I was Senior Companion for a Day (Week 35)

Hello my friends!!!

I can't believe how fast this past week went! But it was good and busy week! As you can see we had a baptism, her name is Ana Luiza. What a blessing was to participate in this ordinance and specially in Ana Luiza's decision to follow our Savior.
I feel the love of our Savior Jesus Christ specially at the time of the baptism. The spirit testified to me that Ana Luiza was clean from the sins of her past. What a blessing that is!!!!

We also had some wonderful exchanges with the wonderful Elder, and because. I had more time than him at the mission field. I was kind it leading and really felt the guidance of the Spirit, and my testimony grow in regards to the blessing for leadership and how our Heavenly Father bless us, when we are in a position of Leader ship and if we listen to the Spirit we will be guided in the Lords work. I am also really and truly grateful that I have had the opportunity to work with such a great and noble people in this mission. They have truly blessed my life. I am so grateful to be a representative of Jesus Christ here in Brazil. I know that he lives. I know that this is his church, and I know that prayers are heard and answered. Many who read this blog are an answer the answer to someones prayer! 

I am so grateful for my family in Chicago, but I am also grateful for all the extended family, I am getting to know here in Brazil, many of them. I feel like I know them from a long time, and they make feel like at home, Love Brazil, Love Portuguese, Love the food but must of all I love you, my brothers and sister in the Gospel, Well I have to go for now, but remember to read your scriptures, pray and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with you friends, family and if you want a Book of Mormon you can request one here. Until next week with Love Elder Arevalo.

Skype Call (Week 34)

Hey Everyone,  

So this week. I was ECSTATIC to know that I would get the chance to Skype my family! For those who do know know...I (as a missionary) am only allowed to call/Skype my family twice a year. Those two days are Christmas, and Mother's Day! 

I very kind family let my companion and I use their computer to Skype. I was really glad I had the chance to talk to my family, and some extended family. It turns out that my Aunts, Uncles, and cousins all came to see me on Skype. It was really unexpected to see them all there, but I am so grateful for the chance I got to speak to every single one of them that day, especially my parents. 

It's crazy to think that I only have two more Skype calls until I go home. Time is flying by! I have to make sure I make the most of my mission out here in Belem...because it wont last forever. 

Well, that's all for today. Thanks everyone, and I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. 

-Love, 

Elder Arevalo 

He Will Always Help Us (Week 33)

Hey Everyone, 

At A Historical Site In Belem

This week was good. We have a baptisms for João this Saturday! We are very excited.Although last Thursday was hard. Lots of our plans ended up not falling through. Thursday was a rough day, but I feel like the Lord always knows how to pick us back up. Later Thursday evening a member went out with us and he gave us two references! He visited people with us, and he helped us a lot that day. His name is Leandro, the spirit of Leandro helped us power through the day. The Lord always is there to help us out even on bad days, and I am so thankful that Leandro was there with us. He helped us when things seemed hopeless when nothing was going right. I want to share my testimony that the Lords will...will always get done. The Lord will help us and mold us to be the best we can be. I know this to be true. 

Crazy Looking Trees

P.S- Tell Sister Smith thank you for the cards they sent for Christmas. I got the cards this week. The other missionaries forgot to give it to me haha.

Love, Elder Arevalo

Guys! An Iguana!

Beautiful

It Happened For A Reason (Week 32)

Hey Everyone,

Things have been pretty normal around here in Brasil, you know going, teaching people, inviting people to be baptized and helping them in the best way possible through the Gospel.

So this week I had a really cool experience. Last Sunday we where at stake conference, and we got a great seats up in front! Our investigators came and sat with us and some members, and we were great. Then, one hr into stake conference...our zone leader said, "move" and he let the other investigators sit there, and so we moved, and had no where to sit. We woke up early to get good seats for nothing! So we were annoyed and mad and so we sat with out suits in the heat. Then while listening to conference the mission president gave a talk and told all the nonmembers that they can ask the missionaries for a Book of Mormon.

After the mission president said that...out of no where a women came up to my companion and I outside and said, "can I get a Book of Mormon?" My companion and I where so happy and said "YES" and then we talked about the Book of Mormon. The Lord chose us to be outside and teach a lesson. I felt honored and promised I would never get mad if the Lord does something like that again.

-Love,
Elder Arevalo

Oven Meltdown (Week 31)

Hey Everyone, 

This week was pretty normal for me. I tried baking some food, but then my companion and I found out our oven isn't working...so then I went to the microwave and then we tried frying our food, but that didn't go so well haha. I've been out for more then half a year and I thought I'd be a pro at cooking by now, but I have much to learn haha.

Besides that...this week we took a family to church and they liked it a lot. They are a family of 4, and they are really great. The parents names are Suco and Halassdra and the kids names are Gabriel, and Vanessa. We went to two sacraments yesterday. Our investigators children have school Sunday mornings, so after lunch on Sunday we came back for them and went to church again with them, but that's all that was really different this Sunday. The photo above is a picture of all of us in our church building. Definitely a great group that I get to serve with.


Love, 
Elder Arevalo 

Transfer Week (Week 30)

Hey Everyone, 

My Current Area

This week I found out that I will be staying another transfer with my current companion Elder Graças. So that's pretty cool! I'm really glad that I get to stay here in this area. It's one of the biggest areas here in Brasil. The people overall are very closed off and if they open the door...most of them just want to bible bash with us. Its hard to find people who really want to hear our message, BUT we found some people recently but it will be hard process to help them mostly because they are really busy (people here are very fast paced, and busy in general) but we always call them to at least check and see how they are doing. 

The Santos Family Took Us Out To Eat

Also, we are teaching a family and they are really good! They talk a lot, and they are opening up to us...so that's good! They really seem to trusts. I really want to help them be a


family that does more thing together.

That's all for this week. Sorry for the short email this week!

-Love,
Elder Arevalo

New Temple in Brazil! (Week 29)

Hey Everyone, 

          I hope you all have had a wonderful General Conference this past weekend. I got the opportunity to watch conference with members at the church building here in Brasil, and I loved it so much. I wish you all could have been here to witness the cheering at the church building that overwhelmed the entire congregation when President Monson announced a new temple HERE IN BELEM, BRAZIL. The temple has been the non-stop conversation for everyone here since there is no temple close by except for the one in Manaus. There are currently now 6 operating temples in Brazil, one under construction, and 2 that have been announced (one of them being Belem). I don't think I will still be here for when the temple is dedicated, but I am so excited to hasten the work so that they too can entire the house of the Lord.  Besides that AMAZING news, my overall favorite talk was by Jeffery R. Holland during the Sunday session. I am sure I was not the only one who could feel his sincere love and compassion he and the rest of the leaders of the church have for each one of us. I was really hoping that a family that is investigating the church could come watch the conference with us, but unfortunately that did not happen. I will continue to do my best with my companion, and if anything, this conference gave my companion and I a boost of motivation to continue to press forward. 


I feel the need to share my testimony in Portuguese, I know a lot of you will not understand, but I have no doubt that the holy ghost will testify to you of how much I love this gospel, and the leaders in this church. No matter what position we hold in this church, we are all an instrument in God's hands, therefore we all matter. 

Eu se que realment que a igreaja de Jesus Cristo r o igreja verdadeira., que Jesus Cristo vive e que ele salvo nos e ele amar nos muito. eu se que Joseph Smith foi a profeta que restaurar igreja que Jesus Cristo estabelece antigamente. eu se que os mandamentos ajudar nos se mais livre e ajudar nos tem uma viva feliz.  

Love, 
Elder Arevalo