Monday, December 27, 2010

Christmas Phone call

     We got to talk to Bradley on the web cam on Christmas. It was soooo great! the internet connection was really good, We were worried that it would cut out and not have very good reception but it worked perfectly the whole time! We hooked the computer to the big TV and so we could all see him, It was just like he was sitting in the room talking to us.
      We talked to him for a little while and he told us some stories and bore his testimony to us and it was very spiritual, then we called Dean and Jill to come over and let them talk to him for a minute, then we had a couple of his friends come over. I think it was fun for him to see everyone, he talked alot to McKay and Micah about the Mission and that it's hard, but it's worth it. He won't see them for 3 years, because they will be on their missions when he gets home. He told us that when he first was out on the mission he was there for other reasons, but now it's very spiritual and now that he feels comfortable with the language it getting easier and better, He loves the families of the wards, and he loves the little kids that are always running up to him and hugging him. They love his blonde hair and blue eyes.

We got to talk to Elder Oborn, while Bradley talked to his family, It was fun to hear Elder Oborn tell how quiet and shy Bradley was when he first arrived in Maceio, he said that he's not like that any more and he loves being Bradley's companion. They have alot of fun together.

  We also got to talk to the Sister Missionary's, they are very cute and sweet. Sister Campos and Sister Nigri, both from Brazil.  Sister Campos got on a few times, She bore her testimony to us in English, Bradley helped her a little bit but she did great! When Bradley was talking to her family, she was telling us that Bradley is her very best friend in the mission, it was fun to watch them talk to each other and joke around.

     It  was interesting to watch and listen to Bradley switch back and forth between English and Portuguese, he would be talking to us in English and then he would turn and say something to someone in Portuguese and he didn't even have to think about what to say. He said that he used to have to think of the word in English then translate it to Portuguese but he doesn't have to do that anymore, it just comes naturally now, a few times during our conversation, he couldn't think of a word in English, we would have to help him, and some English words sounded weird to him. It's only been 7 months, I wonder how it will be after 2 years? When he was speaking to us in English, he has an accent, it's so cute!

     Brad took the laptop outside and showed him Koda his Husky, and  took it out front and looked up and down the street, he was bummed that we didn't have any snow. Then he took him all around the house. Bradley misses Carpet, he hasn't seen carpet since he left the Provo MTC, we had a fire going in the fire place and he wanted to look at it. He said that he loves our house.

Bradley has really grown a lot, his testimony is so strong and he just has this sweet spirit about him. He has really helped my testimony grow,  I can't even explain how proud I am of him, I think only a mother can understand how I feel.

Have a great new years and be safe

Date: Dec. 27, 2010
Area: Tabuliero, Alagoas
Companion: Elder Oborn
From Sacramento, California
Hey Guys!
It was great to see and hear from everybody on Christmas day!!! I'm really glad that I got to use the web cam, All of the kids look so different, Bubba and Brian's hair is getting so long. the mullet is sweet!   I was really happy to see the family and the house, now I can't wait till Mothers day!!!!! ha ha.
 I hope that everybody had a great Christmas! Christmas here is a lot different than back home, for one its hotter than heck and for 2 nobody really has the Christmas spirit, they just drink and play loud music.

I'm glad Sister Campos got to bear her testimony for you guys. we´ve been practicing for a few weeks and she was really excited. but both of the Sister's are speaking really well.

I'm also glad that I saw Jill and Dean and the cousins!!! and I'm happy that I got to see my friends I won't see Micah or McKay forever!!! They´ll be on missions so it´ll be like like 3 years!! that's sad Matt was in the neighborhood!! I would have loved to see him! I have a letter for him that I need to send maybe he can come over on the next phone call. That's really good that Eric is doing good . I'm way excited for him.

Congrats Brookie on the Sacrament talk!!! I bet you did great! Sunday was okay for me the wards here are way irreverent so its impossible to focus but it was good!

Well I don't have a lot to say cause I just talked to you but everything here is good its almost 2011!!! and I made 7 months yesterday,  woohoo!  But yea everybody have a great new years and be safe!!!

Love ya, Bradley

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

This Year for Christmas

A neighbor gave this poem to us for Christmas, It made me cry. I just want to share it with you.

This Year for Christmas

I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving
The thrill just wasn't there.
No pictures taken with Santa Clause,
my decorating has no flair.
His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties,
two suits and socks... no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because...
This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I've spent more time in the temple,
Felt strength come from his words.
I've reread November's Ensign,
and my testimony stirred.
Our family prays more frequently
My tears are quick to run.
Abraham seems closer because,
This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I wonder how those Lamanite mothers,
gave their sons to war?
Or how the pioneers chose Zion,
their sacrifice was so much more.
My loss will be his presence,
I'll miss his smile a ton
For two years we will pray for him,
I'm giving Christ my son.

I stare at his face when he's not looking.
I memorize his eyes, their shine.
He's always hungered for the part of him,
that makes his soul divine.
The stories and lessons he always heard,
His choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand,
This year, I'm giving Him my son.

Past gifts have lost their glitter,
I think I finally understand
Christ's birth should be celebrated
by giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns
that all his packing's done.
My gift has taken years to make,
This year... I'm giving Christ my son.

To all of the Missionary Moms who read this blog:
May the Lord bless you and our missionary children as they serve him with all their hearts!

Monday, December 20, 2010

I can't wait to talk to you on Christmas!

Date:Dec.20, 2010
Area: Tabuliero, Alagoas
Companion: Elder Oborn
From Sacramento, California




12-17-10
          I Love this picture! What a cute little girl!!     
              I love it when Bradley sends pictures

Hey guys!

     How´s it going? I hope everybody had a good week and is enjoying the cold weather!
This week was okay, one cool thing that happened was that President Beynon went with us to go teach people. That was pretty neat, He does a really good job of helping people understand what they need to do. But this week was definitely a hard one, it just seemed like everything that we had planned just didn´t happen. I don´t know if it was the fact that it is almost Christmas or what, but of the 6 baptisms we had marked 4 or 5 fell through. But we´re working hard, and having fun along the way.
I'm a little depressed because I still haven´t baptized here! But hopefully I´ll be blessed after the hard times ya know?


12-10-10
    Oh and we went and helped work on someones house and my back went out so this whole week my back has been killing me. I'm getting old in all of my 20 years of life lol.

     But it´s almost Christmas!!! I'm way excited to use skype. I´ll call you a few days before to set up a time, but we found a lan house that´s open on Christmas and so it should work. I´ve saved some stories to tell you so I´m excited!!!!

That's good that president Mickelson was at church, I love that man, and I´m keeping him in my prayers.

That sucks that the old guys beat the young guys in church ball lol. who´s playing for the young team?

Yeah that cruise ship lady got a bunch of our phone numbers to call our parents, it was when we went and sang at the port. We had another performance last night at a fireside there were a bunch of people there.

Oh yeah, we went to McDonald's this week too! 7 long months, lol.  I ate a Big Mac it was pretty good just really expensive here.


12-17-10


So what do the kids want for Christmas? I just wanna talk to you guys! I'm way excited!

No I still don't have my Christmas package I bet I´ll get it in like February when did you send it?

Tell McKay I got his letter and I got the pics from you guys. I love getting pictures from you.

We should be moving out this week. I'm not excited to move all of the crap.

I´m kinda out of things to say lol and plus I´ll talk to you in like a few days, so I´ll just upload some pics for you guys!!!

Love ya,  Be safe I´ll call you on Tuesday or Wednesday with a plan!
Love you guys,
Bradley
12-8-10



Sunday, December 19, 2010

Your son is doing great!

2 weeks ago Bradley wrote about the choir singing at the cruise port:

12/6/10
This week the choir sang 3 times, We went to another mall, to a Catholic Church and to the cruise port. It was cool to sing at the cruise port there was a ton of Mormons all there together. It really made me want to go on a cruise again. But we sang like right where everyone gets off of the ship so that was pretty cool

I got a phone call on Friday from a sweet lady from Wyoming, who was on a cruise ship that stopped in Maceio. She said that the missionaries were there singing. she spoke with Elder Ludlow (Bradley) and that he's doing great! He's strong and healthy and happy, She said that she told him that she would call me when she got home.
   She told me that the area is very poor and that the people there don't have much. She said that's the first time she has ever seen a LDS church with a tall fence around it with a lock.
    It was so great to hear from someone who was there talking to him and said that he looks good!
She said that she will send pictures to me.

I found these pictures from another missionary blog


Bradley's in the back on the right




Monday, December 13, 2010

We had our mission Christmas party today

Date: Dec.13, 2010
Area: Tabluliero, Alagoas
Companion: Elder Oborn
 From  Sacramento, California


Hey guys!!!
Sounds like everything is going okay around the house. that's cool Brookelyn got a calling in Beehives and Micah is teaching primary, tell Micah to write me a stinking letter I wanna hear how everyone´s doing!!!!
I got a letter from Mctizzle my red-headed homeboy today, I have a bunch of letters that I need to send but
 I don't know where the mail place is in this area. but I'll find it this week and send them.

We have a few baptisms marked I don't know how firm a few of them are, I hope they work out, and like half of them traveled this week so its gonna be tough. There's this kid of 16 that's been going to church that wants to be baptized but his dad hates religion and its going to be really hard for him to get baptized, hes a great kid I could see him going on a mission if he gets baptized and his sister went to church this week too.

We had stake conference on Sunday it was really good. Usually sacrament here is really irreverent and hard for me to feel the spirit, but there was some really good talks and I learned a lot. President and Sister Beynon spoke and also a seventy but I can't remember his name. I love hearing Sister Beynon giving talks in Portuguese. she´s such an awesome, sweet lady and she´s a trooper giving talks in Portuguese in front of a big crowd.

Today we had our mission Christmas party. we played games, the Beynons raffled BYU and Utah shirts and ate some good lunch. they gave us presents ( chocolate, tie, socks, handkerchief, and a key chain and lapel pin with the mission logo on it) it was really nice, and I won a BYU shirt.
I'ts weird how this year I don't want anything for Christmas. I'll just be happy talking to you guys, my priorities have definitely changed on my mission.

Hows my buddy Matt doing? where are he and Taleesha living? that's cool McKay leaves in January, when does Cody leave again? he´ll be in Provo for 9 weeks or 12?

It doesn´t feel at all like Christmas here. It's so so SO hot and come to find out that summer doesn't even start until the 21st of this month. lol

Whats Bubba up to? is he still in to riding bikes or does he have a new hobby.

We´ll move in to our new house this week. Its gonna suck cause were on the 3rd floor in our building (to move everything) but it´ll be nice to have a newer nicer house.
So my one of my vans completely ripped in half.... way sad. I don't know if you can send me a new pair? they might not make it in the mail.

How are the Jazz doing I heard that they went undefeated in the pre-season. keep me posted.

Sounds like Grandma is having a great time in Nauvoo ,the mission is a great thing for her she loves to study and learn about the church. Her mission is DEFINITELY different than mine though.

We had a lady make cow feet this past week, my comp ate it but I was too afraid to try it, I would have tried it but the house/ food looked pretty sketchy and I didn't want to get sick.

I'm stoked for Christmas! I hope we can skype I'll try and get it all locked down this week and let you know. I have the program saved to my ipod so should just be able to open it and make a profile. I think the Sisters will call in the morning before lunch because of the time difference and we Americans will be in the afternoon here.


Well that's about all I can think to say, hope all is good love you!!!
Bradley



Dec. 12, 2010

Monday, December 6, 2010

It's hot here!

Date: Dec. 6, 2010
Area: Tabuliero, Alagoas
Companion: Elder Oborn
From Sacramento, California
December 5, 2010


Hey guys, this week was okay we divided the area with the Sisters like you guys already know, so its been kinda tough to get things up and going in our half, so we´re only working a few people we really need to find a lot of new investigators this week. We marked like 4 baptisms but a lot of people traveled and it just didn´t work out to go to church so we´ll see what happens.

 This week the choir sang 3 times, We went to another mall, to a Catholic Church and to the cruise port. It was cool to sing at the cruise port there was a ton of Mormons all there together. It really made me want to go on a cruise again. But we sang like right where everyone gets off of the ship so that was pretty cool.


It's cool to have sisters in our ward. their both really cool and they make us cake and other goodies. their names are Sister Campos and Nigri.

It's so hot here I know I say that every week but its true. I miss the snow alot!!!! It does not even seem like Christmas even though some ppl have lights and stuff its weird!!!

So for Christmas we wanna try and use skype, its free so it´d be better I think. You guys will have to buy a web cam. but it'd be awesome to see you guys and talk to you. I'll call like a week before for like 5 min to tell you guys when it´ll all go down. but I cant wait till Christmas!!!! so I´d buy a web cam and practice setting it up and using it so you know what your doing.

I got Grandmas package too it was way nice, it had a bunch of good stuff in it. Tell her thanks for me and I'll write a letter to her. I have a lot of letters to send.

I don't really need anything for my b-day. I dunno. HA HA SURPRISE ME!

And yeah I took some money out to pay that guy for the scripture cases.

As sad as it is I'm thinkin you guys should sell my bike. I'm gonna want to start college right away and so I'm gonna need all the money I can. so have Brian or someone clean it all up for me and put it on ksl,

Has Brian gone boardin yet this year?

How much is gas? here the gas is way expensive they sell it for like 3 reals per liter. ($5 - $6 per gallon)

So were trying to find a new house we gotta move out by the end of the month. It's gonna suck having to move everything but we´ll probably get a nicer house so that's good.

I love you guys I hope every thing is good!!!!
I wanna let you know that I'm happy to be here serving the lord and that my testimony is growing everyday!

Be safe guys and enjoy the snow.  Only 19 days and we´ll be talkin on the phone!!!!
Love you,
Bradley




Monday, November 29, 2010

6 Months!!

Date: Nov. 29, 2010
Area: Tabuliero, Alagoas
Companion: Elder Oborn
From Sacramento, California






Hey guys!


This week was good. Just really busy and kinda stressful. My ward got Sister Missionaries so we´ve been helping them get to know the way around the area and stuff.
 So they split the area in two, so now Elder Oborn and I have to walk to freakin Vietnam everyday to work, I mean we literally walk to the end of the earth and back everyday, but its all good lol.


It’s fun to eat lunch with the Sisters and we're teaching some really cool people. We sang at the mall with the choir last week. It was really nice I felt like I was in America for a little while, the mall is just like one back home, tonight we´ll have another choir performance which is kind of a bummer cause it´ll cut our p-day short but oh well..


We didn’t do anything on Thanksgiving it was a way busy day.

For my 6 month day my comp bought a pizza and I burned a tie, it's a tradition, so I found this old tie in our house and burned it. It’s crazy when I got here the guys with 6 months seemed so experienced and spoke so well but I still feel really new... that’s probably cuz I am lol

So grandma left eh? is Dad back yet or is he still there? Grandma will be a really good missionary.

I'll email Ryan if I have time, last I heard he was really sick and had to go to the hospital. I bet he ate or drank something bad. (he's serving in Guatemala)

I really liked the package! and so did all of the Brazilians! Some of dad’s elk jerky was bad but I saved most of it and it’s really good!! And we made some cookies.

We're helping a family build a house, we helped with the foundation and now were putting up the brick walls and stuff. One cool/cute thing here is there’s a group of little girls all from ages 4-9 that live in this Favela,and every time they see me they yell "Hey Gallego!" (big white dude) and start hugging and climbing all over me and so it’s pretty crazy. lol They tell me that I'm cuter than Elder Oborn cuz I have blond hair and light eyes. but it’s kinda funny all the people there know us now because of these crazy little kids.
But its fun I'm liking it here.

Almost all of the roads are dirt instead of cobblestone so its kinda rough to walk all day on uneven muddy roads. My shoes are already way thin on the bottom and starting to wear through. but I have 1 more pair still to wear.

I hope everything is all good there! I love you! be safe!
Bradley


I was online at the same time as Bradley I wrote back and told him that we can spot him right away when we get group missionary pictures from him because of his blond hair and fair skin, and this is what he wrote back It's weird sometimes I look in the mirror and am so surprised at myself and how white I am, cuz everyone here is black and so I'm not used to seeing white ppl.  lol.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving

Date: Nov. 22, 2010
Area: Tabuliero, Alagoas
Companion: Elder Oborn
From Sacramento, Ca


Beach in Maceio


Hey this week was really good! We´re working really hard here in this ward and getting a lot of references. We're gonna mark a lot of baptisms this week cause we have a lot of references.


I got my package today!!!!! but I had to pay a bunch of tax. I kinda threw a fit and tried to get outta paying but the lady at the post office couldn´t do anything about it because its the government. they just check random boxes I guess. but I heard that it helps if you slap a sticker or picture of Virgin Mary or Catholic Jesus on the box.


But we went to downtown Maceio today with the Sister Missionaries to get my package  and we had to wait forever to get a bus so that's why I'm so late today. but it was really fun I finally got to see the beach! it's so hot here that its not even funny. I really miss the snow and stuff. ppl are setting up for Christmas here but it doesn't even feel like Christmas.














Bradley's Companion Elder Oborn




It was good to get the emails from everyone! I like to hear from you guys.
Brookies project was really impressive.


I hope you guys have a good Thanksgiving. We´ll probably make those cookies you guys sent to celebrate here. I didn't really see what was in it, as I only went home for like 2 min before coming here. but the maple, ranch, and dewskies are lookin pretty appetizing. I´m just gonna have to try really hard to ration it all out cause I live with 3 other ppl. but the assistants should enjoy some American food. I liked the ties too, especially the red one with little ducks on it.


Transfers are here but were both staying. My father Thomas is staying another one in Aripiraca! 4 in one area is a long time for him! but I'm happy to stay here cause I need to baptize, and we should baptize a lot this transfer.


So yeah not much else. I cant wait to talk to you on the phone at Christmas.
and on the 26th of this month I'll make 6 mos!!!


But not alot to say here this stupid computer cant read usb so I gotta switch to send photos.
but I love you all and hope you are safe, have fun in Nauvoo Dad and drive safe thanks for the jerky

I love you!!!
Bradley

Beach in Maceio

Monday, November 15, 2010

Crazy week

Date: Nov. 15, 2010
Area: Tabuliero, Alagoas
Companion: Elder Oborn
From Sacramento, California


Elder Oaks talks to Missionaries
10/29/10

Hey guys!!
 This week really was pretty crazy, but its going good here., my comp is Elder Oborn, from Sacramento. He's been out for 10 months, He´s really cool, and he´s definitely ready to work!!! We were in the same district in Arapiraca so I'm excited were gonna try and find a baptism this week we have a few that are close but just have a few little problems that we need to work out before baptism. but we´ve got a good group to teach and a lot of references.


Tomorrow is zone conference, so hopefully I'll have my packages and stuff. it should be good I like the conferences.


Elder Villanova is in the zone still so we´ll see each other every week at choir. Choir is pretty rough still we don't sound that good. but oh well.

I haven't taken new pics since last week at all cuz the 2 days I've been with Elder Oborn have been crazy!!!! so I don't have my camera but next week I'll try and upload all of the mission pics I have so far to that site . That´ll be good to have so I can send you more than just a couple per week.

I'm glad Dad's talk went good in Sacrament meeting. (They asked the parents report on their missionaries, we have 7 in our ward right now)

That's cool that Dad will go to Nauvoo. I bet he´s excited. Grandma will be a good missionary, what kinda things will she do? do the senior missionaries proselyte or what?  (She got called to the Nauvoo Illinios Mission, She has to be in Nauvoo next Fri. , Brad is driving with her then flying home)Thats great that McKay got his call. That should be a really good, interesting mission. (he got called to the Independence, Missouri mission) I really really love it here in Brazil Missao Maceio and sometimes I think of how different my mission would be if I was in the states, because here we teach a lot of people that can't read, and its kinda like teaching kids., it´d be cool to teach some educated people and eat a variety of food. and he´ll only have to be in the MTC for 3 weeks!!!! so that's a huge bonus!!! but I know that I'm here for a lot of reasons and I'm loving it here!!! I bet he´ll have a lot of really smart ppl that know the bible cover to cover, so he´ll have to study hard in the bible and the Book of Mormon. I started a letter to him and I have a few others that I still need to send, but I don't know where a mail place is. but I'll send them tomorrow when we go to  Farol for conference. I was gonna go to pay that dude for the covers, but today is a holiday so everything is closed, so I'll do it tomorrow too.


Next weeks is the 6th month mark!!!!! I'm almost a quarter of the way done already!!!!! that's a crazy thought!!!! its going by really fast but slow at the same time. hard to explain... but before we know it we´ll be talking on the phone. and I'm really excited!!!!! (I can't wait for the Christmas call)

Are the kids up to anything special or just the usual?
Is Brian just working a bunch? how's all the neighborhood like Brad and Jordan and Micah? have you seen Matt since his wedding? I still can't believe one of my best friends is married!!! it seems like yesterday we were in 4th or 5th grade playing Nintendo 64 and riding our bike around the neighborhood!!! lol I'm getting old!!!!

lol but what are Bubba and Brookie up to? tell everyone to email me next week!



10/11/10

But I'm doing good and having fun!!!
Love you guys be safe!!!!
Have a good trip Dad you lucky guy!!!!!

Bradley

Monday, November 8, 2010

Hangin in there

Date: Nov. 8, 2010
Area: Tabuliero, Alagoas
Companion: Elder Villanova
From Southern Brazil

Picture taken today


 Bradley's companion has been having a few problems the past few weeks, But he's hangin in there. 
Hey Family!
Not much new has happened this week here either. But this week was better than the last few.

The 2 Elders went home and our house is finally more calm, clean, and there´s a lot more room. They were both really hard ppl to get a long with, but the other ppl are really cool, my comp and the assistants.
It's weird that I live in pure Portuguese now, but its helping me a lot. They had 6 missionaries sharing one house.

Our house is just crappy and gross, we´re working on getting it cleaned up. the Missionaries have lived there for like 7 years or something but we gotta find a new house before the end of the year.

All 4 of the Missionaries share the same bedroom, and each companionship has a study room.
       Bradley's bed has the brown sheets.



I miss my room, carpet, our toilets, a/c snow etc... lol
The floors are tile or cement

I think this is the view out of his bedroom window, not sure


It's getting so hot here its not even funny. I always feel sticky and hot.

Remember how I hurt my arm playing futbol? well its getting worse, and I'm having a hard time sleeping because of it sometimes. Sister Beynon wants me to go get it X-rayed. so we´ll see.

I have no clue about thanksgiving. I dunno that we´ll do anything.

This week we had at least one good thing happen, this random guy that we don't even know asked to be baptized. I know that the Lord is blessing me because the problems we're having are out of my hands. He knows that I'm trying and so he´s providing the rest.
Hopefully He´ll be baptized in the next week or 2 .

I don't really know the ward really well still. But there´s some cool people, the meetings are horrible. People talk about the most random, pointless things and everyone is hecka crazy during sacrament. Some guy shared is testimony for like 20 min. on Sunday about nothing and after some lady got up to the pulpit and started burning him and said he was breaking commandments for taking too long lol. it was awkward/funny.

Tell Cody good luck!!! I'm excited for him. tell him to just suffer through the MTC and the rest is cake, it flies by. (Cody got called to the Moscow, Russia mission) and tell McKay that I'm thinkin that he´ll go to Canada. That's my guess, or somewhere back east.

I hope Brian had a good time at the 10 yrs concert; that was the best concert I went to. I hope those guys are still at it when I get back! who all went?

Still no package...

We're still having choir practice on p-days, its torturous for me but oh well. I always hated singing. ha ha

I'm doing well!!! I'm having a good time here and staying safe!!!

Love you all so much!!!
Bradley

Monday, November 1, 2010

Elder Oaks was Awesome!!

Date: Nov. 1, 2010
Area: Tabuliero, Alagoas
Companion: Elder Villanova
From Southern Brazil

Hey guys!!!!!

Hows it going? This week was good. Elder Oaks was awesome and it was a cool experience to shake the hand of an Apostle. He gave a really great discussion along with his wife, President and Sister Beynon and 2 Seventies. I really learned a lot and it gave me a really great boost to get out and baptize!! All of the talks were great!! Elder Oaks talked about maintaining ourselves spiritually it was a great talk, and it was good to see Elder Thomas and everyone from Aripiraca, He's zone leader now.

I made 5 months!!!! My mission is already almost a quarter of the way finished!!!!

I was completely broke for the last few days because we literally had lunch like 4 times last month, and so I´ll send in a reimbursement but they only give us 2.50 per day if our lunch falls. It really sucks when we don't have lunch.

My house is still crazy but I like it, 2 Elders are ending this week so it´ll be me, Villanova, and the assistants after this week.

We had Christmas choir practice this morning, then we played soccer. I´m still not good by any means compared to the Brazilians, but I´m getting better. but I fell and landed wrong on my wrist, and it´s really bugging me. ha ha I looked like an idiot when I turfed it and it was pretty embarrassing, but what can I do??? lol then after we went to a Churrascaria and ate(like Rodizio) and it was really good, and definitely a lot cheaper than back home.

I did a few divisions with the assistants this week, one of them is really cool, and he speaks English really well. so we teach each other a lot. he´s learned just on the mission.

That's good the kids are all doing good in school. and getting good grades, hows Brookie liking middle school? she seems to small for the seventh grade. lol, and Brian's a senior!!! weird, Bubba´s got his last year at North Star eh?

That's cool Cody´s going to Russia!!!! I´ll think of him when I´m out sweating and wishing for snow. He´ll do great!!!
And I'm glad Micah´s doing good. I love that kid.

Still no packages, I´m stoked for them!!!! I cant wait for good, American food and stuff. but packages take sometimes 2 months or more. so it still could take a while.

My cases are cool huh? I like them, my scrips were getting hammered.

I love you Mom, your a great example and I´m so greatful for all of the things you do for me, I'm realizing now how much of a pain I was for you, now that I have to clean up all of my crap and do everything. ha ha

We had some good investigators at church. so hopefully we can get some batismos soon.
I love you all!!! be safe!!!!! I'm doing great and having a blast!!!!!!

Elder Ludlow

Monday, October 25, 2010

Hey Guys, I Love you!!!

Date: Oct. 25, 2010
Area: Tabuliero, Alagoas
Companion: Elder Villanova
From Southern Brazil

Elder Villanova and Bradley are on the ends

This week was okay, it was kinda crazy cause we´re having a lot of problems with some missionaries so I did a lot of divisions. I stayed at the zone leaders house for like 3 days with the same clothes, and no money. I even used a towel for a blanket. ha ha But I met some really cool Elders and we found some good investigators and stuff. so yeah I didn´t work in our area at all this week. so I have some pics but not a lot of good ones. I´ll start taking a lot

We had interviews with President this week, and I really liked it, he gave me a lot of great advice and said exactly what I needed to hear! It was a really good boost for me.

Yeah I know Elder Stembridge. I lived with him for the first few days of my mission. He´s cool.

Yeah I got Jill's letters a few days ago I started writing them back, I´ll send it this week. I have a lot of letters to write, its just hard to find the time...

Elder Oaks is coming this week!!! It's gonna be really cool. I´m excited. I just hope that I don´t get called on to do a practice or anything. My zone and another zone are also doing a choir thing. I hate it but I have to do it. lol I´m not really the singing type as you know. but We´ll go around and sing at Catholic churches and stuff, today we had practice and then played soccer. Then I made some tasty french toast.

My scripture cases came I´ll send pics I love them!!!! If You and Dad want some I can order them. I still have to pay the guy btw...


           Bradley's personalized scripture cases


I got an email from Ryan and he sounded really good. He´s killing spiders the size of small plates and yelling funny stuff at people in English, ya know typical Ryan stuff ha ha I love that kid!!!! (Ryan is serving in Guatemala)
That's good Matt´s married, now he can work on getting to the temple.
That's crazy that one of my best friends is married!!!! I'm old lol.

BRIAN!!!!!!!!! nice buck!!!!!!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!!! that makes me trunky!!!! That's a huge deer I'm proud buddy. ps yes you can use my gun if you ask nicely you weenie. ha ha man I can't wait to go hunting. that's one of the things I miss most. How wide is that bad boy?
That deer really brightened up my day though, congrats Brian. I hope Bubba gets one now too!!!!

I wish it was snowing here I´m just roasting in unexplainable agony. I can't describe to you how it feels, it's so hot and humid I feel like I always need to shower and my face is always breaking out. but its fun... I just miss Utah lol.

But yeah this week was crazy/ a little stressful!!!!!
Just pray for me.

Love you mom!!!!!!
I´m realizing how much you did for me before the mish.

Be Safe!
I Love you all,
Bradley

PS I liked brooke´s spider cake and stuff!!!!!
All the Brazilians talk about Halloween.
They don´t have it here and think it´s so cool!!!!!

Monday, October 18, 2010

New Area, New Companion

Date: Oct. 18,2010
Area: Tabuliero/Alagoas
Companion: Elder Villanova
From Southern Brazil

Hey!!!!!
How is everything going? Sorry about last week, we went to 2 different LAN houses and they both didn´t have internet. So I had to type it on word and go back that night to send my email. I knew mom would be waiting for my email.

Yeah Elder Dinwiddie is a cool kid. we did a few divisions and hung out on p-days. that´s cool he has a blog too.

I´m in Maceio, my area is called Tabuliero. My comps is Elder Villanova. He´s way cool, he´s from Southern Brazil and has a cool accent. He´s flying straight to SLC to live there after the mission so I´m gonna try and teach him English, but it´s gonna be a challenge.

I´m living with 5 other Brazilians and it´s crazy!!!! 2 are going home in 3 week so their just chillin with us until then.  Our apartment is pretty nasty and crowded, but our ward seems pretty good, the church is really nice and stuff but the area I´m in is a lot more ghetto and dirty, it´s almost all dirt roads and theirs a ton of people in the street. I´m still trying to get used to the area and meet everyone. This area baptizes a lot more than where I was so I´m excited to work.

Right now we just finished playing soccer, it was okay... but I didn´t know we were gonna email so I didn´t bring my camera. :(   but next week I´ll send a ton of pics. sorry.

I had a letter in the office, and some Elders grabbed it for me but they left it at a store....they are going back to get it right now so I hope it isn´t lost... I´ll be bummed I have no idea who it´s from.

I´ll send Ryan a quick email and see how that kid´s doing... I bet it´s pretty sketchy in Guatamala, especially for a 6 ft 8 white kid.

I hope Matt´s wedding and everything is good. where are they gonna live? you should send me an announcement.

Tell Cody that he´s gonna go to the Brazil, Manaus mission, their building a temple there that you have to use a boat to get there. Brasil is the place to be!

I´m glad Mckay is getting ready to go. I got a letter from him this week, so that was cool.
and I got one from Melanie. Sounds like things are good with Kort and Aust and having Kylee away at school!

I can't wait for my packages!!!! I´m excited and I hope that they don´t take too long!!! I´m scared tho living with so many Brazilians that they won´t last too long. I´m gonna have to ration everything out, the minute that we got settled in they started wanting my stuff. one dude offered me 100 reals for that pair of Nike gym shorts. lol

We taught a few lessons this week and I got to know a few people in the ward. I still don´t really know my way around the area, I think we have 1 baptism marked.

We live right next to a church and it´s so annoying!!! they scream and speak in tongues and all that fun stuff... it´s pretty funny to listen to sometimes. theirs so many churches in Brazil it´s a joke.

Well guys... be safe. I hope you have a good time up in Logan. Tell dad to keep his eyes on the road this time ha ha so he doesn´t crash again.

It´s getting so hot here it´s almost unbearable. I was not made for this heat!!! it´s gonna get way hotter too!!!!!

Well guys I love you.
I wanna tell you guys that I know that this church is true. That we are the only people that have the authority to baptize and that has a true prophet. I know that the Book Of Mormon is true, and that it was translated by Joseph Smith, a prophet of god. I know that I am called here to bring people unto Christ through baptism and receiving the gift of the holy ghost. and that my life will be blessed for this sacrifice´.
Elder Ludlow

Monday, October 11, 2010

TRANSFERRED

Date: Oct. 11, 2010
Area: Arapiraca, Alagoas
Companion: Elder Thomas
From Herriman, Utah


Hey guys, This week was pretty good. I got transferred but I don’t know where to. We'll go to a meeting in Maceio tomorrow and I'll find out. Wherever I go I'll probably be there for like 4 transfers. The president said we'll be in our areas for like 6 months. So I hope I go somewhere good lol.

 Rosevans kid Dawane started to cry at church when I told him I was leaving… sad. That was pretty tough for me. I never thought I'd get attached to these crazy people but there's some people that I really liked in this ward.

Jose, Rosevan, Dawne, Roseli, Elder DinWiddie, Elder Ludlow

  I went and played ball for the last time with my comp today. It was fun but the heat is coming…. The sun here is so strong! I'm gonna miss Elder Thomas,He's a good guy!     Its been really cool to have a companion that has the same friends and stuff. And that I can tease for hugging his girlfriend last. Lol I always remind him of that haha.,

   This week we went to a pizza place because an elder from my zone went home and we ate so much pizza. I came in third place with 23 pieces. My comp was the champ with a solid 32 pieces of pizza. He puked when we got home. Ha ha.


All you can eat Pizza
 The pic of me with that sausage is what we've been eating for the last 2 weeks. I'm SO sick of it. We bought the huge one to save money but it got old really fast. It makes me think of how dad feels about bologna sandwiches. I shiver just thinking about it. Lol,

   We also went and tagged up a kid in our wards room. Elder Thomas did graffiti before the mish and a family let us paint a room all up. I did a nice tag of my favorite treat here…caico. Elder Thomas did a beautiful pig with the word oink. It was pretty awesome. He's way better at it than me but it was fun. I guess elder oaks is coming to the mission later this month. If I go to Sergipe I won't be there. But I'm way excited.

Elder Hooke said he was doing good.(they emailed each other) I guess he's been with a slacker for the last little bit but he got transferred. It sounds like he's missing Alabam tho. Because you come here and are so lost… you don’t have an idea of whats going on… Church drove me nuts at first. and the people make fun of you and you have no clue. But I'm getting it, I'm to the point that I can get the point across okay, but I still have so much to learn.

 The LAN house is faulting internet so I'm typing this on Microsoft word hopefully I can send it today.
   Julie and Joe look good at the baptism. You guys should send me more pics from home over the mail,

 Is Trevor still planning on a mish? I wish some of my buddies would hurry and get out so I'm not all alone when I get home. Ky said Austin Morris is in Georgia. That’s sick. I hope Micah and Mckay and Seth and those guys get out soon. Cody should be leaving soon shouldn't he?

 I'm hoping I'll finish the B.O.M in Portuguese by Christmas. It's tough reading for me but I'll try. I need to practice my reading and writing a lot more. I feel like a child when I have to read some things out loud.

  So tomorrow I'll get my new comp. and area. Wish me luck! I'm stoked! I'll let you know next week where I end up.
 Love you all, be safe and have fun!!!!
Bradley

PS the internet was down so I'm sorry it's late.
 love you guys


Home made Pizza






Monday, October 4, 2010

oi, como foi a semana?

Date: Oct. 4, 2010
Area: Arapiraca, Alagoas
Companion: Elder Thomas
From Herriman, Utah

      Hey, This week was really good, We watched conference and I was really happy that it was in English. They had a separate room for us to watch. We watched all of the sessions and I really enjoyed it, it was nice to hear it in English and I really got a lot out of it. I loved all of the talks and I really felt the Spirit when the Prophet spoke. I love all of the Apostles and I know that what they have to say is the most important thing that we can follow. This was for sure the most spiritual conference for me yet in my life.

    Elder Hooke has it rough, but you learn so fast in the mission he´ll catch on really fast.
 I´m glad that my father is tight and speaks English. not just that, he's from the 801!!! ha ha


      This week we faulted water for 2 or 3 days. Welcome to Brazil, back home if you won't have water between 2 and 3 am they send notices months in advance and people still flip out. ha ha here people go weeks. it sucks when that happens.

      Tell grandma to send more peanut butter, and mac and cheese, some candies and junk food, ties(can´t have enough, just go to d.i. though don't buy nice ones) maybe a box of captain crunch. (but the only milk we drink here is powdered, they sell straight milk but it´s in a coke bottle and i don´t know if i trust it.) just remember I'm gonna have a Brazzie companion and so send enough stuff for them too,  Man I miss American food.   Here all the meat and stuff is hecka sketchy, like it´s just hanging outside on hooks and stuff. this week Elder Thomas and I had this meat and I cut it open and it was yellow. it literally tasted like how wet dog food smells. Elder Thomas loaded my plate up too.   I also ate a chicken head. it was okay.
I miss just going to the kitchen and grabbing a bowl of cereal or ice cream.

    It's getting hot here. I´m sleeping with a fan every night now, but  I guess it gets unbearable.   I already am dripping with sweat within 5 minutes of leaving the house. I need gold bond by the way too lol I´m almost out, that stuff has become my best friend.

    We baptized Rafael on Saturday between sessions, it went well, except he didn´t really want to go under, his friend had to try like 8 times to get it right, it was cool though.

       Transfers are next week so this is my last week with my father. we don´t know who will stay and who will go because we arrived together in the area. We both kinda wanna go just because the ward won´t be the same without the buddies in the ward. One left this week and one will leave tomorrow, one is going to Sao Paulo and one to Joao Pessoa(north of Recife)



      Today we played uno and chilled at another Elder´s house for a while. I really wanna take a nap if I can.

     I hope my packages get here soon!!! I can´t wait I'm so excited!!!
I hope all is great there in Riverton.

         That's cool Jannette is having a girl, she´ll be big by the time I meet her.

I hope the kids are all doing good and having fun!!!

When will the boys go hunting?
I'm kinda outta things to say, but just know that I love you and I´m safe and strong and tearing it up here in the mish!!!
Be good everyone and be safe!!!

Batizador Ludlow


Baptisms between conference sessions on Sat.



 

Monday, September 27, 2010

We are still taking cold showers and we think our attic is infested with rats, and our electricity is messed up.

Date: Sept. 27, 2010
Area: Arapiraca, Alagoas
Companion: Elder Thomas
From Herriman, Utah

Hey family!!!! How are you??? This week was good. I´ve been doing a lot of divisions because Elder Thomas Is District Leader. So yeah that was cool.


So Julie and Joe are getting baptized!!! Joga na agua!!! Batiza PÔ!!! That’s cool!!! I never realized how important baptism is until the mish. It’s so crazy how many scriptures and stuff there is about baptism. That’s really good.... they’ll both have such a fresh start!!!

   We’ll baptize a 23 year old guy named Refeal on Saturday... Which is good cuz we’re really trying to find men, we have to focus on men over 18 cuz their hard to baptize He’s already thinking about a mission. He’s firmey.

But yeah not a lot happened this week... we played basketball today for p-day. It was way fun I bought some sweet cow skin sandals with fur and stuff. Their hecka ugly but their sick!!! they were cheap too.
 But other than that we´re just teaching and chillin´


Hecka Ugly shoes

We are marking a ton of baptisms but people keep falling, nobody will wake up and go to church.

I´m praying for President Mickelson... I got a letter from the stake presidency, it was nice. I hope he starts doing better what kind of cancer does he have?

I wrote grandma this week... Tell her thanks for everything! I’ll write my other grandparents this week. but yeah I don´t know about grandma´s book... I don´t think we have it.

When I get your package I´ll try and download your pics and letters, if not I´ll load the pics onto my sd card and develop them. I hope that jerky stays good... I´m excited.  I don´t need cd´s anymore. I got a bunch of music from an Elder in my district so I´m all good.

How´s school going??? Thats good brians working a lot,  Is he going on dates with anyone? Tell him to take advantage of it before the mish... lol Na zinca! Thats awesome alec got homecoming king. I bet he was SO happy:)

Did dad enjoy the concert? Did he feel young again or old and worn out? ( Brad and Lane went to KISS last week)

Well I don´t have any cool or interesting stories this week, so sorry if this week kinda sucks.

We´re just making pancakes, playing nerf ball, studying, baptizing the people of brazil, dodging snakeys(Girls) making pizza (the pizza here has no sauce) and thats about it. We are still taking cold showers and we think our attic is infested with rats, and our electricity is messed up. maybe evan can fix it? :D

All of the cool kids are leaving on missions so the ward is gonna suck after this week, these kids are so funny! the English that they´ve picked up from the Elders is so funny and random!!
Is ryan in the field yet?

Oh yeah so Friday we´re going to the assembly of God, a church that hates us, we made a deal that if a guy goes to our church, we´d go to his, so yeah thats gonna be quite the experience. I really can´t stand this church. it´s a joke we can hear them yelling stuff about us. a lot of the churches here are just straight up apostasia. so we´ll definately get some stink eyes there, but I hope everyone is doing good. I´m surving here. my stomach is better. I hope it stays that way.

One of these weeks we´re going fishing.  I´m stoked. We´ll use bamboo poles and everything, its just far away.

So yeah keep sending pics and stuff, it keeps me going...
Love you guys! Be safe!!!

Elder Ludlow


I found some pictures on a Sister Missionary's blog. They were at a district meeting.