November 28, 2016 - Ribeirão das Neves

I see a Belo Horizonte

Well to start off, this week we baptized. We have been teaching a guy called Luiz for quite awhile and this week he finally decided that he wanted to be baptized. He even chose me to perform the ordinance. This Sunday he was confirmed a member of the Church and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost. He is now preparing to be a priest.

This week we did a split with the other elders in our District and I was with Elder Marques. We focused our efforts on finding more new people to teach and we were able to find quite a few people that are incredibly prepared.

This week I did my first baptismal interview and I had planned to take a list with the questions to ask the candidate. After we said the prayer, I noticed that I forgot the list, but decided to continue. I started asking the questions I could remember and in the end I remembered them all. I didn´t say them word for word, but in a way that the investigator could understand.

Elder Quain

 With Luiz after the interview

With Elder Sabino and Luiz before his baptism

November 21, 2016 - Ribeirão das Neves

I see a Belo Horizonte

Well this week we did a split with the Zone Leaders in their area. It went well and I was partnered up with Elder Volino. He´s a Brazilian, but he looks like he´s American. Quite a few people think that he is American. He speaks English well and we were switching between the two the entire day. We did quite a few visits and it was good and helped me identify some things that I can improve on. When we woke up in the morning we did exercises. They had a pull-up bar at the house so I decided to take advantage of the opportunity. Unfortunately, the bar gave up before I did and I ended up falling on my knees, but everything is good now.

We also had stake conference this week. President Fertnandes talked about listening to the promptings of the spirit and following them immediately. Elder Leal from the quorum of the seventy talked about the missionaries and how we are messengers, which means that we have a message. Our Message is the Restoration of the Gospel and Church of Christ. Our message is great and we need to become great like our message. He than asked and of the full time missionaries to stand up and asked why so few people were standing. He continued and stated the quote, "Every member a missionary" and had everyone stand up.

Lastly, my Christmas package came in and, as I was impatient, Christmas came early. I don´t know which was more exciting; chocolate, peanut butter, or socks.

Elder Quain

Oh, The packages came in this Sunday. Sorry, I don´t have very much patience and I already opened up them both. Muito Obrigado!!! Muchas Gracias! Thank you!!
Christmas came early this year, and my companion was rather excited.

We love the peanut butter. Elder Erazo

 

Doing splits: Elder Searle, Elder Valino, Elder Quain, Elder Sabino

 My new Christmas tie.

November 14, 2016 - Ribeirão das Neves

I see a Belo Horizonte.

Well, this week it started to rain again. So, things have gotten quite a bit colder. I'm enjoying it, but we run more of a risk of falling down. I haven´t fallen yet, but others have. I hope I didn´t curse myself.

We did another integration activity and had some investigators visit. They even brought refreshments for everyone. Everyone was grateful to eat some cake as it has been popcorn for the last three weeks, but I guess that´s what you get when the missionaries are in charge of the snack.

I decided to study the Book of Moses in the 'Pearl of Great Price' and I have really enjoyed the study. It explains really well the Plan of Salvation and each day I have received new insights. I think this also has to do with he fact that I have started keeping a study journal, which has really helped me focus my study and more importantly remember my study.

We were able to do a lot more visits with the members this week and visit their friends. This really helps the work move along. We have this great opportunity to be among the first to receive the gospel and as such it is our duty to share it. Why wouldn't we want to, if it makes people happier?

Randoms:

*  We talked with a mom of a member that wants to leave for a mission and we told her that it passes by fast and she responded, 'not for a mom.'

*Yesterday we were stopped by a drunk guy that wanted to talk English with us. He just kept repeating that My eyes were beautiful, but scared him. My companion and I got a good laugh about that afterwards.

Elder Quain

From last week's zone conference - can you find Elder Quain? (very back Elder)

November 7, 2016 - Ribeirão das Neves

I see a belo horizonte

This week we had a zone meeting. To get to the meeting we had to ride about 2 hours on a bus and we stood the entire way there and the entire two hours to get back. My legs felt like jelly after the two trips. Another thing that I discovered is that I get cold a lot easier now. I just sat there shivering throughout the entire meeting. My favorite training was about the conversion process. We talked about how a person has to act on their faith to really know that a principle is true, but also that they can´t make an action until they are presented with the principle. That is where we come in. We need to be the teachers and present the gospel truths in a direct and simple way that they can understand.

One night this week, I was sitting down and finishing up the day, when the other companionship walked through the door. Elder Erazo just looks at us and said,"I fell." His Companion starts to laugh and explained the rest. It turns out that he fell twice and had fallen on top of dirt and animal poop. That´s what we get for serving in a rural area.

Elder Quain

 Views of the are where I serve.

 The Missionaries as the "Avengers" - can you name them all?

Trying out Elder Erazo's glasses.

 After Elder Erazo fell.

Selfie time

October 31, 2016 - Ribeirão das Neves

I see a Belo Horizonte.

Theme of the Week: Do all that you can and God will do the rest.

Well, this week was rather busy. To start off, Elder Matamala was transferred and Elder Marques came. Also, as part of my new calling I have to plan the District Meetings. My first one this week went rather well. But I have to stand in front of groups more than I am accustomed to do. 

We also held our second noite de integração this week and we ended up watching the Restoration film, eating popcorn and playing a little game. We had an investigator come to the activity and really liked it. The activity is open to everyone, but it is mostly the youth that come to the activity. We tend to work more with the youth as they are more open to share the gospel with their friends. I think this is one of the ways that we need to become as a child.

This week we were working with two people to be baptized, Luiz and Riquelmi. They are both ready to be baptized, but haven´t made the decision yet. We spent the week working with them and we even passed a time with them avoiding us. As an act of faith we filled up the baptismal font and went to visit them on Saturday. We told them that the font was full and waiting for them to be baptized and if they felt that they should be baptized that they could come at 5 o´clock. 

We were left sitting there at 5 o´clock and didn´t have a baptism. But, I had the impressing that we didn´t fill up the baptismal font for nothing. I had my doubts, but just decided to keep working. We went to their house Sunday morning and walked to church with them. I was just sitting at church wondering why we had filled up the font. They said that they hadn´t receive a response yet. 

During sacrament meeting the missionaries were sitting on the stand, as we were to participate in the Primary presentation, when Luiz called me down to talk with him. He said that he wanted to get baptized and now him and his brother and another one of his friends(Ricardo) are all preparing to be baptized this Saturday.

tema da semana: faz o possível, e entregue o resto na mão do senhor.( do what you can, and put the rest into the lord´s hand)

Elder Quain

October 24, 2016 - Ribeirão das Neves

I see a belo Horizonte

This week went rather well.

To start off we had a lesson with Douglas, Rodrigo and Márcia. They are a family that is super cool. They always read the Book of Mormon and have a bunch of questions. It's helpful that they are teachers and enjoy reading. While we were teaching the lesson it started to rain and we were pushing it really close on the time to get home. Luckily, we were offered a ride home which saved us from getting wet. When we arrived in the apartment the other elders looked at us in wonder and asked how we weren´t wet. Douglas, Rodrigo and Márcia also came to church this Sunday. Some of the youth came up and started talking to them. It turns out that they are their teachers! They seemed to enjoy it and confirmed our next visit.

This week we started up noite de integração again. This activity is always fun and is rather simple. It is an activity were the whole ward is invited and is a great opportunity for them to invite friends. The activity had a good attendance, at about 30 people. There were only two guys, but later on we noticed that they were playing soccer outside. Elder Sabino gave the message and I did the game with a snack of popcorn. Activities here don´t function unless you have a snack.

This was the week that my companion and I were able to bring the most people to church in this area out of the whole time I have been in this area. What we did differently is that we prayed individually for each investigator by name in every prayer. It really show that we need to ask the Lord for specific things and show him our desires.

Random:

* We got transfer calls last night and Elder Sabino & I  will be staying and I will now be the District Leader.

* Also this week Paulo, one of my investigators from Recanto da Serra, was baptized. Like with Màrcia, I would have liked to have been there, but knowing that I was able to help him is enough.​

Elder Quain

 After soccer on p-day

Me,Elder Matamala and Elder Sabino​

                me and Elder Erazo​

Paulo, one of my investigators from Recanto da Serra, was baptized

my work desk

Take-out hamburgers

October 17, 2016 - Ribeirão das Neves

I see a belo horizonte.

Well, first thing this week. Márcia got baptized! I got the notice from Elder Ribeiro and Gonçalves that this week she decided to take this step and be baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was a little bummed to not be able to be there, but it was great to know that I was able to help her in her search.

Also, There was an activity to raise money for the young women to go to camp and we were invited to do a presentation. It turned out rather well and we sang two songs. The first was a us singing 'I Can Be a Missionary Now', and the second was the Primary song"My Heavenly Father Loves Me," but sung to the melody of 'Clocks' by Coldplay. From what we heard the people enjoyed it and we don´t sing to bad. I´ll try to send a video if it downloads fast enough.

Other than that we went to a chocolate store where we found chocolate tabs of different intensities of cocoa. So, naturally I had to buy one of each and try them all. I´m not sure which one a liked best, so I might have to buy them all again..haha.

Elder Quain

 Acai       Cherry Coke

  Chocolates

Jorge, Marcia, Elder Goncalves, Elder Ribeiro

Elder Ribeiro, Marcia, Jorge, Elder Goncalves