How was your Christmas? (Week 67)

Hey Everyone!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I definitely had a good one. I even (unexpectedly) was welcomed into the homes of many members, and my new companion and I got a few gifts! Check it out! 

Skype With My Family:

I got to talk to my family on Skype on Christmas! It was great to be able to see and hear their voices again. They had such uplifting stories to share, and I think they liked mine too. I had such a fun time. Its kind of weird to think that this is the last Christmas I will be spending here, and the next one will be back in the USA. 

Update:

I have a new companion. His name is Elder Belo. He is Brazilian and is from the state of Para, and he knows English! He originally was in the US studying, but he got called back to Brazil! Haha so cool! 

Spiritual Experience:

So we found a women named Ellen. She is very interested in the church. She went to church this week, and she is very excited. She also went to an activity, and she is loving the church. She is reading a lot, praying and overall she just seems really happy. We found her Friday and she is already excited to get baptized. She told us that she knows the church is true. She also told us that she wants the best for her son and daughter too. Overall, Ellen is amazing and we are going to continue to teach her and help her feel the spirit This just goes to show that when we obey the lords will...he will respond at his timing.  

She told us what after our lesson? (Week 66)

Hi Everyone!

The new companion!

Update on the new area I am in:

• This is the first apartment where I have air conditioning

• My apartment is so easy to clean, I'm so grateful! 

• This area is much bigger than my last one

• I still have a lot to learn about this new area, but hopefully I start picking things up quick

Spiritual Experience:
We where knocking on doors and than we made it to this one house. We clap at the door, because knocking is rude here in Brazil, and this woman invited us in, and welcomed us. We started to teach her and she surprisingly already knew everything about the the Book of Mormon. My companion and I were so amazed and happy she already had some knowledge.
She then told us...that she was praying for the Lord to send someone to help her find the correct path, and it just so happened that we showed up and taught her.
BUT THEN...it also turns out that she is very religious...and she is very strong in the other church that she is currently involved with...and the pastor of that church told her that she will be invited to go to other churches and that she should NOT GO...I can tell that the adversary is working hard, but not to worry...so are we ;) 

Gym:

Okay, I am so happy! I'm going to an actual gym today to workout! I know that I walk miles and miles a day but I am so happy to for once for workout at the gym. Anyone that knows me knows I love working out, and I know that the mission is more important right now, but it'll be a nice change to go in this one time and exercise a different way for once. 

Final Remarks: 

Well, I hope everyone has a great week. Thank you all for your love and support and your emails! Merry Christmas!! :) 

Love, 

Elder Arevalo 

Planes, Parties, & Potential (Week 65)

Hi Everyone, 

As you all know...I got transferred, and I am now getting moved AGAIN! Haha they want me to open a new area, so I am officially going to be doing that with my new companion Elder Costa. He is from Sao Paulo, and has been on his mission for 10-11 months so far.  

Off to the new area! 

We took plane and the plane ride was about 45 minutes. The first day in the new area was on Friday, and this past Sunday the new ward had conference so it was good. I didn't get to meet a lot of the members that day, but the ones I did meet were very nice.

Mission Christmas Party:

Christmas Party

So this was a lot of fun! There were games we could play, and I kept going from game to game. We even had a gift exchange, and I had to give something to Elder Silva. I also got a really cool gift! I also saw so many familiar faces, and so many friends that I haven't seen in a long time so that was really great. I am so thankful that our mission president and wife do such nice things for us! They are wonderful. 

Spiritual Experience:

I would say the most spiritual experience I had this week was the Christmas devotional that our mission Christmas party had. The spirit was so strong, and I love every minute of it. 

Investigators:

So in my new area we already have 3 new investigators. Please pray for them!

• Valmir 

• Juvinal

• Vivani

Some last goodbyes from my last area:

I'm going to miss them all so much.

-Love, 
Elder Arevalo 

They're sending me where? (Week 64)

Hey Everyone,
I hope you're all enjoying the Christmas festivities back home!

Visiting The Doctor: 

As you all know...I went to the Doctor this week because I have been having weird white spots on my skin. He gave me a cream to put on my skin and he said everything should be fine, so that's good. 

I'm going to miss my companion! 

I am getting Transferred:

So its official. I am transferring over to a new area. I leave on Thursday, and I am going to my new area in a plane. I will be going to Macapá which is a city and capital in the state of Amapá . It's so far away! Amapá is a state in northern Brazil bordered by Suriname, French Guiana and the Atlantic Ocean. The Amazon Rain forest covers a great portion of its area, and the Oyapock River forms part of its northern border...so that's pretty cool haha. I kinda saw this coming...since I've been in my current area for about 3 months now.

I'm a bit disappointed because this always happens to me haha. I always get transferred before my birthday or before Christmas. For the most part I'm not sad. If anything I am happy to get to know other places. I would have liked to stay, but I am here to do the lords will not mine.
My new companion is going to be Elder Costa, and we will be District Leaders in this new area. 
My current companion that I am training will stay and finish his training. 

Spiritual Experience:

My spiritual experience this week is about Rodrigo. He is a member we are re-activating. He is really feeling the spirit, and he is really excited about coming back. He even gave us a reference. The reference is for us to go visit his his friends, and they seem to be really interested and want to go to church and learn more! In general I have noticed that the spirit never leaves us. If we do not feel the spirit it is because we have left the spirit, and that if we desire the spirit to stay with us he will help and guide us.

Baptism This Week:

I had another baptism this week.  I unfortunately am not able to send pictures right now, because the computer is not letting me...so I am going to put them up next week. Thanks everyone!

Baptism picture from last week!

Love, 

Elder Arevalo