Wait, am I in Guatemala? (Week 57)

Hey Everyone, 
I hope everyone's Monday is starting off pretty well! Check out this picture! This Elder is also Guatemalan, but his family lives in LA. I'm so glad he had a Guatemalan flag! So cool! haha. 

Elder Duque's parents are both from Guatemala, just like my parents. He is from L.A.

Transfers:

So Elder Santos is officially going home this Friday, but he is leaving today from the area because he is going to say goodbye to some people. Transfers are in two weeks, and I or Elder Ferreira will be getting transferred. 

We Got A Cake: 

One of our investigators made us a cake this week. Her name is Claciani. She is 13 years old and her sister is the only member of the family. She is being a great example for her mother, and she wants to go to church. She likes us a lot, and you can tell she really likes listening to our messages. She is a great young women. I can see how the Gospel motivates people to want to be better. Just the other day, Claciani told us that she liked going to church, because she felt good there. So that's great! I was so happy to hear that.  
The Gospel can touch anyone and everyone only if we let the spirit touch us. It all depends on us. The more we let God guide us...the more we will progress and be happy.

Investigator Stories: 

Haha guys all I can say is that this is ALL happening because of the Lord. I have no idea what I am doing...I just pray for guidance and he handles the rest. 

My investigators are good. Maira add Jose...are a couple, but they are not married. They went to church all alone, and they liked church a lot, but I can tell Jose was a bit more enthusiastic about it. Then there is Claciani, which you read about earlier, and then there is a new family we met this week! They're names are Isabel, Maria, and Romelo. They loved our first message and Romelo said, 

"I liked everything...everything you said is in the scriptures and you didn't talk bad about others...I also noticed you guys are really happy... you guys brighten my day, and I think I am on the right path listing to you guys".  

Man, you have no idea how happy I was to hear that from him.  

Another Miracle (Week 56)

Hey Everyone!

Last picture with Elder Spock

So this week we saw a Miracle!

I was at a school speaking English, representing the United States

Lyandra (an investigator) was challenged by my companion and I to get baptized. She passed the interview, and decided to get baptized! It was great! Unfortunately, the day for her baptism she was scared and gave us many excuses. I sat down and listened to her for about two hours, and she still had some excuses. I then read the story of Jesus at the garden of Gethsemane. She felt comforted, and we have picked a new date for her baptism. The Lord can do all things. We just need to trust in him. 

People To Pray For:

• Lyandra 
• Edisangla 
• Bruno 
• Claciani 
• Jucilani

Old District (I'll take a picture with my new one this week)

We Met Our Goal (Week 55)

Hello family and friends...

Our Zone made our baptism goal for the Month of September, we all got a zone reward by the Mission President. Conference was great, I really enjoyed the talk from K. Brett Nattress. I also had the opportunity to PPI (Personal Priesthood Interviews)  with my district and it was a really great opportunity to get to know them better in a personal level. All is great in the District and my companionship.

A lot of people have recently asked about my health, and its good! Thanks for asking everyone! Brazil is my second home it is sometimes hot, but it is beautiful and the people are awesome here. I just love the Brazilians.

My spiritual experience for this week:

Follow the Spirit.

Friday we went to an investigator house and we read 3rd Nephi 11, we felt the spirit so strong. While reading she felt the Spirit and said that it is all true, everything you Elders are saying and the book is true. Joseph Smith was a Prophet, and I know that God love us. I know she felt the Spirit, I know she did, and she knew that she got her answer from God.  Then, on Sunday we went to get her for Church, but she give us lots of excuses, so gave her lots of solutions for all her excuses. At the end even after resolving all her concerns she said today I am not going, I could see it in her eyes that she felt really bad about not going to church, she had no other plan but still she did not wanted to go to Church. From this I have learned to never forget what the Spirit tell you, because in only 2 days the daily activities and peer pressure probably made her forget the Lord response to her prayers. I know that when we follow the Lord we can be blessed, and even more if we do the Lord's will and follow the prompts of the Spirit it will make you happy. This is what I have learned this week KNOT to forget the testimony you get from the Spirit, and even if you forget is never to late to listen to the Spirit.

This is all I have for this week. Please pray for missionary work. we need the all the prayers .

Love Elder Arevalo

A Short Read This Week (Week 54)

Hi Everyone, 

I don't have much time today to write, but this is a spiritual moment from my week! 

On Saturday we went over to a members house. She is the only member in her entire family, and so we decided to do a lesson with the entire family. The member said that her family is very shy, but that didn't seem like the case at all when speaking to them. I saw the Gospel enter their lives and I could see that they were truly interested. They wanted to change, they wanted to make a difference, and they wanted to start living the commandments! I can see the Gospel helping people in ways I never thought were possible. I know the Lord has truly prepared people for use to help. 

That's it for this week! Sorry its so short! 

-Love, 
Elder Arevalo 

Unexpected Surprise (Week 53)

Hey Everyone!

I hope you've all had a great week! I definitely had a better one this time, and here is why...

Some of the members out here threw me a surprise party! Why did they throw me a surprise party? Simply because I have been out here in Brasil for a whole year! So they thought they would do something nice for me to celebrate such a great time in my life. I felt the love they had for us missionaries. I was so grateful and blown away by the kindness of these people out here. I know for a fact that the members out here in Brasil have firm testimonies of missionary work and missionaries in general. What a great blessing it was to receive this little surprise from them all. 

Also, being an District Leader is becoming a little easier and fun. I am trying to motivate my district, and I think its working. The zone reached our goal of 15 baptisms! So that's good! I know numbers aren't the most important thing, but making goals are important and reaching them are even better!

I also want to thank everyone for their kind emails I received this past week. It really helped me to hear from family and friends from back home. 

Spiritual Experience:

My spiritual experience was when we went to conference. I learned that the Lord puts people in our lives to help us learn. When we went to a conference, Elder Antunies -one of the 70- helped me see that I need to be a better example to our investigators, and that we need to help others see that we are members of the church of Jesus Christ. We are the light! We should never try to hide our light from the, because in reality we are ones who will help others guide humanity to happiness that is eternal. I now see better, meaning that all my companions: Elder Numbers, Elder Luiz, Elder Graça, Elder Deque, and Elder Ferriera have all helped me move, and become a better person. I also know that before my mission....all my friends, and especially my family have helped me became the ball of happiness and person I am in general. I am going to let the Lord help me through the examples of others, especially from our brother Jesus Christ who was the best example for us in the world. 

One of our investigators said any church that makes great young men who want to help and serve others is truly a church of God, and makes me interested and makes me want to visit. Our example never goes un-noticed especially from our Father in Heaven. 

Investigators To Pray For:

Lyandra 

Ana 
Nane
Rodeval 
Wallace 
Renata 
Xilie

Love you all so much! 
Elder, Arevalo

The One Year Mark (Week 52)

Hey Everyone, 

I have officially hit the one year mark. It's so weird to say that. I feel like I am just starting. My dad asked if I've seen any changes in myself this past year (in Brazil), and I have noticed some things about me. 

1. I have gotten fatter. I haven't gained a lot of weight because my belt hole is still the same and my pants still fit and stuff, but people have been telling me I look fatter. It's kinda hard to hear that, but it is not that important right now.
2. I am more responsible. I have never had so many experiences that have helped me grow and do things that require a lot of responsibility. 
3. I feel the spirit more. I feel the spirit guiding me more. I feel good about life, and I have more knowledge about the church.

My spiritual experience:

This spiritual experience is about Doralis. She has strengthened my testimony. I've learned that everything the church does can be found in the scriptures. If we study the scriptures...we can find exactly what we are looking for.

People to pray for:
Lyandra
Juciliani
Robervan

Doralis lives with her daughter. Her name is Nane. She is about 26 yrs old. We teach her daughter Nane as well, but she isn't progressing and told her mother that she did not want to go to her baptism, but Doralis did not put attention to her. Instead, she continued to read and she felt the spirit and she went to her own baptism without her daughter. So she is following the Lords commandments. I learned from Doralis that it is not the people we should listen to, but instead we need to follow the Lord's commandments.

Also, my sister Amy shared something very special to me. She shared some advice and other things and it was great. It was exactly what I needed to hear because lately I have been hit with lots of responsibility.
I am expected to do a lot, and sometimes I find it hard to do everything. I am training a newbie, helping 3 other companions, and my zone leader is really is asking more of me. I am not one who usually gets mad at people, and I rarely ever get bothered by people, but my zone leader doesn't see that I am trying my very best every day! Apparently, everything I do for my zone leader is not good enough. I feel like nothing. I feel like I am failing with all the comments I get from him. I feel stressed.

But, one thing I do know for sure is that I know that I am trying my very best, and I know for a fact that I am  pleasing the most important person, the Lord.

Remember, Remember...(Week 51)

Hey Everyone!

Updates:

• I have some good news! We have a baptism for this upcoming Saturday! I will send pictures next week of the baptism. Her name is Doralis.

• I also did my first baptismal interview this week too! It was great. Really Easy! He has been an investigator for 3 years. He wants to get married in the temple.
• There were 95 people at church on Sunday! Not too bad! 

Spiritual Experience: 

So when I was at church...I wanted to share my testimony, and so when I went up there I was just speaking like normal, but there came a point where I felt the spirit tell me to talk about a certain topic. So I spoke about the plan of God, and how we need to trust in the Lord and go to church, and have a goal to feel the spirit of the Lord. I kept going and I said that the Lord loves us, he gave everything for us, and we need to trust him and love him and keep his commandments.

I thought the spirit was telling me to say the things I said for my pesquisadors (investigators), but it didn't seem to effect them...so I was a little sad, but it turns out that the spirit wanted me to say that for a member! After sacrament meeting a member said "thank you for your testimony it helped me a lot". I instantly rejoiced and felt privileged that the spirit trusted me to help someone in the branch.

Final Thoughts:

I feel like I am working really hard guys. I am a little tired, but I've noticed something in the scriptures. All the prophets remember the miracles that God does for them, and they have the force, strength, and will to continue. 
I too am remembering the miracles in my life, and working harder and harder. I remember the miracles, I remember Jesus Christ, and I am remembering that he is cheering us on! I hope you are also remembering these things. Until next week.

Love, 

Elder Arevalo