I Was Robbed (Week 85)

Hey Everyone!

Investigators: 

Marriage License

Everything is going really smoothly for everyone this week. Cesar and his wife finally got their marriage license! I'll give you guys updates next week. 

I Was Robbed:

This was a pretty crazy experience. My companion and I came home one day just like normal. We turned on the lights and as we looked around the apartment and we saw a huge mess. Everything was thrown around, things were out of place, things were ripped, destroyed, and dirty. We will have to reorganize the house again. It was all nice and clean and the robber made our whole house dirty.  My companion and I had no idea if the robber(s) were still in the house hiding from us, but it turned out that everything was clear. They must have robbed us during the day while we were working. So we are fine. 

We started putting everything back in its place and we looked around to see what was taken. Turns out that my new shirt that my parents sent me was stolen, my cologne, sandals, and my camera but that is all, nothing super important. 

It was sad to see our place destroyed...but that's life. All we can do is learn from it and move on. So, because this happened, my companion and I are changing things up a bit. We are taking new precautions. We are protecting the house by adding medal bars on the windows now so the robbers cant come back. 

Well, that's all for this week. I hope you all stay safe. 

Love, 
Elder Arevalo 

I'm a Grandpa! (Week 84)

Hey Everyone!

At the apartment 

Marriage This Week

This week is a special week because we finally are going to see Cesar and Elloni get baptized and married, and I couldn't be more excited for them. They have grown so much every since I have met them, and I know that the Lord is blessing their lives daily. 

My son on the left and his son on the right

I am a Grandpa

Check this out! This is my son on the left and his son on the right. I'm so glad that my son gets to experience having a son. Plus, its really cool to see how far my son has come. He's always been a hard worker, and I have no doubt that he is continuing to learn as he teaches his son the ways of the mission haha.

Spiritual Experience: 

• Sullen and Alice (mom and daughter) are reading the book of Mormon. They where references from Karen. They are trying their best to study the scriptures. We recently spoke to them and Sullen told us that she has her answer. She knows the book of Mormon is true, and she stopped drinking coffee! She was really addicted. She drake like every 5 seconds back in the day. They are working and doing their best to be baptized, and I am so happy for them. The best thing about Sullen and Alice is that they want us to come over everyday, and they always say to us "you guys and the church are so different. There is a light and a spirit with you guys. It doesn't matter if it is Elder Amon or Elder Belo...you ALL have a spirit. It's so powerful and amazing." 
• Fabiola and Lucas (fabiola was baptised with Elder Belo and I) they are going to activities and they are love being members. They are making tons of friends in the church. 

Anyways, I really love it out here. I can feel myself growing so much from everything I am doing. I truly love these people, and I always want the best for them. I hope every single one of you do your best (including myself) to find ways to serve others. Love you all.

-Elder Arevalo 

The Spirit Is Real (Week 83)

Hey Everyone!

My companion Elder Belo got transferred, and I am now with Elder Amon. 

Update On Investigators:

They seem to be doing good.
Sullen (mother) and Alice (daughter) went to church for the second time. They like the church a lot and Sullen has a testimony that the church is true. 
Madalena is doing great. She is getting ready to be married. She went to church, and she is reading the book of Mormon. 

Cezer is confident and is ready to get baptized. We only have to get one last thing done before they can get married. On another note, he has been sharing his testimony about prayer. He realizes that many people criticize the church, but he said "They don't even believe in prayer. I tried tell others about how I was touched by the spirit in a prayer and that is why I know the church is true, but they said, "I was praying the wrong way" 
He told us they don't make sense haha. 
João is learning about the church and is liking church a lot. He is making great progress and is trying his hardest to abandon coffee. His wife Ellen is helping him, she is a member.
Overall, I love them a lot. I want to help them a lot too.

Spiritual Experience:

It has to be Cezer.
He is so good. He recently had a dream of a bad spirit telling him that he wont be able to be on the side of God, and he looked at us and said "the enemy has no power over us. He is tempting us, and he is putting us in hard decisions,  but I have made up my mind. I will be on the Lords side and he will protect me like he did this week".
Last week he was going to get robbed. He got a feeling from the spirit that he needs to buy cameras, and build a wall and he felt that he needed to change the time that he works. The day after he changed his working time...a robber tried to break in and he was there to protect his wife and his baby! So the spirit is REAL and protects and loves us. 

-Love 
Elder Arevalo 

Don't pray like this! (Week 82)

Hey Everyone, 
To learn about prayer...go to the bottom!

Companion: 

I sometimes like to make a section about my companion because my companions are so awesome! My companion right now is great, because he always works so hard with me (we are like a team) and he is always so happy. I feel like I have to tell you guys how great my companions are occasionally.

Baptisms/Spiritual Experience:

We had 2 baptisms. The baptism was for Fabula and Ediana. 
Before baptism Fabula already had a testimony of the church, and her husband Lucas was less active in the past. They have a picture together that I sent over.  I am not sure if you guys remember but he is the one who tore his ligament in his knee, but is determined to come back to church.
 
His wife said she will help him and give him spiritual support. She said she is really happy, especially because their friend Danial baptized her. 

Ediana has been trying to be baptized for 1 year and 7 months now.  She already knew the church is true. She was really nervous, but she is so happy to finally be baptized. She has had many difficulties in life that made it a bit harder for her, but she is now baptized and I am so happy for her. She is a great example of never giving up and to always try your best. 

I'm Traveling: 

I am going to go to Belem today! Since I am a zone leader, I am required to go every month for a reunion. 

 WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK: (DON'T PRAY LIKE THIS) 

I wanted to share this with you guys. I think prayer is very important. It's a way for us to communicate with God. Communication does not mean only one person is talking,  but instead it means that should wait and listen to hear the spirit of the Lord so that we may be guided to do his will. I want you to remember that our prayers should be a conversation not like a pizza delivery order. Just something for us all (including myself) to think about. 

Until next week!
Love, 
Elder Arevalo 

Happy Birthday! (Week 81)

Hey Everyone!

Today it is my companion (Elder Belo's) birthday! So we are going out to eat to celebrate, and then going to play some volleyball. 

Update On My Foot:

It is healing very well. I was unable to use my normal shoes for awhile, and had to use sandals, but now I am good to go. I can start using my normal dress shoes. 

Conference:

I liked everything! The talks where really nice. I loved the priesthood session, and how the prophet said that we need to be more loving, and that is how we can use the power of God aka the priesthood.

Investigators:

So whats new this week? Let me tell you. 1) Cesar is going to get married! 

2) Fabula, she is an investigator of a member that is less active, but he (the inactive member) is coming back to church and his wife wants to get baptized. They both watched General Conference at home, and Cesar loved it. He wants to know more about covenants, and he want to make them with God. 

Spiritual Experience: 

So we meet Fabula and Lucas this week. Lucas is a less active member, but what I really like about him is that he went to church last week even though he has a torn tendon.  Lucas told us he wants his wife to meet with the missionaries again, and that she needs to make a covenant with God. 

Fabula is his wife and she is really nice! You can see that she loves the Gospel, and that she knows the church is true. She already knows everything is true, and she reads the scriptures daily and she lives the commandments. I was amazed when I saw Lucas and Fabula together. They really love each other and came back to church because Lucas felt the spirit that he needs to find the right path. And his wife is now pushing him more then ever to pray and pay his tithing, and go to church. They watched conference in their house, and they loved it. They are starting to walk with the savior. 

Principal point: they are a great for one another, and the example that Fabula gives Lucas is helping him come back to church  and even his torn tendon not won't stop him now.  

Love, 

Elder Arevalo 

I went to the hospital (Week 80)

Happy Monday Everyone, 

Yes you read the title correctly. I went to the hospital on Saturday. 

Hospital: 

Turns out I stepped on a nail while doing a service project. It went through my shoe, and entered my skin. Its kind of hard to see in the photo below, but there is a red circular mark if you look close. I made sure to call and tell the mission presidents wife, and she told me to go to the doctor. 
While at the hospital the doctor cleaned it, and they gave me a shot to help my immune system. It look so much better compared to what it looked like in the beginning. So I'm sure my foot will be okay. As of right now, I am able to walk a little, but I have to use sandals so it doesn't get infected. 

Investigators: (Keep Scrolling Down)

My investigators are good. They are a little slow to progress, but they will make it. I know they will.
Have I told you all about Cesar? Well, Cesar recently had a baby. He is one of our new families. He is really good. When his baby was born he had a huge fear for his baby, and wanted to help his baby (I love the concern and love he has for his family). So we are teaching him, and he shared how he received his response that the church is true with a smile on his face. He said, "when my wife and baby were sleeping...I kneeled down to pray and I asked if it is really true and even before I started to pray I felt a feeling like some one was with me helping me throw away this tough time in my life. When I prayed I felt something amazing!" This made me so happy to hear this from Cesar. He was so humble and received such a great answer.  Cesar is really good. I know the Lord is blessing him. 

-Love, 
Elder Arevalo 

Phrase Of The Week! (Week 79)

Hey Everyone!

Here's the breakdown of this week! Want to send me an email? Its: kevin.arevalo@myldsmail.net 

Companion Update:

We are roll playing

• Still have the same companion. He is a really great person, and is doing well. He loves me and I love being his companion. We're a great team.  

Weather in Brazil:

• It's been raining a lot and it's super hot. Nothing much has changed. 

My phrase of the week: 

• I am obedient and follow the spirit not because I want to, but because it is the most intelligent thing I can do. 

Spiritual Experience: 

Part I: We did an activity where a few of us had to bust out our acting skills. We showed how members should be in church with investigators, lessons, and in the classes. It was pretty fun, and everyone seemed to really enjoy it.

Part II: This spiritual experience involves service. So, this week we had a goal to serve others so we can receive blessings from God. So we did something called, "capinar" (Meaning, we cut grass that was about 5-6 inches tall with a huge knife, instead of a lawnmower). That's what we did. 

We even helped two people move, and we painted houses this week. So in return for working so hard...our Lord and savior blessed us with 3 families that are very interested in hearing the Gospel! Two are members that are inactive that want to come back to church, and the other was introduced the Gospel by a member of the church. So we are working very hard with them. I know that the Lord blesses those who work hard, and does his will. 

Us roll playing as if we were in a class

Love, 

Elder Arevalo