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

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! :)

Mitchell, week 47, Tapana

PANCAKES!!! :D 

The Cabanagem Zone.

A cool looking bridge/river that we found as we were walking with the other elders after lunch.

Pictures Galore

A cool looking bridge/river that we found as we were walking with the other elders after lunch.

PANCAKES!!! :D 

9

Ahh its good!! :D

Cacau the fruit!

A ward activity that we had one night. 

         

                                                        A  butterfly and grasshopper that I found 

A little street that is cover with the banners. (I will take more pictures soon about the streets and all) People are still putting stuff up and all

A bird that was just on the road one day    

A less active member that we are visiting her chickens sleep in flipping trees!! :O

Mitchell, week 45, Tapana

GOAAAALLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!

GOOOOOOLLLLL!!!!!! Its getting crazy! The world cup is definitely hug here in Brasil, compared there in the States! But Brasil beat Croácia this past week. We stayed in out our apt the whole day after lunch that day becuase it gets pretty crazy here during and after the games! I definitely knew when Brasil scored and won and all because we can hear everyone screaming and the fireworks and all going off. But THE USA PLAYS TODAY!! GO USA! :P But also these past days had been rough.... My companion was on his last drops of energy but he died and past over to the regular life today. He will be home tomorrow. But here is a picture of him and I.... 

So Elder Rodrigues finished his mission and I am staying that means a new COMPANION!!! And he is..... ELDER COSTA! His from Portugal! ITS GONNA BE GREAT! I actually knew him right when I got to Brasil back in September he also arrived with us, but he is great! He is a big fella as well, but its gonna be great serving with him! He arrives from Santarém tomorrow morning. (the last I heard he was serving in my 1st area of Tapajós in Santarém) 

But the weeks are going by faster and faster!!  Next week I hit 11th month anniversary on a mission. (My sister hits her 1 year mark in 3 days :O ) Then in July I hit my 1 year mark also. But its sure going by fast, the mission! I am sure grateful for the chance I have to be serving and helping people here in Brasil. I love this Gospel and I know that it blesses families! I know that this work is the Lord's work and all that we do is with Authority of God. We don't brain wash people to believe in what we say.... we teach what we know and we ask them to simply say a prayer asking God to see if we teach is true. I know that I don't know everything but I don't have a doubt in what I teach everyday is true. I know that Joseph Smith restored the same gospel that was taught when Christ was here. on earth.. What does it mean to restore.... 

re·store

: to give back (someone or something that was lost or taken) : to return (someone or something)

: to put or bring (something) back into existence or use

: to return (something) to an earlier or original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc.

(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restore)

So Joseph Smith didn't make or create a new church. He restored the exact church that was established when Jesus Christ was here on Earth. How did Chirst established and organize his church with 3 things... Ephesians 2:20 

"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;"

So this is how Chirst organized his church and this is how Jospeh Smith restored it. And today we have a living prophet and 12 Apostles. And they have the same Authority that the origanal prophets and apostles had and they are called by God. I know this is true and I have no dought in my heart it is false. And if you wanna know  for yourself just pray and ask God.

But I love my family so much and I know that we are sealed for all time and eternity! I know that what I do is helping people/families out for eternity! 

I hope all y'all have a splendid and safe week and continue counting your blessings! 

Love always,

Elder McCrea

Mitchell, week 43, Tapana

Alright.... I don't have much time as always.... But I am doing GREAT!!! Sorry some words are stuck together. This space bar doesn't work that great. But wow I am doing great! I am seeing tons of miracles in my life! I learning so much!! Not sure if y'all know but my companion is as old as you can get here on the mission! He hit his 2 year mark 2 days ago. He wanted to stay one more transfer before going back home. He is "dying" but still working. We have a lot of words we say on a mission. like dying, killing, son/daughter (when you train a new missionary), father/Mother (the missionary that trained you) I will also get the privilege to "kill" Elder Rodrigues. Hahah So as of right now I have "killed" Elder Hoch and now Elder Rodrigues. But we are working great!! He is definitely helping me with Portuguese!

But here are a few things that's happened lately..... 

FABIO BAPTISM!!! Gosh he is such a great STUD! I can see him serve a mission later when he hits 18 or so. But that's his mom! Gosh his family is GREAT! I love them!! Hopefully the rest of the family will follow his example and our Savior to enter the covenant of Baptism. :D But that night was also the ward activity of TACACÀ!!! IT IS SOOO GOOD! I really don't even know how to explain how they made it or what it tastes like! But its SOOOOO GOOD! You eat the shrimp and bamboo and then drink the liquid! GOSH I LOVE BRASIL AND PARÀ!!!! 

One of the new members in our ward has a rain forest looking back yard. GOSH ITS AWESOME!!!! Their house is made all of wood and is on stilts. Alright so the first time in my mission I broke a bridge that some of the streets have. I haven't gained weight...  (I have lost like 2 more kilos here in this area) I just wasn't thinking when I walked over the weak part of the bridge. HAHAH IT was hilarious. Plus it's even more hilarious that they told me that many of the American missionaries have broken parts of this bridge. LOL! But yea I am officially in the rain forest now! Raining every day as normal and gets pretty hot as well too..... Also soon its Açai season! :D And the tall skinny trees that are shown below are açai tress!! :D In June/July is when they climb the trees and cut off the açai! They told us that when the season comes we can come over and drink some AÇAI!!! HECK YEAAAA!!!!!

I am running out of time as usual. But I know that this gospel is true and blesses families for eternity! I know that I have been called by God to serve here because there are people waiting to be blessed by the message that I share with my companions. I sure do love my family so much and I know they are receiving blessings while my sister is in Ukraine and I am in Brasil serving a mission! I know that this church is the Church of Jesus Christ restored with the same organisation of a Prophet and 12 Apóstles and that Jesus Christ is the headstone of this church (Ephesians 2:20). I hope y'all are having a great day today and a UTIMO (awesome) week this week. E Até MAIS! (and until next time)

-Elder McCrea

p.s.- YOU!! Yea you.... if your reading this can you please send me a card or something. I promise that if you write me a card that once I get it I will respond back to ya. (Something to keep in mind that, I am on the amazon.... So if I take long to respond its either I haven't gotten your card or your card is on the way) But It really does mean the world to me if when I get letters!!!! Thanks to y'all that have sent a letter to me! Love ya! 

​

Mitchell, week 42, Tapana

- The army was doing practices in the city of Marabá for 1 month before they head to Haiti. So many times during the day we saw them walking through the city with their practice guns and doing practices. 

- With their zone leaders we helped out big bom, a member that has a family restaurant. helped them clean some tables and chairs. 

- Family of Aradenie. WE dumped out their coffee when we taught them word of wisdom. She and the family drinks TONS of coffee before. But now they are doing so GREAT! The middle daughter got baptized last Saturday from what I heard from the elders there in Marabá.

 The service we did at the house of Aradenie.

the service we did. The front of her house

Post pictures of Aradenie house

Elder Cruz (leader of zone) 'a little mad.'

The shell and the nuts inside a casing know as the cashew of Pará. The state I am in right now

a member in Marabá - Crisline. She is preparing for a mission

Fabio/Celia. A awesome family!

Herbe - a member that is great! Preparing for a mission!!

Aradenie

Crisline and her mom

Aradenie and her 2 daughters and Julie (niece.)

Mitchell, week 41, Tapana

ITS A RAINY FAST ONE!!!!

Hey I don't have much time right now. We are rushing it today. I sent will send 2 pictures with this email but it takes a long time to upload it and plus its risky because I don't wanna get viruses. But I love it here in Tapanã, Belém! I probably wont be able to take as much pictures of the city in the open and all because its a little more risky here in Belém. But it's great!! I am so happy I had the chance to take to my parents yesterday. I am so glad they are doing great and healthy! But wow I miss Marabá so much!! I heard that Larrisa (the middle daughter of Aradenie) got baptized last Saturday, and Aradenie and the rest of the family will follow soon. Also this week Claudio and Kayla will get married and baptized!! :D HECK YEA!!!! I cant wait to see those pictures. But wow the last day I was in Marabá I had a awesome experience! A man comes up to me while we were on the bus and asked what is my duty or work here in Marabá. I explained what I do and about missionary work and how we don't get paid anything and we actually pay our way these 2 years as we are away from our family! He was really surprised I would do that. Kinda funny he actually told a lady that was standing next to us this.... "Hey do you know what this young man does..... he is a missionary.... and he gets paid nothing and leaves his family for 2 years and pays his way!" Gosh it was great and awesome!!! But I set a appointment up for him the next day and he is just elite plus married and has a daughter! He is golden! I hope the elders there got the chance to teach him and all! :) 

But I love it here in Belém! I am in a neighborhood named Tapanã. It's a ward here and gosh its so weird to walk down one road and see like 2-3 members in the same road. Plus it's different that it rains like every day!! Usually after lunch. It's actually raining while I am writing this email right now. But gosh I love it here! Plus my companion is great!! Elder Rodrigues. He is from São Paulo and has over 2 years on his mission. He decided to stay one more transfer after his 2 year mark, he is great! Helping me out so much with my Portuguese and I am actually helping him out in English! But he actually knows tons of English! But he is just such a great guy!!! 

Elder Branco and I (in Marabá) did like a 5 hour service project cleaning and cutting the front and back yard of the house of Aradenie. It was a great day and she definitely was grateful we helped her out! :D (btw, only she and her 3 daughters live there)

I am really sad I left Maraba but the memories and people will always be in my heart and I am grateful I had the chance to serve there and also right now in Tapanã!. I know I am called by God to serve here and help the people here in Tapanã now. I know this Gospel is true and this is the work of the Lord! Also I am grateful I'm part of the 80 thousand missionaries world wide serving a mission with the same purpose, receiving not one cent and helping families for eternity!  There is no other church that does this with young adults from ages 18-25. I love this work and I love my family so much!!! Remember to always smile and count your MANY blessings!!!

Ate maís! 

Elder McCrea

Elder Branco and I (in Marabá) did like a 5 hour service project cleaning and cutting the front and back yard of the house of Aradenie. It was a great day and she definitly was greatful we helped her out! :D (btw, only she and her 3 daugters live there)

Herbe (A member in Marabá) hosted a farewell party for me and another elder that was leaving in Maraba that week. WE had tons of members and investigators that night. It was just a great night and tons of memories! :D