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