Mitchell, week 91, Belem

I’m
RAPIDOLLA!!


Hey... sorry this weekly email will be a quick one..... I don't have much time. and I have to go Peeeeeee (They don't have a restroom nearby :P) hahaha but yea it stinked because we wasted like all of our morning waiting for our new washing machine. We have been without a washing machine for a month now, but the new one arrived today! But don't worry mom... my clothes don't smell that bad :P HAHAH!!! I am a pro at washing by hand this is the 2nd time in my mission that I was without a washing machine! :P #DA.MISH.LIFE :))

But yea this past week was actually great!! We helped out tons of people and this next week we will need to work even harder!! But yea church went great yesterday!! Had all of our recent converts at church and Carlos (Who got baptised less than 2 weeks ago) received the priesthood (priest) but that was awesome!! But yea he is doing so much better! Isadora will give a part of the lesson for the gospel principles. But yea we are really happy for the improvement that they have done! It also isn't raining as much, but still flooding in some areas.....

but yea I am excited for this next week..... its transfers and also on sunday i get to talk to y'all!!! whoopie! Ohh and I  got asked yesterday to give a talk next Sunday as well!!! I am pumped for that!!

I know that the work I am doing, is of the Lord! I love my companion and I love y'all!! Thanks for everything y'all are doing and I wish y'all a great week and a week full of happiness and miracles! 

Com amor e abraço,

Elder McCrea

Mitchell, week 89, Belém

Rain, rain, chuva, rain, lluvia, chuva, rain, chuva, дождь, and.....

MORE RAIN!!!!

This past week we got some rain! So here in Belém it usually rains like every day! (Normal) but the area that we work one of the neighborhood named Terra Firme FLOODS a lot and fast! So when it rains hard and fast the roads floods for like hours. It gets annoying because whether we are stuck in the neighborhood trying to go back home or visit the other neighborhoods or we get to our appointments in "TF" all soaked and late. But today I will make a great decision.... I will buy a umbrella! :P But yea the weeks are going by fast!!! This week I will make 1 year and 9 months on a mission!! CRAZY!!!!!!!!! But my son is doing great! This transfer will pass by fast (only 5 weeks- ends after mother's day) and then thats it! My son (Elder P. Silva.... the new missionary that I am training for 3 months) will end his training! :O but yea all is going good!!!! Just getting tons of rain lately and tons of flooding! But other than that we are doing great!! We have 1 baptism planned.... and the other elders in my district have another one as well! But yea all is good!! 

This past week I had a training meeting with all the DL/ZL in the zones in the capital Belém. and guess who I saw for the 1st time in like 1 year and 7 months here in Brasil. ELDER GALE (My MTC companion) and Elder Blackner (MTC district) I haven't seen them for that long because I have served a lot of my mission in zones a long way from the capital and the time I served in Belém they were transferred to zones far away. But WOW that was so weird seeing them and all!!!!!! But the training went great!!!! I learned tons of great stuff!

But yea my health is great!! My companion and I are excited for this next week!! I am grateful for all of my blessings and I know that Heavenly Father loves each and EVERY one of us! And he is ALWAYS listening to our prayers and wants the best for us! I know that Jesus Christ died for our sins and I am so thankful for the chance I have to repent and be clean of my errors I make every day! I love my job and I love my family and I know that families can and will live together forever!!! 

I hope y'all have a great week full of miracles and remember that it's easy to do a good turn daily and even to share the gospel!! Abraço e até aproximo semana...

Com amor,

Elder McCrea  

Mitchell, week 87, Belém

Another week passes by!

hey.. just a short email again!! this week was good! I am definitely excited for this next week though! why.... because we are finding great people every day!! but yea.... we are excited what will go down this week!

Crazy we are still in the winter season and it rains cows and elephants down here!!!! there is one neighborhood that we work a lot and when it rains everything gets flooded! it sucky because it makes it hard to get to our appointments and all. but yea last week was transfers and i am staying with my son! this transfer will be 5 weeks and one week just passed by but this next month we need to work hard with his training and all so he is all ready at the end of this transfer! but yeaa he learns fast and all he will be a great missionary!! A missionary that jokes a lot and is always in a good mood! My district is doing great!

but yea.... y'all got my box!! GREAT! :) ITS BULLET PROOF right?? :P did it get opened at all? (send me a picture) I want to see if I can send one more box to y'all here in 2-3 weeks or soo...... but yea that's great that y'all received it. if y'all can wait until I talk to y'all in maio and i will tell y'all what stuff is y'alls and all. :) But mom how is the box going?? Did you understand everything to put in the box?

how is work going mom? :P Liking it? :)) and Mariah and pops.... how's the windmills going?? I sure do love y'all so much! Thanks for everything! I wish y'all a happy week full of miracles and all! 

Lembra que Jesus te ama!! :))

Com amor,

Elder McCrea

Mitchell, week 86, Belém

PORQUE ELE VIVE :)

Hey, so I am alive!!! :) Sorry I haven't written a weekly letter to everyone in awhile..... but HAPPY FLIPPIN BIRTHDAY SISTER!!! ((: Gosh I forgot to send you something last week!!!! LOVE YA!!!! 

Gosh today was crazy!! We had a p-day with our zone (accomplished our goal for baptisms) we watched despicable me 2 (FUNNY!!!) :D And we also played basketballlllll :))) Gosh it's been awhile but I dominated 80% down low :P But that was fun and we also order habib's (Small pizzas) that was good!!! But overall the sun didn't come out and we had fun with our zone!! The month was full of baptisms and now we have to work again for the month of April.... the first 2 weeks will be a little rough because this next week is general conference and next week is stake conference!! CRAZY! but all is good!! We are working with a couple of people and this week we need to find new investigators. But my district is doing good!!

So this past week we had a baptism of a woman (young woman) named Isadora!! She is 23 years old and has a law degree (Very smart) but she has had been going to church for a long time and always has these good questions and all. but this past 2 weeks we have been working with her to pray and read the BOM/Bíblia to help her receive a response before the 28th of março and this past week she received a response!!!! :))) So that was a awesome baptism!!! :D Crazy though, on the day of the baptism our chapel ran out of water and we couldn't do the baptism in our chapel so everyone got into one car and rest went by bus. but we went to another chapel and the baptism went great!! I also made a cake for her baptism!! The cake actually turned out pretty good!!! :D (Talking about cakes.... this week we will have a ward activity "Manly cakes" where the men have to make the cakes and the women have to try it and all.... (judge) So I will make a cake that I made in óbidos that actually turned out pretty yummy!!! :D) But yea...... the baptism went great and yesterday her mom showed up when she received the Holy Ghost! \That was also very good!!!

But, this week will work with Carlos/Carla. They are brothers and sisters and they both have been learning and changing their lives for the better!!! Carlos has a rough problem with smoking.... so will visit them with our bishop (Who had a huge problem before he got baptised) So I think that will help him out a lot!!! But we will work with them both this week and see if we can help them enter the waters this week or next.... the small problem will also be that this week is General conference (GC!!! I haven't seen it since apr. 2014.... the last time in Oct. the area (Óbidos) didn't have satellite..... SO I AM SOOO EXCITEDDDD) But yea after this week we will have our stake conference next week!!! So it will be really crazy like 2 weeks without receiving the Holy Ghost.... but will talk with our bishop and all about that stuff. But yea we are excited for them both!!!

But yea I am doing great!!! This week is easter week and the church have a new website for Easter (http://www.mormon.org/por/pascoa) it's the good stuff!! (SEND IT TO EVERYONE AND THEIR DOGS) Now we will have a awesome tool to do a lot of contacts and help people know about our Savior and all!!!!! :D Heck yea!!!!!!! But yea I know that He lives and I know that He did everything FOR US because -HE LOVES US- and I know that!!! I am grateful for everything! I sure do love yall so much!!! thanks again for everything!!!! I will y'all a happy Easter and week full of moments happy and full of miracles!! ABRAÇO e até logo!!!

Com amor,

Elder McCrea

Mitchell, week 82, Belém

VISHHH!! ÉGUA PAI D'ÉGUA! NOSSA!!! WOW

THIS WEEK WAS CRAZY!!!! Well I am right now in the middle of Belém and I have a son!! I am training Elder P. SILVA! He is from Curitiba, Brasil! Such a great guy! HAHA such a greenie missionary..... excited and lost at the same time! HAHAH But its crazy because I am also lost.... we both opened a area called Canudos 2. Which means straws. But the area is right in the center of Belém! It's crazy that I am in the capital right now.... itS CRAZY and strange that I am back in the capital! I am sad because I got transferred and had to leave Óbidos!! I will miss the new chapel dedication and as well the weddings of the families!! But that's the mission life! But yea Elder P. Silva is a great elder! He learns really fast and has a big desire to help others!! But yea we are learning the area together and having fun!

Also this past week it was crazy because my boat broke down heading to Santarém and I missed my flight to Belém so I got to Santarém real late and had to stay in Sanatarém for days..... but yea I arrived in Belém midnight on Friday. Which was crazy because we only had like 3 days to work together but yea we both are really excited. Sadly the elders that were here before us really didn't leave anyone with baptism date so we are working from scratch!!! But yea all is good!! This past week was also a conference with Elder Cook with the mission. Sadly the day that I lost my flight and I had to stay in Santarém the signal wasn't the best and we couldn't hear everything.but also Elder Cook chose to have a stake conference with the stake that I am serving right now! So we got to see him yesterday! We had 2 investigators there as well and they really liked it! Gosh I felt the spirit SO STRONG!!!!! It hit me when Elder Cook was baring his testimony and he said.... "I know the Savior's voice and I know that he lives..." Gosh when he said that I was like THE CHURCH IS EVEN MORE TRUE!!!!! Gosh I felt the spirit so strong!!! But yea..... this past week was crazy!!!! 

Right now we both are working really hard to get to know the area and also the members and all.But yea I know that this church is true and that Our Savior Jesus Christ is in charge of this work and he talks with our beloved Prophet and Apostolos. I love my Family and I love my mission!! I can't believe that here in 4 months or so I will be going home CRAZY!!!!

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!! I love you all so much!!! I WISH ALL OF Y'ALL A HAPPY WEEK FULL OF MIRACLES! ATÈ LOGO... (see you later)

WITH LOVE,

Élder McCrea

Mitchell, week 81, Óbidos

Holy Cow!! I really don't have much time!! I am really out of time! The
internet today was horrible!! I had to send tons of time sending my
emails and stuff to the mission office and write my email to president
and wow its just rough to get everything done with the slow
internet!! But today was transfers and...... I AM STAYING!! I don't
believe it!! ITS CRAZY!!!! It's not for sure yet... but its like +70
percent that I will stay, but as of 17:30 today I haven't gotten a call
yet that I will get transfer. and also Elder Machado will stay as
well!! :) WE now will have 4.5 transfers together!! 
Crazy!! But this past week we have a baptism of Jackson (20 years old) neighbor of
Abinhoan (My 2nd person I baptised in Óbidos) But Jackson is doing
great!! He also received the Sacerdocio yesterday as well!! Again we
had his baptism early on Sunday because he worked on Saturday but the
baptism was small but sweet!! The Amazon river was great!!! It wasn't
that cold.... (Lately we have been getting tons of rain and that
morning RIGHT after the baptism it started raining tons) but all is
good!! My health is doing great!!! WE got our district Tshirt this
past week and they look AWESOME!! I also made a shirt of Marabá (My
2nd zone) it looks SWEET! Also a member traded me a Moto-taxi shirt
with my name for the Micheal Jordan shirt that you sent me mom! HAHAHA
The shirts looks great!! I am thinking to send y'all a box of all the
stuff that I got here in Óbidos at the end of March or something.

In the car was the 6 of us going to the river for the baptism of Jackson!!!

But yea the district is doing great!! 3/6 of us got transferred.... the
2 sisters in Oriximiná will get transferred and will have to close
their area (We don't know if it will be sisters or elders there....)
and Elder Bandeira got transferred (here in Óbidos) We don't know where
they will be going or with who in their new areas... just know that
they will get transferred. But yea the district is good!! WE had 5
baptisms this past month and this next will have a lot! Because soon
the wedding paperwork will arrive for the mateus/andrea and
Claudinilson/Poliane So we are excited for that and also here in 2
weeks will be the new chapel dedication in Óbidos!! So we are excited
for that as well!! But yea its crazy I am starting my 15 transfer....
just 2 more and that's it!! CRAZY HOW FAST TIME FLIES!!!!!! But yea I am
so grateful for that chance I have to stay here in Óbidos for more 6
weeks!! CRAZY!! But I am grateful for all of my blessings!! I know
that this church is true and the atonement of our Savior and Redeemer
Jesus Christ is real!

I love y'all so much and I hope that y'all have a SPLENDID week!!!
Elder McCrea

Mitchell, week 79, Obidos

ANOTHER WEEK FLLIIIEEESSSS BY!!!!

ALRIGHT!! I am doing great!! This past week was CRAZY!! First off we had a zone meeting in Santarém so we lost part of Thursday and Friday and got back on Saturday around 3am. But the meeting was GGREAT!!!! Learned some great stuff!! and yea we as a mission are getting ready for the visit of Elder Cook here on the 26th of Feb. But yea the meeting was great!! I got a card from Mariah!! THANKS SIS!!! I got your Christmas card! :P HAHAH!!! But yea it was a great boat ride!! We as a district ( Us 4 from Óbidos and the 2 sisters from Oriximiná) ate dinner right before the boat trip back to our areas at Subway on Friday and that was FRICKEN good!!!! It was good to do something together as a district because we 4 live far from the sisters and I wanted to do something with my district! But when we got back to our area we, Elder Machado and I were going after Bruno to see if we can let his mom allow him get baptized. He is 17 years old and will be 18 in Oct. but yea it was rough him mom let him get baptized!! But yea after like 1 month of Bruno asking her and we passing by.... she finally signed the paper and he got baptized EARLY Sunday Morning. So that was something new for me! But yea it was definitely a great, simple, sweet baptism!! We are grateful that she finally open her heart and let him be baptized. But yea this past week was crazy!!

We are working hard to find new people this new week! A lot of our investigators aren´t following our invites and all. But we will continue working with them, but need to find some "new flesh" But yea Elder Machado and I are doing great!! I cant believe that we both have 5 months together right now!! crazy! But I really think that this next transfer at the end of Feb. one of us 2 will be transferred. Its crazy to think that I only have 5 months left of being a missionary on the God's Army! Its crazy that here in less then  6 months I won't have a name tag close to my heart anymore.... It's crazy that soon I will have to return to studying and start my future family. But what I do know that this work that I am doing right now is of the Lord I am Eternally grateful for the chance I have to know the people here in Pará! I love my mission and I love Brasil!! I am really grateful for the people that I know, taught and helped here in Pará!! I love the people here and this Gospel! I know that families can be together forever!

I am grateful for my parents, my sister, family, and friends! I love you all!! I hope that you have a great week full of miracles and a chance to share this Wonderful Gospel with someone! 

con amor,

Elder McCrea

Mitchell, week 78, Obidos

WEEKLY!

Hey I am sorry! I am horrible at my weekly emails.... but I am still alive and kicking!! I just can't do everything during my email time!! but I want you to know I am grateful for your weekly emails! I am grateful that you both are great and Mariah is still alive as well! I know that the Lord is blessing you all!! But I am grateful for this chance I am serving a mission! And I know that this gospel is true! again I am sorry! I can't write much.....

but this past week we had a rough time..... we found out that the chapel dedication will possibly be in March now, also that a strong family here in the ward will get divorced, the young man that should have gotten baptized last week didn't happen because his "mom" (She really isn't the best mom in the world... doesn't really give much for him) wouldn't let him get baptized. (he is 17 years old.) But this week we will work with her and see if we can get her to sign. But the good news is that the apostle that will visit at the end of the month will be Elder Cook! :) Heck yea!! Whoopie!!!! Also the district is good! We will be heading to Santarem this week for a zone meeting and I hope it will get us more excited and we can learn something new!! But yea this past week was rough because we had a rough time finding new people to teach..... but we have faith that this week will be different and we will find the souls that want to hear our message!

But I sure do love you all and am grateful for all of my blessings and specially for you all!!! 

Have a great week!! and until next Monday!!! :)

Elder McCrea

P.s. AGAIN SORRY!!!!!!!! I promise next week my weekly letter will be better..... -__-

Mitchell, week 76, Obidos

POXA VIDA!!! A MISSÃO É LOCO!!!

WOW!! This past week was crazy! Well transfers was finally finished around Tuesday and I am...... staying in ÓBIDOS!!!!! :) HECK YEA!!!!! I love it here! Its weird I am staying plus with Elder Machado! WE both have over 3 transfers together and this is the 4th already! CRAZY!! But we are still getting along like bread and butter! (I think that's how the quote is...) But we are staying together for 1 more transfer and I really think one of us will be transferred for sure this next transfer (at the end of Fevereiro.) But I sure do love this guy! He is a great Elder and Brother!! (For those that don't know him... he is from Rio Grande do Sul (Southern part of Brasil) and has 7 months on a mission)

but yea this past week was tiring and crazy! we had a zone meeting in Santarém and the boat ride was great! WE got rain that night on the boat and wow there was all this annoying bugs that were attracted to the night lights on the boat. But that next morning (Wednesday ) we had the meeting. It was great!! I learned a lot of stuff and we (e. Machado and I) are taking the stuff in practice. We ended the training meeting and I stayed with an elder there in Santarém and we found a great young man with 18 years old and he has a lot of potential. But we had to stay there in Santarém that day because Elder Cruz (The new elder in Óbidos) arrived that night from Belém so we got to stay there in Santarém that night. But on Thursday morning, Elder Machado and I before we arrived at the dock to enter in the speed boat we went to Sister Glaucia/Brother Elismar (The family that I taught in my 1st area) that got married and are going strong right now! She has a calling and the family is just doing GREAT!!! I always try to see the family when I am there in Santarém! But I talked with them for awhile and left them with a spiritual thought. But we were rushing to get to the dock before 8am. Ohh and during that morning it was raining cats and dogs there!! but we got there on time but we then had to wait for the other 2 elders that will go with us. But they got there late to buy the passage so then we had to wait until 1 pm to catch the next speedboat to Óbidos. That was a bummer that we really couldn't do anything for those hours waiting on the dock. But when we finally got to Óbidos that afternoon on Thursday we went right to work!! we wanted to cut (With love) the souls that aren't really progressing but we worked hard to find people that could have potential to be baptized and will go to church as fast as possible. Because a lot of our investigators are AWESOME and will get baptized but are just waiting for their wedding paperwork to arrive. But the last days of the weeks we were trying to find people to teach that have potential! But on Saturday night we found a family that is great!! They have a lot of potential!! 

But also this week was crazy because I got called to be District Leader for the elders here in Óbidos and also for the Sister in Oriximina (A city 3-4 hours by boat) So its crazy now! But I am also excited at the same time!! But this week we will have a baptism of a daughter of a investigator named Maria Fabiane. Also this past week we got some GREAT news that the new chapel will be dedicated on 21st of Feb. so that means that I will be here for the dedication of the chapel!! :))) HECK YEA!!! Plus the next week the 28th is when we will have the conference with the apostle. :) So these month and next month will be full of miracles and many wonderful things will go down! :D Heck yea!! 

But yea I know that this week will be great! We will talk with many people and teach new souls that want to move and change their life for the better to get closer to our heavenly Father and receive the blessings from heaven!! But I know that the church is true and has the full organization with a prophet and 12 apostles and the same authority that Jesus Christ organized when he was here on earth. I love my job! Its crazy to think that here in 5-6 months I will be going home but I know I will be working hard these months to continue helping people and souls fee the love that our savior has for us! I am grateful for my savior I know that he died for our sins and we can receive perdão if we have faith in the atonement of our savior!  I love my family there in the states and my other family here in Brasil!! I love you all!!! 

I wish y'all a happy week full of miracles and blessings!! and remember to always say your prayers and read the scriptures daily! :) Até próximo semana! (Until next week) 

Com amor,

Elder McCrea

Mitchell, week 74, Obidos

2015!!! WHOOPIE!!

All is good here in 2015!! I don't know when was the last time I wrote my weekly email to the family but nothing BIGGGGG has happened..... Its just crazy how fast time flies during my weekly email time and just really how fast the week goes by!! We are starting the last week of our transfer already! I am feeling that I will get transferred. BUT really I dont know what to write... all is good! This pasted week I was pretty sick. Had a stomach virus or something but as of right now I think it gone away. But Elder Machado and I are working to help a young woman named Diessica get baptized this next Saturday. But the 2 families that are still waiting for the paperwork of their marriage, are doing great!! Poliane and Claudenilson were at their farm/ranch this past week. They should be getting back today or tomorrow. And Mateus/Andrelaine are doing so great!! Both families are really excited about their marriage and baptism! :) But talking about marriage.... CONGRATS ON MY BEAUTIFUL MOMMA AND OLD FART POPS ON 30 YEARS OF MARRIAGE!!!!!!!!! CONGRATS DAD AND MOM!!!! I love y'all!!!

But the new chapel here in Óbidos is all ready to go!! It all depends on the City Hall to do their stuff. But really I hope that I can stay here this next transfer and see the ward start using the new wonderful chapel! But yea the ward is very excited to leave the old chapel "house" and move to the "real" chapel! :P Today President Scisci wrote a email talking about that here this next month an apostle will visit our mission!! HECK YEA!!! 

 This next week we will have a zone meeting in Santarém so I think I will ride by boat and speedboat for the last time on a mission. (I hope not.... I LOVE THE AMAZON)  but really It's crazy to think that 2014 passed by so fast and so much has happened and it's just even more excited to see what will go down in 2015! I sure do love this gospel and I know that the temple is the house of the Lord. I am grateful that our family is sealed for eternity 30 years ago and I know my "future" family will be sealed as well for eternity! I am grateful for missionary work and the chance I have to help the families that live in my area. I know that this gospel brings many blessings in my life and I know that the Book of Mormon and the Bible is the word of God!

I hope y'all had a great Natal and a wonderful new year!! Remember to set high goals of 2015 to help you grow spiritually, Mentally, materially, etc. and just work hard for these goals!! I am grateful for everything that I have and especially for my family in the states and for my big family here in Brasil that I am serving!! I love y'all so much!! 

With Love and a BIG HUG!!! 

Élder McCrea

Mitchell, week 71, Obidos

ALMOST CHRISTMAS!!

Alright..... I am slowly getting back on the ball with writing my weekly letters..... But WOW this past week was GREAT!!! Elder Machado and I saw TONS of miracles the biggest ones is that we helped 2 families start their papers to get married!! :D WHOOPIE!!! So like here in a month or so they can be baptized!! :) HECK YEA!!!! But wow it was so sweet seeing their faces smiling ear to ear and thanking us so much for helping them!! But wow that was just 2 miracles that happened in the same week!!! :) Also hahah funny but tomorrow is the Christmas conference with all the missionaries from the zone. And we also received our secret Santa... (I think that's what's its called in English) But yea I received President Scisci as the person I will give the gift. CRAZYY!!!!! HAHA I already got him his gift and its just tons of pressure I think to get him the right fit. But I think I chose the right gift! :P But yea tomorrow is the conference. Where it will be a day full of games and all!! Plus it will be in the same local as last year (Because I am in the same zone as last year during Christmas) But yea the locale is ´pretty and I am excited for the churrasco!! :)))  But also tonight we will be leaving Óbiodos by boat and getting in Santarém tomorrow morning! :)) WHOOPIE!!! BOAT TRIPSSSS!!!! :))) But yea this past week also we did a lot of service projects!! 2 were planned and the other 2 were on the roads as we were walking and stopped and helped. But the 2 that were planned we (Elder Machado and I) cleaned the back part of the church (Or house because the church is renting a house until the NEW chapel is ready) There were tons of trash bags that were almost decomposed with tons of trash and we cleaned it all up. and the other service project was with a member named Wander. WE helped cut down this huge tree. We cut the part that was above the neighbors yard and garden. But yea This past week was AWESOME!! Definitely a week full of miracles!! Also this past week the wards family home evening was at the house of Cleiliane. She is less active that we are helping and we baptized her children and are teaching/baptizing her relatives (parents, sister and her husband and kids, brother in-law and his wife and kids) but wow!! It's crazy to think that we found so many great people to teach and help enter in the water of baptism with just one contact that we did a little over a 1 month ago! CRAZY!!!!

I am excited for this next week! For the Christmas conference and also if all is right we should have 2 more baptisms.... Eduardo and Maria. Eduardo is 10 years old but wow he talks and thinks like a 15 year old and Maria is his sister that is 12 years old! But wow they are so smart and are really searching to find out if the church is really true! But yea I think all with work out this week and we should finish teaching them and help them get baptized!

I gotta get going!! I sure am grateful for all the experiences that I am having here in Óbidos! I sure do love my family and I know that the church is true! I know that during the month of Natal it is important to remember the gift most important in our lives.... Jesus Christ. He is our gift and I am grateful for him and the chance I have to repent of my sins! I am grateful for this gospel and the chance I have to teach the children of God for 2 years of my life!

I wish y'all a happy week full of miracles, happiness, and missionary experiences! Até logo!!

Com amor,

Elder McCrea

my personalized hammock made by a member 

p.s. Sorry about all my English errors and also if I write in Portuguese as well. HAHA Sorry! :P

Mitchell, week 70, Obidos

Its been a long time!!

Hey... I am doing horrible at my weekyl letters!! Sorry! But Elder Machado and I are doing GREAT!!! We had 2 baptisms last week! Sons of Cleliane... Eric and Alessandro. They live in a ranch 1.5 hours away. They and their grandparents were the ones that we visited  3 weeks ago at their ranch. The grandparents also should be starting their Christmas break if all goes well with the work that they have to get done before they can be here in Óbidos. But we hope they can arrive here this week so they also can be baptised. But yea we are so lucky we found this family and I really do hope all goes through. also its a little hard to communicate with them because where they live there is no cellular signal or internet, etc.... but I know it will go through!! 

But yea tons of stuff happened lately! Last week we had zone meeting in Santarem. and it went GREAT!! WE received a new ZL. Elder Young(ester) HAHA!! I already know him, he's a great guy! Also at the meeting I received a box from my pais! :) Obrigado e também from Sister White!!!!!! MUITO OBRIGADO!!!! E também uma 2015 calendario from Laredo 1st Branch! THANKS!!! :) Also I received a card from Sister White and Mariah!! :D So the meeting was great!!!

But also lately we are doing contacts with the "He is the Gift" and mundo feliz! Btw, if y'all haven't yet seen the video check it out here.....natal.mormon.org. But yea.... We are doing like 100 contacts per week. But yea I am grateful for the chance I am here in Óbidos during my last Christmas on a mission! I know that the month is important and I hope I can have a month full of miracles and happiness! 

Some great news.... that the new chapel that is being built is almost ready!! HOLY COW it is looking pretty sweet! Lucky we entered in last night and HOLY COW it is almost ready!!! Here in Óbidos the ward will be so blessed for the new chapel! IT will definitely be the most fancy beautiful chapel here in small town of Óbidos (population 40 thousand) from all other churches! I really do hope I can stay here when they start using the chapel!! :)

But all is well!! I am starting to lose more weight now and I getting excited for the skype call to my family (if I can find a place to skype with decent internet) But I know it will happen :P I am grateful for all the blessings that I have in my life!! I am grateful for my family and friends! I know that this is the work of the LORD!!! I am grateful for the chance I am here in Óbidos serving a full time mission!!! 

I wish y'all a GREAT and safe week!! Continue doing what's right and remember to always pray, read the scriptures, and smile!! 

Com Amor,

Elder McCrea

Mitchell, week 69, Obidos

HEYY!!! so transfers was this past week and I am staying here in Óbidos with Elder Machado! WE had 2 baptisms this past week (Carolaine and Naiara) the baptism took place at a igarapé (I don't know what you call it in English) But it went so great!! And is everything works out this week we could have 4 more baptisms! :)) I am sure grateful for this chance I am here on a mission! I apologize I am not writing you guys as much... plus not sending photos.... its a little hard with the computers here. I really don't wanna loose the photos that I have and it takes a while to download them on the email. 

But this past week I had to buy some things at the pharmacy. I had a problem with my foot. So I bought some medicine for my foot (problem was taken care of) also I bought some solution for my contacts. But mom and dad I am doing so much better now!! You guys can't believe it as well..... On Monday a miracle happened. So there is a (less active) member that works at the new lds chapel that is being built in the city. He tells me that he has a pair of shoes that will fit me. I said okay and I thought to my self that he doesn't really know how big my feet are or how small the shoes would be on me. So that night we passed by his house and he gives me a pair of shoes that is the same brand and size as what I was wearing that night. The brand "missionary shoes" its CRAZY!!!!! It was brand new and he has never used it! Its crazy!! He told us that he has had it over 3 years now. The reason he gave it to me, was because it doesn't even fit him one bit.  But its in perfect condition. and I thanked him SO MUCH!!!! So now I am all set for the rest of my mission. I am using them right now! :)) I still haven't gotten the package that y'all sent. But today or tomorrow the LZs will be heading to Belém and we (Óbidos) will be heading to the city of the LZ (Santarém) on Wednesday night. So the LZ´s will bring us all the boxes and cards that are in the mission office there in Belém. So if the package has arrived I should be getting the envelope that y'all sent this week! :)) WHOOPIE!!! 

But talking about having to travel to Santarém. I would like to buy some ties (To give to the young men that I baptized here in Óbidos) and print the photos of our recent baptisms that have happened to give them and the family the photos of the baptism. 

But Mom and Dad I am doing so great! I am grateful for the chance I am here on a mission! Its crazy soon will be natal (skype chat) and soon after I will be going home! but I sure do love this gospel! I know it is true!! I hope all is well there with mom and Mariah there in home and dad working. Or how is it right now with Mariah home? Please write me mom and Mariah... I wanna know how y'all are doing

Your eternal Son,

Elder McCrea

Mitchell, week 64, Óbidos

Olá FAMÍLIA!!!! :)

First off, I am doing horrible at writing my weekly emails to y'all. Sorry! I hope y'all are doing great and enjoyed general conference (hahah I still haven't seen it yet) :/ because where I am at, we have to wait until the stake sends us a recording, where we can see it. So JOYFULLY this week on saturday/sundaywe will finally watch it!! :)) WHOOPIEEEE 

But yea tons of stuff happened since my last email.  My last companion Elder Laurentina got transferred during the mini transfer (like 2 weeks ago) and my new companion is Elder Machado, from Rio grande do Sul (WAYYYYY SOUTHH!!!!!) But he is a great guy, I love him! Has only been like 5 months on a mission! And this last week we ended the transfer and we both will be staying and the other 2 elders that are here are leaving. 

Also last week we had a baptism of a young man named Abinohan. He has 14 years old and yesterday was a GREAT day! He was confirmed a member then received the sacerdocio of Aaronic and also got called as the teacher's president on the same day! WHOOPIE!!! The kid is a BOSS!!!! Both Elder Machado and I are so happy with his progress! 

 This week will be a great one because we will have a Mission Tour with a seventy, whose in charge of Brasil. So I hope that I can learn some great things with our Zone in Santarém. It will be awesome because we will go there and return by boat. WHOOP!! :) AMAZON!!!

I am sorry.... I running out of time. It's crazy how fast time flies as I am writing my emails! But I am doing great! I am so grateful that I decided to serve a mission!! I love the people here in Brasil! I know soon I will be home, but I really hope that it doesn't go by too fast!  I will keep working hard and loving the people that are here in Óbidos! 

Have a SPLENDID week and remember that your Heavenly Father loves you! 

Love, 

Elder McCrea

Mitchell, week 61, Óbidos ,

It's been a long time!

first I am sorry I haven't written an email in a long time. I am not sure when was the last time I wrote an email to everyone. I am gonna just write and sorry if there are errors and all. but I got transferred less then 3 weeks ago to a city called Óbidos. It's is a ward and is really in Timbuktu. I got here by a speed boat that took like 3.5 hours, but if I would use a slower boat it would take like 7-8 hrs. But really it's great here! My companion is Elder Laurentina from São Paulo. Another Paulista! ;P But he's a great guy! He has been here for like more than 3 months and in this zone for like more than 9 months or something. But it's great here!! The ward is using a small house for now. But guess what???? In January or February the chapel that they are building INCREDIBLY fast will be done by December for sure and we can use the chapel. The town only has like 40 thousand so like EVERYONE talks about the new chapel! It really will be the most beautiful looking church in this city for sure!!! :P I am excited to see what more miracles will happen. But really its crazy how fast time is flying!!!! WE have done so much through the week and its just crazy!! I hit like my 14 month mark last week also! But yea I am pretty excited for this next week as well. We will be heading to Santarém to go to the zone meeting and it will be the regular slow boat, so it will pretty sweet to sleep on a hammock and be in the middle of the Amazon on a flipping boat! :D HECK YEA!!!! 

Sorry everyone that I haven't written lately..... it doesn't really help as well that the internet is HORRIBLY SLOW!!!!!! So it takes years to open a site and write something. But I really love it here! I am doing great!! It crazy here also there are tons of hills. It's like the only city here in this state that actually has hills. IT'S PRETTY CRAZY!!!! But I am pretty excited for this next week! GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!! :) I am not sure how it will work here in Óbidos. I think we will receive a recording and see it the week after. But also this next Saturday/Sunday is the presidential/state election. So it's getting pretty crazy down here. But yea I am grateful for the mission presidente to trust me to put me in this area and I hope my companion and the other 2 elders here, can find people to teach and continue seeing miracle day to day!

I sure do love this gospel I know that families can be sealed together! I am grateful that we have temples here on earth! I know something that I will do right when I get back home will go through the temple. But I hope soon the members here in Pará will have a temple to frequent. But I really I love my family so much. I am grateful for my sister who is serving in Ukraine. I love her dearly! Plus I am eternally grateful for my parents for raising me in this gospel!

I wish y'all a great and happy week and until next Monday!

Até Logo (See you later)

Élder McCrea 

p.s. I am sorry I am not sending any pictures in my emails.... (it's really hard with the slow internet and the computers filled with viruses.)

Obidos

Mariah, week 61, Zaporozhye

my new companion is Sister Blake. she's from a small town in Utah and she has 7 brothers. she's the only girl.

we're so cool :3
LOVE YOUUUUU

Mitchell, week 52, Tapana

ONE YEAR OF MISSION
This past week has been filled with some GREAT miracles!! 1st thing is found some great investigators!! One of them works in the morning during Sunday so we helped her and her cousin make it to another ward that is in another part of the city. But they liked the service a lot and this past Sunday we had like 7 investigators at church total! Plus we had  2 less active families that we are working to come back to church. But I am really having a great time serving the people here in Tapanã! You wanna know what is CRAZY?????? In 3 days I will hit my 1 year mark on a mission! So that means that I only have like 1 year more here in Brasil. WOW! Time is flying!! But I can't believe that how fast time is flying. In no time I will be in a airplane heading to the USA. But I know it is time to continue working and loving the people here in Brasil and in all the other areas that I will serve. But I sure am grateful for the time I am here in a mission and teach people about this wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ. This past week had our zone meeting and it went great! The practices that happened went swell! 

But really nothing big, big happened. Just that we are finding and helping people in our areas. Sadly like the past weeks people keep breaking into our chapel. But I really don't know what they wanna steal.... last time they just stole a lamp that goes on if the electricity goes off.... But also our chapel has a alarm system. It's sad people would do this to a chapel.

But really here in Brasil the chapels don't have anything really expensive and if it's expensive, they put it in the secretary's office. which has like a 4 inch door with metal pins that lock it in. But the chapels are way different than ones there in the states (for the ones that didn't know.....)

So this past week tons of people already forgot about the world cup. Some people are really upset and they are taking down all the banners and stuff. But here is a painting that someone did on a wall. I thought that it was pretty cool looking.Gosh there is so much Para (State that I am serving) things in the photo. :P

Sorry that this letter doesn't have that much of information or nothing of interest. HAHA! But really the days are going by so fast and the weeks are going by days for me! TIME IS JUST FLYING!!!!! 

But I would like to end with my testimony that I know that the things that I teach is true and I know that our savior Jesus Christ lives and he died for all of our sins! I really love my family!!

Until next week, (which for me would feel like tomorrow) 

Elder McCrea

Mitchell, week 49, Tapana

GERMANY WON THE WORLD CUP!!!!!

HOLY COW!!! 7 to 1 Brasil lost against Germany in the semi-finals plus lost against Netherlands for the 3rd spot HERE IN BRASIL!! It was crazy when Brasil lost 7 to 1. Our president let the missionaries watch the game against Germany. That was probably the worst game to watch if we had the choice to watch. GOSH, Germany made like 4 goals in less then 6 minutes. HAHAHA!!! We watched it at the neighbors. They put their TV outside on the balcony and we just sat outside as they were watching the game. But, wow, after the game and the day after I didn't even see one person with a BRASIL shirt or jersey. It was CRAZY!!! Everyone was sad/mad/depressed and just didn't know what to do. Plus Argentina won against Netherlands and then if Argentina won the game yesterday (finals) and won the World Cup here in Brasil they would be even upset and Argentinians would shove it in the Brasilians faces and all! It would have gotten CRAZY!!! But Germany won the game yesterday, so they won the world cup!! But WOW, like what I have been saying in the past emails, the World Cup and Soccer in general is HUGE here in Brasil!!!! But I am kind of glad it's all over now!! Now we can start working everyday and not have people watching the games and all. :P

So this past week was Zone Conference with President/Sister Scisci and with 2 other zones. But gosh it was great seeing other elders/sisters in other zones!! But definitely learned some great stuff! Also had some great activities. But I learned something that it's important to not worry, but to just go and work!!.... (só vai, get-r-done, just do it) But also this past week we found 2 GREAT families! Sadly, they couldn't make it to church yesterday but we will keep working on them! I also learned at the conference that it's important to keep working and loving your investigators even if they aren't progressing. and just have more of a Christ-like love for everyone that I meet. 

This past week we also cleaned our apartment like a BOSS! Gosh, it's a huge apartment just for 4 missionaries but we cleaned it for like 6 hours because we really would want to feel the spirit more and have more happiness and all the good stuff that happens when your surroundings are clean and all. it looks great now! Now it's important to keep it this way :D 

But really I am grateful for this gospel! I KNOW that what my sister wrote is so true!! "With great power comes great responsibility." (Uncle of Peter Parker - Spiderman) This chance that I have to represent the Church of Jesus Christ and see people change their lives to receive the blessings that are in store and waiting for them! I really love this "Job" I know that there is no other church that has 85 thousand (young adults) missionaries world wide serving a mission for 18/24 months leaving work, family, school, friends, hobbies, etc. I know that this is The CHURCH of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos Dos Útimos Dias, is Christ's church RESTORED in these latter days. I am so grateful I have this gospel in my life and I know it is true because I asked our Father that is in Heaven (James 1:5). 

I hope everyone is having a Só Filé (Just Fillet... A saying here which means everything is going great) day/week! I sure love you all and until next week!! 

Love,

Elder McCrea

Mariah, Week 59, Poltava

#that moment when your mission president knows that your mom keeps a blog for your missionary adventures  

                                                                                                                                                  Jul 14                                                                                                                                                                           

Well. Today is the start of week five of my eighth transfer. To be honest -- that's dis-gusting! WHERE HAS ALL THE TIME GONE?!! I've literally only got three more transfers left. And okay, nope. Nope. Totally not going to be talking about that anymore. Topic change.

So, my week. Thanks to Elder Fuller's inspired direction as our district leader, we've been doing a lot of member work during the last few weeks. Something finally clicked in his/our brains after reading Chapter 9 in Preach My Gospel, that maybe, just maybe -- working with the members a little more than we had been doing in the past is the key to being able to strengthen our relationship with members and building up their trust in us (keyword: trust!), help teach members how to do missionary work, and to be able to have members entrust us with their precious friends and family members who are open to hearing our message! That's our end goal. We're two weeks into this goal, and so far... no immediate fruits of our labor yet. We actually hit a wall. But something that Elder Fuller shared with us yesterday in a quick, impromptu district meeting, hit me. He shared a verse in Jacob.

And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day. -- Jacob 1:19

As a missionary, there is a responsibility that comes with wearing a black name tag with Christ's name on it 24/7 for 18 to 24 months. I have this quote written in my Preach My Gospel -- "With great power comes great responsibility." (quoted from Peter Parker's uncle. And if you don't know who Peter Parker is... Google it.) Every person that we walk by on the street, be it if we talk to them or not, or every investigator that we have. As a representative of the Lord in Poltava, Ukraine, I have a sacred duty to teach the people of Poltava the word of God. I took up the responsibility to answer for the sins of the people here, and help them correct the traditions of their fathers. The Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox Church is so strongly deeply rooted in the people and culture here. As the Lord's missionaries in Ukraine, we're having to push and fight against hundreds of -- if not thousands -- of year old traditions and rituals. Satan is real, and his power is real. He's has done a wicked job at twisting sweet, simple doctrine of the Lord's gospel and using it to lead away innocent people from the truth.

But I have a testimony that this is the Lord's only and true church. Through a modern-day prophet, He has restored all of the truths and principles that we need to have in this later day to live and be able to return to live with Heavenly Father in heaven. And I know that the Book of Mormon is evidence of this restoration.

The book is blue and the church is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sister McCrea

Mitchell, week 48, Tapana

VÁ BRASIL!!!!

Alright..... So y'all are gonna have to bear with me for about 2 more weeks without photos. (My SD card that I have still works and has photos but its a pain to put it back in if I take it out.) But I can't believe in like 2 weeks I will hit my 1 year mark!!! CRAZY!!!!!!! But all is good here. Brasil won the last game with Columbia. So tomorrow Brasil is playing against Germany. Also our Mission president will let us see the game tomorrow!! :D Plus Wednesday we have a the Zone Conference with all the missionaries here in Belém. So it all should be good this next week!! It kinda stinks this past week here in Para it's time off of school and all. So a lot of people here left to visit other families members in other cities and all. So it's kinda hard, but things are working out. Mom and Dad I got 2 cards from yall this past week! THANKS!!!! :D 

Gosh it kinda stinks! So there is an other American that lives in the same apt. He found out this past week when he will be going home. So he keeps talking what he will do and all! Its great and all! But gosh it gets me a little trunky!! But Elder Costa and I are doing great!! He is such a great companion and really he is helping with the conjugation of verbs and all. So like every Saturday for like the past 2 months I am teaching an English class. Not sure why, but not a lot of people from the neighborhood come but we have some regulars. But gosh its funny I am starting to forget english grammar and phrases and all. Gosh, it's pretty funny, because I have to ask Elder Costa if I am right on some things and he isn't even from the USA (He's from Portugal). But I am sorry that my emails/letters arent the best with english grammar. Sorry! I cant wait to see how it will be when I get back home. :P

But nothing really hasn't happened big. I think what I am gonna start doing is write the main points during the week so on Monday I can have something to talk about. But I think I am missing something but right now I think that's about it. The weeks are just going by faster and faster and soon, I know, my 2 years will be all up and that's it. But I hope I doing my best and always loving everyone that I meet. I sure love this gospel and I know that my family are sealed for eternity! I know that this Gospel blesses lives for eternity and I am really eternally grateful for my parents who sacrificed everything for me and my sister. I love this Gospel and I know my Savior died for my sins so I can return to him one day. I hope everyone is having a great day and I hope your week will be AWESOME and filled with tons of miracles! 

Love you all,

Elder McCrea

p.s. LETTERS PLEASE? I promise I will write back! :)