Week 14 - Munhava B - Junk Food by Better Taste Bureau

"What it is yo?''

How is everyone doing?! From the updates it sounds like summer is already romping with fun. Devily, I hope that the RVing trip is going great! For some reason, every time I picture you guys in the RV I think of “We're The Millers”.... hahah. S/O to Jensen, Evie and Haddie for graduating Pre-School. I can say that coming from the High School Pre-School Dropouts, that we are proud of you guys. And I hope that all the other planned vacations coming up soon end up being epic.

As for me, Elder Nelson and I are working like Burton Guster and Shawn Spencer trying to get Munhava B popping. Lots of long days, walking and trying to find some new families to teach. But, we are teaching some pretty great ones already!

Jose and Lucia are making a better comeback story than Rocky IV. Elder Nelson and I ended up dropping them at the start of this transfer because they hadn't been coming to church and stopped progressing. But... the past two weeks they have come to church AND yesterday they were early which is practically unheard of. We are also teaching the family of Albino and Mazinha. Albino was contacted by Elder Nelson in his first area but we never received his number. The last week Elder Griffeth and I were together he approached us in the market and asked if we had some time to talk about Joseph Smith. I fastened up my tie and Elder Griffeth slicked back his already slicked hair cause we thought this dude wanted to rumble but all he asked was if the first vision actually happened and we told him YES it did and he responded with, ''How do I become a member of this Church?'' So Elder Nelson and I have started teaching their family. They are already making sacrifices to be married and baptized. On Saturday, we did a division with some members in our ward and Elder Nelson visited a new family and they came the next day to church. Always the dopest dope when that happens. And last but not least we have Orlando and Graciete. They were a reference from a now reactivated family in our ward that we have been teaching. Orlando, during a visit this week, expressed some doubts that he had about baptism and how life after would be. Sketchishly, we taught them the Law of Chastity and it could have not gone better. They accepted to start preparing to get married and he said he is not sure when, but he is certain that they will be baptized. Before leaving that visit he congratulated us saying that many other missionaries from other churches have tried talking to him before and never before had he opened the door for them let alone his heart. He said that he has felt this Gospel make changes in his life through praying and trying to read the Book of Mormon.

I am so grateful that this Gospel is a Gospel of changes. I am so thankful for the chance I have every day, to see this Gospel bless and change the lives of others for the better. I know that this Gospel has changed my life and that because of that change nothing but happiness and blessings have instinctively flocked like the salmon of Capristrano hahaha.

Love and miss you all so much! Have a great week! Always remember that this church true like ''Paul Pierce, from the 3 boi!''

Love,

Elder Chipman

There isn't pictures this week.  The computer Elder Chipman was at this week wasn't letting him access to his photos.  So, hopefully there will be lots of pictures for next week's post. 

Week 13 - Munhava B - "Aaron's Party by Aaron Carter"

So I am currently watching the Women's World Championship of Ping Pong in the Library right now.. Jieni Shao is looking like she might take the gold today hahaha. But how is everyone doing?? It sounded like the Marathon this past Saturday was quite sucky because of the weather but s/o to Colin, Brandon and Breanne for running. If it makes you all feel better, I haven’t felt cold in 8 months. I hope that all the birthdays were great as well! To all the vacationers aka Devily, have such a fun trip! I can’t wait to see pictures.

So this past week was another good one. The highlight of the week was the big family night that we planned for our ward on Saturday night. It was a little bit rainy this weekend so we were thinking that we might not have a good turnout. But then we remembered that we had told everyone we were bringing cake so we knew people would show. We showed everyone the It's a Miracle video, had our high council member give the spiritual thought about temples and temple marriages, split up into groups and played games.  Then we went HAM on some cake haha. People don’t mess around about cakes here, especially when the missionaries are making them. But, it turned out to be a good night and a fun activity. We are really trying to help our ward come together and I think the family night was just the start. Ps, there was only one fire started during the cake baking process.

Elder Nelsen and I are still getting a long great! It’s nice that when I get a head ache from speaking Portuguese we can switch to English and it’s all chill. I was successful in giving myself a haircut. Our shower finally got fixed and I have found the perfect combination of a quick rinse in cold water to a hot bucket shower. Annnnd most importantly we are still working hard with all of our families and finding new ones. We have been focusing on asking for referrals with all of the inactive members we have been visiting.

It amazes me how full our life is of little miracles. It usually takes me about a day maybe even two to realize the little miracles that our Heavenly Father blesses us with. Right now, I am working on being better at realizing those little miracles and showing my gratitude for them sooner. One of the biggest miracles that I experience every day is how I can feel all of your love and prayers from back home helping me daily. Y’all are the realest and beez kneez so thank you so much for all of the love and support! Hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Elder Chipman

Just walking (squeezing) through our area

I got stuck!!!

 The Bthrice Gang

Nike Socks...just in case an investigator is trying to get dunked on.

Elder Couch, Elder Openshaw and I pre-gatorball. 

Munhava B---Week 12

Sheesh ya’ll these past couple weeks have been a dream so it was nice to have a calmer little bit harder week. But to quote the late great, ODB, "First things first man.." Shout outs to all of the birthdays! Emily and Wrenly, I hope you guys had such great bdays and weeks last week. Elliot, Grady and Diem I hope you guys are getting ready to party for yours and have such great birthdays as well! Also another shout out to the power couple, Brody and Annie, who are chilling like mad villains right now in Cancun, for running the Cottonwood Half Marathon!

Elder Griffeth ended up leaving to Maputo on Tuesday, so that is when we did the switch and Elder Nelsen moved right on in! Elder Nelsen is from Maxixe, Inhambane and he is the first missionary that has left out of his branch/province, so that’s pretty dope. The dude is a straight genius though! He speaks English and French as well as Portuguese. It has been nice though because we have only been speaking Portuguese back and forth. He also is a human MP3 player whenever we are walking in the area and there is some down time and we aren’t talking he will just be singing which keeps me entertained haha. He really has a desire to work hard and his attitude towards the hard things have been helping me out. On Sunday, we headed out to Manga to the branch of Nhanconjo for him to receive his patriarchal blessing and it was an experience that I am so grateful to had been there for. But, we have set some pretty high goals to continue and help our area and ward grow and become stronger.

On other news, I was making it rain, hail and sleet with Bottle Caps, Mike & Ikes and Sour Patch Kids. Honestly, one of the greatest things is getting a package/letters and when they are full of pictures, deodorant and sweetz it’s even better haha!

As for changes in the house with transfers nothing changed besides Elder Nelsen. I am still in a house with Elder Smith, Elder Beacham, Elder Nimmo and Elder Ortiz. Water heater is still broken and for the past couple days we haven’t had a shower so that’s been way chill. The land lord is having to pump out our bathroom to prevent more problems for the house of missionaries that live below us. But, having 3 other houses of missionaries in the same area is way nice and I took my first hot water shower since October on Saturday... yes... tears were shed.

It sounds like everyone is super pumped for the summer and all the little kiddies are still balling it out. I loved the pictures of all the little future soccer stars and Corey, Colin and Devin coaching them! I hope everyone has a great week!

Love,

Elder Chipman

Last one for Elder Griffeth......

But the first one for Elder Nelson and I.

"It's pretty good za' too"

Rat on a leash, haha

Family Nights getting rained out.

Week 11 Munhava B - Hey Mama by Kanye West

So I have not been able to stop smiling since I ended the Skype call from last night. I can’t explain how great it was to see and talk to everyone! All the little kiddies are growing up and its scary haha and everyone else looked so great!

A lot was updated last night but I will hit you up with it again. So this week was probably the most special week that I have had on my mission. It was the last week that Elder Griffeth and I would be serving together so, as the Splash Brothers, we wanted to go out with a bang. We spent all week preparing for the special wedding and baptism day on Saturday. Thursday, Elder Griffeth and Elder Carvalho went and did all the baptismal interviews for Afonso, Jacinta Angelo and all of his kids. While they were doing that, Elder Heald and I were in the kitchen cooking cakes and fresh beats haha but mainly cakes. All 7 cakes turned out too nice. Friday, we all went the Palmeiras Chapel to set everything up. After the bride's room, groom's room and the actual wedding room were set up we had to clean out the font. The drain had stopped working so water had been chilling in there for about 2 weeks so we had to bucket out and dump all the water and then try and mop up the rest.  After, we hit up lunch at Biques on the beach for Elder Carvalho's last lunch in Beira and then went home and made the frosting to decorate all the cakes. Saturday came and the only thing I could think of is a quote from Rod Kimball, ''Now... let’s party.''  We got to the church about 8 and with little problems that got resolved all was perfect! The Relief Society from the Maraza ward put together a choir and were singing and dancing their hearts out.

The most special part about it all was about 30 minutes after the wedding ended. All of the brides, grooms and their children along with all of the other people who were being baptized were all in white. It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen in my life to see more than 30 people all dressed in white, ready to be baptized and so happy and full of joy. I am honestly so grateful for the chance that I had to just be a part of this special weekend. I am so grateful for Afonso, Jacinta, Angelo, Angela, Salimo, and Marta and everyone else's desire to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Last but definitely not least I am so grateful for the chance to talk to you all last night on Mother's Day. Hurris and GiG captured it best when the simply stated, ''And shout out to our Mom's for giving birth!'' haha. But, I am truly grateful for Mom's everywhere and especially the OG, Barbara Jean! Thank you for your perfect example of Christ's love and thank you for all that you have done for me. Also, thank you to Heidi, Nancy, Emily, Caitlyn, Beez and Annie for being great mothers and wives!

I love you all so much! I hope you have a great week!

Love,

Elder Chipman  

The Splash Brothers

Action shot of the Choir

Cake Boy--Hoodie Allen

The Wedding

All the Newly Weds

Best Men

Best Couple

Everyone Together

This picture speaks for itself

Alfonso and Jacinta
Angelo and his children--Angela, Salimo & Marta

Munhava B - Week 10

Yooo!!!

What is up everyone?! SO, after a week that went by super-fast, looking back soooo much happened! I will try my best to write all that went down and do it all justice.

Last Monday we had a HUGE family night. We had it in the area of Elder Smith and Elder Beacham. There were a total of 15 people there and it was pretty fun just having a chill family night after a busy last Pday. But, after we had shared a spiritual thought and played some games, we brought out the cake that Elder Smith made and Samuel (whose house is it was) goes in and just started bumping Men Without Hats hahaha. I was hoping that Safety Dance would come on but sadly it didn’t haha. I got some pretty good videos of Elder Beacham hitting the "dap" as the kids call it now a days.

During the week last week we also had a zone training focused on diligence and how we can be more diligent as missionaries and members of the church. After the training we met with Elder Heald and Elder Carvalho (the ZL's) and Elder Nelson and Elder Nielson (yes they are companions) to plan out this Saturday for the weddings and the baptisms. Elder Heald has everything on lock and already planned so on Thursday we will be baking all of the cakes and doing all of the baptismal interviews.  Friday we will be setting up the chapel and all of the rooms for the brides and the grooms. Then on Saturday the weddings and baptisms will be a go. There will be 5 weddings now and about 30 people being baptized. Elder Griffeth and I will be baptizing Afonso and Jasinta along with Angelo and his 3 kids, Angela, Salimo and Marta. Angelo, his wife and kids have been investigating the church since about September of last year. About 4 weeks ago Belita, Angelo's wife passed away. After all of the services for her we visited with them and asked if they still wanted to be baptized and they all said yes! So we planned their baptisms for this Saturday. We were still kind of worried that they wouldn’t be all prepared but after visiting with them all week we are so excited for them to be baptized on this special day. We showed up to church on Sunday and the first people we saw in the whole chapel was Angelo and his kids there all in one row sitting and waiting.

Also, last week on Thursday night we got a call from the zone leaders saying that we had to return home early that night and that we could not leave the house the next day. There were supposed to be protest about prices going up here but it was all a fluke.  So after a big build up not going to be able to go out and me joking that it was going to be the Mozambican purge we got a text at about noon saying we could go out and work.

So one more busy week done and another one starting! I cannot wait for this weekend that will be full of weddings, singing, dancing, cakes, baptisms, and SKYPING!! So I will be seeing all the fam's faces on Sunday night (afternoon for you guys)!! Love you all have a great week and see you on Sunday!

Elder Chipman

"Bright Lights and Family Nights" 

Angelo and his Family who will be baptized this Saturday

Angelo and his Family with Elder Griffeth

Celebrating Klayser's birthday at Jorge and Remina's