Merry Christmas!

So for me, Christmas is a time of reflecting on all the growth that I have gone through as I have been here in Cape Verde. A mission is what is known as the refiners’ fire. For a gem to be a gem, it has to be refined by fire and high pressure. It comes out looking like the beautiful gem that it is. I feel that I have gone through the same. The Mission is the hardest, but the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life. There are some days where I’m the happiest person in the world. There are some days that are quite challenging and stressful. There are those occasional days where I just need a blessing and a hug from my companion. And then there are days where miracles happen right before my eyes as the Lord puts his hand in the work. Christmas is the time where I reflect on the mercy and tender loving care of the Savior Jesus Christ. Christmas is where we were given the best gifts in the Universe. These are gifts of repentance, eternal families, and eternal life. I have come to realize that there is not much that I need in this world, but the ordinances and doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’ll not matter how much money I have or not have. It’ll not matter if my house is big or small, if my car is extravagant or simple, or if my job is of high rank or humble. What matters to me is how much service I’m going to be able to provide for the Church of the Lord.

Christmas is the time where we think about giving the best presents possible to those we love. These are the presents of baptism and confirmation into the kingdom of God. These are presents of living testimonies, which we help our investigators obtain for themselves, and the love of Christ we help them feel, sometimes for the first time in their lives. We call this month, White Month because it is the month of baptisms, repentance, and purity as we strive all we can to bring in as many souls as possible as a Christmas gift to the Savior. I love this Gospel. It has changed my life. It made me a person that I love, and a person that knows Christ, and the sacrifice that he went through for me.

This week we’re working with Melany, a 11-year-old girl. She is among one of the smartest
11-year-olds that I have ever met. She speaks and reads better than 90 percent of the population. As we were teaching her last week, we asked her how she felt about all this. She said that when she prayed, she felt that God told her that she should be baptized in the church and that he told her that these things were true. This is one of the most incredible responses that I have ever seen to the Holy Ghost, and it is a testimony to me that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can be understood by anyone, from child to scholar. The Holy Ghost is the Universal Communicator, and it penetrated the heart of this pure child of 12 years old. This will be a baptism on Christmas Eve that my companion and I are very excited for. She is as stoked as we are.

This last weekend we had the baptisms of Estefaneo and Romario. Estefaneo is a military policeman. He works for the Cape Verde armed services and is currently on a vacation period of 6 months. It was hard to meet with him at first because we would mark appointments, and he would never be there. We were almost to the point of dropping him, as another appointment fell a few weeks ago, but the other day we saw that he was home and went to his house and talked to him. He said that he has done a good amount of reading on his own and had prayed about all this. This time we created a baptismal calendar with dates of our appointments and his baptismal interview. Everything went according to plan. His baptism went through, and I saw a huge smile on his face when he came out of the water. I knew that he felt the Holy Ghost. The baptism was incredible, and that day we made great friendships with the members that participated and with Estefaneo, as well.

We also went to Brava this past Wednesday. The boat ride was among the smoothest that were going to Brava, so I was very grateful for that. Brava has new missionaries, elder Reeser and Elder Abularach. This is the best spirit I have felt about the missionaries in Brava. They’re getting along, and the work is being executed very well. I’m grateful that they’re there.

Other than that, we and the missionaries from Fogo and Brava (The whole zone) are going to get together this Wednesday. We’ll be having a small Christmas celebration this day, so as to not impede baptisms on Saturday or Sunday. Everyone will be there in the morning, and we’ll play basketball. Then we’ll go home and shower and go to the chapel to meet with the sisters’ missionaries. President Oliveira paid for a high class catering service, so we can have lunch on that day, and we’re very grateful for him. We’ll have a marvelous lunch and then have like a family home evening where we’ll share testimonies and experiences of how much we have come to know our Savior.

Merry Christmas!
Elder Cuestas

I'm grateful to be here

This week we had the baptism of Helder’s little brother Agusto, and it went very well.

We haven’t found Lucindo in a long time. Hopefully he’ll show up to Institute this week.

We found out that another family member in the Gonçalves family wants to be baptized, so we’ll be preparing him for baptism, along with Sofia´s brother named Estefany and other investigators. We have a super busy week ahead of us because we have to prepare them as well as go to Brava. We haven’t been there since the huge storm I mentioned a while back, so we hope we’ll actually be able to get there this time.

I’m feeling just great like always. My coughing is almost gone, though I had a small issue this week. A few weeks ago, I switched soaps to this stuff that smelled really good. Little did I know that my hands were going to have an allergic reaction to the soap, and now they’re covered in a rash and are peeling like crazy. It’s not a big deal, and I already threw it away. It’ll just take maybe a week or so for my hands to get better.

Regarding Christmas, it’s quite simple here. There are no big stores, or fancy Christmas ornaments/lights, or elegant restaurants. Definitively, life is very simple in Cape Verde.

For us, Christmas is going to be very meaningful just because of all the work we been doing here, and the love we have for this people.

I’m very happy on my mission. I love this people like I can’t even describe. They’re incredible!
They’re kind, friendly and warm people… I’m grateful to be here!

Elder Cuestas

Special training with our Mission President

This email may be a bit short because we have been extremely busy with tons of things to take care before the end of the day.

Our Mission President came to Fogo, and we had a special training this last Friday for the zone. Much revelation was received, and it was followed by a fast this weekend. I learned tons of things from Heavenly Father that are going to help Elder Weiss and me continue to lead the zone in the success that we been having.

He did personal interviews with all the Elders, but since he didn’t have time for Weiss and me on Friday, we went to the hotel where he was staying on Saturday morning and did the interviews there. He then had some time to just chat with us, and we talked a bit about cars, which it was way too cool!

Denilson is struggling a bit because he started drinking again, so we have to help him more than ever before. He thought he was ready to give it up, but he felt into temptation again. I know that eventually he’ll be able to give it up for good.

Right now Elder Weiss and I are teaching 17 investigators in our area. We have been so busy lately trying to get everyone scheduled in. We’ll sometimes teach 12 lessons in a day, but is all good!

Elder Calderwood goes home in May, so he has 5 months left. He’s doing great.

Arderto was baptized this weekend along with Lila, Helder and Helde. This was one of the most reverent baptisms we have ever had, and the Spirit was incredibly strong!

Elder Cuestas

Great Week!

This week was very hectic because of transfers and what not. All the flights for the week were booked, so there was no way of getting the missionaries in the zone out of here by plane, and at the same time, the boat that goes to Praia was undergoing repairs, so missionaries were not able to get out of Fogo until Friday to their new areas, which is a bit late to start a transfer. However, everyone is finally settled in their new area.

We had a miracle come through this week as Denilson got baptized. We went to his house to teach him, and he said that he hasn’t been drinking for a while now and that he also felt ready to be baptized this weekend. We finished teaching him everything that he needed to know, and we had the baptism this Saturday. The baptism was very spiritual, and Denilson was almost in tears and constantly closing his eyes to pray throughout the service. He was baptized by Pae, who now has the Melchezidek Priesthood. It’s hard to imagine that Pae is the same person who 5 months ago had drinking and smoking problems. Now he’s a Melchizidek Priesthood holder and is baptizing his friends left and right. This is truly a tender Mercy of the Lord.

We have been receiving tons and tons of references lately with 17 new investigators to teach right now. This is big for us! All our time is currently booked, and we hardly have enough time to take care of these people. I know that the Lord is going to give us the strength we need to help all of them to get where they need to be.

The current stake that is being organized will be in Praia and will include the islands of Praia, Fogo, and Brava.

We’re currently teaching a family of 2. Arderto is 19 years old and feels that he has been having disconcerting thoughts and visions. He feels sick and desperate for help. He came to Pae, who came to us to set up a time to start teaching him. We taught him the first time and gave him a blessing. The next day, we met him and his mom who both told us that they wanted more peace and happiness. We taught them the Atonement of our Lord and Savior and told them how they could benefit from this, and how the Atonement can cure them. Arderto said that he was already feeling better.

We found an investigator the other day in an area of the city that we have not worked in a long time. His name is Lucindo, and he is 21 years old. He had tons of questions, and he explained to us how he was not happy with the choices he had made throughout the course of his life and that he wanted to be a better person. He smokes and drinks, but we have all the faith that he’ll make all the necessary changes that are needed, so that he can be baptized. We are very excited to teach him!

Elder Cuestas

It's an incredible time to be a missionary!

The trip to Praia was very good. Zone council was only 3 hours this time compared to the usual 6 hours, and we did not fly out until the next day, so we had some free time in Praia.

Elder Caussé gave the training at zone council, too. We’re really close to forming our first Stake here in Cape Verde, so it is an incredible time to be a missionary. He gave us tips on the things that we have to do to make this happen, but his main message is that we have to work harder and in more ways than we have ever before. I don’t know how I’m going to do that, but I know the Lord will, and I know that he’s going to reveal his will to me on how I can accomplish this.

The Fireside was great with about 100 people or so attending. I indeed was his interpreter. I was really nervous to start out with, but when Elder Caussé was talking, I felt that something took over me and everything I said out of my mouth, I was not thinking about it. It was like something was doing it for me, and I was just moving my mouth. I know that it was the power of the Spirit. I was able to translate live word for word. He did not have to stop talking, and I just said what the spirit told me to say. Everyone seems to have gotten the message and Elder Caussé congratulated me on a well done job. I thanked the Lord for making me capable of something I couldn’t have done myself.

The week was not as hectic because of all the meetings we had and trainings, but nevertheless Sofia and Eidy made it to the waters of baptism this last Saturday. I have to say that this was one of the most spiritual baptisms we’ve had recently. Eidy is truly someone that has been transformed by the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and especially after such a short time investigating the church. It just shows how powerful God is in changing and transforming the hearts of these people.

Truly it is a miracle how accepting these people have been of the Gospel. I really don’t know how to explain it, and I know that I have no credit for it, but I do know that the Lord has been very merciful of these precious areas of the islands of Fogo and Brava. I’m so grateful for how close I have grown to him and how much I have learned to rely on him, even though it’s something that I still need to work on.

Pai introduced us to a 30 year- old man who came to church yesterday. As we went later on that night to teach him, the spirit was extremely strong. He has been through problems that I cannot comprehend. Elder Weiss and I testified from the bottom of our hearts of the power of the atoning sacrifice of the Savior and the effects that it can have in his life. He said that he’ll pray to see if baptism is true for him. He was very open and extremely frank with us. It turns out that he doesn’t reach out to a lot of people, and yet he’s telling us so many things of his past, and he’s showing us how much he wants our help and how humble he’s to receive the things that we have to say. He´s huge too. He is like 6´7 or something.

Lalo, the man baptized 2 weeks ago introduced us to an investigator named Rosiana. She’s 17 years old, and she says that when she started to come to institute, she felt something that she couldn’t explain, and it got her to investigating what we’re all about. She accepted the invite to baptism, and she already has 2 friends that will help her integrate.

Elder Cuestas

Fireside with Elder Gérald Caussé

Last week we had this trip to Brava, but the boat ride was a nightmare because we got caught in a really bad storm, and the boat was rocking all over the place, and stuff was flying everywhere. The plates in the kitchen of the boat fell out and broke, and our stuff was falling out of the compartment case above our seats. Usually a boat ride to Brava takes 40 minutes, but an hour into the journey, the captain told us that we had to turn around and come back. I felt so dizzy at that point that I thought I was going to pass out. I asked Elder Weiss right there to give me a blessing, and immediately after he took his hands off my head, my sickness was gone. It was a miracle, and it strengthened my testimony deeply. We got back home around midnight, and we were so exhausted. The sad part was that we never made it to Brava.

Here is an update of some members and investigators we have worked with.

The Gonçalves family is doing very well, and we visit them often. They make it to church every single week, and they’re as happy as kids can be. I love them very much, and I have grown a strong relationship with the 6 year old. He hugs me every time I see him, and he’s so nice to me.

Chuchuka and Luana are doing very well coming to church and to many family home evenings and staying active in the church. We’re helping Chuchuka with her scriptures reading every day because she tends to get distracted with other things.

Kader is presenting us more people to teach, and Tereza has trouble staying active, so we’re visiting her often.

Melanie is amazing, and she wants us to teach her mom. She has changed a lot!

The most important thing is that we’re teaching this woman named Eidy. She has a health problem that makes it difficult for her to walk, and she has changed a lot since she has started coming to church. Anyway, she made it all the way to District Conference, which is saying a lot for her, and she listened intently to what the speakers had to say
We taught her, and she continues to improve and understand more and ask questions. She has already stood up to some people who are discouraging her from getting baptized, and we feel in our hearts that she is converted.

We found a girl and her name is Sofia. She is very smart and understands Portuguese very well. She asks tons of questions, and she was another investigator that was able to describe exactly what the Holy Ghost felt like. She said that before we asked her to pray about the Restoration, she had already taken the time before to do that, and she’s sure that she received an answer. She will be baptized shortly.

There is something really exciting going on this coming week. Elder Weiss and I’ll be going to Praia for Zone Conference and a fireside with elder Gérald Caussé from the First Quorum of the Seventy. He’s from France and doesn’t speak Portuguese, so our Mission President asked me to be the interpreter. Obviously I’m a bit anxious, but grateful at the same time for such an amazing opportunity!

Elder Cuestas

Elder Weiss hit his 19-month mark!

Fogo is very safe. Even the bad parts of town, everyone respects the Elders, and they know that we don’t have anything in our backpacks, so there is little to no probability of something happening to us. However, this island is extremely poor. Poorer than Tarrafal. There are very little conditions here on the island, and power and Internet go out often. So in the future, if I cannot write on a Monday, it is because of those reasons.

Last week we did the training in district meeting, and we ended up doing it with all the elders in Fogo. Everyone took it pretty well, and we felt that the spirit was pretty strong.

A week ago, we baptized Indira, the investigator with the heart problem. It was a wonderful experience! We saw her again yesterday, and she appeared radiant and happy. She seems like a whole different person. She still has that heart problem, and she is waiting for medication to come from Praia, so that she can start treatment, but she is doing well. Her spirit is very strong, and she is anxious to learn fully what she needs to know.

Elder Weiss hit his 19-month mark yesterday. He has 5 months left on the mission. He is OLD!!! ha-ha. We’re almost certain that at the end of this transfer, one of us is leaving this area; we’re going to miss each other very much. When he leaves the mission, I’ll have 7 months left and had become an old missionary, too.

Elder Weiss is from Sandy Utah, about 45 minutes away from BYU, but he said he would probably go to UVU (10 minutes away) for College. He likes video games and graphics design, probably something he wants to go into. He has 2 brothers, both married, both served missions, and one sister, married too. He loves his parents, and his family is very special to him.

By the way, popsicles are sooooooo good here. We have become immune to the water, so now we can drink it. That being said the people here sell these popsicles that they make at home. These are called fresquinhas (Pronounced fresquiñas) and sometimes they’ll have yoghurt or cream in them. They’re so good when we’re walking out all day in the 92 degrees temperature…

Elder Cuestas

A very special Sunday!

The story about safety is different for missionaries. We are promised protection as angels are constantly surrounding us. This protection comes through our obedience, and the Lord promises us that he watches over his missionaries.

We have worked very hard this week, going to Brava at the last minute and then going straight to Cova Figueira afterwards to take care of Baptismal interviews. We are trying to get this investigator prepared for baptism this coming Saturday, but she has a heart problem, and she faints often, which often makes her have to cancel appointments. I know, however, that she has a desire to be baptized, as she has shown up already for many church services. The Lord will guide us in her preparation.

We found an investigator that we were not been able to find for quite some time. He’s back on track, and we’re preparing him for baptism. His name is Leridiu.
In his first lesson, we felt some strong spiritual impressions - things that we have never felt before. We felt that the spirit was revealing sad truths to us about his past, but at the same time, these impressions are going to help us in the questions that we make, so that we can address his needs and help him receive the cure of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

This Sunday as well, we found 4 new investigators, one is a man who will be a future Melchezidek priesthood holder - we're ecstatic!

Also, this week my companion and I grew closer and stronger. Elder Weiss and I have already been really close these past two transfers, but this week, we felt the spirit so strong, especially on Sunday. I feel that we have never wanted success so bad as now, and we have been working harder than ever before in obedience, study, and diligence.

We have so much more to learn about teaching, finding, and preparing people, but we took this moment on Sunday to thank the Lord for how far he has taken us, and how much he has trusted us, and how much success he has led us to have through his Holy Spirit. These are turning points I’ve reached through the Lord that I never dreamed that I could obtain on the mission. I can’t believe how much the Lord loves us for working so hard to understand him and understand how to do his work.

Some of the investigators that I’m eager about are the mother of two recent converts that were baptized in August. That family has had some big health challenges. One of the converts has a crooked leg making her walk in an awkward way, and extremely slow. The mother we started teaching is extremely obese, and we could feel in her spirit, how she yearns for some hope. Another is Leridiu himself. I know he has a lot to open up to us and that it may take some time, but I’m confident that if he keeps his appointments and let us into his life, we can help him.

I have never loved the people of this country so much as I do now. So much that their afflictions are mine. Their joys are mine. Nothing gives Elder Weiss and I more joy than being with our recent converts, investigators, and members and partaking of their warm spirit.

Elder Cuestas

Third Transfer with Elder Weiss!

The week was very busy, as we had to go to Brava to do some baptismal interviews for the elders there. We had the baptism this week of Kader, Melanie, and Sandro. Tereza had a small problem, and she has to wait a bit longer. However, I have faith that she is going to progress this week and would be baptized soon.

I will go back to Praia in about three weeks for Zone Leaders council.

So Transfers came and went, and elder Weiss and I are staying together one more. This is the first time that we have three transfers, and I remain with the same companion.. I’m glad that it’s Elder Weiss. We know each other and understand each other very well. We have been through a lot together. I feel that he has helped me grow in areas that I have needed growth for a long time. This is great stuff. I love being Zone leader and all the responsibilities that I have. I’m so grateful to the Lord for all that he has blessed me with. He has blessed me with a better mission than I could ever hope for. I’m so eternally grateful for elder Weiss. I have gotten to know him quite well, and I cannot even pay him back one single percentage for all that he has given me.

Two weeks and I have been on the mission a year. My trainer Elder Rodrigues went home today. He is done with his mission. Wow! It seems like it was yesterday that we were just starting out, he and I. I love what the Second Counselor in the Sunday School Presidency said in his talk, don’t look for how far you have to go, but look for how far you have come. I try to do that and look for ways that I can continue to improve.

We have a new investigator and her name is Manuella. She is Incredible!!! I cannot even describe the gratitude I have that the Lord led us to her. She’s gold. She opens up to us and tells us her feelings, her doubts, and she speaks with confidence. She loves what she is learning, and she said that she felt very comfortable and happy with her experience this Sunday at church. We integrated a recent convert, Cleusa, to help us with the teaching, and they’re becoming best friends.

It shows me how important the members are in the work, and really, it is a miracle that we found her and that the Lord is giving us minute by minute inspiration by scripture, by thought, and by listening as we’re teaching her the lessons.

Elder Cuestas

General Conference

This weekend was one of the best in my mission. I was spiritually fed by every single talk of the apostles and prophets. I loved all of them. It was an incredible experience. President Monson gave one of my favorite talks during priesthood about sharing the Gospel. Another one that touched my heart was the one by Elder Quentin L. Cook on Sunday afternoon, along with the one given by President Uchtdorf on Saturday morning. They talk about the things that we can do to recognize more the presence of the Lord’s blessings and love for us as we pass through afflictions and trials.

Something leaped in my heart to see the faith that our new investigators have – they’ll be getting baptized in a couple of weeks. They showed true desire as they came to watch General Conference. Kader, who will be baptized this weekend, came early at 8 a.m. to priesthood session. Tereza came for the Sunday morning session, and Melanie came and stayed all Sunday for the two sessions. I love these people so much, and I’m so amazed by the changes they have made.

Melanie was a girl so shy that every time we asked her a question, she would literally throw her face in her hands and cover her eyes. Now she gives her honest opinion and asks us questions. She has changed the way she dresses after one invite to do so, and is now socializing full time with the other members. You’d think she has been a member for a long time. This to me is true conversion. She knows what she’s doing, and the Lord has blessed her to know these things for herself. The Lord has also blessed us to be the ones to work with her.

Taresa had trouble coming to church at first, and we felt impressed to talk about the atonement and blessings of the Book of Mormon. Now she’s reading it by herself and is coming to church, too. She’s such a lively person with a lot courage in her heart. Her love for God is strong, and her fire for the gospel is growing. Sometimes she makes us laugh pretty hard before we start the lesson.

I love the people here and the investigators. I know this is possible because the Lord give us the ability and power to do so. I feel his presence guiding me. I feel his comfort, and I feel that I’m worthy, yet constantly needing to repent and be better.

The desire to be better will never, never stops in me. A talk that impressed my heart by the second counselor in the Sunday School presidency when he said "don’t look how far you have to go, but look how far you’ve come".

Elder Cuestas

Zone Conference in Fogo

This week felt a bit slow, but things are going excellent. The Gonçalves family is doing very well. It was such a joy to have the opportunity to prepare them for baptism. They’re perhaps some of my favorite investigators because they’re a family, and to find a family in Cape Verde is something unusual here.

Zone Conference was this Friday, so President Oliveira came to Fogo to talk to us. The spirit was extremely strong, and we learned so much. I’m so grateful that he's our mission president.

We don’t have any baptisms planned for this week because of General Conference. We’ll be focusing this week on finding new people to teach.

I have a very strong love for the Goncalves family. They’re very educated, well-behaved kids that I have seen in my mission. A single mother named Elsa raises them, and they knew so much about the gospel before we even taught anything to them. They treat each other with love and respect - qualities that are uncommon in Cape Verde

This letter is a bit short because I have pink eye (It’s been going throughout the whole village) and it’s a bit hard to see. It’s a very minor infection and there is medication here for it. I'll be fine before next Monday.

Elder Cuestas

Zone Leaders Council was AMAZING!

This week was indeed CRAZY.

We left Monday around 4 in the afternoon, and the assistants to the president (APs) picked us up. We stayed at their house. Elder Fonseca is one of the APs right now, so I got to stay at his house, and we talked and talked a lot. He’s a much closer friend to me now than when we served together. We have learned a lot since then, and we’re the best of friends now. It was really nice to see him again.

Zone leaders council was amazing. The Spirit was the Strongest I have ever felt it! I’m so happy that Heavenly father has given me the opportunity to be a zone leader and receive the training from President Oliveira that we got.

I can still speak Spanish, except that I struggle some not to mix it up with Portuguese. Portuguese from Brazil is the same as from Portugal just different accents. To say refrigerator, Brazil would say Geladeira, while Portugal would say Frigurífico.

The new members are helping each other out to stay active in the church. The branch president is giving them all callings and the priesthood to the men. Like I said, the success has been incredible here, and all of our recent converts are staying strong. We have a baptism this weekend where 3 people will be baptized (Família Gonçalves).

Fogo is as hot as ever, but things are still going incredible! I’m very excited for General Conference that is coming up in two weeks. Two weeks after that, I’ll have reached a year on the mission. After that, time will be on the downhill until I get home.

Elder Cuestas

Zone Leaders Council in Praia

We’ve had some 10 baptisms since I’ve been here, and miraculously, all of them are coming to church every Sunday without a problem. Nuria, Cleusa, and Vania are all doing great. Vania is a bit laid back about reading the scriptures, but we’re making sure that she stays on track.

We’re getting towards the hottest part of the year with the weather. Temperature has reached about 95-98 degrees and 85% humidity. I haven’t been around air conditioning since the MTC, but it’s funny though, I don’t miss it that much. As long as I have a fan, I sleep just fine.

We went to Brava last week to do divisions there. I think that Brava is the most beautiful island in the mission. It’s incredibly green and cool because it’s always cloudy. It looks like a green jungle. We took a boat to get there and on the way back, it was so bumpy that at least 3 people got dizzy because they were getting seasick. The boat moved up and down a lot. Personally, I don’t get seasick, but it makes me very sleepy for some reason.

Work is very busy here in the area. We’re working with a family called Gonçalves. They should be baptized soon, as well as this mother and her child. Her name is Tereza and the kid is Sandro. Hopefully things will work out for them.

Chuchuka and Luana have become my favorite people that I’ve worked with here in Fogo. They’re true converts to the church, and they love everything that has to do with church. Chuchuka is very sarcastic and lively, and she is fun to have a conversation with.

So this is random, but it’s awesome! I’ve been drinking this juice called Compal. It’s the most natural juice that I’ve ever tasted, and it’s delicious. It has nectars of Peach, Mango, Pineapple, Apple, and Orange. It comes from Portugal, and it’s like nothing we have back home.

In a few hours, my companion and I'll be on my way to the airport to Praia again. We have Zone Leaders Council tomorrow, and we’ll fly back on Wednesday. I’m excited to hear what President Oliveira has for us. His tactics have been very successful. He’s truly a blessing to all of us!

Elder Cuestas

This week was a great success!

So here is my synopsis on the week.

This week has been an incredible success. Three investigators were baptized and their names are Nuria, Vania, and Cleusa. They were glowing when they came up out of the water. I had the honor of baptizing Nuria. She is about 4 feet 11 tall.

We had 10 investigators in church and 9 of them are marked with baptism dates. This is incredible success, and it’s all due to the training and new techniques of teaching that President Oliveira has been giving us. We pour out our hearts in success to the Lord for his mercifulness.

I've grown to love the people of this island almost as much as I loved the people of Tarrafal. I feel that I’m constantly improving and listening to how the Lord wants me to grow. I feel that I’m getting spiritually stronger and just heading in a general positive direction.

We are now full of recent converts to teach, after the 8 baptisms we have had since I got to Fogo. Our schedule is crazy. Sundays are less hectic. For the most part, we just go to church and look for our investigators, if they don’t show up. Thankfully they almost always do...just late, but that’s Cape Verde.

Pai is stronger than ever and should be getting the priesthood this coming week. He has not had any problems with temptation and is always at the church. He teaches with us often.

At this time, we’re teaching a new investigator named Tato. He has huge issues with drinking and smoking, so we’re hoping Pai can help us teach him.

Elder Cuestas

Had a Great Birthday!

Thank you for all the congratulations on my Birthday. It was indeed wonderful because we had a baptism that day.

The baptism was of our investigator Pai. This is the guy that got himself into all the things that are against the Word of Wisdom, and what not. He was also the investigator that got his tooth pulled out, so that he could stop smoking. He’s doing great, and his knowledge and will to learn the Gospel is unbelievable. He would practically teach us in the lessons.

His baptism was a very special day. We made a nice big cake for him. Since they don’t have frosting here, and to make it is a huge pain in the neck, we used NUTELLA for the frosting, and it actually tasted very good.

Elder Weiss loves to eat cake. He says that at one point earlier in his mission, he was making 2 cakes a week. The sisters made a big cake for me the day before, and all the missionaries ate a piece, and they sang happy birthday to me. Sister Oliveira called me and so did some other missionaries who I served with in the past, even Elder Coleman called me. It was very nice to hear from all of them.

But we worked as always. We had the baptism and then we continued on. Work doesn’t really ever stop on the mission - just Christmas and a holiday here called Carnival. We have to stay inside because the streets get quite noisy on that day.

So transfer calls were this Saturday, and Weiss and I are staying one more together here in Fogo. The other elders that live with us are staying as well, although the areas of Patim and Mosteiros had changes. Also, the sisters got transferred, too.

This week we had that baptism, and we found 3 new investigators named Nuria, Tereza, and Zaza. They’re all references from members, and they all seem very interested. We are excited to work with them.

Chuchuka and Luana are very strong and coming to all the church activities and coming to church on Sundays. They are doing very well!

Elder Cuestas

Almost halfway through my mission...

Can you believe that in a little over a month, I’m halfway through my mission???? Hasn’t time flown??

Life in Fogo has been crazy. Tons of challenges but are all good.

We had the baptism this weekend of Chuchuka and Luana, and I had the honor of getting to baptize Luana. She was extremely nervous, but she was glowing moments after coming out of the water. They were investigators that I got to work with from the start. I’m so proud of them, and I’m so grateful to my Heavenly father that despite my weaknesses, he has given me the confidence, honor and enjoyment of finding his people to teach and help come to the Gospel.

This week we went to the Island of Brava to do the exchange with the elders there. The island is the most beautiful of the country with the most greenery I have ever seen, but life is way too quiet there. You walk a kilometer there just to find some 4 or 5 houses.

Zone leaders have to do the work just like everyone else, but between having to go to Praia once a month, do exchanges with all the other district leaders, and be available at a last moments notice to do a baptismal interview, we have less time than a regular missionary to find people to teach. Nevertheless, that is our purpose and the most important thing for us to do. Thank goodness our meeting in Praia was cancelled for this week, and it’ll be in two more weeks. That gives us the time to find and teach new people.

So that investigator that you were talking about that was addicted to all things and that he dropped almost everything to convert to the gospel, still is going strong and coming to church every Sunday. He still is having a bit of trouble giving up smoking, but he says that he does it because his tooth hurts. He’s going to get it removed tomorrow, and then he says he’ll drop smoking for good. I really hope that’s the case.

Yes, I knew all about the elections here. It was for the President of the Republic, and the winner was Jorge Carlos Fonseca. Politics are quite different here. They campaign by sending trucks that make tons of noise all over the city, all the time. This goes on for weeks, and the trucks have these huge speakers that go all over the city some 16 hours a day.

The people in Fogo are a bit different than the people in Tarrafal. Fogo is the island in which almost every Cape Verdian has a relative that lives in the US. You see tons of things that are given to them from their relatives. Even most of the cars here are imports from the US, cars that their relatives give to them.

I imagine that President Oliveira knows that I have a B-day coming up, but it’s not really something we make a big deal about, especially since everyone is on a different Island. Elder Weiss says that he wants to make brownies for me this weekend. He’s awesome!

The more time I spend with Elder Weiss, the closer friends we become. He has taught me so much. I’m so grateful for the way he’s, and how easy he’s to get along with, work with, and have fun!

Elder Cuestas

Training with President Oliveira was Amazing!

Last week we had training with president Oliveira, and it was Amazing! Among the many things we learned, he shared with us new ideas about finding people and how to get the members to help us more. Furthermore, my interview with him went great. He said that he was proud of me and that I’ll be staying in Fogo for some time.

Chuchuka is doing great. She’s doing everything that she needs to be doing, and she’ll be baptized this weekend along with her little sister Luana.

Elder Fonseca, my old companion, and now the assistant to the president went teaching with us on Saturday. It was so nice to see him again. We had a great time the three of us

Elder Weiss and I have such a great relationship. There is no contention with us whatsoever, and we teach better than I’ve ever taught in my mission. We’ve such a unity and powerful spirit when we teach and because of that, success is coming so much easier to us. We have been crazy busy this week with so much work with the zone and the training, but it’s all good.

We have to do exchanges with the Elders in Brava this Wednesday. Brava is another Island in Cape Verde that is part of my Zone, so tomorrow night we’ll be going to Brava and coming back Thursday morning to do exchanges with elder Jones and elder Smith

The week was quite hectic but great. I’m so happy here in Fogo. I’m growing spiritually, and my companion and I are doing everything in our power for these people out here. I’m so joyful for all that the Lord has helped me see and all that he has helped me become.

Elder Cuestas

Elder Weiss and I

Things have been going very well here in Fogo.

This week we were able to do much more work. Another one of our investigators got baptized. His name is Ailton, and he was being prepared before we got there. Everything went very well and the spirit was strong at his baptism.

Another great event happened after the baptism later that Saturday.

We found this investigator who came to church last Sunday. We invited him to come and see the baptism in Cova Figueira. He went and felt the spirit very strong. The next day, he went to church, and we taught him that afternoon. He said that his life was a complete disaster for the most part and that he even saw demons at some part of his life. He has used almost all kinds of substances against the word of wisdom and just overall made many mistakes that eventually made himself humbled by the Lord.
I’ve never felt the spirit so strong in any lesson on my mission until that day. I was so engulfed by the spirit, and I know that every word I said was not my own, but the will of the Lord. I was so grateful to him and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord in thanks for all that he had done. Leaving these addictions may be challenging but I know that this man is going to get baptized someday.

This week is going to be crazy. President Oliveira will come into Fogo on Thursday. We’ll have interviews with him that morning. Friday we’ve training from 8 in the morning to 6 in the evening. That and we have to go to Cova Figueira to do a baptismal interview for the district leader there.

For some reason, Tony the dog comes now in the mornings. The door is always open, so she just walks right in. The banana lady comes once in a while. We live in a bit of an inconvenient area for her

Elder Cuestas

Este e o tempo para os homens prepararem se para encontrar com Deus. Este e o tempo para os homens executarem os seus labores

For this is the time for men to prepare to meet God. This is the time for men to perform their labors.

The Zone is Amazing!!

Here are a few pics. The black sand beach in Fogo and the day we played volleyball -the stuff over our arms is black sand. A pic of me, then a pic in Praia. These are all the Zone Leaders in the Cape Verde Praia Mission. Elder Weiss is wearing the pink tie. Hes behind pres and sister Oliveira.

The zone is incredible. My zone includes the missionaries from Fonte Alexio, the Sisters in Sao Filipe, Patim, Cova Figueira, Mosteiros, and Brava.

All the missionaries in Fogo came to Sao Filipe for P day, and we went to the black beach and played Volleyball. We had such an amazing time and laughed so hard. No one was left out. Then we went to a restaurant to have lunch. Another 2 hours of laughing and having a good time. It was one of the best P days I have had on the mission. We’re very united and humble here in Fogo. I feel the spirit so strong here.

The other two Elders that live with us serve the high most outskirts areas of Sao Filipe in an area called Fonte Alexio. One of them, Elder Hirschi is from Georgia and has been in the mission a little over 6 months. The other one is Elder Radtke from Utah who has been on the mission a little over 2 months.

So we hardly got to work in our area this week. Last Monday we flew into Praia for Zone leaders council. We didn’t get flown back into Fogo until Wednesday night. Then Thursday, we had to go to Cova Figueria because we had to interview someone for baptism over there. Since transportation is not very frequent back to Sao Filipe, we had to stay overnight at the elders there. We finally got back to work in Sao Filipe on Friday, and Saturday we had Daisy’s baptism. This week we have to go back to Cova Figueira for companion exchanges.

President Oliveira is awesome! He is very smart and very excited to work with us to achieve the same purpose.

Elder Weiss and I are doing amazing, and we’re working like crazy. We actually have 3 chapels in Fogo. There are tons and tons of members here. More than any other religion, only that most of them are less active, so that is one challenge here.

The people here speak much more Portuguese than back in Tarrafal. Only a few people I know do not speak Portuguese, so not much Creole is spoken here. Our chapel is in a nice area. There aren’t really bad parts of Sao Filipe. It’s just a village with the richer part in the lower area.

Right now, we’ve an investigator named Chuchuka. She has been doing everything, even dressing more modestly out of her own free will. She accepted baptism, and she’s sincerely trying her best to learn what we’re teaching her. She’s sincere and very smart in her responses. She accepted baptism and started inviting her little sister to come to church and listen to us. Her sister also accepted baptism and we’re working with them to get them baptized as soon as they’re ready.

There is a considerably smaller selection of food here in Sao FIlipe, but it’s not a big deal. Most of the country is like that except for San Tiago. San Tiago is the only island that has two supermarkets - Calu and Angelas. The biggest supermarket here is about one third the size of Walgreens back home.

Overall, I’m having a spiritual feast as I strive everyday harder to do the will of the Lord. I feel good about everything, and I feel light of heart. I feel relaxed with the desire to work. I like my companion, and I’m happy that we’re getting along so well. Life is the greatest it can be right now!

Elder Cuestas

Sao Filipe ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! is da beeest

The first thing I have to say is that I’m extremely happy right now. I love my mission so much, and I’ve been blessed beyond belief from the good Lord.

The Lord put me in an absolutely amazing place. I LOVE SAO FILIPE

Elder Weiss is really cool. He talks a lot which is awesome because the days pass very quickly here. I enjoy working together. We teach in so much union, and I feel the spirit so incredibly strong in our lessons. He’s quick to laugh and is a great sport, even when things get difficult. He’s instant to make friends with me, and life in the house is never dull.

Elder Weiss is the youngest in his family. He’s some 6 feet 3 and laughs at anything. He’s very good at speaking Portuguese and teaching. We’ve already marked a baptismal date with a new investigator this week.

I just cannot emphasize how happy I’m. I’ve a companion that loves to work and loves to talk. He’s very clean, and I look forward to companion study with him every day. I have been pouring out my heart to the Lord in thanks for this marvelous blessing he gave me.

Fogo is HOT!!!! We’ve been having days of 100 degrees or more. The city though is beautiful. You can compare it to an old Italian village. It really looks that way. It’s much cleaner and attractive than Tarrafal. There is a chapel here, too, so that means the branch is much stronger here. We don’t have to do any branch stuff, just our job as missionaries. I have sweat more than I’ve ever had in my life. Even the sister missionaries sweat profusely here. There is no wind and no clouds. hahah. However, because of how awesome the area is, and how amazing Elder Weiss is, it has not bothered me a single bit. What I do is freeze a big bottle of water and carry it in my bag, so I’ve cold water all day. It’s all I need.

Honestly I just feel like a regular missionary. The zone covers all the areas of Fogo and the island of Brava, which is one area. The total comes to 7 areas. Both Elder Weiss and I are the zone leaders of FOGO, and we work together to establish goals and discuss difficulties we have in the zone. I’m glad to be able to serve the other missionaries, and I’m just happy that the Lord is blessing me so much right now. I know I owe EVERYTHING to him, and I know he’s blessing me and pushing me to be all I can, so that I can serve him. That’s how I feel.

So I’m flying back to Praia today for Zone Leaders council. This is when all the zone leaders from the mission (5 zones) get together and receive trainings from President Oliveira for the zones. We discuss goals and ways to improve. The council will be tomorrow, but for some reason, they wont fly us back until Wednesday evening.

We live in a house with two other Elders. They’re the ones that serve in Fonte Alexio which is the village next door to Sao ~Filipe. They’re really cool, too. Like I said, life is never dull. We all buy groceries together, so we save money, and take turns making lunch. The house is HUGE with 4 bedrooms and two bathrooms. It’s very nice. Everything works perfectly from the toilets to the stove. We even have a microwave and an eggbeater. I use the eggbeater to make powdered milk, which is a ton cheaper than milk

Fogo is extremely safe - dead quiet after 7 in the evening. We even leave the door open in our house to let the breeze in. We shut it when we go to sleep though. It’s even safer than Tarrafal. Nothing happens here. There are even less dogs here, and they are not mean. The worst thing that happens is that if you fall asleep with the door open, which we did once, the banana lady will come in the house, wake you up and try to sell you bananas...or mangos.

We’ve a good and faithful dog that comes to the house every night and lays on the porch in front of the open door. Her name is Tony and we’ll feed her the leftovers.

I’ve already called elder Coleman and we chatted about the good times we had. We left on an excellent note. Elder Coleman is doing a very good job back in Tarrafal

Overall, I’m overjoyed. I’m very happy, and I’m feeling the spirit stronger and stronger every day. I love my work. I love the Lord, and I love my life out here in this country. We’ll be doing great work here because we both – Weiss and I - have a strong desire to serve the Lord and do His will.

Elder Cuestas

FOGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SAO FILIPE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is da beeest

I got transferred to Fogo in the city of Sao Filipe

So last Saturday, I got a call from President Oliveira saying that I was going to be transferred, and here I’m in a new area. I’m now on the island of FOGO in the city of Sao Filipe serving as a Zone Leader.

This mission is so small that there are only 5 zones here: Fogo, Santiago South, San Tiago North, Mindelo North, Mindelo South.

I’m now in the hottest city in the mission. It is about some 98 degrees here, and this seems to be pretty typical according to my companion.

My new companion is elder Weiss from Utah. I have met him before in my first area when the missionaries in Praia would get together to play soccer. I’m excited to take on the responsibility of a Zone Leader. I have no clue as to what I’m doing, so I know that I’ll be praying a lot to see how the Lord is going to guide me.

Last week with Elder Coleman was great. We had a great time and we worked hard. The family that we found last week seems really cool. The couple seems like they have genuine compassion and love for each other, which is something rare in Cape Verde. They have two infants, and I am sure Elder Coleman and the new missionary are going to be great with them.

Leaving Tarrafal was hard - sort of. I said goodbye to all the members there, and Alex took us all the way to Praia. We went to Praia Sunday night because my flight to Fogo was early on Monday morning. Alex took us to an elder’s house, so we could spend the night in Praia, and we said our goodbyes there. I’ll miss that kid a lot. I’ll miss all of Tarrafal, but I am excited to start my work here in Sao Felipe.

The flight was on TACV Cabo Verde Airlines. It was a tiny little airplane with propellers, and the flight to Fogo was just 15 minutes long. Shortest flight I have ever experienced ha-ha

Fogo is Portuguese for Fire. Did you know that there is an active volcano on this island? The island is very hot and hilly. The only place that there is a lot of wind is Mindelo. It's just hot here ha-ha. I don’t miss hot showers at all. You look forward to cold showers here.

Tony and Michel are doing amazing. They have families that are very supportive of their baptisms. We had Family Home Evening in the house of Tony last Monday before I left.

I’m just overall excited, and it seems that Elder Weiss and I are going to work well together. I have heard good stuff about him.

Elder Cuestas

Great Week!

This was indeed a wonderful week!

What we need to realize as followers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that we’re here to let go of our own will and accept the fact that our own will is not always best for us, even if we cannot see it right at the moment. As we let go of our will, and let our Heavenly Father work in our life, at some point or another, we will see that our Father in Heaven indeed does everything out of love for us and that his will is that we be the best persons possible on this short life experience. Bottom line: I love the work. I love being a missionary. I love all that I have learned about my Father in Heaven.

As for Tony and Michelle, their baptisms went great! Elder Coleman baptized Tony and I baptized Michelle. They’re doing very well and ready to start a life of learning Gospel principles. They’re very happy.

We found (my first) a family to teach last Friday. Nelinho and his wife Lé. We’re so excited. It’s very hard to find families here.

E aconteceu que eu, Nefi disse a meu pai, Eu irei e cumprirei as ordens do Senhor, porque sei que ele nunca da ordens aos filhos dos homens sem antes preparar um caminho pelo qual suas ordens possam ser cumpridas

What scripture is this?

Elder Cuestas

Zone Conference with President Oliveira

We were walking home from the Tavares family (Alex and his entire family are members) I was very frustrated because the whole family does things that are against the commandments, and we have been working so long not just with Alex, but with his whole family as well.

I asked my companion how is it that we, two 19 year olds, know more than this 45-year-old man who is in charge of his family? He told me that the only reason we can see more is because we are converted to the Gospel.

I got really quiet for a few minutes, and I thought about that statement. I didn’t realize that I’m really converted to the church and the gospel. I realized right there that I had no doubt in my mind that I knew the gospel was true. I knew that through the experiences I have gone through as a member of the Church and as a missionary, that I, without knowing it, had built a personal relationship with my father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. Everything was revealed to my eyes yesterday through that one statement, and the Spirit just started flooding my heart. I felt the confirmation from Heavenly Father saying "That’s right" and I had tears of the spirit forming in my eyes.

Zone Conference with President Oliveira (our new Mission President)

Wow, this man is incredible. He has such a confidence, yet such humility. I know that God called him to be here as the Mission President of this mission. His counsel was incredible. His love for us was very clear. His excitement is radiant. His wife is planning to be as involved as him in this mission. He is just overall incredible, and I know we’re going to benefit so much because of him.

Tarrafal is very hot right now. We have daily highs of some 34 degrees - 95 in Fahrenheit. The sun is strong every day and it never rains here. There is no AC in the house either. But of course, I am used to it

I KNOW without a doubt in my mind that ANYTHING can be worked out, and that our Heavenly father is willing and delighted to support us in the work as long as we turn to him.

E Cuestas

TARRAFAL (Still)

President Neves finished his term

This email is going to be very short because I went to Praia this weekend and I only slept about 35 minutes. Praia is very hot this time of year, and none of the houses in this country have AC.

This Sunday elder Coleman and I went to Praia as President Neves finishes his term tomorrow. His farewell fireside was on Sunday. All the missionaries were invited, and we got to see a wonderful array of testimonies from the entire Neves family.

On a flight from SLC will arrive our new mission president Oliveira and his wife. They are from Brazil but have lived in Bountiful Utah for several years. I’m so excited. We’ll travel back to Praia for Zone conference on Thursday with the new Mission President.

I love President Neves. He has changed my life forever through his faithful service to the Lord. I feel like someone older with more knowledge.

I am indeed grateful for how much I have learned in my life out here on the mission. I will continue to grow and love this gospel and the church.

I will give more details next week. I’m exhausted and a bit sick with a cold, and it’s about 90 degrees in this place.

até breve,

Elder Cuestas

Sundays can be quite hectic here

Lacy is doing very well since his baptism. I’m so happy for him. He says that the church has really changed his life.

Tony and Michel are doing pretty good. We would like to baptize them soon, but Tony is a bit hesitant. We just have to be patient and continue encouraging him to move forward. He has a testimony and that’s what is important.

Family is not really significant here, so Fathers day isn’t on the top list for Cape Verdinians.

As Branch President, I have to make sure the church runs here: everything from finances, to the members, to all the activities and meetings that the church has here. I’m in charge of what is taught, what takes place, the callings of all the people, the worthiness, sending people on missions, etc. etc.

My companion and I run church on Sundays, which includes directing Sacrament meetings. We interview people and take care of any tithing and anything else that requires taking care of on Sunday. It can get pretty hectic for us here.

And yes we cook every single day…

What have I learned here? To get used to anything that can make me uncomfortable. I’ve learned to be patient, and most of all that I have a really good ability to humble myself.

Elder Cuestas

My First Baptism

Last Friday was one of the best days of my mission!

Lacy chose me to baptize him and everything went through as planned. Many members were there to support him and the water was indeed beautiful. It was in the ocean on a rocky shore, where there is this small lagoon perfect for baptizing. After the baptism, we just stood there hugging for a minute. The spirit of the Lord was incredible, and my heart was filled with an intense joy. Lacy said to me that now we’ll be together forever in the kingdom of God. I couldn’t stop congratulating him. We’re indeed friends for life, and I knew that my purpose in Tarrafal is being fulfilled. The church members are so happy to have a new member in the family.

Julia has fallen a few times on the drinking, but she - like Alex - is not giving up and continues coming to church. She has plenty of support from the RS. She loves church and is happy that she’s a member. It’s the best thing that she has in her life.

We have this great investigator, his name is Michel, and we’re thinking he’s going to be baptized in the next two weeks. He’s very smart and is so ready to accept the Gospel. We’re working closely with him and we already have a baptismal date. He’s Tony’s friend so hopefully they can be baptized together.

Very few people have TVs in their houses. There are two channels TCV (Televisão Cavbo Verde) and RTP AFRICA. There are no movies, no newspapers, and no ways to rent movies. There is very little to do here if you’re not a missionary. Mostly there are news or TV movies on those two channels. Not much is known about the US here, only that people think life is perfect over there. We frequently get asked if the Church helps people to migrate over there.

I like that I'm branch president the most and helping this branch move forward. I love my job as missionary!

Elder Gianluca Cuestas

I know that God loves us with all his heart

Lacy is amazing! He was the first one at church, and he is very happy with everything. He never misses an appointment and is ready to be baptized. He'll have the baptismal interview this Saturday and hopefully be baptized the following weekend.

Alex has been clean for a month now!!!! My wonderful God is so merciful, and I cannot believe the breakthrough he made in this. He’s just clearing some other problems in his past, and he’ll take the sacrament soon. I’m so happy for him. We continue to have the close brotherhood that we do

I called Elizeu as the branch mission leader. We’re growing even closer and closer than we already were. I’m glad to have his help and his presence so often. He’s a blessing in my life.

Lacy told me the other day that he’s grateful for our friendship. It makes me feel so wonderful that these people love me as much as I love them, and especially that Lacy sees how the gospel is making changes in his life and that he is already firm in his testimony.

It doesn’t matter how hard this country can be... I love this place. I love these people. I feel that I’m relating more and more to them than I’ve ever related to anyone else in my life. I know that this gospel is the only thing that can form these kinds of brotherhoods that last the way they do. My Lord is teaching me that which I cannot learn anywhere else. I have made my mistakes on the mission, but nevertheless, I continue to grow more and more every day and I continue to love Heavenly Father for all that he has done for me. Nothing will ever take me away from him. I love him. I love his son Jesus Christ, and I know that this church is true.

I got to drive...so cool!

The training went well, and we learned a few things that can help us a lot in our work. I’m so glad that we’ve the guidance of Presidente Neves to help us in the ways that we can bring people closer to the Lord.

The time he spent with us was AMAZING. One of the coolest things that happened was that we started driving back to Tarrafal from Assomada, it’s about a 45 min drive, when all of a sudden, presidente Neves looked at me and said, "Would you like to drive?"

I got to drive president Neves car back to Tarrafal. It was awesome!!! I haven’t driven in forever, and I was so happy that the car was manual. It assured me that I’m going to appreciate a manual car when I get back.

We taught Lacy with Presidente Neves, and he was making comments on Lacy´s progress on how amazing it is. We’re happy for him because he came to Church this Sunday. If all continues to go well, he’ll have a baptismal interview this week.

Alex is back and is now 3 weeks without falling. If he goes one more week, I’ll authorize him to take the sacrament again. He said that he experienced some very strong spiritual experiences while he was out in Assomada studying for his test. He is happier than he has been in a long time, and he says that temptation is going away more and more.

Tony is doing well. We have to be a little more patient with him because he seems to have ADD and will ask us about 30 questions per lesson, to which maybe two will have to do with what we’re talking about.

Overall, great week!

President Neves will be walking with us...

This was a rather interesting week.

Tony has two weeks left before his baptism. I hope it happens because we have had baptisms that have fallen apart in the past. So far, it seems that he’s going to go through with it. He has not missed church and is going to all the activities. He’s a quiet person. Last Saturday when we were walking back home from Integration Night, we asked him "Why do you like to come to church so much" (He is there every single day) He responded saying that he feels good and that his life is better as a result of how much he is coming to church. It was a very reassuring response. I hope he goes through with it.

On the same subject, we’ll find out soon enough if Lacy and Code are going to go through with their baptism, as well. They both missed church last Sunday, and Lacy has this habit of disappearing for a few days and then re appearing when he wants to. We’re going to see him later today to teach him and will find out what is going on. Code seems to be doing well.

We found a new investigator this week that seems to be accepting the teachings quite well. We gave him a book of Mormon (O livro de Mórmon) and told him to read some. He did and says that since he started reading it, he has had more and more of a desire to be doing productive things with his life, like study or what not than just sitting around. He says that after reading the book of Mormon, he had the desire to study math for his classes. He said that normally he hates math and that studying is painful for him. He says that he thinks he’s receiving the answer that the Book of Mormon is true. This is incredible, and I’m excited to work with him more this coming week

Something interesting is happening next week. Presidente Neves will be going into Assomada to give our district a special training. We’re meeting with him there, and afterwards, he’s taking us back to Tarrafal. He’ll be walking with us for the rest of the day as a third missionary, and of course, I’m quite nervous because he’s our mission president.

I’ve seen Oswaldo. He’s fully active now and going to seminary every day. He’s doing great and getting close to us as a friend. He is very smart and his Portuguese is impeccable. It’s nice to hear someone actually speaking Portuguese every once in a while.

Elder Cuestas.

Branch Presidency is going well

Elder Coleman got to talk to his family, and it seems that things are going good for him back home, too.

I’ll say that this week was a bit challenging.

Ivandro´s dad bought him a Hiace/car to start his own business, so he moved away from his house in Tarrafal. We’re thinking about contacting the other missionaries in Assomada, where he now lives, to see if we can get his teaching record transferred, if he still wants to continue. It was tough because he was scheduled to be baptized this Saturday.

Tony is doing well. He should be baptized at the end of the month. He’s pretty much at church every day at some activity, and he’s coming to church on his own on Sundays. He has ADD, so the lessons can be a little tough, and he’s having some problems reading the book of Mormon because of that very cause, but nothing that is especially challenging.

Branch presidency is going well. Things seem to be getting better week by week with more people going to church and more people magnifying their callings, and what not. I’m glad with the way things are going, and I hope and pray that they’ll continue to keep going in that direction.

Mulato´s best friend Oswaldo, a less active has been fully reactivated, and I’m preparing him to move up to Priest in the Aaronic priesthood with interviews and what not. I’m so pleased to see him back in business.

Alex had to go to Assomada for about 2.5 weeks to complete a study for his driver’s license. They are actually very rigid about that here. He’s still making some major progress, and I think that he’s going to succeed here soon in breaking his addiction. He’s now reading his scriptures more and more.

Elder Cuestas

First week as BP

So I directed my fist meeting last Sunday. It went ok, and it was a lot easier since it was testimony Sunday. The District president was there to announce how I am now BP

OSAMA IS DEAD!!!!! Everyone here is talking about it.

Elder Coleman is just way chill. He is really funny, and I'm so glad that he is open-minded. I feel that we’re discussing the work as a team and that we’re truly targeting the needs of the people here in Tarrafal. Please pray for him. He has been fighting digestive problems for some time.

Here is an update on some of the people.

Alex showed an incredible step of faith this Sunday. Sick to his stomach and still came to church. OVER A WEEK and he is clean!!!! I am so happy for him. We had some time to talk last Saturday. He started crying and told me that he never met someone that has cared about him so much. He told me he is now happier than he has been in a long time and that he feels the spirit coming back into his life. I am so glad for him, and I will never give up on him no matter how many times he falls. We now hang out with him every Monday.

Steven is doing well. He has been staying up very late on Saturdays, so he missed two Sundays in a row. We had a really good conversation with him on Sunday and got him remotivated to get better and doing the stuff that he needs to do. He will be baptized at the end of the month.

Tony. We marked a date with him for the end of the month. At testimony meeting, he got up and bore his testimony. He is doing very good and is showing up to all the activities. He is practically at church every single day.

Jack (Cerique) is doing well as usual. Pillow and I are starting to form a closer relationship. We are trying to convince him to go on a mission instead of the army. We will see what happens.

Elder Cuestas

I got called as the Branch President in Tarrafal

So transfer calls came and Elder Fonseca got transferred back to Praia. He's now serving as a Zone Leader for Santiago South.

I'm staying in Tarrafal and I got called as the Branch President. Holy heck this is going to take some serious relying on the Lord. I'm in charge of the Church in Tarrafal. This is going to be some crazy work. I'm excited and I feel honored that the Lord has confided such a calling in me. I feel like I can do this, and I'm confident that the Lord will direct me in how that I need to move this work forward with the work of my new companion.

I went to Praia this morning to drop off elder Fonseca in his new area and to pick up my new companion who came in from São Vicente. His name is Elder Coleman and he is from Layton Utah.

This will be my first American companion. We will see how it goes. We have not had much time with each other. Only a few hours, but I'm more than confident that things are going to work out just as I made them work out with Elder Fonseca. I have learned that on the mission, you can get along with every one since you have the spirit of the Lord so strong. I am excited to get him filled in on the work.

Alex came to church!!! That’s 3 times in a row. He did something that touched my heart. This is someone who does not talk about his feelings. Last Friday he put his arm around me and said that he will never forget me. He said that I was his brother and that he's grateful for all that I've done for him. I know that it was not me that helped him, but the spirit of the Lord that has trusted me to help the people here.

We have two new investigators that came to church, and one accepted a date for baptism. His name is Tony, and he’s probably one of the poorest people I’ve seen so far. He has three shirts, two shorts, and one pair of pants. He’s very humble and quick to make friends. He's showing up at all the church activities and came to church for the first time last week.

Julia is now taking the sacrament and staying free of alcohol. She is doing better than I have ever seen before. Cedrique ("Jack") is doing incredibly strong. He is one of the Sunday school teachers and is magnifying his calling very well. It is so nice to see that because he is preparing to go on a mission. Ivandro, all being good will be baptized in two weeks. Steven will be baptized at the end of this month.

I want to emphasize how happy I'm to be here. My life is amazing, and I think I can say that sharing the gospel is one of the best things to do in this life. I love this gospel, and I have seen with my very own eyes what it has done to the lives of others who have nothing.

I have come to a realization that many people long to see. I'm in heaven. I'm in paradise. These have been some of the happiest moments of my life as I forget myself and focus on how I can help other people to discover the sweetness of the spirit of the Lord. I have seen how people transform from hopeless to hopeful. Some of these people have nothing to give you. They don’t even have a chair for you to sit on in their house. Then you realize that they give you their hearts and that is more than you could ever ask for.

My life is a dream right now. My life is in the Lord’s hands as He directs me for the benefit of others. This mission has moved my life in such a way that I thank my Lord endlessly, and affirm that such a gift, I am not deserving of.

This country is incredible. These people are gold, and I have found a place in my heart that will never go away for the people of Cape Verde. I know that Christ lives, and I know that he loves us. I know that the Lord forgets none of his children, and I will spend the rest of my life thanking him for the gift he has given me as calling me to be one of his servants and special testimonies.

Elder Cuestas

Transfers are next Saturday

We have been having tons of water problems this week. We go 4 or 5 days without water. We have a 50L reserve tank, but we have to boil the water to drink it, and I get lazy. Ha-ha. No big deal. I usually start boiling water as soon as I get home from work.

Transfers are next Saturday, and everyone is hoping that I stay. It’s so nice to hear that. It makes me feel really cool. I love all the friendships I have been making.

Alex hung out with all of us on P day and we went and walked along the beachside with him and hung out. The beach here is awesome. The water is blue and the sand is white or black depends where you are.

Both Ivandro and Steven came to church this time and it was such a joy to have them. Steven is getting more and more happy about being a part of the church. He is excited to be baptized. Ivandro already has a testimony, and we are looking forward to his baptism.

JULIA IS DOING INCREDIBLE: I am soooo happy for her!!!! ONE MONTH WITHOUT DRINKING. Elder Fonseca authorized her to take the sacrament for the first time last Sunday. Pretty soon, she will be receiving a church call again. She seems to be stronger and stronger every time.

I am fully fluent in Creole now. It’s no problem. I understand every single thing I hear. It’s good because Alex only talks to me in Creole. Elizeu too. He’s been good as well. He is just looking for work and going teaching with us.

Did you know that our mission president is finishing his call in July? We will have a new mission president then. His name is President DeOliveira, and he is from Brazil, but has lived in Bountiful Utah for a long time.

People carry EVERYTHING on their heads here. The coolest thing about Cape Verde is that you’ll see women with buckets full of whatever on their heads and you can buy stuff from them right on the street. We always buy fruit from them. It’s much cheaper than in the store.

Cape Verdinians always try to look their best. You’ll see them with jeans, shoes, and shoulder bags. Lots of the women cover their heads with bandannas, but they wear the same thing. It’s usually very modest. They are very humble people. You almost never hear someone cuss here or call someone else a bad name,

Temples are very important to the members here, and many spend several years just traveling to the temple.

There is a very strange tradition for funerals. They will happen like any other, but the older more traditional people will wear black for an entire year in mourning of the death.

Elder Cuestas

Zone Conference was pretty cool

Sister Lapeyrouse sent me a package of American food like Oreo cookies, Mac and cheese, and cliff bars. My companion and I shared them and ate everything already.

About the violence, there is a lot of violence, but it is very concentrated. It is only in the cities of Praia, Mindelo and some parts of the island of Sal. Where I am, is more peaceful than back in the US. After 9 p.m., the streets are dead quiet except for young people that like to hang out outside their houses. All of them will greet you and shake hands with you. It is not uncommon to find a person you have never met before and shake hands and give them a pat on the back. They will act like you have been friends with them for 10 years.

The people in Tarrafal are some of the friendliest people I have met in my life. That is why I am so happy here. The only stuff that happens here is drunken people trying to have conversations about religion with you. You smile, act like Christ would and talk with them and go about your way. All the other places are like that too. There is very little crime here in Tarrafal.

Something amazing that happened yesterday is that Steven came to church on his own. We taught him later in his house that day and marked another baptismal date with him. I am so happy. This time it really seems like it’s going to work out. He is showing up to more and more activities and seems happier that he is going to church more often. Everyone is giving him a warm welcome!

Ivandro has a baptismal date too and is doing well. He sees us like his friends and talks openly with us and is grateful how we are with him.

Batcha and Mulato are on school holidays, so as a result, we have been playing soccer with them and the other members from 5:30 to 7 in the morning. It has been amazing, and I am getting really good at soccer.

Zone Conference was pretty cool. The steak was good and we got ice cream too. Ha-ha. The Hiace/Van was a bit frustrating because he did many turns around the city before
going back to Tarrafal. Hiaces/Vans will do that to try to fill up before they go to their destinations, so we usually try to find one that is almost full, but they were all empty at the time. I was exhausted coming back.

Some people will cook for us, but it’s not common. Like I said, Tarrafal is a village and people are very poor here. Most houses don’t even have electricity.

One thing that happened that I am so happy about is that we have been working with a less active member with a Marijuana addiction. His name is Alex and we have been developing a lot of care for him. He came to church yesterday and bore his testimony. A HUGE step.

Elder Gianluca Cuestas

General Conference

This was the longest weekend due to Conference. So because we are the leadership of the ward here in Tarrafal, we had to set up the Chapel for General Conference. Then we had to stay in the Chapel for the whole weekend, and the chairs are really uncomfortable. And since we are in Cape Verde, we have to watch conference via Internet. We had to watch one session on Saturday and 5 sessions on Sunday. That’s over 10 hours of sitting in the Chapel.

I am going to download the talks later and listen to them. I was not able to pay very good attention during the sessions. I was pretty tired of sitting in the chair.

So this week is a little different. I am going to Praia on Wednesday for Zone Conference on Thursday. We have zone conference every other transfer, and zone conference in San Tiago is in Praia.

The awesome thing is that President Neves gives us plates of really REALLY good food that he buys at this expensive restaurant every time we have zone conference. I am going to eat Steak!!!

We went into the mountains last week to help Zee with a project. He is clearing some space to plant corn. It was really good, and we arrived home exhausted.

We had a bunch of new investigators this week, and we are working closely with them.

Elder Gianluca Cuestas

The Spirit was especially strong this week

Everything is going well as usual.

P day has been great so far. We got almost all the young members in our branch to play soccer this morning, which was amazing. We had a great time.

It’s really funny that Pillow has a little brother who is a replica of him. We call him Pillowzinho (inho is Portuguese for ito like gatito little cat...we say gatinho. ho makes ñ sound)

Oh I forgot to mention that I'm teaching English here in Tarrafal. I have about probably 15 students, I teach Tuesday and Thursday. I also have to teach Institute here.

On P days, my favorite part of the day is the mornings. That is when we usually do fun things like play soccer or stuff like that. On teaching days, my favorite part is nighttime. It is very strange but usually, our more spiritual lessons will come at night. I have no idea why.

Steven had it really tough this last week. On Wednesday, he told us that he didn’t want to see us anymore. It turns out that his Grandpa talked to him and scared him out of getting baptized. We told him to read the scriptures from Wednesday to Friday and pray and give us a final decision on Friday whether he would be continuing with us or not. Wednesday my heart just about stopped when I heard that and that kind of killed our day. We left very sad.

However, we prayed for him and on Friday it was completely different. He was happy to see us, offered the first prayer of the lesson and said that he wanted to continue preparing to be baptized. He just did not feel ready. We could not have received a better answer. First, we know he has a true desire, and second, we are not going to baptize someone who is not ready, so they can turn less active later. The Lord truly helped us there.

The Spirit was especially strong this week for me. On Tuesday we had an exchange with the elders in Assomada, and I was with elder Nyaguambo from Zimbabwe in my own area. I directed the work that day, and we had 9 lessons, and one new investigator. We usually have 6-7 lessons a day.

Something else. I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting about the Temple. My Portuguese was perfect. The Spirit led me in what to say, and elder Fonseca says that I no longer have an accent when I speak Portuguese. I sound like someone from Portugal.

Portugal Portuguese is a world different from Brazilian Portuguese. I sound nothing like Brazilian and even the way to conjugate verbs is different. For example:

Estou dizendo(Brazil)
Estou a dizer(Portugal)

Oh, so there is this store we go to sometimes and there usually is a monkey just sitting. I was wondering, if it's possible to have a pet monkey in the US. Just curious...

I love my life here in this little village, and all the young people in the branch are friends with me. They truly treat me like one of them. They are a lot more physical here. They’ll do things like walk next to me with their arm around my neck, or constantly be high fiving me. You just do the same back.

I'm so grateful to be a missionary. I'm so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I'm grateful for the time that the Lord has granted me here.Elder

Gianluca Cuestas

I love it here

I am doing very well.

So the most important news is that Steven had a baptismal interview last Saturday and that he is scheduled to be baptized this coming Saturday. I'm so excited for him because the elders have been working with him for a while. We have been working with him for 7 weeks. We think that he is ready and the district leader who interviewed him thinks that he is ready too. Fingers crossed I'll have a baptism this week!!!

Zee went teaching with us three days last week. He loves our company and says that we're his brothers. He is a lot of fun to be around. The only thing is that he speaks very fast Creole and does not separate his words, so sometimes he can be a little difficult to understand, and I have to ask him to repeat several times. He is very patient with me.

I can speak Creole and pretty much he's the only person I have difficulty understanding. Elder Fonseca is very surprised. I have conversations with the members all the time in Creole now. Look at the difference between Creole and Portuguese.

O que Vocé esta a procurar?

Kuze ke bo sta ta busca

Eu preciso ir á loja (I need to go to the store)

ami mesti ta bai pa loja

Ela disse que vocé esta a ir para Praia

hoje El fla ma bo sta ta bai pa Praia hoje

The weather doesn’t change too much here. Tarrafal can get just a little hot between 1 and 3 in the afternoon. I have never soaked a shirt from sweating. Once its 5 in the evening, the weather is very nice. It’s usually windy. I enjoy the weather very much here. We don’t need to use the fan in the house, and it's almost always comfortable. The only places in Cape Verde that are very hot are Porto Novo on the island of Santo Antão and Praia.

I love it here. I'm sure this is Elder Fonseca´s last transfer. He has been here 4 transfers.

We will never drop Julia. She is a member and has an addiction but has the will to change. We just need a lot of patience with her.

Who hangs out with us the most is Elizeu. He loves being with us and will go teaching with us from 11 in the morning to 9 at night. It's awesome. He has a very easy going personality and always wants to be with us.

Am I cooking a lot? I cook every other day. Ha-ha. They were not kidding when they said that they don’t have any fast food restaurants here. I like to make rice more than anything. It cooks the fastest. This is what I do. I chop onions and place them in the pot with olive oil. I let them simmer a bit. I will then put in the rice and let it brown. Then I put the water and I add the following:

1 caldo block chicken flavor

SaltGarlic and salt mixture...not sure how to describe it

Tuna (Fish is the cheapest here)

Ceyanne Pepper

Black pepperTastes pretty good… Is it healthy?

Yes, we have Relief Society here. It's quite small compared to back home, but we do have it. We have about 45 members attending church per week....

I picked up a baby goat the other day. It didn’t do anything except make a little bit of noise. A little girl got a bit annoyed with me because it was her goat.

She said Poe nha cabrito na chão!
(Put my goat down)

I laughed and let it go.

Mulato, Batcha, Zee, and Elizeu are basically the group. We always have one of them with us though we have Elizeu more than anyone else. They're all doing very well.

We have all thought about the people in Japan and we're praying for them.

Elder Gianluca Cuestas

I am so grateful to be a missionary

We have made some major breakthroughs in the area this week. The transfer ended and I did not get any calls, so I will not be transferred, which is exactly what I wanted.

My companion and I are doing really well. This week was a lot less stressful, and we enjoyed each other’s company very well. I see how the Lord helps us every single day and makes it so that we're happy to be where we are.

We went to Praia this weekend for what would be Stake conference. After conference, we went to the baptism of an investigator that I worked with a lot in Praia. His name is Celso and elder Rodriguez baptized him. I also got to stay that night in Praia at my old place with elder Rodriguez and his companion. It was really great.

SO here is the best part…

I made it here. I feel like I am one of them now. Elizeu is coming back so strong and is with us all the time. Mulato, Batcha, and Zee really like me. The members here see me as one of them. These aren’t just the members anymore. They're my friends just like my friends back home would be.

I was in the Hiace back home from Praia yesterday. I was sitting next to Zee and he told me that he was so grateful that I did not get transferred. He said he sees me like a brother and that I have helped him a lot in his conversion process. He said he will never forget what I have done for him. That was one of the best feelings that I have had here on my mission.

Elizeu also got really close to me. He is constantly with us now helping us with our lessons and what not. Today he came over and hung out with us all P day just like I would do with the missionaries back home.

Mulato said that he hopes I stay some 4 months before being transferred again. Batcha said that I'm an awesome missionary. I feel at home, and I am the happiest I have been on my mission. I am so grateful for the differences that I have made in the lives of these people. Julia is going strong. We have two baptismal dates for March and April. I have participated in the reactivation of 5 other members. And now I have friends that help me in the work. I'm so happy.

It’s so funny too. I am the only white person for some 50 miles and they see me as one of them. They treat me as one of them, and I see them as one of me. These people have made my experience here incredible.

I'm so grateful to be a missionary. I'm so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I'm grateful for the time that the Lord has granted me here.

Elder Gianluca Cuestas

Inside the MTC by Carole Mikita

Would you like to know more about the MTC? Last week KSL 5 TV a local channel in Utah aired the following story. Enjoy it!

PROVO -- The Missionary Training Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the MTC, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

The idea of how to train young men and women and senior couples to do missionary work has changed in the 21st Century -- everything from learning languages to staying fit. But it begins with leaving family and friends -- always an emotional experience.

Every Wednesday, families and friends say farewell to young Latter-day Saint men and women, volunteering 18 months to 2 years to preach, teach and serve somewhere in the world.

"It's very exciting but it's hard too," said missionary mother Kim Bracken. "It's mostly exciting. I have to admit, it's mostly exciting.

There are approximately 52,000 full-time missionaries currently serving in 334 missions in approximately 120 different countries around the world. -LDS Church Missionaries greet the 300 to 400 new arrivals each week, and 100 cars unload every 15 minutes. Every year, 20,000 new missionaries pass through the doors of the MTC in Provo.

For 50 years, they have come here to learn how to teach the basic principles of their faith.
"Before I got my call, I never knew they sent missionaries to Madagascar and suddenly everybody knew somebody that's been there," said Elder Scott George.

First, new missionaries take photos for I.D. badges. Then, they receive seam rippers to open the pockets of new suits; a place for those internationally recognized nametags.

Approximately 50 languages are taught at the Provo MTC. -LDS Church

Next, the host missionary takes each new missionary to his or her room, which houses two bunk beds -- four people to a room.

After a quick look around, they're whisked away to an important meeting, where they are paired with a companion. The pair will serve together anywhere from three to 12 weeks in preparation for working in pairs in their assigned countries.

Fifty-two languages are taught in the MTC. Missionaries spend nine hours a day in classes. Most of the instructors are former missionaries. For in-depth study, missionaries can take advantage of the language lab.

In 2-hour blocks, three times a day, 500 hungry young people arrive every half hour at the facility's dining hall. It's all you can eat, and last year, missionaries consumed more than 200,000 apples, 163,000 pounds of bananas and 25,000 gallons of 2% milk -- with chocolate milk close behind at more than 22,000 gallons. In addition, they ate more cereal than anyone cares to count or weigh.

In order to burn off some of those calories, the young missionaries have an opportunity to come to one of the busiest gyms in America. They exercise 60 minutes a day. Last year, instructors logged half a million missionary hours. They even have early-morning options for the young women.

"There's a 6 a.m. class that the sisters are allowed to go to," said Sister Megan McAdams, who has been called to Poland. "They have Pilates and yoga and kickboxing and a step class."

The clean-cut concept starts at the MTC barbershop.
"I'm glad to get it off. It's my first haircut in the MTC and it's my first haircut by someone outside my family," said Elder Meril Francom, who will serve in Columbia.

The Provo MTC is designed to accommodate up to 4,000 missionaries. -LDS Church
Keeping their clothes clean takes up some of the missionaries' day of rest.
"Today it's our P-Day, which is Preparation Day," said Elder Damian Darrach. "We do laundry, we write letters home." At the mailboxes, they look for letters in return.
Elder Devin Frix said, "We even get excited for each other when we get mail so it's really awesome."

What happens at the MTC remains one of the most unique religious programs in the world. More than 52,000 missionaries are living in more than 120 nations where they share their faith and service.

For most, it begins on the 40-acre campus known simply as the MTC.
There are 15 MTCs around the world. Two-thirds of all missionaries receive training in Provo.

KSL 5 and BYU TV will be airing an hour-long special on the MTC Conference Sunday, April 3 at 1 p.m.

By Carole Mikita