I went to the hospital (Week 80)

Happy Monday Everyone, 

Yes you read the title correctly. I went to the hospital on Saturday. 

Hospital: 

Turns out I stepped on a nail while doing a service project. It went through my shoe, and entered my skin. Its kind of hard to see in the photo below, but there is a red circular mark if you look close. I made sure to call and tell the mission presidents wife, and she told me to go to the doctor. 
While at the hospital the doctor cleaned it, and they gave me a shot to help my immune system. It look so much better compared to what it looked like in the beginning. So I'm sure my foot will be okay. As of right now, I am able to walk a little, but I have to use sandals so it doesn't get infected. 

Investigators: (Keep Scrolling Down)

My investigators are good. They are a little slow to progress, but they will make it. I know they will.
Have I told you all about Cesar? Well, Cesar recently had a baby. He is one of our new families. He is really good. When his baby was born he had a huge fear for his baby, and wanted to help his baby (I love the concern and love he has for his family). So we are teaching him, and he shared how he received his response that the church is true with a smile on his face. He said, "when my wife and baby were sleeping...I kneeled down to pray and I asked if it is really true and even before I started to pray I felt a feeling like some one was with me helping me throw away this tough time in my life. When I prayed I felt something amazing!" This made me so happy to hear this from Cesar. He was so humble and received such a great answer.  Cesar is really good. I know the Lord is blessing him. 

-Love, 
Elder Arevalo 

Phrase Of The Week! (Week 79)

Hey Everyone!

Here's the breakdown of this week! Want to send me an email? Its: kevin.arevalo@myldsmail.net 

Companion Update:

We are roll playing

• Still have the same companion. He is a really great person, and is doing well. He loves me and I love being his companion. We're a great team.  

Weather in Brazil:

• It's been raining a lot and it's super hot. Nothing much has changed. 

My phrase of the week: 

• I am obedient and follow the spirit not because I want to, but because it is the most intelligent thing I can do. 

Spiritual Experience: 

Part I: We did an activity where a few of us had to bust out our acting skills. We showed how members should be in church with investigators, lessons, and in the classes. It was pretty fun, and everyone seemed to really enjoy it.

Part II: This spiritual experience involves service. So, this week we had a goal to serve others so we can receive blessings from God. So we did something called, "capinar" (Meaning, we cut grass that was about 5-6 inches tall with a huge knife, instead of a lawnmower). That's what we did. 

We even helped two people move, and we painted houses this week. So in return for working so hard...our Lord and savior blessed us with 3 families that are very interested in hearing the Gospel! Two are members that are inactive that want to come back to church, and the other was introduced the Gospel by a member of the church. So we are working very hard with them. I know that the Lord blesses those who work hard, and does his will. 

Us roll playing as if we were in a class

Love, 

Elder Arevalo 

We Found Him (Week 78)

Hey Everyone, 

Baptism Update:  

This week we were supposed to have two baptisms, as I mentioned last week, but they did not happen. There are a few things we need these investigators to overcome before we seal the deal with immersion. So I'll keep you updated on that.

Spiritual experience (We found him):

We found Pedro. We taught Pedro the fist lesson. The restoration. He had a 100% understanding and by the end of the lesson he told us this is what he has been looking for all my life. He also said, 

"I know the things you guys are saying is true. I don't have a doubt in my mind about it. I need you to teach my more."

 This made my testimony grow. I have faith that Pedro will have lots of progress. When we have an understanding of the Gospel, there is no way we can deny the truth. It makes too much sense for it to be wrong. I know that just teaching the simple truths of the Gospel can really help people change their lives forever. Until next week. 

Love, 
Elder Arevalo 

Unexpected Change (Week 77)

Hey Everyone, 

Updates: 

• So this week we had transfers. My companion Elder Fereria is leaving to Belem, while I stay here. I'm going to miss Elder Fereria, as well as the really good hair cuts he gives me. He used to work as a barber before his mission so that was cool. He always cut my hair when it was getting too long haha. He was nice enough to cut it one last time before he left. 

• I am also not sick anymore. I had a sore throat, but that's gone now. I got over it in like 3 days. 

• We are fixing our washing machine right now, so we are currently washing by hand. 

Baptisms:

So we have one baptisms that is 100% going to get baptized, and we also have another that is 50% on getting baptized. Taylor received the priesthood and is going to start prepping the sacrament.

Spiritual Experience:

We are currently talking to Ines right now. We have been teaching her for a while now, but my companion and I felt it was best to stop teaching her. We visited her one time this last week on Tuesday, and we told her about that the things she chooses to do in this life will affect her life and that it is very important for all of us to get on our knees and pray and ask God for help.  

We left that lesson tense and worried for her...knowing she is a young women of 18 years old she has her whole life in front of her, and she needs to make decisions. We didn't see her the rest of the week. Next thing you know we saw her yesterday at church sitting with some members. She was very active in the classes on Sunday, and she seemed really happy, and she said that she feels good here, and that she needs to know more. 
I also fasted for her so she can have a miracle in her life, and she seems a lot different. 
Her father also wanted to go to church. We taught him Saturday, but didn't go to church because of work. 
I saw a change in Ines. You could tell she was in a more happy place in her life, and is starting to chose the right. 

Love,
Elder Arevalo

The Pain Will Go Away (Week 76)

Hey Everyone, 

This week I got kinda sick! It's just a cold, but I am taking medication...nothing to really worry about. I'm sure I'll be good as new in no time. 

Anyways, I had a baptism this week! I will call him Carlos.

He is a young man who visited the church since he was young, but was never baptized. When we started to teach him he was amazing! His mom also knows a lot about the church, but she loves drinking alcohol more. So that is why she has never been baptized. Carlos on the other hand has always been scared to get baptized, because ever since he was young...all he ever wanted was to go to a church activities but his mom hit him, hurt him, and she just did not understand why he wanted to go to the church activities. 

Now in present day...he said,

"I want to be baptized, my mom will always hit me, but the best thing for me is to be good with God first and the hits will go away one day" 

This brought tears to my eyes. I have so much respect for Carlos. To see a young man go through what he has gone through just to be closer to our heavenly father makes me want to become a better person in every way. Let us not take advantage of what we have and who we have in our lives. I do not know why Carlos has this trial, but I hope and pray with all my heart that his mothers heart will be softened and opened one day. PLEASE pray for Him.

-Love, 

Elder Arevalo