We were Assaulted (Week 28)

Hey Everyone, 

I hope everyone back home had a great Easter Sunday! I know we did! We did a few activities, and even did a "secret friend" gift giving thing with a family. My companion Elder Graças, and I pondered and really focused on the importance of the rememberene of the true meaning of Easter. I can't express to you all enough how strongly I can testify to you that HE LIVES! 

He lives to comfort us when faint, to plead for us now and ever more, to wash away our pride and fear, to give us strength and courage to proceed, to let us know we will succeed, to hear our souls complaint and calm our troubled heart, to feed our hungry souls and quench our thirsting heart...to turn our fears into faith, to bear our pain, and to be our prophet, priest, and King! For this and more I too rejoice and declare that he lives. Let us never forget the true meaning of Easter.

The rest of the week:

I got to go on splits with the ZL, and we had a great time. We spoke and taught a lot. It was really cool to be in a different area and learn from the ZL. I am so thankful for that opportunity! 

I also got assaulted this past week. I knew this was going to happen at some point on my mission haha and I may or may not give my mom a heart attack for sharing this, but here we go...My companion Elder Graças and I were walking. I had a feeling that someone was abnormally close to me. I turned around and saw a man reaching for my stuff! The first thing that popped into my head was to prepare to defend myself and react quickly. (Anyone who knows me... knows that I am the biggest goofball, but at the same time have extensive knowledge in self defense/fighting) but I knew I was a missionary, and I just told myself to defend, never fight. So I did the Electric slide away from him. He came closer, swung a punch, but I dodged it and just slid away again. He ran away, and then I looked over at my companion and saw that he needed help. The man attacking my companion was a bit more aggressive. I ran over to help my companion who had to defend himself a bit more then me, and as I came over he ran away too. Nothing happened to us, and the only thing they took was some bread that Elder Graças had. 

Elder Graças and I just looked at each other and went to a more private area to thank our father in heaven for keeping us safe. My faith had been reassured and strengthened by this experience. Never will I deny the love our Father has for ALL of us, as his children. It could have been much worse, and we are so thankful that it was no where near as bad as it could have been, and for that we are eternally grateful.

I hope you all have a safe and productive week!

Love, 

Elder Arevalo