015
OPA!!!
Hope that all of you guys had a great week this week and are enjoying the Chirstmas spirit! This time of the year is special as everyone remembers the importance of our Savior Jesus Christ, and our families.
Last week I made mention that the week was a little bit rough and the work in this area has been dificult lately. Well this week, was pretty much the same! haha My companion and I are diligently working in a manner traditional and unconventional to find and teach those who are prepared to receive us. Our part as missionaries is to invite others to come unto Christ and experiment the incredible joy of the gospel. We testify of the beauty of the gospel to all of those we teach and powerfully state that it is only through our obedience to the commandments of God that we have a fullness of joy in this life and eternal life in the world to come!
My comanion and I and the rest of the missionaries in the entire world do this work because of Jesus Christ. Because of what he did for us and how we can benefit from it. Christ was born, died, and rose on the third day to redeem us from physical and spiritual death, of this I have a certainty. And not only is the reason for mine, and millions of others, missionary service, but it is the reason for this Christmas season. This time of the year in particular we remember the humble birth of our Redemer Jesus Christ. How he submitted him self to all the weaknesses of man, but rose above them all to save us. We truly can not express gratitude enough to thank him for what he did. And i think the words of the Prophet Ammon of the book of mormon express this well.
Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel. (Alma 26: 16)
Merry Chirstmas to all and that we can all glory in the lord through our acts of service to our fellow brother and sisters this Christmas!
Love,
Elder Rice
Monday, February 8, 2016
December 14, 2015
Hey Everybody!!
Unfortunately this week was a little bit rough. So with the new transfer it seems like the work here in the ward has restarted as well. Elder Cruz and I are working hard with the members and by our own forces to find and teach as many people possible. We were able to find a few people who were very interested and wanted to get to know about the church and its teaching better. But to make a long story short, both of these people, after several great lessons, decided that the church isn´t what they wanted in their lives, and they would rather continue in the direction the are already going.
This was something that made me really sad, but we all have our own agency to choose what we want in our lives. I just hope that at some point in the future they will remember the spirit that they felt with us and have the desire learn more about the church again.
Other than that though the week was good. Elder Cruz and I are working a lot more with the members and are really starting to enjoy the work while still being efficient in what we do. Oh, and a member of the ward did a barbaque for us and it was super, super good! Here in brazil they call it churrasco.
Sorry for the short email, it seems like the time is always a little limited.
Love you all and hope you all have a great week!
Hey Everybody!!
Unfortunately this week was a little bit rough. So with the new transfer it seems like the work here in the ward has restarted as well. Elder Cruz and I are working hard with the members and by our own forces to find and teach as many people possible. We were able to find a few people who were very interested and wanted to get to know about the church and its teaching better. But to make a long story short, both of these people, after several great lessons, decided that the church isn´t what they wanted in their lives, and they would rather continue in the direction the are already going.
This was something that made me really sad, but we all have our own agency to choose what we want in our lives. I just hope that at some point in the future they will remember the spirit that they felt with us and have the desire learn more about the church again.
Other than that though the week was good. Elder Cruz and I are working a lot more with the members and are really starting to enjoy the work while still being efficient in what we do. Oh, and a member of the ward did a barbaque for us and it was super, super good! Here in brazil they call it churrasco.
Sorry for the short email, it seems like the time is always a little limited.
Love you all and hope you all have a great week!
December 7, 2015
Here is what has been going on this week with some of the people we have been working with.
Cristiane and the fam!
Unfortunately the struggle with Cristiane and her family is still going on. This Sunday was the Sunday that they would have been officially confirmed members of the church but they were not able to make it to church this Sunday. Saturday night Cristiane started to feel really sick and went to the hospital. (she has quite a few health issues that seem to be constantly affecting her) After going to the hospital she went to her mothers house to get help taking care of her kids, because she is a single mom there is no one else to help her at home. She ended up staying the night at her mom´s house and still felt really sick Sunday. It was pretty unfortunate that she wasn´t able to make it to church Sunday but we are going to go back to her house today to help her and share a good message with them.
Odair and Lediane
Lediane came home from the hospital this Sunday after trying to take her own life. Tuesday we visited her and her family and it seemed as if everything was just fine. and it seems like every time that we are there with them that everything is just fine and dandy, but then the next time we return a million things have gone wrong. We will try to keep helping them this week as much as they was to be helped.
TaTa
This is a new investigator that we found this week. She is 22 years old and has 2 kids, one that is 6 years old and another that is 1 year old. We actually found her because she stopped us as we were walking in the street. She was interested to know what it is that we do and showed even more interest in getting to know the church. She has a lot of respect for what we do and thought that the message of the restoration was very interesting. I´m excited to see how she continues to progress!
We meet with lots of other people this week but it would take hours to write about all of them. But the work is progressing well and we have a lot to do this transfer. Oh I forgot to mention, Sunday was transfers. I will be staying in the universitário ward with Elder Cruz! I am certain that this transfer will be another great one.
Oh and this Sunday i participated in a play that our stake put on to kick off the Christmas season. Myself and all the elders of my zone were angels in the play ``Salvador do Mundo``. It was a really cool experience! I´ll attack some pics for you guys
Love you all and hope you guys have a great week!
Love, Elder Rice
Here is what has been going on this week with some of the people we have been working with.
Cristiane and the fam!
Unfortunately the struggle with Cristiane and her family is still going on. This Sunday was the Sunday that they would have been officially confirmed members of the church but they were not able to make it to church this Sunday. Saturday night Cristiane started to feel really sick and went to the hospital. (she has quite a few health issues that seem to be constantly affecting her) After going to the hospital she went to her mothers house to get help taking care of her kids, because she is a single mom there is no one else to help her at home. She ended up staying the night at her mom´s house and still felt really sick Sunday. It was pretty unfortunate that she wasn´t able to make it to church Sunday but we are going to go back to her house today to help her and share a good message with them.
Odair and Lediane
Lediane came home from the hospital this Sunday after trying to take her own life. Tuesday we visited her and her family and it seemed as if everything was just fine. and it seems like every time that we are there with them that everything is just fine and dandy, but then the next time we return a million things have gone wrong. We will try to keep helping them this week as much as they was to be helped.
TaTa
This is a new investigator that we found this week. She is 22 years old and has 2 kids, one that is 6 years old and another that is 1 year old. We actually found her because she stopped us as we were walking in the street. She was interested to know what it is that we do and showed even more interest in getting to know the church. She has a lot of respect for what we do and thought that the message of the restoration was very interesting. I´m excited to see how she continues to progress!
We meet with lots of other people this week but it would take hours to write about all of them. But the work is progressing well and we have a lot to do this transfer. Oh I forgot to mention, Sunday was transfers. I will be staying in the universitário ward with Elder Cruz! I am certain that this transfer will be another great one.
Oh and this Sunday i participated in a play that our stake put on to kick off the Christmas season. Myself and all the elders of my zone were angels in the play ``Salvador do Mundo``. It was a really cool experience! I´ll attack some pics for you guys
Love you all and hope you guys have a great week!
Love, Elder Rice
November 30, 2015
Hey Everybody!
This week was tense! This week was the week of the baptism of Cristiane and her family, and let me tell you it was not a smooth ride. From the begining Cristiane always doubted whether she really deserved to be baptised or not because she didn´t think she was fully prepared or worthy of this convenant. From all the time that my companion and I spent working with her and her family we had no doubt that she truly was prepared we just needed to help her realize the same thing.
During the week we went to her house with an older couple in the ward, who recently returned from a mission. They both have incredible testimonies of the gospel and an amazing conversion story. When we arrived at Cristiane´s house we could already tell that she was a little anxious and as we got to talking we realzed it was becuase she didn´t feel that she was ready for the baptism this Saturday. Irmão Antonio and Irmã Adarcy bore testimony to her that baptism was the next step and covenant that her and her family need to make with God, and that she should let nothing stop her. Their testimonies were exactly what she needed and at the end of the lesson she felt that she should continue with the baptism. So Saturday I returned with another missionary to do the baptismal interviews and have everything ready to go for the baptism Sunday. (we switched the baptism because there was a conference on Saturday and none of the members would have been able to attend) But when we arrived there, Elder Juliani and i could feel that something wasn´t right. As we entered and started talking with Cristiane she confided to us again that she didn´t feel prepared to be baptised and that she didn´t want to be baptised the next day.
When I heard her say that, my heart cringed, but I waited a moment and bore testimony to her about the importance of baptism and that unfortunately before baptism the advesary will do all that he can to stop us from making this decision. Then I suggested that even though she didn´t want to be baptised that it would still be a good experience to do the baptismal interview. She accepted, but mentioned again that she didn´t feel prepared. She and Elder Juliani went in to the house to do the interview. An hour later they came out and Cristiane said that she would be baptised the next day!!!
I´m not entirely sure what happened during that interview, but from what Elder Juliani said, it wasn´t him who did the interview but God himself with angels watching. It really was an incredible experience that strengthened my testimony about the power and influence of the spirit. Other than that unfortunately I have bad news. During the week we went to visit Aldair and lediane and found out that lediane tried to commit suicide and is in the hospital.
Other than that i don´t have any more information but Elder Cruz and i will return to see how they are and if we can help them. I love all of you and hope you guys have an incredible week!
Hey Everybody!
This week was tense! This week was the week of the baptism of Cristiane and her family, and let me tell you it was not a smooth ride. From the begining Cristiane always doubted whether she really deserved to be baptised or not because she didn´t think she was fully prepared or worthy of this convenant. From all the time that my companion and I spent working with her and her family we had no doubt that she truly was prepared we just needed to help her realize the same thing.
During the week we went to her house with an older couple in the ward, who recently returned from a mission. They both have incredible testimonies of the gospel and an amazing conversion story. When we arrived at Cristiane´s house we could already tell that she was a little anxious and as we got to talking we realzed it was becuase she didn´t feel that she was ready for the baptism this Saturday. Irmão Antonio and Irmã Adarcy bore testimony to her that baptism was the next step and covenant that her and her family need to make with God, and that she should let nothing stop her. Their testimonies were exactly what she needed and at the end of the lesson she felt that she should continue with the baptism. So Saturday I returned with another missionary to do the baptismal interviews and have everything ready to go for the baptism Sunday. (we switched the baptism because there was a conference on Saturday and none of the members would have been able to attend) But when we arrived there, Elder Juliani and i could feel that something wasn´t right. As we entered and started talking with Cristiane she confided to us again that she didn´t feel prepared to be baptised and that she didn´t want to be baptised the next day.
When I heard her say that, my heart cringed, but I waited a moment and bore testimony to her about the importance of baptism and that unfortunately before baptism the advesary will do all that he can to stop us from making this decision. Then I suggested that even though she didn´t want to be baptised that it would still be a good experience to do the baptismal interview. She accepted, but mentioned again that she didn´t feel prepared. She and Elder Juliani went in to the house to do the interview. An hour later they came out and Cristiane said that she would be baptised the next day!!!
I´m not entirely sure what happened during that interview, but from what Elder Juliani said, it wasn´t him who did the interview but God himself with angels watching. It really was an incredible experience that strengthened my testimony about the power and influence of the spirit. Other than that unfortunately I have bad news. During the week we went to visit Aldair and lediane and found out that lediane tried to commit suicide and is in the hospital.
Other than that i don´t have any more information but Elder Cruz and i will return to see how they are and if we can help them. I love all of you and hope you guys have an incredible week!
November 23, 2015
Alright p-day was crazy so i have no time to write.
To sum it up i had a great week! This sunday Cristiani and her family came to church and they are on track to get baptized this saturday!!!! A couple that we are working with, Aldair and Leidiane, weren´t able to come to church this sunday because his horse escaped. But they are super awesome and still progressing!
The area is doing well and so am I! I love all of you and pray for you guys often. Never stop studying the scriptures, praying and seeking to be closer to our heavenly father!
Love, Elder Rice
Alright p-day was crazy so i have no time to write.
To sum it up i had a great week! This sunday Cristiani and her family came to church and they are on track to get baptized this saturday!!!! A couple that we are working with, Aldair and Leidiane, weren´t able to come to church this sunday because his horse escaped. But they are super awesome and still progressing!
The area is doing well and so am I! I love all of you and pray for you guys often. Never stop studying the scriptures, praying and seeking to be closer to our heavenly father!
Love, Elder Rice
November 16, 2015
Hey Everybody!!
Its been another good week! And i even had the chance to get to know the hospitals of Brazil! But don´t worry nothing happened to me. Tuesday morning my companion woke up with a really bad back pain and the whole day it was really difficult and painful for him to walk. Finally at about 3:00 in the afternoon he said that it was hurting too much and that he needed to go to the hospital to get medicine. Luckily for us right next to the church there is a special hospital building called the UPA. It is a special hospital is is available 24 hours a day to give medical care to anybody that walks in. To me it seemed a little bit sketchy, you literally just walk in say that something is hurting and they will give you drugs. My companion explained that he was having back pain, so the first thing they did was give him an injection in the butt... and some pills to take. In the end it all turned out good and my companion felt a lot better the next day. But I still think the whole process is a little sketchy...
Other than that the week was pretty good! We returned several times to teach Cristiani and her family and they are progressing well!! Cristiani and her son Rafael are both reading the Book of Mormon! Cristiani is reading about a chapter a day and we set a goal with Rafael to read 5 verses everyday! They are both loving everything that we are teaching them and are really excited about going to church. But unfortunately they weren´t able to make it to church this Sunday because Cristiani got sick really early Sunday morning and had to go to the hospital. But they are still doing well and we are planning on going to their house tonight to do a family night with them!
Other than Cristiani and her family my companion and I are searching dilligently for all the other people out there that have been prepared by our Heavenly Father and his angels to receive the message of the restored gospel. I know there are dozens if not hundreds of people waiting to recieve this message here in the area that I am serving i just have to go out there and let the spirit guide me to them or them to my companion and I.
I love all of you guys and hope that you all strive to follow the example of Christ everyday of your lives!
Love Elder Rice
Hey Everybody!!
Its been another good week! And i even had the chance to get to know the hospitals of Brazil! But don´t worry nothing happened to me. Tuesday morning my companion woke up with a really bad back pain and the whole day it was really difficult and painful for him to walk. Finally at about 3:00 in the afternoon he said that it was hurting too much and that he needed to go to the hospital to get medicine. Luckily for us right next to the church there is a special hospital building called the UPA. It is a special hospital is is available 24 hours a day to give medical care to anybody that walks in. To me it seemed a little bit sketchy, you literally just walk in say that something is hurting and they will give you drugs. My companion explained that he was having back pain, so the first thing they did was give him an injection in the butt... and some pills to take. In the end it all turned out good and my companion felt a lot better the next day. But I still think the whole process is a little sketchy...
Other than that the week was pretty good! We returned several times to teach Cristiani and her family and they are progressing well!! Cristiani and her son Rafael are both reading the Book of Mormon! Cristiani is reading about a chapter a day and we set a goal with Rafael to read 5 verses everyday! They are both loving everything that we are teaching them and are really excited about going to church. But unfortunately they weren´t able to make it to church this Sunday because Cristiani got sick really early Sunday morning and had to go to the hospital. But they are still doing well and we are planning on going to their house tonight to do a family night with them!
Other than Cristiani and her family my companion and I are searching dilligently for all the other people out there that have been prepared by our Heavenly Father and his angels to receive the message of the restored gospel. I know there are dozens if not hundreds of people waiting to recieve this message here in the area that I am serving i just have to go out there and let the spirit guide me to them or them to my companion and I.
I love all of you guys and hope that you all strive to follow the example of Christ everyday of your lives!
Love Elder Rice
November 9, 2015
Hey Everybody!!
As a missionary you wait very anxiously for Sunday, it pretty much makes or breaks the whole week. From Monday to Saturday you spend all you time telling everyone how amazing the church is, that living the principles of the gospel is something that has changed your life, and you know that if they do the same they could have the same life changing experience. So Sunday you wait very anxiously to see if the people you´ve taught and you come and see if it is all true. And luckily this Sunday, a lot of people came and felt the spirit of the Church!
Last week I wrote a little bit about Cristiani and her family, and how special they are. And this week they finally came to church, and loved it! She noticed that the Church was a lot different than other churches here in Brazil, that it was very organized and taught in a clear manner. This difference in organization that she noticed is because we have the same organization that Jesus Christ had when he established the church. The difference that she noticed is that we have the same teaching that Christ taught two thousand years ago, and most importantly that the spirit in the Church is the same Holy Ghost that Christ left with the apostles two thousand years ago (John 14:26-27).
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints really is the restored church of Jesus Christ here on the earth. It is the church that has authority from God to act in his name. And it is the church where we can recieve a fullness of the gospel and live with a light inside of us that we didn´t know exsisted before. And the proof of all this is inside us of, it is the happiness that we feel and the blessings that we receive as we strive to keep the commandments.
``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.`` mosiah 2:41
I hope that we can all be this example to those around us and invite them to recieve this happy and blessed state!
Love you all and hope you have a great week!
Love, Elder Rice
Hey Everybody!!
As a missionary you wait very anxiously for Sunday, it pretty much makes or breaks the whole week. From Monday to Saturday you spend all you time telling everyone how amazing the church is, that living the principles of the gospel is something that has changed your life, and you know that if they do the same they could have the same life changing experience. So Sunday you wait very anxiously to see if the people you´ve taught and you come and see if it is all true. And luckily this Sunday, a lot of people came and felt the spirit of the Church!
Last week I wrote a little bit about Cristiani and her family, and how special they are. And this week they finally came to church, and loved it! She noticed that the Church was a lot different than other churches here in Brazil, that it was very organized and taught in a clear manner. This difference in organization that she noticed is because we have the same organization that Jesus Christ had when he established the church. The difference that she noticed is that we have the same teaching that Christ taught two thousand years ago, and most importantly that the spirit in the Church is the same Holy Ghost that Christ left with the apostles two thousand years ago (John 14:26-27).
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints really is the restored church of Jesus Christ here on the earth. It is the church that has authority from God to act in his name. And it is the church where we can recieve a fullness of the gospel and live with a light inside of us that we didn´t know exsisted before. And the proof of all this is inside us of, it is the happiness that we feel and the blessings that we receive as we strive to keep the commandments.
``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.`` mosiah 2:41
I hope that we can all be this example to those around us and invite them to recieve this happy and blessed state!
Love you all and hope you have a great week!
Love, Elder Rice