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Tuesday, October 25, 2016

A Unanimous "Yes" (Week 58)

Hey Everyone, 


So this week was a pretty good week. Our mission president gave us a goal for us to reach, and we were all excited to know what he had to say. He told us that if we really did our best to work hard everyday, follow the rules perfectly, and get at least 4 baptisms by a certain date...then we get to have a get together party celebration type thing for all of our hard work out in the mission field. 

I feel so blessed and excited about this challenge. I do not want to just see these baptisms as numbers. I really care about these people, and I want them to find the joy and happiness that I personally have from this church and from this gospel. I am just so excited for the challenge, because its nice to get rewarded sometimes for our dedication to the Lord. 


Anyway I currently have the possibility of 8 baptisms. Five of these people have confirmed that they are getting baptized, and the other 3 are a little nervous about it, but they accepted the date, and that makes me so happy!



Spiritual Experience:

Elder Pinero and I have been meeting with this one family, and have had good success with them. We have asked them to express to us how they feel about baptism and at first they didn't feel too ready for it, but after answering some more of their questions and helping them with what they need...we saw some progress. 
Just the other day we went back to her house and we challenged them to be baptized again, (it would be this week) and when we asked the mother...she immediately said "no", but then I decided to open up to a scripture shortly after. Once we finished reading the scripture I asked, "Are you ready to follow the Savior, be happy and live with your family for all eternity?" They all simultaneously looked at each other with a love in their eyes that you rarely see, and they all said, "yes" to baptism. The whole family is going to get baptized! We are also going to marry the mom and dad this Saturday, So this is going to be a very eventful weekend for this wonderful family. I am so happy for them. 

Love, 
Elder Arevalo 

Monday, October 17, 2016

Wait, am I in Guatemala? (Week 57)

Hey Everyone, 
I hope everyone's Monday is starting off pretty well! Check out this picture! This Elder is also Guatemalan, but his family lives in LA. I'm so glad he had a Guatemalan flag! So cool! haha. 

Elder Duque's parents are both from Guatemala, just like my parents. He is from L.A.



Transfers:

So Elder Santos is officially going home this Friday, but he is leaving today from the area because he is going to say goodbye to some people. Transfers are in two weeks, and I or Elder Ferreira will be getting transferred. 


We Got A Cake: 

One of our investigators made us a cake this week. Her name is Claciani. She is 13 years old and her sister is the only member of the family. She is being a great example for her mother, and she wants to go to church. She likes us a lot, and you can tell she really likes listening to our messages. She is a great young women. I can see how the Gospel motivates people to want to be better. Just the other day, Claciani told us that she liked going to church, because she felt good there. So that's great! I was so happy to hear that.  
The Gospel can touch anyone and everyone only if we let the spirit touch us. It all depends on us. The more we let God guide us...the more we will progress and be happy.

Investigator Stories: 

Haha guys all I can say is that this is ALL happening because of the Lord. I have no idea what I am doing...I just pray for guidance and he handles the rest. 

My investigators are good. Maira add Jose...are a couple, but they are not married. They went to church all alone, and they liked church a lot, but I can tell Jose was a bit more enthusiastic about it. Then there is Claciani, which you read about earlier, and then there is a new family we met this week! They're names are Isabel, Maria, and Romelo. They loved our first message and Romelo said, 

"I liked everything...everything you said is in the scriptures and you didn't talk bad about others...I also noticed you guys are really happy... you guys brighten my day, and I think I am on the right path listing to you guys".  
Man, you have no idea how happy I was to hear that from him.  


Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Another Miracle (Week 56)

Hey Everyone!
Last picture with Elder Spock

So this week we saw a Miracle!
I was at a school speaking English, representing the United States
Lyandra (an investigator) was challenged by my companion and I to get baptized. She passed the interview, and decided to get baptized! It was great! Unfortunately, the day for her baptism she was scared and gave us many excuses. I sat down and listened to her for about two hours, and she still had some excuses. I then read the story of Jesus at the garden of Gethsemane. She felt comforted, and we have picked a new date for her baptism. The Lord can do all things. We just need to trust in him. 

People To Pray For:
  • Lyandra 
  • Edisangla 
  • Bruno 
  • Claciani 
  • Jucilani
Old District (I'll take a picture with my new one this week)





Tuesday, October 4, 2016

We Met Our Goal (Week 55)

Hello family and friends...


Our Zone made our baptism goal for the Month of September, we all got a zone reward by the Mission President. Conference was great, I really enjoyed the talk from K. Brett Nattress. I also had the opportunity to PPI (Personal Priesthood Interviews)  with my district and it was a really great opportunity to get to know them better in a personal level. All is great in the District and my companionship.

A lot of people have recently asked about my health, and its good! Thanks for asking everyone! Brazil is my second home it is sometimes hot, but it is beautiful and the people are awesome here. I just love the Brazilians.

My spiritual experience for this week:

Follow the Spirit.
Friday we went to an investigator house and we read 3rd Nephi 11, we felt the spirit so strong. While reading she felt the Spirit and said that it is all true, everything you Elders are saying and the book is true. Joseph Smith was a Prophet, and I know that God love us. I know she felt the Spirit, I know she did, and she knew that she got her answer from God.  Then, on Sunday we went to get her for Church, but she give us lots of excuses, so gave her lots of solutions for all her excuses. At the end even after resolving all her concerns she said today I am not going, I could see it in her eyes that she felt really bad about not going to church, she had no other plan but still she did not wanted to go to Church. From this I have learned to never forget what the Spirit tell you, because in only 2 days the daily activities and peer pressure probably made her forget the Lord response to her prayers. I know that when we follow the Lord we can be blessed, and even more if we do the Lord's will and follow the prompts of the Spirit it will make you happy. This is what I have learned this week KNOT to forget the testimony you get from the Spirit, and even if you forget is never to late to listen to the Spirit.
This is all I have for this week. Please pray for missionary work. we need the all the prayers .

Love Elder Arevalo