March 26, 2017 letter - Amaralina

[Sorry for the late post, we were on vacation last week.]

This week was awesome! We had some awesome progress with some of our investigators accepting dates and showing desire to learn more and more! We did some reactivation visits with members of the priesthood and we got some really good support and turn out! Our ward is pretty strong and its so nice to receive help from the members! They truly play such huge roles in conversion processes. We shared with them an awesome message from Christoffel Golden about being valiant! 

Our baptism on Saturday was super awesome! Our ward got super-involved in intergrating her and even had a special song presented by the Relief Society! it is so nice to have the help of the members because missionaries are always changing and its scary to be a new member! Bringing people to see the light of the gospel and the blessing that membership in the church is is so incredible. Its been so awesome to see how Vitalina has changed her life and how happy she is now! 

We stayed pretty busy because Elder Cruz is a zone leader so we had to do some interviews and different meetings but it was a good week. Yesterday was exciting because we were able to bring some investigators to church and had some members bring new ones too that we will begin teaching this week! 

You should all read the story of the 2000 stripling warriors and trust in your mother. mom and dad bear some sweet testimony. 

I love you guys.

Elder Prince

March 20, 2017 letter - Amaralina

Monday [March 13] after we wrote our emails we got the chance to leave our area and go to the Farol de Barra which is the light house at the point of the peninsula of Salvador and it was so sick!! I got to try an acai bowl for the first time and i really like it haha fruit here in Brazil is so much better.

Sam at the Farol de Barra

Wednesday we had a district meeting and some interviews with President which went really well. One of the sisters is heading home next week and asked for a blessing but wanted it done in English because she's American so I was asked to do it!! it was so crazy to give my first blessing but it only strengthened my testimony of the priesthood. I know it is the power of God and I am so honored to be able to hold it. 

This week was a lot of running around and doing things in other areas! We had some meetings and Elder Cruz had to do a baptismal interview so that took up a whole afternoon one day this week! We got the chance to see a different area and got caught in a rain storm! I haven't been so wet in so long but walking in the rain was pretty fun haha. We didn't have water in our apartment part of the week so we had to take bucket showers.

Our investigator Vitalina is progressing so much and has a baptismal date for this Sunday! She has really come to love the gospel and has so much desire to follow thru and become a strong member! She's worried about pressure from her family and friends and always asks for our prayers to strenthen her so please send prayers this way!!

love, Elder Prince

Zona Salvador (Elder Prince is cut off on the left, but still looks good)

March 13, 2017 letter - Amaralina

Hey everybody!

This week was awesome! We had a family home evening speaking about the light of Christ on Monday and its been on my mind all week. We talked about how the light of Christ guides us to do good things in our life, and wondered if we are doing enough to listen and take advantage of that gift and put off our own desires to do the will of God!

We had stake conference yesterday and a Area Authority Seventy gave an awesome talk about the Atonement. One of his big points was how Christ stopped 3 times, during the greatest suffering of all time while in the garden, to go and check on the disciples. I usually think of this story as the Disciples being chastized but it truly shows the love of Our Savior. He was worried about Peter James and John during His hardest moment on earth. He worries about us and loves us more than we can even imagine. We had a couple investigators come to the meeting and they were extremely touched and recieved answers to questions they had! One has a date in a few weeks and now knows for sure that she wants to be a part of our church!! So awesome to see how Heavenly Father answers our prayers. 

Never forget how much Jesus Christ and our Heavely Father love us. 

Nothing much super exciting this week!! On p days we clean the house and usually go visit somewhere. Because of carnaval president didn't let any of the missionaries in the capital travel to locations so I have not gone anywhere yet!

Active members in our ward is around 60! some of our investigators are really progressing and some are very flaky. 

I know the gift of tongues is real because my portuguese is slowly getting better everyday!!

love you all so much, Elder Prince

Sunrise from Sam's apartment

March 6, 2017 letter - Amaralina

This week was lots better with Carnaval [Portuguese spelling of Carnival] being over! I have never seen such a party in my life, the Brazilians love to get rowdy!

We still had a bit of a problem though because all of our plans continue to fall through. Its so interesting because everyone is always home but somehow always busy! We dealt with a bit of rejection this week. We were knocking doors and set up an appointment to meet with someone the next day but when we came back for our meeting the same lady answered the door and straight lied to our face and told us she didn't remember us coming the nigth before! Lots of stuff like this happened this week haha. Many people don't want to talk to us about the gospel but will sit and talk for hours about nothing! Everyone in Brazil is super friendly and loves to visit. We had a baptism for yesterday so we filled up the font on Sunday but found out as soon as it was filled that our investigator could not be baptized! Her mother had previously given permission but then changed her mind. 

Listening to the Spirit is an important thing as a misisonary! Many times in lessons this week I have no clue what to say but just started talking and was guided as to what I should say! We need to be prepared to teach and serve others but the Lord will always provide us with what we need to say in the moment it needs to be said.  During two different lessons with one of our investigators Kelvin, we spoke a lot about the Book of Mormon. I was able to bear testimony and help my companion explain its value and importance in our lives and I felt the Spirit so strongly. He ended up being very excited to have us over again and is super interested in learning more! He seems to have a true desire to follow Christ!

A challenge for everyone this week! Our mission president has asked us to read all of the sections of chapter three in Preach My Gospel and mark every single scripture in that chapter. I have been doing that and felt truly that all the scriptures in preach my gospel assembled by our leaders are inspired. It's something that has strengthened my testimony as well as my knowledge of many gospel principles. You never realize how much we are blessed and promised until you truly look hard!!

Love, Elder Prince

Investigators to pray for: Kelvin, Carol, Diusa, Maria, Layla, Eduardo

February 27, 2017 - Amaralina

[Sam did not send a regular letter today due to limited computer time because of Carnival. Carnival of Brazil is an annual Brazilian festival held between the Friday afternoon and Ash Wednesday at noon, which marks the beginning of Lent, the forty-day period before Easter. It's like a week-long Mardi Gras. Carnival in Salvador is supposedly the wildest and longest in all of Brazil. He responded briefly to several questions for this email. Also, no pictures. Sam says he hasn't carried his camera this week due to Carnival.]

1. How has this week been? did you have a regular schedule or was it changed because of Carnival? 

The schedule was normal, just less people to teach and areas we weren't able to go into. I got yelled at by drunk people, and everyones been naked and drunk for like a week. Everything is so loud here and tonight the main area kinda near us hahaha.

2. Are you drinking water and carrying it with you?

Yes i drink lots of water, heat is killer but i've been drinking lots more, I'm not sunburned at all, sunscreen is pointless I sweat it off in 5 minutes no exaggeration

3. How is the food? What is the best thing you have eaten so far? What kinds of things do the members feed you?

The food here is awesome but some has weird textures and stuff haha. Fav thing is honestly the italian food, lasgna with chicken not beef and stroganof with chicken

4. How are your feet and legs with all the walking? Still feeling the burn?

My feet hurt sometimes but thats it! the hills here are nuts haha

5. Are mosquitoes a problem? Are you using your mosquito repellent I sent with you?

There are tons of bugs and spiders everywhere (even the shower and kitchen) but mosquitos are not a problem! I think I've only got one mosquito bite. 

6. How is your Portuguese coming? Does Elder Cruz speak Spanish and Portuguese? Did he learn Portuguese on his mission? Is he a lifelong member or a convert?

Elder Cruz only speaks Portuguese and Spanish and he is a convert at 11 years old. My Portuguese is coming slowly. I need to study and focus more as well as show my faith by speaking with confidence and not being scared. 

7. Who are the other elders in your apartment? Where are they from? Do you see your mission president often because you are so close to the mission home?

Yes the mission pres (President Bangerter) is in our ward and we see him more often than most! Elder Gifford is from Texas and Elder Silva from Sao Paulo. They all came in at the same time as the boys (Sam's friends from high school) went on missions (about 18 months ago). 

8. Have you taught many lessons yet? If you will tell us the names of your investigators we will pray for them as well as for you and Elder Cruz.

We teach 4-5 a day even on a bad day and we are gonna start teaching more when carnival is done.

9. Are you able to understand some of the language when you teach? Have you been able to feel the Spirit even when you can’t understand the words?

I understand gospel words and converstation really well but normal talking not so much! I still feel the spirit yes! especially when I or Elder Cruz bears testimony or prayers or personal study.

I love you all, go read Alma 26 and think on the glory and power of God!!

Elder Prince

February 20, 2017 letter - Amaralina

It was kinda crazy week. Tuesday when we got to Sao Paolo we had to find our luggage and our way out to find church representatives to get us to Salvador. Customs here are way more chill than in America everything was so easy haha. We had another two hour flight to Salvador and I have literally never been hotter in my life. I have not stopped sweating in a week. Not even in our cold shower because we don't have hot water!

We stayed the night at the mission home before we got assigned our companions and areas. My companion is Elder Cruz from Honduras and he doesn't speak English so its been an interesting week for me! I just kinda follow him around and try to bear my testimony hahaha. Our area is right next to the beach its called Amaralina if you want to look it up. We live in a house with two other elders from our district and my comp is zone leader as well. I love him so much. He is pretty soft spoken but super nice and patient with me. 

Wednesday was full of lessons and meeting members of our ward. The ward in Amaralina is super strong and the members love the missionaries. No one really speaks English but they understand that i have no clue what is going on hahaah. I am really starting to love it here. Its a little ghetto. I would compare it to James Bond [Casino Royale with Daniel Craig] when he is chasing the guy with the bomb thru the market before he shoots up the embassy. There are wild dogs and cats everywhere and tons of people have horses. There is a group of little monkeys that live in the big tree down the street from our house so that was super cool to see. Our apartment is the whiteone to the left in the picture with elder cruz on the hill. Salvador has more stairs and hills than I could ever imagine haha i get such a good burn going everyday. 

I am the first American in the ward in a couple years so everyone is pretty excited to talk to me lol.

We have been able to have a good amount of lessons everyday and meet with investigators and less actives a lot! This work is difficult but there is no feeling better than being able to teach people and see them feel the spirit testify of the truth of the gospel! I love being able to see people be comforted and uplifted by the spirit. 

Elder Cruz, Eduardo, and Elder Prince

We had a baptism this week!! This investigator was already with a date but I was able to help in a couple lessons and baptize him!! It was one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. The spirit was so strong and Eduardo is gonna be a great member. He loves the gospel and is so excited to be more active. 

We have been working way hard! I get home and can't wait to go to sleep. I am still getting accustomed to everything here, the heat, the new culture, not seeing many white people besides the mission pres. and not being able to understand anything. Its really frustrating to not be able to help because I don't know what is happening. 

The food here is way good. The ward is so strong and nice they try to hang with us everyday and make us lunch. Lunch is huge and breakfast and dinner are just like snacks its kinda weird. I try to snack lots. I drink water everyone we go into a house. Its the first thing people ask is if we want water.

Also I don't have very much time to reply because I still have to write mission pres. please tell everyone sorry if I can't reply. I love you all so much and I pray for you everyday. Also mom if you are worried about my safety please don't. I have never felt safer in my life. The missionary badge really is like a giant force field. Its such an interesting feeling. This place is super ghetto though haha.

I love you mom. I hope you are having a good week and stay safe! 

love elder prince

3 nephi 27:20

Map of Amaralina, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil (February 16 - May 1, 2017)