Sacramento, Belém (Week 24)

Hey Everyone!

I have some exciting yet, really sad news. I am getting transferred! I am being transferred to actually city of Belém. 

I am not exactly sure when I will be leaving but Elder Nugeda will be leaving with me so that should be awesome! My new area is like right next to the airport of Belém, and my new companion will be  Elder Graças. I have heard good things about him...especially that he is very funny and that he is awesome.

I am going to miss Altamira so much! I have grown to love and know this city very well! I am very sad because we are teaching so many good people who have so much potential, but I know I am leaving them in good hands. Elder Luiz, my old companion will be taking care of them. Elder Luiz and I have accumulated a lot of news and we made lots of contacts. We prepared a group that has great potential and I have a good feeling about them. I am sad that I will be leaving, but I'd like to think that Elder Luiz and I have set him and his future companion up for great success so I am happy for that.  

Have a great week everyone. I'll let ya know how the city treats me this week. 

-Love, 

Elder Arevalo

Our Friend Got Baptized (Week 23)

Hey Everyone! Guess what!?!?!

IT WAS BAPTISM WEEK THIS WEEK!

Elder Luz, Jhonny, and Elder Arevalo

So, Elder Luz and I had a baptism, and it was very spiritual. The most spiritual thing I think is the baptisms itself, but the second was seeing the conversion for Jhonny. He said that he has seen a numerous amount of churches throughout his life, but The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints just feels right. He was confirmed a member of the Church this last Sunday and he wants to serve a mission! 

Baptism Day

I am so happy! It was very spiritual and I was very nervous because I wanted it to turn out the best it could be for Jhonny! I almost tripped up on the words, but I got it done on the first try! I felt overwhelmingly happy for Jhonny. He is such a great guy!! He is 20 years old, and he wants to server a mission like us. I love that about him! He calls us his best friends! I love the guy so much!

Its is great to be an instrument in lords hands! I am truly happy for Jhonny. I have no doubt in my mind that he will bless so many lives! I am so grateful to help him start his journey to live with our father in heaven. We explained that he is on the right path and that you will help the lord a lot if you continue down this path and that this path will bring you happiness and that Satan will do anything to stop you from making it the end.

Elder Luz, Jhonny, and Elder Arevalo

Overall: 

I love my mission, the people are so nice and I feel like I am home when I walk the 
streets, talking to people and really getting to know them has been a great blessing. I am so 
happy that I am here because I can really see my work is helping others. I can also see the way my daily life here in Brasil is changing the way I think, act and how I act spiritually. I  love the experiences I have here...I am trying the fruit and as a missionary I feel like it is going by too fast.

Check Out The Sign!

Love, 
Kevin Arevalo 

A New Friend (Week 22)

Hi Everyone,

This week was definitely much better then last week. My companion and I actually have made a really good friend recently! His name is Johnny! He said that he loves what we as missionaries stand for and loves what we do. He has told us several times that he wants to get to know more about the gospel and get baptized. He said he also wants to serve a mission just like us! Elder Luz and I were so glad to have touched at least one person the way we have with Johnny! We hope to do everything we can to help him reach those goals. We played volleyball with him today on p-day actually!

So far things with my companions are great. We all have a great time and enjoy working to together and teaching those in the country that we love. Sorry for it being so short...nothing too major this week.

-Love,
Elder Arevalo

Two Broken Keys (Week 21)

Hey Everyone,

Things I have learned this week:
1) I learned to be more humble and to listen to the spirit. If I do that then I know everything will be

alright.
2) The lord is molding me everyday. I am out here to become the man he wants me to be.

I love the people from Brazil

3) I can learn something from everyone if I am humble to learn it.
4) Apply what you learn.
5) Put your time into something that matters.
6) Negative thoughts do not help any situation.
7) The spirit comforts me that my investigators will be baptized one day...
8) How to fix a door.
9) How to deal with an angry branch president (very calmly)
10) Talk to others and always think of my investigators.

This week was truly a test of my faith.Why? Well...
I have been going to a place that is about an 1 hr and 20 minutes away (walking). It's called Agua Azul. Last Friday--- we did the best to speed walk and (run some parts) of the trail to make it to our lesson on time. We taught the lesson and it was awesome! Then we had one more appointment that was close to home. So we ran back, but we were a bit behind schedule. We did our best to make it on time to the church (since that was were we were meeting out investigators). Once we got to the church I realized I didn't have the keys (and usually I always have them). I then soon remembered that I gave the key to the church to the other elders so they can give a lesson. They ended up breaking it and getting another spare key from the Branch President and they ended up breaking the spare key as well...So when my companion Elder Luz and I showed up...we had NO way of getting into the building. The worst part is that we left ice cream that we made in the building for
our investigator! Then...it started to rain and one of our other investigators who was supposed to get baptized didn't show up.
We decided that it had been a long day and that we should just head home and figure things out at home. When we got home we had no power. So we took a shower in the dark and moving around sucked we had no candles no nothing...just 2 phones and our cameras. The next day our investigator
called us and said "I don't want to get baptized" and we asked why and she didn't want to give us a reason.

So that was the highlight of my week. We later ended up fixing the church door. We replaced
the lock and ate the ice cream. We were all really sad that she decided to just stop us from
continuing her progression to Jesus Christ but its okay I am fine! The Lord knows what he is doing, and all we can do it give out 100% all the time.

This is not the door 

-Love,
Elder Arevalo

Yes! Use Our Pants! (Week 20)

Hi Everyone!

This week in my new area Elder Luz and I have seen a lot of dust and construction! People are losing their houses because they are close to the Ocean, and the city said that they have to find new homes because their houses are going to flood. So hopefully things works out for them. 

My companion and I are now 5 minutes away from the church! Do you know what this means!? No more crazy hour long walks for church! No more (or at least) less excuses for investigators to not come haha! This is awesome! 

We had one investigator in particular that wanted to go to church with us last week, but he said he didn't have any pants to wear to church. Elder Luz and I were all like "no worries we can let you use ours!" So overall we hope to continue to progress with all of our investigators! 

I am so happy to be able to work with Elder Luz! He is so kind and we just fit well together. 

Have a great week! Check out this pic!

Love,

Elder Arevalo