Mitchell, week 40, Marabá

Weekly letter :D

HEYYY!!! Well this week was transfers! :O And guess what????? I got transferred to the city of Cabanagem in the area of Tamapá. My new companion is Elder M. Rodriguez. I leave this Wednesday by airplane. I hope my luggage is not too overweight. But it kinda stinks I will miss the marriage of Brother Claudio and Sister Kayla and also the baptism of Sister Aradenie and her daughters!! GOSH IT STINKS!! But that's the missionary's life..... To plant the seeds and for some other missionary to grab it when its ready. But yeah I am kinda excited the 1st time in my mission that I am actually in Belém. I am in a neighborhood that's a bit far, but still in the city of Belém, from what I know. But about talking this Sunday. I am pretty sure it will be after lunch. I don't know who in my new area will have a computer and all, but I am sure I will talk to y'all after our lunch. But I think we are only 2 hours difference. I don't know what time the church service there in my new area is but I will try to get it around 4-6pm my time. When I get to a computer I will get on this email 1st and send y'all a email when I am online. 

I think that's a about it for this letter. I am a bit sad that I am leaving Marabá! I love it here!! But again this is the missionaries life! Nothing big has happened lately. I am just excited for something new in my missionary experience. I hope everything is well with y'all and Just be ready to talk around 16-18H (my time) or 12-14 (your time) 

Again sorry this letter is short. I just hope when we get to skype we can talk and just have a great time together!! I will be writing stuff down what we need to talk about in my planner. But I sure do love y'all so much!!! Thanks for everything! :D 

BIG O`l HUGS!!!!! and some kisses for you mom! :P

Mitchell, week 38, Marabá

Well  am just gonna send this email to you two... but I hope I can explain whats been happening these past week or two and you can post it on the blog. But please review it and make sure everything is good to post.

Well I have sent all the pictures to y'all a total of 6 emails worth of photos before this email.

We had a branch activity 2 Sundays ago at a park. Were we explained the church and had a projector and all. It turned our really good! The problem was that all the references and contacts was in the area of the other elders here in Marabá. But it got the branch pumped up to help us out in this AWESOME work here in Marabá.

I hit my 9th month mark.... so that's why I sent those pictures :P with the mustache and baby bump

So last Saturday we had a baptism of this young women named Amanda. Her mom (member) lives in Brasilia but lives with her aunt here in Marabá. Her aunt is also a member. But Amanda had a rough time excepting to be baptized. But with the help of her aunt (Sister Elianie) she helped Amanda understand and bore her testimony as well. But Amanda definitely knows what she is doing. She has a strong testimony and definitely knows the Bible and all. She is such a smart young girl! The baptism turned out pretty good as well!! :D Funny part was that she actually got baptized 6 times. She kept kicking her legs out the water and so we finally did it on her knees so that she can be completely covered in water. But gosh it was a great day!! That same day we were crossing a highway and we saw a young bull in the middle of the road. It was crazy how he was dodging the cars and just full of confusion. But sadly he got hit by a bus and died on the spot..... :(

These past weeks we have been doing visits with 3 members.... (Rodrigo (Got his mission call to serve in Londrina- Brasil leaves in may, Heber (We are helping him get ready for his mission), and Crisline (Also we are  helping her out) But this ward is filled and pumped up with joy and energy to do missionary work!! :D 

Sadly, this is the last week of this transfers.... It was cut a week short. But I pray I can stay here until the middle of June till the end of the next transfers so I can see the baptism of Brother Claudio and Sister Kayla. They are doing great and are so excited to receive their marriage papers and after be baptized in the middle of May! :D 

We are helping this family out to be baptized this next week, but I am just excited to be here on a mission in BRASIL!!!! The language is SLOWLY coming... I am understanding more and more and talking a little better every day! :D But I know this gospel is true, I know the Book of Mormon is also true, and I love you!! 

With love,

Elder McCrea 

The baptism we had last week. Her name is Amanda. Her mom is a member but lives in Brasilia right now.

 

 The sister with her is her Aunt and her cousin and also with her little brother. But wow Amanda is smart and we are happy we could help her out! :D 

Balancing Amanda :P

Lichia fruto - fricken good

The branch activity at a park. We talked with everyone there and got a lot of references. Problem was 100% of the contacts were in the area of the other elders. But it was a blast and got the branch pumped for missionary work.

Half of a loaf of bread a member gave us.

A dog that was following us for like 2 days! :D 

The elders in my zone....

This is my 9th mark on a mission photos. So its my 9th mark mustache or my baby bump. :P 

This weird cintaped (I don't remember how to spell it in English) I found on the road that day

The rain we have been getting lately. This rain is the spring rain. Where it's thick rain, but still pretty sunny outside. 

Mitchell, week 35, Marabá

Oi Tudo Mundo :D (Hey everyone)

Oi, well this past week has been crazy!! I said good by to Elder Montarroys. I am grateful I had the chance to serve with him and I learned so much from him!! But now my new companion is...... Elder Branco (Branco means white :P) So my companion is Elder Branco! He's from Sâo Paulo interior. He has about 1 year on his mission and is just a great little guy! He is small and practically just a stick. He tells people he weighs about the same as a sack of concrete. But hahahah he's GREAT! (Also kinda funny... My best friend Chesley or BFFLE = best friend for like ever. Is serving a mission in the West Virginia mission and her name is Sister White and her companion is Sister Gray. HAHAH kinda fuinny I think) But ahh this week was GREAT!!!!

My birthday turned out pretty good! There is a family that has a restaurant here in Marabá (Sister Telma and Brother Nevaldo) that made 2 pizzas for us! GOSH IT WAS FLIPPING GOOD!!!!! If you ever in Marabá, Para stop by and eat some Flipping good pizza and caldo at Big-Bom in Marabá, Pará on the road Avenida VP 3! :b Plus add them on Facebook Brother Nevaldo told me they got one! :P But ahh that family is great!! 

That's about it for this week..... sorry this letter is short but Wow! I am so glad I am on a mission!! I LOVED General Conference and the one quote I just love is what Elder Holland said, " Pure Christ-like love flowing from righteousness can change the world" Gosh I just love that quote!! I love my family so much!! I am grateful 

for this gospel and I know that if you read the scriptures, go to church, and pray our lives will always be blessed!!! :D

Com amor e Abraço! (with love and hugs)

Elder McCrea

p.s. So the Zone Leaders are in Belém today and tomorrow I hope they will bring back some cards! :) Btw, if you write me I promise I will write back! :D (It takes about a month for you to get my letters. :(  Also the address to the mission office is a little different. Just the zip code changed to.... 66035-135. But everything else is the same! :D 

Duda, Sister Telma, Brother Nevaldo and Elder Branco at BigBom :D

Brother Claudio and Sister Kayla are doing great!! They visited General Conference and loved it! 

  <-- The family and grand kids with Elder Montarroyos

HEY SIS.... Cectpa McCrea they have a brand of rice with your name on it! :P 

Mitchell, week 34, Marabá

Back to the Past! :P


Well, I made it another week! These past weeks have been crazy! TONS of rain and just having a good ol´time! :D Sadly transfers ended this past week and Elder Montarroyos is leaving, and that's all we know. We haven't gotten any other information (when he leaves and where? and who is my new companion and when he comes in) but I am excited and sad at the same time. 

So this past week we have been getting tons of rain. One night we got caught in the rain as we were heading home. It was getting close to 9:30pm (when we have to be home) and we started running. When we got home we were soaked soaked soaked TONS!!! But it was great! :P Plus one of the photos I sent was when we just finished our lunch with Irma Raquel and we were heading to Irma Wagna and Irmao Lucas house to visit them. And we came upon this road that became almost a river,  but we had to cross it to get to her house. But ahh it was great! :P That day it rained practically all day! :P

Also we are visiting Herber and his family. we have family home evening at his house and I made Mac and cheese!  :) AHH IT WAS FLIPPING GOOD!!!! I went to heaven and returned! :P I was definitely a little trunky (thinking of home) as well. They don't have mac and cheese here in Brasil! :D But ahh it was soo good! :P 

Also this past week we stayed home on Friday because Elder Monarroyos stomach wasn't feeling too good and so I had the chance to work on our Area book and work on some other stuff. But this next week I am not sure what's in store, but I am excited to be here in Brasil and I know this gospel is true! I know it is true because I feel it every day! btw, this past Sunday during sacrament meeting I gave a talk over the Gift of the Holy Ghost and it went pretty good I thought! :D But I know this gospel is restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith and is restored with the same keys as when Jesus Christ was here on the Earth. I love my Savior dearly and I love my family! I am grateful I have 19 years (almost 20 years <-- on 3rd of April :D) in the gospel with my family! I am thankful for missionary work and I love you all! Keep holding to the Rod and counting your many blessings! :D and don't forget to SMILE!!! :D

ATÈ MAIS,

Elder McCrea

(Also this week I hit the big two zero 20! :D WHOOP :)

the mac and cheese that I made at a family night! :P It was so good and it made me trunky! :D

 And we came upon this road that became almost a river

But the last one was from family night at Herber house. with (from left to right.... Rodrigo, brother of Herber and his wife, Herber and irma Tamires, elder Montarroys and me with their dog :D

Mitchell, week 33, Marabá

All is good! :)

So yesterday (3/17/2014) we had zone conference with President and Sister Scisci! It was GREAT!! Learned TONS of stuff I can apply to my mission life and a lot about after the mission life. But I am grateful also I saw all of the elders in our zone. Kinda cool but we have 12 missionaries in our zone; 4 in my city, 4 in Parauapebas, 2 in Canaã, and 2 in Altamira. And there is 6 brazilians and 6 norte americans. It was good to see them all and I got to see for the 1st time a missionary from my MTC district.... Elder HAYES!!!! :) He's awesome!!! He was serving in Jacksonville, Florida waiting for his visa and he barely got his visa like over a month ago. But it was crazy to have 12 missionaries in our apt the night before conference. But all went good!! The 24th next Monday is my 8 month mark on a mission!! WOW! Time is flying!!!!!!!

This week we also had the offical paperwork signing session. (Not sure what you call it in English) but Brother Claudio and Sister Kayla are married!! :) The paperwork takes a month until they will get it, and after they as a family can enter the waters of baptism! I am so excited and happy for them!! :) WHOOPIE!!!!!!

Sadly all the rain we have been getting in Marabá, the river of Tocantins has risen and it has covered some streets in the old part of Marabá. We haven't visited that part lately but we have planned to visit Brother Heber and Sister Tamires. So this week we should be able to get some pictures of that part of Marabá. Really sad to hear about their homes and all.... (Count your many blessings and keep them in your prayers)

My time is runned out but I know that this gospel is the same gospel when Jesus Christ was here on Earth. I know Joseph Smith restored this gospel in the last dispensation. And right now we have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson here on Earth. I am grateful for this time I have to teach this wonderful gospel to the people here in Marabá, PA. I love my family and I love my work! Continue to count your many blessings, say your prayers, read the scriptures, and SMILE!! :)

With Love,

Elder Mitch McCrea

Sister Kayla and Brother Claudio with Elder Montarroys and I. The day of their wedding session on Wendsday (3/12/2014) :D

River Tocantins. Over the bridge during the bus trip we take every day! :) That was such a pretty day! Also had a lot of rain that night...

Zone Conference - Elder Montarroys and I. My companion; his from Recife, born in Africa
(Adopted at 6 months to a Spaniard dad and a Brasilian Mom), 19 years old (Birthday also in April!! :D ), Surfs, just a really nice solid dude! I am glad we are companions!!

With Love,

Elder Mitch McCrea

Mitchell, week 32, Marabá

Count your many Blessings! :D

Boa Tarde todo mundo!! :D  (Good afternoon everyone) 

I am gonna try to make this letter a good one! :D 

But I am doing great!! I am excited for these next 2 weeks left of this transfer! Not sure if y'all know but I am with Elder Montarroys for 2 transfers now. He is just great!! His family is from Recife, has 2 younger sisters, and has about 14 months on a mission. Has been here in this area as long as I have been in Brasil. But ahh this is awesome!! So 2 weeks ago we had a baptism (Rafaela), a cousin of a less-active member. They all are just GREAT!!!! 

So this past couple of weeks (Especially the 1st couple of days of March) its been crazy here in BRASIL!! Carnival time... That means tons of drinking for a lot of people, a lot of stores are closed, and just some crazy crazy days! I have seen some people really drunk and seen some crazy stuff..... (Kinda Sad) But we Elder Montarroys and I, made it alive with all the walking we do. But WOW our AREA is huge!! There are only a total of 4 missionaries in this city with a population of 250,000 people! Plus the city is spread out like butter!! (Ahh.... Yesterday I thought of Graham Crackers and Milk!! Gosh I miss that.... -_-) But we are doing great! This past week was AWESOME!! So there is this family (Brother Claudio and Sister Kayla) that has been coming to church for a long time (Around 6 month) They want to get baptized but the problem is they aren't married. Every time we invite them to get married, something happens at home or work. BUTTTT.... This past week we invited them and when we asked them to pray if they should get married. And Irmão Claudio said, "No need to pray... We already have a response, we want to get married." Heck to the YEA!!! So on Wednesday we will visit with them to turn in their papers to get married!! WHOOPIE!! 

I am doing great! I am understand more and more every day!! :D And most of the time I don't have to repeat myself when I am talking to someone! :P I know I am taking awhile to get this language down... but I know it will come with time and practice! :) [VERBS ARE KILLING ME -__-]

 :D Photo Time.... Sorry, I haven't taken many photos lately.... 

But the 1st one is of a rain cloud that was coming our way during our morning studies. This month and especially February and January is the raining season and you can definitely see the river Tocantins rising.  (Runs right through the city) There are a lot of homes near that river that are covered with water right now....

Next is of a frog that we caught when we (missionaries) were cleaning the back yard + pool, that we have at our chapel. We cleaned it for the Youth Conference that was during the Carnival weekend. I was told it was a great turn out and they all had a blast!!

Lastly is of the baptism 2 weeks ago. So from left to right is ( Me, Irmão Lucas, his daughter, Elder Montarroys, Jilda (family friend) Rafaela, and Irma Wagna (Wife of Irmão Lucas) It was such a great baptism and a spiritual filled night!! :D (She actually got baptized in the pool that we cleaned a couple of days before) :)))

So this next Monday we should have Zone Conference with President Scisci! Whoopie!! But ahh, I am sorry this letter is gonna be short and has TONS of spelling errors but I am grateful for all your prayers and all! (Pray especially for all the missionaries out there in the world! Definitely my sister that is serving in Ukraine. With all the action going on over there and all the other missionaries serving there as well)

I know I called by God to serve in this mission and here in Marabá with Elder Montarroys. I love my Savior and I am grateful for his Loving Atonement, that makes it possible to return to my Father in Heaven. I am grateful for temples here on Earth and that I am sealed with my family for all time and eternity in the House of The Lord (Temple). I sure do love my family!! Continue holding to the Rod and count your MANY blessings that you have received in your life! :D Abraço e Até mais! :)) (Hug and until next time)

With Love,

Elder McCrea 

Mitchell, week 31, Marabá

First off... my time is running short! Plus I am really sorry my letters aren't as spazzy as Mariah's! But I am doing great! Definitely walking tons!! These past couple of days we have been getting tons of RAIN!!!! My shoes are doing great!! I think when I hit my 1 year mark we might need to get them traded in for new ones. But I still have another new pair with me right now. So I will be good!! But I am great!! Still don't have a washing machine. Washing by hand takes awhile, but its turning out pretty good! My shirts are still looking good. 

BTW, Everyone here in Brasil loves Facebook right now..... So a lot of members and investigators look for me on Facebook and add me. Can you do me that favor when you add someone to my friends add them to a group like "mission" or something. So when I get back I can know who y'all added. But thanks for adding stuff (Photos, blogs, etc.) .... Also change the settings so when (or if) someone posts something to my profile/timeline you have to approve it first, before everyone sees it. Do you understand? Questions?

BTW, The box that is in customs like 2 weeks ago... I still don't know who is it from. But if you can go on my Facebook and post there.... if they are gonna send a box, put the most inexpensive stuff 1st on the paper, so I won't get a tax and also the picture of Jesus Christ on the openings. But some time soon I will have to pay the 97 reiais to receive it. BTW, There is no way to know who is it from..... 

Dad and Mom I have responded to your questions you sent in your weekly email. But I sure do love y'all so much!! I am sorry again my letters aren't the best and not the same as Mariah's.....

I sure do love y'all so much!! I am grateful I am serving a mission!! I am grateful we are sealed for eternity in the temple! I love all so much and until next week!! BTW.... I will probably be on either around 11:30 am or around 4:30 (My time) next p-day. But I love y'all so much!!! 

Mitch

 

Mitch & companion Elder Montarroyos

Mitchell, week 30, Marabá

 Zone Conference

- The mud here in Marabá. I got lucky that day.... 

- Flipping good!! :D

- Elder Montarroyos and I definitely eating some ice cream

- The guard cat we have outside our apt/home

- The rain cloud that hit us Saturday morning

- Brother Herbe and Sister Tamires. He is member and we are teaching them and they announced last Sunday they want to get married and soon so Sister Tamires can be baptized as well! :D

- Branch Activity last Saturday - Noite de Intecração Vatapá

- Branch Activity last Saturday - Noite de Intecração Vatapá

Mitchell, week 28, Marabá

NOSSA!! (Wow) :O

Hey, I am doing great as usual! 

These past 2 weeks have been crazy! Sorry, I didn't write to last week. But I am doing great! Sadly, we had 4 baptisms these past 2 weeks that were firm to enter the water but fell through at the last minute. But we are working with them this last week of transfers. Also this week wasn't the best for my companion, Elder Montarroyos. He visited the public hospital 2 times this past week and got 3 shots. But he seems better today.

 But the weather has been great!! A lot of rain everyday. Lucky, really hard at night and not when we are out and about. I still can't believe how HUGE our area is!! It proves that there should be like 10 missionaries in this city. So with time, I think they will add more. The church here is just so new. But man, this area is just so big and large that there isn't enough time to concentrate on all of our investigators and recent members. But I am having the time of my life right now! I am understanding like 80-90% of the time when I am talking with someone. The problem is when I am talking with them, I have a hard time remembering words that I don't use often or sentence structure. But I have been getting a lot of compliments lately, that I am speaking good. 

Sadly, our washing machine broke down like 3 weeks ago. But I am starting to like washing my clothes after every night by hand. My shirts are actually getting a little whiter ( I think) because I get to focus on them one to one. But I am just doing great!! TIME IS FLYING!!!!!! HOLY COW! WE are already at the 10th of Febuary! NOSSAAA!!! (WOW) But it's great being a missionary! I am excited to see what's in store this last week of transfers. I hope Elder Montarroyos and I can continue working together after this week! 

Sorry this email is short, but I know our Savior lives and the atonement makes it possible for us to return to our Heavenly Father after this life. I sure do love my family and I know we are sealed for time and eternity! 

Love,

Elder McCrea

Mitchell, week 24, Marabá

Bem-Viendo - Missão Brasil Belém ou Marabá

Translated = (Welcome to the Brasil Belém Mission or Marabá)

This letter is gonna be a short. But this week I have experenced the mission life here in Brasil!

1. Elder Montarroyos and I had to walk down this muddy road with no other way to walk around or to another nearby road. But my shoes, socks, and pants got all muddy! Its was GREAT!!!!! :D

2, So Friday Night we visited a member that is also living with her sister that has visited the church the past 2 weeks. We havent taught her yet but that night we asked her to be baptised..... *wait just wait* The next day! :D she accepted!! She was baptised that following day with another family! It was a great day for the branch!! :D 

3, Our washing machine broke at the beginning of the week.... SO for a couple of days we were washing our clothes by hand. Which was great!! :D But then Sunday morning something told me to plug back the washer machine and it started working again! WHOOPIE!!!!!

4, Thursday night when we were headed home in the 90 minute or so bus trip, the bus that we were taking was heading to the garage so we had to get on another bus and then we found out after we paid this other bus,  will take about 2 hours to get to our apt. So then we finally waited and got into another bus but soon after that bus broke down. It was a splendid night that night, -_-

5, These past weeks.... its been raining a lot!! :D Haven't gotten that soaked yet! :P

6. Yesterday after lunch, there was this pretty big lizard that was just chilling in the road and I decided to pick it up! I think he likes taking pictures because he didn't move at all..... :P

This past couple of weeks has been great!!! I am grateful for this chance I have to serve and represent Jesus Christ. And help the people here in Marabá!! I sure do love me family and this opportunity! I am sorry for the grammatical errors and especially the shortness of the email. But I know this church is The Church of Jesus Christ and is true! I am grateful for my many blessings!! I hope y'all have a splendid and wonderful week!!!

Até Mais!! Abraço

Elder McCrea 

Mitchell, week 23, Marabá

OLHA JA MARABÀ! :D

Nossa!! (Wow) I love it!!! So I knew last week (Sunday) I was gonna be serving in Marabá. I found out Wednesday I will be leaving on Friday Morning at4:30am by Airplane. Will be getting to Belém around 6 and from there not sure how but to Marabá. But when I got to Belém I found out that I was gonna get there by bus. About a 12 hour drive. -_- But I made it safely!!! I have been told that Marabá is the hottest area in my mission boundaries. But lucky I get here in the start of their rainy season. It doesn't get hot hot till June-July and I should be transferred by then. But I love it here!! The city is about the size of my last city (Santarém) BUTTT Only 4 missionaries. CRAZY!! Plus the city is spread out like butter. It takes us like 1,5 hours every night to come home by the cites autobus. But i'ts CRAZY!! Plus no more wards... HELLO BRANCHES! Not many... we just got one here! Heck yea!!!! I AM PUMPED!!!! It's like there in Laredo. I am so excited. The church here is new.... about 5 years old. The chapel is a house, lucky, near our apt and we live with the ZL (Zone Leaders or our bosses) :P But ahh its great!! i know I will learn so much and also use what I know from back at home to help the members here! I am grateful for this chance. The language is coming. I am still walking tons and just having the time of my life. I am running out of time to write and sorry I don´t have much photos this week also. But I am grateful to serve here in Marabá with Elder Montarroys! We are both excited to work together. BTW, He is from Recife and speaks very little English :P I love this gospel and the chance I have to represent our Savior and serve these awesome people here in Marabá! This church is true and I love my family!!

Love,

Elder Mitchell McCrea

 Rio (river) Tocantens

Elder Montarroyos (New Companion :D)

 Elder Teixiera