May 12, 2008

Dear Everybody,

Man, I will say what you know I am going to say that it was great to hear your voices again. If you are wondering why I may not have sounded so ecstatic it was because I was pretty emotional when I heard your voices, more than I thought I would be. But, I really did enjoy that call, even if the connection was terrible. Everything is going great because it is looking like we got some baptisms lined up for this month. There is this one woman named Sariah who is a very good woman that prays a lot and has endured so much who will be baptized some time next week. Also her daughter turned 8 so she can get baptized too. Also, we taught to two boys named Alfredo and Felix who have gone to church two times and will qualify for baptism. It is looking great for us, and on top of that we found a lot of people in what I think in sooo little time. We had an amazing Conference with our Mission President and he told us we just need to have faith, diligence, and attention to be able to get baptisms for every month. I know I have faith and I know I can have a lot of baptisms in this area. It is great to see how much I can do now compared to before and this week will be busy (like always). I think on Wednesday we will be helping a family who moved in and maybe get to teach them. This area has helped me out a lot and made me appreciate all that I have at home, but I know God will help me and we can work miracles down here. Anyway, sorry I was emotional and yes, it would't hurt if I were more positive. (You guys know me......I am still the same).

Sincerely,

Elder Arellano

P.S.

I look forward to hearing from you again on Christmas, don't worry, it will get here before you know it, I promise. ¡Lesamo!

april 21, 2008

Dear Everyone,

I thought last week was crazy, but before I type another word I have to say that
I am moving on up!  This morning my companion called to see if there were
transfers (they happen usually every six weeks) and there was----ME!  I don't
know where exactly I am going, but my companion Eldere Miranda says its by the
coast.  I just packed all my stuff and I have to get on a bus by 5:30 this
afternoon and by tomorrow I will arrive to my new area ( it will be a ten hour
bus ride).  My companion, Elder Miranda, says this will be a good experience for
me to learn and I have to agree.  So, that is what is in store for me, all else
I can say is that Elder Miranda says that it will be even hotter in the coast
and I have to ponerse las pilas (get charged up) about this.  For now it is okay
and I have already realized that this is how the mission is gonna be.  But what
happened last week was a good experience.  I baptized my first person on
Saturday, Lily Rendon Rodriguez.  Her Mom and her brothers unfortunately "backed
out" of their baptisms, but my companion will keep on visiting them and maybe
they will turn around.  I have really learned alot about how to do missionary
work in this area, and I know I still have a lot to learn.  All else I can say
that I did a good job here and I will work hard to get more baptisms
in.....wherever I am going.  I just want  to end is that I know the Lord lives
and he helps me out every single day.  To Monica, keep going strong with
internet schooling, to Marlene, keep it up with regular schooling, and to the
rest of you, I miss ya and love ya.  Keep me posted.

Sincerely Elder Ben Arellano,

P.S.

Lesamo

april 21, 2008

Dear Nataly, Mark, Diana, Maria, and ......little guy,

I just wanted to wish Nataly a very Happy 28th (is that right?) Birthday. I feel alittle bad for not mailing you when you were on your mission, but I plan to mail you and the rest of you guys a letter. However, I don't know your address, or maybe I should send it to Orem and have....well you just tell me how you want the letter and I will send it to ya. I don't have too much email time left, I did better today, I just want to let you know that this mission is helping me grow everyday because it is helping me not only perfect other people, but myself. I can't wait till I see my new area, I am glad the Lord blessed me with one baptism a girl named Lily and I pray the rest of her family will be baptized one day. I know I am leaving out some details, but I just have so much to say and sooooo little time. Okay, I have five minutes left. Now I remember that Mom is with you. Say Hi to her for me and good luck with your pregnancy! (That is probably where you are right now as I am typing this...) Tell me all about it and send me pictures, if you can.

Sincerely,

Elder Ben Arellano

P.S.

I am moving on up,up, and up! Lesamo.

march 31, 2008

Dear Harris Family,

I hope ustedes are doing well (by the way thanks for reminding me of the "usted" thing and I will use it with you guys). Yeah, it is crazy here in Mexico, I have a really dark tan, probably the darkest it has ever been or ever will be. I have learned alot about the mission work and have eaten alot of Mexican food. Luckily I really like it (I am used to eating spicy food, that is a plus, believe me) so no trouble there. Well, I hope all is well with you guys and I look forward to your stories. (Good luck with the new baby-in less than a month, right?)

God bless,

Elder Arellano

march 24, 2008

Dear Everyone,

I have arrived.....in Mexico. That is still good news. I actually have another or rather my new email address for my mission. Unfortunately, I left it at my house, but luckily I still have this one. By the end of the day I am going to send it to all of you, and I don´t think I will use the Nelben email, but don`t worry I will send it to you. This is my first P-day at the field and it is very hot. Before I get into that the flights were crazy. I kept my cool and by the second flight I was used to flying. But I won´t be flying anytime soon. I don`t know if you have already received the email from Presidente Gardner, but it shows my picture. I can´t believe it has already been a week and alot has happened. On Thursday I received my first companion in the field. His name is Elder Miranda Hernandez and he is from Mexico City. In other words he is a Chilango, that is Mexican lingo for ya. I am now confident enough to say I can understand 100% of Spanish, but there are so much "Mexican" spanish for me to learn. Luckily I am learning fast and I can speak pretty well, or at least that is what they say. Just kidding, I still have a bunch to learn. But everyone I talk to thinks I am Mexican(I wonder why) and always say I am from Utah and they are stunned. I than tell them I am Ecuadoriano (well at least my parents are ) but they say I speak pretty well. Now, I feel kind of bad because I am going to learn alot of Mexican spanish, but I want to learn Ecuadorian Spanish too. It´s in my blood and I feel obligated to do it. So please keep writing me in Spanish and tell me if you can of some sayings, words, or phrases that are from Ecuador. Contacting has been interesting, I will be doing that alot and teaching too. I have taught so much so far, but tomorrow I will teach a whole lesson by myself to a member´s sister. So, there you go. Anyway, I am glad I got many things from the MTC, the language, how to teach, contact, and alot of other things. It is so weird here, but I really feel "one with Spanish", I find myself speaking and I don´t have to think at times. The Lord has helped me a ton though, and I hope to keep progressing. Everyday I learn something new and everything is so different. This morning I had to wash my clothes by hand, it took me a while but it wasn´t too bad. I changed all my "American" money for pesos( well almost, I still have a bunch of American change) but yep, yep, yep. I have blisters on my toes, and it is sooooooooooooo hot! I hope you get this, the computers here are pretty good, but the keyboard is different. Anyway, my first area to serve is Jojutla B ( I probably should´ve mentioned that first) the B is my area as area A is for another companionship to cover. I don´t know what else to tell ya, but I do miss all of you and I know I am a servant of the Lord and I must continue ¨"adelante" and just keep my faith. Well, take care and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely, Elder Arellano

P.S. I am not sure how fast the mail service is, but we will find out won´t we? The President says its fine, so I'll believe him. Oh, tell me if you recieved the photos and other boxes of stuff I didn't need. It looks like email will be the fastest way, but anyway, ¡Hasta Luego!

march 18, 2008

Dear Arellano Family,

I am of now am still here at the MTC.  Missionaries in my branch are really
feeling sorry for me, but it's okay.  Well, my whole group finally left on
Monday morning, and I am the last one in my District.  What happened last week
that made things turn around for my group was when Elder Heyn got called down to
the Travel Office saying he had to go with a group of missionaries to Salt Lake
City to sign his visa.  Eventually after that he got his flight plans and left
on Friday.  After that both of my other companions Elder Cornelius and Elder
Zamora got to go to Salt Lake City and they got their flight plans on Friday.
It was sad to see each of one of my District go but I said it a bunch of times
and I'll say it again, they are great missionaries and will serve well.  I, on
the other hand, got to go to Salt Lake City on Friday to sign my visa and put my
thumbprint on it.  It was weird because we drove right by University Parkway and
it brought back a lot of memories.  But I don't have my flight plans yet.  Turns
out the Mexican consulate has a hard heart and has not verified my group of
Missionaries going to Cuernavaca yet.  The Travel Office is getting frustrated
with this guy, but I should know late at 2:00 if I get my travel plans or not.
It's been good so far though, today I am with another district as I am not
supposed to be by myself, District B.  They are a really good district and I
will enjoy my P-Day today (Hopefully my last one here at the MTC-I mean that in
a good way).  Well, whatever happens, as soon as I get my travel plans, I might
get to call you guys so to make sure you know when I really leave to Mexico.
But all is well over here, take care and expect a package from me soon.

Sincerely,

Elder Still here Ben Arellano  

march 4, 2008

Dear Harris Family,

Thanks for the email and the encouragement. I have been getting a lot of "you will be fine" but it is soooo good to hear from you. I am sure I will be okay, my base in Spanish is pretty good now. Tell Mark I said, "Hola" and tell Diana and Maria too.

Thanks again,

Elder Arellano