Lazy Bums

Date: November 7, 2011

Area: Paraíso, Alagos

Companion: Elder Devitry

From: Smithfield, Utah

Hey guys!! How was everyone?


This week was pretty good, just a normal week. It rained like all week... it was nice because it wasn´t so hot but my shoes are full of holes so my feet were wet like all week... I hope you guys sent my new shoes, I don’t know how much longer I can stand these ones... but today it´s super-hot again and sunny.

So yeah all of our investigators are pretty much just lazy bums... except this one girl we found. Her name is Edjane, she’s probably like 25ish. she is a member of this church that everyone calls the church of the veil. the women use veils during the meetings. But she had some good questions and we taught the plan of salvation. other elders had taught her a lot already. but she prayed and got an answer, but her family doesn´t want her to have anything to do with us. She went to church and we were upstairs because she was a little late, and she was too shy to go in and so she left. Bummer eh? I felt bad, but we´ll get her to go this week and I think she´ll be baptized. Before she prayed she said that she was 100 percent sure that her church was right for her, but then she prayed and is way more open.

Still no Halloween package, but we have zone conference on the 15th so I´ll probably get it there.

You got snow? Man, I miss the snow. Today we went and played b-ball at the church, and I wore a cutoff shirt and I got super sunburned. It´s so hot all the time, even at night it´s super-hot. We are going to try and start getting up at like 6 to go play ball at the church, we just got to see if they will give us a key to the gate, and let us keep the ball at our house.

Last night we went and had a barbeque at a member’s house. There´s this lady named Vanessa and her husband Afranio, they are the coolest members in the branch. They always take care of us. I still haven’t taken a pic with them but I will send one this week I didn’t take pics because of the rain, and I can’t really carry my camera in this area, there’s always robberies and shootings.

My comp is a funny guy; he always makes weird jokes...

We will go to a member's house for family home evening tonight. It's a girl who just got back from her mission. She helps us out.
But not a whole lot going on besides this, I hope school and work and everything is going good. Have a great week.

Be good everyone and be safe.
Love, Bradley

Happy Halloween

Date: October 31, 2011

Area: Paraíso, Alagos

Companion: Elder Devitry

From: Smithfield, Utah

Hey Guys!!!
It´s crazy it's Halloween, it sucks that they don't celebrate it here. Today is Elder Beckers birthday so we´ll go to a members and eat cake tonight...




This week was a lot of hard work, we have been knocking a lot of doors, just to try something different. we taught a lot of people and found some people that seem really interested in the gospel, just that no one went to church. that's the hardest thing is to get people to go...

Our best investigator right now is a woman named Brenda. she is about 28 and is super elect. we gave her a Book of Mormon and she is very interested, but she had family in town and couldn't go to church.
 Elder Soares found her when he went to the dentist. she works there as an assistant. we will invite her to baptism tomorrow.

There´s this girl in the branch who got home from her mission this week, we went to the church and she was there getting released... that´s gonna be weird lol. but yeah so she´s super excited to help us and give references. so we´ll leave with her and find some baptisms.

Congrats Bubba on the big buck! nice rack... can´t wait till next year. Dustin shot a nice buck too.

My comp´s foot is better. He´s walking fine and stuff now.


So Brian's back at smiths, did he cut his hair yet?? I bet he´s excited to start school.

Not a whole lot more going on... I love you guys.

I´m loving the mission and growing a lot. I hope that you guys have a great week!!! I know this church is true. Jesus is our Savior and he loves us.
Love Elder Ludlow

Fabiano's baptism

Date: October 24, 2011

Area: Paraíso, Alagos
Companion: Elder Devitry
From: Smithfield, Utah



Elder Devitry, Fabiano, Elder Ludlow



Hey Guys!!
This week was alright... I got my new companion, Elder Devitry. He´s from Smithfield, Utah. He´s a really cool guy. But he has a broken foot though so he´s just been taking it easy. He broke it playing basketball. He´s another big white blonde kid. So everyone just stares at us and always asks us if we´re brothers.

So I was doing some divisions and stuff at the start of the week. But then I got super sick... I got the flu, so I was all achy and congested and stuff. And I had a bad fever... this went on for like 4 days. I´m feeling a lot better now but I'm still all congested and have a cough... So this week we didn’t really get a whole lot done... except that I baptized Fabiano on Sunday... it was really good and he was excited. I like that kid a lot.


Fabiano's Baptism 10/23/11



That´s crazy that Brian´s moving to St. George. It´ll be good for him, and yeah I know Riley, he´s a cool kid.

That´s nuts that Josh is in the marines, and the he left so soon, I haven’t seen him for like 3 years.

I´ll send a picture for a Christmas card next week, I just gotta think of a good photo.

I´ll email McKay a happy birthday.
Love you guys, not a whole lot happened this week, this next week should be better, my companions foot is getting better.

Miss you
Elder Ludlow

Getting a new companion

Date: October 17, 2011

Area: Paraíso, Alagos

Companion: Elder Soares

From: Minas Gerais, Brazil

Oi família!!!


How is everyone doing??? did everyone have a good week???? sorry i´m sending this so late, the Internet was out all day today in my area..

This week was good. we´ve been working with Jaqsons cousin, Fabiano, and we tried to baptize him this week.. but he drank coffee so it´ll have to be next week. he´s an awesome investigator, he understands the messages really well and practically asked to be baptized. he´s really interested about serving a mission. we also confirmed Jaqson, but Junior got the chicken pox, he´s all covered in bumps so it´ll have to be next week. but they are both way excited about the church and are doing good...

We had transfers, and I am staying. I´m happy. Elder Soares and Elder Faria will be transferred. so me and my red headed homeboy Elder Becker are staying in the house with new companions.

The mail here and banks are all on strike.. it´s been like 2 weeks, but they said this Thursday it should all be figured out... I´ve got a bunch of letters to send. I hope they stop the strike soon cause I need my shoes soooo bad, mine are completely worn through and the top is splitting out.

Summer finally started here. it´s getting so hot!!!

I couldn´t do English class this week, I had to go do 3 baptismal interviews this week.

Today we went and visited some members, then my comp went to the hospital... I stayed with Elder Noyes. he got a prescription for his foot.

I always get nervous to get a new comp... I really get along well with Elder Soares, he´s been one of my best companions. he´s a really hard worker.

Family I want you to know that I know that this church is true. I know that we have a true prophet who talks to God and leads this church. I know that God answers our prayers when we pray with faith and are worthy. that an invite to baptism is the only way that I can help these people progress. I love you all and am doing good. the mission is flying by...


This lan house doesn´t take pen drives so I will send fotos next week.. of me and my new comp....


Have a great week... love you all!



boys, cut your hair.



Elder Ludlow

Date: October 10, 2011

Area: Paraíso, Alagos

Companion: Elder Soares

From: Minas Gerais, Brazil

Hey everybody!!!!

This week was pretty good. not a whole lot going on... last Wednesday I went to a mission leadership training. it was pretty good. and I did a division with Elder Noyes it was pretty fun. he´s from West Jordan. he is like 2 transfers behind me. we are gonna fo sho chill after the mish.

 I started the English class this week. it was pretty good, but we didn´t tell a lot of people about it because of conference... we also had ward counsel yesterday...

We´ve been teaching some good people, but they never go to church!!! that´s our biggest difficulty right now, but Jaqson´s cousin, Fabiano, will be baptized pretty soon. he es very interested in the church, especially a mission. we didn´t confirm our baptism this week. junior went outta town and Jaqson's family had some problem with drug dealers that live in in the same grota. the cops busted them and everyone in the favela says that Jaqson's mom told on them... so we went over there on Saturday and it was a big confusion... and he ended up not going to church... so we´ll pass by tomorrow...

Today I went to the doctor, my com has a problem with his foot, he had a surgery a while ago and it is hurting him... going to the doctors in Brazil is not fun... it´s sooo slow there. so that´s about all I did today.

I´m glad to hear Bri might cut his hair...

That's super bad luck with the truck, I´m glad no one got hurt though  (The wheel fell off as I turned a corner, right after I got it safety inspected)

That's good you went to the temple with the ward, I hecka miss the temple... I'm excited to go.

sorry no pics this week, I came straight from the hospital...

But not much else going on... I´m doing good...

I got that letter from the primary... I'll write them back...

Love you, I know the church is true, I love the gospel, and I'm happy to be in Maceió serving the lord...

Love Bradley

General Conference and Baptisms

Date: October 3, 2011

Area: Paraíso, Alagos

Companion: Elder Soares

From: Minas Gerais, Brazil

Hey family,
Another week came and went in the mission field. It was really awesome to watch General Conference. I watched it all besides priesthood, I liked the talks. I dunno if it was just cuz I´m a missionary, but it seemed like they all talked a bunch about missionary work. It was all in Portuguese, They didn´t have the English TV set up. I love the prophet. I felt the spirit so strong when he was speaking, and especially when he was sustained as a leader and prophet of the church.

On Saturday we baptized 2 rapazes. Jaqson and Junior, they both are great young men and will help this branch out a lot. My area is good. I feel like the youth here are way more accepting than adults in this area.



10-2-11



10-2-11

I got an email from my son( Elder Carniero) that he baptized Maelli, a girl I taught with him in Grageru 2. That made me super happy, she was an awesome investigator.

But it´s going pretty good here, we are probably gonna start an English class here in this area; we might start this Saturday...

Thanks for all of the pics. It looks like you guys had a good weekend. Cut you hair Brian and Brandon!
(We went fishing)

It´s starting to get freakin hot. I´m not looking forward to the summer heat.

This Wednesday I have to go to an all-day leadership training.

How´s everyone doin? That’s crazy Kendrick is going to Thailand. (Mission Call)

Dad is super funny, he is just so proud of his new truck. I know how he absolutely loves to get a good deal. I can’t believe he got such a good deal, it´s good to know how to work on cars né?

I´m doing good here, I´m glad to have baptized!!!!

I know that this church is true. I am glad to be here in Brasil as a missionary.
tchau!!!!!

Love, Elder Ludlow

Pictures of our church

Yesterday I got way sick

Date: September 26, 2011

Area: Paraíso, Alagos

Companion: Elder Soares

From: Minas Gerais, Brazil



Elder Soares and Elder Ludlow
9-19-11



Hey guys!

This week was pretty good. we´re working hard. we had people at church yesterday, we´ll try and baptize them all this week between conference sessions. there´s Junior, Jackson, and Daniel they are all the age to be in the young mens.

Yesterday I got way sick. I went to church, and after lunch was at home, so I tried to eat but felt too crappy. so i just went to bed. i spent the whole day throwing up... it sucks getting sick on the mission. i dunno what it was that i ate. today i feel a little better, just super tired and weak. i dunno what we´re gonna do today for pday, we´re thinking about going bowling again.

I got my package :)  but i liked all the stuff that you sent me.. Tell Lym thanks for the bracelets, they are way cool. just a bummer I couldn't read some of the the letters (they got wet) .... i made some cookies this week! they were so good... they don't have good, soft cookies here.

That's awesome that dad bought a truck, send me a pic. good that he sold the Toyota.  has Brian sold itchy yet? what´s he driving to work and stuff? (Itchy is Brian's 1961 Buick)

I hope Brian had a good time at the 10 years concert, that's good that he´s thinking about college... i´m super stoked to start school!

I´m way excited for general conference this week, i just hope they have it in English, i understand everything way easy in Portuguese, it just sucks with a different voice, it drives me crazy.

I'm feeling pretty crappy, I haven't eaten practically anything since Saturday night.

I hope that work is going good for dad, and that the kids are keeping their grades up.

We had interviews this week with President Gonzaga, it was really cool, we talked about how i´m on the final sprint of my mission and how i have to give it everything i´ve got.
It´s weird how i´m like one of the older missionaries, all of my friends are starting to go home... and theirs a ton of people that i don't know because i spent so much time in Sergipe.


This week, these huge spiders started showing up in our house, so a guy came and sprayed these banana trees behind our house, and they were full of spiders, and cockroaches and stuff. so were gonna cut the trees down, he also sprayed all of the weeds around our house.

but yeah not a whole lot else going on.... i hope everyone has a great week and enjoys conference.

with love
Bradley

oh, i forgot... we had a barbecue at our house this week too, i sent a pic. also, Elder Becker sleeping on the wood. the other elders in our district slept at our house, so we had all 6 of us on the 4 mattresses. Elder Faria kept rolling onto Elder Becker so he went and slept in his bed with no mattress... lolol



Elder Becker



We've been working hard

Date: September 19, 2011

Area: Paraíso, Alagos

Companion: Elder Soares

From: Minas Gerais, Brazil

Hey Guys,
It´s going good here in the area. We´ve been working hard. We have a lot of good investigators, but nobody went to church because it was raining way hard yesterday, so we´ll have to work hard with these people this week to mark their baptisms. We’re teaching 2 brothers and their cousin that play soccer a lot at the church, we marked their baptism but then we found out that their dad is an ex Mormon and hates us, so we´ll have to see what´s up with these kids they really like the church and received answers, but i dunno if the dad will sign the baptismal ficha. We´re also teaching a 14 year old girl, named Leninha and her mom. Leninha already has a kid; they are interested in the church but were all super sick all last week. We´re also teaching a couple that all the kids were baptized, but need to get married. A really nice little family.


It´s pretty ghetto here but i like it it´s super easy to enter the homes and teach people. My area is super, super poor. I´m coming from one of the richest to one of the most humble.. there´s parts of the grotas that are super sketchy. Theirs a bunch of drug traffickers. there’s always hold ups and robberies, but everyone know the Mormons so i feel pretty safe, the branch is kinda weak too as far as the leadership and stuff, and these people destroy the chapel. it´s kinda sad.... but I´m liking it here overall


My comp is way cool. he’s a hard worker and likes to talk lot so he helps me out a bunch.

Today we went bowling for p day. it was super fun. I got the high score of the zone, a whopping 108!!! super weak heh??? lol



Bowling with Zone

 But it was fun. I´ll send some pics. Elder chandler was kind enough to remind me that today he and i made 1 year and 4 months. that means that 2/3 of my mission has passed. crazy... (Elder Chandler is the one we met at the missionary mall when we were shopping for Bradley’s mission)

We helped build a house this week.

I still haven’t gotten any letters or packages, but we have interviews on Wednesday. we will be interviewed to get our new dvd players. we will get use them for comp study to watch trainings.

Thanks everyone for the emails, it sounds like everyone is doing good.

has bubba started driving yet?

Have a great week and be safe.
Bradley

So I'm here in my new area

Date: September 12, 2011

Area: Paraíso, Alagos
Companion: Elder Soares

From: Minas Gerais, Brazil



Elder Ludlow, Elder Soares(in back)  Elder Becker , Elder Faria (on the right)  members of the ward


Hey guys,
So I´m here in my new area!!!! Back to Maceió!!! I forgot how ghetto it is compared to Aracajú!!!

But my new companion Elder Soares is tight.. A big brown kid from Minas Gerais. He´s way cool. He´s from the same group as my son. (been in the mission for about 3 months) I also live with Elder Faria and Elder Becker. Faria is a clown. He´s a good friend.. And Becker is a crazy red headed kid that just makes me laugh. so we all just mess around at home. And I´m still LD here in this area.

My area is extremely poor. It´s all favela (here it´s grota). The church here is cool. This huge two story building. My branch is called Paraíso. We should baptize a lot here, The ward seems pretty cool, but kinda weak, only about 60 at church, mostly youth and women.

But I´m excited To be here. I´m gonna like it here.

Elder Smythe, Elder Redd, and Sister Campos are all gonna go home this transfer, some of my best friends on the mish.

I´m healthy and strong!!! I´m doing really well.. It´s crazy I came back to Maceió and there were a ton of new kids that I didn´t recognize at the meeting. I was in Sergipe for like 8 or 9 months. I think a lot of people thought that I was new lol.

I hope that the family is doing good, it sounds like everything is alright.

Also I forwarded the pic with Elder Godoy (first quorum of the Seventy)  about Elder Goday



September 3, 2011



I love you all, be safe. I know that the church is true, the Book of Mormon is true. Jesus Christ lives and loves us!

Elder Ludlow

Transfered

Date: September 5, 2011

Area: Grageru 2, Sergipe

Companion: Elder Carneiro

From: Ceará, Brazil



9-5-11


Hey fam,

I got transferred this week, I´m going to Maceió... my area is called Paraíso.. I leave tonight at 6:30, so I´ll have a new area and comp.

Today has been super busy, just getting ready to leave and packing up all my stuff.

Man, I wish I was there to go hunting... but next year I will!!! Is it just dad or are the boys hunting too? Is dad using the bow?

All of my 5 baptisms didn´t work out this week. I got hecka sad.... they will get baptized this week, Michelle’s dad didn’t come home, and Suelen will be baptized in the other area this week.

Not a whole lot going on... I don’t know who my comp is yet.

But thanks a bunch for the prayers and the email!!!!

I´ll load a couple pics.. Sorry so short

Love ya!!!
Bradley





8-31-11



9-2-11




9-2-11