Injury Week (Week 15)

Oi Everyone!

My parents told me how everyone back home has been giving me so much support and are enjoying my blog posts, so I'd just like to thank you all for your support!

Skype Call:

I really enjoyed my week! Especially because I got to Skype my family back home! I was so happy to have seen my family, and see that everyone has been going well for them. My parents were worried that I was going to get home sick, but I have seen all the blessings that have come from me serving a full time LDS mission! I can't stop now! I am more excited then ever to work hard so that I can continue to serve the people here, and my family back home. If anything, the Skype call was a motivator! My companion Elder Numbers also got to speak to my family (because he couldn't really get a hold of his. He was really let down about that). I was really thankful that my family was so welcoming and opened to speaking to him and asking him about how things are going for him. Elder Numbers says he feels like he is now a part of the Arevalo family! haha Elder Numbers and I feel like we are the brothers we have never had, and possibly separated at birth, any who...it was a fun Skype call!

Investigators: 

Besides the Skype call, my 35 investigators are doing well. We have had some come to church now, but I just wish that people would be more willing to change and start over. I really do get sad when people suffer, and I just want the best for our investigators. I pray so much for them! Tears occasionally flow from my eyes. I pray they soften their hearts, to let the spirit guide their learning and growth. Although our main goal is to invite our investigators to Jesus Christ, we also hope that baptism happens to all of them! Wouldn't that be great? We are excited. I recently also got hurt. After walking several miles, I saw someone drop a box and started to get in their car. I quickly yelled, "Wait wait! Your box!" and before you know it I was sprinting to the moving vehicle. My companion had to start running behind to stay close to me haha. My companion finally caught up to me when I tripped and fell and said, "Wow Elder Arevalo...after all that we've walked...you STILL have so much energy and I love it!". My pants ended up ripping on the brown, rocky ground but a member was kind enough to fix it for me. I love the people here so much that I will do WHATEVER it takes to show my love the same way Christ did. VIVA BRAZIL!

Until next time everyone! Have a great new year! Feliz Ano Novo!
-Love,
Elder Arevalo

Feliz Natal (Week 14)

Merry Christmas!  Feliz Navidad!   Feliz Natal! 

Hey Everyone, 
I hope everyone is enjoying the spirit of Christmas! I have to admit that it feels a bit strange to celebrate Christmas in the warm weather haha. 

So, lets get down to business. I had a great time flying back to the mission home. We spent a few days there and the Christmas party was amazing it was super fun and I was having a blast. I got to meet a ton of new people and I got to see old friends that I made in the CTM! We got back on Thursday so we only had half the week to work our butts off! Luckily, it paid off because we got 23 new investigators this week! 23 is pretty amazing since we only had one when I first arrived to the area...so we've really stepped up our work ethic, and I am so happy that I have been able to push myself and Elder Numbers in such a way that we have now reached out to so many people. I know numbers aren't everything, but blessings have come to us for sure. We are trying to expand our teaching group so that we have a chance to baptize at least one...and some of them are so ready I can feel it! Also, I might have to do some marriage papers for a couple so that will be fun.


Also, while I was at the mission home I got a care package from my parents! I loved the box it was amazing! Sorry, I do not have a photo of the box I received, but just know that I was so excited that I forgot to take one. I shared my box goodies with 5 other missionaries, which were the 3 that live with me and two other Elders. Oh also! The assistants (AP's) came with us back home to our area and I shared with them some stuff from my package, and actually the AP's wanted me to show them our area so I had to show them our area haha. I was nervous, but they said that they loved how I was always calm, and hard working. They also taught me a lot of stuff about how to better ask questions and things like that, which was great!  

Well, that's about all I have to tell today, but I hope you all keep the spirit of Christmas centered on Christ, and do as he did....serve others always. Love you all. 

-Love, 
Elder Arevalo 

A Special Surprise (Week 13)

Hi Everyone!

Elder Santos, Elder Luz, Elder Numbers, and Elder Arevalo

In about two hours I will be leaving Altamira and headed over to the main city of Belem. All of the missionaries (including myself) are going back to the mission home to enjoy a Christmas devotional. My parents also told me that they sent me a package so I should be receiving the package when I go back to to Belem. I'm so excited! I'm sure I will see it. Thank you so much mom and dad for loving me enough to send me something.

Since last week was transfer week, we got Elder Luz this transfer. He is SUPER nice and a little shy but I love him. My current area is kinda dangerous but nice considering we are in Brasil. It's very dusty, and people drive crazy here and I am saying that, but it's awesome here. 

BEST PART OF THE WEEK: A SPECIAL SURPRISE

Elder Numbers, Arevalo, Luz, Member, Santos, and Warley
[Left to Right]

This week... we all had a great time at this restaurant. We barley get to eat out and enjoy a good meal, but this week one of the members named Warley took us to a restaurant. I was questioning why Warley was taking us to get pizza and why he was buying it for all of us? BUT when he said "No worries Elder Arevalo...your parents actually sent money over so that I could spend it on a nice dinner for you missionaries"... I was like "awww that so sweet!"  haha Elder Numbers ate so much and got a stomach ache! haha it was funny. The pizza isn't the same here. They do not use tomato paste. They use something else, and its actually really good, but nothing beats the pizza from back home...especially Chicago Deep Dish. 

After the dinner...Warley suggested we quickly send a thank you video to my parents. We thought it was a GREAT idea! So here it is! 

Also, wish Amy a happy birthday for me! Its her special day!

Amy has truly made me the man I am today along with my parents! Amy has truly helped me so much in my life! In the garden of Gethsemane where our beloved brother Jesus Christ suffered for our sins an angle came to him before and comforted him. Amy... you have been my angle helping me everyday. You have love beyond belief for people. You care for them so much! You have been blessed so much and you give people more then what they could every ask for (well at least what I ask for) an eternal sister and an eternal friend! I love you I wish you the best birthday!

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday spirit. Love you all! Keeping being examples of Christ. 
-Elder Arevalo

Transfer Week (Week 12)

Hey Everyone,

~Elders & Members With Their Shirts That They Received As A Gift~

Transfers ended today. I am staying in this area along with everyone else except for Elder Stilverson. I am actually very happy that I am staying in this area a bit longer because I like it here which means I will probably get moved this next transfer...that's how the lord works haha. I am not surprised that I am staying here this transfer. I am very far away, and I am being trained. They said that you usually stay in the same area while you are getting trained. I feel like I have been here for a week when it has actually been much longer than that! I don't know where the time is going. 

Altamira, Para

So this week was awesome! I had such a fun time. This week Elder Numbers and I probably made about 280 new contacts. We where walking so much and I had to speak so much, and honestly I am so happy to say that people are understanding me. I don't even need to tell them that I am learning now. A little girl said to me, "you speak great Portuguese" and I was just thing thinking in my head...yeahhhhhhhhh gift of tongues baby!!!!!!...and then I did a little dance. I guess I am improving! Also, we had a leader come visit us, and he told the president that my companion and I look like angles! I thought that was a little strange, but he is the 1st counselor of the entire mission so it has to mean something good! Oh, we made food at home and it was actually okay. I could eat it! It was our first time. We accidentally made ice cream too. Well, almost. It was basically yogurt because it was cold water, powdered milk, and flavoring. I don't know why but Elder Numbers and I just laughed when we we said its just yogurt, not juice.

~This is NOT a Banana~

Fun Learning Discovery I made:

As I was reading my patriarchal blessing, and I saw the word humble several times and I remembered the story of Lehi and his vision of the tree of life. I need to hold on to the rod, and humble myself even more. I need to invite everyone I can to hold on and to partake of the fruit and I should never be scared but always faithful!  

Two amazing videos you need to see:

There are two videos that I absolutely loved watching this week. One of them is posted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints called, "A Savior is Born", and the other is also a video that focuses on Christ called, "Falling Plates". I can't help but almost cry every time I see these two. I cannot explain to all of you how amazing it is to have had the chance to see these beautiful videos, because they remind me that Christ is the single most important gift that we have received here on earth. Also, I was reading the scriptures, and in Alma 7:10-11 it talks about the saviors birth and how he will atone for our sins. I am so grateful beyond belief that he gave us this life here on earth, and that we will also have life after death. He loves us so much! 

A Savior is Born Video  (Click To Watch)

Falling Plates Video (Click To Watch)

~Strange Trees...I had to take a picture~

Thank you for the gift:

I also wanted to thank my sister Amy for buying 6 shirts in Utah. She packaged them to my parents halfway across the country, and then my parents had my awesome neighbor take them with him to Brazil since he was going out there on vacation, and now we have them! Take a look at the pictures above!

That's all for this week. Thank you all! 

Love, 

Elder Arevalo