How is everyone?!!? 

So great week this week! We had 2 more baptisms! Our group will soon be a branch! We have been teaching a ton! 

I am loving it here in Brazil! I can´t wait until i can speak fluently. Most of the time people understand me. Then sometimes i get a person when i ask them a question like this...

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Person: Where are you from?

Me: Guess! :) 

Person: ahhh Cool! 

Me: ..........................Guess! 

Person: Huh? (He is still talking to me?) 

Me: Guess where i am from... (Friend of the person says what i am saying in a slightly better accent).

Person: OOHHHH! Argentina? 

Me: Oo

Me: Eu Sou Dos Estados Unidos.

Person: Oh Cool!.................. Ummm.......... Can I have a picture with you? 

Me: Of Course!

Person: Awesome Thanks! 

Me: Can We Teach You? 

Person: Yes! :D

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Bam Pesquisador! 

 Yea that happens about everyday. Its fun! I love it! We had dinner with the only active member here. He was a Stake President.  We talked about how churches down here have strayed off from the path so much. I got a 3 min recording of a guy screaming at 250 people about jerusulem and the city of corinthians. I understand about 8 words. But it was pretty interesting... we got invited to the EFY for another church. It was  3 day church thing during carnival. We went on the last day for 1 hour. It was very interesting. The Spirit was not there but everyone in the crowd thought it was. They began screaming back. Scared me a bit but i recovered. ;) 

I have learned how to make a ton of food. I love making Pastels for our house. 

I love Jeff R Holland I have been listening to some talks by him.

Elder Riches

James and his companion that just went home

James and his new companion

a kind of fruit they eat down there. (he wasn't sure of the name)

Lake that they did their baptisms in 

March 10

This week has been amazing! I have been working super hard! We have 13 baptisms set for this Saturday. More or Less. We have two families for sure. I love this area. It has been amazing as i am hearing more. I can translate from Portuguese to English nearly 100% of the time. I just have trouble speaking.

I also wanted to share a funny story. So we are teaching Roberto and his family. We taught them the Palavra De Sabedoria last night.(Word of Wisdom). So we went through the 5 things he could not use. Alcohol, drugs, smoking, black tea, and they were totally cool with those. They said they would follow it! Then my companion looked at me. I knew exactly what i needed to say. I could feel i was going to be a challenge for this family but i said it nonetheless. Café! Coffee. They all looked at me with distress. I explained to them that everything we are commanded to do is because God loves us. Then I explained how if they change just a little it would change their lives greatly. ( I gave the story how if you were to fly from Fortaleza to Fortaleza all around the world. Then you changed your course with 1 degree. when you flew around the world you would arrive back 500 miles from your original destination.

They said they would follow it. The best part was. We sat their for about 30 seconds letting them soak it in. Then my companion, Elder Ross, Said, " to help you out, can we have all your coffee?" I looked at him exactly how all the others did. "What?" They said yes and we took two bags of coffee home that night.

We also had to move their baptism dates forward. The only complaint was that Roberto said, " I need to get work off, but yea it should be fine." HAHA! Its so cool to see when people receive answers to their prayers, how quick they will drop everything to follow Christ. It definitely strengthened my testimony. 

I am losing my companion next Monday. He is going home. It will be a little hectic with me traveling to Fortaleza. So it might be a different time when i Email.

I am so grateful for all of you! I love you all. Here are some pictures of our week. :)

Also! I made a new friend! His name is Felipe! He is a monkey! He followed us on telephone wires for a while. IT was awesome. We also had our first member baptized in Limeiro Do Norte. She is with the other missionaries. :)

Sempre Ama, Elder Riches

March 3

This has been amazing! So to start off. I was in Pacajus! It was pretty awesome. 

Then! I got transferred! I received a new companion that knows you Mary Felber. He goes home in 16 days and is one of the hardest workers on the mission. My last trainer was not really "training" me. So president said he is putting him with me to train me super well. I have learned so much. The best part is.. This Elder works.... Its  killing me. Not really but it has been a huge change. His name is Elder Ross. He is an American and speaks fluent Portuguese. 

So the cool thing is, we and two other Brazilians, Are starting an area! We are in a place were literally no one knows about The Church. Everyone is curious and wondering who we are. The Church has literally never touched this area before. We arrived here on Terca-Feira. Or Tuesday. We have 76 new investigators. In 5 days.   Told you he works... We have taught a ton ton ton of lessons. I lay down at night and pass out. We are in a amazingly beautiful and clean city of Limeiro do Norte. We love it here. We have been working super hard and inviting everyone we can to church. This weekend is Carnival. This means that as we walk home. Everyone is partying in the streets. Its funny to watch. 

We have a few super good investigators.  

I have a few good pics for you all!

But that's all that has happened here! Its a super big privilege to start the church here. I love it. I thank God everyday. :)