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. :) 

Como Vi?! Thank you everyone for sending emails, i am sorry if i can´t respond. Just know that i cherish your words in my heart. I love hearing all your experiences and it helps me a ton in my mission. Thank you so much. 

I am an Uncle of a New Baby!!!! Megan! That's so Awesome!!! Grats!!!!!!!! :D

This week was very interesting. We continued to teach lessons and it was awesome. We had a lot of fun in sharing the gospel. On Wednesday we went out for dinner which was not normal. We usually don´t have dinner. It was good timing because that very night. at 8, i received a call from the assistants. They told me that i am leaving for Fortaleza at 6:00 A.M.. The next morning. So we finished up and went home. I packed my bags and we talked for a while. It ended up being a nice conversation. In the end as we went to bed. He left me with one scripture, knowing that because i was waking up at 4. A.M. I would not be able to talk with him then. He left me with Moroni 8:3. Probably one of the coolest things i have read as a goodbye note. 

But we left the house at 6:00 and began our journey to Fortaleza. Elder Gardner and I. The only other American. We passed many cities and spent much of the time just looking out the windows at Brazil. We finally fell fast asleep in the beds of the Support house of Fortaleza. At 11:15 at night. That's about 16-17 hours of Traveling. It was super fun. 

So i was emergency transferred to Pacajus. It is a large town 1 hour out of Fortaleza. Thing is. I am only here temporary, I will be transferred again this week. Not sure when. I am living off of 3 pairs of clothes. 

I am companions with Elder Smih and Live with two other missionaries. I love the people here. They are amazing. 

So about the language. While on the bus, i decided that i knew Portuguese. And so the second i arrived in Pacajus. I began speaking to and understanding everyone. I have no problem understanding anyone.( The Gift of Tongues is so Real) 

My companion is an american from North Carolina. He has a super strong southern Accent. Super funny. 

I ate chicken heart! Really good! 

So this is the lesson i learned this week. It comes from the August 2013 Ensign. 

#Sarcasm.  The Greek root word for Sarcasm is "Sarkazein" and signifies " To tear flesh like dogs". 

Definitions:

To give pain

to convey aggression or insult

to Dominate others or Belittle 

To Contempt Anger

And this one is the most important to me and super important for me on my mission. - To Make others think we are not serious about the words we choose to use-. 

That hit hard as i am a missionary. I want to make sure everyone knows that the words of Christ i share are words that i am serious about and that i use with my heart and not lightly. 

I learned that no use of sarcasm has ever made a person look wise or smarter.  So that's my goal this week. Think about everything i am going to say before i say it. Think about how it will affect others. Think about what feelings it will create. Because that's what matters. Not what you meant. But how the other person receives it. - That's why i believe it says in the white handbook- " Use clear, dignified language. To always be a representative of Christ. Also. Avoid all appearance of Evil." 

That's my lesson i learned this week. I love you all. Even if i don´t reply, Know. That i read every word of every single one of your emails. I promise. I cherish the words in my hearts. 

Thank you for everything. Love always.

-Elder Riches

-Eu Vou Voltar Com Honra!- Sempre Com Deus!

Como Foi Valentinas Day? Nos Não Temos V-Day im Brazil. I miss you all!

I love learning and growing in the Gospel and the Language. I am so grateful for this wonderful oppurtunity to serve the Wonderful people here in Brazil.

The Food and people here are crazy awesome! The Language is beautiful. I have gone a few days without using English. So much fun. I study the Gospel everyday. Learning the Gospel has enabled me to learn and grow in so much more. All the other Elders are Brazilians here except 3 in my Zone. (Foto)

It Doesn´t go below 70-80 here... ever. I have not used a blanket in 2 months.. This is probably the coolest experience of my life. What makes this such a better experience is probably the fact that i had so much preparation...

How to shop. Mom

How to take care of my belongings. College, mom, dad.

How to adjust to hard times. 9 brothers and sisters..

How to work and not complain. Dad. <3

How to study. Learning right now.

How to cook. Dad and Mom.. Thank you so much.

How to be proffessional. Dad

" When I first got here the missionaries were all scared of me because i was so serious about following the rules. I still am but they have warmed up to it a little better.

PMG. Mom dad and josh. Thank you so much.
How to budget. Mom. thank you.
( Probably the most important) How to be a mom. MOM.

Thank you so much Mother. The Brazillians here like to not do all the things they should even though they are amazing missionaries. So i cook and clean every day. And wake everyone up.

The names are super fun to try to pronounce haha. Also, to change this whole place from the USA. Everyone here and everything here is Catholic...

Its hard to explain everything right now with so little exprience, but as i learn and grow i will be able to say so much more.  I love you all!

Ate Logo!

Elder Riches

This is James and his district practicing Portuguese.  I think this was a while ago when they were first in the MTC.   I am sure they have improved. :-8

OK yea huge culture shock. First off. This computer does not speak English. 

What happened you may ask.. I will tell you! 

So we had a huge 15 hour in field training in the CTM it was in 100% Portuguese... 

Next! We get on a plane to Fortaleza and fly for 4 hours. super fun! I gave out a Livro De Mormon and taught my first lesson! :) 

We landed and suddenly.. there was sun.. i mean SUN. 

It was awesome. I met President Fusco and President Sousa of the Fortaleza Missao. They are amazing! 

I then had a training for 3 days and i was able to live by the beach at that time. Super fun.

I met my companion and my trainer. Elder Michelotti! He doesn´t speak English.. Only one person speaks English and that's another American in my Casa.

So my area... My new area is a little town in the middle of no-where called Araripina. 40 thousand people. 

We left on a bus Thursday night and drove 16 hours to Araripina... I have seen more of Brazil than i ever thought i would. 

Its so beautiful.. I could see for hundreds of miles. The people here are amazingly receptive. we have a small group of 25 or so members. We have 6 missionaries in the same house. 

No one speaks English and No one knows about the Gospel. Its amazing because i am challenged to learn faster. I have gone a few days now teaching lessons and talking to everyone on the street and everything. Its apparently weird for people in Brazil to say hello. I say hello to everyone!!! And i mean Everyone! My companions think i am nuts! But i love it and it makes people smile which makes my day. :) 

We ran out of water so we went 2 days without showers or other things... the food is so crazy/weird/good. I am getting used to it. :) 

So i am with a ton of people who don´t speak English. OR DO THEY!? Every Saturday night Elder Gardner and I teach English! Yea! Its sooo Cool! I love it and i love seeing people feel the Spirit. We have a Baptism set and we are trying to get Carlos and Joanna to commit to Baptism as well.. They will :).

I love it here!  i love the constant 90F weather. I love the Humidity. I love the People. I love my Companion. I love my opportunity to serve here. :) I thank God for helping me as many times as i can. Here are some pictures... These include some in Sao Paulo, on the way to Fortaleza, Fortaleza, on the way to Araripina, and in Araripina.

James made it to Fortaleza!  He is now in his mission!