Monte Sossego week 6

And 2018 comes to a close. It passed by so fast, and I know that this last year has made a huge impact on my life. 2019 is going to be another great year. Christmas was great, talking to my family, having a barbeque at my Bishop´s house, and eating some pies at a senior missionary couples house. On Monday night we sung Christmas hymns in a square in the city. This week was a little rough ono the work side, but we had some cool experiences. There is this guy named João who wants to follow The Church. On Sunday we got a rundown of the new church program that they are implimenting. I am very excited to improve my study of The Savior and His teachings. I hope that everyone takes it seriously. We did see a guy we knew in our area ge hit by a car. He was alive but was taken to the hospital. The roads here are dangerous. We got transfer calls today and I am staying here with Elder Floyd. He is a new zone leader so I will help him out. He actually has one more transfer than me and is a very good Elder. I am excited to work with him. On transfer day we get to call a bunch of people and tell them when they are leaving. We are still working with Delmira and her daughter Shirly to be baptised this month. Have a happy new year.
1.Caroling
2.Christmas at Bishop´s
3.District photo

Monte Sossego week 5

This week we had two Christmas parties. One for the missionaries in our zone, and another for the ward. The one for missionaries was a blast but this year they wanted to focus on the more spiritual part of Christmas which was great. Christ has taken on even more of a role for me if that is possible. We played a Christmas Jeapordy game and my group won. We also did a present exchange and I gave Elder Flake who is in my zone some ranch dressing that I found in an American store. I got a turtle magnet from Elder Adriano. This week was rough for finding new people to teach and I think that it is because the Christmas season. No one is home or wants to talk to us, except members. The ward Christmas party was great and on Sunday we watched the devotional from Utah. We were able to bring a family to the Ward party. Their names are Jacline, Maiara, Cleidir, and Vitória. Also this week we visited the Stake President and his family and they gave us real chili. It was so good. I included some pictures of them. They have a crazy son. Things are going good here in Mindelo and I look forward to talking to my family tomorrow. Have a Merry Christmas.

Monte Sossego week 4

And another week goes by in a flash. This week we did a division with the Elders in another area called Fonte Frances. I went with an Elder Adraino who is from Angola. He has the same amount of time on the mission as me. This week was honestly a little disappointing with the work until the end. We were trying very hard to help people make the commitment to be baptised, but nothing was really working. On Friday however we were blessed to find a cool new family: Anivaldo, Suéli, and Rafa. Later that night we commited a mother and daughter(Delmira and Shirley) to be baptised on the 12th of January. They are really commited too and came to church yesterday. We are working a lot with our recent convert Nando who is having some family problems. He is a good guy and is still coming to church. Christmas is close and so we are preparing for some activities. We made a paper Christmas tree and put lights on it. On Saturday we spent the morning doing a service project at a hospital. We actually cleaned out in front of the hospital and boy did it need it. The news came to film us, but I did not get on the news. It felt good to do some manual labor. I will include some pictures from Praia and the mission council. Bye.

Monte Sossego week 3

This week was crazy because we had the misson tour with Elder Sabin and we went to Praia for a mission leadership council that they have at the beginning of every month. The conference with Elder Sabin was very spiritual and while he spoke simply, I learned a lot. We had to organize the lunch and it was a lot of running around but it was good. Later in the week we flew to Praia to council as leaders about the mission. It was my first so it was all pretty new. It went from 9 in the morning to 7 at night. We made a lot of goals to help out the mission. Being out of our area for so long was not good though. We are having trouble finding people that will progress. We are preparing for the Christmas season by sharing messages with members about lighting the world. We are helping a lot of people to realize that Christmas is not just a festa or party. We have some families that we are teaching but I will not say their names because I want to wait to see if they really have desire to follow Jesus Christ. Today for fun we hiked over a hill to a small sandy hill that is cool for flips and sliding down. have a good week.

Monte Sossego week 2

This week was a good week of hard work, ups and downs, and preparation for the Mission Tour that will happen next week. I did a division in my old area Fernando Pó and I saw some old friends. Yesterday we left with President Amo to work in our area. It was really good actually but I was a little nervous. This week we had some days where we found nobody to teach and then other days where we found like six people to teach. We are working with this lady Irana who went to church and wants to be baptised. She makes cakes and sells them to big markets here.We are also hoping to teach her kids. A cool recent convert Mercedes brought her friend Davi to church without us even asking her. Mercedes son Cristian was a less active member but he flipped a switched this week and now is reactivated and excited about the gospel. This P-day we went golfin with a member on a dirt golf course. It was great and fun, but we were terrible. The member was good though. Life is good here in Africa. We had some sweet family nights in our bishop´s house who is loaded but who lives out in the middle of nowhere. We have had to do some work with a restaurant that will cater for the Mission Tour. Life as a Zone Leader is pretty awesome.

                                                    

Monte Sossego week 1

Hello again and I hope that you all had a great thanksgiving. Me and Elder Boehme made a good meal of mashed potatoes and chicken. He is a good cook because his Dad worked as a chef his entire life. I am loving Mindelo and I am loving being a zone leader. I will not lie though it is more responsability, but I believe that I am up to the task. Our zone, Mindelo East, which includes the island of São Nickolau, is needing some motivation and focus. We are working hard to baptise 5 people in December for our area, and I hope that our mission can reach the goal for baptisms this year. As a zone leader I get a lot more chances to talk to President Amo which is cool I think. This Saturday we had the baptism of Nando, the most prepared man that I have ever met. He was left by his family long ago because of a drinking problem, but now he has so much desire to do what is right. We will continue to strengthen him. Our area is really cool with great people and a great view of Santo Antão. I love this work and I wish you all a good Christmas season.

Várzea week 24

Last week in Várzea! It has been a good run here but I am ready to go to work in a different area. The Marriage ran well and Lécio and Jaquelina were baptised and confirmed. I am very happy for them and I truly believe that they will stay strong. This last week we taught Adimilson, who works at the hospital. He is a smart guy but nice and very interested in the gospel. I hope that in the future I can see some baptismal photos of him. These last few days I have been visiting a lot of recent converts, just to say goodbye and bear my testimony of the gospel to them. I really want them to stay strong. Since this area is in Praia, I will definitely see them before my mission ends. Elder Silva has been a great companion, which proves that you do not need to have similar cultures or interests to be friends. I wish him the best as he ends his mission training a new Elder. The big news now is that I will go back to Mindelo as a Zone Leader. My companion will be Elder Boehme in an area called Monte Sossego. I have already done a division there because it is right next to Fernando Pó. I am excited to be a Zone Leader, serve in Mindelo with Elder Boehme, and visit some old friends in Fernando Pó. Elder Boehme (pronounced BayMee) has one more transfer than me and I already know him. It should be a good transfer. Até mais amigos.
-Me with a bottle of pure cane sugar alcohol, it is called Grog. None of them drank it.

Várzea week 23

This week we did not have the baptism of Airton unfortunately. He drank Coffee so he will have to wait until this coming Saturday. Lécio and Jaqulina are doing well and we are excited for them. They will be married Wednesday morning. This last Saturday there was a lot of parties because of a lot of baptisms happening in the Catholic church in our area. Most of the baptisms were infants. In the parties there were a lot of drinking, profanity, immorality, and fighting. That day I simply felt sad that there is so much cnfusion in the world. I have learned just a little bit about what Jesus had to go through. This coming week will probaly be my last here in Várzea, and I am very grateful for my time here. Thi s last week we went on a division with the Zone Leaders and I was with Elder Robinson. We had a night of Integration with members and investigators which was wild. Yesterday we talked to some new investigators who are showing sme real intent. Missionary work is a lot easier when you are finding people who really want to learn. 

Várzea week 22

Hello again, this week was good and the highlight was that we got our water back. There was a plumber who was supposed to come fix our faucet, but he took so long that me and Elder Silva decided to fix it ourselves. The lesson learned was to not let someone else do something that you can do yourself. It is really cooling down here, and it is more windy. I am loving it. Halloween as I explained last week was nonexistant, but the day after all the people in Praia came to visit the cemitery in our area and put up candles and stuff. This weekend was Stake Conference which I really enjoyed. They basically just talked about the Temple and how we can prepare. We were able to bring four of our investigators which is good. Afterwards we ate in the house of a member/investigator. The man is a fisherman and he uses a harpoon to catch fish. I ate some fried little fish and some eel and a redish fish. The eel was the best surprisingly. This week we worked hard and it flew by. This week is the baptism of Airton and next week is the marriage and baptism of Lécio and Jaquelina, and then the transfer ends and I will probably be outta here. It will be good, tchao.
Pics:Várzea at night and some Brazilians and a Cabo Verdean

Várzea week 21

This week we had the baptism of Sisoco or Elvis. He was a very prepared person. Another person that was taught and baptised in two weeks. He was first brought to church by a member and he is a smart kid. He is pretty funny as well and likes to joke around. I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to be here and witness his conversion. This week we lost our water for an unknown reason so that has not been fun, but we are doing well all things considered. I would say that the temperature has dropped a little. Halloween is in a few days but it means practically nothing to me because nothing has changed around here. A member of the Stake Presidency came to church yesterday and basically told the members that they need to step up and pay tithing, do family history work, and get a temple recommend if they want to see the temple completed anytime soon. It is true. Our members here need to really decide to follow the gospel or not. You cannot just stand in the middle. Lécio and Jaquelina are doing fine, preparing to get married on the 14th. We are excited for them.

Várzea week 20

This week we had a lot of success here. Four investigators came to church and we have a young man named Sisoko ready to be baptised this Saturday. Also there is another young man named Ailton being prepared to be baptised on the 10th. Some other news is that Lécio e Jaquelina, the couple preparing to be married, moved their marriage date to the 14th of November. This means that I will be here to see them married and baptised. I am 99% sure that this is my last transfer here in Várzea. We had zone conference and I learned a lot about how I can teach with the Spirit. It is something that I need to improve on for sure. It is very easy to fall into the routine of teaching just lessons and not people. Our Bishop had dinner with us on Saturday, or that is, he invited us to dinner with his family. He is lonely sometimes because his wife is in Portugal recieving treatment for Cancer. This week was a good one and I am happy to be a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is quite a privilege to be able to testify of these things. I know that Jesus lives, I know that The Book of Mórmon is true, and I know that Joseph Smith was called to be a Prophet of God. Have a great week.
Sorry I forgot to take pictures.

Várzea week 19

This week begins my 4th transfer here in Várzea. In some missions that may be normal but here it is very long. I am doing great though and we are having success. My companion now is Elder Silva. He is from Maranã-something, Brazil. He probably has ancestors from Cabo Verde but he has never looked it up. We have worked hard this week and we now have a couple who are very commited  being married on the 14th of December and than baptised on the 15th. They came to church an hour early and loved all of it. It helped that we talked about Eternal Marriage in the Gospel Principles class. It has been hot here but I think that Elder Silva is feeling it more than I am because he has not been in Praia for a while. We ha a lot more people lined up to go to church this Sunday but as it can happen none of them came through. Church is what really separates the Sheep from the Goats. I included some photos of Elder Angulo´s going away party. Also we bought giant pans of pizza for 3 dollars each.

Várzea week 18

Well, what can I say? These last few days have been awesome. I loved every minute of General Conference, except when a little girl behind me started puking. The messages were inspired and I am so blessed to be here in Cabo Verde when they announced the Temple that they will build here in Praia! I atached some pictures of the land that they will build it on. It is in our area. When President Russel M. Nelson announced the temple and that little temple figure popped up off the west coast of Africa, everybody in the capel went wild. It was pretty irreverent and I stayed seated, but it was a happy ocasion. Everybody Hugging everybody, except us of course. All of the Sisters bauling their eyes out. The change to a more Home centered Church and the focus on using the correct name of the church are inspired revelations as well. Here in Cabo Verde people really need to start using the correct name. Everybody just says The Church of the Elders, which is us, so that needs to go. Elder Angulo is preparing to go home tomorrow and I will recieve a new companion here shortly. I do not know who it is. I love you all and encourage you all to listen to the conference talks again. I know that this is Christ´s church. I included a picture with my Bishop here and his family.

Várzea week 17

This week I still had a cough but I found out that it was actually a lung infection so I got an x-ray which was cool and they let me keep it which is even better. Now I am taking Antibiotics so the cough is almost gone. We got some rain here which is good for the plants and the animals. I did a division with Elder Dopp who is a Zone Leader from my group in the MTC. He is a cool guy and likes to talk with people. He taught me a lot about not focusing just on the number of baptisms. We had a good time. Last Saturday we had the baptisms of Cíntia and Lindinha. Cíntia is that 13 year old who is pretty smart and who we brought to a baptism two weeks ago. Some people are just prepared. Lindinha also is a great woman. She was given to us as a member reference. Some people were telling her that she was crazy to be baptized because she was already baptised in the Catholic church. She payed no atention to them and for that she will be blessed. Next week we will see who will be my new companion. I am pretty pumped for General Conference as well. Até lá.

Várzea week 16

This week was another one full of good stuff, but I was still sick. Actually I still am sick. This area that I am in right now is where I have had the most success as a missionary but also the most problems temporally. It is just to show that When we are choosing the right and helping others to follow God, Satan will tempt us and others will try us. things are going well though. As you can see with the pictures below we had the Baptism of Bruno and Maria. Maria is a trooper because she gave up coffee and dealt with a headache for a while. We gave her a blessing and then on Sunday when she received the gift of the Holy Ghost she said that she felt lighter than normal. We brought 11 people to the baptism and than afterward we bought them all icecream. So now this week is going to be tight. With Maria we had to baptise her kneeling down going forward because she had a fear of entering backward into the water. But whatever works works. Have a good week. 

Várzea week 15

Hello family and friends. I am happy to say that this week we had a lot of success. In church we had five investigators and three of them have dates for baptism. Actually four of them now because we taught this one girl and invited her to be baptised on the 29th. She accepted. Her name is Cínthia and the first time we talked to her we were inviting her to come with us to a baptism. She went and loved it and now she wants to get baptised. This week I have been a little sick with a cough. It is more of a distraction in lessons than anything else. you do not just get colds when it is cold. You also get them when it is hot and humid. It has cooled down a little. Bruno is preparing very well to be baptised this Saturday. Maria is also preparing well to be baptised this Saturday or the next. She is a humble, kind woman with a lot of strength. There is another woman we are preparing for the 29th. Her name is Lindinha. She came to church and is progressing well. I know that we are being blessed here in Várzea by The Lord. They reorganized the relief society here and two of my recent converts we called as conselor and secretary. I am proud of them. Here are some pictures of the greenery here now that it has rained.

Várzea week 14

Hello all. As another week passes by I am feel grateful for the chance to write in this blog. This week we recieved more rain. It rained on Sunday morning so we went to church with two investigators in the downpour. Only about 30 people showed up at church, but it was still good. Other than my normal piano playing responsabilities I gave an impromtu talk. The main things that happened this week were two service projects. Maria, the lady who´s house burned, got a new roof, and we helped to build a new roof of cement and iron bars for a member named Fatinha. It was a great time, and now I can add "roof builder" to my resume. As for investigators, Maria is progressing well and will be baptised on the 29th. We have some others with great potencial as well. This week I have tried very hard to not worry about what others think of me, because that is just a way to make you unhappy. It is far better to always imagine what the Savior or your Heavenly Father is thinking of you. I believe that it has made a big difference. It will make you a lot happier.

Várzea week 13

This last week was a weird one. We were with a few other Elders who were waiting for flights to other islands. In particular we were with an Elder Rodrigues from the island of Fogo. He is waiting to go to South Africa. It would have been great to have him stay longer with us but he went to a different area. This week we recieved rain because of some tropical storms that were forming. They do not do much to Cabo Verde, but they will cause a lot of damage when they get to the Western Hemisphere. Rain is nice, but I would like to see more so that it will cool down more. People here will always take baths in the rain to please the pagan gods. Just kidding but they do take baths in the rain. We saw a fight between two dogs that was cool. Also we saw a fight between a husband and wife which was not cool. As for the work of The Lord we have some great people who are really interested. The mother of a member whos house burned. Her name is Maria and she also has skin cancer, but she came to church and loved it. I learned a little about faith this week. It is a principle of hope, but also of action. You must act on that thing in which you hope for, and then your faith will become knowledge. Tchão.