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!

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





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



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

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




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.

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

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

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

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