Friday, July 30, 2010

Email from President Beynon

Jodi,
Yes, he finally arrived and we are excited to have him with us. He has been involved in training for the past 3 days he has been here, has received his trainer, and will be going to his new area after participating in a baptism later today. He is healthy, strong and excited for the work. You will receive shortly a picture of him with us to confirm his arrival. We are so grateful for him and your support of him in the mission.
Presidente Beynon

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

It's crazy how much better I can speak Portuguese when I'm feeling the spirit.

Date: July 20, 2010
Area: Brazil CTM, Sao Paulo
Companion: Elder Marx
From Arizona

Sao Paulo - Taken from the CTM window

Hey, Hey
    Hey family!!! Hows it going? I'm doing good here in Sao Paulo its really fun to go around Sao Paulo.
We had to teach a full lesson to Brazilians the first Saturday we got here. It's crazy how much better I can speak Portuguese when I'm feeling the spirit.
   On Friday we went and passed out Books of Mormon, we passed out all 6 in about an hour and 20 minutes. It's hard to understand the people cause their so fast but it went pretty well. I taught one guy for like 20 minutes about the restoration. Then we went and toured a big cathedral with Irmano(Brother) Zamboni my teacher. The place where they took us was crazy!!! It was so busy and there were so many people.

Sao Paulo
   
       Elder Marx is cool... I really miss Elder Hooke though. I haven't seen any of my buddies from Provo, none of them have recieved their visas as of a few days ago. They'll probably end up re assigned somewhere till it comes which sucks because thier Portuguese will suffer. It's crazy how much more we learn here. I still can't understand a lot but I know enough to teach gospel stuff and thats all that matters. Today's the last p day in the CTM!!! We all went to a Rodizio and ate with Brother Zamboni it was so good! It was only like 15 reals so like 9 bucks and we all ate a ton! The food here(at the CTM) is of higher quality than Provo but we dont get choices, and I hate the bologna sandwiches for breakfast everyday. ha ha! 
     I bought some postcards of Sao Paulo but I dunno when I can send them. And I got a Temple schedule for my collection... I love the Sao Paulo Temple. It's not huge but they have awesome dark mahogony and sweet stained glass windows.
   Yes I get your letters. It'll be nice to have in the field cause I just send it there and they email it to you.
All the people going to Maceio left today so I'll be 1 week behind the transfer. Elder Chandler (the one we met at the missionary mall) is the only American I think plus 2 in Provo but theirs a bunch if Brazilians.
   The Brazilians are so cool and funny they are obsessed with iron maiden and all of the 80s metal bands.
It's just Elder Marx and I in our room till Thurs. then we'll have Brazilians for about 4 days till I go to Maceio. It's crazy its only a week away. I dunno when I'll email again I'm not sure when pday is but I'll try and call.
I hope Bri had a nice birthday!!! Tell him I love him.
I love you all!! Be safe and be good .
I think the flight to Maceio is like 5 or 6 hrs. hopefully I can call. Oh and tell Dad the cable lines are crazy here lol.  They don't let us take our cameras out in Sao Paulo or I would take pics. and theirs not really trucks so people just strap ladders on little geos and stuff. It's pretty funny!!!
      Love you all, say hi to the cousins and all of my friends.
Oh and hows Alvin?   does he go to church?
 Love ya, bye

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Awsome Experience

Date: July 15, 2010
Area: Brazil CTM, Sao Paulo
Companion: Elder Marx
From Arizona

I found Elder Marx Blog - Bradley's companion- and he wrote about an experience that they had, so I called and asked for permision to put it on Bradley's blog. ( Bradley lost half of his last letter so maybe he wrote about it then didn't have time to write it again- who knows) 
"We had a really cool experience this week though. We got here in São Paulo and Elder Ludlow (my new companion) and I had to handle this really difficult TRC scenario two days later while everyone else had been prepping for it all week. What happened was we had fifteen minutes to try to teach this family and after that we get pulled out and critiqued and then we tried again. Well the first time was just plain terrible. For some reason I couldn't speak any Português for the life of me and Elder Ludlow was the same. It was awful. Let's just say our professor who critiqued us had plenty to cover. Before we went back in we said a prayer and asked for help so we could speak the language and understand what was being said. When we got back in there, Elder Ludlow just took off with practically perfect Português. It was seriously amazing. It was seriously the gift of tongues and the spirit kicking in and we taught what we needed. Amazing. I just need that help 24/7 now..."
Thank you Courtney for letting me take this from Elder Marx Blog, it made me cry

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Email from Branch President 7/14/10

Greetings from Brazil,
We are Elder and Sister Pratt. We are serving as a senior missionary couple here in São Paulo. On the weekends we have the privilege of serving as your son’s branch president in the MTC. We want you to know that he is doing great! We love being with him and the rest of his district each week. It is one of the highlights of our mission.
We are also privileged to attend the temple with him fairly regularly. Yesterday was one of those times. We snapped a couple of pictures of him with his district and with us in front of the São Paulo Temple.
We love this work, and we love your son,
Abraços,
Elder and Sister Pratt


There was 2 pictures but Bradley was cut off in the other one.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Wow 2 letters in 1 day! 7/13/10

Date: July 13, 2010
Area: Brazil CTM, Sao Paulo


So I just went out and got the mail and there was a letter from Bradley!
Hey Family! Bom Dia!
How's life going? It was nice to talk to all of you on the phone.
Today was my first day in the Brazil MTC! My flight went well.
I love it here already!
On our way to the MTC the van broke down, so the driver just stops in the middle of the freeway and starts working on the van. Then a truck pulled us to the side of the freeway and we had to stand on the side for like an hour and a half while another van came to get us.
The city is sweet! There's so many little houses all piled together.
I'm stoked for p-day we pretty much have a mile radius around the CTM that we can just walk around and check out.
The Brazilian Elders are way nice, they love to teach you and want to learn English.
This MTC is way smaller. There's only 200 people here compared to 2500-3000.
I'll try and figure out how to send pictures when I email.
I still don't know when p-day is
This place seems way more chill than Provo.
I'm way stoked to be here!
Hope all is well!
Love Ya!     TCHAU!
Love, Bradley

First email from Brazil

Date: July 13, 2010
Area: Brazil CTM, Sao Paulo
Companion: Elder Marx
From Arizona

I asked him to tell me if his companion is American or Brasilian, does he speak English, I wanted to know everything he's been doing too. but his computer shut down and he lost his first letter and he only gets 30 min. so this is a short one. we will anxiously await next weeks letter.

Hello from Brazil!!
Hey family! I'm doing good here in Brazil.... it´s way better than Provo.
After I finish emailing I get to go explore Sao Paulo. The temple here is really neat, they have some cool stained glass windows. The traffic here is crazy!!! people drive like maniacs and the motorcycles are nuts. I really like it here. this MTC is way more relaxed I like being able to talk to the Brazilians, it helps a ton to be able to understand them and learn new words. We get snack time here and Sunday naps, it's all around just more relaxed.
       That sucks about Elder Hooke, yeah his eyes were wierd a couple times when I was there but I guess its still happening. (Elder Hooke's Mom emailed me and told me she got a call from the MTC and he's having eye problems and had to go see a specialist, keep him in your prayers)
I love Sao Paulo. This weekend I go to downtown SP and give out Book of Mormons. I'm stoked but nervous.
My district is 22b and my box is 22.
   The language is good but now that I've heared real Portuguese I realize how slow I am.
My comp is Elder Marx I can't wait to get to Maceio. I've met quite a few Americans and Brasilians going there. its gonna be so cool only 2 more weeks.
Hows everything at home? hows the house? did you get my first letter???
Hope all is well I'm doing great here so stop worrying.
Sorry this is so short the comp shut off and I lost like half of my letter.
oh yeah I can only send mail on pday I guess, so you won't get a letter for at least a week.
I miss you all and love you!!! be safe and be good!!!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Letter From MTC President 7/7/10



Date: 7/7/10
Area: Brazil MTC
Companion: ??



Dear Parents, We are happy to send the good news that your missionary has arrived safely at the Brazil MTC. What a great joy and privilege it is to greet each missionary as they come through the front door of the MTC for the first time. We promise to take good care of your missionary. They now have companions and are settled into their rooms. They are assigned to a district with capable and caring instructors for language and lesson study. The branch presidents and their wives, will soon give them a second greeting. These couples are rewarded in their callings through the love they always develop as they embrace and watch over the missionaries. The MTC has a full time live-in physician to care for their health needs. He is assisted by his able wife. We are also happy to report that the Cafeteria food is abundant and very good. Your missionary will be able to e-mail home on Preparation Day after a morning at the Temple. This will be either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on individual assignments. Your very important young person is about to make an eternal difference in the lives of others. We hope you will be encouraged and comforted by this quote by President Lorenzo Snow: “There is no mortal man that is so much interested in the success of an elder [sister] when he is preaching the gospel as the Lord that sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord’s children.”
Please accept our love,
President Donald L Clark and Sister Zaza Clark

ADDITIONAL information . . . DO not send packages to the Brazil Missionary Training Center. All packages must be sent directly to the mission where your missionary will be serving not the MTC. If you have already mailed a package to the Brazil MTC and it arrives after your missionary has left for the field, please understand that the package can not be forwarded to his or her mission and will be returned to you. The only other option is for us to open the package and forward the letters and photographs, giving the rest of the content of the package to the missionaries that are here. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE SENDING HAND WRITTEN LETTERS. Please write your missionary´s first and last name. Your missionary will provide you with his district and box number. Also, please DO NOT SEND ANYTHING BY FEDEX, DHL, UPS, or other private carriers. The cost to get this type of correspondence is exorbitant.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Brazil Bound!

Date: July 6, 2010


Bradley called us from the Atlanta airport at about 7:00pm He sounded really good. He's really excited to get to Brazil. I think he's a little bit home sick, but also nervous. He will get to Sao Paulo at 8:15 am Brazil time. (5:15 am our time) It was good to hear his voice. He only had a half hour to talk and that was not long enough to answer all of our questions. He bore his testimony to us in Portuguese and it was awesome!! He said he will be at the CTM (that's what they call the MTC) until July 27th then he'll go out into the field. Lets pray that he gets a good trainer once he's out there. I can't wait to get letters from Brazil. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long!

Friday, July 2, 2010

I'm so glad I got my Visa!

Date: July 2, 2010
Area: Provo MTC, Utah
Companion: Elder Hooke
From Ventura, California


OLA!
Hey family! How are you all? I'm doing great!! I'm so glad that I got my visa!!!! there was like 10 that came in on Tuesday, some people will go straight to the field though. I'll call you at the airport. and if dad is at work I'll try and call his cell. it was good to call home and to see mom. (I drove by the MTC after having lunch with Brad on Wed. Bradley's district was walking back to the MTC from playing soccer. I rolled down my window and Said Hi. Bradley said "That's my mom" then all of the elders waved and said hi sister Ludlow! I waved and then the light turned green. He looked really good. And I recognized his companion Elder Hooke from the pictures, him and Bradley waved a couple of times before I had to turn the corner) it's wierd when you see family it feels like your breaking the rules or something! Thanks for the package. I'm gonna start gathering stuff to send home tonight.
 Elder Hooke sent his visa stuff like 2 weeks after me. I'm the 3rd from my district to go but one of them already had thier visa but accidentaly got sent here. I think I'm gonna be the last group to go to Sao Paulo. I think everyone else will have to finish here and go straight to the field. I'm stoked for the MTC in Sao Paulo!!! I get to go walk around on the street on p-day to all of the little stores and stuff, there's like a 3 block radius. plus they bus us to a street about as busy as wall street or something to contact people. My flight leaves at around 2 and I'll get to Atlanta at 7:40 then leave at I think 9:40 then get to Sao Paulo at 8:15 am their time. I can't wait I'm stoked!!! I bet I'll be behind on the language but it's gonna be overwhelming anyways.
I'm not gonna give anyone my email address cause there's no time. I dont even have enough time to read your emails and respond. but in the field I'll probably have an hour. so last Friday night there was a devotional with 8 Apostles and Quentin Cook spoke, then M. Russell Ballard talked in my priesthood meeting. All of the brethren were here sometime last weekend. pretty cool!!!
 I'm gonna pack on Sunday and Monday and try to make the weight work. With the carry on bag I should be good. Well hope all is well I'm doing great!!! Everyone is super jealous and gives me crap cause I got my visa. lol I'm sad to leave my district, there's some kids from Utah that we have already planned to chill when we get back!!!
 That sucks Brasil lost!!! I was hoping I would be there when they played it's supposed to be CRAZY!!! the whole country literally closes down when they play.
I love you all and hope everything is going good! be safe and be good! hope work and stuff is going good!
oh yeah I cleaned the temple, we scrubbed the lockers, it was nasty and so long we scrubbed them for 3 and a half hours. but it was cool to be in the temple.
well love you all!!!
 love elder ludlow