Elder Graça Is Leaving (Week 36)

Hey Everyone,

So this week Elder Graça went to Barcaena, and I received a new companion. His name is elder Decue. He is from Africa and awesome form what I heard. So I have a good feelings things will be going well. I am SO GLAD I got to stay here in Sacramenta! I love the people here, and I am seeing so much progress. 

Teaching is going well. I am hoping to help many people come to Christ and love the Lord and help them repent. The members here are amazing they are bringing people to church and really wanting to help their friends. Some of the best investigators we have are references! The Lords work is not easy. The weather is getting hotter the people here are committing more sins, BUT the lord wants us to help his children...our brothers, sisters and I want to help him accomplish this wonderful work.

So when we where teaching Ingreaige....she didn't seem that interested in the beginning. She was looking around a lot and didn't seem interested but when we came back to visit her she gave us her 100% attention. It was a MIRACLE. She said she felt very good when she prayed. I could she that the Lord touched her. She wanted to hear more. We are going to continue teaching her and hope she is baptized the following month. Things are looking good. 

Here are some pictures for you guys.

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