MY LAST POST (Week 99)

GREAT DAY

My beloved friends, I believe this will be my last post. I do not leave until the 15th of August, but I don't think I'll have enough time to blog again next P-Day. 

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" 

I served a mission with all my heart. It was my privilege to go to many parts of Belem Brazil to carry the Savior’s message, an invitation to come unto Him, and enjoy the fruits of His Gospel. It was a privilege to know many wonderful people, to live in a different culture and learn a different language it. It was also a time of building my own personal testimony of the mission of Jesus Christ.

Throughout my mission, I prayed with my companions each and every morning as we began a new day. The process was repeated each night before we retired to bed. We offered a prayer before we studied, a prayer as we left our apartment to go out to search for our brothers and sisters, and of course, a special prayer when special guidance was needed to direct our missionary work. The frequency of us seeking our Father in Heaven gave us strength, and courage to press forward in the Lord's work to which we had been called to do. 

I testify to you today that many answers would come, sometimes by surprising and positive ways. I also testify today that the guidance of the Holy Spirit seemed to be magnified the more times we seek the Lord for direction on a given day.

I love my Brazilian friends, I will always treasure them every minute in my heart. My president always said: "só os fortes servem no Norte" it was a phrase of inspiration. Yes!!! for me the Brasil Belem Mission will always be the best mission.

My companion and I worked so hard this last week. We were blessed to see a marriage and two families get baptized. I'm so grateful to see that the gospel changes lives. I can say I have given it my 100%.

Marriage

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog every week.

I hope my experiences have helped you just a little bit. I wish all of you could have an experience similar to the one I had with ups and downs, but for me...it was the best experience I have had, and I will treasure it in my heart forever and ever. I am glad I can pause and reflect on my time of service here in Brasil. I gave myself diligently everyday, and of my time and my talent to build our Father in Heaven’s kingdom.

See you all soon. Love you all.

Elder Arevalo

Working Hard & Faith = Key (Week 98)

Hi, Everyone! 

I cannot believe that time is coming closer. I will be coming home August 16th! Let's not think about that now...

Spiritual Experience: 

This Saturday was AMAZING! We had a lunch activity at the church. There were lots of recent converts, and there were lots of investigators, and I noticed that the people who were getting to know the church, really saw that the church is a good place to be! It gave them more of a desire to stay in the church and one member said, "I feel like this is my second home". Then we had the baptism of João. He was so happy and he was even more happy that he got married last Thursday. It was a great week for him. The change that I saw in him has been amazing he has a new light in him and a happiness that seems never ending. 

Good, I am working a lot and if everything goes right... 

Rildo 

Marica 

Janaia 

and Gabriel 

are going to get Baptized, please pray for them.

It's going to be really really hard to help them get baptized due to the time issue, but that's the goal we set with them. They just need a little more time and maybe they will make their goal to get baptized before I returned home. 

-Love, 

Elder Arevalo 

People's Lives Are Changing (Week 97)

Hey Everyone, 

Life is good. Want to know why? Because peoples lives are changing for the better so its amazing! On today's P-Day I plan to just eat, plan, and get the normal necessities done. 

I just found out that I will be flying back to the main city of Belem on August 10th and I will be there 5 days waiting to go home. Of course, I am sure that I will have stuff to do, but this is it. It all feels so real that I am going home soon. Definitely a bittersweet time. 

I have a few goals in mind for me to accomplish before I head home, and one of them is that I need to baptize 3 more families that I really care about. It is not enough time, but I want to do my best. 

Spiritual Experience:

One couple I have been teaching lately has gone to church and they really like it. We were expecting to see them again during the week but we didn't find them. So we left a note, and prayed that they were doing well. Turns out that Sunday we saw them at church and it was great! They said that they were sorry they weren't home when we stopped by, but they were out traveling but definitely returned back in time for church. 

I saw the faith and the willingness they had to sacrifice their time to be obedient to the Lord. I am so happy for them.

-Love, 

Elder Arevalo 

Member Referrals are the Best (Week 96)

Hello Family and Friends

I love member Referrals, let me share an experience with you today.

Elder Amon and I had the best lesson ever this week, two members were sharing the gospel with three of their friends. They invited us to go with them. Oh, believe me, we are so grateful for the members of the church and their referrals. 

My companion and I shared the first lesson, and they love the message the spirit was so strong and It helped my testimony grow leaps and bounds. 

They went to church on Sunday and they said things at church make so much sense, we had a chance to talk to them a little bit after the services, and they said that they felt a strong impression when they entered the Church. 

One of them also said that every time she passes by the church she couldn't figure out that feeling until Sunday, it was something really strong. Sunday she was able to confirm that feeling and it was the answered to her prayers.

They are willing to come back and follow the answer that God is given to them ..... So we testified to them that we knew it was the right decision to come to church on Sunday, and that God has given us so much. We need to count the blessings we have received... We basically when over the entire 2nd lesson on Sunday, and it was the most spiritual we had this week with my companion. Once again my mission has nothing to do with me, but it has everything to do with the Lord. 

In another note, my mother remained me that I have 4 P days left it is unbelievable. I asked my self where the time has gone. The spirit here in Brazil it is so strong. And I know that missionaries are called by God,  I'm grateful for the knowledge I have. 

Thank you for all your Birthday messages, I really appreciated them, and special thanks to all the members that made my birthday a special day, thank you for all your love and the cakes.

Love you all.

Until next week 

He Came Back (Week 95)

Hey Everyone!

Updates:

• My companion is not sick anymore. He is doing much better and fully recovered. 100% Healthy.
• I am flying to Belem today at 2:55 pm
• We had 9 investigators at church yesterday. We've been really busy.
• We have an upcoming baptism this week!

Spiritual Experiences:

1. We are visiting a married couple, and the wife had a dream Saturday that we would visit them today. We showed up later that day, and she later explained that she was always praying to God so he can show her and her family the right path, and she said that we are the response to her prayers. She went to church and she is really happy.
2. We are also visiting another married couple with 2 sons. The husband is already a member and he was coming back and was studying a lot the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He then started seeing lots of anti-Mormon things and started asking lots of questions, and it seemed like he lost all his desire to come back to church and get married in the temple. All his dreams went away. That day my companion and I were really sad for him. We prayed and studied a lot to answer his questions. When we visited them the next day he said to us, "No, I am going to follow The Chuch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. No other church explains these things and I never felt so good in the church...I have decided with my wife that we are going to get married this Monday so we can follow the right path. I was stunned, and I was without words...just very happy that the Lord hears and answers prayers. 

With Love,

Elder Arevalo 

My Last Transfer. Am I Staying?(Week 94)

Hello Everyone!

Happy Monday! I hope  you've all been having a great day so far. 

Teaching A Lesson

For me, I've been having a really great week and day. I'm sure you read the title of this blog and wondered if I am getting transferred or not on my last transfer, and it turns out that I will not be getting transferred. I am so happy!!!! I am really excited to stay in my current area and give it my all these last few weeks I am out here. 

Here are a few highlights from my awesome week!

• João ( was baptized son of Regina)

• Mão que ajudar aka we cleaned a community park 

• João and ellen will get married the 25th of this month! Woohoo! 

The Spiritual thought of the week has to be Lucas and Fabiola. They went to on a lesson with us.  

They are new converts, and they shared their story of how they are so much happier now that they are living the Gospel. This helped the investigators a lot...they loved it and they are really happy and excited to share the gospel.

Share your testimony. It's a gift from God, and will change lives.

Love, 

Elder Arevalo 

The Gospel Makes A Difference (Week 93)

Hey Everyone! 

This week I've been doing a lot of pondering. I realized that my last transfer is next week, and I can't believe how fast the time has flown by.

I don't think I've ever worked this hard. The mission is something that has taught me many lessons, and I think the biggest lesson I've learned this week is that the Gospel makes a difference in peoples lives.

Old Photo | Great Memories 

I've seen time and time again that the little things that Satin does to appeal to the world can greatly harm the inner peace that we all want to have. Making the right choice is always one we will never regret, while other choices may lead us to feel remorse and regret.

I've noticed that having the Gospel in my life has made my a happier person. and it has done the same for so many other people here in Brazil. I love seeing people progress spiritually to learn more about their Heavenly Father.

I want to guide and council all of you to do the same. Find your inner peace, get to know our Father in heaven more, and strive to be a good person in this crazy world we live in today. Life is short, and the best thing we can do to show our love for our families, and God is to treat each person on this earth with love, respect, and as if they were our own brothers and sisters.

I don't have much else to say, except I am so grateful to be out here serving the people of Brazil. I don't want it to end!

-Love,
Elder Arevalo