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 

Jammed Doors And New Faces (Week 19)

Hey Everyone,

This week I got put in a new area. Gladly, I know the area pretty well already so I'm glad I won't have to be spending time trying to figure that out. We also got two new elders! One is from Brasil (picture #3) and his name is Elder Nugeda, and the other Elder is from Idaho (picture #2). His name is Elder Wisanback and he is very new. He knows very little Portuguese but I'm sure it'll improve!    

Attendance at church has grown so much! We went from 40 to 75 and our 10 new investigators are amazing! We also have 11 people with dates. I know for a fact that the Book of Mormon is what sets us apart from any other religion! It contains everything we ever need to know for our lives and to know what the Lord wants us to do. The Book of Mormon was set apart by God away from the people so others could not mess with it, unlike the Bible. The Book of Mormon explains the Gospel clearly and can teach us all how to come to Christ. It's so great! 

On another note...my Companion Elder Luz (picture #1) got trapped in a bathroom haha. Oh and I accidentally broke a cup at an investigators house...I felt really bad and apologized about 7 times. Anyone who knows me very well knows that I occasionally am clumsy Haha. Anyway, I hope everyone has a great week! Keep being amazing people and always find ways to help people around you everyday like Christ did. 

Here are some pictures! 

-Love,

Elder Arevalo 

Transfer Week (Week 18)

Hey Everyone!

Elder Numbers (left) and Elder Arevalo (right)

So this week is transfer week! Meaning, that any missionary can be placed in a new area in our Mission, if the Mission president feels it be necessary. So the questions my companion and I have had for the longest time is...who is leaving and who is staying?

Drum Roll Please...

Elder Arevalo (Me): Will be staying in the same current area, Altamira Para!
Elder Numbers : Will be leaving me, and is getting sent to zone Cidade Novo and Area Bae.
Elder Santos: Will also be leaving and going to the cost of Salinas.
Elder Luiz: Will now be my companion! Woo!

Elder Arevalo, Elder Numbers, Warley Mariano, and Elder Santos
[left to right]

We will be receiving two new Elders! I do not know their names, but I DO know that one is from Brazil, and the other is a Greene. I will update you all next week. I'm sure these two Elders joining us here are going to be awesome!

P.S- I am somehow still growing...I am 99.99% positive I was as tall as Elder Numbers, and now I have passed him...hmm...I like that I am getting taller and I'm happy about that but if I don't stop soon my pants aren't going to fit! haha.

Fun picture as a last goodbye! From Right to Left
Elder Luiz, Elder Santos, Elder Arevalo, Bro. Warley Mariano, Primary Kid, Elder Numbers.

A Miracle (Week 17)

Hey Everyone!

The Dilemma:

This week has been real tough for me...but the only reason that it's been a bit tough is because my companion Elder Numbers and I have been working our butts off. We have never worked harder, and our District Leader (DL) still doesn't think we are working hard enough. We had 29 lessons this week and we accompanied our investigators a lot and made a lot of news! We even went to go get some of our investigators and accompany them to church, and its just a bit sad to hear from the DL that we are not doing good enough, but honestly...I do not mean to be rude in any way when I say this, but we've taught more lessons then our own DL and his companion, they didn't have anyone to bring to Church and our DL wants us to repent and do better. 

Altamira, Para (Brasil)

What I have learned from this experience:

My thoughts turn me to my savior. Not a lot of people agreed with what Jesus did, heck...the farisis hated him, and all Jesus ever did on this earth was be good to others, serve others, and give his life for us. I just have to make sure I am pleasing God (as Jesus did) and do what is right. I CANT force people to grow, but on the Lords timing and will...everything will work out. Did I learn the right lesson or do I just need to work harder? I asked my Father and he said that work is always important, and there is always room for improvement, but if you know you are giving 100% then there is nothing to worry about for God is mightier than any man on earth. 

The Miracle: 

This past week Elder Numbers and came across a woman who had been fighting a nasty infection in her eye. She has been taking medication for it for several months, but nothing was really working. She asked if Elder Numbers and I could give her a blessing for health. My companion and I gladly wanted to help her, and through the power of our almighty father in heaven, and by the powers and keys we hold as priesthood holders...we gave her a blessing by laying our hands on her head and spoke the words that the spirit confirmed to us would heal her eye. 

The next day, she was perfectly fine! I have a firm testimony when you work with faith Miracles happen. I hope you all continue to live your lives filled with faith, for FAITH without WORKS is dead. I love you all so very much, and am so glad to be able to share these experiences with you all. 

-Love, 
Elder Arevalo 

Happy New Year! (Week 16)

Hi Everyone, 

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! It's pretty exciting to think that I will be spending this ENTIRE YEAR in BRASIL!

Overall, things are great. I stayed home with Elder Numbers for New Years since it was really dangerous outside. People where drinking for two days straight and there were a lot of deaths during the time; so that happened, but life is good. Our investigators are progressing. We have this one man, and he is so great. We are going to help him with everything so that he can marry legally tomorrow so that he can get baptized, and his sister in law will get baptized too. She is not getting baptized this week but the next week she will. We also have these 4 AMAZING investigators. We went last Sunday to pick them up for church, but they were ALREADY at church! They are truly amazing and seem very ready. I ask whoever is reading this to pray for our investigators to truly recognized the work of the lord and to help them feel the spirit to know that what they are learning is true. They are truly great people who I want the best for. 

Lately, my companion and I have been really looking for people nonstop to share a message, and opening a new area is way awesome. I love it! It's like untouched ground that we get to be a part of and help grow! Elder Numbers and I have been studying to recognize the spirit and receiving revelation parts of Preach my Gospel a lot!!! It helps so much! 

I gained 3 kilos!! This holiday food is killing me!! Well...it is delicious BUT I can't gain weight haha. 

Love,
-Elder Arevalo