March 6, 2017 - Belo Horizonte, Guarani area

I see a Belo Horizonte

Well, this was my first week in Guarani. I said bye to Sevilha and traveled a whole thirty minutes to my new area. But, I finally entered into the big city. I am now in Belo Horizonte, the Capital of Minas Gerais. The church is better established here and I think the ward has the highest frequency of any of the other wards that I have served in.

My new companion is Elder Namauu. He is a Hawaian that was born in Germany and lives in Baltimore, Maryland. He has about 4 months on the mission and is excited and ready to work. We are one of the two All-American companionships in the mission. The funny thing is that I think he might be even taller tha me, so we feel like giants. We get quite a few looks as two tall, white Americans walking through the streets of Brasil. 

We have quite a big teaching pool right now and I am just trying to learn everyone's name and how to get around here. These city streets are a lot more confusing than the countryside I´m used to. But there are a lot of good people. One even had a birthday this week (Bel) and invited us to attend. They had food there, so it was an obvious ye. 

I should have more to write about the area next week, but that all for now folks.

Abraço

Elder Quain

Elder Quain & Elder Namauu at Bel's birthday

February 27, 2017 - Ribeirão das Neves

I see a Belo Horizonte

And for the First time I will be serving there.

The transfer calls came in last night and I will be moving to a new area with a new companion. It should be interesting as my new companion will be my first from America. I will still be district leader. Tomorrow I will know my new companion. I talked with him once when I went to the mission office to pick up Elder Andrade. My new companion just finished training. Also, my new area is called Guarani. It will be my first time serving in Belo Horizonte and probably my last area.

This week we had one day where we ate at home and I took advantage of the opportunity to make homemade chicken noodle soup. It turned out well and I don´t think I messed up too bad. But, Grandma still makes it better than I can.

This week was really a week of ups and down. When almost everything was going against our plans a miracle happened. An investigator that we have been working with for about 3 months came to church. We had almost stopped teaching her and she came through. It just reminded me that we should never give up on anyone. God has a plan and a timetable. Generally, the timetable of God is different than ours and at times he is trying our faith and testing our desires. When you love the people, they will respond to the call and come unto Christ.

random:

* I tried a new food called acarajé - traditional Brazilian fritters made with black-eyed peas served with caruru, sauteed shrimp and chilli sauce.

abraço

Elder Quain

Trying acarajé.​

 Elder Andrade

Can you see the Chapel?

 Making noodles

Finished product.

February 20, 2017 - Ribeirão das Neves

I see a belo horizonte

This week we did something amazing. We drank root beer in Brasil. Thanks to the extract that my parents sent me we were able to bring a little bit of America to Brasil, and to celebrate we bought hamburgers. Next time we might buy ice cream to make root beer floats.

The week went well. I got to do another interview for a baptism. I´ve actually done quite a few and it is interesting that whenever I do one for the Sisters they give me a warning that he talks way to much or that he is super timid, but any time that I do an interview they are always calm and open.

This week we had the Senior couple, Elder and Sister Perropato, come and visit our ward and give talks. Fun fact, Elder Perropato is from the same ward as Didi Rasmussen. We were just talking about that and decided that its a small world after all. Afterward, they went to a brasilian BBQ with us and they went to look at our house. Luckily, we passed the test, but they told us that our house is tiny and should only be for one companionship, not two. We might be changing houses, but who knows.

Random thing: everyone ends a cellphone conversation with abraço, or hug.

Well, that was my week in a nutshell. Hope everyone is doing well.

Abraço

Elder Quain

 with Elder and Sister Perropato

 Trying root beer for the first time!

 Making root beer

Me and Root Beer(He is the most interesting man in the world)​

The effects of the Brazilian sun

February 13, 2017 - Ribeirão das Neves

I see a Belo Horizonte

Well this week was rather full and luckily I have a lot more to write about than pizza and rain.

To start out we had a split this week with the LZs in Pampulha. We woke up early to catch the bus and go there. I was with Elder Searle from my group. It was fun to catch up and we had a lot of time to talk as we walked a lot. We were trying to find the place where you do your documentation to get married(cartório). One guy said it was two more blocks, the next said one km and when we got there we decided to take a bus to get back. We also taught an English class, which I am actually really bad at because at times I can´t remember if some things are correct or not.

We came back, had a normal day and the next day we went to a Mission tour with Elder Basset. He is part of the area presidency of Brasil. He asked me where I was from and he actually knew where Vacaville was. Apparently he had served as area seventy there and knew our stake president. He gave a talk to us about charity and  giving service because we want to, not because we have to.

Luckily, I listened to the talk and took notes as I was asked to give a talk as Sacrament meeting started. I ended up using a lot of the same scriptures and trying to transmit the same idea to my ward.

After church we were making a lot of contacts and almost everybody was commenting on my eyes. After one guy had commented about my eyes he turned to my companion and said, I like your teeth. We got a good laugh out of that.

I hope that everyone is doing well. Love you all.

Elder Quain

(he's in the background - but he's there! :))

February 6, 2017 - Ribeirão das Neves

I see a belo horizonte,

This week we bought pizza. That might not seem like a big thing to you, but the last time that I bought and ate pizza at home I was in my first area, so it has been about a year. But, when you have two Americans living together you have to buy pizza. I should be able to eat pizza this coming week too.

We also did a split this week. I was with Elder Bishop and it was good to work with him. While we were walking it started to rain and it continued until it had filled up the entire street and part of the sidewalks. Luckily, we were close to a snack shop so we stopped to eat a pizza pastel (you can see the theme).

The rain cleared up and we were able to work until the next day when Elder Andrade and I tried to do a visit. As we were walking up a hill it started to rain again. We found refuge under a partially constructed house and we waited until the rain stopped.

The rain just didn´t want to stop and it rained all through church, before and after. I was just left thinking, Sunday morning rain is falling.

Elder Quain

Me & Elder Bishop

January 30, 2017 - Ribeirão das Neves

I see a Belo Horizonte

This week was rather busy. The highlight of the week was a baptism. Isabel was baptized this week. Here´s a little bit of her story.

I would call this baptism a miracle from start to finish. To start off Elder Andrade and I were just walking in the street when a lady stopped us and started asking about church and said that she wanted to follow Jesus Christ and do the right thing. We started teaching her and from the start she was super prepared. She is an ex-Gypsy and was worried that people wouldn´t accept her well because of this, but the ward just gave her a big hug and she was adopted quickly into the Relief Society. We did a Family home evening with the Bishops family and she progressed rapidly to baptism. She got baptized on the same day as a RS activity and had many people attending the baptism. We also got free cake. On Sunday she was confirmed as the newest member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in The Sevilha ward.

We had a transmission this week for all of the missionaries of the world which brought about some changes in our schedules, more freedom about when we do certain things and more focused goals. They taught about teaching the Gospel of Christ simple. Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring until the end. But they also told us to remember that all of this is centered in Christ.

This week we were also able to do a family home evening with the Felix family. They are really good and help the missionaries out a bunch.

Hope everyone has a great week
Elder Quain

After Isabel's baptismal interview

 Elder Andrade, Isabel, & Me - preparing for baptism

Everyone at the baptism - Relief Society Power!

 Family Home Evening with the Felix family

 Me & Elder Bishop with marshmallows :)

January 23, 2017 - Ribeirão das Neves

I see a belo horizonte.

Well this week went by rather fast. We walked a lot, but walking is good for your health.

So, we had transfers this past week and Elder Marques was transferred and the new elder in our house is Elder Bishop. We also have a new sister in our district. Fun fact, she is using crutches. Just a warning, don´t get sent to this district :).

Also I received a package and cards. Thank you Mom and Dad for the package and thank you to everyone that sent out cards. It's really fun to read about how everyone is doing and it's a little bit funny to see pictures and realize that people are growing up still. In the package that my parents sent there was a 2 pound bag of jelly bellies. We opened it up and in two days it was gone. I ate all of the sours, as they are my favorite, but the others really liked the Dr. Pepper and mint ice cream flavors.

Elder Quain