Week 18 - Chamanculo A - "Make it Home" by Hoodie Allen

Munhava B Week 11 Beira

Everyone all Together

With this being my last email for the blog before I return home I would just like to write a little bit about these past two years..

6 weeks of the MTC, 18 weeks in Magoanine and Mahotas, 18 in Beira, 6 months in Swaziland, 18 weeks in Liberdade and another 18 weeks in Chamanculo. Had the blessing to serve with Elder Teela, Elder Macanige, Elder Riberio, Elder Griffeth (twice), Elder Nelson, Elder Souza (twice), Elder Feliciana, Elder Bindanda and Elder Barros. Learned unspeakable things by two loving mission presidents, President and Sister Koch and President and Sister Senna. Tried to learn Portuguese. Adapted to very different cultures, climates and circumstances. Ate some dope food. Saw many miracles. Felt sadness, homesickness, discouragement but was also overwhelmed by love, happiness, and joy. Searched and fell in love with the scriptures. Missed two years of music, movies, football, and most of all experiences and memories with my family. Devoted this time together with my best friends for the same purpose all around the world.

And what have I gotten in return?

I have, as well as many others in these past two years came close to our Savoir, Jesus Christ.

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." - Romans 5:1-5

I have been beyond blessed to see how truly the Gospel brings light to everyone especially to the people where I have been designated to serve. Words will never be able to express the love that I have for the people of Mozambique and Swaziland. And I will never be able to thank enough all of those who have helped me on this journey. But special thanks go to my Mom and Dad for making all the sacrifices that they have, so that I could serve as a full time missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and as a representative of our Savoir, Jesus Christ. He lives, and this is His Church. Joseph Smith is a true prophet and was called to restore all of these things in the latter days. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. Heavenly Father loves us.

Love,

Elder Chipman

Mozambique Maputo Mission

Sept. 2015 - Aug. 2017

Alma 26:12

Fairview B  Week 1 Swaziland
Saying what up to the school kids. 

Munhava B Week 4  Beira
Getting some help crossing the Street. 

Week 17 - Chamanculo A - "No Scrubs" by TLC

Yooo what is yall??

First off congrats to Cait and Bret! I cannot wait to find out if you'll be having a boy or a girl next week!

This week was yet another great one for Elder Souza and Elder Xibaba (my street name) haha. We had the chance to be a part of some fun activities; a family night with the Sisters and Laurinda's family, celebrating Shanaya's bday with her and her family, and an Elder's Quorum activity on Saturday. So, all the activities and what not were popping as always!

Pedro and Benjamin are all set for this weekend for their baptisms and they are super excited for it. Henriques and the gang all came to church on Sunday and it was super fun to see them there and also them come to some of the activities that went down. Carlos and Elsa have gotten the consent from both sides of the family and so it’s a big ol' green light for their wedding and baptism that will be happening in September!

Elder Souza was a little sick on Thursday so we spent the day at the apartment. Thanks to many Elder Holland and John Bytheway talks I was able to make it through without thinking about home that much haha.  Elder Souza is feeling all better now.

I would like to share with you all a scripture that ever since I read it this week, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Jacob 5:41,

"41 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my vineyard?

After reading this scripture small scripture, together with the context of the chapter, I was able to feel the love the Heavenly Father has for each and every single one of us. He will do everything, He will dig and water and weed, trim, prune, transplant, and graft so that we might be happy. And I know that true happiness only comes through following the example of His Perfect Son, Jesus Christ. And I also love this quote from President Monson, "“God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.”

Love you all,

Have a great week!

Elder Chipman

Family Night at the Media home. 

Lurdes made us Tseki and Xima!! So we had a nice
lunch with our homies Bruno and Kevin. 

 

Family night with the Sisters and Imra Luarinda's. 

Joao, our investigator, just doing some hoodrat things with
the tatoos gun that he made. haha

Week 16 - Chamanculo A –

What is good everyone!?

I hope everyone is still enjoying their summer and all the fun activities that are going on!

This week was a great one for us. We had a leadership council on Wednesday followed with Zone meeting on Friday. And from there all the days are mooshed together for me haha. The Lord has been truly blessing us in terms of the work lately. We accompanied Carlos and Elsa to Carlos' parents’ house to talk about them getting married and it ran smoothly. They now have the goal to get married on the 2nd of September and then baptized on the 9th. Also, we are planning on have a baptismal service for Pedro, Benjamin and Gabriel for the 12th August. We are also working very are hard with some teenager boys, Henriques, Joao, Milagrino and Americo. We have been visiting with them all for about 2 and half weeks now and they are super funny. They are big jokers and the way the mess around reminds of my friends and I before the mission. But it is really cool to see them change when we start our visits and you can just tell how serious they are about changing somethings in their life and doing all together as friends.

Elder Souza and I were talking on our way back to the house last night about these 4 young men that we have become really good friends with in a very short time. We were talking about them getting baptized, receiving the priesthood, helping their friends in the neighborhood come to know the blessings of the gospel, serving missions and so on. I was pondering about this a lot last night and the thing is... that we are not sure if they will be baptized. We are hopeful and optimistic that they will but we are not sure. And then it hit me, that this how Heavenly Father thinks about all of us. He has the highest aspiration for us all that one day we all can return into His presence, after having experienced all the joys and sadness of this mortal life.  He wants us to achieve this thing so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son to die for us so that this would all be possible.

"It is the grand truth that in all that Jesus came to say and do, including and especially in His atoning suffering and sacrifice, He was showing us who and what God our Eternal Father is like, how completely devoted He is to His children in every age and nation. In word and in deed Jesus was trying to reveal and make personal to us the true nature of His Father, our Father in Heaven.

He did this at least in part because then and now all of us need to know God more fully in order to love Him more deeply and obey Him more completely." -Elder Jeffery R. Holland, "The Grandeur of God"

I hope that we can see our own, as well as others, potential and do our very best to do what Heavenly Father wants us to do so that we can we all reach our full potential.

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Chipman

Post integration night celebration with Pumpkin Spice cake made by Sister Espadas.
White Girls be jealous. 

Junior turned 10 on Monday!

Packing up mattresses for the Beira temple caravan. 

All my remaining comps - Elder Souza, Nelson and Barros. 

The Boys

Family Night Selfie

Peanut Chicken

Tseki!

Week 15 - Chamanculo A - "Hills and Valleys" by Tauren Wells

Happy Pioneers Day Yall!!

Last night with the stake we watched the Pioneer Day concert with Alex Boye. It wasn't translated into Portuguese but everyone loved it especially the song they did from Lion King and the organ solo haha they were going nuts when everyone saw that the you have to play the organ with your feet as well. But I hope everyone had an amazing holiday and continues on having a great summer!  If anyone is looking for a new summer jam... look up they song that I put in the subject it is super-mega-dope-swag.

Twas a blessed week for the HoodElders of Chamanculo. We pulled a 2015 Drake and went back-2-back with divisions on Tuesday and Wednesday. First with Assistants so I walked with Elder Smith and then with the Mahotas Elders and I walked with Elder Fernando. We are teaching and working with some pretty amazing people right now. Last week Nelio and Suzy brought one of their friends, Pedro. So, Pedro, also came to the family night we had on Monday, English Class on Tuesday and Thursday, integration night on Friday, the missionary activity on Saturday and then Church again on Sunday.  You could say he is progressing really well for us only visiting him twice lolz. Benjamin is still doing great. He asked if we could move his baptismal date to August cause that is his favorite month so he will be getting baptized here in a couple weeks. And we are working with a lot of teenage hoodlems right now that have been embracing the message of the Restoration and the activities at the church as well. Chamanculo is being blessed a lot right now and so many people have been and are being prepared to receive the Gospel. Updates on the recent converts as well.. Nelio blessed the sacrament for the first time on Sunday and Junior was ordained a priest and will be speaking in sacrament meeting next Sunday.

For a spiritual thought, it comes from experience that happened to Wezi this past week and what he did and how touched I was by it. Last week when Wezi was on his way to church he came across 100 MT in the road. During our visit with him this past week, he asked us what he should do with that money. Elder Souza wisely asked what he thought he should do and pausing for a second he responded, "Pay tithing!"

I was taking back. A 13-year-old boy, freshly baptized who still needed to be confirmed, made a choice that I don’t think I would have ever made in his position. On Sunday, Wezi was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and received the Holy Ghost. After returning back to his seat, he turned to me and said, "Now, I need to pay my tithing." So, after all the meetings were over, we filled out his first tithing slip and he put one 10 MT coin into the envelope and went straight to the Bishops office. I think Bishop Manica was blown away too, when this young man who he had just confirmed came in with a tithing slip. Wezi showed me what Jesus meant when He taught His disciples in Mathew 18.

"1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Wezi showed me what is means to humble ourselves like a little child. He showed me that as we show faith and act, even when we don't understand fully or when we are having hard times, and we are obedient and full of love, then we will be converted.

I love you all, have a great week and don’t forget to weeze the juice!

Love,

Elder Chipman

A new investigator family, Nunes
and Esperanca. In our first visit with we found out that they hadn't
named their new baby boy. Jokingly I suggested that they name him Braxton....
When we came back for our second visit, we found out they that their new boy's
name is Braxton Nunes Muchanga....

I got to say goodbye to this little Darrell one last time.
Elder Feliciana was reassigned to Johannesburg Mission with all the
other Elders in Swazi.  He is going to kill it there!

Our set up for the missionary activity. 

#TheMotto

Leia hooking us up with some greeny fresh matapa. 

Elvira and Martinha made us dank covey. 

Week 14 - Chamanculo A - "Taking Over" by DJ Khaled

What it iz everyone?!

Sounds like it is nothing but good times and summer vibes coming from back home which is what I like to see yall! I hope everyone keeps enjoying the summer and all the fun activities that come with it!

This week was pretty dope you could say. The homeboi Wezi and the homegirl Martinha got baptized on Saturday! After a couple visits in the morning on Saturday, Elder Souza and I went to set up things for the baptism at the Chamanculo Chapel but because of that scumbag Satan, there was no water to fill up the font haha. Too bad Satan doesn’t know that missionary work is like the Princeton Offense and there is always another way to score. So, we had to hurry and get on the phone and tell everyone that we would be doing the baptism at the Sommerschield Chapel. We got it all worked out and set up and the baptism ran smoothly.

Everyone we are teaching right now are doing great. Carlos and his family are working towards getting all their documents ready to open up the wedding process so that they can get married and baptized all together. Benjamin aka the Mozambican Ryan Gosling is progressing well and everything should be ready for his baptism on the 29th of July. We have been blessed with teaching some really prepared people lately and through the Book of Mormon they have been able to feel the Spirit confirm all that we have been sharing.

These past couple of weeks I have been studying a lot about Alma and Amulek's mission to Ammoniah (Alma 8-16). For a couple days, I didn’t really understand why the Lord had sent Alma back to Ammoniah after being rejected once to only be rejected again with Amulek's help. But then I realized that in chapter 15 is when the blessings came from Alma and Amulek' struggles. The church in Sidom was able to be established and many were brought unto Christ. I was able to see that sometimes the Lord will put us through things that in present don’t make sense but later we will be able to see why. Whether it is to help us personally or to help others in the future.  God's plan always has makes sense but it is just up to us to enjoy what He gives us in that moment. "When the focus of our lives is on Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives." - President Russell M. Nelson.

Love you guys! Have radical week!

Elder Chipman

Wezi and Martinha's Baptism!

Week 13 - Chamanculo A - "Top of the World" by Hoodie Allen from the Hello Americans!

I hope everyone enjoyed and had a great 4th of July!

We have had a great week, adjusting with all of the changes that have been happening of late. But things have been going great and it has been so nice being back with Elder Souza. We have been spending lots of time getting Weze and Marta all ready for their baptisms coming up on this Saturday. We also had the Maputo Zone conference on Friday at President and Sister Senna's house. It was a small conference in terms of missionaries but it helped with participation and lots was learned. Especially everything that President and Sister Senna learned while they were at the MTC a couple weeks ago. On Saturday, the AP's dropped off two brand new Elders to walk with Elder Souza and I for the day. Like all new missionaries, the first thing that they will ask when they meet new missionaries is how much time they have on the mission. So, when it got to my turn to respond, I decided to just answer nicely and replied with a smirk, "I have been here for a minute." hahaha

We had a couple of amazing visits with Benjamin aka the Mozambican Ryan Gossling. On Tuesday, we had an visit about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and invited him to follow Jesus Christ, being baptized by someone who holds the proper authority of God and he was a little tentative about it. He said that it was his desire to follow Christ and be baptized but because of his Catholic background he felt like it wasn’t the right time. So, we invited him to re-read Alma 32. We met back with him on Saturday night and the first thing he says is, "I have some good news, I am 100% now, I will be baptized." He told us that he had recognized that the little doubts that he had in his head weren't coming from the right place and now he will prepare to be baptized on the 29th of July.

With the experience of Benjamin, I have been thinking lots about how it is so common for us to have doubts, especially doubts about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Doubts are a part of this life, even our Savior was tested with doubts by Satan when he was fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. That is why He tell us "Look unto me with every thought; doubt not, fear not" (D&C 6:36) because He knows what it is like to have doubts. Since He knows how it feels like, He will always be there to help. In the experience of Oliver Cowdery in the same section of the Doctrine and Covenants it says, "20 Behold, thou art Oliver, and I have spoken unto thee because of thy desires; therefore treasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love. 21 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the same that came unto mine own, and mine own received me not. I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.

22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.

23 Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?"

I know that the Lord will speak peace unto us and as we strive to be  faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, the love of our Savior with fill our lives so that we won’t even have room to doubt. I love you all and I love this Gospel! I hope you guys have a great week!

Love

Elder Chipman Album All American

Happy 4th of July from the Red, White and Blue Boyz

The Sommerschield Sisters had a baptism for Gino
and Elder Souza baptized him. 

Julieta made us covey!

Week 12 - Chamanculo A –

What’s good fam???

First things first, Happy 4th of July to you all tomorrow! Fireworks and the Red, White and Blue... nothing better. It sounds like everyone is taking full advantage of the summer with fun vacations and I hope it stays that way!

This week has been a great week! We spent the first couple days getting Elder Griffeth already to go and saying goodbye to everyone for him.  On Friday, Elder Griffeth left and I got my new comp. I will be serving with another ex comp.... Elder Souza. Who was my first comp in Swazi! I was his first comp in the mission field and now he will be my last, how fitting! But we will have a great transfer, finding elects or die tryin!

Other blessings of the week, Carlos and his entire family came to church on Sunday! Carlos is an inactive member who we found a couple weeks ago through the AP's talking with him. We have been visiting with him, his wife Elsa, his children Letta, Filipe, and Rosana and his niece Nosta. They all started out a little cold towards us but now they love us. And when I saw all of them walk through the doors into sacrament meeting, I kid you not I hit the dab super hard haha. All is going great with the rest of the investigators. Weze and Martinha will be getting baptized on the 15th July so that will be the next big thing! Also, Nelio received the Priesthood yesterday!

Spiritual though of the week comes from Elder L. Whitney Claytons talk from this past conference. I have been pondering on this statement a lot this week, he says "When we decide to do “whatsoever [God] saith unto” us, we earnestly commit to align our everyday behavior with God’s will. Such simple acts of faith as studying the scriptures daily, fasting regularly, and praying with real intent deepen our well of spiritual capacity to meet the demands of mortality. Over time, simple habits of belief lead to miraculous results. They transform our faith from a seedling into a dynamic power for good in our lives. Then, when challenges come our way, our rootedness in Christ provides steadfastness for our souls. God shores up our weaknesses, increases our joys, and causes “all things [to] work together for [our] good."

There are so many ways we can apply this teaching into our lives! So, I hope you all have a great week and that you can continue on seeing how the Lord blesses us when we do what He wants!

Loves and hugs!

Elder Chipman

ps. "I just found fireworks in the men's restroom.. would like to light them off?" -Rico

Carlos, Elsa and the fam!

Irene and her family made tseke for Elder Griffeth and I before her left. 

Tseke com Xima coma Anima!

Beat Street

The Fajardo market

Week 11 - Chamanculo A - "Put It Down" by Hurris and GIG

Feliz Dia de Independencia!

June 25th is Mozambique's Independence Day and with the end of Ramadan yesterday there is some good partying going on down here hahaha.

This week was another great one. We had the chance to visit with Junior to get him all prepped for his baptism and everything went so smoothly for his baptism. The best part was that his family showed up too to be with Junior on his special day. He was super scared to get in the water and then it didn’t help that the water was pretty chilly. His testimony was great that he bore and it just solidified the fact the Junior will be a solid member and priesthood holder here soon.

Other than that, we had a couple of improvisations go down with a division with the AP's on Tuesday. It was very nice tho, I was able to walk with Elder Smith. It was our first time walking together since Beira and it will probably be our last time until August. But we are teaching some really great people still. Elder Griffeth and I found Sheila this week knocking doors on Tuesday, taught her on Friday and she came to church on Sunday. Sheila is an older lady who just recently moved backed to Mozambique from South Africa because she divorced from her husband after 25 years being together. She said that she has been looking for something that can bless her and her family’s life after many hard years of trials and problems.  She told us that it seems like she found it right off the bat with our message and the feeling she had a church. We are also teaching Benjamin who is probably the closest thing to the Mozambican Ryan Gosling haha. He is a super smart business man and has been loving what he has been learning so far about the Church and the Priesthood being restored in these later days. On another note, all of the recently baptized members are doing great. Lurdes is participating in seminary, Nelio gave a talk in church on Sunday and will be receiving the Priesthood this Sunday, Shanaya gave a talk at the baptism which she was super nervous about but did a great job. So Chamanculo is really being blessed right now. And since I am hitting close here to 50 days the motto for these next couple of weeks comes from the homie, 50 Cent, "Find elects, or die trying."  

For this week, I would love everyone to read, Elder Neil L. Anderson's talk from the past conference titled, "Overcoming the World". It is a simple message of how truly we can be in the world but not of the world and the things that we can do to always press forward in what the Lord wants no matter how much the world is changing around us.

Estamos juntos! Love you guys!

Elder Chipman

Shoutouts... Happy Bday to Ez on Tuesday! And shoutout to the homie Bubs for killing it on his homecoming talk! Miss ya boi!

Junior's Baptism

Our Pday Meal #ChineseRestaurant

Bishop Pavava and Milo from Mahotas

More Food Pics...

Dope Sunset

Family Night at Irene and Senna's home. 

Family Night

Week 10 - Chamanculo A - "Like Father, Like Son" by the Game

Alrighty yall!

This week was pretty great for us down here. A week full of the sweet spirit of service and the overall highlight came from Wednesday, when we helped a group of audiologists from the States, at the hospital all day. Last Sunday night, right before a stake devotional with President and Sister Senna. Two Americans just showed up at the chapel, walked right up to us missionaries and introduced themselves as brother and sister Rakuskus and so that gave it away that they were members haha. But it turned out they were in Mozambique on a charity event called "Hearing the Call" where their objective was to help test for hearing loss, distribute and teach the use and care of hearing aids, to those that do not have the conditions to receive this help. And Sister Rakuskus came by to ask President Senna if there could be some missionaries at the hospital Monday-Wednesday to help them out with translating. Elder Griffeth and I had the blessing to go on the last day to help out and it was such a special day. Elder Griffeth and I were able to work in the rooms where they put the hearing aids in and turn them on for the first time for the people and seeing their faces light up every time is something that I will never forget. We got to the hospital at about 7:00 AM and left there at 5:30 PM so it was a full day of work but it was well spent.

The work is still progressing as well! We are planning on having the baptism of Junior this week and on top of him being confirmed on Sunday, Nelio (who was baptized a few weeks ago) will be speaking and receiving the Priesthood as well. So, it should be a great week for us teaching and seeing the Lord's work move forward here in Chamanculo!

To end I would like to throw out some shoutouts. First S/O goes the only Parker Henry Chipman for going beast mode and getting that master’s degree! Second, to Corey and Teagan! I hope you guys have great birthdays! And last but definitely not least, to Papa B! With yesterday being Father's Day I would just like to let you know how much I love and appreciate you. I am so grateful for all the sacrifices that you have made in your life to bless my own and the lives of everyone else in the family. In short terms, if the Chipmans were like the Mighty Ducks, you are our Emilio Estevez hahaha. Love you tho Papa B!

Have a great week beach bums!

Elder Chipman

Pictures from "Hearing the Call Mozambique"

These are the last two little girls that got their hearing aids on Wednesday. The first is Rofin (age 10), who lost her hearing when she was 6 because of Malaria. When her hearing aids came on that smile would not come off her face! When I went to take a picture with her she gave me the biggest hug ever and thanked me. In my mind I thought, "Well I didn’t do anything." But then it hit me that if you are serving someone, through a huge act or small, everyone that is involved can feel of God's and of Jesus Christ's love them. The second, is Albertinha who is 15 and was so happy that when the Doctors put on music she started dancing.

Relaxing

Elder Griffeth and I eating PB&J's at KFC after a long
 day of service. haha

.